It’s hard to believe that the Hard Rock Cafe has been rocking the 16th Street Mall for 16 years.
And like many rock stars, there comes a time to inject new energy into the act. That’s what the Hard Rock Denver did recently when it unveiled a remodel, new menu items and all new memorabilia in gold frames (the only restaurant in the chain to do so as an homage to Colorado’s gold rush history).
My condo BFF and I were treated to a recent tour through the remodeled digs and massive memorabilia by John Lindsay, senior sales and marketing manager. Chairs throughout the bar and dining rooms sport a copper-toned fabric, there’s velvet and gold chain mail hanging over the bar, new LED lighting over the stage where national and local musicians perform and all the plaques labeling the memorabilia are mounted on frames with Red Rocks Amphitheatre in the background.
All of the rock n’ roll memorabilia have been switched out with the exception of the Beatles sled from the movie “Help”. The upstairs boasts a Red Rocks Room dedicated to artists who have played in those hallowed rock walls. There’s an original poster from The Beatles only Denver concert in 1964, Johnny Cash’s shoes, photos from Dave Matthews and The Fray, one of the first bands to play at Denver’s Hard Rock.
Also upstairs are framed blotter acid sheets (with the illicit drugs missing) from drug aficionado Timothy Leary.
New menu items, prepared under the direction of chef Ryan Mapes, include half-pound burgers (my favorite was the Fiesta Burger on a toasted brioche bun with roasted jalapenos, salsa, jack cheese, fresh guacamole and pico de gallo); a starter sampler with chicken wings, nachos, spinach artichoke dip and bruschetta; a grilled chicken arugula salad and desserts to share such as the apple cobbler and the brownie fudge sundae.
For more information, go to www.hardrock.com/cafes/denver/.
Above, appetizer sampler; below, apple cobbler, giant brownie fudge sundae and slider sampler. (Hard Rock Cafe photos)
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