116 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best Date Night Restaurant La Forêt 38 South Broadway 303-351-7938 laforetdenver.com A year ago, the former Beatrice & Woodsley space got new life when a team led by Mike Huggins, owner of bars Arvada Tavern, Union Lodge No.1 and the Tatarian, de- buted a new restaurant that built upon the woodland whimsy of its predecessor. The result is a place that’s built for dreamy date night memories, where you can snuggle up in a booth surrounded by real aspen tree trunks as you sip pastis and dig into rustic French fare. If you really want to impress your plus-one, spring for the pricey but stunning namesake cocktail, which arrives on a bed of moss that is doused tableside with oolong tea-infused “mist.” Best Dinner and a Show Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club 1330 27th Street 303-295-3333 nocturnejazz.com Located in the heart of Denver’s RiNo district, Nocturne has been offering tasty eats and live jazz for a decade. Owned and operated by Scott and Nicole Mattson, the venue features dinner-and-a-show reserva- tions with a seasonal three-course menu. Guests can customize their experience by choosing from several options, as well as enjoying small plates, cheese and charcute- rie offerings paired with hand-selected wines and cocktails. Bar seat reservations are also available without the multi-course meal, though we recommend going for the full experience. Best Place to Dine With a Group Dan Da 9945 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora 720-476-7183 dandavn.com After running the now-closed Savory Viet- nam for years, chef An Nguyen struck out on her own and opened Dan Da next door to her sister’s Banh & Butter Bakery Cafe in April 2024. The menu includes many favorites from her former kitchen, like the build-your-own spring roll platters that now come on striking towers. Every item here is meant to be shared, so the bigger the group, the better for exploring the wide-ranging menu, which includes everything from clay pots and whole deep-fried fi sh to egg rolls, soups and baby clams and snails in a variety of preparations. A defi nition of the restaurant’s name is displayed on the wall, reading, “These rustic dishes often bring a feeling of comfort, warmth and togetherness among people,” and that’s exactly what Dan Da delivers. Best Neighborhood Spot for Splurging The Plimoth 2335 East 28th Avenue 303-297-1215 theplimoth.com The Plimoth has been open on a quiet cor- ner in the Skyland neighborhood for over a decade. The restaurant describes itself vaguely as serving New American fare, though the menu is anything but vague. Entrees and appetizers are inspired by in- season ingredients, and while there are some staples on the menu, like the Crack- lin’ Chicken and pork rillette appetizer, the dishes often pair unexpected ingredients that keep the fare fresh and ever-changing. For an additional splurge, the Plimoth reg- ularly hosts wine dinners that showcase special menus. Best Year-Round Farm Dinner Black Cat Farmstead 9889 North 51st Street, Longmont 303-444-5500 blackcatboulder.com In 2020, Eric Skokan, who also owns Bramble & Hare in Boulder, began host- ing dinners at his farm as a way to sur- vive the pandemic — and they were a hit. Over the past four years, he’s navigated the permitting process and put in plenty of sweat equity to make those farm din- ners a permanent fi xture that offi cially launched in October 2024. Diners are greeted warmly by staff who escort them to a private cabana, where a tray of wel- come bites awaits before the rest of the family-style meal is served. Even in the winter, the cabanas are a cozy escape, warmed by a fireplace that is stoked throughout the meal, and the food, al- most completely sourced from the farm, is simply sublime. Best Happy Hour Bite Osteria Alberico 3455 South University Boulevard, Englewood 303-970-8840 osteriaalberico.com In July 2024, the Michelin-starred Fra- sca Hospitality Group opened an Italian restaurant…in a King Soopers-anchored shopping center in Englewood. The loca- tion may be surprising, but the quality of food coming out of the kitchen is not, es- pecially since it’s overseen by longtime pro chef Russell Stippich. While the fare leans upscale, Stippich and his crew are known to have a little fun, too, best illustrated by the happy hour bite listed on the menu as simply Mortadella e Mais — a gussied-up way to say “mortadella corn dog,” and yes, it’s just as tasty as it sounds. Best Happy Hour for a Full Meal Revival Denver Public House 630 East 17th Avenue 720-524-7867 revival-denver.com The name of this four-year-old Uptown eat- ery may lack personality, but the restaurant itself is brimming with character that’s on full display during its generous happy hour. From 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, you can score boozy deals like $8 martinis and a $5 (!) Old Fashioned. But you can also get a whole meal’s worth of food without breaking the bank, thanks to deals includ- ing six cocktail shrimp remoulade for $5, broiled oysters with continued on page 118 Food & Drink continued from page 114
