Eat Here

“Veggie Burgers” (I can’t stand the word…veggies…but I guess it works here) are popping up on menus everywhere, which makes good sense as vegetarians tend to pop into your restaurant more and more frequently all the time, and there are days when the craving for a substantial sandwich must be satisfied.

Good veggie burgers, however, are not everywhere. But they are at Thirsty Lion Gastropub and Grill, a cavernous restaurant/gastropub located in the renovated Union Station development in downtown Denver. And this one’s full of flavor.

Nestled in a nicely toasted bun is a patty made from white and red quinoa, 

jalapeños, black beans, and Pecorino Romano, bound together with egg. The exterior grilled to a pleasant crunchiness, blanketed with melted smoked mozzarella, and garnished with creamy avocado, peppery arugula, fresh tomato, a nice garlic pesto

aïoli, and a flash of flavor-heavy sun-dried tomato tapenade (a great substitution for Catsup). All of this might be overwhelming but for the fact that the different ingredients come through a few at a time, bite by bite, keeping it interesting and very satisfying. Eat with a side of well-fried fries or their creamy/tangy coleslaw. Come hungry because this thing is pretty big!   

Find all the details here, Thirsty Lion Gastropub and Grill.  

Eat Here When You’re There

There are times when the only thing that’ll assuage your appetite is a plate overflowing with pasta. For me, it’s the ultimate comfort food, my favorite dish since I started keeping track of what I ate (age 5, as I recall).

Last year I found myself on my own in Melbourne, Florida. The last thing I expected to find, on my last night in Florida, was really good spaghetti, served on a beautiful marble bar, and eaten while listening to two ladies talk about their respective dog and cat both named “Martini”. But I did. And I expect this sounds almost too charming to be true, but it is. I suddenly found myself not alone after 5 days going solo in a strange town. This is how Happy Hours play out at Melo’s, a great Italian restaurant, located in the Indain Harbour Beach area in Melbourne.

Below you’ll see a marvelous tangle of spaghetti and mushroom marinara. The spaghetti was perfect, and the sauce had a tremendous depth of flavor; tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, and herbs cooked down into a heady red gravy. Melo uses good stuff, and he and his staff know their stuff. It was the real deal. 

When I go back there to tour Kennedy Space Center, I’ll undoubtedly return to Melo’s, maybe for the gnocchi in Gorgonzola sauce, the pappardelle pomodoro, or the baked ziti…definitely for the marinara. Looks like I’ll have to go twice.

Find all the details here, Melo’s Italian Restaurant.

“No man is lonely eating spaghetti; it requires so much attention.” ~ Morley