http://tupalo.com/denver/tag/casual.rss Tupalo en-us http://tupalo.com/spot/61768-highlands-asian-grill-denver-co-usa c Of all the recent additions to the neighborhood, Highlands Asian Grill is my favorite, even though it doesn't meet my Chinese take-out criterion of "good food=insalubrious surroundings." Quite the opposite actually; the Grill is a bastion of sleek, modern interior design and prompt service is highly valued, as evidence by their 15-minute (yes, I've ordered in so frequently) turn around from order to house delivery. Staples: spinach cheese wontons, vegetable spring rolls, egg drop soup, vegetable gyoza, and seaweed salad. restaurant casual highlands asian 39.762113 -105.039011 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:13:39 +0100 http://tupalo.com/spot/61768-highlands-asian-grill-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/21463-common-grounds-denver-co-usa c Reviews ostensibly come with biases, right? I'll always have a soft spot for Common Grounds, the coffeeshop of my adolescence, back when the immediate area was yet to be baptized "Highland Square," and deemed the Park Slope of Denver, back when nobody brought their Macbooks anywhere! And as with similarly low-paying jobs, there seems to be a constant turnover of baristas, and one can note a significant change in attitude. Oh, right, I was supposed to review the positive aspects of the coffeeshop, right? They've still got the comfortable chairs and ample board games for those who arrive technically challenged. I'm sure the cakes taste just as good, too, but last time I was there, I noticed that the was no IBC Rootbeer in stock. cafe casual highlands neighborhood 39.762127 -105.03424 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:06:50 +0100 http://tupalo.com/spot/21463-common-grounds-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/25078-sams-no-3-u-s-mexi-grill-and-bar-denver-co-usa c There's Denny's, Perkin's, the Village Inn, and then there's Sam's no 3. While the Inn, reconceptualized as the VI beats Sam's in the 50s throwback diner decor, you can find a healthier cross-section of the local population trying to decide between huevos rancheros (available in vegetarian chili), classic burgers, or burritos. Comfort food for the rushed downtown set (weekdays lunchtime usually sees a crowd) and easy on the pocketbook, too. restaurant casual downtown budget nonpretentious 39.74618 -104.995574 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:00:46 +0100 http://tupalo.com/spot/25078-sams-no-3-u-s-mexi-grill-and-bar-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/872-wholly-tomato-denver-co-usa c DEFUNCT restaurant casual friendly golden_triangle good_rootbeer sandwiches lunch 39.731300354 -104.986000061 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:48:41 +0200 http://tupalo.com/spot/872-wholly-tomato-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/836-common-grounds-denver-co-usa c Every neighborhood has a coffeeshop (or a dozen) like this. This is the one of my adolescence, so I have very fond memories of it. Local art, local musicians--shoo, even the Hills (Clinton) stopped by many moons ago. I went by recently and while they still have the same cozy seats and the same tasty drinks, it had a very different vibe, lots of upper middle-class folks at their laptops. Well, the change is in both me and the neighborhood, so I shouldn't complain, and Common Grounds has seen a lot over the years. casual cafe nonpretentious neighborhood west_highland 39.7621002197 -105.0329971313 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 06:49:40 +0200 http://tupalo.com/spot/836-common-grounds-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/1167-the-mercury-cafe-denver-co-usa c vegetarian restaurant cozy casual restaurant dance five_points 39.7504005432 -104.9850006104 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 22:25:47 +0200 http://tupalo.com/spot/1167-the-mercury-cafe-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/875-rosa-linda-denver-co-usa c restaurant casual friendly mexican nonpretentious highland 39.7631988525 -105.0110015869 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:28:44 +0100 http://tupalo.com/spot/875-rosa-linda-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/800-taqueria-patzcuaro-denver-co-usa c For me, it starts with the service: it's like eating at a (nice) relative's house in the countryside and NEVER wanting to leave. This relative also happens to be a good cook. You relax in one of the wooden booths, gazing at various photographic anecdotes of Mexican history, grabbing some fresh, homemade chips here and there. Even when the restaurant is busy, your enchiladas rojas or tacos albanil come out almost as soon as you ordered, sometimes served by the super friendly owner himself, or one of the other equally welcoming family members. So cozy, you just might end up eating all your meals here. restaurant friendly mexican nonpretentious casual highland mexican 39.7620010376 -105.0189971924 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:35:29 +0100 http://tupalo.com/spot/800-taqueria-patzcuaro-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/799-el-taco-de-mexico-denver-co-usa c With accolades for its authenticity, El Taco offers a space where everyone--and I mean, EVERYONE, no matter the budget--rubs elbows at any time of the day, whether chomping down on tacos, chili rellenos, or my personal fave, huevos rancheros. Being a vegetarian, I have no desire to try the meaty selections, but others have attested to their scrumptious factor. Forget Chipotle/Qdoba/etc, this is the place to be, especially if you just want to bathe in their delicious green chili. Be forewarned: as this place is SUPER popular, there might be queue for a table (or the counter), but the wait will be WELL WORTH it. restaurant casual mexican budget lincoln_park 39.7276000977 -104.9990005493 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:26:52 +0100 http://tupalo.com/spot/799-el-taco-de-mexico-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/797-pablos-on-6th-denver-co-usa c cafe casual roaster indie coffee nonpretentious alamo_placita 39.7256011963 -104.9800033569 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:01:17 +0100 http://tupalo.com/spot/797-pablos-on-6th-denver-co-usa http://tupalo.com/spot/794-house-of-commons-denver-co-usa c This place might be easy to miss if you're actually heading a couple shops down to that OTHER neighborhood hang out, Paris on the Platte. At roughly two years old, the House of Commons is indeed an "oasis of calm," dare I say, even a HAVEN OF SERENITY. Usually I am the kind of person who's too nervous to step into places with which I'm not familiar, it didn't take me long to feel comfortable and enjoy my pot of imperial gunpowder and a good book. (However, I'm giving it only three stars, because my scone was stale, the last time I went there...) nonpretentious quaint friendly casual tea teashop cafe 39.7568016052 -105.0100021362 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:42:21 +0100 http://tupalo.com/spot/794-house-of-commons-denver-co-usa