district elleven: a hidden foodie gem
Deep in the grain of Colorado Springs, there is a place called District Elleven that functions as a whiskey bar and speakeasy, a dark corner dedicated to the serious business of craft cocktails, ,elevated bourbon and as we found out, amazing food! The vibe is dark and sexy and the curation feels intentional, a room where the light hits the glass just right from every angle. Adjacent to the bar is a 25 member locker wooden locker set that host 25 members’ finest bottles. A testament to the community based effort that d11 is trying to unlock.
The cocktails, by themselves, would make this a place to come back to, but the food is the silent star here! On our latest d11 outing, we tried the lemon ginger hummus, a plate that arrives topped with Aleppo roasted fennel and a house-made baguette, flanked by enough crudité to make the whole thing feel like a celebration of texture. This might be the best hummus plate that I have had in Colorado Springs!
For us, the centerpiece, a.k.a. the thing you’ll find yourself thinking about later is the fig and bourbon glazed pork belly. It sits on a bed of red cabbage puree, vibrant and earthy, scattered with fried Brussels sprout leaves and the sharp, bright snap of green apple matchsticks.
Finally, there is the Old Fashioned Cheesecake, a dessert that isn't just named after the cocktail but is a reconstruction of it, brown sugar and nutmeg cheesecake mousse, bourbon caramel, and those heavy, dark Luxardo marinated cherries. It’s finished with a tuile, a delicate end to a heavy conversation.
Locating district elleven, may actually be the hardest part of the evening. There are two entrances. The first, via a back alley entrance on the east side of the Cascade Parking Garage. The second, and our preferred way, is through the 300lb safe in the back of T-Byrd’s Tacos & Tequila!
Everything about district elleven makes us want to return. Whether you are on a date night, or hitting the town with the crew, district elleven is a warm and inviting experience. The icing on the cake is the bartender light swing that occurs when the team is feeling the vibe!