RINO District Restaurant Wows Guests With A Mediterranean Experience

Photos courtesy of Kevin Austin

Hello, my fellow foodies and welcome back. The artsy RINO district of Denver has many good restaurants, but there has always been one that I have been dying to dine at, Safta. My mother met chef owner Alon Shaya in Houston at an event, and he was kind enough to sign his cookbook entitled “Shaya” for me. Ever since then, it has been a goal of mine to get down to Denver to try Safta for myself. Chef Alon Shaya is a multiple James Beard award winner with accolades that include “Best Chef, South”, and “Best New Restaurant”. He was born in Israel, and his cookbook is part memoir and part cookbook, but from what I have heard, to dine at one of his Mediterranean/Israeli restaurants is an experience like no other. I got lucky when I went to the restaurant because Shaya, who lives in New Orleans where two of his other restaurants are Saba, and Miss River, was present. I was star struck to say the least. I asked him what I should order and what follows was the most flavorful, interesting, and artistic meal I have ever had in years, so let’s eat!

The idea of eating at Safta is to share amongst friends. There are starters, small plates and large plates on the menu. The starters are mostly dips ranging from baba ghanoush to labneh with a sprinkling of crudité and Moroccan carrots that are out of this world. These are all served the most delicious pita made fresh every day to soak up every bite of these amazing dips. Safta goes through over 800 pitas a day and when you try it, you’ll understand why. It’s hot, crunchy on the outside, and light as air on the inside. The hummus here has a special section on the menu, because it is so unique. Many friends have told me that it was the best they have ever had, so I was excited to try it. There are four versions of hummus on the menu, but Chef Shaya suggested the Lamb Ragu Hummus. Well, friends, you were right, it was the best hummus ever.  The lamb ragu on top was perfection and the hummus itself was so creamy and tasty, it was a star on its own. Don’t dine here without ordering it, you won’t be disappointed.

My friends and I decided to take Chef Shaya’s advice and order a few small plates with one large plate to share. All were exceptional, but one stood out amongst the rest. The Harissa Roasted Chicken became the star of the show. I always hesitate to order roasted chicken in a restaurant because most of the time, it is dry and tasteless. I don’t know what the marinade on this chicken was, but the first bite was tender, juicy and full of Mediterranean flavor. I’m so glad Chef Alon Shaya suggested this dish as it was a showstopper.

Desserts are unique here, so save room, and don’t forget the extensive cocktail and wine list to choose from. Dining at Safta is like a Cirque du Soleil of culinary greatness. It is beautiful, inventive, interesting, bursting with color, and leaves you wanting to come back again before you even leave.

Safta translates to “Grandmother” in Hebrew, and when you dine at this extraordinary restaurant, you really feel like your grandmother is in the back cooking something special for the family. There is so much love and flavor in the food here, that you may start reminiscing about your own grandmother’s cooking. The only way to describe Safta is perfection from the staff to the food. Chef Shaya’s cookbook is for sale at the restaurant and it’s one that you will want to own.  If you haven’t been to Safta, put it on the top of your list now. It’s a meal you won’t forget. I am already looking forward to going back to try other dishes I didn’t get this time around. Reservations are strongly recommended. Until next time my fellow foodies, eat well, drink well, and be well.