BRUTØ Denver: A Culinary Love Letter to Innovation, Craft, and a Little Bit of Magic - WORTH EVERY PENNY. Denver's dining scene is no stranger to ambition, but BRUTØ stands comfortably in a category all its own. Nestled in the Dairy Block, this intimate tasting-menu experience is not simply dinner; it is culinary storytelling presented course by course, with equal parts precision, creativity, and heart. From the moment the first canapé arrives, it becomes clear that BRUTØ is less interested in following trends and more committed to creating an experience. The menu dances between the familiar and the unexpected, transforming ingredients into something that feels simultaneously rooted and revolutionary. A simple corn tortilla becomes an exploration of nixtamalization and grain preservation. Guava, papaya, cacao, plantains, and yucca are elevated into sophisticated compositions that celebrate the rich culinary traditions of Central and South America while pushing firmly into modern gastronomy. One of the evening's greatest accomplishments is its balance. Technical excellence is everywhere: fermentation, dry aging, creative preservation techniques, but never at the expense of flavor. Every dish serves a purpose. Every ingredient has a voice. The Guanabana and Caviar course is a standout example. What could easily become an exercise in luxury instead becomes a lesson in restraint, with the bright tropical notes of charred guanabana and avocado mousse allowing the caviar to shine without overpowering the palate. Equally memorable is the Barramundi preparation, where fermentation and careful preservation create layers of complexity that unfold with each bite. It is thoughtful cooking that rewards attention. The Beef and Yucca course may be the menu's emotional centerpiece. A beautifully aged strip loin paired with silky yucca purée demonstrates that modern cuisine does not need to abandon comfort. The dish is both intellectually interesting and deeply satisfying; a rare achievement. And then there is dessert. The Chocolate and Papaya finale delivers a masterful combination of fermented cacao, coffee, spice, and tropical fruit. Rather than ending the evening with sweetness alone, it concludes the narrative of the menu, leaving guests with one final reminder that BRUTØ excels at creating harmony from contrasts. It may bring a tear to your eye. What makes BRUTØ truly exceptional, however, is not simply the food. It is the philosophy behind it. Sustainability is woven into every aspect of the experience. Preservation techniques are not gimmicks but purposeful tools that minimize waste and maximize flavor. The restaurant's commitment to utilizing ingredients thoughtfully creates a dining experience that feels both modern and responsible. The beverage pairings deserve special recognition as well. Rather than playing a supporting role, they function as co-authors of the meal. Each pairing is intentional, often introducing guests to surprising combinations that amplify the story being told on the plate. Perhaps most exciting is the energy currently radiating from the kitchen. Great restaurants are living, breathing entities, and BRUTØ feels as though it is entering an exciting new chapter. There is fresh creativity, renewed momentum, and an unmistakable confidence emerging from the culinary team. If this trajectory continues, and based on this experience, there is every reason to believe it will, Denver may very well be witnessing the evolution of a restaurant poised for even greater recognition. In an era where many tasting menus can feel performative or overly precious, BRUTØ remains refreshingly authentic. It is professional without being pretentious, innovative without being inaccessible, and ambitious without losing sight of why people gather around a table in the first place: to be delighted. Dining at BRUTØ is not simply a meal. It is a journey through craft, culture, and imagination. A beautifully orchestrated evening that lingers long after the final course. read more

Elevated tasting menu inspired by Chef Byron's Costa Rican roots. Brutø is inspired by a brutalist, raw connection with food - and its ambience is reflected. The kitchen, 18-seat dining area and foyer are all one open, neo-industrial space in which concrete and steel are somewhat softened by lighting and splashes of color from food or dishware. They have two groups of seating per evening, one around 5pm and the other at 8pm, which they stagger into 3 groups each so food can be batched and presented appropriately. Everything is thoughtfully curated and choreographed, from the beverage selection to the portions of the plating that you get to see between courses. But the choreography does feel a bit stiff and cold at times. While the maitre'd was lovely, it was harder to engage with the other staff. I generally avoid alcohol pairings (my taste buds get overstimulated after the first few rounds), but I did enjoy my cocktail from the a la carte menu. Through our 7 course tasting menu, we explored a fun fusion of local and Central American cuisines. The bread mentioned in previous reviews is gone, but we traveled from ocean, plains, and forest in various presentations of small plates. Some of the bites seemed less inspired (of course adding pate and caviar is going to feel fancy), but other courses like the red snapper ceviche and chocolate + papaya dessert were playful, tart, and funky. You can tell that sustainability is also a huge part of the consciousness here. Be open minded to different flavor and texture profiles and know that not every dish is meant to please everyone. We ended our meal with a copy of the evening's menu as well as a satchet of house-made spices meant to evoke the essence of this Costa Rican fusion. I appreciated the effort that went into each course's preparation, but I don't know that I would pay for another experience even with a different menu. read more

