Everyone Around the Table

Red  Trolley

2639 W. 32 nd Ave., Denver                                                                                                                                                    

303-433-7200 . www.theredtrolley.com

I love the Highlands Neighborhood. I loved it back when it really was “the hood” – dicey but lovely. That was back when if you mentioned the “Highlands” people said “oooh” like it was a deep, dark secret. Now you say the “Highlands” and they say “OH!” with impressed enthusiasm. The switch in attitude has much to do with charming places like Red Trolley, a cafe serving breakfast (including a cereal bar), ice cream and gelato that they make on the premises and a variety of “trolley dogs.”

There’s so much that’s good and fun about Red Trolley: Everything is all natural (note their signage saying “Nitrates are for wieners” and “Flourescent should describe your lightbulbs, not your gelato”). They serve natural Oogave sodas, sodium nitrate-free dogs from Continental Sausage Company on whole wheat buns. The ice cream and gelato doesn’t glow and really tastes like it’s supposed to. Our favorite was mint chocolate chip that was creamy and tasted like actual mint – imagine!

The hot dogs deserve particular mention because they serve beef & pork, vegan, bison, veal and pheasant versions. All can be dolled up with goodies from the unlimited topping bar and are served with the homemade seasonal salad of the day.

Prices for dogs range from $4.25 to $6.25. Add chips and a drink for $2.  Breakfast (eggs, french toast, waffles, pancakes and cereal) ranges from $5 to $8.50. Ice cream runs $1.00 – $5.50 with take-home pints available. Floats, sundaes and malts run $4.99 – $6.50.  For a Happy Hour the whole family can enjoy, head on over from 3-6 daily for Root Beer Float Happy Hour where all natural rootbeer surrounds and dissolves real ice cream for $2.50.

A nice perk for the kids is their new Kids Club. Go in to sign them up and they get their own membership card, a balloon every time they go in, a banana split on their birthday and $.25 hot dogs every Tuesday. Cool!

The long, narrow interior is a salute to trolleys, thus the name. Between the all natural factor, the selection and decor, the Red Trolley makes a great stop while you’re checking out all the Highlands has to offer.

Visit them on Facebook and Twitter for a fun blog and good deals.

Overall rating out of four forks:

Messiness Factor:  It is ice cream after all.

GUF (Grown Up Fun):  Parents would absolutely want to go without the kiddos.