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A very generous friend of mine took another friend of ours and I out to dinner for helping him out. That said, I almost feel obligated to give them a better review than I would if I ate on my dime..... But homey don't play that. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoyed the meal and the service bordered on being stellar but I didin't die and go to heaven from the experience.
We all went with the rec'd Quattro Piatti. For appetizers we had the salumi and the frico caldo. My friend with the highly discerning palate decided that the salumi (eaten by wrapping it around the thin breadstick and dipping it into the wasabi/horseradish sauce) reminded him of eating Arby's 'horsey" sauce and beef? I thoroughly enjoyed the salumi but thought the frico instead of being deliciously cheesy was decidedly hash brown-ish and not as crisp as I would have liked. Okay now I'm getting too wordy.... Instead of a blow by blow of each dish, let me just say:
the zuppa di zucca over the overpowered by onion hamachi crudo
pasta ala chitarra over the overcooked gnocchi
nice chunk of red snapper over the the wagyu beef
and damn, why didn't I get the chocolates or cheese instead of this dry pear tart?
Not a perfect meal but a great one. Oh, and the half glass wine pairings were great and just the right amount of feel good to keep a smile on my face at work that night without it causing a sardonic smile to appear on the boss' face. Thanks D! That makes at least two of my most memorable meals bought by you. Arby's! really?
Easily the best meal I've had since I moved to Colorado 18 months ago. Was lucky enough to have dinner here over the weekend to celebrate a good friend's birthday. A few highlights:
Front of the house is a bit too crowded. I get this place is popular and it's not very big but I just think it's a bad way to start the night having your toes stepped on and spilling your drink because it's impossible to move.
Great service. Well organized and I'm always a fan of choreographed serving so this impressed me. Very knowledgeable staff. It's obvious the work they put into this aspect of their restaurant.
Excellent food. Well prepared, well presented. The house made pasta and burrata still have me wishing for more and the wagyu served with hands down the BEST fresh horseradish I've ever tasted were a real treat. Dessert was a little let down and because of that I can't give 5 stars. The baked goods were lacking but the apple cider sorbet and frozen yogurts were divine. I didn't have the cheese plate but my friend did and the offerings looked very good.
It's a rare night that I dine in a place of this caliber anymore but Frasca was a wonderful trip down memory lane.
I'd read great reviews when researching places to eat in Boulder for a weekend visit last July. We were especially looking forward to this meal as it was also my husband's birthday. And while the food was good, and at times very very good, it didn't blow us away. It was probably the first time the service out shined the food.
Loved the cocktails we sipped while having the Salumi appetizer (Barbabietola Affumicato and the Tartaruga Verde). We ordered the special fish soup, and it was absolutely tasteless. The waiter asked if we enjoyed it, and I apologetically told him our reaction - he was so, so nice and took it away, said he'd tell the chef, and brought us another appetizer at no charge which we absolutely did not expect. We ordered a fish and pork dish, plus gnocchi. Good desserts. Ordered a Littorai Pinot (Happy BD, honey!) which was fantastic. Will we be back? Probably not, especially since it had been a good 15 years since our last visit to Boulder, but I wouldn't mark Frasca off my list. Add a 1/2 star, more than A-ok but it didn't blow me away.
If you're going to go all out for your birthday, then by all means go all out at Frasca. Frasca is a small restaurant and so I'd made reservations weeks in advance. We had an 8:15 reservation but they were running a little behind. The host took our coats and offered us the wine/cocktail list to browse while we waited. There are a handful of bar seats and if you're very lucky maybe you can score one. After a few minutes we were led to our table and the waitress explained the menu in great detail. It was a prix fixe menu of 5 different courses, although you could order individually if you didn't want all 5. But why do that if you're going all out? The prix fixe was $66/person and included a wide variety of foods. I was surprised to see so many dishes with some sort of seafood. In addition to our 5 courses we started with the Frico Caldo which was like a hashbrown with crispy cheese on top - oh I don't know, there is no way for me to describe how wonderful it tasted. It came in 4 little triangles, just enough for our party. All of our entrees were superb. I thought the main standouts were the lobster gnocchi, the hamachi, the red snapper main course, and the beef shoulder main course. Because I don't have much of a sweet tooth I ordered the formaggio plate for my dessert which had an extra $2 charge. There were 3 cheeses - gorgonzola, something else I can't remember, and buffalo milk cheese. I was really excited to try the buffalo milk - because I LOVE buffalo! It was very mild, soft, and smooth. The cheese plate included marinated grapes, a housemade red pepper jelly, and an excellent honey. The other dessert entrees were good, but they didn't compare to the other courses. The main standout in the dessert courses we had was an apple cider ice cream that was served with the carrot cake. The carrot cake was nothing special, but the ice cream was outstanding.
As you would expect the service is professional, attentive, and top notch. The courses were served and empty plates cleared away at just the right moments. The courses were not served in a hurry ... our dinner lasted nearly 3 hours, however those 3 hours seemed to fly by. Maybe it was the cocktails :o)
So if you are looking for some place to go all out and enjoy yourself with fantastic food, wine, and service ... definitely consider Frasca.
