Denver, CO
After Further Review: Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills
The wild card game had expedited replay reviews but no challenge. There were a total of ten accepted penalties for a total of seventy two penalty yards. The penalties did not determine the outcome for or against the Denver Broncos, and while there were some hiccups the officials also had some notable successes. The Buffalo Bills played a better overall game, and the officials kept the game moving and focused hard on keeping emotions under control for both playoff teams.
Bo Nix Runs Into the Bills Bench
One of the most terrifying plays in football is when in a highly emotional game a player gets tackled into the opposing bench. This is a red alert for officials and for several reasons. First, the player is hilariously out-manned on the sideline, making it very easy for situations to escalate. Second, if things escalate even a little bit, the bench can get involved without breaking the rules about leaving the sideline for a scuffle, while the opposing team cannot. Third, many offensive linemen are coached that especially if it’s the quarterback out of bounds, they need to defend their guy, and want to come to his help. There is basically no situation on a bench that is going to be improved by adding 1500 lbs of hostility. So for these and other reasons, officials are drilled to react fast to plays out of bounds to the bench.The wing secures the spot but pivots (and frequently steps onto the field of play) to have a clear and unobstructed view of as much of the sideline as possible. The referee and the closest deep wing crash hard, to put neutral bodies on the sidelines and hopefully calm any tensions.
In this game, this very situation happened ten minutes into the game when Nix scrambled into the Bills bench. It took referee Bill Vinovich three seconds to get there from approximately 20 yards upfield, and field judge Jabir Walker took a much less impressive six seconds to arrive from approximately thirty five yards downfield. These officials had other post-play responsibilities, but covered a large distance fast. As normally happens when the officials use their deescalating mechanics correctly, nothing happened on the sideline and probably no one noticed the situation. Which is entirely the point, and it was reasonably well executed. In this case, it appeared that a Buffalo substitute wanted to help up Buffalo linebacker Matt Milano, and basically shoved Nix in his attempt to do so. This was really stupid of the substitute, and could have gotten very nasty fast, but deescalated into nothing. I would not have hated an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the sideline for the call (depending on what was said), but did not mind the no call either.
Aiding the Runner
It is against the rules for an offensive player to pull a runner forward. They are allowed to push the runner from behind (controversially so), and allowed to push defenders (though not pull them – that would be holding). This foul has not been enforced in a game in over thirty years, but that does not make it less relevant. When Bills lineman Dion Dawkins clearly pulled runner James forward in the first quarter it should have been called as a foul. This would have set the Bills up with a first and 17 instead of a gain of 16. It is hard to call “exotic” penalties that rarely get called, especially in the playoffs, but it was an egregious foul and a huge no-call.
Surtain Holding Missed
Mixed crew officiating is tough on the little things. There are some definitive rules for which officials should be observing which players at which times, but there is more art than science to it on some plays. The Bills and announcers highlighted one play in the third quarter where Surtain clearly committed holding, but it went uncalled. Replay shows that Surtain was right in front of back judge Jimmy Russell, and that Russell was looking elsewhere. This was not a bad play by Russell, who had another assignment on the play. At the snap the covering official on tight end Dalton Kincaid was Frank Steratore. Its also not obvious (though it is probable) that it was Steratore’s fault. Someone should have caught the interference, but with a mixed crew there is the chance one official switched faster to zone coverage than the other. Officials always start passing plays in “man” on the offense, and switch to “zone” coverage no later than when the ball is away, though knowing when the ball is away without watching the passer is an art in itself. It is also possible that Steratore had a bad angle on the hold, though it looked fairly obvious from most angles. The end result helped the Broncos, but it was a bad missed call.
Referee Bill Vinovich Talks with Allen
After a timeout, cameras showed a replay of Referee Bill Vinovich talking on Bills sideline with Josh Allen. I have heard a number of complaints about this in the context that referees prefer “star” quarterbacks and give them special treatment. This is a really complicated topic to understand, so I want to explain in depth why people are wrong to think that.
