Restaurants in Castlewood

Flavor and texture are integral to more than just the entrees at Axum Restaurant. Entire tables' orders emerge on communal serving platters, blending the aromas of collard greens with those of housemade cottage cheese, sautéed beef with rosemary and herb butter, and lamb shanks in fiery berbere sauce. Diners sop up the spicy, savory fare using scraps of injera, a spongy flatbread, in place of silverware or food-filled Super Soakers.

The cuisine is offset by the dining room’s relatively austere ambiance, where fuchsia tablecloths add a vibrant pop of color to the space's soothing neutral tones. Pendant lamps hang directly above the bar area, illuminating the bartenders as they pour Ethiopian beers and uncork bottles of honey wine, which is made in-house by drilling into the subterranean honey reservoirs.

Nonna's Chicago Bistro, named Best Italian in 2011 on Denver's 7 A-List, lures hungry passersby with a menu of Windy City–style Italian fare, more than 20 wines by the glass, and complimentary ciabatta bread with saucy marinara. The owners, a family of Chicago natives, dedicated Nonna's to their grandmother, whose passion for hearty, homestyle fare inspired their chefs to perfect such classics as chicken parmigiana, lasagna, and slow-cooked, Chicago-style ribs. Dinners pair with a glass of Italian Da Vinci chianti or a Californian 181 merlot, or assorted well drinks and domestic brews from the exposed-brick bar.

Nonna's Chicago Bistro's dining room provides guests with an elegant eating coliseum, boasting walls painted with grapevine designs and windows that welcome a breathtaking view of the Leaning Tower of Willis. The quaint eatery also fills ear canals with live music performed by jazz trios, classical guitarists, and country crooners on weekend evenings.

Passersby often stop outside Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant’s storefront window to peer in on the unusual dining-room setup. Elaborately woven baskets sit beside wooden chairs festooned with colorful cushions; each of these baskets cradles the slightly sour Ethiopian bread known as injera.

Injera is literally the basis of Ethiopian cuisine—its spongy surface lies flat across plates to welcome dollops of curry chicken, ginger- and garlic-seasoned lentils, and sautéed cubes of lamb. To wash down these eats, Abyssinia’s staff ships in Ethiopian beers and wines. House red and white wines are also available, and the staff takes care to ensure that each was aged, according to tradition, in the cellars of red and white houses.

The Thai family that runs Thai Pepper II use fresh vegetables and sauces to prepare flavorful curries and soups. Six curries, including massaman, panang, and pineapple, pair with a choice of one of seven proteins, such as tofu or pork. Gluten-free pad thai leads the pack of noodle dishes, which combine wide rice noodles with vegetables and seasonings.