The Best Things We Ate in April

Smashburgers are seemingly everywhere right now — including all over our list of the ten best burgers in Denver — and we're trying to eat through as many options as possible. In April, we checked out two that proved to be top-notch, though they're very different.

Ice cream favorite Right Cream (2423 South Downing Street) started offering smashburgers one day a week last summer. After putting them on pause in the colder months, they're back. Now available on Thursdays from 3 p.m. until sold out, these are a classic, exemplary smash-style experience. Two super-thin carmelized patties are loaded onto a buttery bun with American cheese and a secret sauce that is equally good when used as a dip for the optional fries on the side. The burger alone is just $9, or $10 if you add onions (which you should), and fries are just $3 more.
Chef Dave Hadley moved his Samosa Shop pop-up into the kitchen at LoDo bar Honor Farm (1526 Blake Street) in late 2023. With a permanent home has come a new, expanded menu, and we recently ate our way through several items. While everything from the fries topped with tikka masala sauce and the hot, honey-coated nuggets impressed, the standout was his spin on the smashburger trend, a lamb kebob-inspired twist with "zamosa" sauce, American cheese, fresh dill and optional lettuce and tomato.
On the same block as Right Cream is another must-try sandwich. Roaming Buffalo has been one of our favorite ’cue joints since debuting in 2015; on Saturdays and Sundays, it dishes up one of the best deals in town: $3 barbecue sammies, loaded with all the saucy excess smoked meat from the week and topped with two thick-cut pickle chips. Pair one with a side of smoked andouille and roasted corn grits for a super-satisfying midday meal that costs less than $6.
We fell for Justin Freeman's cooking after he moved to Denver from NYC to be the opening chef of the Greenwich. Now he's taken the reins at one of the city's best vegan eateries, Somebody People, and is working toward opening a concept of his own with his Monarch pop-up series. We've checked out two so far, including one where he showed off his pizza skills with a slice that eats more like a really great loaf of chewy sourdough bread that happens to be topped with sauce, cheese and additions like crisp pepperoni or roasted vegetables. He also recently did a collab with Bodega and reminded us that he's a roast chicken master. Be sure to follow @monarchdenver for more info on upcoming events.
Last year, Tavernetta chef Cody Cheetham was one of Colorado's James Beard semifinalists for Best Chef, Mountain Region. Now he's bringing his skills to the Frasca group's other Denver restaurant, Sunday Vinyl. His recent menu reboot includes the return of fries, which can be ordered "deluxe" style with the addition of dry-aged beef tallow and a shower of Comte cheese; an indulgent fast-food-style hash brown topped with labneh, chives and Kaluga caviar; and Iberico pork over a bright piquillo pepper purée. One of our favorite times to dine at this spot is on Wednesday, when you can order off the regular menu while enjoying a special flight paired with the soundtrack of the night. The next editions include ABBA on May 1, Beyoncé on May 8 and Dave Matthews Band on May 15.
Hey Kiddo and its attached bar, Ok Yeah, which are part of the Id Est Hospitality group, were both recently named among the best bars in the region by the Spirited Awards. During a recent stop at Hey Kiddo, we paired custom cocktails created by the bartender with one of its staple items, K-Town fried chicken. While you can opt for a whole or half bird, the popcorn chicken bites for $10 are a budget-friendly, shareable snack — though you will be tempted to order seconds, and maybe even thirds.