Denver Dining: October's Top Five New Bites

Diners in Denver faced a range of price points and new concepts in October, with Westword identifying five specific dishes that stood out for quality and value. The selections span high-end ice cream, affordable Italian fare, Asian-inspired soups, and suburban sandwich shops.

The first standout is the ice cream at Sadboy Creamery, located on East Colfax. The shop charges a minimum of $16 for a pint, a price point that initially raised concerns about value. However, the writer noted that the craftsmanship and the visible passion of owner Michael Kimball justified the cost. The ice cream was described as a product that rises above social media trends to stand on its own merit.

On the lower end of the price spectrum, Risica in the north RiNo neighborhood offers a menu where no item exceeds $20. Chef Andrea Frizzi, previously of Il Posto, created an efficient operation that passes savings to customers. The signature dish is stuffed calamari, served as a whole tube filled with capers, anchovies, and bread crumbs. It is sliced thick and covered in a briny marinara sauce, a preparation that avoids the standard breaded and fried approach.

Ace Eat Serve introduced a Taiwanese beef noodle soup under new executive chef Kevin Chu, who took the role in August. The dish features tender braised beef cheek and a broth infused with star anise. The noodles provide a slight bite that yields to a soft chew, while pickled mustard greens and daikon radish add texture and acidic balance to the bowl.

Leven Deli offered a vegetable-focused lunch option in the form of autumn squash and pepitas. The dish consists of roasted butternut squash placed on a bed of Aleppo pepper aioli, topped with toasted pumpkin seeds. Despite being listed on the small plates menu, the portion was described as substantial enough to serve as a full meal, providing a high-fiber, low-fat alternative to meat-based options.

Bahn Mi House opened at the end of October in the southern suburbs, sharing a parking lot with other local eateries. The shop serves house-made buns filled with cured meats, roasted pork belly, or grilled pork. Each sandwich includes standard accompaniments such as pate, pickled vegetables, jalapeno, and cilantro. The writer noted that the quality competes with established shops on Federal Boulevard, drawing lines and waits despite its location away from the city center.