Dining out on $52.80 per couple
The Rocky is sending staffers to sample the special $52.80 per couple menus offered by more than 150nearly 300 restaurants during Denver Restaurant Week.
And we want to hear from you. If you sampled any of the specials, let us know about your experience.
Art and architecture critic Mary Voelz Chandler tried the Restaurant Week deal at Sparrow, 410 E. 7th Ave. Here's what she found:
OK, you're asking, how did one person dining on a meal promotion of $26.40 rack up a bill of more than $50 ($51.40, to be exact)? Blame it on the chance to order one of my favorite wines, Gundlach Bundschu, by the glass, which added $13 to the tab. But ignore that small detail; I received incredible value for the money I spent, in terms of food, service and the fact that I sat at the chef's bar and was able to entertain myself by watching somebody else cook.
I began with a baby arugula salad, dotted with currants, ferro, and slivers of parmesan, then drizzled with balsamic vinegar. This is a combination that managed to be sweet, tart and sour - with crunchy bits of grain - all at the same time. Then came an unexpected plus: a tortelli stuffed with butternut squash puree, and doused in butter and sage, with bits of sautéed squash and soft spicing. This is the perfect breakfast food. It also was an offering for the Restaurant Week entree, along with braised veal or sea bass.
I headed straight for the braised veal cheeks cooked in a deep red wine sauce with bits of mushroom and lardons (crunchy bits of bacon that exploded like little salt bombs). The meat was more like butter, nestled in a mound of mashed potatoes and surrounded with a sauce that was rich, not cloying.
The meal ended with a free cup of coffee and a dessert that didn't live up to the fine flavors of the earlier courses: a triangle of flourless chocolate decadence that was served cold and remained somewhat flavorless.
One reason I wanted to dine alone was to see how the staff treated a single diner, especially one there for a break on price. All was well, and my tip reflected that. The service was flawless, attentive, easy and welcoming. Sparrow is a pretty place, rosy and open with tile inserts in the wooden floor. It carries some of the design elements of earlier establishments there (Vega, Sacré Bleu), but has its own feel and warmth.
Worth it? No question: on any other day my entree alone probably would have hovered in the $20 to $25 range; add the salad, pasta course and dessert, and I made out like a culinary bandit. Even with that incredible glass of wine.
Total bill: $51.54, including tax and tip. Call Sparrow at 303-831-1003 or go online at http://sparrowdenver.com/
BUENOS AIRES GRILL
Alex Neth and his wife tried the Buenos Aires Grill, 2191 Arapahoe St. on Sunday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m. Total Bill: $88.83, including tax and tip. 303-296-6709
Website: http://www.denverargentinerestaurants.com/
argentine-grill-in-denver.htm
Buenos Aires Grill offers an honest interpretation of Argentine food in an airy, stylish space that breathes relaxation. The wife and I decided on this relatively new spot for our crack at Denver Restaurant Week--we both like beef and wine, Argentina's major culinary exports. Our choices included not only those South American staples but salmon, salad, risotto and leg of lamb, a three-course meal of high-ticket items not normally available at that price.
Two glasses of Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec, which, while not included in the meal price, were still a very affordable $4.75 per and worth the buy. We chose as starters the Chorizo (Argentine style pork sausage) and the Polenta Gratinada (polenta au gratin). The sausage was a tender wonder but the polenta was, well, polenta: fried golden corn mush.
Our second course consisted of the Entrana (a grilled, 12 oz. inner flank steak sided by fried sweet potatoes) and the Suprema a la Maryland (boneless breaded chicken breast with creamed corn, fried bananas and puff potatoes). The entrana was a marvel of succulence when joined with a flavorful Quilmes (Argentine pilsener) but we did have to learn to eat around the too-chewy casing. The Suprema could have been served in an upscale Southern restaurant and not been at all out of place, except for maybe the soul-warming fried bananas. We nearly came to blows over the puff potatoes.
