Now that we're back into months containing the letter "r," it's safe to eat oysters again, right? That old superstition hasn't held much water since the advent of modern refrigeration, but there's some truth to the idea that oysters just taste better as the waters they live in cool. Jax Fish House does a great job of bringing in the freshest and most flavorful bivalves year round; we're particular fans of the fish house's newest metro-area location in the CitySet development in Glendale. The wide-open space with its clean, modern lines and ample sunlight seems perfect for knocking back Kumamotos, Wellfleets or whatever other varieties Jax and its knowledgeable staff are serving up.
See also: 100 Favorite Dishes of 2014
When Gretchen Kurtz reviewed Jax earlier this year, she said the servers are so familiar with the oysters there that "they're able to rattle off with the comfort of someone who's slurped more than a few, talking about the differences between East and West coasts in a non-pedantic way that encourages oyster neophytes to take the slippery plunge."
The expertise is immediately apparent if you sit at the oyster bar, where shells are deftly split open, keeping the liquor from spilling out in the process. A little lemon, cocktail sauce and horseradish grace each icy platter, but whether you go for sweet and petite or big and briny, you can skip the condiments, safe in the knowledge that not only has Jax been handling some of the highest-quality seafood in the area since 1994, but that the destination is so popular you'll never be served oysters that aren't impeccably fresh. So slurp away no matter what the month; Jax has the knowledge and experience to make this simplest of all seafood dishes shine every time.In advance of the Best of Denver 2015, we're already loading our plates with contenders for the best dishes in the city. And over the next nine months, we'll be sharing many of them with you, counting down (in no particular order) one hundred of our favorite dishes before the the Best of Denver 2015 hits the streets on March 26. In the meantime, if there's a dish you think we need to try, tell us about it in the comments section below, or shoot us an e-mail at [email protected].
Hungry for more? All the dishes in our 2014 countdown are linked below.
No. 100: Chile Relleno at La Fiesta No. 99: Gurage Kitfo at Megenagna Ethiopian Restaurant No. 98: Cochinita Pibil at Work & Class No. 97: The Greggers Tongue Sandwich at Olive & Finch No 96: Baum Cakes at Glaze by Sasa No. 95: Goat hot pot from Viet's No 94: Head cheese from Beast + Bottle No. 93: Kettle Chips from Amerigo Delicatus No. 92: Pork Belly Confit at Solera Restaurant and Wine Bar No. 91: Tacos Campechanos from La Calle Taqueria No. 90: Biscuits from Denver Biscuit Co. No. 89: Clams and Chorizo at Gozo No. 88: Aburi Sushi at Sushi Den and Izakaya Den No. 87: Kimchi and Sausage Torta at City, O' City No. 86: Mar y Tierra Molcajete at Paxia No. 85: Crispy Pork Spare Ribs at Table Top No. 84: Chips and Dip at Euclid Hall No. 83: Chile Relleno Burrito at El Taco de Mexico No. 82: Scallop Crudo at Stoic & Genuine No. 81: Ceylon Curry Dosa at Khazana No. 80: The Lambada Torta at La Torteria No. 79: Pork Bulgogi at Dae Gee No. 78: the Pulled Pork Pig Pen Sandwich at Boney's No. 77: IPA Mac & Cheese at Hops & Pie No. 76: Chiles en Nogada at Chili Verde No. 75: Udon Noodle Bowl at Bones No. 74: Cinnamon Rolls at the Duffeyroll Cafe No. 73: Smoked Turkey Croque-Madame at Acorn No. 72: Pickled Lake Michigan Perch at Trillium
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