It’s always spring and summer at Wonderyard Garden + Table – judging by the outdoor décor and indoor vibes. The concept is by Lotus Concepts Management, the creators behind local favorites ViewHouse and My Neighbor Felix, purveyors of good times and good food. Here’s what to know before you go.
Wonderyard Garden + Table: Know Before You Go
The Location: 2200 Larimer St. right on the corner. You can’t miss the pretty, blue building.
The food:
One of Wonderyard’s big claims to fame is the dough they use as a foundation for several dishes. It all utilizes a grain called Langin, grown in northern Colorado and processed in Boulder. It can be found in almost every part of the menu, from the Seasonal Bruschetta appetizer to main dishes like the Chicken Thigh Shwarma, served in a fresh-baked piada wrap (think Italian flatbread). Even the croutons in the Wonderyard Caesar are made with the special dough.
Menu items include eleven flatbreads from the more traditional Pepperoni to Meat Me Halfway which combines cheddar cheese and housemade lamb sausage with harissa spice. There’s also a vegan Olive You More flatbread with red sauce, plant-based cheese, garlic, onions and peppers.
At a media preview, we tried the Italian Meatballs with DiNapoli red sauce, Buckner Farms beef, parmesan and mozzarella, which were tender and delicious; Crispy Patatas Bravas that are fried and smashed potatoes with spicy bravas sauce; Gambas Al Ajillo, sauteed shrimp with not-too-much garlic, onions, chili flakes and parsley; Miss Piggy pizza topped with mozzarella, housemade chorizo, red onion, and yellow and green zucchini; and Lox In Translation pizza, an elegant combo with crème fraiche, fried capers, shallots, smoked salmon, housemade “everything seasoning’ and arugula.
While everything listed above was very good, standouts came from the Handhelds + Mains part of the menu. My absolute favorite was the Torta with tender pork carnitas balanced with cool lettuce, tomato and pickled red onion, combined with creamy chipotle aioli, served in a tender, soft pita. Perfect!
My husband’s favorite was the Chicken Shawarma marinated in a Mediterranean blend, served in a pita with fresh seasonal veggies and dill Greek yogurt. Again, a great mix of textures, temperatures, and flavor.
We’ll happily return to try the Lasagna with beef Bolognese, the Wonder Burger with a beef patty, fontina cheese and fried mushrooms, the Golden Beet Strawberry, or Honey Goat Cheese salads and the Chicken Drumettes.
We’re also excited about brunch including Avocado Toast with a 7-minute egg; the Gyro Benny; Cinnamon Roll skillet in a cast iron pan; and Shareables that include items from the main menu such as the Charcuterie Board, Prosciutto Pear Fection Flatbread and the Hummus Trio Board served with fresh-baked bread.
Lotus Concepts is passionate about selecting purveyors and ingredients that are sustainable and they source from local partners in Colorado. One of those partners is Golden Prairie Farms, which grows the Langin grain I talked about above.
The drinks:
The cocktail scene at Wonderyard Garden + Table is whimsical, a word often-used for cocktails, but especially deserved with this menu. Le Cloud has pink lemonade vodka, lemon, egg white and a cotton candy cloud. The gorgeous and tasty Perfect Pear, which I had, contains Mediterranean gin (which is more herbaceous), orange and pear liqueur, vermouth, lemon, and orange flower water. The outside of the glass is adorned with fresh flower petals making it pretty to look at and making YOU pretty while raising it to your lips. Doing so is deserving of a little eyelash fluttering, I think.
Under the Me, Plus Three heading of the cocktail menu, large-format concoctions meant to split between three or more friends includes the absolutely adorbs Queen of Hearts. Grapefruit and rose-infused Milago tequila, beet shrub, Chinola Passionfruit, lychee, lemon, grapefruit and sparkling wine are served in, get this, a glass purse. I mean, really!
In the alcohol-free category, there are several choices including the Disco Inferno (see above) with Lyre’s Agave Blanco, watermelon, jalapeno and lime. We had that one too and it was very good with just the right amount of heat. Wonderyard also has beer and wine.
The outside:
Think of it as an outdoor playground, minus the equipment to climb on. Well, there are two carousel horses to straddle, stationed in front of the outdoor “selfie wall.” The whole scene is meant to evoke a Secret Garden and does it well, including gilded birdcages seating units, a spinning turntable, and giant, pink teacups to sit in while sipping and dining. The exterior walls are hand-painted with flowers and butterflies making it easy to immerse yourself in a happy world of frivolity and fun. Tra-la-la.
The inside:
With velvet banquettes that encourage socializing, beautiful colors and cheeky art, the interior of Wonderyard Garden + Table sets a comfortable and luxe setting for enjoying food, drink and DJ tune-listening and dancing if the mood strikes. A giant digital wall of ever-changing scenes helps set the mood. The interior is described as being reminiscent of the Roaring 20s and lets you know you’re in for an approachable but elegant, good time.
Hours and Website:
Wonderyard Garden + Table is open for lunch, Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm; brunch Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm; dinner Sunday-Thursday 2-10pm and Friday-Saturday 3-11pm. Wonder Hours, aka happy hours, are Monday-Friday 3-6pm and late night Cocktail time is every day 10pm-2am. Learn more on their website, here.
-Article and photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough, publisher and managing editor, InGoodTasteDenver.com
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