Wow! Probably one of the best meals I've ever had.
From the AMAZING Austrian wine selection, the generous and attentive service, and the absolutely amazing northern italian food this place was such a treat. Everything we ordered was fantastic and I particularly enjoyed some of the Austrian touches among the gently modernized classic food.
What I particularly enjoyed is the surprisingly affordable price for such pleasing decor and atmosphere, high quality ingredients in the food, and the breadth and depth of the wine list. The last time I have seen such a thorough Austrian wine selection on a wine list, the prices were outrageous. Honestly, for the same price point we have been to several other restaurants in Boulder, and not had such a memorable meal. (I'm really not sure why there is such a perception of expensiveness.) Delicious! Amazing! I can't rave enough.
Let me start off by saying I would have given 3 1/2 stars if Yelp allowed it.
Frasca is good, don't get me wrong, and the service is nearly always impeccable (minus an occasional upturned nose from the sommelier when I ask for a wine under $50). And it is expensive, which is to be expected from the kind of pedigree Frasca boasts.
The problem with Frasca, and the reason why I would knock off 1 1/2 stars, is the entrees. Unfortunately the most important course is disappointing, especially after the act it follows. But let me get back to that in a minute. Or how about this, I'll just take you through a meal like I usually do.
You enter the restaurant through heavy velvet curtains into a fairly petite rectangular restaurant (but don't worry they are relocating). The quaint bar to the right (superb cocktails by the way), white-cloth tables scattered in front. You will be greeted by an extremely kind, and beautiful hostess who already magically knows things about you. She will take your coat, and as your cheeks warm from the blistering Boulder air (I assume its winter), you are gently guided to your table that is set up as you requested, the two places facing the restaurant so you and your guest can view the others enjoying their meals together.
Act 2, the food:
Order the salumi plate. Sliced fresh every evening, you get four impeccable cured meats, these fantastic "grissini" to wrap the meat around and dip in a handmade horseradish crema. Believe me, if you knew what they went through to make this crema, you'd walk right up to the man slicing the meat (he's the one that made the crema) and thank him immediately.
Get the Frico Caldo! Imagine the best cheesy hashbrowns you've ever had, and then imagine something 3 times better. 'Nough said.
Now we get to the Antipasti. Yes some are decent, and some are disappointing. I say skip it. Go to the pasta. The meal will peak at the pasta.
The pasta: you really can't go wrong, but if you like gnocchi, Lachlan has found a way to make them melt in your mouth instead of being chewy. If you want heaven in your mouth, go with the filled pasta of the night, be it tortelloni or ravioli, it will knock your freakin' socks off.
The entrees: best avoided. After what you've just experienced with the expertly crafted hand-made pasta, you WILL be disappointed. If you are still hungry, order another pasta. Trust me.
Dessert: For an experience of dairy-free creamy sorbet, get it. You'll swear its ice cream, and damn good ice cream.
So, to recap, if you go, get the wine, its fantastic, the salumi, the frico, and 2-3 pastas. And if you have a sweet tooth, the sorbetto I believe its called. And while some say this restaurant deserves national attention, if you ask me, with those entrees, it wouldn't survive long in the city*.
*reference my Chopsticks review
I think there are two great restaurants in the United States and Frasca is one of them. Frasca's entrees are perfectly done and wine selection is impeccable. The service, something that even the consensus best US restaurants lack, is the best in the United States. Situated on the quiet side of Pear Street, the ambiance couldn't be better. Why is it so good? There is a real Italian "owner's presence" to every dish and glass of wine. You sense real quality control. I've eaten at Frasca three times and each time has been better than the last.
So, it's not just me. Excerpt from current issue of Gourmet. They love the place, too.
"National acclaim hasn't pushed Frasca's prix-fixe prices upward; at about $70 a head, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more exquisite Friulian meal in America. Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson canvases the state for pristine ingredients to use in dishes like handmade pasta alla chitarra with poached egg and bitter mustard greens, while wine director Bobby Stuckey oversees the lively dining room."
Colorado finally has a restaurant that deserves national attention.
If I'm going to rate a restaurant 5 stars, I'm going to make sure you know why. In the case of… Read more »
I wish I could give 4 1/2 stars this time as I was just slightly disappointed, but the reason for my disappointment was that Bobby Stuckey, the head of the front of the house was out to run the New York Marathon.
Let's start with service. We had an 8:15 reservation, although we'd requested 8:00. We showed up at 7:45 thinking we'd get a drink at the bar, however they were able to seat us right away. Kudos! Our waiter was fantastic as well. We requested the sommelier, even though I didn't see Bobby there. My wife explained we'd like a nice white w/ apps and first courses and a nice red for the main courses. He gave us a few options of which my wife wasn't a fan, but he was speaking mainly to me and not my wife. When she finally explained she wasn't into French Sauv Blancs, he quickly went into the back to ask for help. (we're assuming) It was bizarre, and when he came back he still wasn't talking to my wife who'd engaged him in the first place, but rather to me. When he brought the wine he asked if I wanted to taste it, and I said my wife should. This was pretty disappointing to both me and my wife from such a high-end restaurant. His recommendation was a great wine, and I ordered the red which also was a fantastic recommendation. Now, I know this would not have happened had Bobby not been out, hence I'm sticking with 5 stars as I know this is an exception to the rule.
