Inventive fare awaits at Denver's Wild Corgi Pub

DENVER • When a menu deliberately lists desserts first, you know this is not a typical restaurant, which is true about Wild Corgi Pub in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. It’s obvious from the name this is a bar, but the bill of fare proves it is more than that. Food and drinks are touted in equal measure, and we enjoyed both sides of Wild Corgi’s personality.

This is a lively place with creative entrees. So it’s a win-win-win for those who want a meal, alcoholic (or nonalcoholic) beverage and a dessert as decadent as tiramisu or as simple as a couple of freshly baked cookies. However, we went in a more traditional route and skipped past the dessert section to the appetizers.

We chose buffalo cauliflower wings ($12) for two reasons: I like the veggie and I was curious about how this would be prepared. Keeping with the wing theme, we added blue cheese dipping sauce to the order. This was a surprising 50 cents extra, but worth it.

Cauliflower florets coated with a tangy, not-overly-spicy buffalo sauce are baked to a crunchy finish. They aren’t very pretty, but the flavors hit the mark when thinking about wings. These also made us feel a little virtuous because we were eating vegetables.

Entrees include an array of sandwiches, burgers, traditional chicken wings and salads. The offerings were extensive, which made it difficult to make decisions. The uniquely named spicy luau pork delight ($16.

99) was ultimately ordered along with the Hawaiian chicken sandwich ($15.99). Wild Corgi’s theme has nothing to do with the South Pacific, though.

House-smoked shredded pork and bacon along with pieces of pineapple and jalapenos, drizzled with Alabama white sauce, covered a hoagie roll. This was a hearty, mostly open-face sandwich that defied efforts to eat by hand. To avoid a mess, a knife and fork were eventually used so as not to miss a single bite.

The sharp, peppery sauce tied the flavors together. As for the chicken sandwich, it was easier to manage as a hand-held meal. The meat was marinated in teriyaki sauce, which not only helped tenderize it, but added sweetness and saltiness.

It was served in a bun with a grilled pineapple slice, tomato and lettuce. Tater tots or fries are included with sandwiches, but we opted for sweet potato fries ($3.99) and onion rings ($2.

99). The upcharge for the former seemed a bit steep, but it was a generous serving and they were cooked to the perfect balance of crispy and creamy. Plus the sweet element complemented the luau pork sandwich.

Onion rings, also a substantial amount, were golden brown, crunchy and paired well with the teriyaki chicken. The decor definitely reminds diners of the pub’s name with paintings of this small, Welsh hunting dog and the late Queen Elizabeth’s canine companions. The pub’s logo features the face of a corgi and is emblazoned on posters, staff attire and an assortment of merch.

Service was above average, and conversation was easy even on a busy night. The plentiful servings meant we erred by not starting with dessert. We’ll know better next time.

Wild Corgi Pub Creative and traditional pub fare. Location: 1223 E. 13th Ave.

, Denver Contact: 1-303-832-7636; wildcorgipub.com Prices: $7.99 to $16.

99 Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday; 5 p.

m.-1 a.m.

Friday; 4 p.m.-1 a.

m. Saturday; and 4:30-10:30 p.m.

Sunday Details: Credit cards accepted. Alcohol. Wi-Fi.

Favorite dishes: Cauliflower wings, spicy luau pork delight. Other: Limited gluten-free and vegan options available..