Aperitivo Brings Understated Elegance to Gunbarrel

Located in North Boulder, the Aperitivo Bistro has been spicing up the quaint, Gunbarrel neighborhood with inviting, inventive, and locally sourced cuisine since July of 2017. Aperitivo is the posh, younger sister of Longmont’s hot spot, Urban Thai, where they have been a fixture since 2013. The partners in crime; Edward Vanegas, Miguel Vazquez, and Joseph Zeigler, along with their multifaceted staff, bring an impressive collaboration of hospitality experience and education to the table. 

This unique dining spot exudes an atmosphere of simple, understated elegance. Cool, slate gray adorns the walls, high ceilings, and sleek, concrete floors and minimal adornment may surprise the eyes at first, but just wait and see what happens when the food and drink hit the tables and happy, hungry diners fill the seats both inside and out on the spacious patio. The place springs to life! The owners believe that “It is the food and the people we prepare it for that makes this a truly special place. We want the emphasis to be on the things that matter most to us.”  

The diverse backgrounds, extensive travels, and exposure to world-wide culture serve as the inspiration for the melting pot of culinary creativity that shines through in the innovative and ever-evolving menus at Aperitivo. Chef Vasquez is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico (the motherland of glorious Mole y Mezcal), and he feels that his birthplace, along with the many places he has traveled to over the years, are where he gleans much of his inspiration in the kitchen. 

He gathers recipes like one might collect souvenirs and brings them back with him to create the dishes that he prepares in the kitchen at Aperitivo. Hence the theme of “global fusion cuisine” throughout this culinary tour de force. 

The proof is in the pudding when it comes to innovation and originality for Aperitivo in the menus they serve up. Diners are likely to see delicacies like Congee (an Asian-inspired porridge) and delectable Spanish Paella to name just a couple of favorites that the loyal patrons from near and far have come to love. Other mouthwatering specialties include the crispy crab burger with sweet chili and chipotle aioli, creamy and spicy Panang curry, rustic beef bourguignon, and oven-roasted mahi mahi with mango cilantro coulis. 

A side of sizzling, parmesan truffle fries or some house-baked French bread with olive tapenade will get your taste buds primed for the main course, and a glass of Colorado-made wine or beer will wash it down. For the more adventurous imbiber, house mixologist Tyler Goddard, a Boulder Escoffier grad and master of his craft, is there to create a magical elixir just for you. The rosemary gimlet and bacio del limone are two excellent choices.   

With the goal of serving the freshest food made with only the best ingredients available, the chefs do their due diligence every day, as they source ingredients and make their fine fare from scratch as much as is possible. After all, if you start with the best, you finish that way as well. 

During such a trying time, especially for restaurants, Aperitivo strives to provide every diner with a memorable experience and, although many events like the popular, Aperitivo-hosted EATS @ Gunbarrel, a multi-food-truck-and-music event on Sunday evenings, are temporarily on hold due to the pandemic, they offer outdoor, “igloo” dining (with a reservation) and are working of putting together some festive, winemaker dinners and other events to entertain and bring festivities to the neighborhood and all who come to partake.  

It is no secret that restaurants are a dime a dozen in this day and age, and most of us have been to a great many of them. What sets these guys apart is that they are not a chain; they do not follow the rules of the masses, but they keep their fingers and eyes on the pulse of the culinary industry and do their best, every day, to bring really good food to the table.