First, most people assume that football is basically the same everywhere, and with a few exceptions they are correct. One of the exceptions has to do with media and time outs. Almost no high school games are broadcast by media, and those that are typically do not have media timeouts. College games range from almost never having media timeouts, to minute plus timeouts on minor games, to major network games typically having ~3:30 media timeouts every change of possession. The NFL has smaller media timeouts than big college games, typically blocking out ~2:30 per timeout. So, in the professional game, unlike in high school or most college games, officials have relatively large blocks of time off. This is extremely welcome, and helps officials do our jobs better. We can coordinate observations on formations, play types, borderline calls, warnings we have given, etc. Most importantly, we can answer rules questions. Officials are always allowed to discuss the game with the teams (though obviously we take enormous efforts to avoid giving an unfair advantage via this). Most of these conversations are player or coach initiated, but officials will frequently seek out players, especially if they are doing something potentially dangerous to themselves or others, or if the player seems to have a shortening fuse. However, most players and coaches are fairly overwhelmed by the pace of the game, and are not really in the space mentally to discuss things with officials. We try our best to have these conversations in ways that will not impact the game. For example – if there is a minor offensive line problem, we will try to tell a defensive coach we want a chat with the offensive line coach after the next change of possession, so that we are not distracting him while the offense is out on the field or getting ready (this also changes a lot by the level of football as to how many coaches or players are on the team). By this logic though, players who are seasoned veterans like Josh Allen tend to have chats with the officials more frequently than younger players, because the veterans are playing a slower game and have more head space to interact with officials. It is a known flaw that this can give veterans, especially veteran quarterbacks a small advantage by this. However, the advantage is in their processing and their headspace, not in our treatment of the veteran, or in other words, it’s a skill issue. In short, there is nothing wrong or strange with Vinovich discussing something with Allen. Its what we want to be able to do with all players all the time.
I will say I found it deeply weird that Vinovich patted Allen on the back. I had an internal rule (not in the rules or mechanics) about never deliberately touching a player or coach under almost any circumstances, and it served me extremely well. This is not a universal thing, but I am amazed that it has not caught on more. Vinovich clearly has different habits than I do on this front, but I still found it bizarre.
Payton/Nix Delay of Game Watch
Denver burned one time out on getting a play in, and had two other plays where the snap barely beat the play clock. Sean Payton and Bo Nix have work to do in the off-season on this.
Official Evaluation
I charted three bad calls in the game. Two were discussed above, and one was an illegal formation, which while I continue to note them, the league does not want enforced anymore so the officials are not being graded down on. There were six questionable calls in the game, including the Kincaid catch late that probably was not one, as well as the final non-interception by Nix that might have been one. The questionable calls were pretty low leverage except for the Kincaid catch. The spots in the game were playoff caliber. I noted three spots throughout the game that I disagreed with, but none were off by even a yard, and none were in high leverage situations. The officials were very quick to whistle that forward progress had stopped. This is a choice that can de escalate fierce games, but also cuts down on fun running plays. I generally favor slower whistles, but it was consistent throughout and certainly within the realm of valid philosophies. Back Judge Jimmy Russell has relatively under-performed as an official through his career, but I was impressed by his work in this game.
I am not a Bill Vinovich fan. But the NFL consistently likes his style, and in this game you can see why. Vinovich moves things along fairly expeditiously, and places a heavy priority on calming tensions and making the game less prone to escalation. The short wings, who regularly work with Vinovich were interesting enough this game that I am eager to see their work next year.
Mailbag
What is the most unrealistic representation about officials in the media?
I am not sure if this question was about entertainment or punditry, so I will answer for both. For entertainment (in movies or tv shows about football), its coaches arguing calls about the goal line. The reality is coaches are not allowed to move closer to the goal line than 25 yards away, and so they always have a terrible view of goal line plays and no mechanism to argue unless they call time out specifically to do so. For pundits, they underestimate officials – how much they work on the rulebook, how much they practice, and how experienced NFL officials are (most have officiated 15+ years before their rookie year in the NFL).
I will have a few more regular columns talking about how different Broncos officials did in the playoffs before we get into the off-season schedule. Thanks for reading this year and for all the questions throughout the year. And lets always remember, its the officials fault!
Posted:
Updated:
DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.
The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday,” the airport’s official X account wrote.
Neither the airport nor the airline has disclosed the pedestrian’s condition.
“We’re stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”
The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that and “individual was walking across the runway.”
The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now” before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”
Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.
“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”
Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal.
Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted.
