The Menu

Chef Jonathan Dearden has created a wildly interesting menu comprised of dishes, flavors, and ingredients from all over the world. From Spanish croquetas to sriracha deviled eggs to classic American grilled cheese to cauliflower chilaquiles, dining at Radiator is like taking a culinary trip around the globe. Housemade butternut squash ravioli, served in a pool of brown butter emulsion, blanketed in flakes of parmesan cheese, and studded with walnuts, will melt in your mouth.

The Mediterranean charred eggplant, adorned with freshly fried pita chips, is smoky and luscious. Cauliflower chilaquiles are similarly delicious, the hunks of cauliflower come in a puddle of a bold tomato sauce, bejeweled with pepitas and tortilla strips, and drizzled with a rich cashew crema. My personal favorite at Radiator was the bucatini, where noodles are swirled in a velvety tomato sauce and topped with decadent impossible meatballs.

The Drinks

Just like the food, the cocktails are internationally inspired: try the Like Water for Chocolate, with tequila and creme de cacao, the I Spend My Winters in Bolivia, with Singani 63, cranberry and pomegranate, or the Sunrise Over Osaka, with Suntory, vanilla, orange, and cava. Each one is balanced, dry and boozy.

The Vibe 

Radiator is relaxed and cozy, with huge booths and low lighting. Curl up with your date and take a trip around the world without ever leaving your comfy spot. Afterward, head upstairs to the bar for drinks with a view.

The post Virtual Travel: Around the World at Radiator DC appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

The Hotel: The Hotel Monaco Denver is located in the city center, which is great if you are doing business in the city or just want to walk to shops and restaurants. It also makes a good base if going on day trips as it has an easy access to the highway. The downside of having a car: the hotel only offers valet parking at $38, however, we found a self-park lot on the same block for $16 a day. If you want to explore the city, the hotel has bikes you can borrow for the day. The bikes are available first come, first serve. We took one for the day and explored museums, craft breweries, and rode along the Cherry Creek.

The Room: When we first arrived to our deluxe room, we noticed a strong smell of cigarettes. The hotel is a non-smoking hotel and we were surprised about the smell. We called the front desk and were immediately moved to another room, this one being a suite. Aside from the cigarette smell, the deluxe room was a comfortable size and beautifully decorated. It even came with a goldfish! Our suite was just as beautiful, it was quite roomy with a separate living room area and large bathroom. What impressed me the most was the service. It was already late (around 10:30pm) and the front desk had us in a new room in less than 10 minutes.

The Service: The service was friendly and professional. From the bellhop going out of his way to help size and air our bikes to the quick room change, the service was on point.  The lobby area was always stocked with infused water and coffee flowed freely in the morning.

The Food:  We had dinner at Panzano, the Italian restaurant at the hotel.  Panzano is quite popular with locals, constantly voted one of the top restaurants in Denver.  We had dinner there our last evening and enjoyed the lively atmosphere, the knowledgeable waiter, and the open kitchen of executive chef Elise Wiggins.  The cuisine is inspired by Northern Italy and you can see that in the hearty pastas such as the lamb ragu with homemade malfadine pasta and pastiche, a decadent dish with layers of cheese tortellini and spicy meatballs.  The waiter insisted we order the ceasar salad. When we bit into the grilled hearts of romaine with a rich ceasar dressing topped with salty anchovies, I almost shed a tear of happiness.  A simple salad was turned into an experience.  I also loved the iPad wine list.  You can tap on each wine to get detailed information about the wine and suggested pairings.

The Verdict:  Great hotel in a moderate price range (avg nightly rate $160), superb amenities (free wine and bicycles),  and comfortable rooms.  Although the Hotel Monaco Denver is part of the larger Kimpton brand, you can see the local touches throughout the property.  Another stay to reaffirm why Kimpton is one of my favorite hotel brands.

* Disclaimer: Part of my stay was sponsored by Hotel Monaco Denver. As always, opinions are my own.

The post About Hotel Monaco Denver appeared first on The Dining Traveler.