A Taste Of Colorado
Greenwood Village, Colorado
Cuisine Style: New American
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 4/5
Dined in: July 2013
Article Updated: February 2020
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Zink Kitchen Zomato rating:
Zink Kitchen Executive Chef:
Paul Nagan
The Zink Kitchen + Bar restaurant in Greenwood Village, part of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at the Denver Tech Center is an unforgettable dining experience worthy of Denver’s food scene. The innovative Chef has created a fabulous menu that mixes that best of contemporary cuisine with the unique flavors of Colorado designed to bring each dining guest the ultimate in culinary bliss.
Restaurant Name Menu:
- Small Plates and Sharable's
- Soups and Greens
- From the Hearthstone
- Handhelds
- Mains
- Desserts
While staying here in Denver at the DoubleTree Hotel in Greenwood Village, the site of the restaurant attracted me, especially the menu, with local items like elk, boar, bison, and many other contemporary cuisine favorites with the unique flavors of Colorado. I started the evening with a bottle of the 2010 Orin Swift's The Prisoner Zinfandel a blend of 44% Zinfandel, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 18% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono, and 1 % Grenache grape.
 |
| Zink Kitchen / Entrance |
The menu was defiantly a piece of Colorado Flair, and very impressive. I had four courses while sitting at the bar, over a period of three hours. The dining atmosphere was very elegant, with local artwork, great service staff, and a very professional Dining room Manager, attending to the needs of all, and constantly moving around. It had been raining hard that night, so a lot of people were at the bar, which made for great conversation. ZZ Top and Kid Rock were also performing at the Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre nearby, and most of the people at the bar that night were rained out.
For a starting course, I had a salt rock grilled octopus, with crushed potatoes, crispy capers, a Gribiche Sauce, and Chile Oil. The Gribiche Sauce is a mayonnaise-style cold egg sauce used in French cuisine, made by emulsifying hard-boiled egg yolks and mustard with a neutral oil like canola or grapeseed. The octopus was a little firm, but that was to be expected as it was being cooked on a salt rock, but this cooking method brought out the great flavors of the dish. For the second course, I had a regular caesar salad, that you can get anywhere, but it was small, size to not fill me up as most larger salads would, and helped cleanse my pallet.
 |
| Zink Kitchen / Salt Rock Octopus |
The entree course was very exciting and representative of Colorado cuisine. It was a wild boar chipotle sausage entree with mole Rojo, grilled peaches, charred tomatillos, and Cotija cheese. My taste buds were on fire, I loved it. The Mole Rojo or Mole Sauce is the generic name for a number of sauces originally used in Mexican cuisine, as well as for dishes based on these sauces. In contemporary Mexico, the term is used for a number of sauces, some quite dissimilar, including black, red, yellow, Colorado (another name for red), green, Almendrado, and Pipián (The Spanish name for Pumpkinseed). Cotija Cheese is a hard cow's milk cheese that originated from Mexico as well and is named after the town of Cotija, in the Mexican state of Michoacán.
 |
| Zink Kitchen / Wild Boar |
Dessert:
For dessert, I started with a cup of coffee mixed with Irish creme liquors, a 20 year Tawny Port, and the dessert special recommendation called the German chocolate flavors plate which consisted of pannacotta, coconut, and a caramel gastrique. It was divine, and the perfect way to end the evening.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other noteworthy New American articles and restaurants similar to Zink Kitchen:
Also known as Modern American cuisine, or Contemporary American cuisine, the term "New American" refers to the wave of modernized cooking predominantly served at upscale fine dining restaurants that began in the 1980s. It is generally a type of fusion cuisine that assimilates flavors from the melting pot of traditional American cooking techniques and mixes it with foreign and sometimes molecular gastronomy components. There is an innovative use of seasoning and sauces, originally based on French, and Nouvelle cuisine, and it has progressed to include elements of Asian, Latin American, Mediterranean, and other cuisines.
