Red Rose Cafe | Grand Junction
Next door to Grand Junction is Palisade, a verdant valley floor celebrated for its fruit orchards (put me down for the best damn peaches in America) and vineyards. Set downtown, the Red Rose Cafe has long been guided by Tom and Rose Cassabona, who combined their roots to bring Italian and Vietnamese choices to the menu.
But they’ve found it tough to operate during the winter months, like Palisade’s other independent restaurateurs (I’m thinking of the equally delightful Inari’s Bistro, which has discontinued its brunch and lunch service), and Tom has taken on a gig in Grand Junction. So now it’s the prickly Rose in the kitchen. When she ran the front of house, the service was a little unpredictable. But her Vietnamese cooking is excellent, and even if you look lost eating a rice noodle bowl, she’ll give “how to” tips. Kudos for a winning all-Colorado wine menu.
235 Main Street, Palisade; 970-464-7673
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