March 27, 2008

Easter dinner at BD's Mongolian Barbecue

By Stan Dyer

A typical American Easter celebration might begin with a visit to church followed by a ham dinner with the family and an Easter egg hunt for the kids. I love tradition, but this year I tried something new and went downtown to BD's Mongolian Barbecue on Wazee just north of the 16 th Street Mall to take advantage of their $10.99 all-you-can-eat.

For those who are unfamiliar with Mongolian barbecue, it has nothing to do with slow-roasting yaks, yeti or goats. In fact, it really is not barbecue at all; it is grilling. Customers take bowls at the beginning of a production line beginning with meat, fish and seafood choices, followed with vegetable choices and ending with a selection of spices, sauces and add-ons. People walk down the line selecting what they want to eat that day and, at the end of the line they give their choices to the grill masters standing near a large, open grill. The grill masters place the contents of the bowls on the grill and cook them to order for the guests. The beauty of Mongolian barbecue is that each customer's dinner is customized for that customer by that customer.

For me, I like my tofu spicy and grilled. I get it just the way I like it at BD's. I usually fill my bowl with tofu, add in onions, green peppers and sliced potatoes. When I get to the sauces and spices, I add in a heaping helping of jalapenos, sprinkle on both Cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper, and choose either the Szechuan sauce or the Cajun sauce. Often times, people stand back when my mixture hits the grill. It has the capacity to make eyes water, noses run and lungs forget how to function even before it ever comes near a mouth, but, for me, that is perfect. I ask for extra spicy at other places, but most places apparently do not take me seriously enough. At BD's, I am the only one to blame if my meal does not impart the desired fire to my tongue.

This Easter, BD's offered the usual $13.99 all-you-can-eat for $10.99, and there was quite a crowd. The nice thing about that is that BD's and the Mongolian barbecue method is perfect for handling crowds. Despite the great turnout, no one had to wait very long, and there was a number of large families in attendance. All-you-can-eat is nice, but, since it includes soup and salad, one trip to the grill is usually enough for most. Add in a Mongo draught, and you are guaranteed to leave with a smile both on your face and on your tummy.

I rate BD's a solid "A". They have something for everyone, they cater to vegetarians and people with food allergies, and I have never been disappointed with the freshness of the foods. If you are tired of bland, ordinary food, or "Elf" portions, find your way to BD's and you are likely to make it a regular stop.

BD's Mongolian Barbecue is located at 1620 Wazee Street in LoDo, just one block off the 16 th Street Mall on Wazee. The phone is 303-571-1824 for "Call Ahead" seating. There is another BD's in Boulder, but I have not tried that one, yet.