100 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best Classic Borscht Masha and the Bear Russian Cafe 12101 East Iliff Avenue, Aurora 720-209-4748 mashabearco.com Nothing beats borscht on a cold day. The metro area isn’t known as a hot spot for Eastern European fare, but Masha and the Bear deserves credit for doing the traditional version of Russia’s favor- ite beat-and-beef soup right. It dishes up bear-sized bowls of steamy, hearty borscht, rich from the fat, tender chunks of beef soaked in the soup’s savory broth. Each serving is topped with fresh pars- ley and dill and served with a dollop of sour cream on the side to make it even smoother. Masha’s borscht is sure to leave you completely stuffed and warm, so you can leave your big furry hat at home. Best Rotating Borscht Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails 3333 East Colfax Avenue 303-316-3333 molotovdenver.com Chef Bo Porytko is known for his culi- nary imagination, which combines with his Ukrainian roots at the small-in-size but big-in-charm Molotov. The menu is ever-changing, but you’ll always fi nd varia- tions of varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings), infused horilka (Budmo!) and borscht. Recent iterations include a white version with rye croutons, dill oil, poached egg and kielbasa, one made with sour cherry and duck, and another cucumber yogurt-based take with new potatoes, dill vichyssoise and golden beet chips. Best New Omakase Sushi by Scratch 1441 Larimer Street 720-724-7729 sushibyscratchrestaurants.com/denver We’re always a little skeptical of out-of- state groups dropping locations of their restaurants in Denver, but as the city’s din- ing scene gets more national attention, it’s bound to happen more frequently. Some, though, are certainly better than others, and Sushi by Scratch, which earned a Mi- chelin star in 2021 for its outpost in Monte- cito, California, is one of the good — make that great — ones. This basement-level ten-seat counter in Larimer Square is well worth the $195-per-person price tag, which includes a half-hour pre-dinner session with canapes and a welcome drink in the lounge before the well-paced and clearly well-thought-out seventeen-course-plus main event. This spot truly scratches our itch for a memorable omakase experience. Best All-You-Can-Eat Sushi Chubby Fish 10048 Grant Street, Thornton 720-907-8888 chubbyfi shsushi.com Sushi lovers seeking the best bang for your buck, look no further than Chubby Fish. The one-year-old restaurant offers a huge variety of quality rolls and nigiri, but the all-you- can-eat deal extends beyond sushi. Diners can also enjoy ramen, skewers, hibachi, tempura and much more, all for $30.99 for adults, $15.99 for kids, and free for toddlers. On top of delicious food, Chubby Fish has a fun ambience, playing anime on the televi- sions, EDM music over the speakers and displaying manga graphics throughout the shop. Bonus points for the cute tuxedo-clad robots that help bring food to the tables. Best Upscale Thai Restaurant Som Dee Thai Kitchen 1598 East 17th Avenue 720-381-0009 somdeethaikitchen.com When Orrapan Botthaisong moved to Den- ver from Thailand a decade ago, she had just $300 to her name. Ten years later, she’s the owner of two Thai restaurants: the more ca- sual La Mai Thai near Sloan’s Lake, which is named for her mother, and Som Dee, which opened in December and is named for her father. Much of the decor in this upscale spot came from Thailand — as did some of the staff, including Botthaisong’s brother, who moved to Colo- Food & Drink continued from page 98 continued on page 102
