Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox is a one-of-a-kind restaurant and concert venue located in an old Denver brothel. I have attended concerts at Ophelia’s before, but this was my first time dining there. Ophelia’s is two stories tall and offers a bar, lounge, and stage on the first floor, with the second floor serving as the restaurant and another bar. The second floor is practically one giant balcony, with dining tables and counters surrounding the edge for an easy view of the stage.
A group of friends and I dined at Ophelia’s for Sunday brunch (duh!) and snagged a table with a perfect view of the stage. A local Denver band Gumbo le Deux played New Orleans-style funk tunes throughout our meal. If you know me, you know I love a good concert, so a concert + brunch is pretty much heaven for me. Some friends ordered bottomless mimosas, while I opted for a Red Snapper. A Red Snapper is similar to a Bloody Mary with one major difference: the use of gin instead of vodka. At the beginning of my love affair with Bloody Marys, I actually opted for gin instead of vodka. Ophelia’s Red Snapper was quite a treat and a blast from the past for me. I ordered the chicken and waffles for my main dish, which was decent but not something I would order again. Maybe I’m just not as much of a chicken and waffles gal as I thought… I surely am a Red Snapper gal though. Read about the details of this epic cocktail from Ophelia's below!
AT A GLANCE 18/20
Ophelia’s Red Snapper looked delectable. Garnished with a green olive, half cherry tomato, and pickle golden beet, the Red Snapper was cute but simple. Large chunks of spices floated throughout and the light red cocktail.
GARNISH 16/20
The garnish presentation was appealing, while the actual garnishes were simple and tasty. My favorite item was the pickled golden beet-- that’s a garnish ingredient you don’t experience every weekend!
SPICE 20/20
Ophelia’s Red Snapper was unbelievably savory. They use some of Demitri’s Bloody Mary Seasonings in their mix, which I am very fond of. The cocktail was also laden with fresh dill, which gave it that earthy and bright flavor. I am in love with dill, so this cocktail was definitely up my alley. There were subtle hints of pepper and lemon in the mix as well, while the gin adds a piney taste. The cocktail was perfectly spicy and had a real kick in the back of my throat.
TEXTURE & ACIDITY 20/20
The cocktail was a medium-consistency, on the brink between a refreshing, light cocktail and thick, spice-laden one. It was not acidic at all.
UNIQUENESS 18/20
The Red Snapper from Ophelia’s is unique in flavor and ingredients; I love the replacement of vodka with gin and Ophelia’s use of fresh dill in the cocktail. Plus, Demitri’s Bloody Mary Seasonings are some of the best seasonings around and added a delectable touch to the Red Snapper.
FINAL SCORE 92/100
Grab a Red Snapper and listen to live music during brunch at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox. You can get one for $8, or an entire pitcher that servers 5 for $32. Ophelia’s is located at:
1215 20th Street, Denver, CO 80202