Tamayo Restaurant   

1400 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80202
720-946-1433
www.modernmexican.com

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The food is Mexican and the location is mile-high, yet everything about Tamayo oozes New York City: the colorful, comfortably modern decor, the culturally electric atmosphere, and particularly the brilliantly conceived cuisine, designed by Manhattan-based restaurateur Richard Sandoval. Regardless of its origins, Tamayo has offered one of Denver's top dining experiences since it opened in 2001, and the menu is indeed the central reason. Sandoval takes the culinary traditions of Mexico and fuses them with contemporary American flair, for dishes that are as visually appealing as they are uniquely flavorful. Must-trys include: the famously smooth guacamole, made fresh with avocado, tomato, onion and cilantro and served with homemade tortilla chips; the sopa de elote, a creamy roasted soup that simply must be considered one of the finest uses for corn in Colorado; and the tampiquena, a grilled butterfly filet mignon with rajas potato gratin. The lunch menu offers similar platters, with prices ranging between $10 and $15. Don't forget dessert: The empanadas de platano (two turnovers filled with bananas and cream, served with strawberry coulis and coconut ice cream) are themselves worth the price of parking. In downtown Denver, that's no small feat. -- Konstantine Simakis