For dessert we tried the Arroz con leche frito (fried rice pudding with golden raisin sauce) and the Flan con dulce de leche (Caramel custard with dulce le leche, a kind of caramel candy). The rice pudding was a thick and appropriately sweetened after, but simply out of its league in comparison to the velvet wonder of the flan, which left our table emitting sounds straight from a Cinemax special.
Service:Professional, attentive and best of all, nearly unnoticeable. The courses were timed well, our dirty plates and flatware disappeared as soon as we had finished, drinks arrived quickly accompanied by a smile. Our table could have used a scrape following our clumsy tries at sharing, but every other aspect spoke of a restaurant staff with plenty of experience and know-how.
Ambience: This is one of the most beautiful establishments in town. The ceiling is gymnasium-tall and centered with stained glasswork, the red brick walls warm and the sense of space a welcome change from our city's usual closet-sized bistros. Even the cowskin on the wall seems appropriate, given the meat-heavy nature of the menu and Argentine cuisine. The Sunday crowd was light early but picked up quickly, throwing the need for a reservation--even on such a typically slow night with the Oscars on TV--into sharp relief.
Worth it? Absolutely. We would never try so many different things in one meal, so the $52.80 deal was a fine way to sample the expansive menu. We'd like to return in summer for some ribs and a few Quilmes on the spacious patio.
TULA
Tula, 250 Josephine St. where entertainment reporter Erika Gonzalez and theater critic Lisa Bornstein had dinner Saturday night. Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, 8 p.m. Tula, 250 Josephine St., 303-377-3488. Total bill: $87.28
We started off with drinks, not included in the Restaurant Week price, but well worth it. A $7
house margarita was refreshing, but the $8 Paloma is a find -- fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice with tequila, Triple Sec and a bit of soda.
There are two items available for each course, so two diners can sample the entire Restaurant Week menu. Our first course was roasted corn soup and Tula house salad. The roasted corn soup was pureed to a nearly watery consistency and while savory, lacked spice. The salad was nothing more than mixed greens and guacamole. Even at a discount, we think they could’ve thrown in a few tomatoes.
A main course of blackened tilapia was slightly dry. There was a nice spice rub on it, but its heat level
was far short of blackening, and it rested on a creamy bed of bland mashed potatoes. Tampiquena contained a variety of dishes on a single plate: wonderfully marinated but tough flank steak; a shredded meat enchilada in a small pool of mole with a topping of mild tomato sauce; standard-issue rice and beans.
The desserts were a highlight, but watch out for the Jell-o shots! Yes, little quivery clumps of tequila gelatin accompany the key lime tart (tangy but not pucker-inducing in a shredded coconut crust -- and we hate coconut). Mexican cinnamon churros balanced a moist interior with a crispy crust. They sat in
puddles of “cajeta rum sauce,” the first word referring to the thickened liquid and not, as it does in some Latin American companies, a woman’s nether regions.
Service: Service was never snobby (unlike some other upscale Mexican places we’ll leave unnamed), and we didn’t feel discouraged or sneered at for taking the $52.80 deal. It was erratic, though -- multiple dishes arrived at the same time, leaving some cold when we got to them, while dirty dishes piled up on the table waiting to be cleared. And it took 15 minutes to get chips and salsa.
Ambience: Not that special. There are some colorful weathered-wood folk art pieces on the walls, but the structure of the room and the furniture don’t feel as upscale as the menu would suggest. The noise level is high.
Worth it?: We’d love to go back for drinks and appetizers or dessert. Restaurant Week was a steal --
that tampiquena costs $24 normally. At that price, we’d shy away from ponying up for such inconsistent offerings.