Alinea Highly creative New American molecular gastronomy tasting menus in Chicago, Illinois
Birch & Vine a local, organic, and top dining destination at The Birchwood in St. Petersburg, Florida
Brick and Mortar Rustic-chic new American dining in St. Petersburg, Florida
Bridge Street Bistro Third-floor terrace seafood-centric New American dining, Bradenton Beach, Florida
Chill Restaurant and Bar New American cuisine, tapas, and exotic cocktails in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Cip’s Place New American Cuisine in a casual but elegantly relaxed setting, Sanibel Island, Florida
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Kafe Kokopelli A New American restaurant named after a south-west Native American Indian god in Dade City, Florida
Lobby at Twelve Boutique hotel bistro, new American, and Southern favorites at Atlantic Station, Atlanta
Mad Fish A casual Gourmet American Cuisine restaurant in a Retro-Style Diner in St Pete Beach, Florida
Moshulu New American dining on a restored ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
O’Bistro A casual style bistro focusing on the Mediterranean and New American Cuisine with a small eclectic flair in St Petersburg, Florida
Samantha’s Restaurant Mellow new American dishes in North Canton, Ohio
Sandbar Restaurant A Chef driven seafood restaurant in the City of Anna Maria Island, Florida
The Mad Hatter Waterfront upscale new American cuisine on Sanibel Island, Florida
The Mill Restaurant New American fare with a southern spin in St. Petersburg, Florida
Waterfront Restaurant and Craft Bar, Global seafood with a comfortable feel, City of Anna Maria, Florida
Z Grille Colorfully inspired twists on American classics in St. Petersburg, Florida
Zinc Bistro and Bar Southwestern-inspired new American fare in San Antonio, Texas
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Denver restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
Pizza Republica Trendy Italian trattoria and pizza restaurant in Centennial, Colorado
Rioja Creatively presented high-energy Mediterranean fare in Denver, Colorado
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Zink Kitchen
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
11
|
11
|
0
|
Food quality
|
11
|
11
|
0
|
Plate presentation
|
10
|
10
|
0
|
Customer service
|
13
|
8
|
5
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
10
|
9
|
1
|
Total regular points awarded
|
55
|
49
|
6
|
Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.890909090909091
| ||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0.0363636363636364
| ||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.927272727272727
| ||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
|
0 - 5
|
4
|
**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
4 of 5 Stars:
93% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
An Outstanding Dining Experience
|
Wine List:
| |
Zink Kitchen Wine rating:
|
4 of 10
Old World selections:
Germany
New World selections:
Argentina, California, New Zealand, Washington State
|
Corkage fees:
|
Zink Kitchen does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
|
Restaurant-style:
|
Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style at Zink Kitchen:
|
American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten-free choices, Grass-Fed, Local, Low Carb Choices, Organic, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
|
Reservations:
|
Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Casual attire
|
Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Zink Kitchen Experiences:
|
A place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Lounge, Hotspot, Great bar, Classy, and a Neighborhood Gem.
|
Payments:
|
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
|
Zink Kitchen has a private lot
|
Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
|
Noise level:
|
Medium
|
Smoking:
|
Zink Kitchen is a non-smoking restaurant with a non-smoking patio
|
Patio or terrace:
|
No
|
Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$$$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
££
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€€€
|
Zink Kitchen:
7801 E Orchard Road
Greenwood Village, Colorado
80111
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
| |
Maître d or host:
|
+1 303-253-3517
|
Online reservations
| |
Website Contact:
| |
Serving hours:
Mountain Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC-7:00)
|
Daily: Mon-Sun
6:00 am - 10:00 pm
Happy Hour: Mon-Sun
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
|
Social Media
And
Accolades for Zink Kitchen:
| |
****
The worlds best restaurants are a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Farm-to-Table Southern bites spot Sandy Springs, Georgia, USA
|
Fine-dining waterfront spot for grilled fish and steaks
Indian Shores, Florida, USA
|
Native American Cuisine w/Barbacoa Grilling
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
