When the whole place is a one-man show, that's a bit strange and not the way to run a restaurant, even if it's really small. The chef needs to focus on his craft rather than also serving and clearing dishes. When you pay $90/person and get wine pairing or bottle you expect a certain level of service and execution. The food didn't impress either, and they never asked for any restrictions ahead of time to be able to easily accommodate, since the menu is so limited. The first course was a pasta with pea dressing and carrot sauce. It was bland, didn't come together, the pasta was tough, and the carrot sauce was unfinished and not sauce consistency. It just felt immature. The second dish had a lot of acid and didn't shine either. It felt like a compilation of ingredients but not anything I would come back for. The duck was the star, it was crispy, the sides all worked together, it was well executed. He did make us a dessert that didn't have cream in it, which was nice. This was a missed concept and experience for me. There needs to be someone doing front of the house, especially with more people. The food needs to be better thought out and executed for the price. read more

What an experience!!! GO GO GO to this amazing restaurant where the owner is the cook and server without a lapse in quality or service!! He has the process down to a science, and your experience will be first class! The food was unique and very tasty! The atmosphere is intimate with all-around comfort. Thank you for helping make my graduation dinner spectacular! read more

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My husband and I came here to celebrate our anniversary. We had the 4 course chef's tasting menu. Jon, the chef, could have stopped at the poached artichoke hearts because they were so delicious, but luckily, he did not. All the sauces were amazing and we weren't sure which was our favorite course! The wine pairing was on point that each wine complemented each course to perfection. I am so glad we found this little gem as I feel that I would have overlooked it driving by, but now, it's going to be a top spot to revisit and take others! read more

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Bistro Barbes was hard to locate via maps. I had to drive around a bit but then parked out front. This location was very close to our Airb&b and was recommended by our host. This is a tiny pace with only a few tables. There is a tasting menu with a wine pairing. We usually love wine pairings but this 4 some was alright. There were 4 courses. My dislike is that there was a table seated about where we were so our table and there's were always served together. I understand this is more efficient for the server and kitchen but as a guest it felt too combined and not individualized. Otherwise, food was beautifully plated, interesting and tasty. My favorites were the cauliflower started and the strawberry shortcake. This is an experience and it was worth it. read more

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Nice simple place. Owner/chef/waitstaff was very efficient and friendly. We had the chef's menu with the wine pairing. Cost about 140/person. Dinner was very simple and well paced. Food was nice and flavors were on point. Very strong middle eastern influence in French cuisine. Really wanted to give five stars but wish I had better wine and also better synergy with the meals... At some point I felt it was just acid on acid and missing out on a great balance between the meal and the drink. Because it is a one man show, the food lost some of the stellar qualities as it seemed prepared earlier versus cooked on the spot. The duck was a bit dry. No michelin star, but fills your tummy. Wish price reflected our experience. But if you pay 360 bucks for a dinner for two, would have expected some wow factor or at least better than a twenty dollar wine that didn't exactly fit. read more

This is a lovely, small neighborhood restaurant with a superb, elegant menu....modern French with flavors of North Africa. All is outstanding...service, food, wine pairing and ambiance! You needn't fight the crowds of the city. Park on this little street and enjoy a fabulous evening!!!! read more

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The food here is amazing. Service impeccable. It's a cozy set up. It's about eight total table with one high top closer to the open kitchen. I had the Pei Mussels for appetizer. The garlic chive sausage, padron Chili's, leeks, Dijon-paprika brodo was a perfect harmony of smell and unforgettable surprise for my palette. The broth. Above average in taste. Served with fresh baked bread. Once you dip that bread you're hooked. I swear I almost didn't go beyond the appetizer. I just wanted more of that mussels. When the waiter came to clear the plate for my next dish I had to restrain myself from stopping him. The shaved Bartlett Pears came next. My aversion to sweet entree, salad or anything else that's not desert was totally squashed here. The Marcona Almond vinaigrette, black mission figs, Brie crema , red wine-cacao gastrique all worked in perfect harmony to produce an end result that was perfectly in sync. I chose the Hanger Steak for my entree since a couple of nights ago I had an amazing fish dinner. I'm mostly a meat eater. I know my meat. I am in awe of this entree. Super tender to start with. Perfectly cooked as requested medium. Pink and so enticing. The streak sat on top of sweet potato raclette aligot, sautéed kale, Moroccan roasted carrots, red wine-sage jus. Amen! (P.S Aligot is made from mashed potatoes blended with butter, cream, crushed garlic, and melted cheese.) I had their old fashion to keep me a bit distracted and I went home enchanted. And that creme brûlée.... This is an off the beaten path location that is perfect for a date night with a special someone. Keep your mind open about the location. Bear in mind you're here for the food. You won't be sorry. read more

