Purposefully portable, wonderfully versatile and requiring nothing more than a pair of hands (and wide jaw) to consume, the sandwich is about a lot more than just bologna and cheese. It’s prosciutto di parma, a smear of Gorgonzola dolce and fresh figs on a baguette; a spicy torta de milanesa on crusty bolillo; a classic Reuben on toasted rye. And while you could inhale a different sandwich every day of the year in Denver, these are three of the city’s greatest shops.
At Masterpiece Deli, a cosmopolitan sandwich shop in Lower Highland, regulars get positively grabby for the housemade truffled egg salad, punctuated with briny capers and dots of red onion. Sheeted with leafy romaine, the earthy mix is then piled high between two halves of toasted classic white bread. The braised beef brisket, boosted with caramelized onions, arugula, red-wine gastrique and Taleggio fondue has a devoted legion of fans, too. Order at the counter before you stake out a seat, preferably on the patio overlooking the city skyline, and behold the masterpieces that live up to the deli’s name.
The lunch line at Vert Kitchen in Washington Park often stretches beyond the front door, and the menu is as small as the artsy brick space. The sandwiches themselves unleash huge pops of flavor combinations, inspired by French culinary techniques. They’re all notable, but the house-roasted turkey, bolstered with chèvre and stacked with mixed greens, roasted tomatoes and figs soaked in balsamic vinegar, is divine. The sandwiches are paired with a side, the seasonal selections of which change on a whim, but if it’s available, insist on the pumpkin seed, quinoa and sweet corn salad.
Torta Grill, a modest, spare joint that sits in Capitol Hill, is mostly a takeout operation. During off-peak hours, it’s possible to secure one of the five stools that overlook the open kitchen, a hustle-bustle galley that trumpets the signature sandwich of Mexico: the torta. The skyscraping gut bombs are made with split, pre-buttered and toasted telera bread, then smeared with fresh avocado, refried beans and mayonnaise and topped with onions and tomato. Your protein of choice – chicken, ham, breaded steak, chorizo and more – comes loaded with cheese and chipotle sauce or jalapeños, depending on the sandwich you’ve ordered. But all of them are heroic in their abundance, ensuring a full stomach and plenty of leftovers.
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3 Margaritas Family Mexican Restaurant
Mexican Cuisine for Dine-In or Take-Out at 3 Margaritas Family Mexican Restaurant (Up to 43% Off)
Sizzling fajitas, enchiladas, and seafood specialties; margaritas made with Patrón tequila
Greenwood Village
$40 $23
Select Local Merchants
Owner and senior wine instructor Dani Cross created VinBoutique with a mission to introduce palates to the best French wines. A certified level-III sommelier, Cross personally travels to France to hand-pick vintages from small production companies and develop relationships with local vintners, ensuring her customers enjoy a collection of reds, whites, and bubbly that is exceptional not just in craftsmanship and taste, but also in value. "By tasting my wines, you can actually hone your palate way quicker because [the wines are] technically correct" in the way they are selected, shipped, and stored, she says. "If you're not tasting something that's proper, you won't know what chardonnay is supposed to taste like."
A strong belief that wine should be enjoyed and shared with others inspires VinBoutique's tasting classes, where Cross and other wine experts share insights into different varietals, food pairings, and wine-making techniques. Using an approach designed to be both fun and unintimidating, Cross also includes a question-and-answer section, as well as easy-to-follow tasting notes, making her classes accessible to everyone from the casual wine fan to the connoisseur who can uncork a bottle using only their mind. As Dani continued to try new wines and savor her favorite French vintages, she became dismayed. Often, the wines she bought had been stored improperly or for too long, destroying the bouquets and noses that she loved. "Born of frustration, I decided to start my own [wine boutique]." And thus she curated a selection of French wines for VinBoutique. "By tasting my wines, you can actually hone your palate way quicker because [the wines are] technically correct" in the way they are selected, shipped, and stored, she says. "If you're not tasting something that's proper, you won't know what chardonnay is supposed to taste like."
In addition to bottles of red, white, and bubbly, Dani and a team of instructors offer wine classes suitable for everyone from the casual wine fan to the connoisseur who can uncork a bottle using only their mind. Each class comes with notes and take-home materials, and is taught by a teacher who can both go into great technical detail or give thorough overviews so that student's don?t "get cross-eyed."
7801 East Orchard Road
Greenwood Village,
CO
US
Matthew Corrin was fashion designer Oscar de la Renta's marketing manager, which meant a lot of long hours and a lot of hurried lunches. After his umpteenth greasy sandwich, Corrin began wondering why there weren't more convenient, waistline-friendly lunch alternatives. This rumination—and a resignation letter to de la Renta—begot Freshii, a fast, casual eatery that serves healthy meals and has graced the pages of various publications, including the Chicago Tribune and Inc.’s 30 Under 30 list. Environmental awareness also plays a big part in the business model as the food packaging is made from eco-friendly vegetable starches.
