Upscale tavern continues upward trend

By Chris Michlewicz

Eating at Brick House Tavern + Tap for the first time is like a breath of fresh air, or rather, a bite of palate-pleasing fare.

There are few eateries that check all of the boxes, and when people find one that does, they hold on for dear life. There’s no doubt that Douglas County is awash with restaurants vying for consumer attention, and in many cases, the ones left standing after the pandemic reflect a level of organic support that speaks volumes. Brick House Tavern + Tap in Parker – with an eclectic menu and inviting atmosphere – happens to be one of those restaurants.

It is the type of place that elevates beloved daily specials to its permanent list of offerings because, simply put, the demand is too strong to ignore. And how many restaurants do you know that list Nashville hot cauliflower, deviled eggs, duck wings and buffalo chicken meatballs side by side on its app menu?

The sandwich menu also takes diners in unexpected directions. It features a lobster BLT on parmesan-crusted sourdough bread, and The Dilemma, a hand-breaded chicken breast topped with crispy bacon, an over-medium fried egg, white cheddar cheese and miso maple butter. These are just examples of the delectable creative liberties that can be expected by anyone who decides to walk through the door and have a seat.

The word “tap” in the name Brick House Tavern + Tap, can come into play, depending on a customer’s mood. According to its website, the bar is adept at “dispensing happiness.”

One of the most popular items served at Brick House, located southeast of E-470 and South Parker Road, is the bison burger, adorned with candied thick-cut bacon, cheddar cheese, jalapeño-cilantro mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion. It’s also worth the time and stomach space to dive into the chicken pot pie, with red potatoes, carrots, onions, peas and thyme simmered slowly in a creamy herb sauce and topped with a flaky, multilayered puff pastry.

But there are so many other dishes not to be ignored, like the seared tuna salad, ribeye steak, Guinness onion soup, lobster mac and cheese. The drunken pork chops are a personal favorite of general manager James Dodds, who started as a busser and line cook at Brick House in 2014, one year after it opened. For a limited time, Brick House is offering mango chicken quesadillas with pale ale queso dip, too.

Because its menu has so much variety, Brick House doesn’t cater to a specific clientele or demographic. In short, everyone seems to like it, and word of mouth has provided a dedicated following. Some people ecelebrate specia events like their retirement party or wedding rehearsal on the covered patio.

Of course, the word “tap” in the name Brick House Tavern + Tap, can come into play, depending on a customer’s mood. According to its website, the bar is adept at “dispensing happiness.” Those with a taste for bourbon have more than 20 options to choose from. Brick House is known as an upscale, family-friendly establishment, but it’s really much more.

On a nice, clear day, the outdoor patio envelopes guests in everything that makes Colorado great, from mountain views to fresh air to bright sunshine (there are umbrellas for those who enjoy the shade). At night, there are fire pits to cozy up to and plenty of stars to watch.

There are places in the restaurant that “feel like you’re at home. It’s very kicked back, very relaxed.”

It’s worth noting that Brick House, which has 20 nationwide locations, including nine owned by the Parker location’s parent company, the Kelly Restaurant Group, has 34 TVs throughout the restaurant, and patrons can watch everything from the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos to monthly UFC fights on Pay-per-view.

There are places in the restaurant that “feel like you’re at home,” Dodds said. “We have couches, and you have people bringing you food. It’s very kicked back, very relaxed.”

The staff is also a big part of the attraction – they’re friendly, knowledgeable and love what they do, so much so that staffing hasn’t been an issue like it has for other restaurants, Dodds said.

With sales continuing to steadily climb year after year, it is confirmation that Brick House is doing something right. For those who haven’t been, it’s worth stopping by to see – and taste – what the much-deserved hype is all about.

19320 Cottonwood Drive
Parker, Colorado
303-840-2285
www.brickhousetavernandtap.com/