Larimer Square restaurants collaborate for Affair on the Square

With the concentration of eateries in Larimer Square comes endless opportunities for roving culinary events, although the next manifestation of that won't be roving, exactly. On Wednesday, July 21, the Square will be closed to traffic from 6 to 9 p.m. so diners can converge on the street for a...

By Laura Shunk

June 23, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

With the concentration of eateries in Larimer Square comes endless opportunities for roving culinary events, although the next manifestation of that won't be roving, exactly. On Wednesday, July 21, the Square will be closed to traffic from 6 to 9 p.m. so diners can converge on the street for a coursed meal, serenaded with music from the Colorado Symphony, which is also the beneficiary of the event.

This isn't exactly a collaborative dinner, though, so much as a chance to dine at one of the Larimer Square restaurants in an outdoor social setting.

"The idea is that you pay an entrance fee of $35, and that goes to the Colorado Symphony," says Matt Munneke, general manager of Cru: A Wine Bar, one of the participating restaurants. "Then you buy a table of four at your favorite Larimer Square restaurant for dinner, but that table will be in the street, along with bars and entertainment to make it a party."

His own restaurant's four-course menu includes foie gras toast points and Colorado striped bass, and is one of the least expensive, at $60 a head (paid in addition to that $35 per person entrance fee, which includes a couple of complimentary cocktails). Coming in at the other end of the price spectrum is Osteria Marco, which will proffer five courses that include a house selection of salumi and roasted pork for $97 a person.

Tickets for the event, which must be purchased in groups of four, are available here.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Laura Shunk was Westword's restaurant critic from 2010 to 2012; she's also been food editor at the Village Voice and a dining columnist in Beijing. Her toughest assignment had her drinking ten martinis and eating ten Caesar salads over the course of 48 hours. She still drinks martinis, but remains lukewarm on Caesar salads.

Contact: Laura Shunk

Follow:

Twitter: @laurashunk

Instagram: @laurashunk