The food. The Salumi plate and Frico Caldo are the best damn appetizers in the Denver area. I've tried to make the Frico Caldo at home, but apparently people who've worked at the French Laundry are far superior cooks or teachers to those who cook than I am. We were sharing family style with another couple, and the short rib took the cake for the next round with the gnochi coming in a close second. The prawns and pasta were just ok. For secondi, we tried the chicken thigh, pork loin, beef shoulder, and a fish dish that I believe was snapper. This was a split decision with the pork loin being the crowd favorite, the beef shoulder coming in second, although I loved the chicken thing. We all agreed the snapper was just ok.
For dessert, we shared the Frangapine Tart, coffee shake, house made chocolates, and I don't recall the other. The Pear Frangapine Tart was good. The house made chocolates were to die for, but the true star was the coffee shake. The shake was wonderful, but comes with the best brownie I've ever had.
Again, a fantastic meal with a bit of a snafu on the service side. I highly recommend if you go, you eat family style and share each item. I could see how some would go and only eat their item thinking this place is OK. But, the more things you get, the more you realize just how damn good this place is.
I've only eaten here once, but my gosh what a meal! It actually ranked in my top 5 meals of my… Read more »
Went with a large group for the Monday night prix fixe with wine pairing.
If I had to judge Frasca by the value of the cuisine alone, it gets a 4. I had a thoroughly enjoyable meal but nothing that knocked my socks off. A few points off for undercooked pasta (this might just be the chef's interpretation of "al dente" but, not mine). Another deduction for bread that came with butter? For a place that prides itself on authenticity I would have expected olive oil.
When at Frasca, DRINK WINE. Bobby the sommelier is the best I've ever met. Unless you are a serious oenophile, most of what he tells you will seem like utter gibberish. Just trust his superior judgment and enjoy the ride.
Besides Bobby, everyone on staff knows their shit inside and out. They all talk to you like you are the smartest, classiest person in the world, which of course makes you feel smarter and classier than you really are (and I need all the help I can get).
Overall, Frasca is a dining experience that's as completely satisfying as I've ever had, so I can't give it anything less than 5 stars.
I really wanted to give Frasca 3.5 stars and not 4 but when forced to decide on 3 or 4--I went with 4. We went there last night for our Anniversary. We have wanted to eat at Frasca for over a year now but it seems like every time I called for reservations they were booked solid. Finally, I called 3-4 weeks in advance and got in but still not the best time.
I have been hearing wonderful things about this place for some time now. In fact, my brother who is a chef in Boulder thinks its probably the best restaurant in Colorado. My point is that my expectations were hi--probably too hi--going into this place last night.
We have been in before for a drink at the bar so we were prepared for the atmosphere--though we were surprised with how loud it can get in there (not quite sport's bar loud but the hard wood floors and high ceilings seem to amplify everything) and they really put the tables close to together and pack people in. Next time, I might sit outside on the patio to avoid the noise and cramped feeling.
Now regarding the food. The food was good but not amazing. I was a bit disappointed wit the gnocchi and our two main dishes were not that great. I ordered the pork let which I heard was one of the Chef's signature dishes that he brings back each summer. I couldn't get past the overly strong dijon flavor. My wife ordered the braised short rib and it tasted basically like pot roast that was thrown on the grill after it was cooked.
But why the food didn't blow me away--the service did. I was amazed at the service. I think it was probably the best service I have ever had. Plus it doesn't hurt when you see the co-owner busing tables and ensuring everyone is having a good experience.
I plan to go back and give the food another chance because I realize even great restaurants can have an off night and more importantly that I am not likely to enjoy every entrée at every restaurant. Perhaps I just need to order differently next time.
Words cannot begin to describe my love for Frasca, I called earlier in the day to make a reservation. They promptly called me back. Our time wouldn't work, but they had a slot 30 minutes later. Sure, not a problem.
From the moment we walked in, we were treated incredibly well.
The four course meal, at 66 dollars per person, is a STEAL. The service, the food, everything was simply fantastic. Their wine recommendations were top notch. Everthing was beyond wonderful. Oh, and they must be mind readers. My friend and I love people watching while my husband does not. We had perfect seats to watch everyone in the place, while my husband couldn't!
This was the best meal in Colorado we have ever eaten.
My wife and a friend coordinated an outing with some other dads for Father's Day Eve. What a fabulous restaurant!
Some of the people in our group were a little hesitant in doing the 4-course meal for fear it would be too much food, but at the end of the night everyone left full, but not stuffed like you just came out of an all you can eat buffet (see also Thanksgiving). The 4-course meal forces you to try things that maybe you wouldn't normally order, the portion sizes are very reasonable, and you can pick and nibble at what others' in your party had ordered.
