Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace - Awards:
"Best Outdoor Dining" - Colorado Daily's Best of Boulder 2008
"Best Booze and Bellies" - Westword, 2008
Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace may have a funny name, but it takes its booze very, very seriously. From day one, the staff has been exhorted to think of the bar as an extension of the kitchen — a place where only the best ingredients and most rigorous prep will be accepted. The results are some seriously powerful and seriously delicious classic cocktails which, once you've knocked back a few, require something equally good and very filling from the kitchen. Which is where the bellies come in — pork bellies, in this case, used to make the incomparable cheesy pork-belly masa cake. On its own, this dish would be reason to drive to Boulder, but it's just one entry on a menu chock-full of the varied flavors of Central and South America.
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"Denver's Best Restaurants" - 5280 Magazine, March 2008Sassy Centro Latin Kitchen took all the great energy of a Dave Query restaurant (LoLa, Jax Fish House, Zolo Grill, and The West End Tavern) and upped the ante. The space is refind and vibrant, as is Centro's new menu. Latin food here is focused, clear, and memorable, such as the chunky avocado salsa, the garlicky shrimp tacos, and the curried squash lobster soup.
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Bull’s eye
Centro targets the union of Latin and domestic
by Clay Fong, Boulder Weekly, January 10th, 2008
"Centro, unlike the jarring painting above its door, skillfully blends
influences both foreign and domestic when it comes to its weekend
brunch menu. A cheerfully inviting ambience, moderate prices and
selections that would appeal to both the sophisticated sensibilities of
Richie Rich and the humbler aspirations of Subcomandante Marcos make
this a destination worth exploring."
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"Denver's 10 Best New Restaurants" - 5280 Magazine, December 2007
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"But ultimately, the food at Centro is all that matters, because it's so
good, so smart, so original and so stubbornly uncompromising. I come
here when I'm sad, and the food (not the flute music, not the plates,
not the freaky art on the walls) makes me happy. I come here when I'm
already happy, and it just makes me happier. I come here because, right
now, this week, today, Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace is my favorite restaurant in the area." - Jason Sheehan, Westword, August 2007
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"In short, Centro's cuisine and fun atmosphere make it feel
authentically Latin. And regardless of whether you visit the restaurant
for drinks, dinner or both, Centro offers something enticing to suit
your needs." -Meg Tilton, Daily Camera, July 2007
Food 3 stars Service 3 stars Ambience 3½ stars
Reviews
Jax Boulder Awards
Best Seafood - Colorado Daily's Best of Boulder 2008
CITY’S 101 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS 2007
Jax Fish House Boulder
You might think to pass up a fish house in landlocked Boulder, but you’d miss out on some of the country’s best seafood—lack of nearby coast be damned. The crowded bar-restaurant offers limited seating and an exquisite raw bar. Pair the wasabi pea-crusted ono with an orange- and mango-infused martini—both incredible.
—Christie Allen, CITY Magazine, July/August 2007
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Named Top Seafood Restaurant in the Rocky Mountain Region
Zagat Survey
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Best of Boulder and Denver awards
Best Seafood
Best Happy Hour
Best Martinis
5280 Magazine, Westword and Daily Camera
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"Jax Serves one of the top 10 catfish dishes in America"
USA Today
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'Fun atmosphere that will make your dining experience unforgettable'
"Jax Fish House in Boulder features fresh seafood flown in daily combined with a fun atmosphere that will make your dining experience unforgettable"
DENVER DINING GUIDE
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WINNER: BEST SEAFOOD
"This is simply the best fish around. Owner Dave Query has the restauranteur's version of the Midas touch, and this place is his signature. There's a reason that there's no such thing as a 'quiet night out at Jax,' and that's because just about everyone who's ever eaten there, eats there again."
INSITE MAGAZINE
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'Kick back, relax and laugh loudly'
"A cornucopia of fish and flavor, this seafood bar keeps you coming back for the fresh raw bar and well-prepared ocean fare. Kick back, relax and laugh loudly."
