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When you think of Aurora, one of the last
things that probably pop into your head is a vision of rolling Tuscan hills,
fine wine, and delicate Italian food. Hence, why Tuscany Valley,
located in the trademark suburb, is initially a bit startling. I’ll readily
admit, I spent some time living in Aurora during
my younger years, and while I adore the massive sprawl harboring the advancement
of Denver, I
never had much respect for the cuisine (or the lack of tall trees if we are on
the subject). Tuscany is a delightful surprise
for Aurora eateries, a great restaurant for Denver, and a fine addition to the overall culinary circuit
of Colorado. It’s
about time the suburbs started to represent, outside of the police reports
anyway.
Vibe: The exterior is aligned
more with the stereotypical architecture associated with the Eastern part of
the city (read: unattractive), but is in no way indicative of what happens on
the interior. Using wine racks and contemporary Italian décor the entryway
instantly warms things up and is continued throughout the space. The bar area is
flanked by flat screens and is darkened down for some high-quality imbibing,
and a pool table provides a smidgen of recreation.
Food: While the zip code
might hinder the access to a wider client base, it also keeps the prices aligned
with the neighborhood. It’s rare that you get a downtown restaurant with top
shelf food, leave full, and with a check of less than $100. We gorged and held
back none on the accoutrements and wine, yet we still couldn’t even hit $75. It’s
nice to have everything in one place, not to mention the fact you don’t need to
make a reservation a week in advance.
One of the most crucial
decisions you will have to make relatively early in the process is: chicken or
veal? Essentially it comes down to personal preference as neither route is a
bad choice, but four of the top dishes, the Picatta, Marsala, Parmesan and Saltimbocca
are all served both ways. If you’re unsure, the veal Marsala might be an easy out as the white
wine butter sauce accented with garlic, mushrooms and basil easily satisfies
any palate.
The restaurant pushes their
beef quite a bit, and with all Black Angus cuts it makes the multitude of
different steak options a delicious alternative, or any of the Angus burgers a
solid bet for lunch. However, if you are looking for something a little more redolent
of the creativity within the kitchen, go for the lamb shank-- a brilliant blend
of flavors with herb crusted chops with a unique demiglaze-- not to mention a
great supporting cast. The accompanying
California medley of vegetables move past a mere side dish as the cluster is a
divine blend of fresh produce seasoned lightly yet deliberately, and the garlic
mash potatoes pair brilliantly with the overflow of juices coming from the
reduction. Tuscany
only uses fresh locally grown products and frequents the local farmers markets
to keep the crisp goodness well stocked.
Drinks: Their wine list is
deep giving even more credibility to its Italian namesake, but again, the price
makes it more accessible than comparable eateries as there is no bottle priced
over $35. Each of the staff is fully capable of guiding you through the experience
as well. We were fortunate enough to have general manager Zack Khalil wait on
us and he made exquisite recommendations throughout.
The bar is also affluent in
the art of mixology. The lovely bar manger Angela Sanders whipped us up some fine
post dinner cocktails, handcrafted and fresh that ranged from an authentic
margarita to a perfectly executed Kahula and cream. The patio also seems to
turn into a decent party as well now that the weather permits, and the banquet
room is available for those that decide to plan a little further ahead with their
large groups.
Verdict: A high class dining
experience disguised as a neighborhood joint. Tuscany
has everything one would want from a quality restaurant and leaves the
pretentiousness at the Denver
city line. Finally, I can be proud to be from Aurora again.
Tuscany Valley 11951 E Illiff Ave
Aurora , CO 80014
303-755-7199
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