We went to Vesta Dipping Grill for our first RW experience, and even my hard-to-impress boyfriend really enjoyed it. I honestly didn't see a single person in the place with something other than the $52.80 menu, besides adding a bottle of wine. The sauces were a perfect fit to their respective entrees and the dishes were delicious. It was nice that we each had a choice of appetizer and dessert because we essentially got to try one of everything on the 52.80 menu. The chicken was incredible, the bass I had was top-notch, and even their house white was great; not to mention the desserts had us bragging to our friends the next day (we're searching for a place to buy the root beer they use for their float!). Price has kept me away from Vesta for a while, but now that I know how worthwhile the experience is, we will definitely be going back, if only for really special occasions!
Posted by Jewels on February 28, 2007 06:04 PMWe went to Vesta Dipping Grill for our first RW experience, and even my hard-to-impress boyfriend really enjoyed it. I honestly didn't see a single person in the place with something other than the $52.80 menu, besides adding a bottle of wine. The sauces were a perfect fit to their respective entrees and the dishes were delicious. It was nice that we each had a choice of appetizer and dessert because we essentially got to try one of everything on the 52.80 menu. The chicken was incredible, the bass I had was top-notch, and even their house white was great; not to mention the desserts had us bragging to our friends the next day (we're searching for a place to buy the root beer they use for their float!). Price has kept me away from Vesta for a while, but now that I know how worthwhile the experience is, we will definitely be going back, if only for really special occasions!
Posted by Jewels on February 28, 2007 06:03 PMI got on here to see if the restaurant I am going to on Friday is going to be a good choice. I was frustrated and infuriated at 'Food King'. This whole thing is ridiculous. Just because you 'owned' a restaurant that you wouldn't name doesn't mean you know anything. First of all I am no amateur, I eat out at fine dining restaurants when I feel the need. Sometimes I'd rather buy shoes instead. I work hard for my money and just because I don't always choose to spend it on fine dining does not make me, or the rest of the public ignorant.
First of all, RW was set up to introduce people to new tastes, not to give Food King bragging rights. Everyone starts somewhere. I remember the first time I spent $100 on myself for dinner and I had a companion with me who was a former 'professional' in fine dining restaurants in St. Louis. He patiently explained things to me from the fois gras to the wine and had not even a hint of arrogance in his tone.
Now I am more experienced, I know I don't like White Zin, I love Shiraz despite what it should be paired with, Cab is weak to me and I'd rather have dessert with coffee than port. It doesn't make me ignorant if these things don't always coincide with what the snobbish Food Kings of the world think, because I know the rules, I just choose to defy them sometimes based on my own personal tastes and it makes me no less a food lover than 'the King'.
You can't bash lower income people who can't always make it to these fine dining places. That is thier status in life and it has no place in this conversation. That is just rude and unneccessary. Not having money doesn't always mean ignorance and good for them if they don't know a whole lot and want to give it a shot. You, Food King, were not shot out of the womb knowing all. At some point someone took the time and patience (whether you paid them or not) to teach you all that you know. Don't harp on people who didn't do this for a living. Some of the points you make could be good if they weren't so over-saturated with snobbery. And bad customer service is unnacceptable at all times in all professions, bottom line.
Now that I've said my peice I'd appreciate it if we could keep useless banter and bashing out of the discussion. I read all the way to the bottom of this and still don't know what to expect of Tamayo on Friday. Goodness.
Posted by Not Amateur, but Not Pompus on February 28, 2007 05:35 PMI agree with the posters above regarding The Palm. We went there last year for RW and were not treated well. It was such a distasteful experience I will likely never return.
This year we went to Sullivan's and had a fabulous time. Although they were quite late seating us (the hostess kind of forgot about us in the bar), our server more than made up for that with her attentiveness.
Yes, the portions were a bit smaller than when we order off the menu, but I left quite full and satisfied.
Posted by Kathleen on February 28, 2007 04:02 PMHad a great experience at Texas de Brazil. Tons of variety. No other DRW participant lets you eat everything off their menu, in unlimited quantities! Great service too.
