*3.5 I am a bit shocked to see that somehow I apparently haven't reviewed Ash'Kara. I've been several times over the last couple of years, and while I still think the place deserves its due, I've come to feel it's a bit overhyped. The first time I visited with a friend during HH and we got a number of dips and drinks before moving on to the entree menu, and everything we had was fantastic. The visits after that had less responsive service, the small portion sizes were even more apparent (the cost of pitas across a group in particular), but on the whole, things were still good and the ambiance fun. Recently, I took some friends who were visiting for lunch. I thought that would be a good opportunity for them to experience the place while also accounting for the scheduling logistics of the visit. The lunch offerings are more limited--there are still dips, but otherwise the menu is focused primarily on wraps and plates. We each got a variation on the wrap sandwich, a salad entree to share and two dips. Ultimately, that boiled down to over $50/person. The service was actually pretty subpar (server wasn't seemingly very informed on the menu and was often missing/non-responsive), but as noted tip is already added, so that was what it was. I wouldn't say the food was bad (the baba ghanouj was definitely oversalted), but also nothing was all that impressive. And for the price point, honestly I expect more. I think Ash'Kara does some things well (those damnable pitas!), but I don't feel like they consistently fire on all cylinders, which given the cost associated has left me a bit disappointed. read more

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Went there for happy hour and it was delicious. Portions were small but they did the job. There wasn't anyone there at the time so bartender was very attentive. It's very cute inside and would probably bring somebody from out of town here read more

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The owner replied that the service charges are upfront and they don't expect additional gratuity. Pay your workers better because they clearly need tips based on how this was communicated to us. Raise your menu prices. Can't wait to see what happens when the Denver community finds out the owners pocket the charge (look at the mass lawsuit at A5) read more

Ash'Kara - Mediterranean Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Not overly impressed. Service was great, ambiance great, but the food I thought was just okay, was not wowed by anything. For the price I personally would go elsewhere. The 20% mandatory service charge is transparent but also stupid. Please raise your prices and pay your employees instead of this. Customers would be happier paying more for food than seeing a 20% service charge. Your servers would also get better tips this way. Optics. read more

This is one of the best restaurants in Denver hands down. The patio is super chill on a summer evening and the music is the right volume to allow for robust conversation. The staff are super chill and they make it easy to help you work out plates that can combine for a large group of people to share. You can easily keep with a budget if you're careful about the types of plates that you order. Bravo! read more

Ash'Kara - Mezze Trio - Mediterranean Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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This place was really good! My husband and I shared a bunch of dips and pita for a light lunch and it was exactly what we wanted. We also shared the gettin zhouggy with it cocktail and loved it so much!! read more

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This is my favorite lunch spot in the Highlands. Love the sweet potato bowl. Also a fantastic happy hour with delish food including their hummus. Great for dinner too. One of my go to spots. read more

Ash'Kara - Sweet potato bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This restaurant was fantastic, I wish I lived closed closer so I could enjoy it more! I had the Branzino and carrots. Both were impeccable! The service was super, even for how busy it was. The ambiance was very nice and I just liked the vibe. I will most certainly go again! read more

4.5* We really enjoyed the food here. Hummus and pita were super tasty, the steak was well cooked, and the salad was flavorful and interesting. Patio was a relaxing spot to enjoy a meal. Service was friendly, but uneven and slow. I sent back a glass of wine that was bad and they forgot to remove it from my bill. Then the table next to us was served their entrees about 15-20 minutes before ours, despite us arriving first. Wouldn't have been a huge deal except that we had our son with us who had less patience than we do. All in all a great time and meal and I would return for sure. read more

This place truly exceeded my expectations! I had the NY steak, asparagus, and the trio of dips with pita. Everything was absolutely delicious. (Pro tip: get extra pita!) The service was warm and friendly, with plenty of laughs throughout the meal. The decor is beautiful, and there's lots of seating, making it a great spot to dine in. There's a good amount of free street parking, but I'd recommend planning ahead. it's a popular area with tons of amazing restaurants nearby. read more