CITYSEARCH
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'The only bistro around that serves fresh seafood'
"This supremely casual Jax Fish House on Bouder's downtown mall is invariably packed. The only bistro around that serves fresh seafood."
METROPOLITAN HOME
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TOP OF THE TOWN WINNER: TOP SEAFOOD EDITOR'S AND READERS CHOICE
"If you're looking for the best bait in town, Jax will reel you in and guaranteed to leave you shell-shocked."
5280 MAGAZINE
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WINNER: BEST SEAFOOD
"Voted best seafood for its consistent freshness and balanced, delicious and simple dishes."
CITYSEARCH
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'Jax has made a name for itself'
"If you've ever looked for raw oysters, crab cakes and a good martini on Pearl Street in Boulder, you've likely been directed to Jax Fish House. Open for nearly nine years, Jax has made a name for itself by providing customers with a vivacious, colorful atmosphere coupled with exquisitely fresh seafood."
DAILY CAMERA
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'Jax is quite a catch'
"We took some long, happy minutes to appreciate everything about Jax's potato wrapped Alaskan halibut. It reminded us just how great seafood can be."
John Lehndorff, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
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First Place Winner: Best Seafood Restaurant
1st Place 2006 Boulder County Gold People's Choice Awards
Daily Camera
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Jax Denver Awards
Best of Denver, 2004 for Best Seafood
Best of Denver, 2003, Best Seafood
Best of Westword, 2002, Best Seafood
Best of Westword, 2001, Best Seafood
Best of Denver, 2000, Best Seafood
Best of Denver 2003, Best Seafood Cookbook
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DRINK OF THE WEEK - Sweet Basil Martini
Tim Harris - or Timmy, as I like to call him, shouting it out like they do on South Park - has a passion for creating delicious things for his customers at Jax. But he isn't a chef in the traditional sense. His creations are liquid, because he's a "bar chef." Tim doesn't use that term lightly, and neither do I; the drinks he and compatriot James Lee have been cooking up using local ingredients and fresh flavors usually found in the kitchen, not behind the bar, are too seriously good for that. Among my favorites: Timmy's Bug Juice ($7), a concotion of pineapple juice, bitters, ginger ale and a secret, home-made spiced spiced rum that combines five rums, brown sugar and spices; and Le Chic ($9), made with Charbay pomegranate vodka, PAMA pomegranate liqueur and Momokawa Silver sake. But the very best cocktail Tim has invented (so far) has to be the Sweet Basil Martini ($9). Though gin normally scares me off, this melange of muddled Thai basil and lemon with Hendrick's gin, Lillet Blanc, simple syrup and soda water was the perfect ending to a perfect evening with my favorite chef. Bar none.
-Nancy Levine, Westword, April, 2008
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Best Contemporary Cocktail - Westword, 2008 When
we walk into Jax, the LoDo outpost of a fish house that got its start
in Boulder, we still get a twinge of nostalgia for the old Terminal Bar
that once occupied this building. But after ten years, Jax has proven
itself more than see-worthy. And the great horseshoe-shaped bar — a
holdover from the Terminal days — is one of the main reasons why.
Settle onto a stool here, and you can order up a plate of oysters or
the best burger you're ever going to find in a seafood restaurant. But
the real draw is behind the bar, where Tim Foster leads a crew of
inventive bartenders all creating incredible new cocktails featuring
infused alcohols and fresh ingredients generally found in a kitchen
rather than a bar. And even if you don't want basil in your martini,
you won't be disappointed by whatever the bartenders mix up. When they
pour, you reign.
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'Jax Fish House is one of the hottest spots in LoDo'
It's also home to some of Denver's best seafood. Check out the raw bar for oysters, crab and clams.
SUNSET MAGAZINE
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WINNER: BEST SEAFOOD
"This is simply the best fish around. Owner Dave Query has the restauranteur's version of the Midas touch, and this place is his signature. There's a reason that there's no such thing as a 'quiet night out at Jax,' and that's because just about everyone who's ever eaten there, eats there again."
