This is THE most popular thread on the entire site! So here’s what I’m going to do! At the end of 2009 I will tally up who got the best reviews from all my readers and give out the OUR PARKER COLORADO Best of the Best of Parker Restaurants! So If you have a favorite… make sure it gets your vote!
<added the above 8/25/09>
Lets keep up the great conversation from the previous thread on local restaurants… Don’t hold back! Keep letting everyone know what you think of the local restaurants. Last year we pretty much agreed that Vines is a bit pricey but we still like it, BB’s was everyone’s least favorite restaurant and that’s why it closed, Indochine has nothing but great reviews, and the vote is mixed about Warhorse, & Trappers so tell it like it is! My current favorite neighborhood bar/Happy Hour/ Mexican food is Tequila Joe’s … Check it out!
I’ve started a new 2010 Restaurant Reviews thread here.. please come there to comment… Watch out soon for my best of Our Parker Colorado Restaurant results!!
2010 Parker Colorado Restaurant Reviews!
2011 Douglas County Restaurant Reviews Colorado Restaurant Reviews
I went to Falcon when it first opened.. I need to go back again.
I hear they've hired a new chef and have $5 lunch specials and now that the Mainstreet road construction is over the outside patio space in front will be fun when the weather is nice.
Armando's is my favorite Parker restaurant. Didn't care for Trappers and Warhorse is so-so.
I'm a fan of Moyotes on Main. Small, but super friendly and great food. Combination of Mexican and "island" fare. Mmmm…the french toast is incredible!
Here are a few restaurants we like:
Old Santa Fe Mexican Grill
Lil’ Ricci’s NY Pizzeria
Hickory House Ribs
Royal Panda Cafe
I have to share my story from Moyotes tonight:
Today is my son's 2nd birthday. The owners, Moyo and Lynn, will make rice balls and spam for him. He loves it, and specifically requests it.
Tonight we called ahead to let them know we'd have a larger party (since seating is limited). When we arrived, they had decorated the table for us. It was so sweet.
My wife got the Adobada Steak. Wow, was it good. Give it a shot, and certainly eat local. Those relationships are priceless.
I've been to Hickory House, Old Santa Fe, Anthony's, War Horse, Lil Ricci's, Vines, Sushi place where Beau Jo's was (Yutaka?), and Mt. Fuji and they're all great. I went to Falcon and the beer wasn't so great but it was almost like it was new equipment taste in there. The place was packed and there was nothing wrong with the food.
Having just discovered sushi about six months ago at Sasa (downtown Denver) I have to say I'm a big fan of the ?Yukataka? place on 20 mile in front of Michaels where Beau Jo's was. Good stuff and dollar sushi is a good deal. They had some specials (dragon and volcano) which were fantastic.
My favorite restaurant in Parker is in an unlikely shopping center, but the food is amazing. Check out Dancing Noodle next to the library. I think it's way better than Indochine (decent food) both in the quality of the meals and the prices. Their curries are full of flavor, but not greasy.
I'm also a big fan of Hickory House (I will workout extra in order to have their loaded baked potato) and Vines.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Kimono Sushi in the Safeway Shopping Center. They have a fantastic lunch special: 3 rolls + soup + salad for 9.99. Can't beat it. Always fresh and the service is exceptional.
We just had the Parker Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon at the Salthouse… WOW.. what a neat place. The service was fast and friendly, the food was excellent and the portions were huge. It looks like they also have an excellent happy hour M-F 3-7 I think… Go check it out!
I'll go ahead and second Yutaka (in 20 Mile near Chili's). They have the best Spicy Tuna roll in town.
Other sushi places:
Mark Pi's (on Lincoln just east of Jordan). They have some really fun rolls. The JR, Santa Fe and Vegas are my favs.
Yutaka: Not sure if they still do their happy hour sushi ($1/piece) but it's still really good. Go for crab or the spicy tuna. They have some lunch combos that include soup and salad.
Mt Fuji: Was not impressed.
Junz: It's been a while since I've had theirs. Hard to say one way or another.
Chris asked me to review Cherry Village (Lincoln & Jordan near Wendy's).
The wife and I have been huge fans of them since they opened. Never terribly busy, so typically quiet. They are a little pricey for Asian, but the quality is there, and service is friendly (something I've been missing in Parker).
They have the typical Chinese fare, as well as some other Asian flavors (Korean, Vietnam, etc). Yesterday was the first time I've ever tried "pho", a Vietnamese noodle dish. A co-worker had me try it. It was wonderful.
I really like Armando's in Parker, but I think the Aurora location is better. The food has more flavor an the sauces/creams are thicker.
Mmmmmm….Armando's.
Yutaka's has great food and service at decent prices. LOVE the $1 sushi Sun-Wed. Always end up getting one of their specialty rolls too, but still a great meal for cheap!
