Ocean Prime, Larimer Square

Located downtown on the corner of Denver’s historic Larimer Square, Ocean Prime is one of my favorite spots to celebrate & indulge. From their newly renovated dining rooms to their lounge, & seasonal outdoor terrace, this is a prime spot to socialize. There are Ocean Prime locations in downtown Denver & in the Denver Tech Center.

Ocean Prime, Larimer Square - Lounge and Host Stand

We were seated upstairs overlooking Larimer Square which was all lit up along with the city (such a vibe). The staff of Ocean Prime was exceptional as always - GM, Travis and server, Royce were polished and so likeable. We wanted for nothing during our meal & let them run the show, they knew the menu inside out and out. The aesthetics of the space along with the staff set the tone for an incredible meal.

We started with a round of Black Orchids made with Belvedere Organic Blackberry & Lemongrass Infusion, St. Germain, Fresh Lemon & White Cranberry Juice. This is my favorite cocktail at Ocean Prime. The Black Orchid came in a martini glass with an ice orb that held an orchid flower inside. The cocktail had aromas & flavors of blackberry & lemon that burst onto the palate with a lovely juicy sweetness - refreshing and so easy to drink.

The Smoked Old Fashioned was made with Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey, House Demerara Syrup, Angostura & Orange Bitters, & Charred Cherry Wood Smoke. I really enjoyed this Old Fashioned; it was served from a decanter and poured into an etched highball glass. In that glass was a pristine 2x2 Ocean Prime ice cube. The cherry wood smoke sexily combined with the whiskey when poured. The cocktail was smooth with notes of dark caramel, maple syrup and a fading smokiness.

The Berries & Bubbles was made with Belvedere Organic Lemon & Basil Vodka, Marinated Blackberries, Fresh Lemon Juice, Piper Sonoma Brut, & Dry Ice Smoke. This cocktail is always a crowd pleaser with the dry ice smoke bubbles and fruit forward taste.

The Hot & Dirty Martini was made with Olive Oil Infused Belvedere Vodka, Calabrian Chili Blue Cheese Stuffed Castelvetrano Olives. The martini was shaken vigorously with ice, strained into a prism coup and garnished with stuffed olives.

For food we started off with Ocean Prime's complementary bread - the pretzel bread was my favorite.

The Smoking Shellfish Tower was made with oysters on the half shell, shrimp cocktail, and chilled crab meat cocktail. The tower was showstopping. The generous pieces of chilled crab dipped in the Crab-Louie sauce was my favorite.

The Point Judith Calamari was served with sweet chili sauce. The fresh calamari rings were lightly breaded and fried golden. The sweet chili sauce was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

The Chef's Feature Sushi Roll was made with Sea Bass Tempura. The crunch and sweetness of the roll made for great flavor & texture.

The Hamachi Crudo was served with Pickled Mango, Sweet Peppers, Cilantro, Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette. Gorgeous sushi dish and so fresh.

The Chilean Sea Bass was served with Broccolini, Pearl Onion, Potato Puree, & Truffle Vinaigrette. The Chilean Sea Bass is Ocean Prime's most popular entree and if you've never had it, you must. The Chilean Sea Bass had a mild, delicate flavor & the light fish melted in our mouths. The truffle vinaigrette was luscious.

The 16oz Ribeye was cooked perfectly. It was well-marbled (but lean trimmed) & robust in rich beef flavor.

We had to try one of the Seafood Season Specials (available February 20th & onwards). The King Salmon was pan seared & served over Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes, Buttered Leeks, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Haricot Verts. This dish was finished with a Pinot Noir Butter and Castelvetrano Olive Tapenade

For sides we had the Jalapeno Au Gratin, Asparagus & Hollandaise, and the Smoked Gouda Tater Tots. The tots were crisp potato pillows of cheesy goodness. The interior was hot & fluffy with potato and creamy cheese.

For Dessert we had the Warm Butter Cake served with Fresh Berries, Vanilla Ice Cream, Raspberry Sauce and the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie made with Peanut Butter Mousse & Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache. The Warm Butter Cake is one of my top 3 favorite desserts in Denver. The cake was piping hot with vanilla ice cream melting atop. The sugar exterior was lightly crisped with a densely moist interior making for gooey & buttery bites. The bright fresh fruit complimented the rich cake perfectly. A must order!