Arlen's American Bistro

This week we drove down to Castle Pines North and checked out Arlen's American Bistro, which occupies the old Café de France location down from the Safeway store at Castle Pines Parkway. I'd been in several times before, but that was during the day when the menu selection ranges from home-made corned beef hash to biscuits and gravy, burgers, Panini sandwiches, and lots of good, hot coffee. The décor is simple, yet tastefully done. A cozy kind of place where you can relax with the morning paper or a good book, forget about whatever is weighing on your mind, and just enjoy some good home-style cooking and service with a smile. But when evening rolls around at Arlen's, things change. The lighting softens, the tables are covered with white linens and candles, and the menu takes a definite turn away from the simple nature of breakfast and lunch. Don't get me wrong. It's still a casual restaurant where you can show up in jeans with the whole family in tow, but it definitely loses that "breakfast and lunch" feel.