Denver French Bistro charms locals

Bistro Vendôme
1420 Larimer St.
Denver, 80202
303-825-3232

Enter this marvelous French bistro with high ceilings, mustard faux-painted walls, mirrors, great lighting and comfortable seating. Enjoy a drink or a meal in the friendly bar area or meet up with friends in the dining room or on the gorgeous patio where the multitude of flowers and lights add sparkle to the scene. The feeling of seclusion is terrific because Bistro Vendôme is situated in the back of the main street giving the impression of being in Paris.

To complement this perfect setting, Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch, the owners of the wildly popular Rioja across the street, delight fans with this charming restaurant. Under their direction, Bistro Vendôme is tops with a delightful and exciting menu.

Start your meal with a French baguette served in a paper bag and a huge array of appetizers: onion soup gratinée, mussels, foie gras and escargot. Crêpes filled with chicken and the excellent steak tartare bring even more options for appetizers. The beet salad, niçoise, or greens combined with a fried egg and bacon make for great flavors. Herb-roasted chicken comes with a divine cauliflower gratin, cod is delivered with veggies and truffle crème fraîche and the lamb comes with amazing onion rings.

When faced with choices of the best trout done with a pistachio and spice crust, steak frites, scallops or veal medallions, it seems that a decision is impossible. A very French wine list is nicely priced. Apple tart tatin, crème brûlée or a divine chocolate tart are each perfect endings to the meal. Weekends bring a sensational brunch, where you can enjoy the best of typical French bistro dishes. With great service and a warm, friendly feel, Bistro Vendôme earns kudos as a great dining spot in Denver.

The most fun:
Dining on their divine patio.

Do not miss:
The brunch quiche, the trout.

About the Chef:
The journey from studying computers and owning her own clothing boutique in her native region of Chihuahua, Mexico to running the kitchen at an award-winning French bistro on Denver’s historic Larimer Square has been quite a trip for chef Dana Rodriguez. After vacationing and visiting family in Colorado, Rodriguez decided to stay in the state and applied for a job at Panzano, an upscale Italian restaurant in the Hotel Monaco. It was there she met Jennifer Jasinski, the Panzano chef who took Rodriguez under her wing, focused on her strong work ethic and intelligence and ignored Rodriguez’s difficulties with the English language. From dishwasher to prep cook, Rodriguez worked her way through the ranks learning the skills necessary to excel at each job and how to manage staff. The dream of Jasinski and Panzano General Manager Beth Gruitch was to open their own restaurant and Rioja was born in 2004. Not only did Jasinski want Rodriguez to be part of the kitchen team at the new restaurant, she was invited to invest in the new venture and has been a sous chef and partner at Rioja since opening day. Rodriguez was appointed chef de cuisine at Bistro Vendôme in 2011. Bistro Vendôme is tucked away in Larimer Square and has a reputation for flavorful French food in a bistro setting.