Service was outstanding. The commeliar was incredibly knowledgeable and not snooty in terms of trying to identify what wine would best fit your price range. I started with the sausage and cabbage, then went to a mushroom risotto, and for the main course had braised short ribs (mild horseradish sauce on the side that was amazing).
If you've seen my other reviews, it always seems to come down to dessert. I went with the house made chocolates and no I did not share with the rest of my party. While my popularity at the table went down, I was willing to take the risk and the ROI was priceless.
High marks...we will definitely go back!
Amazing dinner from the salumi plate with incredible little breadsticks to pancetta-wrapped scallops and italian donuts and espresso from their beautiful Synesso machine. Its too bad Frasca isn't open for breakfast because those donuts and a cappucino would make a great morning snack!
My brother ordered their "chef's salad" which turned out to be the best salad he had ever had. Whoa!!!!
Frasca has quite ample portions, top notch service, and incredible food!!
I love this place. The service is the best I've ever had. The food is really good too. We go every time we're in Boulder.
Hands down one of my favorite work meals that I've had in such a long time. First time in Boulder, and the dining experience at Frasca has left me a lasting impression of the city. If you ever find yourself in Boulder, Frasca is a must-try! A bit on the pricey side but you only live once ...
The setting, service and food were all very good. Our waiter did a great job explaining the menu and providing recommendations. The owner of the restaurant made an effort to stop by every table and chat with the customers. He even told us that the staff takes a 2-week trip to Northern Italy so that they have a better understanding of the food they are serving. Sign me up for that kind of job! A lot of effort was put forth into every single detail of the restaurant. It's the kind of restaurant you always dreamed of having yourself ...
Great work, Frasca!
I'm sitting her writing this review as I am wishing that I could make some of the food appear in front of me even though I'm stuffed to the brim. I love this place. It was my first visit to Boulder and this was the perfect way to end the evening. The experience began with my phone call to make reservations. I called about a week ahead of time and was told they were booked but they could put me on a cancellation list. They called me back and told me they had a table for us at the 5:30 seating so we took it but I asked if there was an opening at the 8:30 to give us a call back. The woman who called back to confirm our reservation told me an 8:30 had opened up and we were thrilled.
The food, the service and the wine were all excellent. We had great descriptions of the menu and were given time to browse. My friend ordered Japanese Hamachi "Crudo" Pickled West Virginia Ramps and Ricotta Dumplings for her first course while I ordered the Braised and Grilled Colorado Lamb Shoulder Rapini, Roasted Tomato and Rancho Gordo Shell Bean Purée. I was blown away by the Hamachi. It was outstanding and when I go for sushi I don't tend to order it. The wine pairing was excellent and I contemplated just requesting a few more servings of it! My lamb was perfectly cooked and when the dish was placed in front of me the smell was intoxicating. Every bite was delicious, the bean puree was so good and I wasn't sure that I'd even enjoy it! and The Merlot that they chose to go with it was perfect. The Hamachi won this round period. No room for arguments!
For the next course Russet Potato Gnocchi Stonington Maine Lobster, Montasio "Crema" and Tarragon and the Red Wine Braised Beef Short Rib Cannelloni "Sottocenere Fonduta", Arugula and Balsamic were phenomenal. The gnocchi were pear sized and the sauce had a lemon essence that the wine went with perfectly! It definitely enhanced the flavor of the food and I loved it. The cannelloni was paired with a chianti and it was all delicious. The gnocchi won this round hands down but I really enjoyed my dish.
The final round of food was delicious as well. We ordered the Poached Alaskan Halibut Red Wagon Farm Spinach and Morel Mushroom "Crema"
and the Roasted Sliced Pork Loin Braised Escarole and Lemon Olive Oil. The server recommended the pork loin and I thought it was perfect. It was cooked well, the escarole was good and the olive oi and herbs were perfect. It was paired with a Syrah and it was great. The Halibut was good but I'm not the biggest fan of mushrooms but my friend enjoyed it and her wine pairing was fantastic as well. The pork loin won this round no question about it!
For dessert we went with the Baked Ricotta with Rhubarb Compote, Pecan Crumble and Strawberry Sorbetto and the Caramelized lemon tart with Sweet Mascarpone and a pair of cappuchinos to top off the night. Both of these desserts were fabulous. The ricotta resembled a cheesecake and the sorbetto and crumble that went along with it provided the perfect amount of crunch and sweetness. The lemon tart had a crust on the top that was just like the nice crunch on a creme brulee. I'd have happily eaten both all by myself if I hadn't been stuffed.
Needless to say I loved this place and it was one of the best meals I've had in months. It's definitely on the pricey side but it's a perfect place to go if you're a foodie or for a special occasion. I'd give it 4.5 stars, I took away 1/2 a star because when they gave us our wine pairings we ordered the 1/2 glasses because it had been a long day but they ended up giving us some of the most expensive 1/2 glasses that weren't on the original menu and I felt a little cheated. Aside from that everything was amazing and I need to go back and have some procuitto!!!
Frasca = One of the best restaurants that you will ever eat at. Period.
