Atmosphere & Aphrodisiacs
wordplay: Cameron Dabney
images: Kevin Taylor Restaurants
“Five minutes till curtain call.” Velvet backed booths, a grand ceiling, and a mezzanine filled with quiet chatter of star struck lovers. The world is a stage at Hotel Teatro. And Kevin Taylor serves up the first act in his newest restaurant Prima Ristorante.
ATMOSHERE: Luxurious and classy, you are recognized as a star even out of costume.
APHODISIACS: An orchestra of fig preserves with prosciutto melon and arugula. In the second act admire the exquisite explosion of the egg ravioli in truffle butter.
AMORE: A Chorus Line of 800 wines with solo glasses that easily take center stage.
LOVE is the theme of the night. The stage is set: a grand room with numerous tables for two. The setting of Act 1 is a glorious dinner created by the legendary Denver chef, Kevin Taylor with you and your lover as the stars of the show.
Hotel Teatro is a boutique hotel in at the center of the theater district with the pizzazz and luxurious class that you would expect on Broadway. Marble showers with cascading water and silky linens wrap the guest in elegance. Quite possibly the best part of the hotel is two Kevin Taylor Restaurants that reside on each end! Prima is the lighter affair of the two and puts Northern Italian cuisine on the mile high map.
The ambiance of Prima is classical theater meets Roman elegance and Northern Italian charm. At one time this room was a round house for the trams that ran through Denver. With 37 million dollars that were put into the hotel less than ten years ago, the room now presents itself with old world charm with modern amenities. The old and new styles are combined flawlessly. Slide into leather and velvet booths or cozy up on the mezzanine for a better view. Lacquered tables and textured Venetian plaster reflects a warm appetizing light. Squint and you can imagine the trams roll in through the tall windows.
The cuisine is contemporary Northern Italian with aphrodisiacs accenting many dishes. Start with an antipasti salad of Prosciutto and melon with arugula and fig preserves. Combined with a bit of bubbly, it feels quite similar to feasting at the Roman baths draped in a glorious silk toga, so rich yet so fresh.
The next dish is a true showstopper, pure and exquisite. Purity is the creamy white presentation of ravioli and ricotta with Parmesan and truffle butter. But wait, slice in to the ravioli there is an explosion of brilliant egg yoke that shines like the Tuscan sun-exquisite. The warmth of wintery dishes keeps me fueled through out the frigid months. Potato gnocchi with braised rabbit and wild mushrooms and Portobello Bolognese is the perfect wintery Italian dish. Warm, filling and energizing…yes like that of a rabbit!
For a sweet ending, the Butterscotch budino is probably the best dessert I have encountered in a number of years. As I took my first creamy taste, I was transported back to my memories of the favorite childhood dessert: pudding. Yet I have never tasted butterscotch quite so decadent. I will certainly return for this taste in the future.
We don’t need to hear of the numerous awards to realize that the wine list is simply amazing. The wines by the glass are incredible and the servers do an excellent job at pairing the wines with your dishes. If you care to uncork a bottle, the list consists of a beautiful collection of mainly Italian and Spanish wines. If you still don’t find what you desire for the romantic night, ask to look at the Restaurant Kevin Taylor list. With 800 wines available you will certainly find the perfect bottle to the night.
Kevin Taylor is expanding throughout Denver with a handful of unique and irresistible restaurants. Prima is light in spirit and rich in food. If you want the flavors, the classy ambiance and a great glass of wine, without the need to put on airs, Prima is the Northern Italian culinary experience that you seek out.
1106 14th St.
(303) 228.0770
HotelTeatro.com
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