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Came here for a girls night recently, we loved the outdoor seating vibe but got a table inside by the window after having reserved it a few days prior. The ambiance is warm and inviting, our table was cozy in the corner by the window. The cocktails were amazing and so unique, i got the high priestess - unique and delicious. 10/10. The food was great but very small portions. We ordered a good amount between 3 people to share but then had to order more, and the prices are not cheap. They charge u $3 for each piece of pita and we needed 2 each to satisfy, you can go to a hole in the wall Mediterranean spot and get equally/better food for a fraction of the cost. Wasn't really worth the $200 our bill came out to for 3 people, and we each only had one cocktail. Plus the place adds on an automatic 20% service charge to all bills. This demotivates the staff from providing really good service, we waited forever for our second pita to come out, they apologized but didn't even take it off the bill. The server was inattentive and dry. Food was yummy, ambiance is inviting and warm but Would recommend coming back for drinks only. read more

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This place was outstanding, from service to food. I also used the In Kind app to pay and got some cash back, which was great! Our server was kind, efficient, and could answer every question about the menu. I had a hard kombucha, some naan, a olive tapenade appetizer and the gyro wrap. I was so full by the end of the meal but didn't want to leave because the vibes were just immaculate. Loved the outside area and the authentic menu with gluten free options. It's a little pricy, but it's totally worth it. read more

Delicious food! Healthy Mediterranean fare, fun vibe, and great service. Cocktails were excellent as well read more

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Such a phenomenal restaurant. We've been twice in the last 2 weeks. Everyone is SO friendly and attentive. We had Issac as our server on our most recent visit, he was fantastic- great recommendations, knowledgeable on menu, attentive, and just enjoyable to interact with. 10/10 food and service; will continue coming back, love love this restaurant. read more

First timer at AK. The happy hour menu helps with an otherwise pretty expensive menu. We were celebrating a birthday and decided to try lots of dip things, the fresh made pita, and GF pita. Some of our party had been there before and were excited for us to experience it. The humus and dips that we tried were really tasty. The corn was really yummy too, but messy to consume. Why not take it off the cob and toss it in the sauce and sprinkle it with feta? The Chicken tagine was very flavorful, moist and yummy, though the saffron rice was perhaps a bit under cooked. The eggplant was really flavorful and not too thick or slimy (i'm not typically an eggplant fan, but this was really good). overall it was a fun meal. perhaps several of the items tasted too similar. Our server could have been more knowledgeable - she in fact semi mindlessly served a 13 yr old an aperol spritz, - we caught the mistake immediately. We had a fun time and we'll probably give it another try. read more

Patio was great to sit at and have a cocktail and appetizers. Servers were super friendly. The hummus and falafel were amazing! We also got the carrot kibbeh nayyeh which was a bit sweet for my taste. read more

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How do I even start. From the very beginning the atmosphere is so welcoming, Chris, our host, immediately started genuine conversation with us and made us feel at home from the start. Our server Zeke was so attentive and never left us waiting. No joke we never had to wait for anything. The food was pipping hot and everything was served so quickly. The food was 10/10, i've never eaten anything better than this menu. We ordered almost everything and shared it all, definitely get the hummus, labneh, the tahini caesar, and the half chicken. absolutely divine. cannot recommend this place enough. read more

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Did you know... "Ashkara" in English can be roughly translated to "seriously" or "for real." At least, this is what a quick google search told me! And... I'm going to roll with it because Ash'Kara is SERIOUSLY great, FOR REAL! We ordered: Hummus & Pita Za'atar Fries w/ Harissa Aioli A Cheese-y Mezzes (I forgot the name!) Kugel Fattoush Salad Za'atar Roasted Chicken Everything was FIVE stars! I'd order the hummus and pita everytime. It had the best flavor. Paired with the pillowy pita, I was in "mhmm mhmm" mode. ;D Going Back? Absolutely! The food was not only fantastic but the vibe and service was exceptional. Everyone was in such a great mood and seemed to love working there. Two shoutouts... 1. To the hostess, who steered us toward the Za'atar Roasted Chicken. It was beautifully cooked, juicy and filled us up! 2. To our waiter Adam, who kept our meal coursed while also keeping us on time to get my mom to the airport on time. We really appreciated how attentive and caring he was toward us! Next time, I'll order more of the Mezzes dishes: Labneh, Htipiti, Babaganoush, Hummus and two pitas per person. I just love a good dip dinner, though! read more

