MileHighDish Review: Upscale Mexican Restaurant, Alteño, Is a Culinary Adventure for the Perfect Date Night
- MileHighDish
- Aug 3
- 2 min read
Alteño is the newest restaurant of the James Beard winning Johnny Curiel and has jumped to the top of the restaurant scene in the old Kini's space at the Clayton Club in Cherry Creek.
Paying homage to Johnny's father, the original Alteño, the restaurant features flavors that remind him of his Jaliscan highland roots. This space is packed night after night, I had to make reservations 3 months in advance!
The Space
The vibe of the restaurant is moody and romantic, with the fire based wood oven providing fantastic smells from the moment you walk in. The lighting is giving romance and the well-decorated space invites you in like family.
For date night, we sat at a 2-top by the kitchen which had a wonderful ambiance and showcased the nonstop energy of this restaurant. I have also sat at the bar for happy hour which has a wonderful menu, friendly staff and an opportunity for a different experience. If you can't get a reservation, try your luck walking in early at the bar. It worked for me!
The Food
Alteño boasts a shareable menu with mainly small plates and some larger entrees.
Some of my favorite parts of the meal came from the raw bar. The Ahi Tuna Aguachile and the Kanpachi Tostadas are really fresh, capturing the flavor of the fish while adding great texture and flavors.
The baked Hokkaido Scallop presents almost like a play on baked clams with garlicky flavor. And the Jalapeño Pan de Elote with truffle butter feels legendary.
The Camote Asada, an agave-roasted sweet potato with fennel whipped crema that really does not eat like a vegetarian dish, was my wife's favorite dish. Curiel puts this on all of his menus, and it was one of the best bites we had all night.
The Queso Fundido with wild mushrooms and pasilla salsa is a great way to start a second course along with my favorite, the Strip Steak Vampire taco. Braised and grilled perfectly, the steak taco captures the essence of Mexican cuisine with their heirloom corn tortillas, charred onion, and lime.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love this restaurant and cannot get enough. I've been fortunate to taste about half the menu, and I cannot wait to come back for some bigger mains later this year.
This restaurant is a vibey, welcome addition to Cherry Creek. It's moody lighting and buzzy energy is a great getaway for happy hour, a fun adult night out or a romantic date with your significant other.
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