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Czech Potato Pancakes from Sobo 151 Bar & Grill
151 South Broadway
303-778-1560
Sobo 151 isn’t known as a culinary destination, but those with a hankering for hockey and hearty Czech fare will always head here. When you’re watching the Avs — or playing billiards or trivia, or even listening to live music — big mugs of lager and big plates of goulash, sausage and schnitzel are the perfect accompaniments on a cold winter night. Our favorite from Sobo’s Czech menu (the kitchen also turns out some pretty decent American bar standards) are the bramboracky, crisp-edged potato pancakes that epitomize the simple preparations and rustic flavors of Slavic cuisine.
See also: 100 Favorite Dishes of 2014
Sobo’s potato pancakes come two to a plate, cut into quarters and sided with sour cream. At first glance, there’s not much to them — just shredded potato flecked with a few herbs and pan-fried to an uneven golden brown. But bramboracky have just enough egg and flour as a binder to elevate them beyond standard hash browns. Sobo’s patties are thin and soft, with an almost creamy center and a browned crust that’s crisp without being crunchy.
There’s also enough garlic and onion to pack the pancakes with homey, northern-European flavor, making them the perfect match for lager, whether a crisp and hoppy Czech classic or a sweeter, roastier dark version. Bring on the frigid nights and the oversized hockey jerseys: Sobo’s potato pancakes are a great start to an evening of staying warm with friends, sports fans and food lovers.
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 cafe@westword.com.
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
No 71: Oysters at Jax Fish House Glendale
No. 70: Venezuelan Tostadas at Empanada Express Grill
No. 69: Tahini Cauliflower from Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs
No. 68: The Ham and Cheese Tartita from Maria Empanada
No. 67: Ronnie’s Favorite from Rosenberg’s Bagels and Deli
66: Shoo-fly Pie from the Long i Pie Shop