INSITE MAGAZINE
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TOP OF THE TOWN WINNER: TOP SEAFOOD EDITORIALS AND READERS CHOICE
"If you're looking for the best bait in town, Jax will reel you in and guaranteed to leave you shell-shocked."
5280 MAGAZINE
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WINNER: BEST SEAFOOD
"Voted best seafood for its consistent freshness and balanced, delicious and simple dishes."
CITYSEARCH
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ZAGAT SURVEY
"A fantastic finned feast awaits all at this hip-hop happening LoDo seafood oasis. Stoked with everything but the ocean, rock-solid fresh fish, spunky servers, entertaining bartenders, impeccable service and a party atmosphere."
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BEST SEAFOOD-READERS CHOICE
"Fresh seafood, fabulous décor and innovative offerings make Jax one of the best things to happen to LoDo since Coors Field. The oyster shooters bite back and the "filet mignon" of tuna is the Cadillac of fish dishes. Another venture by the busy Dave Query, Jax is a keeper."
WESTWORD
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'Kick back, relax and eat well.'"
"At Zolo Grill and the original Jax in Boulder, and now at the new Denver Jax, Query dishes elevated food in a down-to-earth setting. The appealing message is, 'kick back, relax and eat well.'"
THE DENVER POST
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READERS CHOICE: BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
"From fresh oysters to fresh caviar, steamed mussles, clams, crab cakes and a wonderous tuna filet, everything served at Jax is a keeper. Enjoy it in a jazz-infused, exposed brick scene that's as lively and colorful as life along a coral reef. There may be other fish in the sea, but we only have eyes for Jax."
WESTWORD
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'Well beyond the expected'
"Well beyond the expected, Jax produces some of the more creative combinations of flavors in Denver today. The result makes for a flavor playground. Jax is delicious, Jax is extreme; Jax is fun. And in a city where restaurant service is seemingly forever strained, Jax Fish House not only has retained for several years the core of it's corps. But the women and men who serve at Jax keep getting better and more professional."
THE DENVER POST
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TOP FIVE PLACE TO EAT AT THE BAR
...Or, mosey a few blocks down to Jax Fish House, where chef Sheila Lucero will wow you with her contemporary, flavorful, American cuisine. Nosh on a raw-seafood bar sampler or order one of Lucero's beautiful creations, like the grilled Hawaiian Monchong with roasted corn fritters, pineapple-green curry cream, and avocado-King crab salad. The always-congenial bartenders, who keep conversation as fluid as the libations, are a real draw to the hopping bar at Jax - and any dedicated bar fly can appreciate that. Fruit-infused martinis, made in-house daily, are also real magnets, as are the fresh-as-the-sea oysters that are shucked right before your eyes. As a single diner, you're catered to, never overlooked.
5280 Magazine
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CHEAP EATS - Libations and Happy Hours
THE DEAL: Happy Hour at Jax has a little something for everyone. From 4pm to 6 pm every day, draft beers drop to $2, house wines to $4, and house-infused strawberry lemonades are $4. You can create your own "lemonades" using any of Jax's vodka infusions made weekly. Flavors such as pineapple, watermelon, pomegranite or peach may sound quite tame, but horseradish, mixed chile or habanero infusions may make a few eyes pop.
THE DISH: At $2 oyster shooters are the way to go here. The vodka and killer Bloody Mary mix arrive in a martini glass with a raw East Coast oyster plopped in the middle.
DON'T MISS: Happy hour specials don't just apply to libations - East Coast oysters are just 75 cents apiece. Also look for rotating specials: a plate of seafood fritters with tartar sauce for $3.25, $2 cups of gumbo, or a $4 plate of Old Bay-sprinkled peel-and-eat shrimp. up in Boulder? Call the Boulder location (928 Pearl Street. 303-444-1811) for happy hour specials.
5280 Magazine
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"Jax exudes a feeling of casual fun."
