Showing up at a trendy Denver restaurant on a Saturday night without reservations and with two kids in tow is an exercise in humility. You don’t so much ask for a table, as beg for one. Thus it was that we ended up at Izakaya Den at 1518 S. Pearl St. this past weekend, a little frazzled, tired, and desperately hungry. Granted, it was on the early side – not quite 6:00 PM – but Izakaya Den was already doing a brisk business. The maitre d’, rather than greeting us with a sneer, was pleasant and helpful and we had an excellent table within seconds. For a hip and trendy place, the management seemed more than happy to accommodate children. Sippy cups, high chairs, crayons, and booster seats were produced without our having to ask.

Izakaya Den is the sister restaurant of Sushi Den, the venerable Denver establishment that more or less put South Pearl Street on the map. But Izakaya Den strives to be something different. While still offering an array of excellent sushi, they’re at their best when serving up the other specialty of the house: Mediterranean-influenced tapas.

We sampled from both sides of the menus and found the sushi fresh and delicious – surely, one of the best sushi experiences you can have in a landlocked state. The tapas, on the other hand, was a revelation. First up was a Serrano ham and goat cheese napoleon. With slices of heirloom tomato serving as the pastry and garnished with roasted pumpkin seeds, the flavors were new and rewarding. Also ordered were the Kobe beef Sliders. Served on small buns, the sliders resemble tiny hamburgers with Kobe beef, foie gras, and caramelized onions – the most sensuous and rich concoction to ever grace a bun.

Depending on your appetite, Izakaya Den can be an expensive proposition. But each dish, sushi or tapas, was nearly perfect in its delivery. All in all, it was an excellent experience whether you’re an experienced gourmand out for a treat, or a hungry family aching for something new.