Few things feel more tethered to one another than cheeseburgers, ice cream and the spirit of summertime, so why shouldn’t they all coincide in one place? That place: Right Cream, where – since the pandemic – owner, David Right, has been organically building a brand that has become synonymous with Denver’s already vast and varied ice cream landscape. And yet, just like its store and the flavors of ice cream it creates, Right Cream is an idea that continues to grow and evolve.
“ I didn’t have a plan for it or anything like that, per se,” began Right. “ I was just selling ice cream to friends and family for the most part, and it ended up being super popular. Some other people picked it up and then it became pretty much my full-time thing from there.”
The story isn’t new. It’s one of professional and creative rebirth during a period of trials, tribulations and an abundance of free time. But Right’s story is rare. Taking advantage of that free time in such a way that a passion not only turns into a career, but a cultural touchstone positively impacting the local community through flavor, can make any of us who spent the pandemic doing anything less than second-guessing our choices. But if one ever made a COVID-era choice to indulge in Right Cream’s budding business, then regrets be gone.
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Right Cream’s ice cream was special from the beginning. “ It was a good outlet. Being able to make different flavors and do different things, even though I was making the same product – ice cream – kept it interesting,” Right explained. “I could make pretty much anything I wanted.” If you stop by Right Cream’s brick-and-mortar flagship store, which opened in 2023 in the Harvard Gulch neighborhood near DU, you’ll see that free-wielding creative spirit still very much in bloom.
In a cup, a scoop of Cantaloupe swirled with tangy Lemon Curd , sitting atop a second scoop of Matcha Cake Batter , imparting the subtly bitter and vegetal notes of green tea into sweet decadence. Crumbled, house-made Almond Cookies make for the perfect topping. In a cone, a sturdy spoonful of saccharine and bright Thai Iced Tea below a healthy and dangerously high-stacked ladle of the slightly earthy and lush Ube in deep purple. Eat quickly this time of year if enjoying on its patio populated with nostalgic, calico-patterned tables. And explore its menu deeply – flavors change daily.
But ice cream isn’t the whole story. “The burger started out as like a once-a-week kind of thing,” detailed Right on what has quickly become a new staple of Right Cream’s offerings. “We started doing ’em the first year that we moved in since we finally had a full kitchen, but just not very frequently. Last year, it was a little bit more often. And then this year, we went to the everyday model because we felt like we had the right people. Having the right team in place makes a big difference, so we’ve been able to pull it off and everybody’s responded really well to it.”
Some are saying it’s the best burger in town. Two patties smashed paper thin so when grilled, they caramelize around the edges into a savory, decadent crust. Two slices of creamy, melty American cheese. Grilled onions find equilibrium in their charred sweetness, pickles offer a refreshing, sour crunch and pickled jalapenos – ask if they’re available when you order – supply some welcomed heat. When bitten into, the bun has deftly avoided getting soggy.
The simple, perfectly executed combination of ingredients, flavors and textures nears perfection for smashburger enthusiasts and burger traditionalists alike. And did we mention with fries and all the fixings, it’s only $13? “ The idea behind the food that we do is offering something quality that is really tasty for a reasonable price, because I just don’t see a whole lot of that around town anymore,” said Right.
On the weekends, Right Cream is also offering a breakfast iteration of the burger served with bacon and a fried egg, along with a classic Breakfast Sandwich done with two fried eggs, American cheese, and the choice to add bacon or hashbrowns. They, too, are economical and tasty without cutting any corners. “ People love a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, and there aren’t enough places around town to just make a really solid one,” Right continued. “ We see the same people multiple times a week and new customers all the time that hear about it from their friend, or a simple social media post. That’s the way I like to do it – just get people excited about it on their own without manufacturing fake hype about it or anything like that.”
There is something in the simple fact that Right Cream is such the victor of word-of-mouth instead of marketing that speaks even deeper to its authentic, homegrown identity serving reasonably priced, simple food at a very high level. There are no frills, only exciting ice cream flavors and toppings baked in-house to add even more joie de vivre to a guest’s scoop. There is no marketing team, just a brightly painted teal neighborhood joint connecting with its community through inviting, laid-back service. And now, there is at the very least an argument to be made that Right Cream is also making the best burger in Denver. Try it for yourself.
Right Cream is located at 2423 S Downing St., Denver. Its hours are Wednesday – Thursday 3 – 9 p.m., Friday from 3 – 10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. (with Burgers and Breakfast Sandwiches available until 4 p.m.) and Sunday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (with Burgers and Breakfast Sandwiches available until 4 p.m.)
All photography by Evan Dale