16th Street Mall lunch choice in Denver Colorado

[love2wonder2]

I am traveling in a few weeks with my 79 and 83 year old parents from Cincinnati to Las Vegas NV. I had read about the 16th Street Mall in Denver Colorado and it sounded interesting to me. Is there a restaurant in the area that you could recommend for lunch. Nothing fancy just good food that is reasonably priced.

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16th Street Cafe
302 N 16th St Ste A, Canon City, CO 81212

[ClaireWalter]

Fellow Hounds, when recommending places to 121, keep in mind that 79 and 83 year old parents might not to stand in line at a "fast casual" place or go to someplace loud and energetic or with messy, drippy food that comes in large portions. All terrific places are not always great for all demographics of diners on either end of the age spectrum.

[love2wonder2]

Yes, they are definitely into Mom and Pop type restaurants. Good home cooking with reasonable prices. Sit down restaurants. If it was just my husband and myself going it would be a whole different ball game.

[Veggo]

Mindful of your party, mdhttp's reco of Rocky Mountain Diner is a good one. Their meatloaf with mashed and gravy might fill the bill. If you can get to your choice around 11:30 you will spare your parents from the crushing lunch crowd.

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Rocky Mountain Diner
800 18th St Ste 100, Denver, CO 80202

[monopod]

Agreed, based on your further criteria, Rocky Mtn Diner sounds like a winner. It's got some regional flair (their enchiladas are quite good, as I recall), and I'd say it qualifies as good home cooking with reasonable prices. Plus it's got a lot of history - be sure to read the back of the menu (I think that's where the tale is told, anyway).

[love2wonder2]

Thank you everyone for all your help! I really appreciate it!

[Big Bad Voodoo Lou]

One more vote for Rocky Mountain Diner, if it isn't too late. I visited Denver for the first time in July, and had one of my favorite meals on the trip there (roast duck enchiladas).

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Rocky Mountain Diner
800 18th St Ste 100, Denver, CO 80202

[jcattles]

Smashburger is a local chain (& growing) that has really ggod burgers. They just opened up a location on the 16th St Mall yesterday. I know there are other burger options downtown, but thought I'd throw this out there.

[mdhttp]

oooo, oooo, I got it...just off the mall, try one of these 2:

1) Rocky Mountain Diner (I think 17th and Stout). Great food, selection, interesting venue, high energy OR
2) Panzanos (like 17th and Champa). Reminds me kind of like some place you might find in San Fran, nice cuisine, comfortable, lively as well...my two cent's worth...mdhttp.

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Rocky Mountain Diner
800 18th St Ste 100, Denver, CO 80202

Panzano
909 17th St., Denver, CO 80202

[rovingfoodie]

I haven't tried their lunch menu, but the Happy Hour menu at Baur's (half a block off the Mall on Curtis St) starts at 3 and is one of the best deals in the city ($5 for a mini-filet mignon with salad and fries!). The restaurant itself is lovely, too...

http://www.baursdenver.com/menu

[love2wonder2]

Sounds like a wonderful deal! Probably wouldn't make it for happy hour though. Possible lunch prospect.

[Veggo]

How does Denver fit in on a trip from Cincinnati to Las Vegas with an elderly couple? Are you talking a 6 or 7 hour layover for a plane change? That sounds brutal and unnecessary. And it will cost a hundred bucks to get the 3 of you from DIA to downtown and back so food carts are out of proportion. If you are driving and Denver is your second night, I don't know why you would hang around for lunch. A lazy late start would get you to to Vail or Glenwood Springs for lunch, an early start you could make Grand Junction.

[Littleman]

The OP is driving from Cincinnati to LV with her parents on I 70 going W and coming back on I 40 going E. The OP has several posts on other boards for the part of her trip covered by that particular board.

[love2wonder2]

Thanks!

[Veggo]

Sorry, I didn't know your plan. I tend to try to get from any A to B at the speed of light, but it seems you are planning a nice, leisurely trip with your folks. Enjoy.

