101 Dining Experiences Every Denverite Must Have

Twinkle lights, a warm summer breeze, and a glass of Pinot Grigio set the mood on the petite patio at Tables, a Park Hill sandwich shop turned dinner destination. Locals stroll over on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights for the ever-changing seasonal menu. Grab a two-top and snack on the succulent tuna tartare, an appetizer of crispy won tons, fresh ahi tuna, sesame seeds, and crisp greens. 2267 Kearney St., 303-388-0299

At Aix, an intimate Uptown restaurant with warm-hued walls, Euro art, and soft music, the sexy and stylish ambience only enhances the dining experience. Not that the duck cassoulet, wild mushroom soup with truffle oil, or herb-encrusted filet with golden raisins, potato cake, and bordelaise sauce need any help. 719 E. 17th Ave., 303-831-1296

Love Loathe

We love entrées steeped with tea or spiced up with coffee. Of note: Parallel Seventeen's jasmine-tea smoked duck confit and coffee-braised beef short rib. We loathe restaurants that mislabel sea scallops as diver scallops, and charge accordingly. (Diver scallops, which are only in season November through mid April, are harvested by hand one by one.) We love heavy cream (for coffee) that pours out as thick as melted ice cream—Solera's got it, and Restaurant Kody used to.

DEALS

Even Bon Appetit loves Taco Jalisco's bottomless chips and the complimentary homemade salsas that range from fresh pico de gallo to smooth tomatillo-avocado. Save room for the tacos al carbon. 4309 W. 38th Ave., 303-458-1437

Centennial's Wingin' It makes all 23 of its hot wing sauces—including spicy Cajun, garlic, Chernobyl, and, our favorite, mango barbecue—from scratch. The deal gets even better if you visit Monday or Tuesday for 39-cent wings. 8200 S. Quebec St., Centennial, 720-207-2435

Bistro Vendôme's Wine and Cheese Wednesdays make for a perfect ending to the work day. Sit at the bar and chat up bartender Jamil Tealer while sipping a trio of wines and snacking on crusty bread and three cheeses ($12). 1424 Larimer St., 303- 825-3232

At Brix you don't have to worry about dirtying up the tablecloth when enjoying the clams with chorizo sausage. Here, the attitude is laid-back and the tables are draped in butcher paper. Order a glass of wine and get a pour equal to quarter of a bottle. 3000 E. Third Ave., 303-333-3355

Jack-n-Grill's signature corn in a cup—a mixture of hot corn kernels, tons of butter, Parmesan cheese, chile powder, and lemon juice—brings us back time and again. Go during the fall chile season and come home with a bushel of freshly roasted chiles. Beware the cash-only policy. 2524 N. Federal Blvd., 303-964-9544

Find one of Denver's best dining deals at Luca d'Italia. Stop by Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday for two courses and two glasses of wine for $25. We start with the panzanella salad with tomatoes, basil, roasted peppers, capers, and smoked mozzarella, and then order the hearty pappardelle Bolognese with wild boar ragù and Parmesan. 711 Grant St., 303-832-6600