There is much to love about the American South. It’s home to some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, boasts a rich musical history, offers spectacular natural wonders, and just so happens to be the birthplace of some of the most distinctive, storied, and utterly delicious food in the world. It’s so much more than fried chicken, pecan pie, and barbecue — Southern cooking blends together multicultural ingredients, tried-and-true techniques, and recipes passed down through generations, and transforms them into hearty, comforting, heavenly dishes that not only fill the belly, but touch the soul.
When I moved to New Orleans for college after growing up in Northern Minnesota, I became enamored with the tapestry of culture, history, identity, and tradition surrounding Cajun and Creole cuisine, a passion that blossomed into a love for Southern food as a whole. Since moving to Denver in 2018, Southern food has been one of the things I miss the most, and I’m not alone — former residents of Texas, Florida, and Virginia make up a large slice of the Colorado transplant pie, and everybody’s hungry for a taste of home.
Fortunately, there are some stellar down-home restaurants in the greater Denver area if you know where to look. When visions of jambalaya and sweet tea start dancing in your head, and Denver’s sky-high cost of living prohibits you from booking a plane ticket, turn to these eateries for Southern staples right here in the Mile High City.
Rougarou
Once upon a time, the Rougarou — a chupacabra-esque creature born of Louisiana’s sprawling, ethereal swamplands — was a ghost story used to spook children. Today, the mythical beast shares a name with one of Denver’s hottest new Southern restaurants: Rougarou is an upscale eatery helmed by Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges, the power couple behind the James Beard award-winning Yacht Club. Rougarou executes its “shapeshifting Southern” tagline through innovative, upscale takes on classic Southern cooking. It’s like eating at meemaw’s house with your “Top Chef”-obsessed cousin helping in the kitchen.
Think boiled peanuts dolled up with fermented collards, lime leaf, and chile; collard salad with sorghum mustard, apple, cheddar, and fried shallot; and Granddad’s chicken with herbs and white barbecue sauce. The pork shoulder entree is a champion: glazed in sorghum-tamarind sauce, finished with chow chow, and served on a bed of fluffy Missimati rice, it falls apart at the slightest touch.
The bar menu is a testament to the Wright-Hedges crew’s mixology prowess. It features avant-garde drinks, such as the pleasantly briny muffaletta martini (gin, fino sherry, olives, and benne seed), the fruity mai tai supreme (rum, curaçao, and madeira wine blend with lime juice and almonds), and the classic vieux tomate (tequila, vin jaune, bitter citrus, and sun-dried tomato).
lerougarou.com
2844 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ
Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ was inspired by a wedding in North Carolina with a glorious pig roast and BBQ reception banquet that Ben and Jodi Polson just couldn’t forget. That fond memory spurred the Polsons to build a pig roast spit in their backyard, which spiraled into hosting Southern food pop-ups under the name Mama Jo’s, launching a food truck in 2021, and finally, opening a brick-and-mortar location in 2025.
Wholesome family recipes made from scratch led Mama Jo’s to quickly become one of Denver’s best BBQ restaurants, with pulled pork, smoked sausages, and pork ribs (or jackfruit for the veggie gourmand) fit for a king — but the party doesn’t stop at barbecue. As the moniker promises, chicken and biscuits also play starring roles on the menu. The pièce de résistance is arguably the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, which won Westword’s best fried chicken biscuit on wheels award in 2024. The celebrated sammy involves breaded chicken fried in a special Nashville hot oil, slapped on a decadent, flaky biscuit, and dressed with creamy coleslaw, crunchy house-made pickles, and drizzled with Alabama white sauce.
Choose from sides like pimento mac and cheese, BBQ-loaded tot-chos, or zesty collard greens with bacon to round out the meal, and don’t forget to snag a banana pudding pie for dessert.
mamajobiscuits.com
(303) 333-7627
3525 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Sassafras American Eatery
Sassafras American Eatery has been slinging some of the Mile High City’s best Southern food for nearly 15 years, a title cemented with a best Southern restaurant award from Westword in 2020. Primarily known for stellar breakfast and brunch, Sassafras’s sizable menu kicks off with tantalizing appetizers: beignets (classic or churro-style), fried green tomatoes, and deviled eggs with smoked tomato jam are the way to go. Brunch options range from a lighter fresh fruit, granola, and yogurt parfait to shrimp and grits with andouille sausage to vanilla berry Belgium waffles. Take your pick of four versions of eggs Benedict (the roasted toasted mushroom Benny is *chef’s kiss*). And the star of the “Sassafras Signatures” menu section has to be the chicken pimento biscuit, with house-made pimento cheese, pickles, poached eggs, duck fat country gravy, and barbecue sauce.
