Prima Ristorante and Enoteca in Denver Colorado

Prima Ristorante & Enoteca

Address: 1106 14th St.

Cross Streets: 14th & Arapahoe

Phone: 303-228-0770

Price: $$$

Reservations: Yes

Hours: B-L-D:Daily, BR:Sun

Prima, the Italian restaurant of Kevin Taylor, takes over the space occupied by Jou Jou in the Hotel Teatro. The décor is terrific with a copper wash over pale-yellow paint giving great color to the textured walls. Black wood tables with chairs covered in chocolate-colored leather, blown-glass sconces and modern lighting from the ceiling brighten the long room. The beautiful black granite bar remains the focal point while the balcony section offers more tables for dining, comfortably spaced for conversation. The menu is modern Italian and features great focaccia, homemade pasta and very special desserts. Start with the crudo section of raw dishes: fluke with preserved lemon, salmon with olive oil and capers, carpaccio and vitello tonnato. Antipasti include soups, fritto misto, goat-cheese truffles with roasted peppers, polenta with mushrooms and mozzarella and tomatoes. For pastas, the homemade spaghetti with rock shrimp, linguine with cockles, and marvelous creamy polenta with mushrooms, pecorino and truffle fondue are a few of the selections. Ravioli filled with a poached egg, spinach and ricotta might be the best pasta dish ever. Entrées include striped bass with artichokes, crispy roasted fluke with caper berries, brick chicken with divine panzanella salad, veal scallopini and a pork chop. Meat lovers will enjoy the juicy veal chop served with Gorgonzola risotto, lamb chops with polenta, and beef with short ribs and Gorgonzola mash. Lunch includes panini and several salads. The tuna with hard-boiled egg and tapenade on toasted bread, burger, and grilled chicken salad with Caesar dressing are wonderful dishes. End with decadent desserts: pistachio and chocolate semifredo, honey cheesecake with sesame brittle, chocolate hazelnut cake and ethereal black-mission fig crumble cake with caramel ice cream. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Prima offers a prime spot for downtown dining. Close to the DCPA, this is a perfect choice before or after theater as well. A perfect ending would be a night at the incredible Hotel Teatro. Prima is primo.