By: Stormy
stormyperfect@gmail.com
When you hear bikers say, “Let’s meet at the Platte,” they are not talking about somewhere along the banks of the 310-mile Platte River. They’re referring to The Platte River Bar and Grill on Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, CO. This is a popular hangout for bikers, especially after a long ride in the canyons. It’s near 285, so it’s easy to get to. You would usually find riders hanging out on the patio deck. This gives them a good vantage point to their bikes down below in the ample motorcycle parking lot. It’s funny to see them discreetly nudging each other when they see someone gawking at their chromed-out masterpieces.
The food and drinks are reasonably priced, and the menu is extremely diverse. You can have a burger or an afternoon breakfast burrito. The food is always freshly prepared and the portions are well above the standard. The Platte has a Monday-Friday Happy Hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to close, they have a 50 cent wings special. They also have a great selection of domestic, import, and craft beers.
My favorite dishes are the shrimp and steak tacos. Bryant Reyes is the new kitchen manager, and he knows how to prepare a meal. He worked at Tommyknocker Brewery for over 24 years. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. They have a little of everything for anyone.
The servers and bartenders are always on top of their game and always seems to know when your drink needs refilling or your table needs to be cleared. There are always fresh faces, but some of the staff has been there as long as I have been riding in Colorado.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Frankie D, who oversees events such as concerts, live entertainment, parties, charities, and poker runs. Frankie said there is a new general manager, Larry Nemnich, who replaced Poncho back in the spring. Frankie and Larry are making changes to The Platte for the better. He goes on to say that this summer there will be a sand volleyball court out in back, just north of the parking lot. They plan to have leagues and contests. He also said that they plan to have food trucks to add more variety and options.
Weekly Specials
Monday Nights is Texas Hold-em Platte style with cash and prizes of $100 up for grabs. It’s always free to play, so make a night of it with your friends (and new friends). It starts at 7 p.m and goes to 11:30 p.m.
Tuesday nights they host a Jammin’ trivia challenge from 7 – 9 p.m., so if you are competitive and think you are smart, grab a few friends and head on down there. You can play as an individual or with a team and battle it out for prizes worth over $75. During the game, they run drink specials! The game starts at 7:00 p.m., and it’s free to play. Bryan Evans is the host, and he will keep you laughing throughout the evening. There are twenty questions, and you can’t use any electronic devices to assist you.
Saturday and Sundays are football days, and all the games you want to watch are on the TV’s. Come support your team and enjoy a burger/ beer at The Platte.
Summer Events
Bike nights will be on Wednesdays hosted by Grand Prix Motorsports. There are usually 400 bikers that attend this fun event! I can’t wait for Bike Nights with good times, laughs, music, and food!
The September Car show has grown over the years, and this year they had 40 – 80 cars. This event benefits the military groups or the Douglas County K-9.
October, they have a chili cook off with awards to the best red, green, salsa, presentation, and overall.
Freedom Fest is one of their popular summer concerts and included bands such as Night Ranger, Skidrow, Quiet Riot, and Slaughter. This summer, they plan to have some popular country bands perform, as well as the popular local bands such as Aural Deception, Cirkus, and Brian Hornbuckle.
In preparation for this review, we came on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to play trivia and meet up with friends. We had such a blast. The theme was about Thanksgiving, and we learned a lot, such as what is a cornucopia, what side dish grows in a bog, and what common vegetable does not grow in Antarctica.
They now have a mobile rewards and loyalty program where you get exclusive savings and offers every time you visit The Platte. If you sign up today by texting THEPLATTE to 91944, you will receive a free pint of beer or a well drink.
Check out their Christmas events this December; like an ugly sweater contest and double dice holiday gift game planned. Check their website for these dates.