This is the best restaurant I have ever been to. Highly recommended but it doesn't come cheap...
I had probably the best and nicest meal I have ever had at Frasca. It was a beautiful ambiance, with a great wait staff and amazing food. It truly made for a perfect evening.
Seriously one of the best meals I've ever had! My husband and I went for our anniversary and were completely amazed at the quality of service and cuisine. The team of servers and sommeliers anticipated our every need. This dining experience made our anniversary truly one to remember...we will be back!
Hands down one of my most fabulous dining experiences. Expect to pay quite a bit of money but every penny is worth it.
The food was incredible, very flavorful, well prepared and well presented.
The service was impeccable. Fabulous wine menu and beautiful ambiance.
I recommend coming here hands down.
I don't usually bother to review a place that already has so many that seem to say everything there is to say, but I want to make an exception for Frasca. What a great place. Four of us had dinner here recently and we all agreed it might have been the best meal we've ever had. The food is simply amazing and the service is impeccable. It's very pricey so we might not be able to go very often but when we want to splurge I can guarantee this is the place we will go.
I am a food snob. Myself and everyone I know is well aware of this. So when I say a place is over the top, its really - really over the top.
Places like Frasca are exactly why I moved from California, back to Boulder. Pretentious, snooty, and "restaurant theatre" is what you will find here.
Completely ridiculous menu - limited in selection - Northern Italian with German influence, whatever that means. I think its a ploy to make you feel stupid for not being able to understand random German words thrown into the menu.
The pricing was high, but the theatrics were even higher.
Save your time, dignity and money, go get a real meal anywhere else. There are lots of places to eat in Boulder that are not dinner theaters.
After seeing Chef Lachlan on Top Chef masters, I knew I had to try Frasca on my planned visit to CO. First off, completely agree that $66 for 4 courses is a steal. I'm from Los Angeles, where there is an abundance of overpriced and underwhelming pre fixe menus. I was delighted to find an Italian menu that was so different from what I had been used to. The chef is very successful in creating tasty AND light Italian fare that is creative but not overly complicated. We ordered the pole bean and rabbit salad, wagyu beef tongue (OMG....), melt in your mouth potato gnochi, swordfish, quail, and an absolutely scrumptious pork leg. I loved the integration of seasonal fruit into most of the dishes which really provided that lighter touch to the palate. Didn't have dessert so no comment there. Solid wine list. I don't feel that this place warrants $$$$ more like $$$, which is a plus. I think it depends on how much wine you get.
Italian food in boulder. ...If you want the best pasta in town you go to Il Pistaio. If you want more variety, better ambiance and an Italian meal focused on meats and cheeses then head for Radda Trattoria.
If you have money to burn, and you want the best overall Italian influenced food then Frasca is the clear choice. It is possibly the even the best restaurant in Boulder depending on who you ask. Ask for recommendations. Ask for wine pairings. Trust your server and the chefs, then sit back and relax. They will not miss. You will love every course, every flavor and every drink. you will leave happy, content and satisfied.
One of the best fish dishes I've had to date was at this amazing restaurant in Boulder Colorado. It was my main course and it was the halibut. If anyone is in the Boulder area I would highly recommend.
We opted for the tasting menu and would recommend the same. The service was outstanding, our hostess was very nice -- something I'm not used to in Chicago.
The restaurant has received a lot of praise (James beard award etc...) so I'm sure my review is not "new" news. Also the chef came from Thomas Keller's kitchen at the French Laundry so ... but it was a great experience, would go back if (when) I visit Boulder again.
Frasca is ranked among the best restaurants in America (seriously, just google them) for expertly combining impeccable service with sublime food and wine. I've eaten at Mario Batali's restaurants in NYC, at Thomas Keller's restaurants in Napa, and a host of other amazing places around the country... and Frasca stands up strong to any of them.
I had one of the best meals of my life here: slow cooked Long's Farm local pork. It was absolutely incredible. The emphasis on local ingredients is key, but the magic comes down to the chef crafting the perfect balance of flavors and textures... techniques that take years of experience and brilliant talent to pull off.
One little known part of Frasca is that the best mixologist in Boulder tends the bar. Just tell Bryan your preferred spirit of the evening and he'll craft you a cocktail (new school or old school) that upends your idea of what a cocktail can be... this is one of my favorite things about Frasca. The knowledge of the sommelier is incredible, but start off with consulting the bartender and experience the cocktail side of Frasca. My favorite new cocktail is the Bensonhurst, similar to a Bourbon Manhattan but made with Rye Whiskey and Cynar, an Italian bitter composed of 13 herbs and plants including artichoke.
Overall, Frasca is expensive, but that's what happens when you get a world-class meal and a staff with an amazing knowledge of food and wine. Try it for yourself, you will return again, and again.... and again!
The most over-hyped restaurant in Boulder.
Often when you have really high expectations you end up being disappointed, and that was the case with Frasca.
We ordered the double rib eye for two, and while it was good, it was not a $90 cut of meat. The other items we ate were tasty, but not exceptional.
