OOC, is Brown Palace still in operation? We bought it during the oil boom and syndicated the ownership, but I lost track after leaving the company. Just remember a great restaurant there. And at one time the Colorado Mining Company was the hottest spot in Denver. Is it still there?
Definitely still in operation. Afternoon tea is an original, and you can still sigh up for the tour including the suites where the Eisenhowers & Elvis stayed. There used to be a few people who lived there full time, but I think that's no longer an option.
Haven't eaten there in years (took my father there for his birthday more than 10 years ago) so I don't know how good the food is these days. But the trip is worth it just for the building architecture.
-1000 on Casa Bonita.
no strong opinion on the Buckhorn. it's easy to get to with light rail (ever wonder just *why* there's a park/ride stop there?)
Beau Jo's on Colorado is fine but again, nothing spectacular. It's only about 30 min to drive out to Idaho Springs to the original one. Wait. Friday night. Make that 60-90 minutes with the traffic going home & up to the mountains.
Colorado Mining Company closed years (decades?) ago.
Of course we now have Shanahan's and Elway's steak houses. Haven't eaten at either because no one I know is on an expense account that can justify them.
There's the Chart House in Genesee, but again, that's a chain altho a high-end chain with a great view and still have to drive I-70 in rush hour.
16th Street Mall (again, light rail) has lots of mid-level chains (Hard Rock) as well as some very good local restaurants (Marlowe's is my favorite). Not far, and around the corner is a great mongolian bbq (BD's). Again, a chain, but still great.
El Rancho, again, driving I-70 in rush hour.
http://www.elranchocolorado.com/
I was waiting for that one to come up... with fear and trepidation ...