If you’re a brunch cocktail aficionado, this is the place to be. There’s a fantastic hodgepodge of innovative takes on mimosas, as well as an assortment of signature bloody marys crafted with Sassafras’ from-scratch mix.
Feeling more lunch-forward? A roast beef po’boy, red beans and rice, or one of seven mac and cheese options should hit the spot. Sassafras serves dinner Thursday through Saturday only — worth checking out for classics like Southern poutine, pork belly with cornbread stuffing, and chicken and andouille gumbo.
sassafrasamericaneatery.com
(303) 327-9061
3927 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80212
Revival Denver Public House
Revival Denver Public House opened on buzzing 17th Street in 2021. It quickly became a neighborhood favorite with effortlessly cool, artsy vibes, frequent live music events, springtime crawfish boils, killer deals, and Colorado-driven takes on Southern cuisine. While not strictly a Southern restaurant, the influence of Southern cooking is undeniable on Revival’s bill of fare. Owner Dan Vizzard and his team infuse down-home classics with a teaspoon of Colorado pizzazz, resulting in mouthwatering dishes that feel comfortably familiar, yet sophisticated.
Buffalo gumbo is the perfect example. Louisiana gumbo that swaps out the traditional chicken or shrimp in favor of beer-braised bison, poblano peppers, and smoked sausage. Fried catfish and grits, red beans and rice, and sweet heat pickled shrimp are excellent, and we named the Flatliner sandwich (fried chicken thigh, sharp American cheese, bacon jam, fried pickles, and “Revival sauce”) one of the best restaurant dishes we ate in 2023.
Now, Revival is one of the pricier options on this list. But you can find deals such on wings and oysters (opt for the chorizo butter) on Mondays, burgers on Wednesdays, and happy hour specials, like the famous Old Fashioned for $5 as of this writing, every day but Sunday.
revival-denver.com
(720) 524-7867
630 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Lucile’s Creole Cafe
A restaurant that’s been in business for over 45 years is doing something right. Lucile’s Creole Cafe was established in Boulder in 1980 and now boasts seven restaurants around Colorado, including two in Denver proper (one on South Logan, the other on East Evans). Lucile’s first head chef trained at NOLA’s Commander’s Palace (which is worth visiting), and each location manages to capture the sights, sounds, and flavors of New Orleans. Mardi gras beads, masks, and gator heads line the walls, Zydeco and jazz music float through the dining rooms, and the menu is ripe with Creole and Cajun cuisine.
Set the vibe with a café au lait or chicory coffee, or dive into the deep end with mimosas, Bloody Marys, and Sazeracs. Lucile’s beignets are some of the best in town, fried fresh to order, and replete with Cafe du Monde-level powdered sugar quantities. Eggs Pontchartrain puts a Colorado spin on a NOLA classic by swapping out traditional fried oysters for fresh mountain trout. Appease both your sweet and savory tooth with pain perdu, NOLA-style French toast topped with hot sausage, egg, praline syrup, and fresh fruit.
Eggs New Orleans (eggs Benedict with fried eggplant in place of the typical Canadian bacon) is a stellar veggie offering, and if you’re in more of a lunch mood, the andouille po’boy and Zydeco salad are top-tier.
luciles.com
Multiple locations
NOLA Voodoo Tavern
Southern hospitality is a phrase for a reason. Southerners are some of the friendliest, most welcoming folks around, and that’s exactly what New Orleans-born-and-raised Henry Batiste strove to accomplish when opening NOLA Voodoo Tavern in Denver’s historic Cole neighborhood in 2015. Cajun and Creole bar food (made with recipes passed down from Batiste’s mother and grandmother) is the name of the game. Despite a rather rough exterior, the inside of the Tavern — decked out in New Orleans Saints gear, Abita flags, and wall art depicting the Crescent City — exudes warmth, comfort, and family.
