Last night, Zach and I went out to celebrate his 29th birthday.
And boy did we go out well!
When Zach was planning where he wanted to go for his birthday, he kept coming back to Acorn new-to-us restaurant in an up and coming area of Denver. We’d actually tried to go before, but were unable to get reservations.
Thankfully, we were able to get reservations for Zach’s birthday, but not until 815. Way past our normal dinner time.
Since this girl can’t wait until 815 to eat, we decided to start the night early at Epic, the brewery we visited Friday. The nice thing about Epic, they allow you to bring snacks.
Parmesan crisp chips, new-to-me crackers from Whole foods, and hummus.
Along with some amazing beer, these snacks were the perfect way to hold us over until our 815 reservation.
I thought I’d be watching the clock, ready for dinner, but Zach and I chatted the night away and before we new it we were in a hurry to get to dinner.
Acorn is in a new, industrial building along with another restaurant, bank, art gallery, and a few other offices. We automatically fell in love with the vibe of the place and new it was going to be a great night.
While we looked over the menu, we started out dinner with cocktails. An Old Fashion for Zach and Monks Garden for me
MONK’S GARDEN
death’s door basil & tarragon infused vodka, green chartreuse, cucumber, lavender, lime
Acorn knows what they’re doing with the drinks folks. I saw this drink on many other tables, and heard multiple people talking about how good it was. Super fresh, sweet, and dangerous.
Acorn is known for shared, small plates, so we decided on four different dishes to share.
COAL ROASTED BABY BEETS
feta panna cotta, toasted pistachios, tarragon
The feta panna cotta was PERFECT with these beats. It was super creamy, not at all sour, and bright.
AHI TUNA “TATAKI”
basil & honey vinaigrette, cucumber, celery
The tuna was perfectly prepared and the crisp veggies served with it were the perfect compliment
LAMB “SHAWARMA”
shishito peppers, feta cheese, chickpea panisse, tzatziki sauce
My favorite of the evening. Every single thing about it.
OAK GRILLED PORK BELLY
crooked stave beer & gruyere fondue, brussels sprouts, chestnuts
By the time we got to this dish we were pretty full, but it was super tasty.
Overall
We LOVED the food and drinks, and will absolutely be back as soon as possible. Every dish was creative, unique, and perfectly prepared.
The menu does ask that you order everything at once, but will stagger the dishes themselves so you get to enjoy them slowly. My favorite way to do family style.
The service was knowledgable, well balanced, and polite.
Honestly, is there any downside to Acorn? No…so we should probably go back this weekend. 😉 Ok, Zach?
Question of the Night: Do you like tapas style food?
Love it – I’m al about trying different dishes.
Chocolate Covered Race Medals 