The Way Back

We had a fantastic meal and experience here! It was a bit out of the way from other places we were checking out on a recent trip to Denver, but it was worth it! It was definitely a trendier spot, but we enjoyed the food and drinks! I will say that the portions were on the smaller side, so either eat a snack before or don't come too hungry without knowing you'll have to spend a bit. Very unique and powerful flavors though. You could definitely taste the quality and 'freshness'.

Seasonal rotating menu with nice variety of dishes with small plates, fresh ingredients, and some larger dishes. Beautifully plated and good service. Happy hour available in the bar area. Reservations recommended in dining area.

Southern Hot Chicken meets trendy small plates in the heart of Tennyson. "The Way Back" is a fairly new restaurant that brings together sustainable local ingredients to create both old Comfort foods and modern dishes served in a tapas-style experience. Just thinking of the name, I thought the decor would be similar to that of Annie's Cafe. I was anticipating a nostalgic throwback to the 1950s. Yet the architectural style of the bar reminds me of the early turn of the century, while the uniforms of the waitstaff and bartenders could be from many decades within the mid-twentieth century -- they all wear floral print shirts and blouses. There are accent walls of floral patterned wallpapered as well. The front part of the establishment is mostly covered in black paint and reminds one of a speakeasy. However the back of the house, is a more formal setting with white linens. We had recently heard our friends raving over their fried chicken, so we decided to give it a try last Saturday. After opening the OpenTable app and finding that there were no reservations available anytime Saturday evening, I decided to give them a call. The hostess assured me if I came on the early side during the happy hour which was from 4 to 6 p.m., she could probably get us a table in the front section. She did; we had a nice booth close to the bar. We were able to take advantage of some of the happy hour selections and prices including $5 whiskey sours, a bread-and-butter appetizer for only $3, and an exquisitely prepared veggie plate for only $6. The veggie plate had unique heirloom-style vegetables. What looked like a couple of a really long and skinny pink carrots ended up being Cincinnati red turnips. The plate also included white baby turnips, endives, cucumbers, and a nice dill-flavored dip. I ordered one of the specials of the day which comprised of hand-rolled pappardelle pasta, oyster mushrooms, ramps, and a three-year aged cheddar cheese from Durango's Jackson Farms. The fresh pasta was cooked al dente and paired perfectly with the sharp and decadent creamy flavors of the rest of the dish. It was remarkably filling for a small plate of pasta with no meat. However, for $19 I feel it was a little on the pricey side for a  tapas plate. Bob, of course, ordered the fried chicken that everyone had raved about. It was actually really really good. The battered skin of the chicken was incredible. There must be a few sweet ingredients in the batter that give the skin a sweet and savory, yet very crispy finish. I thought the chicken was cooked perfectly to my taste, but some that like their chicken cooked well would have been disappointed by a few pieces that looked a little pink. Again the price seems a little high at $19 for two legs and a thigh. It was served with hot sauce, which is a southern way of serving chicken known as Southern Hot Chicken, and bread & butter pickeks. Our fun and sassy waitress encouraged us to get a "side" plate as well. Since they were out of their collard greens, the cook had substituted them with a creamed-spinach option. The creme fraiche sauce with a touch of nutmeg elevated the traditionally simple side dish to a more adult option. We were surprised that we were actually full with only ordering these two larger tapas plates and the side of spinach. This could get pretty expensive in a larger group where a lot of plates would need to be purchased. Another dish that I have heard good things about, but was not able to try, is the squid ink fettuccine. Overall, it was a great experience, and I anticipate going back for happy hour during a First Friday on Tennyson night.

We heard about this place in a list of the best new restaurants for Denver. It was amazing! Everything tasted great, the service was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was quiet and comfy. I had the pork belly, which she described as a deconstructed BLT (or bacon tofu she said haha). It tasted great and I ate every last bit of it. So tender and the tomatoes and lettuce were grilled perfectly. My wife had the pappardelle pasta with summer squash and loved it. I tried it and agreed. The homemade pasta was soft and flavorful. We also got the broccolini side dish which was delicious. We will tell everyone we know about this place and keep it on our “fancy” list.

I was on the way to the Japanese place nearby but couldn’t resist the cool vibe coming from this place. And OMG if the old fashioned wasn’t the most delicious with the biggest clearest rock I had ever seen. And the roast chicken was to DIE for. And the bar staff were super cool and nurturing and friendly.