Best Romantic Restaurant 2001 | The Cliff House @ Pikes Peak | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
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Best Romantic Restaurant

The Cliff House @ Pikes Peak

If it was good enough for Clark Gable, the 128-year-old Cliff House is good enough for us -- but we don't know what Clark would make of that @ that's been added to the name. Never mind; such pesky thoughts will disappear the minute you step into the cream puff of a dining room, all Victorian splendor with its custard colors and pillowy-soft furnishings. The Cliff House's expert staff takes such good care of you that the service also seems to date from that gilded era, and the food makes it clear that your entire time at this meal, in this intimate room, in this delightful era, is intended to accentuate the sensual. (You hope she'll love you as much as she does the lobster-topped wild mushroom risotto.) But as gorgeous as the newly restored dining room looks -- particularly with that nineteenth-century stone fireplace -- it's nothing compared to the stunning, panoramic views of the Rockies outside. After dinner and star-gazing, slip into one of the Cliff House's plush suites and make plans for breakfast, which should include the kitchen's sumptuous steak -- that's filet mignon, of course -- and eggs, and for a post-prandial stop at one of the local hot springs. Frankly, my dear, you won't give a damn if you ever make it

Best Salad

Vesta Dipping Grill

Although Vesta Dipping Grill digs deep to create some of the most flavorful meat and fish dishes in town, we like to dive into the three salads on the menu at this groovy hangout. Like every other course here, the salads show how paying close attention to details can result in big taste dividends. And so a Thai-beef version features seared slips of tenderloin soaked with a ginger-cilantro vinaigrette over red oak-leaf greens, and a Bibb lettuce salad with Gorgonzola and candied walnuts comes tossed in a roasted-pear vinaigrette, topped by red onions that have been marinated in some sort of nutmeggy liquid. But our favorite, greens down, is the baby arugula with roasted-fig vinaigrette, shaved Romano, and a brilliant grind of fresh black pepper that brings out the fig's sweetness and echoes the peppery greens.

Best Salad

Vesta Dipping Grill

Although Vesta Dipping Grill digs deep to create some of the most flavorful meat and fish dishes in town, we like to dive into the three salads on the menu at this groovy hangout. Like every other course here, the salads show how paying close attention to details can result in big taste dividends. And so a Thai-beef version features seared slips of tenderloin soaked with a ginger-cilantro vinaigrette over red oak-leaf greens, and a Bibb lettuce salad with Gorgonzola and candied walnuts comes tossed in a roasted-pear vinaigrette, topped by red onions that have been marinated in some sort of nutmeggy liquid. But our favorite, greens down, is the baby arugula with roasted-fig vinaigrette, shaved Romano, and a brilliant grind of fresh black pepper that brings out the fig's sweetness and echoes the peppery greens.

Best Artichoke Dip

Patsy's

Think metro Denver has a growth problem? Over the past decade, a certain appetizer has sprawled across menus from Castle Rock to Longmont, clogging major arteries with gluey, mayo-heavy artichoke goo. But Patsy's, a venerable red-sauce joint in the heart of northwest Denver, promotes smart growth with its artichoke-and-ricotta dip, a sweeter, lighter version of the ubiquitous starter.

Best Artichoke Dip

Patsy's

Think metro Denver has a growth problem? Over the past decade, a certain appetizer has sprawled across menus from Castle Rock to Longmont, clogging major arteries with gluey, mayo-heavy artichoke goo. But Patsy's, a venerable red-sauce joint in the heart of northwest Denver, promotes smart growth with its artichoke-and-ricotta dip, a sweeter, lighter version of the ubiquitous starter.

Best Cell Phone Service

Vesta Dipping Grill

The hippest hangouts go against the flow. While restaurants across the country are banning those irritating cell phones, Vesta Dipping Grill welcomes them. And if you're sitting at the bar, the bartender will even provide a handy adapter so that you can recharge the sucker. Vesta has your number.

Best Cell Phone Service

Vesta Dipping Grill

The hippest hangouts go against the flow. While restaurants across the country are banning those irritating cell phones, Vesta Dipping Grill welcomes them. And if you're sitting at the bar, the bartender will even provide a handy adapter so that you can recharge the sucker. Vesta has your number.

Best Hamburger

Night Shift Saloon

At the Night Shift Saloon, the hamburger is as God intended when he first conceived of this most amazing creation. In the beginning, there's a huge slab of ground beef, which is charbroiled until it boasts craggy bits of grill-blackened meat and drips with juices; then it's covered with a thick, thick blanket of Velveeta-like cheese that melts to create a permanent bond with a bun that's quintessential burger bread: medium-thick, with a Wonder Bread texture that's ideal for soaking up grease. And that's it. No fancy filet mignon, no imported cheese, no bakery-baked bun, no frou-frou toppings. Just you, the Night Shift's busy dive-bar ambience, and big beef. You're welcome.

Best Hamburger

Night Shift Saloon

At the Night Shift Saloon, the hamburger is as God intended when he first conceived of this most amazing creation. In the beginning, there's a huge slab of ground beef, which is charbroiled until it boasts craggy bits of grill-blackened meat and drips with juices; then it's covered with a thick, thick blanket of Velveeta-like cheese that melts to create a permanent bond with a bun that's quintessential burger bread: medium-thick, with a Wonder Bread texture that's ideal for soaking up grease. And that's it. No fancy filet mignon, no imported cheese, no bakery-baked bun, no frou-frou toppings. Just you, the Night Shift's busy dive-bar ambience, and big beef. You're welcome.

Best Bathroom Humor

Buca di Beppo

Mamma mia! Stepping into Buca di Beppo is like walking into the greatest Little Italy flea market ever -- the place overflows with old photographs of Italian starlets and tacky souvenirs from the Vatican. So you'll understand why your companion might spend an inordinate amount of time in the basement bathroom: Retiring areas for both sexes are full of hilarious vintage items -- cautionary health advisories, ads for sanitary products -- arrayed amid classic '50s decor items. From Joe's mouth to ours.

Best Of Denver®

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