If you think something is fishy at Jax, you would be right. With fresh fish and seafood flown in daily (according to the restaurant, DIA is the busiest seafood “dock” in America), Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar just opened a new location in Glendale to satisfy the salt water cravings of south Denver and Cherry Creek. This new location has a giant fish tank centerpiece, an oyster bar and — one could easily argue —the best rooftop bar in Denver. Jimmy Zanon is Jax’s Bar Manager and he has come up with some cocktails that will thrill and delight diners as they shuck oysters and peel shrimp.

Zanon’s cocktail menu does share some drinks, called Jax Originals, with the other Jax restaurants (downtown, Boulder and Fort Collins), but he also makes several cocktails served only in Glendale, as well as some infused vodkas that change from season to season. He says the Q Coin (made with El Tesoro platinum tequila) and the Jax Mule (with Broker’s gin and house-made ginger beer), are two of the restaurant’s most popular originals. However, he prefers the Oaxacan Wildflower. Made with Sombra mezcal, yellow chartreuse, grenadine and lemon, Zanon says this is a great cocktail for those who have never met mezcal, but would like to be introduced. While the drink is the restaurant's take on the classic Daisy, there is a smoky bite from the mescal mixed in with the tanginess of the chartreuse and the sweetness of the grenadine.

Another Jax Original is the Headed West, which also uses Broker’s gin. It's also a beer cocktail using Avery IPA, grapefruit, simple syrup and arosemary garnish. The hoppiness of the IPA blends with the gin and the rosemary provides a herby fragrant finish. With its zesty and cool taste, Zanon calls the drink “a patio pounder.”

Another of Zanon’s favorite cocktails is found on the Infusions Menu and is unique to Glendale. The Bangkok Fizz is made with Thai chile infused vodka, pineapple syrup, lime and ginger beer. This nimble cocktail is citrusy at first. Then the Thai chile melts your tongue. Zanon says this cocktail pairs well with Jax seafood salad, a plate of oysters, or the Big Eye Tuna dinner.

All of these tasty cocktails can be enjoyed on the amazing rooftop bar. Besides having a full bar, the upstairs deck has a mini-kitchen featuring a smaller, grilled version of the Jax menu.  The rooftop has incredible mountain views that are hard to come by in this part of town. Enjoy this little urban oasis whenever you can, weather permitting.

Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar has happy hour from 4–6 PM daily. Cocktails are $5, select wines are $6 and select beers are $3. Enjoy specials from the kitchen like $6 calamari, $1.25 flown-in-daily oysters and peel 'n’ eat shrimp for $5 (650 S. Colorado Blvd.; 303-756-6449).

Photos by Carrie Dow