NOLA Voodoo Tavern’s appetizer game is strong. Cajun cheese fries topped with crawfish etouffee are perfect for sharing, while adventurous eaters can try crispy alligator bites or chicken gizzards fried to perfection. Additionally, the sampler trio includes smaller portions of red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, and Batiste’s mother Vivian’s stupendous gumbo.
The muffaletta is divine, as well. It has ham, salami, and provolone in melty layers offset by a zesty scratch-made olive salad mix on a toasted bun, along with crawfish Monica, which pays homage to New Orleans’s prolific Italian population. Crack open an Abita beer (or go for the Hurricane), nosh on a surf and turf po’boy with a bag of Zapps, and laissez les bons temps rouler.
noladenver.com
(720) 389-9544
2222 Bruce Randolph Ave, Denver, CO 80205
Bourbon Grill
Bourbon Grill has been satisfying the taste buds and wallets of savvy Denverites since 2002. Bourbon Grill began as a quick-service restaurant with a walk-up window (and often a line around the corner) before graduating to its current brick-and-mortar location on East Colfax in 2017. It doesn’t look like much, but what this Colfax haunt lacks in aesthetics, it more than makes up for in flavor and affordability. Chef and owner Lien Vo keeps the menu simple.
Customers may order blackened, barbecue, or Vo’s signature bourbon chicken over a bed of rice, or as a combo with two sides for a slightly higher price. It’s a spectacular deal when the mammoth portion sizes are taken into consideration, as Bourbon Grill offers serious bang for your buck. The bourbon chicken has an outrageously juicy texture, gorgeous char, and beautifully balanced sweet and smoky flavor that’ll blow your mind. Timeless soul food sides like mac and cheese, mixed veggies, and sauteed Cajun potatoes transform a simple chicken and rice meal into a decadent Southern feast.
Additionally, Vo honors her Vietnamese heritage with sides of spicy noodles and egg rolls. It’s not necessarily the place to impress out-of-towners or conduct a business meeting, but Bourbon Grill is a fantastic spot for authentic Southern food in Denver without breaking the bank.
bourbongrilltogo.com
(303) 355-3821
571 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
NoNo’s Cafe
Nestled in the Denver suburb of Littleton is NoNo’s Cafe. This little restaurant serves up big, bold, Cajun and Creole flavors guaranteed to have you crying “YesYes.” Louisiana natives Brian and Sonda Brewster moved to Colorado and opened up NoNo’s in 1996, settling on NoNo — a Louisiana colloquialism meaning grandfather — as a nod to the beloved family patriarch (who was the source of many of the recipes that grace NoNo’s menu).
The owners keep things fresh with a features menu that changes every few weeks, highlighting specials like blackened crab-stuffed quesadillas, mango chicken on coconut rice pilaf, and chicken pot pie. The signature menu is substantial and showcases a mix of New Orleans-forward cuisine and cozy comfort foods. Cajun egg rolls, stuffed with Tasso ham, chicken, cabbage, and rice, are perfectly fried and served with Cajun island dressing. You can grab a cup of shrimp bisque to accompany a crispy chicken salad or hot sausage po’boy.
Dishes like Monica-smothered catfish, crab meat au gratin, and BBQ shrimp are an excellent way to hit the spot after a day of hiking. Not in the mood for soul food? NoNo’s has you covered with a wide selection of pasta, burgers, and sides; plus, the Big Easy breakfast burrito is grab-and-go perfection. NoNo’s is also a prime pick for springtime crawfish boils – slots fill up quickly, so be sure to make a reservation.
nonoscafe.com
(303) 738-8330
3005 W County Line Rd, Littleton, CO 80129
Nola Jane Restaurant & Bar
Whether you’re specifically on the hunt for Southern fare or simply looking for a satiating bite around downtown Denver’s Market Street, Nola Jane is the place to be on a Friday night. Nola Jane took over the space formerly occupied by Pour House in 2021, and despite its relatively new status, the restaurant was quick to win over Mile High City diners.
