Samba Room in Denver Colorado

Samba Room

Address: 1460 Larimer St.

Cross Streets: 15th and Larimer

Phone: 720-956-1701

Price: $$$

Reservations: Yes

Hours: L-D:Daily

Terrific Cuban/Caribbean food and super ambience make Samba Room a great place to visit--sorry, no dancing here. Huge picture windows, walls adorned with colorful Cuban murals and a huge, inviting bar area set the scene for the fans that come to enjoy a casual, upbeat night out. Friendly, efficient service, a wine list that offers excellent choices by the glass or bottle and delightful specialty drinks are the signature. Start with the best Latin black-bean dip with plantains to go with your drinks or just to share. Coconut-crusted sweet shrimp, ceviche with an amazing marinade of fresh fish, three-cheese crab dip, empanadas of pork and sweet corn with habanera mojo and crab cakes with mango buerre blanc make great appetizers. Cuban black-bean soup and the Samba Cobb salad delight diners. Rum-teriyaki-glazed salmon with soba noodles, Chilean sea bass served with cilantro shrimp orzo, seared scallops with boniato mashed potatoes and crispy red snapper are fish options for entrées. Pork, Argentinean skirt steak and crispy chicken make decisions difficult. The paella of mussels, fish, chicken, shrimp, calamari and lobster is a signature dish not to miss. Decadent desserts--carrot cake with cream cheese, chocolate mousse, key lime pie, banana crème brûlée--served in small portions so you can indulge in more than just one arrive in great glassware to make a perfect ending to the meal. Samba Room is tops on the LoDo and Larimer Square scene. The bacon-cabrales vinaigrette dressing brings new delights to a traditional Cobb salad. If you like sandwiches, try the Cuban chicken sandwich toasted with gooey, warm manchego cheese and slices of pickle with homemade potato chips. Entrées include paella and plantain-crusted mahi mahi with mango mojo and maduro salsa. Salmon drizzled with jalapeño-mint syrup is too good to leave even one drop. Other choices include pork, steak and chicken as well as an exciting vegetarian entrée. End with ancho chili-chocolate flourless cake--wow! The "Sunsets at Samba" offer a three-course dinner on certain nights for $25. Samba Room is tops on the LoDo and Larimer Square scene.