Being named Colorado’s #1 top restaurant from 5280 for several years running, it has been on my foodie bucket list to go to Frasca on Pearl Street in Boulder. As if that endorsement wasn’t impressive enough, Frasca also has multiple James Beard Awards for their Outstanding Wine Program and master sommelier, Bobby Stuckey. Reflecting on my experience at Frasca, the most impressive thing is how they practice excellence in each detail of your dining experience—from taking your coats, to refilling your wine, to personable and attentive wait staff, to perfect dishes that make you slow down your eating to savor every bite. They make you feel like the most important person who has ever dined there, and like they are so grateful that you are there. It was my birthday, and they went above and beyond by giving me a menu that said “Happy Birthday” across the top of it, as well as a beautiful leaf with my dessert with “Happy Birthday” written on it (picture below). They probably do that for everyone’s birthday, but they somehow made it feel extra special and unique to me. They have a set menu of $78 that changes every season, and is a 4-course meal (Quattro Piatti) of Antipasti, Primi, Secondi, and Dolce. If you’re not willing to drop lots of money in one night, they also offer all of the dishes a la carte.
Once my friend and I decided on what we were ordering (different things each so we could try each other’s), the sommelier came over to consult with us about which bottle of wine we wanted. He was obviously knowledgeable, but also respectful that we didn’t want to spend too much on the bottle, so his suggestions included only wine that we could afford. I was also surprised to see some incredibly reasonable prices on the wine list. Our dinner lasted 3.5 hours, but it didn’t feel too long, it just felt like we were savoring the experience.
Our favorite dishes of the night were:
The Antipasti Crudo, which was fluke (fish), along with tangerine, sage, and almond. Great texture & and clean flavor.
The scallop Risotto with citrus (orange) and arugula in it. There are few better things in the world than a well-cooked, well-seasoned risotto.
A few other highlights:
The Tajarin, which is delicate pasta covered in truffle butter, with truffle shavings on top.
The Torta di Formaggio, which was a ricotta tart with herbs, oranges, and nuts.
Address: 1738 Pearl St. Boulder, CO