Posted by MM on February 28, 2007 03:58 PMMy husband and I had dinner at alto as part of Denver restaurant week. We were expecting a pleasant evening out, but unfortunately experienced a number of problems in dining at your restaurant:
1. Our reservation was at 7:30; we weren’t seated until nearly 8pm.
2. My first choice on the restaurant week menu was not available, so I had to choose an option I was less than excited about. It would have been more appropriate to have been offered the option of choosing a comparable item from the regular menu at the same price.
3. The service was extremely slow. I don’t feel that this was the fault of our server as it seemed that everyone around us was growing impatient with waiting for their meals. We were in the restaurant for nearly 2.5 hours, and not by choice.
4. On the restaurant week Web page, the alto site listing states that there will be live music. This is one of the reasons I’ll selected alto above other restaurants. I was very disappointed that there was no music and feel that this was false advertising.
5. We were literally elbow to elbow with the other people in the restaurant. The lovely ambience of the restaurant was ruined by packing the tables like sardines.
6. The portion sizes were very disappointing. I left a three course meal feeling hungry and I’m a 100 lb female.
I’m afraid I won’t be recommending alto to friends or returning.
Posted by Joan on February 28, 2007 03:05 PMWe went to Prime 121 in Cherry Creek North last night and had a great $52.80 experience. Instead of bread and butter they give you pita bread and tabbouleh (sp?) It was a nice treat. We picked the soup and salad so we could try both. The salad was nothing special, but it was a good size portion. The soup was amazing, champagne brie. It was like sipping a fondue, but wasn't too heavy, just tasty. We picked the prime rib and rack of lamb as our entrees. They were both great and good size portions. We had mashed bourbon sweet tomatoes and fried green tomatoes as our sides. Dessert was also included and we had cheesecake with berries and key lime pie. I thought the key lime slice could have been a little bit bigger, but both items tasted great. We were treated wonderfully even though we didn't order anything to drink except coffee at the end. Valet parking is free which is a plus. Last year we went to the Cork House and had a horrible experience. I'm glad my husband was willing to give 52.80 week another chance. I highly recommend this restaurant!
Posted by Stacy on February 28, 2007 01:58 PMFK says:
..."experience when dinning out and avoid unpleasent expeiences by not acting the fool in a high class establishment."
How about learning to spell basic words, so as not to look the fool in any type of blog?
Food king argrees with the lasts post, but I am offering some suggestions that as customers you can do to improve your experience when dinning out and avoid unpleasent expeiences by not acting the fool in a high class establishment.
Posted by FOOD KING on February 28, 2007 01:44 PMExactly my sentiments! Grow up!! This forum is to post your experience during DRW, not judge others on how "refined" they are based on their experience.
Posted by michele on February 28, 2007 01:38 PMI don't care about the Food King, or anything that has to do with bickering at each other like children. This forum is about relaying dining experiences during Denver Restaurant Week so that others know what they are getting into, and can make an informed choice when they go out to that new restaurant that they have been wanting to try. I am very interested in reading about others' experiences, not how stupid or ugly somebody is. C'mon people, act your age!
p.s. I have not yet dined anywhere for Restaurant Week, or else I would post a review. I will post one after Thursday night.
Posted by Annoyed on February 28, 2007 01:29 PMFOOD KING IS A GOD!!! As someone who waited tables to put myself through college and grad school, believe me, what he (she?) speaks is the pure, unfiltered truth. Unless you've worked as a server or bartender, you have absolutely no idea how incredibly uninformed, and to be frank, stupid, the general populace is; ordering filet mignon well done, then complaining when it is dry and tough, drinking white zinfandel, then complaining it's too sweet, going to a fine-dining establishment and complaining there's no kid's menu(don't even get me started on that); Americans in general are completely clueless when it comes to dining.
This whole 52.80 thing is a good idea on paper, but it's obvious that the vast majority of people who go during that time won't go during any other time of the year (too cheap and uninformed). I mean, how many Americans even know what a gelee, a reduction or a buerre blanc is? It's sure not the kind of stuff you'd find at Applebee's or Chili's, or any other of the abominations that suburbaia flocks to in droves...