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Went for a (semi-) private event run by the Tasting Collective--a dining club you should check out. The meal was way more interesting than the one we experienced on our last visit some 4 (!:) years ago. "More interesting" because the chef's 6 course tasting menu highlighted North African spices and the culinary traditions of the Barbes Arrondissement in Paris, which is reflective of its significant North African population. Star dishes were the potato salad with intense notes of lemon zest and cumin/coriander (?), and the sea bass--such great crispy skin with perfectly and lightly cooked succulent meat accompanied by a very special eggplant-based nutmeg and chili spiced garnish. All-in-all a fun time and reallllly interesting food. Unusual and definitely worth a visit. read more

Bistro Barbes never disappoints! The food and service are excellent. Wine pairing option as well as cocktail list available. A hidden gem

Bistro Barbes Summary: truly a unique, hidden gem! Who would have guessed we have a North African inspired modern French restaurant in Park Hill? And it's been here for four years! Location/Parking: Park Hill, near Elm and 26th Street. Street parking only. Ambiance: small and narrow; nothing too fancy; elements of North African culture. Service: top notch! A very high-level that you would expect at the most expensive French restaurants. Cocktails: we tried a house drink made from spiced cranberry shrub and ginger beer.  It contained the spice called fenugreek. It was very exotic. It set the tone for the evening. Amuse-bouche: complimentary, ever-changing. Ours was tasty. Appetizers: we selected the beef cheeks. They were extremely rich, but paired nicely with a more sweet and tangy coleslaw mix. Salads: we split the shaved pear salad as an appetizer as well. It came over a bed of brie cream and figs, topped with a red wine-cacao gastrique. Entrees: they were out of duck leg, so they informed us they would be substituting it for duck breast. Toni and I still ordered the duck, and it was cooked to perfection! It was set atop of saffron basmati rice, roasted brussel sprouts, and butternut squash chips. Bob ordered the hanger steak. It looked amazing! It was served with raclette over a bed of kale. I tasted some of the steak and it was really delicious. Desserts: we had been warned that the desserts are fairly small, but we still decided just to split one dessert among the three of us. It was perfect. We ordered the chocolate hazelnut creme brulee. It was definitely a different take on this traditional dessert, as it did not come in a ramiken, but was served over a pool of rosewater-infused white chocolate with supremed orange segments, and petit meringue cookies. All in all, this was a great experience! I highly recommend checking it out. We visited on the Thursday night before Christmas and it was very slow. Hopefully they get much more business soon! read more

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Love this place! Bistro Barbes is doing a great job handling various Covid issues and they continue to make excellent food. Their current takeout options include French, Moroccan, and Indian inspired fare -- we recently got a half chicken and a few other entrees and a chocolate tart and everything was delicious. Bistro Barbes is located on a block with several new businesses opening soon, including a coffee shop and a wine bar. read more

Bistro Barbes - Entry to Bistro Barbes - French Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Food was outstanding and ambiance clean and pleasantly minimalist. Service was on point, but the chef/owner/waiter could be a tad more friendly in my view. read more

Didn't even realize this gem was in our neighborhood. The staff were warm and inviting. It's a nice small restaurant; quiet with candles. Had space for our group of five to eat comfortably. I would say that they can accommodate someone with small children but you would be better to come here in "date night." They also have a great dessert and drink menu! read more

