THE ART OF FINE DINING

Fine dining isn’t hard to locate in these parts. The high demand and the heightened expectations for excellent food in Cherry Creek is just a given, so the neighborhood has been blessed with some fantastic options from chefs who are all about leaving their guests happy and coming back for more. Here are a few of our highly recommended destinations.

Barolo Grill

One of the top restaurants anywhere in Colorado. Serving authentic northern Italian food, its award-winning menu covers a lot of ground, but we’re partial to the braised beef short rib, lobster risotto, the Agnolotti alla bolgnese, the cavatelli with rock shrimp, and the fried doughnuts for dessert. And if you love your wine, no one takes their collection more seriously than Barolo Grill. The staff does annual trips to Italy to keep the dining experience inspired and genuine. Seasonally changing menus highlight locally-sourced ingredients from regional farms and artisans at this gift of a dinner destination.

TORO LATIN KITCHEN & LOUNGE

This is one of famed Chef Richard Sandoval’s scrumptious creations, located in Hotel Clio. Start with the best ceviche anywhere as well as those amazingly addictive sweet corn empanadas and settle in for an unforgettable evening. If tequila is your thing then you’re in the right place. Everything from salmon, chicken, steak, burgers and pork chops are highlighted, with our favorite supper selection being the Lomo Saltado, which is a beef filet with creamy jasmine rice, sweet and sour sauce, heirloom tomatoes, bell peppers and red onions. For dessert, go with the La Bomba chocolate sphere filled with cookie crumbles, seasonal berries assorted sorbets & ice cream.

Quality Italian

You can’t go wrong here. Located at Halycon, a hotel in Cherry Creek, the mood and vibe are undeniably romantic and cozy with the glow of low dimmed chandeliers, leather booths, and the soft hum of music in the background. And then there’s the menu to fall in love with. Feast on fresh baked monkey bread with garlic salt, filet mignon meatballs, house made ricotta, lobster rigatoni, Brussels Sprouts Calabrese, the chicken parm pizza, and a variety of steaks (the restaurant and interior design are all meant to remind guests of a New York City steakhouse).

Local Jones

Right across the Halcyon lobby from Quality Italian sits the hotel’s signature restaurant in Local Jones. They’ve got it all here – breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with a range in cuisine that offers something for everyone’s tastes. Blueberry pancakes, avocado toast, and their Denver omelet (when in Rome) are just a few of the stars available for breakfast. Their Proper Club Sandwich for lunch made our best sandwiches list, while soups, salads, cheese and charcuterie boards, grilled lamb skewers, Brussels sprouts, buttermilk ranch fried chicken, braised short ribs, house made bucatini, steak and salmon highlight the dinner menu.

Kona Grill

Where to start? Kona is known as The Big Island, so Kona Grill appropriately enough has a Big Menu covering everything from extensive sushi and seafood offerings, an impressive lineup of steaks, stir fry, Pad Thai noodles, salads, flatbread, and a marvelous happy hour. They do brunch, lunch, and obviously dinner with popular dishes including jalapeno yellowtail sashimi, avocado egg rolls, the surf & turf, macadamia nut chicken, lemon garlic penne and the ribeye meatballs. And if you’re a margarita fan, you’ll love their Margarita Heaven program.

DEL FRISCO’S

Grille

Known for their steaks, they should also get credit for the rest of their kitchen creations whether it’s brunch, lunch or dinner. Their Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich for lunch made our best sandwiches list. Meanwhile, dinner here is always a big deal. The cheesesteak egg rolls are phenomenal, and that’s just getting things started. Sticky garlic ribs are another go-to. Flatbreads, crab cakes, ahi tacos, salads and soups pave the way for entrees that boast their signature steaks, pan seared jumbo scallops, a 14-ounce pork chop, lemon dill salmon, and penne a la vodka. And don’t forget GM Gavin Berry’s favorite lemon cake for dessert. Throw in the sidewalk patio or rooftop seating on a gorgeous day or night and you’ll see why this is such a popular spot.

Narrative

The Jacquard Hotel & Rooftop’s signature restaurant has just landed a new executive chef in Jon Keeley, who brings with him some very impressive stops and experience in the restaurant industry. He hails from the 5-Star 5-Diamond Four Season’s Boston and the James Beard Award- winning Toro restaurant in Boston’s South End before helping earn a Michelin star for two consecutive years at Bon Soiree in Chicago. In displaying his elevated farmto-table culinary style, Keeley’s cooking mantra is, “Cook like you’re cooking for your mother on her birthday, and everything will be okay.”

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Chophouse

By way of Iowa, this is a heavyweight division steakhouse in our book. Exceptional service. Delicious options whether you go the steak route or not. Located at the valet entrance of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, this is an automatic good time and a spectacular dining experience. Appetizers that have seduced us include the charred Spanish octopus and roasted marrow bones. The Wagyu Japanese A5 is nothing short of a delicacy and is one of countless cuts that will have you booking your next reservation, while their options from the sea qualify them as a premier fish house in a premier steakhouse’s body.