7 Essential Denver Dining Out Passbook Restaurants to Try

UPDATED: 12/18/2019

If you’re like me, you want to make the most of the BOGO drink and entree deals in the 2019-2020 Denver Dining Out Passbook. Recently, a reader asked for my recommendations on the best restaurants from the Passbook that she should try to hit before the deals expire. I thought it was such a great question I wanted to share my answers with the rest of you.

I’ve become a self-appointed Passbook expert since I research and map every single restaurant in the book to create my annual Denver Dining Out Passbook Map. I also periodically update map throughout the year to note restaurants that have closed and include reader-submitted reports of changes to the restaurant deals in the map notes.

There are many great restaurants in the Passbook, however here are my personal picks for the 7 essential restaurants participating in the 2019-2020 Denver Dining Out Passbook to try, listed by neighborhood.

UPDATE 7/17/2019: Use the discount code “NEWDENIZEN20” on this page to get the 2019-2020 Passbook for $45 + shipping).* Visit the Dining Out website for a full list of restaurants participating in the 2019-2020 book.

NOTE: I will be updating this page with updated picks as I try out new places in the 2019-2020 Denver Dining Out Passbook. Please bookmark this page!

Highlands

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Señor Bear – Sophisticated Latin-inspried cuisine served in a fun, breezy space. Passbook BOGO entree deal is for brunch.

Past brunch menu faves: BLT plate

Bar Dough – Executive chef and co-owner Carrie Baird leads the kitchen in delivering pitch perfect Italian food day in and day out in a cosy trattoria setting. Passbook BOGO entree deal is for brunch.

Past brunch menu faves: Avocado Fancy Toast

Union Station, LoDo, Five Points

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Citizen Rail – Classy eatery connected to the Born Hotel, known for their wood-fire grilled seafood and meat dishes.

Past dinner menu faves: Wood-Grilled Oysters and Sourdough Garlic Knot + Burrata appetizers,  Bone-in Smoked Shortrib, Cauliflower Harissa

Tamayo – Consistently satisfying, creative Mexican cooking from chef Richard Sandoval.

Past dinner menu faves: Queso Fundido appetizer, Huitlacoche & Mushroom Enchilada

Birdcall – Fried chicken sandwiches served in a fast-casual setting, complete with digital kiosks and a cashless payment system. There is a Birdcall location in the Whole Foods at Union Station and there are standalone restaurants in Five Points and at DU.

Past menu faves: The Original, The Veggie

Capitol Hill

White Pie – This family-run pizza restaurant is the brainchild of brothers Jason and Chris Wallenta. The specialty is New Haven-style pizza, with its characteristic thin, dry crust, irregular shape, and charring. The margherita pizza deal printed in the book is INCORRECT – the real BOGO entree deal is actually way better – it is buy one pizza, get any other pizza of equal or lesser value for free. Catch my previous coverage on White Pie.

Past menu faves: White Pie, Burrata Bing (but really, they are all excellent)

DiFranco’s – This tiny little shop in the Beauvallon Building has a tight menu of masterfully executed Italian classics. 

Past menu faves: Spaghetti and Eggplant Parm

Do you have a favorite Passbook restaurant that didn’t make it onto my list? Please let me know what your top picks are by leaving me a note in the comments.

* Please note: I may receive a commission for 2019-2020 Denver Dining Out Passbook sold using the discount code “NEWDENIZEN20” at checkout. You get a break on the full price of the book and also support this website – win-win!