Ling & Louie’s

Asian Bar and Grill

While in Scottsdale a couple of years ago we visited Thaifoon for dinner. We loved every bite and left licking our lips. In the midst of planning our next Arizona trip Bob recalled that yummy evening. Checking the Scottsdale CVB website I discovered Thaifoon was history. Yet, the restaurateur, Randy Schoch, behind Thaifoon is also the founder of Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill. The concept being a fusion of the best traditions from the Far East and the West. The good news was we didn’t have to wait until we made it to Arizona. Denver has two Ling & Louie’s, one downtown and one in the new Northfield Stapleton shopping district.

After a tour of a nearby wildlife refuge we tried the Northfield Ling & Louie’s for lunch. A friendly greeting and immediate seating started everything off on a pleasant note. Our booth was against the wall separating the dining room from the kitchen; the top half was a frosted glass water wall. The gentle flowing water sound hid any kitchen noise. The west wall was all windows looking onto the patio and landscaped grounds.

 We both ordered fresh-squeezed limeade – refreshing with just the right balance of sweet and citrus tang. We ordered from the Chop Chop Lunch menu with entrees at $8.99. I choose the Orange Peel Chicken, described as crispy chicken stir-fried in a citrus-soy sauce with fresh orange peel and mild chilies, on a bed of crispy spinach. Bob selected Ling’s Sweet & Sour Pork – crispy pork tenderloin wok-tossed with diced pineapple, red peppers and a sweet citrus sauce. Brown or jasmine rice accompanied both dishes. The orange flavor was very evident in my chicken nicely blended with the mild chilies, a little zip but certainly not spicy hot. I liked that the waitress brought two plates when she first approached the table, we were prepared to share. We enjoyed generous servings of both entrees and still boxed some to go.

Lunch was very good, not quite was outstanding as we remembered from Thaifoon but memory often plays that trick. We will gladly return to try Firecracker Chicken with Broccoli, Korean Sizzling Salmon or Evil Jungle Princess Shrimp

When You Go: Ling & Louie’s,8354 Northfield Blvd., Suite 1710, Denver. Hours Sunday – Thursday 11am – 9pm, Friday & Saturday 11am – 10pm. Happy Hour 3:30-6:30 daily. The majority of dinner entrees are priced in the mid-teens.

Additional locations: Downtown Denver in the Tabor Center, 1201 16th Street and Scottsdale in the Shops at 9400, 9397 E. Shea Blvd.