Think of Arapahoe Road in Greenwood Village, and images of strip malls, chain restaurants, and office buildings likely come to mind. Certainly not a sexy, sophisticated space with a dash of 1920’s Art Deco. Yet that is exactly what The Rouge Wine & Bourbon Bistro delivers. Open since 2022, originally as Le Rouge Wine Bar, a recent menu expansion, new lunch service, and introduction of an extensive Bourbon program, prompted the name change.
From the moment you enter The Rouge, the suburban blah dissolves into a new vibe. Pleasant lighting with silvery shimmers here and there, straight ahead is the cocktail bar with a stunning 150 Bourbons and Whiskeys on offer. Not sure where to start? Order a flight! Oh, and don’t forget the wine collection – an impressive variety, many offered by the glass, with flights of three from $18.
To the right, lush blue velvet encloses a cozy seating area to nestle in for a rendezvous and sip by the soft glow of the wine wall. To the left, a tidy dining area with more velvet draperies under a delicate canopy of lights. In the nice weather, a spacious patio with fire pits and views of the front range. Contemporary Colorado, with a distinct speakeasy feel, and nary a sports TV screen in sight.
And then there is the food. The Rouge intends to stand out among the predictable menus of most nearby eateries by offering a menu of upscale, Chef-driven plates with high quality ingredients and interesting, even fanciful, touches that are on-point with the flavor profiles. Chef Chris Collins is the mastermind behind the menu and when praised for the food served during a visit, he was quick to give credit to the kitchen team; Chef Chris is clearly proud of his crew. Competent and humble.
At a recent tasting event, Chef Chris introduced shareable small plates (some from the restaurant menu and some special for the occasion) paired with a delightful surprise – not wines, but whiskeys from Westland Distillery; their Outpost Range collection of Colere, Garryana, Solum. When asked how he divined these pairings, Chef started with the whiskey and then allowed his senses to guide his culinary matchmaking. Take guidance from servers when ordering from the menu for expertly-paired food and whiskey pairings.
At our special event, with the Solum whiskey, Chef paired Oysters Rockefeller – allowing the peat of the whiskey to play with the clean fresh herbs and oysters. For the barrel aged whiskey Garryanna (our favorite – uniquely aged in barrels made of a rare oak native to the northwest that is only provided by the National Forest Service after trees die naturally and are harvested after they fall), Chef paired a hearty grilled lamp chop topped with huckleberry compote. A mouthful of rich, buttery gnocchi and mushrooms were a solid foil to the bite of the Colere whiskey, made of a unique barley varietal called (perhaps not surprisingly) colere.
What to expect when eating at The Rouge Wine & Bourbon Bistro:
Chef Chris and his kitchen staff strut their stuff at each plate on the restaurant’s menu. The appetizers were perfectly prepared and nicely plated. Apart from the pairings described above, the Chili Shrimp Hushpuppies ($13) were especially memorable- these alone would be worth a trip for a plate of these crunchy shrimpy marvels with a glass of wine (or whiskey, or a beer!). On our radar for a future return visit are the Goat Cheese Beignets with lavender honey ($9), Short Rib Arancini ($13), and Tots and Caviar ($12). Sophisticated, yet not pretentious. Such playful pairings make this Chef’s menu stand out!
Entrees that caught our eye include a variety of seafood dishes like Seared Mango Salmon ($25), Togarashi Seared Tuna ($28), and Pan-Seared Halibut ($28); chops, steaks and burgers along with pizzas round out the offerings. Prices range from $17 for pizzas to $42 for a choice filet.
The Rouge is now open for lunch, so skip the same ol’ mid-day sandwich or drive through burger and try their French Dip ($18), Pesto Pasta ($15), Crab Cake ($22), among other choices including two upscale burgers. A great deal is the $16 You Pick Two lunch special – half entrée, half salad, half appetizer. Who says lunch can’t be special?!
Happy Hour specials include small plates at $5, $7, $9; $10 signature cocktails, $10 quality wines.
Brunch sounds particularly enticing to us, with amped up comfort foods taken to a new level. Brunch is offered Saturdays (The Rouge is closed Sunday), with creative offerings like Cointreau Pancakes ($14), Prime Rib Hash ($18), and Croque Madame ($15). Oui, oui, oui, to all three!
Live music Thursdays – 6:30-8:30pm (no cover); local jazz musicians and the Black Iris Collective (a trio of harmonious flappers) offer acoustic glam without blasting your senses into submission.
For parents with older kids, consider dropping them off at Pindustry next door for chicken fingers and arcade games, while you escape into a date night of sultry spaces, cocktails, and sophistication. The Rouge is the kind of place you want to dress up a little bit to visit, for that special person across from you, glowing in the soft lighting.
The Rouge is absolutely worth a drive south of Denver for a bit of sophisticated Big City fun and elevated dining. Oh, and parking is free and plentiful. One benefit of a dining trip to the burbs.
The Rouge Wine & Bourbon Bistro is located at 7939 E. Arapahoe Rd., Ste. 190, in Greenwood Village. Visit their website for more information and to make reservations.
-Story by Jimmy McDonough. Photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough, In Good Taste Denver
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