Categories: Eat & Drink; Local & Entertainment

If I Still Ate Meat... Denver Edition

By leigh
updated 2 months ago

Yes, I still get cravings for a really good burger from time-to-time. And yes, sometimes that calamari smells really damn good. Here are the places I'd be headed in Denver, if I weren't a vegetarian, and the places I actually end up at as a substitute spot.

Santiago's Xiv Mexican Restaurant

2925 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211

The breakfast burritos at Santiago’s are to die for, in that zillion calorie, god-only-knows-what’s-in-here kind of way. We used to make between-class runs for these in high school, and the gooey, drippy $2 mess inside that foil roll was so worth it. Get it mild or medium (believe me, it’s hot) with cheese.

Noodles & Company

1460 16th St, Denver, CO 80202

The Indonesian Peanut Saute with tofu satisfies my protein craving, and I absolutely love pasta. It takes a few minutes to get a to-go order, but it’s great for a quick dinner or lunch in the office.

Smashburger

1120 S COLORADO BLVD GLENDALE, CO 80246

Combining a quick take out (or eat in) hamburger with real options and real flavor, Smashburger is one of those up-and-coming places along the Front Range. There are now four locations to visit, and the burgers, served with angus beef or chicken, are actually worth the slightly higher price.

VG Burgers

3267 28th Street, Boulder, CO 80301

Vegetarian burgers are just not quite the same. I like them, but something is missing when I know there’s no dead cow.

Elway's Restaurant

2500 E 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80206

It’s all about the meat at Elway’s. Honestly, what else would you expect from a restaurant created by local football legend John Elway? This is also one of the nicer places to go for a meal in the city, so it’s not like I’d be here every day anyways.

Childhood Recipe: Circle Dogs

This is really just terrible in so many ways, but as a kid my grandfather made these for my sister and me, and they were the tops.

Ingredients:

Hot dog, uncooked
Hamburger bun
Velveeta cheese
Pickle relish
Ketchup

Directions:
Cut the hot dog in half, lengthwise. Microwave both halves until done, as it cooks the halves will begin to curl. Place halves on the bun and cover with Velveeta and microwave a short time until cheese begins to melt. Assemble with pickle relish and ketchup, top with the other half of the bun and serve.

Vegetarian Recipe: Stir-Fry

Healthy, tasty and quick are the rules for many of my dinners. Leftovers are always nice too. This is a beyond basic recipe, elaborate as you see fit.

Ingredients:

Ginger
Soy sauce
Red pepper flakes
Tofu
Green/red pepper
Broccoli
Snow peas
Other vegetables

Directions:
Mince the ginger while letting a small amount of oil heat in a wok. Dice vegetables and tofu. Add tofu to the wok, let it cook for a short time, tossing infrequently. Remove. Add a bit more oil to the wok, add ginger, red pepper flakes and vegetables. Let cook, tossing occasionally and add soy sauce. Put in the tofu, allowing it to reheat and gain flavor. Serve.

Ted's Montana Grill

1401 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202

Ted’s is a favorite for its bison and beef burgers, topped with all kinds of great extras. While the burgers can be made with veggie patties too, honestly I have never found them to quite make the grade. A lot of the burgers have toppings that include more meat, such as bacon and ham.