Featured Review

August 2010

Restaurant 4580 in Boulder, Colorado is a fantastic gluten-free restaurant experience not to be missed...

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5.0 Palms	Restaurant 4580
Review Type:	Restaurant
Location:	4580 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304
Phone:	(303) 448-1500 Ask for Martin or Susan Hammer, owners
Website:	http://www.restaurant4580.com
Trip Type:	Family meal
Date Visited:	Several times throughout 2010
Review Posted:	July 1, 2010

Restaurant 4580 Delivers Fabulous Gluten-Free and Farm-Fresh Dining!

There will not be enough space for all my praises for this wonderful restaurant! Restaurant 4580 is a chic, hip restaurant in the north of Boulder, Colorado, that melds the vibe of a neighborhood eatery with cutting edge and locally-sourced cuisine. Warmer owners and staff you will not find. They have gluten-free options at every turn, from locally baked breads and pasta to creative ways to alter dishes to fit one's diet. All gluten-free items are clearly labeled on their menu. They work with local farms and artisan food producers to offer a wonderfully intimate and delicious dining experience. Patio dining is available in warmer seasons, and they also have a fabulous bar. Fun events are planned frequently, and it's very kid friendly without feeling like a chain or 'pedestrian' dining experience. It's become a staple of our dining out. Restaurant 4580 makes you feel like a 'normal' diner...not an exception.

Martin and Susan Hammer (4580's owners) began their gluten free offerings in response to customer requests. However, they subsequently learned Martin is gluten intolerant. Now their entire family is gluten free which lends itself to a personal and intimate commitment to that aspect of their menu.  Boulder tends to be a foodie and health-minded culture, so the flexibility afforded through 4580's cuisine really celebrates most dining needs and preferences without sacrificing the verve of the experience.

To cite favorites is a challenge as I love everything I've ever ordered, and the dishes change seasonally.  Favorite appetizers would include Bacon Wrapped Dates stuffed with Chorizo, as well as Thai Seamed Mussels with GF bread for dunking.  Current fave dinner entrees would include North Broadway Jambalaya, Summer Risotto with Fresh Peas and Zucchini or the Duck Confit.  My favorite side dish would have to be Rowan's Greens which showcases fresh greens from a local partner farm, paired with  a wonderful seasonal dressing (citrus vinaigrette for warmer months and an outrageous broken balsamic vinaigrette for the cooler months).  I l ove their French Rolled Omelet with goat cheese and fresh greens for a light but filling lunch entree in any season. There are always sumptuous, unique deserts (Chocolate Torte or fruit sorbets, for instance) which are gluten free.  They work exclusively with a local gluten-free bakery, Sweet Escapes, for all their gluten free table bread, hamburger buns and pizza crusts.  Our kids love the unique twist on the kids menu of featuring cheesy risotto instead of straight up mac and cheese.  You can monitor their current menu on their website.

In addition to the food, the celebrations (which are constant) make Restaurant 4580 a warm and inviting venue.  Whether it's the unique Burger Night featuring burger combo's you would never dream of (so delicious, up-scale and with GF bun options), or the celebrations related to a current event or holiday, OR the farm-to-table dinners highlighting a seasonal delight from a local farm, the tone is always upbeat and vibrant with a sense of humor. Happy Hour features signature cocktails that change with the seasons and are paired with lush appetizer choices.  They also have an intimate private dining room for larger parties or events where they can tailor the menu to be fully gluten free.  The clear highlight is the overall tone.  Martin (owner) is there frequently, greeting all with the same familiar welcoming, regardless of whether you are a first-time diner or a 'regular'.  No one is a stranger in this establishment.

Find two other reviews of this restaurant by typing in Boulder in the Search Box on our Search/Mapping page. (You'll see a total of three reviews for Restaurant 4580 come up in the list of restaurants in the Boulder area.)