Food King thank you for your concise and informed posts. The masses who are complaining are definitely not used to dining out beyond McD. If you drink White Zin in a fine dining restaurant they are laughing at you in the kitchen. Next time ask if you can have it decanted. Also if your server brings you your food in a timely fashion and in proper order and keeps your table clean while you lay in the middle eating more bread, "it's free right"?, than that server deserves 20% they did their job. If they were paid a proper hourly wage than your meal would not only double but quite possibly treble. Thanks for joining us for RRW week. Now go back to the burbs and enjoy Olive Garden. :)
Posted by Food King Fan on February 28, 2007 11:51 AM10:57 is a coward, try signing your name to you post you puss, or better yet, put a few sentences together to tell me why I am wrong.
I expect that was your last post because you can do neither.
My boyfriend and I dined at Elway's last evening. We both opted for the New York Strip -- which was fabulous. One of the best steaks I've had in a long time. The restaurant was definitely hopping but we got prompt service at both the bar and our table. So glad we gave it a try -- and now we have a new favorite spot.
Posted by Jill on February 28, 2007 11:02 AMFood King is a moron, and The Palm is highly overrated.
Next topic.
Posted by on February 28, 2007 10:57 AMWell Everyone,
You could listen to a person who shares their namesake with a hollowed, doll shape piece of plastic, or you can listen to someone who not only is a frequent visitor of R.R.W but also owned a restaurant that partook in it, albeit, not in Denver.
Now Barbie, you are a true moron, and one only has to go no further than to look at the menu offered by these restaurants for R.R.W. Notice that the three course are simple, such as salad or soup, then a simple entree, and usually a small dessert? If you were to attend one of these restaurants not during R.R.W. and ordered the same item, you will notice there is a difference in portions. To think that a restaurant will take a loss for some publicity just shows how ignorant you really are of true fine dinning, but of course we should not expect much from you or the rest of the low class diners who wait with unending anticipation for this week so you can pretend to know what you are talking about. Let me help you out, go back to McDs’ and order anything off their value menu, I am sure that is more within your culinary expertise and your budget.
Now, for the rest of you, let me give you a bit of background. Restaurant week is indeed for the mainstream customer, who normally would not or could not go to these restaurants. It is also used in many cities, such as DC or NYC as a way to bring in a tourist crowd to the restaurants. Often the finer restaurants have a difficultly in competing with the crap holes of Outback, Applebee’s, and the rest of the corporate food houses that people like Barbie visit, so they offer discounts to entice more traffic. Restaurant’s who participate in R.R.W do know what they are getting into, but they do it more to expand the taste buds of the masses, then the publicity, for they take food seriously and wish to share that passion with the unrefined, i.e. the Barbies of the world, that is their main motivation.
My boyfriend and I dined at Elway's last evening. We both opted for the New York Strip -- which was fabulous. One of the best steaks I've had in a long time. The restaurant was definitely hopping but we got prompt service at both the bar and our table. So glad we gave it a try -- and now we have a new favorite spot.
Posted by Jill on February 28, 2007 10:54 AMFood King may not be a snob--he's something worse. An idiot.
The notion that a restaurant will cheat on your portion size because they engage in a promotional event is simply stupid. Let's remember: no one forced these establishments to do this. This is a way to get new customers through the door. It's not in their best interests to treat customers like unwanted carbuncles.
Clearly, whoever this person is wants desperately to think that they are some sort of tastemaker, some kind of service industry (notice the word "service" there) expert. Any chef or manager worth their garlic-inflected sea salt who realized a server was sandbagging a table because of some perceived sense of superiority would fire said server. Then and there. No questions asked. Why? Because their jobs, their livelihoods, depend on it. They don't care whether the server thinks the table is cool or not.
His (or hers, who knows with these internets?) comments betray a parvenu with an attitude--and spelling--problem. Someone stiff you on your tip at Applebee's, FK?