Bistro Barbes - Classic Negroni - French Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Not impressed. Not at all. Not one bit. So this is a new spot in a garage in Park Hill. The space has potential. Unfortunately the lackluster cuisine and the snotty, inattentive staff does not meet that potential. We came in around 6pm on a week day evening and there was no one in the restaurant but for staff. We ordered cocktails and I tried to chat up the female hostess and the male server. I might as well have been a bum speaking Chinese to them for the interest that they paid me. I wanted to talk menu, wine, fun cocktails and the server could not be bothered. When he clearly had nothing else to do. My experience did not get any better. Started with the absinthe cocktail = meh. The pumpkin stuffed gnocchi was bland, the duck breast was dry, and the beef coulette was not impressive. I did like the smaller wine list, the amuse bouche - which quite frankly had me excited for the meal, and the beet salad. Anyone who writes that this place is anything like a restaurant in Paris has clearly never been to Paris. I am all about supporting smaller restaurants in my hood however I will not be back to spend another $240.00 for a meal in a brightly lit box with servers who have the personality of dry toast. read more

Bistro Barbes - Absinthe Parisienne - French Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Don't miss out on this place! Easily one of the best dining experiences we've ever had, drinks were on point, service was amazing, and the food was perfection. They are currently only offering a 4-course fixed tasting, which we were initially unsure about, but our server was so kind and welcoming, that we decided to give it a go and were so glad we did! Each course was served with such attention to detail in presentation and was a treat for the palate. A true hidden gem, we can't wait to be back again! read more

Beautiful food. Wonderful ambiance. Dont miss this great place. We had the tasting menu. The chateaubriand was so tender you could cut with your fork. Everything was absolutely perfect. read more

We went for Valentine's Day when they were doing a prixe fixe menu of five courses. The restaurant is very intimate and straight-forward. The cozy but no-fuss interior was refreshing from a lot of the new restaurants opening around town. They could have used 2+ more waiters however, and potentially a hostess. We also thought they crowded too many tables to maximize on Valentine's day. There seemed to be on waiter who was training everyone- even the chefs! The time between dishes and from when we were seated was loooonggg. We probably sat for half an hour before anyone even checked in with us. We also requested a few times including when we confirmed the reservation, a vegetarian menu. We never really believed they understood us until the first course came out without meat. I will say the food was impeccable, it was delicious, well balanced flavors, and an unfussy presentation. However, the time that we spent waiting especially for a set menu which should have been easier on the kitchen was ridiculous. They ended comping 20% on our check due to the delay. We appreciate that they acknowledged it, but from the caliber of restaurant that they're trying to be- you would expect better. Also- the vegetarian dishes seemed an after thought. They were the same as the meat dishes but without the meat and a substitution. The main course was a steak dish, and the vegetarian one was just a few mushrooms instead of steak. I just believe if you are going to cut out protein and not add in more substantial options that the veggie option should have been cheaper than the meat menu. I look forward to giving them another chance on a less busy evening. But I do hope they learned from Vday! read more

We brought family here 3 weeks later. Sadly, the duck confit is off the menu. I had cod, which was bland. Still loved the attention to detail and the attentive service, but found the new menu lacking without the duck confit. read more

Food here was delicious. The place, or some of the locals, were a little pretentious. Even making comments, out loud, about how people should respect white table cloth, elegant places. One, we live in Denver. It's chill. Two, anyone is allowed to eat anywhere they want and to dress as they please and to dine with whomever they want. Onto the food...we started with drinks. The old fashioned they made was delicious. The escargot is a must get. It was so beautiful to eat and the flavors from the carrot purée and the turnips was delicious. I highly recommend the sea bass. It had an amazing sauce with it and the skin was perfectly crisp. The short rib was also good, although I preferred the sea bass. We ended the mail with the cappuccino pot de creme. If you're looking for dessert, get this. I'd give this place 5 stars, but the pretentiousness of it knocks it to a 4. read more