The wines were very good, as was the service. But somehow, I expected much more.
For this kind of money, I want an amazing experience, and Frasca did not deliver.
The food was delicious and full of flavor, yes, flavor. Everything was cooked right, the wines being poured that night were well thought out and cool. I like wines from small vineyards and obscure grapes. We sat at the bar and it was wonderful.
Excellent choice for dining in boulder. It's not cheap but worth every penny. Make sure to get a reservation in advance...as far in advance as possible.
On my recent trip to Colorado to visit my family, I took on the task of finding some delicious food in Denver (when we weren't at home, as my family of cooks ensure that eating in is always awesome). As I browsed yelp, egullet, and the local restaurant reviews, I kept coming across this place. My sister had been once and said it was divine, while my dad said only that he'd heard there was a four-month waiting list. Not the best prospects for a one-week trip.
Undaunted, my dad and I decided to arrive when they opened at 5:30 to try to grab the limited walk-in seating (two 2-tops) they have. This was an excellent idea. Unfortunately, several other people were slightly smarter and had already lined up by 5:20. So we missed a table, but managed to score seats at the bar.
The extensive wine menu had lists of bottles from various countries and regions, but with just the two of us we decided we wanted to sample more than one. The bartender offered us something called a tajut, which apparently meant a half-glass. I haven't seent his offered anywhere else, but it was very nice. I tried a few, including a tasty Nero d'Avola, an Italian type I'd had once before, and a German Riesling.
The menu is broken into three courses - Salumi, Primi, and Secondi. There were only a few options for the first course. We split a "Frico Caldo," which was a sort of potato cake with cheese, topped with what tasted like a lemon-shallot vinaigrette. Fairly good, I thought, but not extraordinary. They brought some bread as well, slices of the standard soft, sweet dinner loaf one usually sees. Again, decent, though the butter accompanying it was at room temperature, a minor detail that so many restaurants manage to get wrong.
The second course, now, that was divine. There were several choices for this, plus they offered half-portions of the main course pasta dishes as "primis" as well. I chose the "Toc," a very rich dish consisting of polenta cooked with milk and cream instead of water, giving it more of a porridge-y texture. It was topped with what they called Escolar "Conserva," which is white fish that is cooked, then soaked in garlic-herb oil for a week or two, plus some crushed egg. The flavors went together wonderfully, and the fish itself was outstanding.
For his primi, my dad chose a half order of a pasta dish called "Riso Superfino Carnaroli," which was risotto with Maine diver scallops topped with a pickled green tomato gazpacho. The scallops were lightly seared but very tender, perfectly cooked. My dad said the sauce tasted similar to Antoine's Rockefeller sauce (a famous old New Orleans restaurant). Very good, and quite a bit lighter than my dish.
For the main course, I chose the roasted Atlantic halibut, which was served with carrot puree and pea shoots. It was well cooked, with delicate flavors that went well with the wine. My dad, however, was the winner on this course. He opted for the sliced pork leg with fingerling potatoes, cipollini onions and cherries, topped with some jus. This was incredible. I stole as many bites of his as I could; it was just that good.
The portion sizes seemed fairly reasonable, leaving us room for dessert. (As if there's ever not enough room for it...) We split the huckleberry torte, a chocolate cake with vanilla bean buttercream and huckleberries served with a side of valrhona dark chocolate gelato. We both love chocolate, so we couldn't really have picked anything else. The torte was good, but that house-made gelato was the winner for me. I wish ice cream always tasted that good.
The service was impeccable the whole time. The staff offered suggestions on the wine and food, but weren't pushy or overbearing at all. We had at least four people helping or talking to us at various times. It was a really great experience.
I highly recommend this place to anyone. It isn't cheap, but you are getting what you pay for with food and service of this quality.
It may seem strange, living in Boulder, not New York City, to have to wait more than two months to get a table at a restaurant, as is often the case at Frasca. Do yourself a favor and get yourself on the list, enjoy your meal and get the wine pairing, and you'll completely understand the wait. This place is amazing.
I had the pork belly, and it was the most tender piece of meat I've ever had in my life. Dessert was absolutely transcendent. It was an incredibly romantic evening that I'll never forget.
My only complaint is that the service is so high-class and attentive that I almost felt uncomfortable. They take your jacket off for you and replace it at the end of the meal. They refill your water after nearly every sip! For a guy raised on McDonald's, it was quite a shock!
It may be pricey, but I recommend eating here at least once in your life.
I went to Frasca just recently and it was a truly wonderful experience. The service was impeccable and the food was outstanding. The atmosphere is hip, friendly, relaxing, and good eats:).
Its definitely an "experience" and a joyous one. It is expensive, but well worth it. The food is high quality and the wine selection is expansive.
I have been to this restaurant about 5 times since it opened and its has remained constantly excellent across the board.
Yummm...