If restaurateur, chef and culinary man-about-town Dave Query has a signature spot that captures the evolution of his empire, that would be the Jax in Lodo...
Jason Sheehan, Westword
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Power Meals, December 31
"It's a different type of place that reflects Denver's life and vibrancy. It's got bare bones and brushed nickel feel, and it's always filled with people. It reminds me of Cheers."
Rocky Mountain News
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"A New Meaning to the Words Happy Hour"
SILHOUETTES SANS THE SHADE: Dinner patrons at Jax Fish House in LoDo last week got a sideshow, rather than a side dish.
One customer was sipping and supping on the 17th Street side of the restaurant with her hubby when the action on the second floor of the building across the street 'bout made them drop their drinks.
"First we saw a shirt come off the woman, then we saw the shirt come off the man," the customer told me. As the scene progressed, the woman disappeared from view, but it was obvious from the man's expression that she hadn't left the room.
According to the customer's account, restaurant patrons deserted their seats and pressed up against the windows to witness the free-love liaison.
"We're just trying to keep it fresh," Jax owner David Query quipped, upon hearing the story. "This brings a new meaning to the words happy hour. Sorry I missed it."
Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News
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Best Brunch - Westword, 2008 On
Sunday morning, we worship at the church of Lola, which doubles as a
coastal Mexican restaurant the rest of the week. Sliding into our pew
(make that booth), we give thanks for the basket of homemade breads
(occasionally even pseudo-Pop-Tarts!) with which you can start the
meal, for a menu that includes not just pancake and egg offerings, but
a truly miraculous chicken-fried steak and specials that would tempt
even the most religious weight-watchers to stray. And then we wash away
a week's worth of sins with offerings from the bar, including mimosas
and excellent margs. Lola offers the same brunch fare on Saturdays, but
on Sunday there's live music to accompany the afternoon service. Let us
pray...and eat.
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Top 10 Brunch Spots - 5280 Magazine, March 2008
You might know LoLa best for its bar business, but you should get acquainted with the weekend brunch. We always love chef Jamey Fader's creamy corn soup (one of the few holdovers from the restaurant's early days) and the filling "admiral" combo of two eggs, chorizo, and a asadero cheese-grit cake. And knowing that it wouldn't be LoLa withoug a drink, we highly recommend the mango mimosa.
5280 Magazine - March 2008
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Top 10 Restaurants in Denver - 5280 Magazine
For a lively dinner where you can let your hair down and enjoy the fun, Lola is just the ticket. Another restaurant in Dave Query's empire (Jax, Zolo, Rhumba, etc.), Lola is located a couple of doors down from Sushi Den. This South Pearl Street restaurant has a fun, emergetic vibe, and Jamey Fader's adventurous food makes you feel like you're on a tropical vaction. Margaritas are the order of the day at Lola, whose extensive tequila selection was just written up in Food & Wine. Lola's coastal Mexican menu has a winning lineup, with guacamole mixed tableside, a ceviche bar (selection changes daily), and innovative dishes starring fresh fish and seasonal produce. If you're not a fish lover, try one of the pork or beef dishes and, if it's on the menu, the cornmeal flan dessert is phenomenal. Lola is not the restaurant for a quiet, serene date, but it's the perfect venue for a vibrant group that loves creative, delicious coastal cuisine.
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Top Guacamole
"Fresh guacamole is one of the great tastes of summer. But if you aren't in the guac-making mood, head over to LoLa where they'll make it fresh right in front of you. Editors and readers agree that LoLa is the place to go for the green stuff. LoLa's signature guacamole cart wheels fresh avocados, garlic, cilantro, red onion, and other spices righ up to your table, where your server will mash it to your specifications."
5280 Magazine
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Top Ceviche
"A South Pearl favorite, chef Jamey Fader adds ceviche flare to his hugely popular restaurant with a seafood bar. The options change nightly, depending on what's fresh and in season, but LoLa ceviches are always perfectly seasoned and cured. We've never tried one we didn't like. Plus, the homemade chips add just the right salty crunch to each bite."