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This morning I had the pleasure of visiting Bistro Barbès for the first time for brunch. First of all I recently started a neighborhood Brunch Club and we chose this as our first location. The general manager, Megan, was extremely helpful and accommodating and responded to our reservation request in a timely fashion to ensure we had the space for all of us to sit comfortably. The service was impeccable. Rio and Megan were both prompt and knowledgeable about the menu and all the intricacies that went into the restaurant's well thought out menu. As far as the tastiness of the food... I could easily write a dissertation on the high level of execution and most importantly the taste. Most of our Brunch Club ordered the restaurant's take on eggs benedict. In lieu of Canadian bacon there was Toulouse sausage in the middle taking this classic up a notch. I didn't try the griddle cakes or the smoked trout salad, but on both sides of me I enjoyed the view and only wished I had more stomachs to try everything on the menu. Though the food was exquisite the dinks on the menu were worth the trip alone. I had the Ste. Germain and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a dry sparkling wine. They offered endless mimosas in orange, melon and another flavor I don't recall at this moment but I will definitely be there next week to try them all out! The prices were very affordable. The brunch items range from 8 to 14 dollars. Considering the quality of the courses offered I consider that a steal for brunch. read more

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One of our all time favorite restaurants - that we drive 30-40 minutes from our home just to have a wonderful, intimate and unique meal. This restaurant has a quaint and laid back feel, but the ambiance is of a little french bistro hidden in the alley of France (once you get inside). It is a hidden gem in the middle of a neighborhood that I love because of the uniqueness of the food and the amazing staff who don't change often. We enjoyed the 5 year celebration dinner menu and wine pairing. The food and wine was decadent and beautifully plated. We enjoyed every glass of wine, asking for 2 of the bottles to take pictures of the labels, because it was so good. Of the handful of times that we have dined at Bistro we have never been disappointed and are always excited to see what will find on the small menu when we arrive. Oh and leave room for dessert, it never disappoints either... and the coffee that they serve is amazing! We are coffee and wine lovers and we are always happy what we are served here. Bon appetit read more

What a fun, quaint little restaurant tucked in Park Hill. We came here on a Tuesday night and there was literally one other party dining, which was great. Server came over and we ordered the escargot to start. I was a little weary, but the preparation was great. Not a traditional dish, but totally more approachable than what I was thinking. Going with the theme I opted for the octopus, which was delicious. Super moist and easy to eat, I literally cut it with my fork. YUM! No complaints here at all! read more

Chef Jon is amazing! Every detail was thought ahead of time. I have dietary restrictions, including celiac and dairy free. He planned alternative courses for me that were absolutely delicious. It was an exquisite meal and we felt like a family member was cooking for us. You could feel the passion and joy in each course. The wine pairing was on point as well. We will be back soon and will bring friends! read more

This is a hidden gem in the neighborhood! The food is incredibly creative and delicious!

My wife and I absolutely loved this place. If you want solid food, in a low-key neighborhood type of a spot, this is the spot for you. When you walk in Bistro Barbes, it's a small converted garage type of a space that has a very European feel in terms of minimalist decor. It's nice, but not over the top fancy or anything. There was one person working front of the house, and I believe 2 cooks in the kitchen preparing food. The menu is small but has variety: 3-4 Appetizers, 3-4 small plate/salads, 2 fish entrees, 2 meat entrees, 3-4 desserts. I didn't feel like we had to over-order in order to try a good sampling of the menu. We had Pork Belly En Croute. It's pork belly wrapped in a flaky pastry. What's not to love about that? It was buttery, flaky, flavorful, but not too intense where it spoiled the meal. It was sprinkled with a Morrocan Cinnamon Sugar that wasn't too sweet but was a subtle contrast on the flavor. Up next, we had roasted carrots. Anytime you can have roasted heirloom carrots, it is a strong idea. We grow in our garden and roast at home, but these were just as good as what I do at home. For the entree, we had the Beef Dish and The Duck Dish. Beef that night was a Hangar Steak with Asparagus in a mustard type of sauce. Steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and sliced beautifully. The Duck was Duck Leg Confit with Couscous. The Duck had a nice crispy skin but was very tender and moist as well. Lastly, we had the chocolate cake dessert; it was a chocolate chiffon cake that had raspberry panna cotta wrapped around it. It was amazing as it sounded. A cappuccino goes perfectly with this! Overall, I think the food is awesome and the value is great. In sum, between my wife and I, we had 2 glasses of wine, 2 beers, 1 appetizer, 1 salad, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, and 2 cappuccinos and we were at $150 before the tip. This was a date night without kids, so we lived it up a little, but I think you could come in at around $50/person and have a great meal there. I can't recommend Bistro Barbes enough. We do our fair share of fine dining and have been fortunate to eat at some of the best places in the city and country. It was nice to have a low-key but very solid meal as a change of pace. I would put the entrees and dessert up there with any other place in town! read more

