CityGrille is the product of two of Denver’s restaurant masterminds, Rich Salturelli, former owner and operator of the Bay Wolf Restaurant, and David Minty, former Executive Chef of the Beacon Grill and Gourmet Alternative Catering. Their 50+ years of restaurant experience enables them to serve up the perfect balance of high-end meals without high-end cost.

Salturelli holds true to his belief that “food shouldn’t have to be expensive for it to taste good.”

The “Best Burger” craze started in 1999, when acclaimed restaurant critic Thom Wise of the Denver Rocky Mountain News went on an obsessive burger binge, sampling burgers from dozens of restaurants here in the Mile High to find the best hamburger in town. No cheese, no “special sauce,” just a plain hamburger from each, with only lettuce, tomato, and a pickle on the side. Upon completing his cholesterol-clogging quest, Wise handed the Best Burger Award to CityGrille, a title that has been successfully defended ever since. Diners and many other food critics agree. The restaurant even created a Hamburger Hat Club email newsletter to thank loyal customers and connect them to great offers and contests.

Indeed, these burgers are definitely a cut above the rest. Thick, half-pound patties of choice ground sirloin are seasoned with secret spices, then cooked to your liking on a flattop grill to keep them juicy. Say goodbye to sesame seed buns; these bad-boys are served atop a hearty rustic roll with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions and pickle on the side. And that’s just a standard fully dressed burger. Add your choice of seven different cheeses, bacon, mushrooms or guacamole, then your choice of mixed greens salad, homemade coleslaw or a side of crispy, thin-sliced French fries (another Best Award winner), and you’ll never look at another burger joint again.

CityGrille is located just about a block from the Capitol building, so there’s always a politico or two in the crowd. Busy and bustling, with the bar and restaurant area melding into one, the noise level is always high, a clear indication that patrons are having a good meal and a good time.

For sandwich lovers, Salturelli recommends a Philly Cheesesteak. In Denver? If this version were not so authentic, it wouldn’t work in this city. But it does. At the CityGrille, the mouthwatering classic is made from thin slices of tender ribeye steak, loaded with peppers and onions, topped with white American cheese, placed under the broiler to melt, and then served on a toasted baguette with a mountain of fries.

Newly added to the menu is the Las Vegas Stacked Deck, a large grilled chicken breast with bacon and melted Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, tomato, and Romaine lettuce that has been tossed in the house Caesar dressing. CityGrille’s coleslaw is the perfect foil for these flavors. Another “Best of” winner is the house green chili voted by Westword Magazine for its fiery hot flavor.

There’s light fare with terrific salads from char-grilled Salmon Salad to Thai Chicken or Classic Cobb. Plus, most menu items can be prepared meatless. The kitchen whips up comfort food, too, à la herb-roasted chicken dinners just like grandma used to make. And, even more burgers. One for vegetarians and another for late-nighters who stretch the walls after 10 pm. Buck Baby Burgers — savory mini-versions of the big one — are available for $1 after 10 pm, along with $2 drinks, $2 pints and half-price appetizers.

The success of CityGrille spawned another burger hot spot called CityPub. At this southeast Denver location, the bar area is more defined with pool tables, shuffleboard, darts and 14 televisions. The non-smoking dining room with a cozy fireplace features a 100-inch high-definition big screen to entertain sports fans. You’ll find CityGrille’s great food plus 18 beers on tap. PINK

CityGrille, 321 E. Colfax (between Logan and Grant), 11 a.m. to midnight; bar open until 2 a.m. Parking is free after 3 p.m. 303-861-0726

CityPub, 3575 S. Yosemite, 303-694-0454, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Street parking and private lot.

CityGrille Burger

Photos by Pink Pages Staff.