Also, Santa Fe Grill and Las Delicias for Mexican are my local favs, but am going to try Moyotes too.
I found Trappers to be overpriced, food was so-so, service was under par, and air was stale and not moving. Won't be back.
Falcon does have WiFi there. just ask shane for the code. I love the beers there and now with the temps a bit nicer, the patio is great. Love melanie, the bartender, shes does a good pour. they are starting live trivia on march 3rd with beer and prizes. should be fun!
I go to Yutaka all the time for 1$ sushi, a roll and some saki. best in town..
My family loves the Royal Panda Cafe for take out and delivery. Fresh food and exceptional service. They deliver on time and have the most polite drivers.
Mitch – Moyotes is AWESOME! and especially the people I'd probably go there even if I didn't like the food because you feel like you get to be part of a family right when you walk in! According to Moy there is apparently a HUGE population of Hawaiians that live in the area and they are so happy to have found Moyotes!
Mark & Astrid, I'm so glad you two are posting I am alergic to shellfish so I never eat Sushi.. so it's great that you 2 are letting folks know where they should go!
Carri – I've never been to the Royal Panda Cafe.. I tend to stick with August Moon because I have been going there since they were tiny in the strip mall by Safeway as Egg Roll King. I'll have to give it a try.. Thanks for reviewing it.
This is awesome!
Chrissy
My favorite restaurant in Parker is The Dancing Noodle at Parker/Main. GREAT FOOD and friendly Thai owners!
JUNZ JUNZ JUNZ is there any better sushi? I don’t think so!
I can’t believe that nobody has rated THE BEST restaurant in Parker, Junz!! This place is amazing! Best sushi I’ve ever had, excellent service, warm and authentic atmosphere. They also have the best fillet mignon I’ve ever tasted. Compared to other high-end sushi restaurants I’ve been to, this place has reasonable prices with excellent quality fish. I tried Trappers and their steak was exactly what I was afraid of, average hotel steak quality. Whenever my boyfriend and I are wanting to go out to celebrate an occasion, there is only one option in Parker, Junz!!
I agree that Junz is the best sushi, not only in parker, but almost anywhere in the Denver area
Vines Wine Bar & Tapas-
Put It On Your List
I finally had a chance to get to Vines. It's a very cozy place in downtown Parker. As we entered we were asked if we wanted a table or to sit at one of the couch areas.
The couch areas seemed kind of cool where you could eat and drink and visit with other neighbors. However, we opted for a table. The atmosphere and ambiance is right on target here. There was a two-piece band in the corner playing quietly, and the lighting was perfect.
Vines have over 300 different labels of wine, with 100 available by the glass. Our waitress said their total inventory is about 1,500 bottles. I asked what was the most expensive; she replied "$3000".
by Gary Woods
Restaurant Consultant
I read all the comments above. We have 4 children and wanted to try something new. Not pizza, and not a chain. Is there a restaurant that has the atmosphere where we can do family dinning (and the child isn't stuck eating whatever I may have ordered and they decided not to like). Only my youngest daughter likes fish/sushi so her and I get voted out of places I would othervise pick. Any comments from families with children?
You could try Moyotes, they are super sweet folks and very family friendly as their kids work there. It's a little pricey but the portions are HUGE. Also Guadalajara's off of Mainstreet Between Dransfeldt & Parker Rd. My kids liked it because the food gets there FAST and it's pretty inside. Both have a kids menu.
Most of our dining in Parker is with the kids. The restaurant we always go back to is Las Delicias. Good prices, good food, SUPER FAST which is awesome with 3 kids waiting to eat. Cant get enough of the smothered bean burritos.
Lonestar is also a good one for the family. Monday's (I think) they have face painting and the kids like throwing peanut shells on the floor.
Joes Crab Shack has reasonable food but you can't beat having a playground for the kids if you are eating outside.
Mt.Fuji I thought would be better. Once was enough. Food was expensive and only mediocre. Presentation and atmosphere at Benihana's is better.
I'm a little surprised by the Trappers reviews. Its a unique place that is worth going to at least once for the volcano rock cooking (not with kids).
Warhorse is ok. Its just too ingrained with Parker's history to miss. Plus depending on when you go you might have almost the whole place to yourself.
Sounds like we need to make a trip to Moyotes now.
Everyone should try Otto's American Grill on Lincoln. They have the best burgers in Colorado! Huge, tasty burgers cooked exactly how you want, and the best fries anywhere. The portions are enormous, the buns are toasted, and the fries are hot and greasy–the way fries ought to be!
The service is great. Everyone who works there is friendly and happy to cater to your needs. The décor is nice, with a gentle, elegant feel. And you can finally get a decent burger in Parker without having to go to a bar.
