ingoodtastedenver

I drive down Colfax a lot and had noticed the businesses going in and out of the spot at 8501 E. Colfax Ave.  It’s large, flashy sign out front would advertise the latest incarnation of this place that is one of those Bermuda Triangle sites that can’t seem to maintain it’s identity. Then I noticed that a restaurant called Pisco Sour had installed itself promising live entertainment and Peruvian food.  Since I believe the more ethnic restaurants the better, I hoped for it’s success.  Judging by our dining experience there recently, this restaurant may actually stick.

At first glance, with the large sign, and less than chic exterior, I figured Pisco Sour could either be a total dive or a hidden treasure. Turns out, it’s the latter.

The interior is caught in a 1950’s time warp which one could either find repelling or cool. Again, I’ll opt for the latter. Upon entering, the bar area with dining tables is to your left.  Go to the right for more dining tables, the dance floor and lounge area where people hold court, checking out the crowd.  Multiple TV’s and their reflections in mirrors are very distracting. I wish they were limited to the bar area.

Almost as soon as we were seated, we were given a tiny dish of Cancha Serrana, toasted corn kernels. They were delicious and glossy and the perfect thing to munch while reading the extensive menu.  Our meal went from fantastic to very good to not worth it, with every course. (Excuse the poor lighting on these photos. The place is dim.)

For an appetizer, we chose Choros a la Chalaca, fresh mussels topped with a spicy salsa fresca of diced tomato, onion, corn and coriander cured in lemon juice ($5.99).  I was transported to a tropical beach in the heat of summer, being refreshed by these tasty beauties, oblivious to the wet sands clinging to me.  Divine!

We ordered Arroz Con Pollo ($10.99), chicken and rice cooked in cilantro sauce with salad and Frejol Con Seco ($10.99), Peruvian beans served with lamb stew and white rice. Both were really good and huge portions. We made at least one lunch out of each of the leftovers.  The cilantro sauce on the Arroz Con Pollo was absorbed

into the rice and chicken, not ladled on, which meant a fresh taste to every bite. An overabundance of slightly pickled onion lay on top.  The lamb stew in the Frejol Con Seco was tender and easily shredded. The beige beans seemed to have a slight hint of vinegar which made them interesting and a good foil to the meat.  The accompanying salad was crispy and good with a variety of mixed greens.

Other options included combinations like the Bisteck a lo Pobre ($9.99) with steak, fried plantains, two fried eggs topped with onion and tomato, served with rice. Or the Supreme Combo ($15.29), a quarter of a Peruvian rotisserie chicken, one steak, one grilled veal heart kabob and one pork chop served with salad and fries! That’s a heck of a lot of protein on one plate.

The kids’ menu made us chuckle. The two items, both for $4.79 are chicken fingers and fries or Salchipapa which sounds exciting but is actually “sliced hotdog and fries”.  Skip that and let the kids share your food. They’ll be the better for it.

We were very pleased with our meal at this point and decided to go for dessert. We ordered the chocolate pie which I swear I’ve seen in the frozen dessert section of the grocery story and the flan which looked homemade but was lacking. Thankfully dessert was dirt cheap so we weren’t out much.  It was a disappointing end to a wonderful meal.

Pisco Sour refers to the drink of Peru, a mix of Pisco brandy, sugar and lemon.  Did I try a Pisco Sour in the restaurant called Pisco Sour? No, I’m sad to say I didn’t.  Next time. And next time I’ll also go with a larger group so we can try a wider variety of dishes or maybe try lunch or the weekend breakfast buffet. The food is intriguing and totally worth having to look at dated décor and TV after TV after TV.

Pisco Sour Restaurant and Lounge, 8501 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, 303-322-7777.