A friend sent me here, proclaiming they do fish better than anyone in Denver. However, I came away loving a few things and regretting others. Bistro Barbes is a true hole in the wall restaurant. Inside, the décor is confusing, something a fresh coat of paint and simple basic decorating technique might help. For an appetizer, I found the gnocchi simple and delicious. My partner shared a frog leg and it was divine. My meal of octopus was brilliant and I would rate it second best in Colorado. The pricey halibut my partner had was another story. He shared a bite. A golden, crusted hockey puck would best describe this overcooked piece of fish. I'm sure this is not what the fish had in mind when it gave up its life. I rarely order wine and knew that by-the-glass is usually more expensive. Had they used smaller glasses, the stingy pour may have appeared fuller than a scant quarter glass. A shot glass might do the trick. Dessert is a rarity for me as well, but the carrot cake was well worth the indulgence. Our server was incredibly proficient. However, a little personality, specifically less rehearsed lines, and less repeated descriptions of what the menu already gave might break into friendly, anything less than sterile, conversation. What I didn't care for was the addition of a tip to the bill. I presume it was a tip, as there was no description as to why it came in higher, possibly because we had a gift certificate. Nonetheless, we met the difference for a generous tip as the experience was decent overall. read more

Loved our experience here. Food was great and so was the service. It was pretty slow when we were there, which I'm surprised by. Feels like it should a "hit" restaurant. We had the sausage app, beat salad, grilled octopus salad, duck, and sea bass. All amazing! read more

It's going to be tough to sum into one short review how amazing this meal was but I'll try. Every single dish was unique and bold. The plates were perfectly seasoned and presented beautifully with such attention to detail in every single bite. I love to eat and I'm a critic so it's rare that I absolutely love a meal from beginning to end but this was one of the best meals I've ever had. The staff was beyond attentive, the experience was memorable and the chef deserves ten stars but yelp only lets me put five. Truly a gem. read more

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This is a wonderful french restaurant with amazing food! The presentation is so beautiful, that you feel like you are messing the food up by eating it. They have very friendly servers, and a cute and quaint atmosphere. I would come here again. Also, its a neighborhood restaurant, which means that it's easily accessible by foot in the surrounding neighborhoods. read more

Bistro Barbes - The Carrot Cake - French Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Hidden gem in Park Hill. Amazing, attentive and knowledgeable staff, perfect portions and absolutely delicious food and drinks. Will be back soon and often! read more

I saw this restaurant in 5280 and decided to give it a shot, despite the reviews on Yelp stating the service wasn't the best. I had the best service anyone could ask for at a restaurant. The server was very attentive and never did we have to ask for more water, bread(The butter for the bread was awesome) , and new silverware (after eating the salad course). Writing the name of the meal and date on the leftovers was an added touch which more resturants should adopt. The food was amazing. I love there are only a few choices on the menu but the menu changes weekly which keeps you wanting more. The charm of this small restaurant along with the fresh farm to table food was perfect. If you want to try a new restaurant I would strongly recommend this place. Make reservations and give this place a shot. read more

Well, I have to say that the fish and the carrot cake were fantastic. Our fish was perfectly prepared and the flavors were anything from ordinary. The table next to us had the same thing and was about to lick the plate and even wanted some our ours. The carrot cake was not your typical carrot cake, but our server gave a great description of the dessert so we knew it wold be different. We loved it! A good moist thin slice of cake with a light "icing" underneath and a light sorbet. Lots of flavor yet very light. the wine selection was small, but both wines were very good and were well paired for our food. The service was great as well. Very attentive, but not overbearing. We will be back. It's nice to have a great place like this in the area, east of Colorado, to eat at instead of a chain. By the way, the table next to me had already been in 3 times. read more

