Castle Pines BMW Championship moment is coming, and visitors will want a first-class, splurge-worthy dining spot
By John Lehndorff
The last time Castle Pines Golf Club hosted a PGA tournament, George W. Bush was President and Tiger Woods ruled the PGA. During The International in 2006, dining options with- in 20 miles of the course were pretty limited. When world-class golfers, attendees and dignitaries arrive for August’s BMW Championship, they’ll find a vastly expanded local restaurant landscape.
The culinary bounty is especially rich in Castle Rock, only a 15-minute drive from the club. Besides diverse spots dishing burgers, pizza and fried chicken and Cuban, Italian, Mexican, Japanese and Indian cuisines, Castle Rock is home to independent restaurants that offer the state on a plate – fine food and drink with an only-in-Colorado accent. A word of advice: Like premiere tee times at Castle Pines, 7 p.m. dinner reservations for a party of six at the following destinations should be reserved well in advance.
STEELHEAD TROUT AND ELK RACK AT SUNSET
When you head out for a post-tournament dinner in Colorado, why order the same ribeye and creamed spinach you can eat in Anycity U.S.A.? At Tribe at Riverwalk, the scratch-made fare is labeled “modern cuisine of the West” which means the best dishes and seasonings from Napa and Santa Fe to the Rockies.
Colorado-inspired big plates include brown-butter steelhead trout, a rack of elk with hunters sauce, and pork chops drenched in mead-infused gastrique over creamy polenta. The Southwest shines in Tribe’s fall-apart braised lamb shank under a red chile-honey glaze with black bean puree and spaghetti squash.
Regional entrees range from comfy beef short ribs and spätzle stroganoff to well-spiced al pastor mahi-mahi. Stand-out sides include sweet potato chorizo hash and tempura-fried asparagus. Diners at this upscale Castle Rock destination can start with big flavor apps like rock shrimp ceviche with pico de gallo, duck leg carnitas with salsa macha, or a thick slab of foie gras. Whatever gets ordered, addictive goat cheese brulee is a must along with green chile cheddar cornbread and rose-mary-honey butter.
Tribe’s late summer specials will take advantage of Colorado’s prime produce season such as sweet Palisade peaches starring in seasonal desserts. For the big kid at heart, nothing beats the deconstructed s’mores with toasted marshmallow and chocolate. Tribe’s spacious, aspen tree-lined patio is a relaxed setting for sunset dining and well-crafted cocktails like the Orange Julius Margarita or Rosemary Palo- ma. Behind the bar is a noteworthy array of whiskeys and hard-to-find tequilas.
Canine family members are not left at the curb. Tribe’s Doggy Menu offers them sweet potatoes with quinoa and black beans, or a Niman Ranch beef patty. And a bowl of water.
Tribe at Riverwalk, 115 Wilcox St., Castle Rock
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SURF MEETS TURF
Trestles Coastal Cuisine may be near the Rocky Mountain foothills, but its chill blue vibe echoes those Southern California coastal spots dishing the best, freshest seafood.
Out-of-staters are always surprised to discover that Front Range eateries receive overnighted fresh fish at the same time as many restaurants near the coasts. Owner/chef Jose Espinoza offers an expansive sea-worthy menu including the day’s fresh catches in three preparations: macadamia-crusted Maui-style; broiled Ca- li-style with roasted pineapple; and Sicilian sauteed with artichoke hearts and olives in Sherry sauce.
Trestles’ inventive surf-and-turf allows diners to mix and match. On the surf side are lobster tail, crab cakes or sea scallops. Turf choices are filet mignon, rack of lamb or an ostrich steak. (The latter tastes more like beef than chicken.) Turf-and-turf is even allowed.
Dishes ranging from Gruyère grits topped with seafood and baked oysters prepared five ways to spot-on duck a l’orange can be paired with a large wine list. Choices range from reds like ZD Cabernet and Mount Peak Rattlesnake Zinfandel to exceptional whites, roses and Taittinger Champagne. Two wine flights – red and white – are always available. Save a little room for Trestles’ secret weapon. An in-house pastry chef plates smile-producing finales like towering carrot cake layered with jalapeno cream cheese frosting. Beyond dinner, this busy, family-run Castle Rock restaurant provides breakfast (with a breakfast happy hour) and lunch daily. Weekend brunch must-tastes include a Hangtown Fry (with oysters and bacon) and fried chicken and waffles with house-made vanilla syrup.
Trestles Coastal Cuisine, 880 W. Happy Canyon Road, Castle Rock
BRUNCH IS SERVED!
Trestles Coastal Cuisine has several brunch options for the hungry golf spectator
NEW YORK GRILL WITH A NEW YORK ITALIAN ACCENT
Anyone who has enjoyed meals at East Coast urban bistros will feel right at home at Danielle’s Scratch Kitchen. Opened in 2015 by New Yorkers Dan and Vincent Pisarra, this Castle Rock destination is a classic American grille with an Italian accent and the kind of familial service that elevates the experience. Set in a modern, casual dining area, comfort fills the menu, not chef-y modern experiments. Lovable appetizers include burrata, baked brie, and classic calamari with fried cherry peppers, marinara and lemon aioli. A towering Romaine wedge salad is blanketed with bacon and gorgonzola.
The people’s choice entrees range from salmon piccata and T-bone Berkshire pork chops to Southern fried chicken with bourbon gravy, potatoes and green beans. The exceptional Vadouvan halibut is served over butternut squash risotto with basil pesto and blistered tomatoes.
Golfers looking for a little extra luck may want to order Danielle’s bestselling Chicken Parm with linguine, tomatoes and pecorino Romano.
For a grand finale on Danielle’s patio, pose with an Instagram-worthy smoked Old Fashioned with a dark chocolate brownie and vanilla bean ice cream.
Danielle’s Scratch Kitchen, 872 W. Happy Canyon Road, Suite 100, Castle Rock
Getting A Taste of Award-Winning Dining
If you are coming to Castle Pines for the BMW Championship, a wide range of first-class eateries are on the menu a few miles up I-25. While you may not score a reservation at the famous Casa Bonita, you can sample Michelin award-winning cuisine, over-the-top wine lists, and splurge-worthy desserts.
The debut Colorado Michelin Awards in 2023 included several Denver fine dining eateries. Beckon was awarded one Michelin star (out of three). Bruto and The Wolf’s Tailor were each awarded one star as well as a green star (for their sustainability efforts).
The Michelin Guide also lists many recommended restaurants worth checking out in Denver. Top choices on that list include The Ginger Pig, Ash’Kara, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, Barolo Grill, and Tavernetta.
Are you craving a large steak, a giant baked potato and a big red? A slew of traditional steakhouses are grouped in Denver’s south suburbs ranging from Shanahan’s Steakhouse (complete with the NFL coach’s Lombardi Trophies) and Ruth’s Chris Steak House to Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse and Perry’s Steak- house.
John Lehndorff is the former Dining Critic for the Rocky Mountain News. He is the Food Editor of the Boulder Weekly and hosts Radio Nibbles weekly on KGNU.
