Denver, Colorado, a city known for its vibrant culinary scene, offers a variety of dining options for those following a ketogenic lifestyle. Navigating the restaurant landscape can be challenging when adhering to specific dietary restrictions. This article provides a guide to keto-friendly restaurants and menu choices in Denver, focusing on establishments that prioritize fresh ingredients, customizable options, and transparent practices.
Restaurants with Keto-Friendly Options
Several Denver restaurants cater to health-conscious diners and offer dishes that can be easily adapted to fit a ketogenic diet. Here are a few notable examples:
True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients and flavorful dishes. Their menu is designed to accommodate various dietary needs, including keto. The restaurant's website states, "At True Food Kitchen, our menu is carefully crafted so that every bite and every refreshing sip serve up big flavor, an abundance of fresh ingredients and a taste of the unexpected." Their artisan chefs create both classic dishes and a rotating selection of seasonal offerings, taking advantage of naturally ripe fruits and vegetables to maximize flavor and nutrient density. Creative, hand-crafted beverages are also available, built around seasonality, quality ingredients, and simple preparations, complementing any meal from brunch to dinner.
While True Food Kitchen does not explicitly market itself as a keto restaurant, its focus on whole foods and customizable dishes makes it a suitable option. Diners can select protein-rich dishes like grilled salmon or steak and pair them with non-starchy vegetables. It's essential to communicate your dietary needs to your server to ensure your meal aligns with keto guidelines.
Important Note: True Food Kitchen notes that their restaurants have shared cooking and preparation areas, meaning that food items may come into contact with other food products. They are unable to guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of allergens.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Acova
Acova is a restaurant located in Denver's LoHi neighborhood. Acova builds on the rich story of “The Northside” (now known as LoHi) by breathing new life into an address with soul. Even its name pays homage to its South Broadway sibling restaurant The Hornet, while tipping a cap to its storied Italian predecessor Patsy’s. Cova, which means Nest in Italian, is your place to bring friends and family from out of town to show them what Denver’s all about.
While Acova doesn’t specifically market itself as a keto-focused restaurant, it can be a viable option for those following a keto diet due to its emphasis on fresh ingredients and customizable dishes. By selecting protein-rich options and pairing them with low-carb vegetables, diners can create keto-friendly meals. It’s advisable to discuss your dietary needs with your server to ensure your meal adheres to keto guidelines.
Root Down
Root Down is known for its fresh-from-the-earth menu and funky, mid-century details. Root Down is a neighborhood nexus and sensory rabble-rouser served with a spoonful of nostalgia. Their menu features seasonal flavors, bright cocktails, and an eclectic atmosphere.
Root Down's emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients makes it a promising option for keto dieters. By focusing on dishes featuring lean proteins and non-starchy vegetables, and by requesting modifications to reduce carbohydrate content, diners can often enjoy a satisfying keto-friendly meal.
MAD Greens
MAD Greens embodies the spirit of adventurous living where embracing an active lifestyle, eating healthy, and playing outdoors go hand in hand. MAD Greens offers fresh, healthy, and delicious made-to-order salads, grain bowls, juices, wraps, and catering for pickup or delivery across Denver, Fort Collins, Phoenix, and Austin, Texas.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
MAD Greens offers an array of fresh ingredients that can be combined to create personalized, keto-friendly salads and bowls. By choosing a base of leafy greens, adding protein sources like grilled chicken or steak, and incorporating healthy fats such as avocado or nuts, customers can easily build a nutritious and satisfying keto meal. Ordering dressings on the side allows for better control over carbohydrate intake, ensuring that the meal aligns with keto guidelines.
Building Your Own Keto Meal
The key to dining out on a keto diet is to focus on whole, unprocessed foods and to be mindful of portion sizes. Here are some general guidelines for building a keto-friendly meal at a restaurant:
- Choose a Protein Source: Opt for lean proteins such as grilled chicken, steak, fish, or tofu.
- Load Up on Non-Starchy Vegetables: Select vegetables like spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and bell peppers.
- Add Healthy Fats: Incorporate sources of healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and seeds.
- Be Mindful of Sauces and Dressings: Many sauces and dressings contain added sugars and carbohydrates. Ask for sauces and dressings on the side so you can control the amount you consume.
- Avoid Starchy Sides: Skip starchy sides like potatoes, rice, pasta, and bread.
Navigating Menus and Making Requests
When dining out, it's important to be proactive in communicating your dietary needs to your server. Don't hesitate to ask questions about ingredients and preparation methods. Here are some specific requests you can make to ensure your meal is keto-friendly:
- Ask for vegetables to be steamed or grilled without added sugars or sauces.
- Request that sauces and dressings be served on the side.
- Substitute starchy sides with extra vegetables.
- Inquire about carbohydrate content in sauces and dressings.
- Request that your meal be prepared without gluten-containing ingredients if you have a gluten sensitivity.
Keto-Friendly Catering Options
For events and gatherings, MAD Greens offers catering services with options suitable for those following a keto diet. Their tasty salad bars, boxed lunches, wrap platters, and fresh sides can be customized to meet specific dietary needs. When placing a catering order, be sure to specify your requirements and request keto-friendly options.
Employee-Owned Businesses and Transparency
Edible Beats, the group behind Root Down, is a local, independent, 100% employee-owned business. They add a 5% Denver Employee Benefits surcharge to each check, with 100% of this surcharge going towards supporting their team's benefits. This commitment to transparency and employee well-being is something to consider when choosing where to dine.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
tags: #keto #restaurants #Denver