In my job as a food writer, I get to talk to a lot of chefs, listening to them explain the ingredients they put into their dishes, most of which even a sophisticated palette couldn’t isolate and pinpoint. As they talk, they get a little lost in describing ingredients and cooking preparation methods and I am a bit in awe. They know so much about their craft and they are so passionate about it. Do they dream ingredient combinations I wonder?
Combine being a chef with also being a restaurant owner, mixing the creativity with the business end of things and it’s an ambitious combination. Recently, I sat down with Chef/Restaurateur Troy Guard and Executive Sous Chef, Brent Calley at Lucky Cat. The restaurant occupies the same space in the new Lowry Dining District, Hangar 2 as “bubu” did, Guard’s Asian restaurant serving hearty and elegant noodle bowls which still has a location in Larimer Square.
Whereas bubu’s downtown location draws a lot of foot traffic, the Lowry location did not. Never one to stray away from scrapping one idea in favor of a better one, Guard determined there was a need for quality Chinese food in the area and decided Lucky Cat could kill two birds with one stone offering Chinese and also sushi. “There are burger restaurants all around here. I wanted to do something fresh and different and also family friendly,” says Guard, adding that you can request that any dish be made “not spicy” for kids. I saw a kid’s meal (for ages 12 and under) and the portions are really generous!
As with all of his restaurants, including TAG Burger Bar, Los Chingones and Sugar Mill, there are twists on the traditional, riffing off of Guard’s eight years living in Asia such as General Guard (think General Tsao’s Chicken) and B&B (Guard’s Beef & Broccoli). There are also dumplings, steamed fish, LoMein and sushi. The cocktail menu is carefully curated in addition to offering sake, wine and local craft beer.
Lucky Dumplings with pickled cabbage and ground pork avoid the typical doughy sogginess with a purposeful, slight resistance to the outside, akin to “snapping hot dogs.” Siu Mai looking lovely in green (from spinach dough – don’t tell the kids) is filled with ground shrimp instead of the traditional shrimp/pork combo, plus accompanying sauces.
Hello, kitty! An Egg Roll with wok-charred vegetables and a sweet & sour sauce, the Bao Bun with Cantonese style barbecue pork shoulder plus the Gong Show cocktail with bourbon, pineapple, lemon and ginger simple syrup and the Bangkok Summer with Thai chili vodka, mint, turmeric, lemon and soda. Do NOT go to Lucky Cat without having the Bao Bun and Bangkok Summer! We loved the Bangkok Summer so much, we wrote about in an IGTD Bite!
Lucky Cat’s atmosphere makes for great games of I-Spy with the kids! Note the impressive mural above open kitchen and counter (where you’d be wise to sit and chat with the chefs and see the magic happening.) Guard created the mural based on some of his favorite, iconic Asian things such as The Godzilla
Lucky Cat’s space feels intimate but between counter seating, booths, community/group tables and seating on their enclosed patio outside (with glass garage doors to bring the inside out and outside in) there’s ample seating. Order a variety of things and share and sample. And definitely take advantage of great Happy Hour deals served 3-6pm, Tuesday-Friday where food and beverage items are priced conveniently at $2, $3, $4 or $5. If you’re in a big hurry, you can order and pay for food ahead and pull up right out front for curbside pickup.
I hope the Lowry neighborhood embraces this incarnation of the space. But because restaurants cannot live serving their neighborhoods alone, I encourage people make their way to the restaurant from all over. With familiar items (with a Guard-esque twist), and a fun atmosphere, we hope Lucky Cat becomes a lucky business venture. Says Guard: “It’s the kind of place you could eat everyday for a week and still have something different.”
Lucky Cat is located in the Lowry neighborhood at 7559 E. Academy Boulevard.
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