Mindy, the manager, always makes it a pleasant dining experience. It's no wonder the place has so many regulars. Good food, good service, good decor. What more could you ask?
Has anyone eaten at Sultans Grill? We have no idea if the food is any good because the service is SO atrocious.
We went there for lunch today after the rush.. around 1:00 p.m. We walked in and were told we could sit anywhere… well not anywhere because most of the booths hadn't been cleared or cleaned yet, we sat down at the least dirty one and brushed the crumbs off ourselves… we waited… waited.. the food next to us was brought out.. we heard the sounds of water and ice tinkling in glasses but no one ever brought us water, menus', nothing.. I like to give new places a chance, but there were only 3 other tables full of people, all of them had their food and the woman that told us to sit just kept re-arranging the menus.
We finally got up and left after 15 minutes or so and walked to Lil' Ricci's…. great food, great service, clean tables.. Too bad too… I really had a craving for a Gyro… guess I'll have to wait for one at the Parker County Festival Carnival…
I felt the need to leave a post about our experience at Sultan Grill this evening, to ensure that they don't have only a negative review. We were greeted and seated promptly. The waitress suggested a couple of combo plates with a good variety of meat and meatless dishes…The King Combo had delicious rice with chicken/lamb kaboos. We also ordered another platter which had grape leaves, babaganoush, falafel and tabouleh. All was very tasty, each item with it's distinct flavor. I will admit our service wasn't the quickest, but the food was so good that my husband and I chose to overlook slightly slow service. Give them a try when you aren't in a hurry.
Our family, friends and neighbors LOVE Indochine. Besides just getting your typical Pad Thai, curries; we love their creations which we consider are culinary wonders. We travelled extensively and lived in many Asian countries for years including Thailand and Indochine food is VERY Thai. We bring our guests, business partners to Indochine all the times and they went away impressed! To judge Thai food correctly, one needs to know the flavors that make Thai food so popular and Indochine got it through all of their own creations. Indochine serves up the kind of Thai food and flavors that are found at sophisticated Thai restaurants in Phuket and Chiang Mai. This is very complimentary to Indochine considering chef Yumi is Vietnamese. I heard Indochine will be nominated again for Channel 7 A-list this year as they came in #2 in 2007 and 2008. Get out your vote for Indochine when the time comes so we can have an Asian restaurant in Parker be the #1 spot in Colorado! We love Indochine …it is obvious
. We also like Junz and Vines!
Ummmm, where is Salthouse? I haven't heard of that place. I am reading here trying to find a good place for lunch with a friend. We love Armando's for dinner and occassionally lunch. Best and most authentic Italian food I've had since visiting Italy 3 years ago. We are also big fans of Otto's. I agree with the poster who said best burger. Red Robin has good burgers, but are more gourmet styled than Otto's. Also, Otto's Cantina is good.
Salthouse is up on the hill across from the Parker Adventist Hospital next to Joe's Crab Shack. Don't go to lunch there tomorrow as it closes one Thursday a month for the Parker Chamber Meeting.. and that's tomorrow!
We ended up with no reservations on Mother's Day and just thought we'd see if we could get into Armando's and they had tables open in their bar area. We were fine with that and thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the Opera singing chef!
Went to Falcon Brewery yesterday. Service was poor, food was poor, beer was just ok. Definitely won't being going back, especially since Indochine is right next door!
Has anybody eaten at Gaspares?
There are both good and bad reviews on the Internet.
Looks like most of the good reviews are for the bakery side of the biz.
Their bakery is AMAZING as well as Pizza by the slice. I haven't eaten in the restaurant section yet. It's beautiful though… I know they imported marble from Italy for the tables and really did it up right for the decor.
My Review of Gaspares in Parker is as follows with pros and cons. We had dinner there on July 12:
Pros: Hostess was wonderful; dressed beautifully in black with earrings that sparkled and was very welcoming. She was the perfect choice for the hostess position. Husband had Chicken Parmesan and commented that it had wonderful flavor. Cozy neighborhood restaurant feel, love the location off the beaten path. Beautiful bar was nicely lit. Having the bakery next door is a plus. Loved the colorful wagon outside. A definite plus for an attention grabber. Loved the fresh flowers on the tables.