I unfortunately no longer live in Boulder where we lived for a year and a half moving there a few months before Frasca opened. We make sure to return on every trip to Colorado and try to think of ways to have extra long layovers in Colorado when going to other places just to go to Frasca. Anyway, from the first time we ate there during the first few weeks they were open to when we ate there like 5 times in 2 weeks during our last 2 weeks in Boulder (so sad!) to trips back to Colorado since, every single meal has been excellent! We only had sub par service once and since we had the same waitress other times since...just think she might have been having an off-night.
Anyway, the food is amazing. The portions are generally small in size but so rich that honestly, I have NEVER left there wanting more. The prices are totally decent. Maybe its a bit expensive for Boulder (though honestly have you seen the prices at the Flagstaff House?) but compared to similar quality places in SF, NY, Chicago, DC, its a downright bargain. In fact I am from SF, I live in DC now and would be over the moon if we had a restaurant like Frasca in either city.
The menu changes for the most part daily though there are some regular dishes. Here are some of our favorites:
The salumi aka what we like to call "the heavenly plate of meats" the 3 meats change regularly and are so delicious. The grissini and the horseradish cream are almost enough to make me book a flight right now.
The frico caldo are amazing ditto for crudos if they have them (raw fish) wow!
21 flavors pasta is awesome, actually every pasta or risotto we've had has been amazing. If they have pork belly go for it, so incredible. Fish is usually great even though you're in Colorado.
The cheese plate for dessert is AMAZING, as is anything chocolate. If you are full, you can just get a scoop of gelato for a little something sweet which is so nice.
The wine...OMG...Bobby Stuckey and his team are amazing. Tell them what you like and your price point and they usually come in under on the price and bring you something amazing you would've never though of ordering. The wine list is informative and educational. we've been known to sit there for a 1/2 hour just reading the wine list. Try the Scarpetta is a wine that Bobby makes with Richard Betts (Little Nell, Aspen) and is amazing. We recently bought a case and it makes us sad to be in DC but is a small consolation. Bobby and team are extremely knowledgeable too, ask them any question about wine in general...they can answer it, which is so cool.
Really you can't go wrong with anything, I've never had even a mere decent wine or dish...everything has always been SUBLIME. Can't say enough good things about Frasca.
I've been remiss in not commenting on my dinner at this place.
It is a pain to get a rez but ...
a) it's not the damn place's fault they are successful
b) i do think you can call and get cancelations with a bit of luck/effort
c) they have a small bar (maybe 6 seats), a 4 seat food bar for walk in only and said they reserve 2 tables/night for walk ins
I've never had Fruilian food (their focus) nor could I tell you much about it. I guess if really pressed, I could probably guess it would have a seafood slant and I'd probably be kinda thinking of Venetian/northern Italian style seafood tapas places (think Pesce in San Francisco).
The artisnal, crafted with love salumi craze is showcased here but i have seen enuf of that (sorry fra mani) so went strait to the Frico Caldo ($7) for starters--it was like the most decadent butterylicious latke ever and was great with the 1/2 glass of brut (so so). At this point, I'm thinking of my girlfriend who told me that eating here was not an over the top rich make me feel sick later experience and wondering if she misheard me when i said where I was dining.
Moved onto Primi (i wish they'd lose the little speach about how many courses one should order)....had 1 crudo, which changes I believe but on this day was Japanese yellowtail w/fennel, okra and horseradish ($12). Also had the Grilled Hawaiian Big Eye Tuna ($15) b/c frankly, I could not see how this was Fruilian so wanted to see if the whole theme was full of crap.
It was not.
It was, honest to god, something I can picture eating in northern Italy. The tiny diced yukon potatoes, anchovies and parmesan vinaigrette made me see ahi in a whole new light.
OK, the crudo was great too - maybe the best dish of the night; it did taste like something right from Cyrus. Since I love that restaurant, that's not a bad thing.
Thanks again to the same friend who said "without fail, get 2 things: whatever crudo is on the menu and a chocolate dessert".
Seeing that we'd finished our 1/2 glass of champs and kept glancing over at the bottle of red that awaited us when our entrees arrived (we can't drink that with crudo, right? nah, we can't), uber manager comes over and super tactfully, asks us if we'd like for him to split a glass of Soave to enjoy w/the fish course. Appropriate Soave / Ruiniti (no, that's not the same wine but they are both reminiscent of white men with afros circa 1978) jokes follow, and we then agreed to and thoroughly enjoyed what was more like 2+ glasses in a carafe of the creamy white.
Secondis were the house made tagliatelle with veal sausage and tomato sauce ($21) and the Cappone Breast (de-sexed rooster, in Italian) w/creamy farro and kale ($26). Tagliatelle, A+, Cappone, B- and mostly cause the farro and juices were so good. Oh well, always a risk w/poultry. I'd never had a Wapsie and figured this was my chance.
A service note that actually kicked off the evening on a high note....the menu indicates that only 21 orders of the pasta are available each night. Upon hearing us talk about how good it sounded, uber manager, again, with perfect timing (vs. creepy eavesdropping), inquired "would you like for me to ask the kitchen to hold an order for you? what is your name?". Awesome.
I'd add the hand made pasta to my friends reco list....so that's crudo, pasta and a chocolate dessert.