Considered one of Denver’s best-loved Southern hotspots, it was crowned as Westword’s Best Southern/Soul Restaurant in 2021, 2022, and 2023, in addition to accolades for its awesome rooftop and patio. Plus, since Denver isn’t the best place to be if you’re a late night diner, the fact that Nola Jane’s kitchen stays open until midnight on Sundays through Thursdays and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays is a major selling point. After all, a Abita Purple Haze draft, jalapeño hush puppies, and blackened gator tacos are heavenly after a late Nuggets game.
The debris po’boy — a gargantuan sandwich dripping with melt-in-your-mouth beef simmered in its own juices and homemade gravy — is to die for. The chicken and andouille jambalaya is perfectly balanced, and the eggplant Creole plate is a real treat (pro tip: sub dirty rice for the standard white rice). The space is small and tends to fill up quickly after 10 p.m., especially on weekends. But with Hurricanes and spicy margs on tap, the party never stops at Nola Jane.
nolajanedenver.com
(720) 592-1942
1435 Market St, Denver, CO 80202
Welton Street Cafe
Welton Street Cafe owners Floyd and Mona Dickerson immigrated to the United States from the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 1970s and operated multiple restaurants in the Five Points area before opening Welton Street Cafe in 1999. The original Welton Street Cafe was forced to shutter in 2022, but mercifully, reopened in a larger space just down the street in 2024. The restaurant is flourishing, and the community can’t get enough of the Black-owned family business’s country cooking with Caribbean flair.
Perhaps most notable on the menu is the miscellany of pates, a Caribbean dish you need to try consisting of meat and other fillings in a fried dough pocket. The jerk chicken entree served with cornbread will live in your head rent-free for months. There’s a wide range of burger and sandwich options (the catfish sammy is a classic), and enough sides to craft an entire meal, including Black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, and more. A daily rotating Kool-Aid is sure to be a hit for kids and anyone who prefers non-alcoholic beverages, though Welton Street Cafe’s bar menu also includes plenty of beer, wine, and classic cocktails.
weltonstreetcafe.com
(303) 296-6602
2883 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Four Friends Kitchen
Four Friends Kitchen came to be when (you guessed it) four friends and neighbors — Genefer and Tim Thornton, and Kurt and Sarah Pletcher — realized Stapleton was sorely lacking in kid-friendly early-morning eateries. The two families joined forces to build Four Friends Kitchen from the ground up, and have been serving delectable contemporary Southern breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch to the community since 2015.
Open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every single day, Four Friends is ideal for the early bird. The kid-friendly promise is maintained, too, by keeping plenty of vintage Etch-a-Sketches and coloring books on hand, as well as an amazing “Little Britches” (kids) menu. For adult patrons, small plates include quintessential country offerings like fried green tomatoes, Creole bread pudding, and beignets with creme anglaise and wild berry preserves. Overnight grits bowls are a standout; gluten-free heirloom grits are cooked overnight for silky-smooth texture, then loaded up with toppings like succulent Gulf shrimp, succotash, spinach, and cheese for a hearty, well-rounded breakfast bowl that explodes with flavor.
On the lunch side, grilled chicken cornbread salad is fantastic for a lighter option, while the Smokey Mountain BLT lends the classic sandwich a Lowcountry touch with crispy fried green tomatoes, smoked cheddar pimento cheese, maple bacon, and a Serrano buttermilk aioli. For solid, dependable Southern food in a family-friendly environment, Four Friends is a hidden gem in the burbs.
fourfriendskitchen.com
(303) 388-8299
2893 Roslyn St, Denver, CO 80238
Methodology
Despite a sizable population of Southern transplants, there aren’t a whole lot of Southern restaurants in Denver. The 11 on this list represent what I believe are the best Southern and soul food restaurants in the city. To make the list, restaurants had to have a Southern and/or soul food focus, justify the price tag (higher stakes for higher-priced restaurants), maintain consistent quality, and — of course — be delicious.
As for the taste factor, I’ve personally visited most of these eateries (I was a regular customer at Revival Denver Public House and Bourbon Grill when I lived in the Uptown neighborhood) and can vouch for the tastiness of the food. The three I have not visited in person — Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ, NoNo’s Cafe, and Four Friends Kitchen — were included based on positive reviews and repeated word-of-mouth recommendations on foodie-dedicated Facebook groups and Reddit threads. Lastly, I wanted to include something for everyone, so this list encompasses a broad spectrum in terms of price points, ambience, and actual cuisine.
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