After eight years holding court across from The Denver Pavilions, Earls Kitchen + Bar decided it was time for a makeover. Now, $4 million later, the restaurant is ready to show off a much-lightened, sleek, elegant atmosphere and innovative menu. Recently, members of the In Good Taste Denver team got the chance to see the new look and sample from some of Earls’ most impressive menu items.
Earls is a family-run business started by a Montana man (Earl) who based operations in Canada, with 59 locations there and 5 in the U.S. Each restaurant has a different look and elements of the menu that draw on the regional cuisine and demographics of each locale. They use local ingredients whenever possible and cook from scratch.
We tried a variety of menu items but started things up with a cocktail as whimsical as it was delicious. Beverage Director/Product Development guru and terrific guy, Cameron Bogue made us The Bees Knees. His take on the drink has it served in a glass honey bear (like you’re used to buying honey in), with a wooden honey serving stick as a swizzle stick.
Food highlights included Earls Vietnamese Spatchcock Style Chicken, an oven roasted half chicken with a lemongrass glaze and amazing, spicy peanut sauce. The Chicken Avocado Salad was fresh and delicious with baby iceberg, tomatoes, dry cured bacon, lemon grapeseed vinaigrette, croutons and a truffle aioli. Jeera Chicken Curry took an authentic Indian curry sauce and chunks of chicken and ladled it over fragrant, coconut jasmine rice, served with soft, baked naan. Light and airy, the Crispy Thai Shrimp sat on a bed of Napa cabbage and Thai basil with a swirled “paint” of cilantro sauce in the bowl. It was artsy and delicious.
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Earls Kitchen + Bar has two Colorado locations. This one, at 1600 Glenarm Place in downtown Denver, and one at Park Meadows Mall.
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