801 Fish | A Denver Delight

As a South Florida resident, I am no stranger to great seafood options, whether it's from the local supermarket or the top seafood restaurants in Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami. However, my recent trip to Denver, CO, a city not known for its seafood scene, led me to discover a hidden gem - 801 Fish.

801 Fish, a spinoff of the renowned 801 Chop House from Iowa, had recently emerged from a long COVID hiatus, offering a seafood-focused dining experience. I must admit, I was a bit hesitant at first, knowing Denver excelled in steakhouses, food trucks, and the growing vegan scene. Nevertheless, curiosity prevailed, and I decided to give 801 Fish a try, accompanied by my father.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were warmly greeted by a smiling hostess and promptly seated at our table. The ambiance exuded elegance, with a center bar where chefs shucked fresh oysters to the rhythm of shaken martinis. Nautical-themed decor adorned the walls, creating an inviting and upscale atmosphere.

We wasted no time and ordered our cocktails while perusing the oyster menu. To our delight, it happened to be National Oyster Day, and half-price oysters were on offer. We decided on a delightful assortment of 12 oysters from different regions.

Here was our order:

My drink of choice: Makers Mark Old Fashioned

12 Oysters:

- 4 Kusshi - Deep Bay, British Columbia*

- 4 Glacier Bay - Bedec Bay, New Brunswick*

- 4 WellFleet - Cape Cod Massachusetts*

The oysters arrived promptly, and my Old Fashioned cocktail was perfectly mixed, setting the tone for the evening. I started with the WellFleet oysters from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They were creamy and exquisite, just as a great oyster should be. The British Columbia and New Brunswick oysters also pleased our palates, expertly complementing our cocktails and leaving us eager for more.

Moving on to the appetizers, we sought the recommendations of our waiter, who suggested the crowd-favorite Shrimp & Shishito Tempura and the chef-favorite Spanish Octopus. The tempura was crispy, with well-cooked shrimp and a delightful spiced tomato aioli. The real surprise, however, was the octopus. Often a challenging dish to get right, the 801 Fish octopus was tender and flavorful, coupled with a Palisade Peach BBQ salsa that elevated the dish to perfection.

At this point I had finished my Old Fashioned and wanted something light to accompany my main course. I chose Hana Hou Hou 'Rose Clouds' Sake from the menu. It had a sparkling butter taste to it with hints of botanicals that tickled the nose. A perfect addition to the fish dish I was about to enjoy.

For the main course, I opted for the Ora King Salmon, served with Blackened Rapini, Beurre Blanc, Trout Roe, and Garlic Scape. The dish arrived beautifully assembled over a delectable sauce, and the salmon was cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of seasoning to enhance its natural flavors. It was a true delight that left me satisfied and impressed.

What really did it for me was how the chef did not try to overdue the cook of the salmon. Often times restaurants take an amazing piece of salmon and try to do to much with it. Think of the herb crusted or some weird nut crusted salmon. In my opinion its just to much. This was a fantastic filet of King Salmon with just a little salt and char.

Yum!

Our waiter joined us once more and recommended we end the night with the chef desert speciality. The Corn Butter Cake. Both my father and I looked at each other like "are we just going to get a glorified piece of corn bread with a little ice-cream?" The answer was a definite NO.

As it arrived it reminded me of my grandmother berry cobbler. The perfect amount of sweet berry layered by a rich dough that complimented the sweetness with a salty note. Then to top it all off, a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. It could not have been better.

We finished up the meal and thanked our waiter and as I walked out I took one last glance at the restaurant. I came the realization, this was a fantastic fish spot right in the heart of Denver. The only thing that it didn't have was a strong customer based beating down the door.

As the case with so many other restaurants in major cities, COVID crushed the steady customer base. No longer could great restaurants attract the local business crowd for a reliable reservation list.

I hope 801 Fish will be different, I hope they make it, because in this foodies mind it was worth it.

I award 801 Fish a 5 out of 5 score and the label "Crushed It"