Located in the historic Sugar Building in Denver's downtown LoDo district, Gumbo's Louisiana Style Cafe assumes an upscale feel with a casual attitude. While the setting may be anchored by hometown history, the menu sets sail upon a fusion of traditional Creole and Cajun flavors from Southern Louisiana. Shrimp, catfish and crawfish take center stage along with a diverse supporting seafood cast. And there's ample blackening seasoning available upon request. Grilled sweet potato catfish served with sautéed crab and an herb buerre blanc sauce is among several specialties. As of 2010, the restaurant is open for dinner seven nights a week and lunch is served Monday through Friday.
Gumbo's Louisiana Style Café
1530 16th Street
Denver, CO 80202
720-956-1490
gumbosdenver.net
You would maybe expect Denver's self-proclaimed home for Green Bay Packer football fans to serve beer and cheese, but the andouille sausage on the bratwurst and cheese platter might raise an eyebrow. Then again, it might be said that Packer fans owe much of their past successes to Cajun influence. With that mindset, Swanky's Vittles and Libations in Denver attempts to convince customers that their downtown Blake Street location is actually Bourbon Street. Loaded with Big Easy beads and spicy Cajun attitude, Swanky's is also a common baseball stop just a few hundred feet behind home plate at Coors Field. Festively festooned with Mardi Gras flotsam and purposely only slightly upscale from a college frat house, Swanky's is open at daily at 4 p.m., except for 10 a.m. during Colorado Rockies home baseball games and at 9 a.m. for Sunday NFL football games, as of 2010.
Swanky's Vittles and Libations
1938 Blake Street
Denver, CO 80202
303-297-2399
swankys.com
If the flavors on the menu match the accent, Cajun food lovers should revel at the offerings at Bayou Bob's next to Denver's historic Paramount Theater. With an overture of "Laissez les bon temps rouler," the restaurant features an opening act of alligator tail, crawfish cakes and hush puppies before moving on to cast-iron creations of blackfish smothered with blackening seasonings. A full range of salads, sandwiches, platters and pastas are offered in traditional Cajun and Southern styles. Hurricanes are available from the full-service bar. The restaurant has been "letting the good times roll" in the mountains of Colorado since 1986 with bayou cuisine and special events such as weekend crawfish boils and, of course, raucous Mardi Gras celebrations. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Sundays can be reserved for private events, as of 2010.
Bayou Bob's
1635 Glenarm Place
Denver, CO 80202
303-573-6828
bayoubobs.com
