Great article in the Denver Post:
Restaurant bars aren't always a fun place to hang out.
The bar is usually a cramped purgatory for unlucky latecomers and the unwashed masses who forgot to make a reservation. There's nowhere to sit, people are constantly jockeying for position, and everyone is hungry, waiting for the golden moment when their name gets called or their glowing beeper-thing starts vibrating and shrieking.
It is not relaxing, to say the least.
The bar at ChoLon(1555 Blake St.), however, is a rare treat. Sedate and spacious, it's a hangout in its own right.
The space issue is what helps make the bar — more of a lounge, really — such a pleasure. Instead of packing the waiting hordes into a corner and serving alcohol as an antipsychotic, the Asian bistro's bar is practically its own entity.
It's separated from the dining area by a wide entry hall and set a couple steps below the main level. A large, L-shaped banquette sits to one side, with windows on Blake Street as the backdrop. Little square stools are scattered about and small logs serve as tables.
The decor is sparse. Two large photos of humble, workaday Asian scenes adorn one wall. Small plants sprout in the corners, modest statues perch here and there. It's all very feng shui.
Booze-wise, ChoLon doesn't disappoint. Unless you like cheap domestic beer. Many of the bottled beers are Asian — Tsingtao, Saigon — and the tap list is extremely short. There are two choices, to be exact: On a recent visit, Oskar Blues' Mama's Little Yella Pils and Odell Isolation Ale were on draft at $6 a pop.
The cocktail list is tempting, too. Try the "Zen Master" and blend in with the scenery. Served in a stout, martini-like glass, the Zen Master is a potent blend of Hendricks gin, sake, mint and cucumber. It's very refreshing, but don't push the Master too far, or you'll suffer the consequences.
Of course, the list of appetizers and small plates call out to hungry stomachs. All of them sound good, but give the curried duck egg rolls a try — they come with a scrumptious cilantro yogurt sauce for dipping. The soup dumplings are also a good choice, especially on cold nights. They're filled with French onion soup and gruyere cheese, and the texture is exquisite.
Here's the thing that makes the ChoLon bar go from pleasant to delightful: Remember the little stools by the banquettes? The stools' cushions flip over to create small tables. When you order food, or more friends join the party, you can simply grab an empty stool, flip over the cushion, and there's plenty of room for plates and drinks. Genius.
Yes, it's a small convenience, but it's the little things that count. In the sometimes-hectic environs of a restaurant bar, a genuinely nice touch goes a long way. And ChoLon has a lot of nice touches.
Read more:Clubs: ChoLon raises the bar on comfort for lounge-lizarding in restaurants - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_16641266#ixzz162h9tAIP
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
No comments:
Post a Comment