Zokas Restaurant & Bar

This place is awesome.  I had no idea it even existed, but my parents bought some property that we came to check out, and they found it in their drives around the area.  First, the decor is awesome.  Love it.  Simple, but really matches the theme of the area, and very nicely done.  The employees are so friendly and really had a good sense of humor for my dad's over-the-top jokes.  The owner came and talked to us, the server, Adam, had great suggestions for meals, and the food was fantastic.  
I had the Kobe burger (came with a brie and bleu cheese mix and sweet and spicy bacon that was absolutely to die for), my husband had the smoked prime rib, dad had Asian tuna dish, and mom had flank steak.  All cooked perfectly, all amazing.  Great cuts of meat, and such good sauces and complimenting sides along with them.  
I will agree with some of the other reviewers that they are a little on the slow side with the food service, but we were in no hurry, so it wasn't an issue for us.  Overall, a great hidden gem!
Oh, and the desserts were fantastic.  Warm brownie with homemade lingonberry sauce and ice cream... made my day.  And my husband scraped the ramekin clean of creme brulee.
Definitely would recommend it!

I have been here 3 times now over the course of the last 5 years.  Excellent food for such a high-altitude restaurant.  The Pulled Pork Sandwich is very good.  Sweet and spicy BBQ sauce that i could just bathe in.  I wish they had more BBQ options to showcase that homemade sauce.

The last thing I expected to be witness to after entering Zoka's Bar and Grill was a cook exiting the kitchen in an apron that had a print of an oiled muscle man from head to toe, women were hooting and howling and the kids were laughing hysterically, I knew I was in a good place. As I entered the bar I noticed a mural of two dogs above the entrance and quickly associated it with the Zoka's sign I saw on my way in, people who like dogs are good with me! I approached the bar and was delighted to see the massive oak framed mirror that stood watch over the enchanting array of booze below. Just by taking a look around I could tell that the food was going to be quality, to what extent I had no Idea.
    The bar tender was very nice and it was in a genuine way! Not the I'm going to smile for a 20% or more tip kind of nice. In fact I noticed this trend around the entire restaurant and it was a good change of pace, real people are hard to find these days. Even the owner Kurt came out and introduced himself to me, we chatted for a few minutes and it became obvious that everyone associated with Zoka's had a common goal. Good food, good spirits, and good people. The atmosphere was great and the noise level was rather moderate, meaning you didn't have to yell at the person who was sitting next to you to carry on a conversation. The restaurant itself looked like it had recently undergone a renovation and was done properly; the interior design was perfect and fit the location great. Even the bathrooms were nice which I think says a lot.
     Being quite the beer snob and home brewer is almost a sin because I am more often than not disappointed with the beer lists I see at restaurants all around. This was not exactly the case at Zoka's I perused the beer list for a moment and noticed they had several good beers on tap and an exceptional wine selection. They had many Avery beers on tap and also had a decent selection of bottles behind the bar, I'd like to see them expand the list but wouldn't expect it considering Zoka's is a small restaurant about an hour from Denver. None the less I didn't have much difficulty finding one of my "go-to" beers which was an IPA from Avery Brewery. Although the next time I return to Zoka's I will definitely be exploring the depths of their wine list and bourbons!
    After getting my beer I had the chance to take a deeper look into their menu which a nicely bound green leather book. The menu changes daily which made me exulted in indecision, the array of meals spanned from Kobe beef burgers to a Salmon and Stilton burger and I've even heard a couple of times that they have "the best blue crab cakes ever!" My sister lives in Maryland and I go there a lot so that is quite the statement, but I'll be back to give those a review as well! I finally managed to narrow my choices down to the Salmon and Stilton Burger and the Reuben; I chose the Reuben and was absolutely blown away. I used to be a cook and have had many great cuts of meat and my fair share of Reuben's, but this was by far the best I have ever had. The meat was house cured corned beef and had beautifully bloody tint that drew me straight in. The meal was hugely rewarding and I still felt great an hour later, whoever is responsible for this celestial lunch deserves a place in heaven regardless of their sins! When I got my bill it was $14.00, that's what I call a good price point.
     Zoka's is worth the drive from Denver and then some even if it is just for the people, and if you're in the area you simply cannot pass up on the opportunity. I would recommend Zoka's to bikers, priests, children, the elderly and your mom. Anyone who appreciates good food needs to put this one on their list.