P17 Bistro in Denver recently rolled out a new summer brunch menu, and since going to brunch on the weekend is always at the top of my list, I stopped by to check it out.
There are a few things I look for when deciding where to eat. First–and most importantly–is what’s on the menu. Next is the drink selection; I often like to start with a mimosa or two then move on to a good craft beer. And finally is atmosphere. Weather permitting, I prefer a patio table, so this is important to me. Well, P17 has all of the above: a menu that interests me, mimosas (in addition to several other inventive cocktails), craft beer, a nice atmosphere and a patio. So it seemed like the perfect choice for a leisurely brunch.
Gougeres, (aka “French cheese puffs”)
My guest and I started with a carafe of mimosas while we looked over the menu. There were quite a few small plates I wanted to try, but in order to save room for my entree I decided to get just one: the Gougeres, aka French cheese puffs. Yum! Light and airy, it was just the snack I needed while sipping my mimosa, enjoying the beautiful day.
P17 French toast, stuffed with blueberries, walnuts & ricotta, corn flake crusted & deep fried, crème anglaise, blueberry coulis
One of the other small plates that sounded tasty was the P17 French Toast. And, fortunately for me, my guest decided to order it instead of an entree. I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting, but it was quite different than what I had imagined. I was thinking more like small individual pieces of fried French Toast, but what came out looked (and tasted) like a dessert. It was delightful! I personally prefer to stick with more savory brunch plates, but it was great to be able to have some sweet bites in between. The best of both worlds!
Grilled asparagus, two poached eggs, lardons, frisee, citrus aioli & mustard vinaigrette, home fries
One of the many things I love about P17 is that they were able to accommodate my vegetarian diet by making a slight adjustment to the meal I selected. I have been on an asparagus kick lately and really wanted to order the asparagus and poached egg entree, but one of the ingredients is lardons. I asked if they could omit it and was told is was no problem. So I got to order the dish I wanted, and I’m so glad it worked out because I loved it! The asparagus was grilled to perfection, and the citrus aioli & mustard vinaigrette gave it just the kick it needed. I felt that it was a fairly healthy option too, which made it even better. And it paired well with my beer, a White Ale from River North. P17 also had beers on tap from Upslope, Left Hand, and Funkwerks, as well as a handful of others in bottles & cans.
Close-up of the P17 French toast
P17 has been added to my personal list of great brunch spots. With reasonably priced, delicious food, plenty of beverage options, and a nice patio, it’s got everything I need for a relaxing weekend meal.