Cons: Server Becky was unprofessional – referred to us as “you guys” (example, “hi, do you guys want something to drink?”), gave excuses why it was taking so long to get our check (“I was cutting cake and it was taking longer than I anticipated”). Didn’t like the drinks – Iced tea tasted like it was instant so I asked for a 7-Up. Iced tea should be brewed. Server said the restaurant doesn’t serve 7-Up, would I like a Sprite which I agreed to but then she returned, giving me Sierra Mist which was horrible. I thought not having 7-up in a restaurant/bar was odd. Too slow – 15 minutes to get our drinks, 45 minutes to be served with 7 tables filled. I ordered Chicken Marsala but was served Veal Marsala instead. I didn’t have it returned. There were only 2 of us and the server still had to question who had what dish when she came with the meals. Loved the ceiling but hated the fluorescent lightbulbs – the fluorescents looked very out of place and fluorescent lighting doesn’t flatter anyone. There should be soft lighting there to replace those horrible fluorescent bulbs (maybe pink lightbulbs?). It would make a huge difference. It was a bit chilly being seated in front of the emergency exit door, would like to come back in the winter to see if it’s still that way.
You could see the hustle and bustle of the kitchen from the bakery side which was very distracting when we purchased cookies to take home. Could the kitchen door be a swing type so it would close? It’s a tight squeeze; we felt in the way of servers going back and forth getting desserts for patrons.
Bakery was expensive – $8 for 12 cookies? Ouch. I could see myself stopping to purchase a loaf of bread on the way home which would be wonderful.
I would recommend placing a comment card on each table for patrons to fill out for the first 6 months in operation to get a realistic idea of what patrons feel about the place overall. Otherwise, how are you going to know? There have been 15 restaurants in Parker that have closed in the past 2 years. With a few changes, this restaurant has potential to be a fabulous place.
Does anyone know what is going on with the DINER sign beside Gaspare's? We thought a new restaurant had opened and ending up eating at Gaspare's. Well, not good. I ordered Bolognese Spaghetti, the meat was unidentifiable, hard and tasted funny. I asked the waiter what kind of meat it was, he said "MEAT PRODUCT", can you believe that? My Italian food I make at home is much, much better and cheaper. Will, not return, ever. Open a jar of Ragu, will taste better.
Otto's, good burgers but a strange place. We had to do "counter" service, which I did not like. Instead of a waitress, you gave your order at a cash register and got your own drinks. I like to be served and give a nice tip to a good server. The place was loud, chaotic and messy.
Has anyone tried India's Kitchen? How are they and do they deliver? We are so excited to have an Indian local. We love Indian but hate the drive to Park Meadows.
I had the buffet lunch at India's kitchen last week. The food was very good. The naan was fresh and hot. Their mango lasse was the best I've ever had. At $7.95 for the buffet, it's at the top end of what I'd pay for lunch. The $3.50 for the mango lasse made it an expensive lunch (by my standards, anyway), but it was worth it.
Thanks for the comments about Gaspares. We are giving it a try tonight. I will post my comments about it. I'm hoping for a good pizza.
So where is India's Kitchen? I googled it but no luck. Mark made it sound so good… I'm not even sure what mango lasse is.. but it SOUNDS good… and now I want to try it!
I went to India's Kitchen last week on an evening.The service is very bad and it is very expensive, compared to other similar restaurants.
ok, I found out where India's Kitchen is from my husband.
it's where Roman Villa used to be on the corner of Mainstreet & Dransfeldt next to Chipotle. They have no website apparently, so this is the only info out there for them… We'll have to go and check it out soon!
I got an email with a couple of votes " The two best restaurants in Parker didn't even make the list: Sultan Grill and Indochine. Both are not chains and serve WONDERFUL food! "
Jeannene
http://2china4tian.blogspot.com/
We ordered a takeaway from India's Kitchen and it was ok. For Americans who are new to Indian, they will love it but after having lots of curries in the UK and even some better here is town, it is pretty mediocre. We ordered onion bhajis, naan, chicken tikka masala and the lamb madras. We are not sure what part of Indian these names are from as most are listed as Himalayan. Now for the food, the onion bhajis were flat and tasted of nothing, the naan was thin and crispy, almost tortilla like. The chicken tikka was ok but the sauce was fairly loose and did not have that "thickness that you get with curries. Also the lamb madras tasted more like the tikka with coconut milk added, not at all what a madras truly is. For the price, I am sure the buffet is ok and a great value but for dinner I will make the drive to India's Clay Oven as their curries are amazing.
After reading the reviews here, and elsewhere on the Internet, my hubby and I decided not to try Gaspares. At Armando's, we know what we are getting. The food is always good and consistent. There service is exceptional, so I think we will get our Italian from there.
WOW – just found this review page – love it! We eat out in Parker a lot and we too prefer the smaller family owned places, but end up at the chain places often too. Here are a few favorites:
Las Delicias – very good mexican food, margaritas, fast service, great prices. Good family restaurant. Love this place.
Mt Fuji – we really like their Sushi, and they DELIVER! The only Sushi place I know of that delivers. The hibachi side of the restaurant is good too, and they will deliver this food as well. We have eaten once at one of the hibachi tables and the food was good. The fire that the chef made on the table really scared our 3 year old though. Be prepared!
