restaurant

A taste of Argentina in Denver: Caminito Tango

Replacing Viejo Domingo Grill in Northwest Denver, Caminito Tango provides an alternative to the Buenos Aires Pizzeria for Argentine fare in Denver. A small and quaint restaurant on 38th Avenue near the Highlands, Caminito Tango is a simple and relatively authentic interpretation of Argentine food. Food options include various flavors of empanadas, pasta, meat dishes you'd typically find in Argentina including milanesa and the mother of all meat smorgasbords: the parilla.

Helpful tips: don't arrive before 8pm and order the milanesa.

Driving down 38th Avenue in Northwest Denver, you wouldn't necessarily notice this little gem that opened up in September 2007 to provide a little slice of Miami in Denver. A delightful sandwich and coffee shop, Buchi Cafe Cubano offers a more everyday, accessible version to Cuban fare than, say, Cuba Cuba or LoDo's Samba Room.

The space is small and quaint, a great place to meet for coffee, a quick lunch, or a place to spend a few hours with your computer since Buchi offers free WiFi. The menu offers varied grilled sandwiches (many of them including ham, obvio), empanadas, and salads. The cafe con leche is incredible, but the currently non-alcoholic drink menu offers some other interesting drinks hard to find in Denver.

Here are the details:

2651 W 38th Ave
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 458-1328

The 9th Door is supposedly named after a bar in a small town in the south of Spain, where expats would gather to drink and share stories. The bar was only recognizable by the 9 etched on the door, thus, The 9th Door. So says the menu...

In the Golden Triangle neighborhood lies an adorable house, painted green with yellow trimming and iron sculpture of a palm tree out front, which is, my friends, restaurant Cuba Cuba. The Cuban eatery chicly transports you to the Caribbean island with its soft green walls, palm leaf fans, twinkly lights, and salsa meets bossa nova music. The food is good, but slightly pricey, so I often prefer to stop by for a few drinks in the cozy bar (which offers a brief happy hour). Try the blackberry infused mojitos and lamb picadillo empanadas...pretty tasty.

Whenever I wish I could be in Buenos Aires while living in Denver, I head to the Buenos Aires Pizzeria, a partially hidden gem in north downtown. There is something comforting about the atmosphere of the restaurant, with photo of Tango singer legend Carlos Gardel on the wall with various football paraphernalia and photos of the city. It's as if you've walked into any restaurant in Buenos Aires. The menu includes a nice selection of Argentine wines, empanadas, Argentine style pizza options, pastas, several typical sandwiches, and some delicious gelato.