Sparrow
Recently, as a Valentine's Day present, my girlfriend surprised me with a visit to the Sparrow restaurant in Denver.
Being a restaurant aficianado, I thought I'd been to (or at least heard of) most of the culinary pleasures that Denver has to offer. I had in fact never heard of Sparrow. So, here we are, driving down the familiar streets of downtown Denver. My curiosity had peaked about fifteen minutes before, and we pulled up in front of what looked like a martini bar. The complimentary valet parking for restaurant patrons made easy work of finding an elusive spot, and the moment we stepped inside we were greeted with fantastic service.
We had reservations for 8:15, but inclement weather had caused some delays in seating. My date and I sipped on a few cocktails while we waited for a table to open up. The bartender seemed to be fairly knowledgeable, and the drinks were well presented and delicious. After about a 30 minute wait, the hostess guided us through a seemingly cluttered dining area, and to a table which provided very little privacy. We were sitting almost literally right next to another couple having dinner, and it was hard not to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Besides the somewhat cramped seating, the restaurant had a really nice ambiance to it. The lighting complimented the smooth lines of the structure, and the soft sound of music and hustle and bustle was just enough to drown out as background noise. The menu was presented to us, and immediately I knew that tonight's culinary concoction was going to be amazing. There was a wide variety of food, and the theme didn't center around one major type of food and there was a good, eclectic mix of surf and turf.
Our meal began with the Hot Honey Calamari. It was lightly breaded in tempura batter, and with wasabi leaves, peppers, and scallions. The spicy honey sauce was a thrill, and neither the tempura batter nor the sauce ever overpowered the delicate flavor of the calamari. For our entree, my date ordered the Tuscan Seafood Bouillabaisse - an amazing mix of lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari served with a couple of thick pieces of Texas toast, in a tomato and wine-based sauce. The lobster was cooked perfectly, as were the shrimp, mussels, and calamari. The clams were a bit chewy, but delicious none-the-less. The dish was plentiful, and the sauce really brought it all together. After a small internal struggle, I decided on the Ridgefield Farms Filet. The steak was cooked perfectly, with a subtle sauce and horseradish croquettes. It was succulent, and most of the focus was on the steak and it's flavor, not the garnishes or side items.
Although feeling fat and full, we decided that the Dulce De Leche Creme Brulee couldn't be passed up. The perfectly caramelized dessert came garnished with blueberries, and the cream tasted fresh. It was only mildly sweet, which added to the exotic tastes our palettes had experienced.
Overall, I must say my dining experience was a great one, from the cocktails all the way to dessert. The only issues I found were the wait (understandable, after near-blizzard-like conditions) and the cramped seating area.
Rating (out of 5 stars)
Food: *****
Ambiance: *****
Atmosphere: ****
Waitstaff: *****
Service: *****
Overall: *****
www.sparrowdenver.com