We dined at the Palm on Saturday evening and like Michelle, our experience was disappointing. They did limit couples to different entrees and changed the menu from Mahi Mahi to Salmon. Our waitress was not attentive and short with us. I thought 5280 was to introduce the best of to new consumers, instead it left me with not ever wanting to go back to the Palm. There are alot of really good and friendly restaurants in Denver and thats where we will be taking friends and business associates, not the Palm. Debbie
Posted by Debbie on February 28, 2007 10:01 AMI went to the Keg (downtown) Saturday night with my daughter and son-in-law. The steaks were delicious (although my daughter's filet was rare rather than medium rare) and the wines by the bottle were priced very reasonably. Our waitress was attentive and pleasant and the desserts were delicious. We will be going back to the Keg.
Posted by Lois on February 28, 2007 08:58 AM3:37 and all,
Food king is no snob, but does know how to enjoy himself and the requirements it takes to do so. Anyway, I have a few amendments to the tips from eariler.
1. You should expect to have smaller portions, for the restaurants would lose money if they served you normal portions at that price. Plus, since most americans are fat and overweight anyway, they are used to such huge portions, that I am sure a 10 inch plate seems small, but don't worry, the servings you get are plenty. If they aren't big enough for some of you gluttons, then order off the menu!
Also, liquior is priced approx. 3 times what it is at retail, so those seeing a $28 beringer bottle of wine are correct to poo-poo it; however, shame on you in the first place for drinking such crappy wine in the first place. Remember part of the experience is pairing the wine to the meal. If you have no idea how to do this, ask your server or the resident wine Sommelier (wine steward).
Posted by FOOD KING on February 28, 2007 08:41 AMWe had dinner at the Welshire Inn with another couple Sunday night during 5280 week. The staff was friendly and very attentive and the food was fabulous (steak & chocolate mousse were are favorite choices). In addition, they offer a bottle of wine per couple which makes $52.80 a REAL bargain! Highly recommended!
Posted by Sheila on February 28, 2007 08:38 AMWe love fine dining and chose to take advantage of this deal to try a couple of different places this week. We went to Del Mar Crab House Saturday night with the intention that, if we like it, we will return. We ordered the Alaskan King Crab legs and the swordfish. My husband like his swordfish but the Alaskan King Crab legs were quite a disappointment. Lacking in flavor, watery, etc... Plus, most quality places will partially crack them for you. Not here. Also, they did not have enough crab crackers for everyone so I had to share one with someone else in our party. Not very impressive. Beware the $28 bottle of Beringer White Zinfindal! Normally a $6 bottle of wine, we expected to pay around twice that just because of where we were...not more than four times the normal amount! TSeating is quite crowded. You can pretty much hold hands with people at the next table without trhing. Not a great experience.
Posted by Cathy on February 28, 2007 08:19 AMMy husband and I and another couple went to Maggiano's for 52.80. We made an early reservation at 4:30 so we would be able to go to comedy works at 6:30. Wrong...the service was very very slow we were not finished until after 7:00. We were treated very differently compared to those around us who ordered off the menu. Our portions were small -- cold from beginning to the coffee. Food was nothing that would ever bring me back into town for. We all felt we had better service and food in the suburbs at the Olive Garden. What a disapointment to drive into the city and pay for parking for......
Posted by Terri Steele on February 28, 2007 07:31 AMWe took the in-laws to Del Frisco's on Saturday. They were packed but the staff was friendly and attentive. We ordered the wine special and an appetizer in addition to the 52.80 deals. No snobbery, great food and wonderful portions. There is a reason Del Frisco's is one of the best steakhouses around. We always look forward to RW and enjoy trying new places/entertaining friends for a great value.
Posted by Anne on February 27, 2007 03:37 PMFood King, thanks so much for your thoughtful insight. I'm quite sure that I being one of those cheapskates who can't afford to regularly frequent the types of establishments that are participating in the 5280 Week, would never have made it through the evening.