5280 Magazine
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Top Margarita
"Who dares knock off the mighty Rio Grande for top readers' marg (winner every year since the category began)? None other than stylie LoLa, the coastal Mexican joint on South Pearl that stocks a tequila connoisseur's dream: more than 100 types of anejos, blancos, and reposados. Shout your order over the bar of this popular eatery, and you'll get a masterpiece margarita."
5280 Magazine
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'Lola's sleek space is conducive to a night of serious Tequila study'
"Lola's sleek space is conducive to a night of serious Tequila study, encouraged by 90-some selections lined up in alphabetical order, from a bracing Aficionado Plata to a Zaffarancho Reposado, along with anejos and after-dinner sips like Herradura's Seleccion Suprema, or for the well-heeled, the Cuervo 1900 Coleccion, a $90 splurge. Before starting in on your agave exploration, however, call over the guacamole goddess to mash up some dip to your taste. It's so addictive you may forget dinner, which would be a shame - chef Jamey Fader's smoked duck taquitos are the best in town."
Tara Q. Thomas, Wine & Spirits Magazine
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Top Restaurant For A First Date
Trade life stories over killer margaritas while waiting for a table in the crowded bar, where you can't help but be fairly intimate in the crush. When you finally get a table in the dining room, you'll both love the street view out the big picture windows. Make sure to order the guac, made tableside. It's sure to stir the conversation more. After that , it's up to you and the tequila.
Top of the Rockies, Rocky Mountain News
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Best Tequila Bars in the Country
This Nuevo Latino newcomer is creating masses of tequila converts with its 97 bottles of 100 percent blue agave tequilas and frequent pairing dinners.
Food & Wine Magazine
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TOP 10 RESTAURANTS IN DENVER
Chef Jamey Fader has come into his own at Lola. Over the course of two years, he's created and fine-tuned a captivating menu of coastal Mexican cuisine, with guacamole mixed table side (paired with to-die-for chips), super fresh and interesting ceviche, and innovative dishes starring fresh fish and seasonal produce. Margaritas are the order of the day at Lola, whose extensive tequila selection was written up in Food & Wine, but don't pass up the limey, powerful ciapirinha. This cuisine gives you the same buzz as when you're on vacation. The watery paintings on Lola's walls hammer home the feeling of being worry-free - and this sensation keeps you coming back again and again.
5280 Magazine
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CHEF OF THE YEAR - JAMEY FADER, LOLA
Jamey Fader is on top of his game. He's turning out dishes at Lola that sizzle with excitement, tango with titillating combinations, and wake up the taste buds like never before. "We visualize our work in two ways," explains Fader. "On one hand we see each night as a great party, and we have to be ready to be great hosts. On the other hand, we base our recipes on traditional foods that comfort and nourish, so it's the old meets the new that brings a little something to everyone coming through our door."
5280 Magazine
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BEST BRUNCH IN DENVER
Saturday night may not have been all right, but Sunday brunch will make everything better -- as long as you eat it at Lola. Seven nights a week, chef Jamey Fader serves up sublime coastal Mexican fare at this South Pearl hot spot, and the margaritas coming out of the bar only add fuel to the fire. But on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lola mellows out a bit, making it a great place to gather with friends or just gather strength for the week ahead. The fortification starts with a killer Bloody Mary or Maria, with an assortment of add-ins you choose off a dim sum-like menu. And talk about killer: The chicken-fried steak is amazing, a huge slab of tender meat deep-fried in a crispy batter, slathered with chorizo gravy and resting on a three-bean chile. This may also be the first house capable of making fusion French toast: The "Mexi-Toast" is a Nuevo Latino/Southwestern comfort-food collision of griddled bread stuffed with banana-canela cream cheese and fresh berries and topped with vanilla syrup. More delicate fare includes pork enchiladas, tacos and a simple plate of bacon and eggs. But in Lola's festive, friendly environment, even that's a reason to celebrate.
