Month: November 2021

The Original – Denver, CO

Not far from the Colorado Rockies baseball stadium in Denver is a restaurant called The Original.

When I walked in, I was surprised by the style of restaurant. It was an updated take on an old school diner. There were old nick-nacks everywhere. They had a malt-shop like bar that you could sit at. It was totally retro.

Their menu also fit that classic diner theme. I started off with a cup of Matzo Ball Soup. This chicken broth had caramelized onions and seasoning throughout. There was one giant matzo ball that was light and fluffy. The broth needed a little more salt because it was slightly bland. Once I added salt and pepper to my liking, the soup got better. I enjoyed the texture of the matzo ball as it soaked up the broth.

For my dinner I ordered a sandwich. This was no ordinary sandwich, this was The GOAT. It was a combination grilled cheese ad BLT (GCBLT). They used thick slices of Texas Toast to make the grilled cheese; then they loaded it up with crispy bacon, juicy slices of tomato, and crispy lettuce.

The sandwich was much bigger than I expected. The bread had a great crunch from the grill. The cheese was gooey and wrapped around the bacon. There was almost too much bread based on the other ingredients. There was a comforting feeling with eating this sandwich.

They also served a side of shoe-string French fries. They were crispy and tasted so good dipped in ketchup. Something so simple was so satisfying.

Sticking with the diner theme, for dessert I ordered a milkshake. But this was no ordinary milk shake. They offered several “adult’ milkshakes. I ordered the Knight Rider. This blended Kahlua, crème de cacao, chocolate ice cream, and Oreo cookie crumbs. Tis milkshake was delicious. It was easy to drink through a straw even with the cookie crumbles. The Kahlua was not overwhelming. The chocolate flavor shined through. It was the perfect ending to my dinner.

The Original was a fun find in Denver. Luckily when I visited the baseball team had an away game. If they were in town, I am sure it would have been difficult to get a table without a reservation.

Check out their menu at www.theogdenver.com

Enjoy!

T

Tamayo – Denver, CO

There is a great area in downtown Denver called Larimer Square that is filled with shops and restaurants. At the corner of the block, I came across a Mexican restaurant called Tamayo. I thought I would check them out for dinner.

As soon as I walked through the door, I noticed their beautiful bar. It was so colorful. It really was a showstopper, not to mention all the choices of liquor they offered.

The waitress brought over some fresh tortilla chips and a homemade salsa. The salsa had a slight roasted flavor to it. There was no heat, it was pretty mild. It was a nice little snack.

I did not feel like anything too big for dinner. I saw tortilla soup on the menu and decided to order that. It was a creamy broth that was loaded with pulled chicken. There were a few vegetables throughout, including nice pieces of avocado. On top they put a scoop of crema fresca panela cheese. It was very creamy and added even more creaminess to the soup. The flavor was mild and did not overpower the soup. The tortilla stripes they included added a little crunch.

I did get two small sides to go along with my soup. The Mexican rice was very traditional. I was simple but had nice seasoning.

The black beans were seasoned and the sauce they came in was also loaded with flavor. I added some rice to the beans and sauce. The sauce soaked up nicely in the rice. The two flavors paired perfectly.

It was a great, quick dinner at Tamayo. There was a nice authentic taste to the food. The atmosphere was really great for groups of people. And they have a nice happy hour. Check them out at www.EatTamayo.com

Enjoy!

T