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If I could give this restaurant and the staff 10 Stars ... I would! We recently had a double birthday family celebration dinner at the restaurant and the service was impeccable; the outside seating and ambiance was perfect and The food was amazing; I especially want to acknowledge our server Margot (I apologize if I spelled her name wrong I'm relying on my brother's memory) who my niece gave 50 stars to and Zeke who entertained the group and my niece with a serious paper airplane contest, and for allowing my father to drink his wine from the bottle with a straw. You all made such as special occasion, even that more memorable and we will be back‼ read more

There's no option for a 3.5 star but a 3 star would be unfair so I'm settling for a 4 star. The food here was as good as I expected and lived up to my experience from last year. The drinks too were fantastic. Had family visiting from NC and friends visiting from MO and IL. I had really hyped up about both, the food and service here. The food really lived up; everyone enjoyed the food. The service on the other hand honestly was shocking and a big let down. Let's start with the good. The star of the food was the lamb kofte. These were so good that we had some folks who don't eat lamb but tried it and loved it. It was juicy (not easy to pull off) and full of flavor. In spite of being juicy, it held very well together. We ordered the trio mezze all of which were amazing however the quantity of the mezze for 8 people was really not enough (and sadly our server didn't suggest getting 2 of them. I really missed our server from last year, Kelsey who took excellent care of us giving us the right suggestions). The zatar chicken which we ordered 2 of. The chicken itself was overcooked and dry. However the sauce it came with was OUT OF THIS WORLD. The sad thing is there was no spoon given to us to use for the sauce (and believe me, the chicken was dry enough that you did need to drizzle a good amount of the sauce) and by the time our server, Jonah, got around to seeing us when we requested the spoons, the chicken and gravy were already cold. Suggestion to the restaurant on this dish; by default, you MUST provide a spoon for the sauce. The cauliflower tagine was as good as it was last year. The zatar fries and dip that came with it were ok. Now the bad which is sad it happened. Unlike the service we received last year, we were not taken care of at all this year. Guys, I'm not looking for someone coming in every second to check in on us. What I do expect is at least once to come in and check if everything is ok. While passing, at least check in on our table from time to time. Our server Jonah, just passed us by at least 10 times and since we were seated in the corner, it was very difficult for us to get his attention. Honestly, this was a big let down (especially since I had spoken so much about the food and service to the family and friends). If I went here again, I'd make sure we are not served by the same server. He was in his own world; kind of couldn't care less attitude. read more

Went for my birthday dinner , we were seated outside but the seating is very tight outside was a bit uncomfy. Ordered a few things off the HH menu, the fries were delicious and the whipped Labenh were AMAZING. Service was ok, nothing outstanding. There is an automatic 20% service fee which took us by surprise. Our entrees were smaller portions, they did say the dishes are meant to be ordered family style which makes sense why they said that. It was pricy but very delicious place. read more

Absolutely no complaints here. I dined here on Easter and had a great meal. Service was super friendly and attentive. The drinks were creative and had good flavor. Every dish we ordered was flavorful and had nice presentation. We got the hummus, the babaganoush, the lamb shank, pickled veggies and labneh. The lamb was served with black lentils and a spicy sauce. Everything was so fresh and delish. We definitely over-ordered for two people. Splitting is the way to go here so you can sample an assortment of dishes. I definitely want to return for HH and brunch. read more

Ash'Kara - The spread - Mediterranean Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Delicious meal although our waiter was running around from our section to the patio to the other side of the restaurant and as a result, he couldn't be attentive. His timing was consistently off. We were offered dessert before our plates were cleared, and the check was given to us before our dessert came. Also be aware that 20% service fee is automatically attached in the bill regardless of party size. Where's the manager? read more