[LurkerDan]

You know, I just reread your post. Sounds like the 16th Street Mall is your destination? Like a tourist destination? I think you might be disappointed, if that's the case. The 16th Street Mall isn't really all that exciting or full of sights and shopping for a tourist. It is near some tourist destinations, like the Denver Art Museum, the capitol, etc., sure, but if you're looking for a tourist stop in Denver, the Mall probably isn't the best choice. But Larimer is still a great option for great restaurants!

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16th Street Cafe
302 N 16th St Ste A, Canon City, CO 81212

[love2wonder2]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I really appreciate it! Your information has been most helpful!

[jcattles]

Why not try any of the Food Carts or Trucks in the area. The Thai food cart is on 16th st mall betweeen Champa & Stout. Biker Jim's Dogs is at 16th St & Arapahoe.
Check out this website for street food http://www.denverstreetfood.com/
most of the places use Twitter & Facebook to post their location & I know they come downtown often.
Oh sorry, just read you'll be travelling with your parents. They might like a sit-down place better. I agree, head to Larimer Square, lots of choices on that street. Most of the places directly on the 16th St Mall are chains. Take the side streets & you'll find more local joints.

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Larimer Square
, Denver, CO 80202

[monopod]

Nothing against Dixon's and Illegal Pete's - I quite like both - but if I was visiting from out of town, I imagine I might want something a little more unique. Dixon's is, IMHO, just a fairly typical if tasty diner/burger/salad joint (though their croissant bread pudding is worth a trip), and Illegal Pete's is good but not particularly unique fast-food burritos (a la Qdoba, Chipotle, and any number of local burritorias in other towns) - again, tasty, but not what I'd be looking for on an out-of-town visit.

Unfortunately, in my experience (which is now out of date by a couple of years), there isn't much very local or interesting on the mall itself. However, if you wander just a couple of blocks off the Mall to Larimer Square, there's a plethora of interesting places all on one block - Euclid Hall, Osteria Marco, Rioja, Tamayo, Lime, etc. You could walk this block and check out menus and prices, and let that be your guide. These places are more expensive than Illegal Pete's $7 burritos, but still very doable at lunch and you'd have a much more unique, Denver experience.

Just my $.02.

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Osteria Marco
1453 Larimer, Denver, CO 80202

Rioja
1431 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80202

Tamayo Restaurant
1400 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80202

Larimer Square
, Denver, CO 80202

[LurkerDan]

That would be my 2 cents as well. And Illegal Pete's doesn't serve sandwiches, AFAIK, it's pretty much a standard fast food burrito place (with the usual few other options that burrito places offer).

[love2wonder2]

Thanks for your reply. This was most helpful. Just looking for a little diversion, something my parents could do. Sounds like this might be something for them.

[ClaireWalter]

I again recommend trying Cafe Options, just off the 16th St Mall on Curtis (http://www.cafeoptions.com/). Bright, cheerful, very fresh food, fine baked goods, reasonably priced, casual and friendly.

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Cafe Options
1650 Curtis St, Denver, CO 80202

[Littleman]

You are back again. Good luck on your trip.

Dixon's would be a good choice open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have SW food as well as good sandwiches and burgers. Check out the Tattered Cover Book Store a block NW of Dixon's. Illegal Pete's is a fun place open for lunch and dinner serving good Mexican, sandwiches and salads.

Dixon's Downtown Grill @ 1610 16th Street, Denver, CO 303 - 573 - 6100.
http://www.dixonsrestaurant.com/

Illegal Pete's @ 1530 16th Street, Denver, CO 303 - 623 - 2169.
http://www.illegalpetes.com/

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Dixon's Downtown Grill
1610 16th St, Denver, CO 80202

[love2wonder2]

As always Littleman you came through for me! Thank you very much! Trust me I have all your suggestions written down and I hope to go to as many of them as I can.