Junz – exceptional Sushi and service. I love the owner with the white hair in a ponytail — he is always so kind and sometimes plays with our girls and gives them extra candy. We like sitting at a table, their Sushi bar and regular bar too. Always excellent service.
Joe's Crabshack — great for families if the weather is nice. Our girls LOVE the playground and the kids crab leg dinner and maccaroni. Coconut shrimp is excellent too. Also good fish. The staff usually dances to a couple of songs while we are there — fun for the kids.
Goga's — new Mediterranian Grille in the strip mall on Hilltop behind 7-Eleven. We gave this a try last week and were pleasantly surprised by the delicious food! Mostly grilled meat (beef, chicken, salmon, lamb) and the servings are very large. All meals come with choice of salad (I chose the cucumber/yogurt salad and it was delicious!), rice ,hummus or on other thing (can't remember), and a pita bread circle. They also have kids meals that aren't on the menu yet. The decor is simple yet beautiful. You can tell they are still new as they don't have barstools at the bar yet and the menus are printed on regular paper. I anticipate this will all be improved soon to go with the excellent food.
Dancing Noodle — only been there once, but really liked the food. Not crowded at all.
Vines — great adult atmosphere, wine and food. A bit pricey though.
Thank you for all of your reviews — we will be trying Moyotes, Indochine and Armando's very soon!
Went to Gaspares on a Thursday night with a group of women. Was greeted very nicely at the front door and had a nice chat with the bartender regarding their wines while we waited for the rest of our party. But from there on the night went down hill-for some reason they did not want to seat the whole party together, to push two tables together seemed out of the question. We did any way- the Caesar Salad is NOT Caesar salad wrong kind of lettuce, dressing was good though. The main course was very spotty three people at the table sent their dishes back, chewy veal, bad tasting mussels, my chicken marsala had good flavor but the chicken was tough and it is not served with any pasta a bit of a disappointment. And they were out of lasagna! The bread and dessert cookies were fabulous and they did give us those on the house for all the dinner problems. I guess for the price range I expect a bit more reliability in the food items maybe just a new chef.
Hi Chrissy – I just had to mention that it's Saltgrass – not Salthouse!
Also, where is the Sultan Grill?
Has anyone eaten at the new Mexican place where The Bistro used to be – over by Target?
Hey Penny.. you are SO right! It is Saltgrass. Sultans Grill is in the corner of the shopping center on Jordan and Lincoln by the Cotton Closet Behind Sonic..
Tequila Joe's is the one I raved about here http://www.ourparkercolorado.com/grand-opening-te…
where BB's Bistro used to be.. I am having a bunch of folks show up there tonight for happy hour.. a TWEETUP! for folks on Twitter.. but feel free to come over.. Happy Hour is from 4-7.
We love Guadalajara's on Mainstreet, good basic mexican food and the best REAL margaritas! We went Goga's last evening as were pleasantly surprised! The menu stated kabobs but the meats we ordered (lamb) was grilled lamb t-bone? (if that makes any sense) none the less all was very good!
We finally got a chance to eat at India's Kitchen and really loved it. The service was great and the food was awesome! We will definately be going back.
I have eaten at Tequila Joe's (the new place where BB's used to be) twice. It isn't your typical Mexican fare. I DID enjoy it very much. As they say in their advertising, it is 'modern Mexican'. We also enjoy Guadalajara. There is a big difference between the two places, in my opinion.
We love Indochine. The food is great and not your typical "American Asian" food. The owner are always gracious and most of the time visit the table to see how the food was.
Kimono Sushi is also very good and is very different than Indocine. The sushi is really well done with art and style. In watching the sushi chefs at Yutaka, they just slap it together.
For steaks we love to go to Saltgrass. Texas Road house is good but it is way too noisy for us.
Sultans grill is great Middle Eastern food. We like it a lot.
For the most part we try to stay away from the chains like Chili's, Applebees (when it was in Parker) etc.
My husband & I went to India's Kitchen last night, with some hesitation….We were pleasantly surprised! The service was great and the chicken tikka masala was verrrrry yummy! My husband got the chicken curry, which was very good, too. The garlic naan did not disappoint. They were quick to refill both our papadam basket before our meals arrived, as well as our water glasses during our dining experience.
Here's a couple of places my wife and I like in Parker.
Old Santa Fe Mexican Grill. I love the Steak Quesadillas…the meat is juicy and tasty. My wife loves the Cheese & Onion Enchiladas. They also have excellent chips and salsa.
Hickory House. The ribs are of course great, but the catfish is also a good choice. And for those that don't know, you can buy their sauce. If you BBQ at home, the spicy Hickory House sauce is a must-have.
