If you’ve lived in Denver for a while, it’s no secret that good Chinese food is hard to find. Chinese delivery is absolutely wonderful (and perfectly greasy) from Great Wall (oh my goodness, order the eggrolls immediately, but please just order delivery) or Szechuan Palace in Lakewood (everything there is fantastic). But to find a good sit-down, with nice ambiance, possibly a patio, a good drink menu, and quality ingredients is not easy, but I found that recently with Little Ollie’s in Cherry Creek.
I went with a group of foodie friends recently, and was blown away. Their slogan is “where taste meets elegance”, and I couldn’t agree more. The inside is warm and welcoming, with the feel of an upscale restaurant without the upscale prices. The north side of the restaurant is an open patio with lots of natural light– way different than other good Chinese food places in the Denver area who mostly all just need a bit of a makeover. Little Ollie’s is also the sister restaurant to another favorite of mine, Jing, at The Landmark off Orchard and I-25.
The best part about Chinese food is that the appetizers are just as wonderful as the entrees. (Sometimes I dream of eating my weight in crab cheese wontons dipped in sweet and sour sauce until I burst.) We ordered appetizers–crab rangoons, chicken dumplings, and pork dumplings (recommend the pork!). Then we ordered a little bit of everything to share– Chicken Pad Thai (same menu item as Jing–my favorite Pad Thai in Denver…freaking amazing), Panang Curry, Thai Basil Chicken, and Sesame Chicken (nice crunchy texture). We all had different favorites, but it was clear that everyone enjoyed their meal. Surprisingly, my favorite of the night was the Panang Curry, and I don’t even prefer the taste of coconut! The sauce was creamy and flavorful, and I wished I had a spoon or a big piece of bread to sop up the sauce. I’ll have to go back to get that again soon!
My sister and brother-in-law even have Little Ollie’s on “speed dial” (or in this day and age, “saved in their phones as a contact”, so they can call in their order (sesame chicken with brown rice–plenty to share between 2 people) to be ready to be picked up right when they get to the restaurant. Another friend calls Little Ollie’s a “family favorite”. The only thing I find disappointing is that I didn’t discover this gem sooner.
Little Ollie’s: 2360 E. 3rd Avenue Denver, CO 80206 (off University & 3rd)