Westword
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BEST TAMALE IN DENVER
Chef Jamey Fader's menu changes with the seasons at Lola, his hot coastal-Mexican eatery. You can always count on several fish entrees as well as pork and beef, all boasting top-quality ingredients presented in fresh, and refreshing, ways. And now you can count on meaty surprises -- barbecued beef! -- inside the housemade tamales that are served up on Tamale Tuesdays. Just four bucks buys you a tamale that's an entire meal, and shows the same care that Fader takes with his more involved items. He's the masa of our universe.
Westword
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DRINK OF THE WEEK - Casa Bloody Tableside
During college, we'd go to a notorious party town to blow off steam after a long stretch of school in a notoriously boring town. We'd all shack up at some condo where, after the three beds and two couches were taken, the safest spots to sleep were under the kitchen table or anywhere else that you wouldn't be crushed by someone staggering in late at night.
The morning after, we'd head to our favorite brunch spot, which had an entire wall devoted to the perfect Bloody Mary. On its shelves were every accoutrement you could ever think of adding to a Bloody Mary. But after a great deal of studying (we were students, after all), we realized that 99 percent of that crap wasn't really necessary -- or even helpful, for that matter -- and we got our drink down to the essentials: great mix, Worcestershire, horseradish and some Tabasco-like hot sauce. With a well-spiced Bloody, good vodka isn't even necessary.
Still, I thought the Bloody of my college days was unbeatable until I stopped by Lola for brunch (served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays). For a measly $3, the Bloody Mary cart will serve you an excellent drink. Made with Sangrita in lieu of plain old tomato juice or V8, your choice of tequila or chile-pepper-infused vodka, and an assortment of garnishes you choose from the cart, Lola's Bloody is Ivy League quality. (Yes, snobs who can't stomach no-name vodka can get Stoli or Absolut for an additional $2.50, or Gray Goose or Chopin for an extra $4.) Add Lola's new patio to the mix, and you're in for a Bloody good time.
Westword
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CHEAP EATS - Lola's Brunch
THE DEAL: Lola coddles brunch-goers by nursing hangovers with big pours of strong coffee and Bloddy Marys ($3) mixed tableside. In keeping with executive chef, Jamey Fader's Mexican coastal-cuisine menu, brunch staples like French toast and pancakes give way to huevos racnheros ($10) and breakfast torta ($9) with jalapeno eggs, queso, tomato, onion, avocado and chorizo stacked on grilled bread. It may not be the usual brunch, but therein lies the beauty.
THE DISH: The spicy Lola Hamberguesa ($11) is served on grilled bread topped with onion, avocado, mushrooms, queso, and jicama slaw. Finish yourself off with the accompanying chips and salsa.
DON'T MISS: Sip on $3 blackberry mimosas mixed by Lola's Ryan Halbert.
5280 Magazine
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Top Cocktail: Ciapirinha at Lola
Lola's ode to refreshment is simply divine. Fresh lime and sugar mashed together, then mixed with a generous shot of Cachaca (a Brazilian-style cane sugar rum). Drink Slowly; they pack a wallop.
5280 Magazine
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Best View of the City
"If you haven't been to the new LoLa yet, the restaurant still pours the margaritas strong, cooks up the coastal cuisine just right (don't miss the lobster tamale), and boasts the best view of the city � seriously.
Amanda Faison, 5280
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Best Bourbon List - Westword, 2008
When
owner Dave Query set out to remake the West End, a longtime Boulder
institution, a few years ago, he made a decision to lay in the area's
biggest stock of bourbons. Today, the bar offers everything from the
once-bum-juice/now-cool Bulleit Bourbon and old friends like Wild
Turkey and George Dickel to Sazerac rye and the $45-a-shot Jim Beam
Distiller's Masterpiece. So fans of this classic American should head
directly to the West End. With their wallets, because one drink won't
be enough.