I just spent three days in Parker looking for a house and ended up at several places that are local:
Tailgate: It must have been a slow night because wasn't a bike to be seen. My wife and I went in, had a beer and some food. My buffalo burger was very good and my wife enjoyed her quesadilla. Apparently this is a biker bar (that I saw on Thurs eve), but the food is really good! (The service is quite slow, but friendly.)
Gaspare's Italian Restaurant and Bakery: We were the first people in there and I can tell it's new and the people are experienced. They just stand around and watch you eat/talk. Annoying. The bread and olive oil/vinaigrette is extremely good! We ordered veal and chicken Parmesan. They were OK and the pasta was mediocre. Not impressive nor worth the price. The sweets over in the bakery for dessert…worth it!
Tequlia Joes: A+ – Other than being a bit slow in getting some drinks started, the food was amazing (all four entrees ordered at our table) and I couldn't even finish mine. That doesn't happen. I'll be back…soon.
Falcon: I just had a couple of the Dive Bombers and they were good. I'll be back.
I just stumbled on this blog about Parker restaurants and, of course, you know what they say about opinions…
I've been out here for almost 6 1/2 yrs and regularly was sent to "good" restaurants when I initially moved here. Not one would I have ever returned to. I moved from the NY metro area where there is an abundance of outstanding ethnic food. The quality of restaurants in Parker has definitely improved since 2003 as have the number of independently owned restaurants. I personally don't patronize a corporate chains and franchise becauses the food is usually cookie cutter and the money you spend leaves the community. That said I have tried Hickory House and Texas Roadhouse, both not as good as what comes out of my smoker. Saltgrass, average. Trappers did have a time when they produced good food, but haven't been there in 3 yrs or so since they were taken over by a restaurant management company. There big problem is that they were originally owned by a politician, current and former Broncos players, and the original owner of the Roman Villa (which was terrible). You do the math.
What remains fairly constant are the number of people who don't have a clue what "good" food is:
Mexican: not one decent, authentic restaurant in town (haven't been to Moyotes, but have heard good things from people I know know what good food is). Medinas in Franktown ( sw corner of 83/86) is family owned and operated and authentic.
Italian: not a single place i'd ever go back to in town. Gaspare's bakery is outstanding and as good as anything in the NE, but have heard nothing but negatives about the food. Little Ricci's?? Not even close to NY quality pie.
Steak: If you think feedlot, choice grade, 1/2 inch thick cut steak, (places like Texas Roadhouse, Saltgrass, or any of the other inadequate "family" places in Parker) is "good" you need to go to a real steakhouse for a real prime quality steak. Or get to the farmer's market and buy a couple of steaks from Snow Creek Ranch. I've been buying sides from them since moving here and their beef is prime and land raised, as in grass fed. Remember, you get what you pay for.
Junz, Vines, Cafe Monet (service is slow so you can dine), Indochine are my top picks. I've yet to try the India House and Goga's as yet, but am looking forward to eating at each of these soon.
I just had to post a comment regarding Carol's perception of Parker's dining scene and it's people.
First, realize where you are. Granted, Armando's is not Pao Luci's on Mulberry or Mario's in the Bronx but to say it is not "good" Italian is ridiculous.
Second, "you get what you pay for"…ridiculous. I have paid for the $50 steak at Morten's and I could buy one at Costco and grill it up myself for a better meal.
Third, "don't know what good food is…". I call it realism. We are in a small town in the middle of the country. It really comes down to the choices you make I guess.
a. I could live in a place full of snotty, self-glorified people having access to fabulous, culturely diverse food all the while fearing for the well being of my family.
b. I could live in a community with a great family atmosphere and low crime rates and settle for just "good" food.
I choose the latter.
Finally, I suggest you not frequent any of Parker's restaurants as I'm sure nothing will ever be up to your standards.
Everyone else, great blog. This is definitely helpful to me and I appreciate the input.
Is Otto's… *gone*? They went from one restaurant to three restaurants to zero restaurants, all in the space of a few months?
What's going on there? Lots of places claim "the best burger in _____", but that truly was the best burger in Parker, almost by a long shot.
Yes, Otto's is GONE!
Couldn't believe it. We loved eating the burgers there.
I was shocked to find out Otto's was gone. I ate there once and liked the burgers. It is sad but it is funny since just last year, the owner of Otto's was interviewed by Chronicle and when asked how come he is opening three while many Parker's restaurants closed down. He said something to the effect that because he knows what he is doing and the closed restaurants did not…I found out also that little pizza place next to the old Target (they have one in Elizabeth) is also closed down. What we all need to do is when we can afford to go out, keep eating in Parker. The sales revenue will keep parker a nice place to live and at the same time, our business will help the local businesses stay afloat. I am just glad that our favorite places like Indochine and Junz are still doing well.