Geeze Dude the whole pupose of the 5280 Week is to allow those of us who wouldn't ordinarily go to these restaurants. Not all of us are the culinary snob you pretend to be.
Posted by on February 27, 2007 03:37 PMSix friends went to Trapper's Chop House in Parker on Sunday night and were looking forward to it, as this was our first (and, as it turns out, last) time eating there. The appetizers and the fun of finishing the cooking of your steak at the table were the best parts of the meal, but the rest was pretty disappointing. Where to start... I'd have to say the worst thing was that our 'vegetable' was canned corn garnished with a piece of tomato and a piece of green pepper. The only person in our party who got a decent vegetable had asked for steamed veggies in place of the potato choice. Others: the beef filets were tough (the name 'Chop House' in itself conjures up visions of nice tender beef, doesn't it?), they did not have our wine choice, they ran out of Fat Tire, which one of our party was drinking, the waiter seemed pretty much disinterested in us, and they had run out of one of the desserts. If the goal of a restaurant's participation in Restaurant Week is to win customers who will happily return and perhaps bring others, this restaurant did not meet that goal.
Posted by Marty on February 27, 2007 12:53 PMWent to North on Saturday night. The service was excellent but disappointed in the meal portions.
We noticed entrees that were much larger in portion especially the salad. The wine was good but they were skimpy on the portion; whereas others not part of 5280 received a full glass. When the bill came it stated that this meal would normally be $75. That's a laugh because all the portions were cut in half so the price should really be rounded off to $38.00. Will not go back.
Here's a different way of looking at it: Take your $52.80, go to a good butcher shop, and order a nice buffalo New York strip. One the way home with it, stop by the grocery and pick up a rack of fresh asparagus, broccoli, or another vegetable that you enjoy. Also select a nice head of romaine or bib lettuce, a good tomato and cucumber, and a couple new red potatoes. Next, stop by your favorite liquor store on the way home and pick up a good $12 to $20 bottle of your favorite wine.
Go home. Prepare your meal the way you like it, and sit down and enjoy. You won't be putting up with crappy food, poor service, obnoxious crowds, and servers who think that just bringing your things to you entitles them to a fat gratuity. You also will not have to drive home after drinking, and you will still have money left over, that you can donate to Denver Rescue Mission, Feed the Children, or any of a number of other relief organizations who would love to have even $5 or $10 from you every so often.
Posted by on February 26, 2007 06:27 PM
I took my folks to Ruths Chris a couple of weeks ago.
I got a tiny end cut rib-eye that was mostly grissle.
My folks got real nice cuts.
As we were getting ready to leave
the server instinctively gave the bill to my Dad untill I told him I`m taking care of it then it was like OH your paying.
I could almost hear him thinking that he should have given me a nicer cut.
He knew right there that his tip was going to be affected.
For all you armature connoisseurs a few things to remember.
1. These are professional restaurants (at least as Denver’s standards are concerned) not a quick in-n-out eatery, so don’t rush your experience. Expecting to be in and out in an hour is not only foolish, but also displays to your server that you are a culinary novice.
2. Dress up and enjoy the experience. If you look the part of a sophisticated restaurateur, you will be treated as such. Likewise, go like most Coloradoans do (jeans and t-shirts) and you embarrass yourself and those around you.
3. Learn to eat properly. If you take a $30+ steak and ask for it medium well, or order fish on a Saturday, you are displaying your culinary ignorance and should expect to get treated like amateurs not sophisticated consumers. Remember you will be treated like the personality you display.
4. Remember that restaurant week brings in the cheapskates; those who think that spending $300 on dinner is a huge commitment flock to R.R.W because they want a sample of the fine dining without paying the high price. Only problem is that servers can see you coming a mile away. Order off the menu and you will get treated with better service. Or, if you like the meager selections offered to entice the rabble of the majority, simply upgrade to a fine bottle of wine.