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"DENVER'S BEST BARS"- 5280, February 2008
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"BEST BAR"- Daily Camera, September 2007, Boulder County Gold
With all the bar choices throughout Boulder County, West End Tavern is
in a class by itself. “Our covered rooftop bar is a huge factor, with
its great view of the Flatirons,” says general manager Mike Lawinski.
“Also, our focus on cocktails, made with fresh ingredients, like our
Pimms Cup and French Mojito. We are a full bar with a lot of spirits
selections and a vast selection in every category – bourbon is our
specialty, and we feature more than 50 kinds. The crowd is eclectic,
with older students and working adults of all ages.”
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TOP 10 ROOFTOP BARS - Sunset Magazine
Make the scene, watch the game, or get away from it all at one of these lofty watering holes
# 3. BOULDER, CO West End Tavern
The local favorite straddles Boulder's dual personality perfectly with
two rooftop decks: one showcasing the town's vibrant cityscape, the
other with the makes-you-proud-to-be-an-American vista of the
Flatirons.
But thanks to a creative roster of libations that lays
claim to the state's largest
bourbon selection, it isn't all about
views. Sample a bourbon flight or imbibe the Pimm's Cup concocted with
muddled fresh mint, cucumbers, fresh fruit, and ginger root. INFO: 926
Pearl St.; 303/444-3535.
–Lori Midson, Sunset Magazine, July 2007
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Denver's 10 Best New Restaurants - See What's Hatched
It's no surprise that Dave Query - whose credits include Zolo, Jax, Rhumba, and Lola - has produced another knockout. But his latest achievement is all the more impressive because it's not, strictly speaking, new. Since 1987, the West End Tavern has reigned as Boulder's unofficial headquarters for relaxed pub grub and pristine Flatiron views. Laid back and even a little dingy, the original tavern was adored for it's authentic hometown vibe - a spirit that might have vanished all to quickly under new ownership. But Query has defied such risks, deftly transforming a beloved neighborhood tavern into, well a beloved neighborhood tavern with some righteous home-style cuisine.
"We wanted to keep the place true to its roots,” explains general manager John-Mark Larter. “Whatever we did with the space and the menu, it had to be something that the old West Enders would relate to.” This reverence for the End’s history is more than a savvy marketing decision. It’s a testimony to Dave Query’s abiding respect for the late Steve “Beaver” Goren, one of the West End’s original owners and Query’s mentor, consultant, and close friend. “Before Beaver opened the West End Tavern,” Query recalls, ‘people didn’t even call this part of Pearl Street the West End. He truly coined a phrase and created a neighborhood.”
The new West End preserves the tavern feel with warm wood floors and old brick, but Query’s slick style comes through in the colorful walls and industrial-chic copper accents. The same old bar dominates the interior, welcoming returning loyals like a familiar old friend. Outside, two rooftop decks perch over Pearl Street, despite the hotly protested new construction that obstructs a portion of the view. In creating two decks, the management aims to satisfy two markets: the college drinkers who’ve long haunted the West End, and the upscale diners who swarm Dave Query like bees to honey
And when it comes to food, there’s plenty to buzz about. Spinning traditional pub fare with a ‘bourbon and barbeque” theme, Query’s partner and executive chef, Chris Blackwood, formerly of Jax in Boulder, serves up a fest of homespun favorites like burgers, ribs, fried chicken, and mac and cheese. (The bar also boasts Boulder’s biggest bourbon selection – close to 50 varieties in all.) If the menu harkens back to an era before haute cuisine, it also recalls a time before cholesterol. Picture a meal that begins with smoked cheese, moves up to hamburgers topped with pastrami, and wraps up with grasshopper pie. “We serve old-school stuff that people relate to instantly,” explains GM Larter. “We want people to look at our menu and say, ‘Man, I haven’t had that in years.’”
Enjoy the fun retro touches, but don’t let them fool you – the West End is definitely not your grandma’s kitchen. Unless, of course, your grandma made her Mandarin orange salad with fancy filed greens, watercress and grilled king salmon. Or served up her root-beer floats with small batch Thomas Kemper brew. Such scrumptious updates imbue the West End’s new menu with a rare blend of culinary sophistication, cultural wit, and comfy nostalgic appeal.
