Pesce Fresco Bistro is the kind of small neighborhood restaurant that every neighborhood deserves. And everyone I've ever brought to this place is A) surprised that it is in the location it is, and B) blown away by how good the food is. Aren't we lucky?
The starters favorites are the mussels in a sherry garlic broth and the Gorgonzola cheesecake is beyond explanation – we have it every time we set foot in the place and engage in an ongoing debate about how they make it so light, “wish we could make mushroom chips at home that would crunch like these” and the caramelized onions, OMG! It’s pitiful. You’d think we hadn’t eaten all day. There are also a whole range of small plates, like gnocchi (yum – speared one of those off a fellow diner’s plate just the other night – melt in your mouth) and piquillo peppers stuffed with a veal ragu. Brings tears to your eyes.
I always order a fish special, because they really understand fish here – and the sides and sauces are usually interesting – wild rice or sliced sautéed fingerling potatoes or steamed broccolini, Caribbean sauce bases or lemon herbed butter and so on. The fish is always fresh and good. They also have a whole range of other treats like lobster ravioli and saltimbocca (veal and chicken) so do a little reading before you commit.
And dessert. Hmmmmm, ya gotta love ‘em. Desserts include gelato, cheesecake, crème brulee and they can pour you a cappuccino or latte to your liking as well.
Joel and Merrilee Diner own Pesce Fresco and are both DU Hotel Management grads. Joel is an accomplished wine aficionado and always has a superb recommendation for a great pairing – with a 200-bottle wine list, there’s plenty to choose from, so ask for his advice and you won’t go wrong.
You can sign up for their email newsletters to be notified of events they have at Pesce Fresco. Recently they did a single-malt scotch evening in conjunction with Heritage Wine & Liquors and it was a great education along with several ounces of scotch to warm up the belly. The website is www.pescefrescobistro.com and the phone number (reservations suggested – it’s not a huge place!) is 303-290-9705. Go! Eat! Be happy!
Pesce Fresco
[where: 6600 S. Quebec St, Englewood, CO 80112]
