Growing up in Colorado I have always been spoiled with good Mexican food everywhere I turn. It was honestly a bit of a shock when I moved to Texas and discovered ‘Tex-Mex’ is an entirely different genre of cooking, and one that doesn’t feature green chili as the predominate ingredient.
The Blue Bonnet Restaurant off Broadway and Alameda is one of Denver’s oldest family owned and operated resturants and just celebrated their 51st anniversary in the city. The evening we visited we were seated by Lulu, a staple of the restaurant itself who has worked at the Blue Bonnet for 35 years.
When you are craving good classic Mexican Food the Blue Bonnet is the place to be. We started off the evening with a classic margarita. Margs are my go to drink during the summer and the Blue Bonnet’s refreshing house margarita is just what a hot day ordered.
Next up we tried the bacon wrapped shrimp. Stuffed with chorizo and cheese these were the perfect compliment to our margarita’s alongside the house salsa.
I’m a bit of a salsa fanatic and typically will completely fill up on salsa before the meal is at the table. Blue Bonnet’s salsa could have easily been my entire meal. Fresh flavors and a little bit of heat provided the ideal snacks while we waited for the rest of the meal to arrive.
Remember what I said in the beginning about green chili? The same goes for poblano peppers. For me, a good stuff pepper is a must have and Blue Bonnet’s did not disappoint. Fire roasted each order includes two poblano peppers stuffed with onions, sour cream and your choice of protein. I tried one with Chili Lime Chicken and the other with their Homemade Chorizo. Both were equally fantastic but I enjoyed the Chorizo a bit more with the added seasonings and flavor that comes with it.
Drew chose the Carne Asada for his entree. Marinated steak is the star of the dish and served up alongside roasted salsa and fajita vegetables. The long marination really draws extra flavor into the beef, giving it a unique flavor that helps this dish stand apart from regular fajitas.
After the entree plate were cleared away it was time for dessert. Dinner at a Mexican restaurant wouldn’t be complete with out a cinnamon and sugar filled soppapillas. Making a good soppapilla is an art form and the Blue Bonnet is a master. Topped with honey, caramel and whipped cream, this dessert was the perfect way to wrap up the evening.
Since I typically spend most of my time on the north side of Denver I’m not surprised that I had never been to the Blue Bonnet before but I’m looking forward to making it one of my go to stops for Mexican from here on!
Interested in other dining reviews in Denver? Check out Ocean Prime for the best Seafood downtown!
Disclaimer: I received a hosted meal to facilitate this review. All thoughts, opinions and photography are my own.
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