With regards to "admiral's" comments about my perception on Parker restaurants, you need to read what I wrote. There are a number of very good restaurants in town, however they are shadowed by the vast number of average and below restaurants who are counting on folks like you to continue to patronize them. I said nothing about Armandos, so how can you claim I said it wasn't "good" food? I've never even been there. I've heard too many "average" comments to be willing to give it a try. I'm not expecting a place like Armando's to be the same quality as a restaurant on Arthur Ave. I do expect it to be as good or better than what I fix in my kitchen.
Second, if you can buy prime beef at Costco (i've seen it there before) rather than going to Morton's I suggest you do. Why pay for what you can make at home? I purchase a side of prime, grass fed, natural, properly raised beef every 2 yrs and it's wonderful.
Third, Parker is turning into a mini Highlands Ranch. To say, "We are in a small town in the middle of the country.", tells me you don't know what a small town is. Peyton is a small town. Elizabeth is a small town. Parker is far from being the small town it used to be. The idiots that run the town (I don't live w/in the town limits) have done everything possible (and are succeeding) to remove all that remains of what was a beautiful ranching/farming community and tear down/build on every square inch of land. Have you noticed all the empty space? They do this all in the name of progress.
Fourth, do you actually expect the crime rate in Parker to remain low with the abundance of high density tract homes they're building everywhere? It will attract more criminals. Notice how the crime rate has grown over the past 5+ yrs.
Finally, food doesn't have to be the same as you'd get in a cosmopolitan city, like Chicago, NY, Denver, etc. It does need to have a great quality of its own however.
And Goga's is a keeper. Great ambiance, nice people, and real good food.
Going to lunch at Goga's today based on the good reviews here.
And I think Armando's is FANTASTIC!!
LOVED Goga's. You're right, it's a keeper. I will definitely be going back. The food was very fresh and prepared perfectly. The portions are generous. The service was outstanding. The Baklava was to die for. I am perfectly stuffed.
Any info on the new place called Takoda's Tavern? Drove by last night and it looked like it was open with a large crowd.
Hey Kay, We actually did go there Tuesday night and really liked it! The owner is a local guy, prices are good and portions are big and the food we had was great! Happy hour is different every night until 6:30
Could someone please give directions or address for Tankoda's Tavern. Are there recommendations for that restaurant, or is it pretty much basic tavern fare?
Moyote's is fun, sweet family, but not a special night out adventure, food wise. I have never found anything that was better than average, though we prefer non-chain dining. Yes, keep the restaurant's in Parker alive, then we may actually lure in some better choices.
oops, misspell Takoda's (sounds sort of ethnic?, or just the name)
Where is Tokoda's Tavern located?
Takoda Tavern – A Sports Bar in Parker CO http://ow.ly/2br0kU Here are the directions and my little review.
We are going tonight again!
We ate at Tequila Joe's and I actually wouldn't go back. Maybe our take on 'mexican" food is different than everyone else's but we seek out more authentic food when we go to Mexican places. And, I know that this place doesn't claim to be "authentic, " for obvious reasons considering everyone working there is caucasian, but we definitely expected more. I mean, I would go to Chipotle or Qdoba before going back to Tequila Joe's. When we sat down, we were first surprised at the chips. If anyone has eaten at the chain, CHILES, or even a Chipotle, or Qdoba, you would realize that those chips are far more "mexican"-like than these were. My husband and I were seriously trying to figure out if they were Doritos or not. When I make Mexican at home, I at least buy more authentic type Mexican chips at the store. I'm surprised they couldn't have just gone over to Walmart and picked out some more Mexican-like chips to serve. Then, I ordered some tacos. Granted they came out almost like an authentic taco, but all I got were two tiny tacos in the soft corn tortilla (which is the authentic version of a taco), with a few bits of pork and cilantro. That's it! No lime on the side of my plate to add, no sauce of any kind, nothing else in the taco. I literally ate one of my taco's in three bites because it had hardly anything in it. Not to mention, it had absolutely no flavor because all it was, was a few bits of meat and cilantro. When I make tacos at home, I do the same version, but I at least have more than two ingredients in it! The rice was good, I'll give them that. The beans were those runny, grey looking beans that some restaurants will give you to dip your beans in, but not as a side. We were pretty disappointed. We've tried a lot of Mexican places and, yes, we're a little picky. My husband lived in Mexico and Texas and we've eaten a TON of Mexican food and have yet to find a place in Parker that we truly like. So far, our best bet is Hacienda Colorado, however, we are still searching and trying new local places. Anyway, bottom line? If you're in the mood for a modern twist on Mexican food, I wouldn't go to Tequila Joe's, I would just go to a Chipotle. I really think they have a much more "mexican" twist to their food than TJ's does.
