Denver Chop House: Big Big Steaks

I am on a mission to find the perfect steak house. The Denver Chop House is not it, but it was fun none-the-less. The Chop House is big with booths and tables scattered along walls, down hallways, and out in wide-open rooms. It can be boisterous and filled with corporate parties marching to one of the many private rooms in the back. We ended up sitting along this route right before Christmas when corporate parties were at their peak. Our booth was large though, which provided a modicum of distance between the revelers and us. The walls are brick and wood with a traditionally manly feel about them. You can sit by wine racks, by the imposing bar, or near the brewery tanks.

A shameless worshiper of beef, I ordered the porterhouse and a large magnum of red wine. Fortunately, I had a friend with me to share the bounty because each steak also comes with a monstrous, family-style salad, corn bread, and a mountain of white cheddar mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked to perfection and slathered in artery clogging bourbon butter. If you are going to eat a porterhouse, you might as well go all the way! Despite the immensity of the meal, we almost broke out into a fight when it came time to gnaw on the bone.

Totally committed to gluttony, it being the Christmas season after all, we also ordered dessert and splurged on a glass of Innskillin Ice Wine, which I have wanted to try. My sugar infused brain has forgotten what dessert we had but it will never forget the wine. It was delicate, tropical and crisp. At $25 for a few sips it should be. If you like dessert wines, treat yourself to this one. It will be a religious experience. My other suggestion is to drink it alone. A small quantity of elixir and steak knives do not mix.

If you enjoy people watching and a casual atmosphere, the Denver Chop House may be for you. The food is as good at more expensive Steak Houses without the pretentiousness.