March 9 - March 22, 2000
Space For Rent: Artistic Dining
The best and worst of Denver's restaurants willing to hawk your work.
by Vanessa Tomasello
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Volume 2, Issue 7
March 9 - March 22, 2000 |
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Space For Rent: Artistic Dining The best and worst of Denver's restaurants willing to hawk your work. by Vanessa Tomasello |
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Just across the street from the Bluebird, this is a great place to meet friends before a concert. It's owned by the same great people who brought Denver Racine's and Dixon's, which also showcase art.
DRINK: Outside hangs a large sign, "Best Margaritas in Denver." When there are seven scuzzie pizza places also on Colfax that claim to have the "Best Pizza in Denver," I tend to be weary of such signs. But Goodfriend's declaration is no exaggeration. Each margarita is served in its own shaker, worth about 2 1/2 glasses. I recommend the 1800 Grand.
FOOD: The fajitas and stuffed jalapinos are tasty. If you're into adventurous salads, be sure to try the Nutty Cheese Salad with honey mustard dressing. Those on a budget can always enjoy the quesadillas.
ART: Whether or not you smoke, it's worth sitting in the smoking section for atmosphere. It is here that art is on display. The dark red walls and careful lighting make each piece obvious and important. The art rotates every six to eight weeks, and the walls are already booked for over a year. Currently, Glenn Grassi is showcased with vibrant paintings, assorted chairs and doors, and 3D pieces. A
If you study astrology and carry a leather-bound notebook to write inspired free verse, this is the place for you.
DRINK: Herbal tea is the beverage of choice amongst the primarily New Age clientele. The Merc can be commended for only carrying wines and beers made in Colorado.
FOOD: Not a place for meatballs. Although there is a small selection of meat on the menu, tofu, couscous, squash, and beans are more typical ingredients.
ART: Since the cafe itself has such flamboyant Bohemian decor, the few pieces of artwork here get trivialized and are easily overlooked. The house's own decorations, which include such eclectic pieces as a plastic tiger jumping through a neon hoop and astrologically-themed murals, hide and overwhelm the art for sale. Even if the art were better than mediocre, only large and bold paintings could compete with the room. C-
Always packed and hip, this is a good non-pretentious place to bring a date or bring your family.
DRINK: Pasquini's has a proud wine list. Merlot or other red wines go best with the Italian menu. And don't be fooled by the restaurant's shabbily-dressed help -- the servers are always courteous and knowledgable about the menu and the wine.
FOOD: Every meal starts with soft bread sticks and tomato dipping sauce that you will inevitably eat too many of. You can't go wrong ordering any pizza. The fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato combo is my personal favorite. If you're not up to eating in close quarters (since the seating is rather tight, especially at the Broadway location), they also deliver.
ART: Unlike the other restaurants that have just one artist on display, Pasquini's exhibits a smorgasbord. In fact, just eating at either location can be an artistic experience, thanks to the over-the-top contemporary decorating. Each wall is painted a different bright color, so the many styles work well with the exception of pastels. In such an upbeat restaurant soft watercolors, for instance, look out of place. B
Denver's only 100% vegetarian restaurant is a popular place for breakfast amongst Capitol Hill locals.
DRINK: Freshly squeezed orange juice or a juicy cocktail made by the Naked Juice company will get you in the right mood for this proudly granola experience.
FOOD: WaterCourse is known for their creative combinations that result in truly delicious vegetarian food. The buckwheat pancakes, scrambled eggs (containing inventive mixes of veggies and cheeses), and sandwich rolls are a few plates that I could never get tired of.
ART: Unfortunately, the artwork here is messily hung. A few photographs are awkwardly clumped in one corner and a few large paintings hang slightly crooked throughout the rest of the small restaurant. Although the eatery's heart is in the right place -- one glance at the clientele and the flyers near the entryway will tell you that WaterCourse is a hot hangout for political activists and a community center -- the space is too dirty and sloppy to do justice to the art on sale. C+
The perfect place for coffee. The location on 17th has a ‘garage' window, so it's open and airy on warm days.
DRINK: Mochas here are yummy. The people behind the counter (who may partake of the caffeine-laced beverages too much during their shifts) are arguably the best at brewing and mixing your favorite coffee drink in town.
FOOD: This coffeehouse is exactly that -- a coffeehouse, so the real food selection is sparse. There are paninis (sandwiches) and daily soup, but coffee and cookies are what they do best.
ART: If you're an artist, this is one of the better places to get your work shown, especially because a lot of the art here sells. Although both locations have some outrageous in-house decorations, the high ceilings and mostly unadorned walls keep the art for sale center stage. The white walls provide an unimposing backdrop, so if the art is good, it looks good (but if it's bad, the room won't help). A-