Most of the food was delicious! I was a little disappointed with the lamb loin though. (1) Tahini Caesar Salad: super tasty, perfectly dressed. Would have loved more roasted chickpeas though. Thought it was a bit light on them. (2) Hummus: Just some damn good hummus. Exactly as expected no surprises - which is what I liked. (3) Borek: Honestly didn't like. It's super spinach-y and very one note. Needs a sauce in my opinion. (4) Falafel: Super fresh. Perfectly breaded. Delicious sauce. Loved! (5) Lamb loin: Biggest disappointment. It was $52 for legit like 3oz of lamb. The lamb was super overcooked (medium well) and I personally didn't love the accompaniment. Would not recommend. Service was great! We were a walk up so we had to sit outside but the place is soo cute inside! Adorable decor/seating. Loved the vibe. read more

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Visited Denver and got recommended to try Ash'Kara. The dips and bread were really good but we wish we skipped the Tajin. read more

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Lots of outdoor seating with space heaters and cozy lighting. Delicious Mediterranean food with plenty of spices. The hummus and pita is great, and the carrots and tagine are masterpieces! We had an excellent server who walked us through the menu and handled questions and food requirements with ease. read more

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Had a really lovely dinner here! It was one of our final nights in Denver and we stopped in without a reservation and luckily they had space for us. They have indoor and patio seating. Nice decor and ambiance - feels like a spot where you could go for a birthday celebration or just a casual meal with friends. Samantha was our waitress, I think she's also the manager and she was amazing! So friendly and helpful. We got a bunch of things and split them. Hummus with an "accessory" as they call it of mushrooms. Beautiful presentation. The hummus was topped with quite a bit of oil, maybe too much oil?, but it was still good. Kinda wish there was more hummus, it dips in the middle so it looks deceptively large. I especially loved the mushrooms though, those were delicious and a standout. A bit annoying that you have to pay for your own pita, that should come with hummus automatically. We also got the falafel and the lamb kofte. The falafel were placed on top of tomato tahini which was a delicious and unique spread. The falafel itself was okay, a bit dry. We weren't big fans of the lamb kofte, we thought they were quite dense. For our main, we got the green circle chicken tagine. Beautiful presentation! Very filling, flavorful, and great for sharing. Standouts of the meal were the mushrooms with the hummus and the tagine. I also got the "I Don't Give a Yam" cocktail which had a really unique and interesting description. It was delicious but I did think the description was more interesting than the flavor of the cocktail itself, it kinda just tasted like an espresso martini. But I loved the roasted marshmallow on top. Overall, had a really great time here! Wonderful customer service too. read more

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Having been here many times over the last few years, the food has always been high quality. However, the last few visits I have noticed the restaurant is usually not very busy, and the quality of service has gone down dramatically. Having wait staff drowning out the diners with loud conversations about their personal lives does not help the ambiance. I don't recall when they switched to adding 20% gratuity automatically, or if that has anything to do with the fact that it felt like we were intruding at a place the servers were hanging out at. Employees sitting at the bar, loudly talking with one another, etc. It felt like we were an inconvenience to the servers by trying to dine there. We saw a few people walk in and walkout while we were there (deciding to eat somewhere else). We are not planning on returning. Edit: I am pretty sure if you remove the automatic 20% gratuity from every check, you won't have the situation where the servers couldn't care less about the guests of the restaurant. Also, the explanation that comes with dripping the check is off putting. "20% is added to every check, split among the staff, but if you want to add more, there is a line to do so" read more

We went to the happy hour and got lots of yummy and reasonably priced options! The patio is lovely and the atmosphere was peaceful. The food was delicious! We are looking forward to coming back to try the dinner menu! read more

I have taken friends there and even gave gifts card as gifts. This week I was surprised by the horrible chairs on the patio. My back is still paying for it. Also to get a highlighted receipt with info on the extra 20% was just trashy, not classy. I never write reviews but I had to this time. I am a foodie and like the food but I will not recommending this to others anymore. read more

The service was amazing and was accommodating to dietary redirections. It is great if you want to try different foods and share plates with your table. The hummus was amazing, some of the best I have ever had. The Baklava was also amazing! The syrup on top and pistachios made it stand out. The chicken was good but not out of the world like the other two courses. The place itself is warm and cozy. read more

