Local Table Tours (LTT) took a Team outing last week and enjoyed a marvelous dinner in the heart of downtown Denver. LTT Founder Megan Bucholz linked up with one of our tour stops, long-time dining destination Vesta, who arranged a seven-course tasting menu for us, complete with wine parings, that dazzled and delighted us all!
Vesta’s menu is created by Colorado-raised Executive Chef, Nicholas Kayser, whose culinary talents enhance the menu with creative interpretations and beautiful plating. Kayser has worked alongside top chefs all over the world, from Hong Kong to New York to Las Vegas, but longed to be closer to his friends and family here in Denver and started at Vesta a couple years ago.
Vesta is the name of the Roman goddess of the hearth and is the inspiration for the overall vibe of the restaurant. The term ‘Vesta Vibe’ used among the staff describes the positive energy, genuine hospitality, philanthropy and fun inherent there. Through deliciously cooked food in an inviting environment where friends and family can gather and connect by the warmth of the fire, Vesta continues living up to its name and its “vibe” twenty plus years later.
The menu offers seasonal, creative American dishes, plus barrel-aged cocktails, craft beers and an award-winning wine list. Our dinner began with a lovely Loire Valley Champagne from NW France and Vesta’s assortment of house cured meats and artisan cheeses served with house made breads, jam, and mustard, along with pickles and black pepper truffle honey.
Next, they delighted us with their popular Ahi Tuna Tonnato, a lovely sashimi grade tuna carpaccio drizzled with olive vinaigrette, tuna aioli, served with foccaccia. This appetizer was incredible; it was not fishy, had an easy to eat texture, and a unique combination of Italian flavors from the foccaccia and aioli paired with light, fresh tuna. Same went for their Spicy Shrimp Tempura that was light and buttery and flavored with a house made sambal aioli that packed flavor.
We then indulged in XO Smoked Pork Ribs garnished with a fresh cilantro salad and a comforting Elk Sausage Zucca pasta with Swiss chard for our fifth course.
For our final courses, Vesta presented us with a lovely Diver Scallop atop corn risotto from their Entrée list that was impeccable and reminded us of summer…
Followed by a Colorado rack of lamb with fig gastrique and tzatziki, creatively complemented by a side of lavender oregano spaetzle that impressed us all.
As if we needed anything else to cap off this incredible dinner, Vesta sent us off sweetly with an array of desserts and an Amaro Digestive. We suggest you try this dessert tasting too, as it’s on their menu for everyone.
In addition to the great food, the restaurant has a beautiful interior with noticeable themes of warmth and sensuality reflected throughout. Curved booths, open flames from the exposed grill, and draped fabric light fixtures soften the industrial design and creates that “Vesta Vibe”. Another notable component is Vesta’s certification as a Green Business through the EPA and Certifiably Green Denver. Further, since opening Vesta in 1997, charitable giving to nonprofit organizations, particularly youth-focused organizations, has been one of the restaurant group’s top priorities.
LTT is thrilled to have teamed up with Vesta for our Denver Tours and we definitely recommend you spend a delightful evening wining and dining there like we did!