THANK YOU for the review on Takoda's! We will be going therethis week to check it out. So happy to have a place close to the Pinery.
My husband and I visited Takoda on Monday night (planning to watch the Broncos game) and were very disappointed with the service. Not only were the tables NOT cleaned off, but when we sat down, we waited for 15 minutes without even being acknowledged. We noticed several other tables with people sitting at them had finished their drinks and were waiting for refills which didn’t seem to happen very quickly. We left the bar and went over to Tequila Joes where we had exceptional service…and $1 draft beer during any NFL game. Can’t beat that! I would definitely not recommend Takoda Tavern to anyone and will never be back. In my opinion, this will be another Parker restaurant/bar that doesn’t make it.
We've been to Takoda's twice for dinner. We enjoyed both visits. We didn't have problems with service. It was quick and cordial. The food is good. I had a hamburger both times. My husband had the chicken burrito. He loved it. He said he was surprised how good it was. They make their own green chili. The only thing I was disappointed with were the french fries, but after Otto's french fries, that is understandable. They offer both beef and bison burgers. We will go back.
Headed to Goga's for dinner tonight. This will be our first dinner visit. I love lunch there.
Moyotes…Love the place. By far they have the best Mexican food I've ever eaten. The small family run restaurant's atmosphere is due mostly to the friendliness and service of the owners, Moy and Linda. If you're lucky you'll get to meet Sonya, the grandmother
Their home made salsa is incredible….Lunch specials are amazing…Huge portions (you may want to consider splitting)….Try asking the chef, Moy what he recommends. I've never been disappointed….And make sure you save room for their "unique" Hawaiian donuts called Malasadas.
Thanks Brad…. I totally agree with you… in the summer watch for the fresh made Malasada's at the Parkerfest on mainstreet.
I was wondering if anyone knows what the new place is on Parker and Hess, next to the Parker Country Market? Any reviews?
Yes, lots of them.. see this post.
http://www.ourparkercolorado.com/takoda-tavern-a-…
Does anyone know if or when the new Pho restaurant (old Otto's building) opens?
Fika Coffeehouse is probably my favorite place to just relax and hang on a Saturday afternoon. Family owned and operated, it’s a quaint, old-fashioned coffeehouse with a laid back atmosphere and lots of character. Hardwood floors, rough-hewn walls, soft lighting, comfortable chairs–it’s a great place to meet up with friends, or just spend some quality alone time with a good book or open laptop. During the Christmas season, they had volunteers from the Parker Library reading Christmas stories to children (and those of us who are still young at heart). The service is always friendly and personable. One of the employees recently told me, “I used to hang out here before I worked here. I love this place.” That says a lot, and it definitely shows. The first time you go in, they’re delighted to meet you. By your second visit, you’re family.
An occasional customer will ask why they don’t serve alcohol. But if a bar is what you’re looking for, you can walk across the street to the Tailgate. Fika is a different kind of place. Located on Mainstreet in the heart of Old Town Parker, it’s characteristic of why I love living here. This is a great area, and local, family run businesses like Fika are one of the reasons why.
Does anyone know if Saltgrass is under new management? It used to be out favorite place. We dined there recently and were shocked. When our salads came we could see the bottom of our plates inbetween the few blades of lettuce. We asked the waiter what happened and he said he tried to make it bigger but the manager had him make it smaller. When we threatened to never return, he said if we are regulars we could ask for a bigger salad. We feel we shouldn't have to ask for a regular sized (not bigger) salad. When our entrees came – ribeyes with mashed potatoes – again we were disappointed. The steak was very thin and the helping of mashed potatoes was very small. Needless to say, we will not be returning unless things have changed for the better.
Los Volcanes: worst Mexican food I have ever had, to go along with terrible service. They get the double whammy. How they remain in business is beyond me. Stay away and go to Old Santa Fe.
Here's a new take on the restaurant business. Offer top quality 'tavern' food, a fun, clean, friendly bar, very reasonable menu prices, a patio with a high up 'city view', a four buck glass of house wine, live weekend bands, and real people. Gets crowded. Saw band 'Joe ForNothin'. Think Van Halen meets Ponderosa High. These boys will be stars, see them while you can.
I'm really surprised no one has mentioned August Moon. We have been quite a few times and the food is amazing. We love Thai food and always order the traditional thai dishes (Curry Chicken, Beef and Basil and Pad Thai). Their versions are the best we have ever had. We were shocked at how good it was but sad to see such a huge restaurant so empty. So here I am spreading the word. Try it 'cause you'll love it. I'd cry if they closed down.
Another favorite of ours if Old Santa Fee. Try to Carne Asada Burrito. So yummy. It's affortable quality food with a kids menu our kids love. How could you go wrong.
This is a great site. Love all the suggestions and can't wait to try them.