Wow, this place is going to crush it! I got a chance to visit Union Station’s new Thirsty Lion Gastropub and Grill recently for their special “pre opening” tasting menu. From what I could tell on my initial visit the Thirsty Lion is going to collect a strong following FAST.
First, lets cover the location. The new Thirsty Lion Gastropub and Grill occupies almost the entire west wing of the new Union Station building adjacent on the corner of Wynkoop and 16th. That puts them front and center to give all the light rail and car optional (you know how we love public transportation) commuters who pass though the new Union Station Hub. And the inside of the Thirsty Lion is a great place to have your post work happy hour. The space is HUGE! There is a large bar that features big screen TV’s to catch your favorite game. There are large high top community tables all around the bar for folks to sit and gather with friends. And then there are the large low tables and booths that line the outside walls and windows. From any of these tables visitors have a view of the open kitchen or out to the streets of Denver, which I believe will have some great architectural features and fountains to enjoy.
Sunshine lovers don’t worry, there is a massive outdoor deck that spans the front of the Thirsty Lion so you can sit outside during all our Denver warm seasons.
Okay, so we covered the fact that this is a great spot to grab a beer or bite on your commute. Now let’s talk about Sports. This location has to be pretty much dead center between Sports Authority Field, Coors Field, and the Pepsi Center. They have a great chance to capture the sports crowd before and after our great games.
Now let’s talk food. When we were seated and asked for some recommendations the staff (which were awesome) quickly shared a few favorites including their gourmet burgers and sandwiches. During this VIP opening to test the menu each group was giving a different menu with four items to choose from. It was their way to make sure the kitchen got a chance to be tested on the full menu, or to make sure that one item didn’t get crushed.
We sampled one of the gourmet burgers, the reuben, and a couple of their 52 beers on tap. Yes, they have an very extensive beer menu to help make sure anyone can find whatever suits their taste. They also have a great list of specialty cocktails in case beer is not your choice.
The food was excellent. The burger was perfectly cooked, the gourmet flavors mixed wonderfully, and the fries were crisp and tasty. We saw several pizzas come flying out (those folks seemed happy) and one Ahi Salad that looked to have some fairly good sized cuts of tuna. For those who want to eat healthy don’t worry, the menu allows for it.
What can we say, we loved it. We plan to bring a bigger group back this weekend to do exactly what this great location was designed for, to gather with friends, laugh, and catch up.
The new Thirsty Lion Gastropub an Grill in Union Station is well worth a visit, and it’s just one more reason why living in Downtown just keeps getting better and better. Residents of Riverfront Park, LoHi, LoDo, and Union Station celebrate, your neighborhood just got one more dining amenity for your Denver Urban lifestyle.
Want to find condos around the new Thirsty Lion, click here or visit these links.
- Riverfront Park Neighborhood Listings
- LoHi / Highland Neighborhood Listings
- Union Station Neighborhood Listings
- Lodo Neighborhood Listings
- Union Station on Twitter
- Union Station on Facebook
- Neighborhood PSF Chart