Wildflower

"This hidden retreat in the Life House hotel is a whole vibe and then some. Quaint but not at all stuffy, with decorative nods both to the Old West and to its namesake, the space is suffused with an evocative aura that the intricate, imaginative food only enhances: Think black-truffle tart with celery root, Manchego, apple, pecan, and lavender or red kuri squash risotto with pine nut, pomegranate, mustard, and balsamic alongside glasses of locally made mead." - Ruth Tobias

"Though it’s got a quaintly elegant aura, the food at this sanctuary in LoHi’s Life House hotel is contemporary and globally influenced; on Christmas Eve (as well as on the 23rd), guests can get a taste of it through either of two tasting menus (priced at $92 and $115 per person, respectively), which will draw from chef Aiden Tibbetts’ current repertoire." - Ruth Tobias, Eater Staff

"What seems to be an antique-filled fin-de-siècle parlor turns out to be a contemporary gem in the lobby of LoHi’s boutique Life House Hotel — one whose name serves as inspiration for a menu that’s indeed strewn with blossoms in the form of cocktail ingredients, culinary garnishes, and even a selection of meads locally made with wildflower honey. Dishes like huitlacoche-stuffed agnolotti with corn and mussels; lamb tart with green and sun-dried tomatoes; and a dessert duo of rhubarb bavarian and cardamom white chocolate with almond praline speak to the seasons while also expressing chef Aiden Tibbett’s appealingly intricate style." - Eater Staff

"Sub-$100 tasting menus in Denver are rarer than a traffic-free drive on I-70, which is why Wildflower is worth braving rush hour for. The seven- to nine-course meal takes familiar ingredients and pushes them way out of their comfort zones, like sweet corn cotton candy over agnolotti. While the prix fixe is the best value here, the a la carte options are solid as well. The Italian- and Mexican-leaning menu reads a little like someone threw some ingredients into a Yahtzee cup and cobbled together dinner with what fell out—like scallops and ricotta with Japanese yam, or huitlacoche, pasta, and mussels. The menu is constantly changing and partially dictated by what’s fresh in the garden (started by the chef’s mom), but if the octopus carpaccio is an option, order it or regret it forever. The space, in LoHi’s Life House hotel, is vaguely Victorian and darkly romantic, with jewel-toned banquettes, floral displays, and frontier-themed art. It’s all so charming that we can overlook our server’s treatise about beehive architecture and sustainable ranching." - allyson reedy

"Sub-$100 tasting menus in Denver are rarer than a traffic-free drive on I-70, which is why Wildflower is worth braving rush hour for. The seven- to nine-course meal takes familiar ingredients and pushes them way out of their comfort zones, like sweet corn cotton candy over agnolotti. While the prix fixe is the best value here, the a la carte options are solid as well. The Italian- and Mexican-leaning menu reads a little like someone threw some ingredients into a Yahtzee cup and cobbled together dinner with what fell out—like scallops and ricotta with Japanese yam, or huitlacoche, pasta, and mussels. The menu is constantly changing and partially dictated by what’s fresh in the garden (started by the chef’s mom), but if the octopus carpaccio is an option, order it or regret it forever. The space, in LoHi’s Life House hotel, is vaguely Victorian and darkly romantic, with jewel-toned banquettes, floral displays, and frontier-themed art. It’s all so charming that we can overlook our server’s treatise about beehive architecture and sustainable ranching. photo credit: Wildflower" - Allyson Reedy