Every Freshii kitchen is stocked with the base ingredients of brown rice, romaine lettuce, field greens, spinach, and rice noodles; toppings such as carrots, broccoli, grilled tofu, and candied walnuts; and an array of dressings and sauces. Using these ingredients, the chefs create bowls, wraps, salads, soups, and burritos for lunch and dinner. During morning hours when the sun is still busy curling its rays, they scramble eggs, serve housemade oatmeal, and top fat-free frozen yogurt with a choice of fruit. Customers can bring their own bowls, and the staff will wash and fill them with fresh ingredients hailing from environmentally responsible farms that fairly compensate their workers.
6380 South Fiddlers Green Circle
Greenwood Village,
CO
US
A grill roars at 725 degrees Fahrenheit, the all-natural mesquite wood charcoal igniting flames that tenderly kiss the fresh cuts of meat and seafood. This centuries-old practice remains preserved in Mesquite Grill Steak & Seafood, owned since 1988 by Robert and Wendy Zamani. The couple are now celebrating the restaurant's 25th anniversary, as well as its 2012 designation as a Top Rated Restaurant by Restaurant.com. Chefs flash grill entrees such as tenderloin until they are deemed worthy to join optional supplements of fried shrimp, lobster tail, or king-crab legs on diners' plates. At lunchtime, the chefs slip grilled specialties such as hand-patted burger meat, gyros, and calamari steak between two slices of bread.
As the smells of grilled salmon, grouper, and clam chowder waft into the dining space, an air of New England emanates from the walls, which are dotted with seaside paintings, ship nets and rigging, and a colossal stuffed marlin that offers menu suggestions to picky eaters. Mesquite Grill Steak & Seafood also showcases Wendy's own hand-painted glassware, which customers can purchase, including wineglasses, decanters, and candleholders, all adorned with nontoxic paints.
9668 East Arapahoe Road
Greenwood Village,
CO
US
Yama Yoga Village's certified yoga teachers combine their individual specialties and years of experience to foster a community where practitioners of all experience levels can work toward honing their health and wellness. During rigorous Vinyasa classes, students build strength, balance, and flexibility by performing a continuous sequence of postures, transitioning from one to the next using mindful breathing techniques.
For a more detoxifying practice, the teachers bump up the studio temperature to a moderate heat during hot-yoga sessions, taking advantage of heat’s ability to spur on sweating to purge pupils’ bodies of toxins in preparation for the more enjoyable toxins of the weekend. Students recovering from injury, those with a limited range of motion, or pupils who own extremely shy sticky mats can develop their yoga practice through private lessons. Yama Yoga Village also offers a menu of massage services including Swedish, deep-tissue, and sports modalities.
6818 South Dallas Way
Greenwood Village,
CO
US
Growing up in a large Italian family, Chef Robert Sansone was enamored with his grandmother's home-style family cooking. A formal culinary education at Johnson & Wales University expanded his horizons and exposed him to an entire world's worth of flavors and cuisines. Thus, it's no surprise that upon founding Sansone's Bistro, he decided to embrace an eclectic culinary style that draws inspiration from cuisines throughout Europe and beyond, yet still manages to incorporate his grandmother's cooking whenever possible. The results are signature menu items such as chicken parmesan with homemade marinara sauce; wiener schnitzel topped with lemon, capers, and anchovies; or crispy duck with a chipotle-lingonberry jam.
The dining room similarly demonstrates a casual-yet-refined spirit via a warm, earth-toned space complete with dark chairs and booths surrounding the white-linen-draped tables. A wood-paneled accent wall features three pieces of abstract artwork, which add a bit of color and contemporary flair. Metal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, joining gleaming wall sconces and fishbowls full of electric eels.
5969 S University Blvd.
Greenwood Village,
CO
US
When people are ill, they usually either make a doctor's appointment or lie in bed and wait it out. Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy has created a third option. Visits to its stores, which are scattered across the western US, are more casual than a doctor's visit but less passive than bed rest. Each location's team of health experts, including credentialed pharmacists, naturopathic doctors, herbalists, nutritionists, and more, consult with customers?no appointment needed.
But Pharmaca aims to serve its customers every day, not just on sick days. Its stores have been drawing droves of clients since 2000, partly because they meet so many needs in just one spot. In addition to a full-service pharmacy, Pharmaca offers organic and food-based vitamins from MegaFood and New Chapter; professional-grade skin care and cosmetics from Jane Iredale, Sanitas, and Dr. Hauschka; and therapeutic-grade supplements from Metagenics and Thorne Research. Customers can also choose from an assortment of homeopathic remedies, herbal formulations, medical supplies, toiletries, gifts, and fair-trade chocolates.
5910 South University Boulevard
Greenwood Village,
CO
US