I’ve been a regular customer of Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill since it came to Denver two years ago. The first location opened at Union Station, followed by the latest addition in Cherry Creek (click here to see my initial post about the Cherry Creek location). No matter which Thirsty Lion I visit, I can always rely on quality food, service, cocktails, and a stellar tap list.
Pear Pomegranate Cooler
I have a few favorite dishes I look forward to when I stop in, but I get particularly excited when they put out a new seasonal menu. Thirsty Lion is currently offering several new items on their Fall Seasonal Menu, available through early December. Last week I went to Thirsty Lion Cherry Creek to try it out.
While I normally opt for beer or two from the extensive tap list, I also like to try the seasonal cocktails. So this time I went for the Pear Pomegranate Cooler: Absolut Pear Vodka, Prosecco, pear purée, pomegranate juice, simple syrup and sliced pear. After a long day at work, this drink really hit the spot: slightly sweet, not overly boozy, with a garnish of fresh pear (that I saved until the end so it was fully saturated with the drink–yum!).
Pan Seared Shishito Peppers sautéed in olive oil with fresh lemon and kosher salt. Served with chipotle aioli dipping sauce
I’m a big fan of blistered Shishito Peppers, and Thirsty Lion knows how to do them right. Incredibly delicious, this dish keeps things interesting because you never know when you’ll get an especially spicy one. And the Chipotle Aioli dipping sauce is the best sauce I’ve ever had with Shishito Peppers, anywhere.
Note: If you’re looking to order these peppers, they are on the regular lunch/dinner menu at the Cherry Creek location, but at the Union Station Thirsty Lion they can be found on the Fall Seasonal Menu.
Fennel Sausage & Sundried Tomato Pizza: Fennel sausage, roasted yellow peppers, caramelized onions, sun dried tomatoes, eggplant, toasted fennel seed, fresh herbs, red pepper flakes, extra virgin olive oil, goat cheese crumbles, roma tomato sauce and four cheese blend
For the main course: a Fennel & Sundried Tomato Pizza. Talk about a gourmet pizza! This hearty pie is packed with a ton of ingredients including fennel sausage, goat cheese, four different kinds of veggies, and more.
One of the seasonal beers on tap at Thirsty Lion Cherry Creek is a local favorite of mine: La Folie from New Belgium. I thought this sour beer would pair well with something on the opposite end of the taste spectrum, so I drank it with dessert…the Caramel Apple Cheesecake.
Caramel Apple Cheesecake
You must order this cake! With brandy glazed Granny Smith apples, Myer’s Rum caramel sauce, pecan streusel, and a graham cracker & pecan crust, it truly captures the essence of autumn!
As if all of the above isn’t enough to tempt you, there’s lots of other good stuff on the Fall Seasonal Menu, such as:
Peppercorn & Artisan Blue Cheese Burger: 1/2 lb. burger, three peppercorn rub, demi glaze, melted Artisan blue cheese, arugula, tomato, red pepper tapenade and garlic aioli on grilled ciabatta
Black Cherry BBQ Pork Tenderloin: Apple brine marinated and grilled with ginger black cherry BBQ glaze. Served with white cheddar mashed potatoes and bacon sautéed Brussels sprouts
Be sure to catch everything here and more from now until early December at Thirsty Lion Cherry Creek!
Note: My camera decided to start acting up just before my visit, so these all photos here are courtesy of Thirsty Lion.