Remember that servers are paid usually by the % of the check and if you only spend 52.80 on dinner, that server already knows what their tip is, so there is no incentive for them to provide you with extra service when they know you are only there for the ‘cheap eat’ and a novice to boot. Live it up a little, spend a little more, and you will suddenly improve your experience on an exponential level. Spend the minimum and get the minimum.
We went to the Cork House on Saturday night. It was our first experience, and we will not be returning. The food was good, but the service was terrible. We waited an hour to receive even the appetizer. We never received a menu and the waitress forgot our drinks even after several reminders. It seemed as though we were given bad service since we came in for the 5280 deal. It is a shame becasue this is such a great marketing opportunity for these resturants. You would think they would try harder to capture you. Not only do they have 6 unhappy customers, but word spreads fast and that number will increase-lost opportunity.
Posted by ct on February 26, 2007 03:41 PMWe dined with friends Saturday as well at The Palm and were very, very disppointed in the whole experience. They limited each person per couple to different entrees. The food was fair, not wonderful, our waitress seemed very disinterested, inattentive to our party. We will never return to The Palm.
Posted by michele on February 26, 2007 03:18 PMWe went to The Fort on Saturday night for Restaurant Week. The food and service were both terrific. However, we did make the mistake of ordering an appetizer off of the menu and we really didn't need it because the 5280 portions were just right. The bison and quail were very tender and flavorful, the cheddar mashed potatoes were just right. We liked it so much we can't wait to go back and experience the Fort this summer before a show or movie at Red Rocks.
Posted by Julie on February 26, 2007 01:16 PMWe love restaurant week, and did Mezcal on Saturday night. The food was great - the rellenos were the high point (as well as having a marg included in the price tag!). Haven't done Sketch yet for the 52.80 menu, but plan to. The food there is always great!
Posted by Violet on February 26, 2007 12:39 PMWe went to McCormick and Schmick in the Tech Center on Saturday night and had a wonderful 52.80 meal. Service was excellent and the food was even better.
Posted by Kathie on February 26, 2007 11:27 AMWent to The Keg for some steaks Sat night. Decent food although we've been there many times and this was one of the few times it hasn't been exemplary. Sketch sucks.
Posted by jay on February 26, 2007 11:17 AMWe went to sketch for the kickoff of Restaurant Week on Saturday as well, and I have to say our experience was completely the opposite. The restaurant was full but we were treated well and without delay, and the three-course meal was not only a great value, but executed perfectly and absolutely delicious. To anyone who goes this week - the short ribs entree with mashed potatoes and onion rings is perfection.
And for the record - there is no alley behind sketch...
Posted by Alan on February 26, 2007 11:11 AMWe went to sketch for the kickoff of Restaurant Week on Saturday as well, and I have to say our experience was completely the opposite. The restaurant was full but we were treated well and without delay, and the three-course meal was not only a great value, but executed perfectly and absolutely delicious. To anyone who goes this week - the short ribs entree with mashed potatoes and onion rings is perfection.
And for the record - there is no alley behind sketch...
Posted by Alan on February 26, 2007 11:11 AMTula is bad but Sketch is worse. We went to Sketch on Saturday for the kick-off of 5280 week. It was horrible. The service was slow, the food quality was terrible and we puked all over the alley.
Posted by David on February 26, 2007 10:08 AMWhile I love Tula (albeit a bit pricey), my friends and I went to Kevin Taylor's at the Opera House for the kickoff of the 5280 week... and were roundly disappointed. The food was all quite good, and the service adequate (although they tried too hard), but they had run out of the entree selections for half our party, as well as the selection of pinot noir we chose. To cap it off, they had a misprint on the wine list for the selection we chose in lieu of the wine they had run out of... again, the food and the overall atmosphere was fine, but to have so many problems with a $60-65 per person price tag? I was not particularly impressed.
Posted by Chad on February 25, 2007 11:10 PM