Absolutely delicious French fare. Already planning my next trip back. Would highly recommend the pea shoot salad... superbly fresh, with all the right touches. Would absolutely recommend you visit this small but cozy dining room. read more

It's a small menu with adventurous food! Trout was excellent. Escargot equally good. Octopus was chewy and was an extremely sparse portion size. Our server was delightful and very kind. Sadly, 3 stars is for the trumped up prices that don't reflect quality or portion size. Music does not reflect the environment or feel in this cozy establishment. Try some jazz. Will try again when they are not as new. read more

Only stopped in for a glass of wine but this place is amazing!! Wine is great, staff is the nicest, and wine selection is out of this world. Ended up trying the dessert. And definitely wasn't disappointed. Cheesecake is small but worth it. Looking forward to coming back to food! read more

Loved it! We live in Park Hill, and wish there were more places like it. My wife is allergic to nuts, so that means I can't eat them either. Well the fish dish they offered the night we went had nuts in it and I guess they were a big part of it, so just saying "leave them off" wasn't an option. So the chef made something similar but on the fly, and it blew me away! Best fish dish I've ever had. Seriously. I found the staff to be very friendly and the space is small and quaint. If you live in Park Hill, you have to go! If you just live in Denver, its worth the drive. read more

First time at Bistro Barbes, we were pleasantly surprised. Service was good and appetizers, entree's and desserts were delicious.

This was an interesting experience, some of it interesting in a good way and some of it interesting in a huh kind of way. First the good: The food. Good, but not outstanding. I liked the amuse-bouche a lot--it was my favorite item. The bread, French onion tartlett, shaved Brussel sprouts salad, roasted quail, and seafood tagine were good, and the serving sizes were generous. The entrees tied for second place for my favorite. All of the dishes that we tried, with the exception of dessert, were on the saltier side, but I like salt, so that was fine by me. Dessert was my least favorite item. We shared the apple bread pudding, which was very dense, too dense for me. The bread pudding used raw slivered apples as the apple component, which was interesting, but not as good as homey baked apples would've been. The dessert serving size was on the smaller side, but I didn't mind. The bad: The tables are very, very close together. My husband and I went here for a date night, but I wouldn't suggest going here on a date, unless you don't really like your date. The bad continued: It also seems that other people got better service, which makes me inclined not to return. Although we had a reservation, we were asked to move tables because another party cancelled. We weren't interested in moving tables because we were already settled in and the only available tables were near the door. We'd already started on our drinks and had already eaten the amuse-bouche and most of our bread. But we agreed to move after they asked us about moving again. They clearly wanted us to move tables, and we felt like they weren't going to stop asking us to move until we said yes. We ended up at a table right by the door, and even with the space heater, it was cold. At first we thought that maybe we'd at least have more privacy because the table next to us was empty, but they sat another couple right next to us, even though they could've left that table empty during our time there. And this is a small thing, but it took on more significance after the table move incident: All of the other diners around us were asked whether they wanted tap or sparkling water, but we weren't. I suppose that I look like a tap kind of lady, and kind of I am, but sometimes I'm a sparkling water kind of lady. I'm always the kind of lady who likes to receive the same service that those around me receive. read more

This restaurant is fantastic! You can always count on your food being delicious. The staff is so friendly too! A gem in north park hill! read more

Bistro Barbes - Duck breast - French Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Chef Robbins is killing it. My wife and I went for a date night and thoroughly enjoyed everything on the 4-course prix-fixe menu. We were shocked to learn that Chef Robbins was the entire staff. He was the chef, pastry chef, waiter, busser, and bartender. He's picked a smart menu he can pull off in his solo capacity. Amazingly, he never seemed frantic or in the weeds, so the atmosphere was relaxed. The man is working his tail off, and the results are fantastic. Please, please, please support him and this restaurant! read more