Lunchtime Eats: Pi Kitchen’s Smoked Salmon Pizza

I typically avoid hotel restaurants, often finding them too pricey, too noisy, and too bland. But the bright space that is Pi Kitchen + Bar (part of the Hilton Garden Inn downtown) is more laid-back cocktail lounge than anything else—the large patio is perfect for a relaxing lunch on a 90-degree day.

The straightforward menu features soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrées. My recommendation: the smoked salmon flatbread. (Be forewarned: it’s the size of a dinner plate). Red onion, capers, tomato, and large pieces of delicate smoked salmon meld into a crispy crust, with a generous helping of creamy goat cheese sprinkled on top. It’s simple and delicious—without all the unnecessary extravagance hotel-based eateries often serve up.

1400 Welton St., 303-844-5555