In one respect, the West End is a lot like grandma’s kitchen: It’s the kind of place where you can develop an emotional attachment to a favorite dish and never want anything else. The butterscotch pudding – cold, dense with eggs, and sweet beyond description – is a perfect example. You’ll swear you can’t eat more than a taste, only to find yourself scraping the final spoonful from the crock a moment later.
In making over the West End Tavern, Dave Query walked a tricky path. With each touch of trendiness, he risked betraying the West End legacy and alienating loyals from the early years. On the flip side, in a yuppified, tofu-toting town like Boulder, his down-home menu could have come off as forced and artificial as a Jell-O mold. But in the end, the eatery fits the neighborhood like a sporty pair of Merrells, comfortable yet stylish, laid back yet spruced up. Of course the West End didn’t need Query to put it on the map. But thanks too his skillful hand, it’s likely to stay there for a long, long time.
5280 magazine
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Top Macaroni And Cheese
Restaurant whiz, Dave Query has revived this legendary eatery with a rooftop patio. He's expanded the menu to include homey, all-American faves including a stellar side dish: mac 'n' cheese. Served bubbly hot, it's a $3 crock of toothsome elbows swimming in real cream and cheese. We love it's true Cheddar flavor.
Top of the Rocky, Rocky Mountain News
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TOP 10 RESTAURANTS IN DENVER
Folks in Boulder have always cherished the West End for its Flatiron vistas and comfy, corner-bar atmosphere. But thanks to Dave Query, this hot spot's appeal extends far beyond views and brews. Chow down on Southern-inspired classics like fried chicken and barbeque, fill up on hearty salads, or treat yourself to the best buttercotch pudding this side of grandma's house.Even if Boudler is a bit of a drive, with food this good and a vibe this friendly, you'll instantly feel right at home.
5280 Magazine
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"A meal at the West End Tavern is the living end
"Because what Query really did was create a great tavern, damn near the perfect tavern, with a razor's-edge menu that walks the line between too much and just enough without ever seriously overstepping..."
Jason Sheehan
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"The crowd and atmosphere are as hot as the Southwestern fare."
Zagat Survey
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"Absolutely the hottest restaurant in Boulder"
5280 Magazine
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"Unobtrusive service and exemplary cooking at once intoxicate and invigorate at Zolo"
Denver Post
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'Zolo’s southwestern food is a delight to behold'
“Because it (Zolo) is one of Dave Query’s restaurants, Zolo has certain characteristics: Like Jax and Rhumba, the atmosphere is energetic, the cooking style is innovative and reservations are not accepted. Zolo’s southwestern food is a delight to behold as well as to eat, with a sophisticated edge and an exciting melding of flavors.”
Daily Camera Friday Magazine
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'A relaxing and pleasing dining experience for all'
“Zolo’s efficient and friendly staff reflects the Query’s attentive, hands-on management style, culminating in a relaxing and pleasing dining experience for all.”
Flatirons Magazine
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'Zolo Grill is a collision of fresh tastes on a plate'
“Zolo Grill is a collision of fresh tastes on a plate. I don’t know where I’ve ever found so many different things working so well together on a single platter. The restaurant pushes the boundary of what I’ve come to expect from Southwestern fare ”
Denver Rocky Mountain News
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'Boulder’s Zolo is something else'
“Boulder’s Zolo is something else. Since the day it opened, many moons ago, this Southwestern eatery has packed them in, day and night. Diners are there for food with flavor”
Rocky Mountain News
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BEST NEW RESTAURANT
“At first we thought, ‘Just another Southwestern restaurant.’ Then we actually ate at Zolo Grill and we had to think again. This restaurant is something completely different: innovative and daring”
DENVER WESTWORD
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Runner Up: BEST MARGARITA
1st Place 2006 Boulder County Gold People's Choice Awards
Daily Camera
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