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The food: (1) Ridiculously salty (lamb kofte app, Egyptian pita w/ ground lamb, chicken tagine). And simply, just not good. I don't understand how there are any/so many reviews saying the food was good. (2) The food was so inappropriately overpriced, it was insulting. No, just no, re: $23 for that ridiculous "mezze trio." Everything else was off too, but the trio item was especially egregious. The service (host/hostess, waiters): This is Denver - not Paris. Do not auto-add service charges/tips in the total. The service was horrible--front of house was unpleasant/unwelcoming, waiter was barely adequate, and the cooks need retraining (starting with putting down the salt). Ambiance: The only nice thing I have to say about this restaurant is that it was nicely decorated and clean. The lanterns and color scheme were appealing. CONCLUSION: Go to just about ANY chain Mediterranean/"middle-eastern" restaurant and you'll be much better off (taste and cost-wise). read more

Mediterranean food used to be one of the cuisines I overlooked the most BUT I am happy to report, I've officially seen the error of my ways! Now, I'm here for all the hummus, pita, feta, spices, and an olive for good measure. Enter ash'karay, where they're giving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes a modern twist, all cooked over a wood-burning hearth. Plus, they recently got a pretty special shoutout from a very well-known tire company! WOW! What I ordered: marinated feta, hummus, pita, roti, tahini Caesar salad, lamb kofte, za'atar roasted chicken, grilled Verlasso salmon, honey spice cake Best bite: Honestly? Everything was fantastic, but the marinated feta was my best bite! The orange zest and spices take this Bulgarian feta to a whole different category of its own! Loved the za'atar roasted chicken and lamb kofte too, both perfectly cooked and seasoned. And, of course, you have to get the hummus and pita. read more

One of the best restaurants I've been to in Denver! The food was unreal - so much flavor and so unique. The drinks were also delicious and the bartender was so wonderful at helping us pick things we'd like. We sat in the corner of the bar, but the place was full of people and had a really good vibe. 10/10 experience!! read more

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I love this place! The food is sooooo good. So many delicious items but OMG the pickles are fire and the wood fired carrots are fantastic. I've had several of their dishes, but the stand-outs are the NY strip, the lamb and the chicken is to die for with that butter sauce. Great place for clean eating and good ambiance. read more

Food: Great! 4/5, had high expectations with their bib gourmand status and they were met - absolutely loved the hummus, fresh pita, and carrots. Also tried lamb kofta and eggplant targine which were very flavorful (slightly too spicy, I wish I would have known before ordering ) but overall loved the food and ate everything Service: 2/5. My server was very nice and friendly. However -getting food was so slow between each plate. And then after we finished eating we waited 30 mins for to get our check. By the end of our meal we were so tired of sitting around it kind of ruined the experience. read more

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This is now one of my top tapas spots in Denver. They have gluten free pitas and a well labeled allergy friendly/ vegetarian friendly menu!! This meal will run you a few $$ but it is absolutely worth it. They also have a happy hour!! Make sure you grab the house pickles for a fresh crunch in between plates, and the htipiti, and lamb kabobs are a must! I recommend making a reservation on open table even if you're going for a weekday dinner. Parking is in the same area as avanti so leave yourself a few minutes for walking! read more

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One of my favorite spots in Denver! They have patio seating when it's nice weather and the inside is cozy but refined. All the servers are knowledgeable of the menu and attentive to your needs. Try the warm fresh pita and all the tasty dips! read more

The food is amazing- it's very flavorful and tasty. We loved the pitas and the laffa- we ordered extra. The hummus and baba ghanoush were great too. Pitas were fluffy! Ooo and the best was this honey dish with pita o m g so tasty. The shareable lamb was yummy but not as tasty as all the carbs haha read more

Ash'Kara - Mediterranean Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Ash'Kara is always such a solid spot for Mediterranean food. The roasted chicken and salmon are both amazing and the couscous is super flavorful. Their starters are so good too like you can't go wrong with the hummus. And the cocktails are honestly great every time. It's one of those places where you just know the food and drinks are going to hit. Perfect for a fun dinner or a date night. read more