With our mains, we had a really nice bottle of modestly priced tuscan red - 2000 Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. It was $52 (just under 2x retail-fair IMO) and the somm recommended it over a bottle $25 more.
Dessert...................maybe for the first time, i had little interest in the cheese course - not that I didn't order it anyway (service note: no explanation of the cheeses--definitely an oversight) - b/c the chocolate milkshake (really, mousse) with little chocolate balls that came with the warm chocolate cake was one of the best things I've come across in a long long time.
Our tab was $200 for 2, 3 full courses plus 1 extra. That soave? zip. thank you uber manager. that was not necessary but much appreciated. I know this is one of the more expensive restaurants in boulder but I gotta tell you, it seemed like a very fair deal indeed. Furthermore, I can see grabbing seats at the bar (be European-dine at 10 pm) for pasta, a glass of wine and leaving for much less, still happy.
Oh yeah, that uber manager turned out to be the co-owner. I am guessing he makes everyone feel like the most important customer that night, as he did us. But that shouldn't take away from the professionalism of the staff overall - you can tell everyone is just so damn happy to work here. I would be too.
You better plan in advance if you want a table at Frasca. It requires the preplanning of the best tables in SF and NYC....and you know what? It deserves it. So keep in mind if you want more than an impromptu bar seat, plan 6-8 weeks in advance.
I am a Colorado-raised foodie who has been lucky enough to live in the two aforementioned gastronomic wonderlands and the meal I had here the day after Xmas ranks as the best I've ever had in Colorado and on-par with the best meals you could get in major foodie Meccas.
You can get great food many places, but it is hard to match that with service that never misses a beat and has things taken care of for you before you even begin the thought process that you might need something. A phenomenal wine list that focuses on the beautiful traditional, regional producers of Italy (and France), but allows you to drink New World wines, if that's your thing...it's not mine. And if you don't want to break the bank on wine, there are a bevy of cool choices under $75. Do yourself a favor and drink some 2005 Giacomo Conterno Barbera before it's gone. For 60ish a bottle, it rocks.
It was a 4-course prix fixe menu for the holiday season on the night we went....delicious housemade pork pate, pillowy gnocchi with wild mushrooms, melt-in-yo-mouth veal ribeye, and an ethereal Valhrona chocolate malt shake.....
I hope the fickle foodie community of Colorado never takes for granted how special this place is and continues to support its beauty for years to come. Thank you Bobby and Lachlan for giving us this gem!
We had dinner at Frasca and as its chef had recently won a James Beard award we had very high expectations and for the most part it met them. The food is incredible and very well cooked and thought out and from the fried stuffed squash blossoms to the Potato Gnocci with fresh sweet corn every course just seemed to burst with flavor. The staff gives you a nice warm welcome when you come in and makes you feel welcome. The only down side of Frasca in my opinion is the closeness of the tables which are packed in very tightly and you really can't get away from hearing everything your neighbors are talking about be it good bad or ugly. If interested in pictures feel free to visit our blog.
Frasca is one of my very favorite restaurants anywhere. It combines perfect hospitality with terrific food and wine. Bobby Stuckey has complete command of the front of the house and a memory that I envy. He can remember when I was last here, where I sat and what wine I drank. He is extremely polished, warm, engaging and incredibly knowledgeable about wine. After all, he is a master sommelier. I always have so much fun talking to him. The rest of the staff takes his lead and provides terrific service.
I visited on back to back nights (1/18 and 1/19) and the food was fantastic. I always start with the frico caldo, which is the most divine potato dish I've ever tasted. From there I moved through the tasting menu which was highlighted by hamachi crudo, lobster risotto, grilled scallops and pork belly. I paired each course with wines by the glass that were chosen by my waiter. Each one worked fantastic with the dish and I enjoyed trying several interesting Italian wines. The stemware used in the restaurant is by Riedel and of the highest quality.
I continue to be blown away by Frasca and every time I walk out on a high. If you love food and wine you owe it to yourself to dine here.
Update 3/27 - Congrats to Bobby Stuckey on his James Beard Award nomination!!!
Frasca was a wonderful experience that I shared with a fellow foodie friend during my last year at school in Boulder. We went for the prefix meal and split a wine flight (we were still college students).
First the wine flight was PERFECT in addition to each wine being thoroughly explained and matching very nicely with the food, even though my friend and I split the flight they did not skimp on the pours...it was lovely.
I had mussels in a leek, onion broth that were delicious and the beet risotto was WONDERFUL. It had a beautiful color and tasted like heaven.
Yes its very hyped up, yes its pricey, but it is meal i will never forget because of the time, food, service, company and overall great atmosphere.
Expensive, but probably the best restaurant in Boulder. The quality of the food and service made me feel like I was back in San Francisco, where I lived for a number of years. Interestingly the owners and staff are all from the Bay Area. I wish more would-be-restaurant-owners would come from the coasts to CO and open up more spots like this one.
Boulder, CO
Category: French
Boulder, CO
Category: Italian
Boulder, CO
Category: French
Boulder, CO
Category: Italian
Boulder, CO
Category: American (New)
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