Small Bites

Rialto’s, on the 16^th Street Mall, Crab & Avocado Eggs Benedict, is wonderful, even at a pricy $11.99, unfortunately Village Inn gave me better service in one visit than four to Rialt. The Yard House, at Denver West, has one of my favorite Happy Hours. I recently had a California Roll ($5.79) that was the size of a person’s face served with crab, avocado and Tobiko. Famous Dave’s, near 36^th and Quebec, offers one pound of incredible rib tips with fries for only $4 during happy hour. It’s a screaming deal. Add a draft for only $2. 3 Sons Italian Restaurant, near McIntyre and 64^th, in Arvada, offers deep fried Calamari ($8) that’s in the neighborhood of bizarre. It’s large, chewy hunks of, well, squid, served with marinara. Two for one happy hour Italian margaritas ($8) and house wine make up for it though. Nice atmosphere and people. Go to Marlowe’s, on the 16^th Street Mall, for great Rhode Island Calamari ($10). I can’t remember if I had their 23 ounce Long Island Ice Tea happy hour priced at $4. Hamburger Mary’s, near Pearl on 17^th, serves juicy, umm, hamburgers (mostly $10.50 - $12). You may prefer/want to avoid the gay vibe. Believe it or not, Denny’s, puts out a pretty amazing bowl of Chicken Noodle soup (only $3.79). Try it. The Village Tavern (not “The Tavern”) at the Flatirons Mall serves up a flavorful Blackened Chicken Alfredo for only $9.95 at lunchtime. Cinebarre, at 100th and Grant in Thornton, is a lot of fun. For $13.50 plus tip you can have an Oreo shake and potato skins. The skins aren’t great but it’s a nice change of pace. The most pleasant surprise I’ve had in a long time was at Clancy’s Irish Pub. It’s inconveniently located at 10117 w. 37th Pl. in Wheatridge, next to one of those gas stations that has to be cheap to get any business because it’s in the middle of nowhere. Clancy’s is charming for its 60’s faux Bavarian style complete with bowling on TV, a poker game in the back and patrons sporting Sturgis T-shirts. The Shepherd’s pie was satisfying and more than I could eat, for only $9.95. The Corned Beef was the best I’ve ever had: great flavor and tender! The Berkshire offers a tasty Lobster Mac & Cheese, but at $20? Come on. They’re in Stapelton on 29th if you have more money than sense. Pizza Carlo is a favorite apres ski stop for my kids at Copper Mountain. An 18” Florentine is a white pizza with chicken and will set you back $23. Speaking of pizza, I wouldn’t bother stopping at Golden’s Lil Ricci on West Colfax by the driver’s license office; I was disappointed by their hand-tossed crust that was stiff and overdone; $19.50 for a large with 3 toppings. Consistently nice help though. Stop in for a beer instead.