Bruto is always such a memorable and enjoyable experience. This is a food Laboratory at its finest. Fine food, fine wine, fine service, fine ambience, fine, fine fine. Always exceptional food, beautiful presentation, with sustainable practices, this is the place to celebrate a special occasion. The current menu, which runs through June, is the final menu by the current chef and it highlights Costa Rican cuisine. The chef and staff have gone to great lengths to showcase this Latin American dining experience. The Barramundi was by far my favorite on the menu, although that is relative among the 7-course meal. Everything we tried was knock your socks off delicious. I love the quiet dining room, with a chance to visit with others sitting near you at the chef's counter. Their fermentation program is second to none. One thing that always makes a meal memorable is the service. The Bruto team takes care of everything and knows just about everything food or drink wise. Again, I counted the kitchen staff: The ration is 1 to 2, meaning you will feel like a VIP with the personal interaction. It's not fake either; these young men and women want you to have an enjoyable and memorable time. What an impressive restaurant and food laboratory where they are always pushing themselves for tasting excellence. Bruto = passionate knowledgeable people read more

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A friend and I came here on a Saturday night. We had a little trouble finding it because the Uber driver dropped us off at the alley of the dairy block and it's not well marked where to go in from that direction. Around the corner on the street is the best entrance. We had to wait a bit to be seated, which was fine. I saw some other reviews, mention a complementary glass of champagne while you waited, but we didn't get that. As others have mentioned, I found the bread course to be the best. Which is a little unfortunate when you're paying that much money that the bread is your favorite! Some other standouts were the duck, beets, and asparagus. Everything had beautiful presentation and it was interesting to watch them prepare the food. We got the cocktail pairing, which I was glad I did. Everyone sitting at the chef's table did the beverage pairing, so I would've felt left out if I wasn't part of it! The cider was my favorite of that. Someone sitting next to us was celebrating a birthday and they brought them out a little something extra, but I can't remember what it was. This is obviously a very expensive place to go. They charge a 22% automatic tip plus there are 3% in other fees, so two dinners plus two cocktail pairings came to $823. read more

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I was excited to try Bruto, a one star Michelin and eco friendly and sustainable designated restaurant! We flew into Denver from Seattle and had plenty of time to find this restaurant in downtown Denver. The restaurant is located in a sketchy historic building with lots of homeless people wandering around. We were a bit concerned about leaving our luggage in the car! We opted for early dining at 5:15 pm. There were three people who had arrived earlier than us. They got seated at the counter. The Maitre de asked us if we wanted to sit at the counter. We had reserved one of two stand alone tables. We declined sitting at the counter and were relieved that we didn't sit there. The counter group was obnoxiously loud. We understood that Byron Gomez gained experience at Eleven Madison Park in NYC! We were super excited to try his dishes since EMP is one of our all time favorite Michelin restaurants! I would give the food an 88%! I enjoyed most of the dishes and they were made with a refined touch. I'm giving this review a four star because of the inexperienced wait staff. This is a very young crew. They are not nuanced in fine dining. Almost all of the chairs were high top chairs. Jon's leg fell asleep and he had to stand up twice to put circulation back in his legs. The tables were bare with no tablecloth. The water offered at the table was TAP WATER. (Both still and sparkling were tap water, one with carbon dioxide and one without.). I had to offer to walk to the 7-11 across the street to buy my own sparkling water if they couldn't come up with some. I shouldn't need to do that! We have had Michelin counter experience before. The experience received here wasn't nearly as refined. The chef NEVER came to the counter to visit with the guests. The waitstaff never pointed out specific things being done in the kitchen. It seemed like the only point in having everyone sit at the counter was to push out the verbiage and food to 9 people quickly and they only had to say it once for each course. I felt like it was a conveyor belt food experience. The execution of food service needs to be refined to match the refined food being served. read more

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What an incredible experience! Chef counter offering a first hand look at incredible food being made. Delicious Costa Rican food prepared thoughtfully and artfully using sustainable ingredients. Fantastic service! Def a must do! read more

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A difficult review because it ought to be 5 stars if compared to all restaurants in Denver, but that just isn't the same scale as the Michelin starred restaurants in town and if I'm giving Wolfs Tailor a 5 star review Bruto needs to be a 4. The food and presentation here is amazing, but the food is slight step down from Wolfs. Now here is the weird part - I'm really not a cocktail guy, but the paired cocktails were the real hit for me here and the part of the overall experience I enjoyed the most. That brings the price up to a similar spot as Wolfs, and if I'm spending that much - well sorry Bruto, you're amazing and I mean that - but I'm heading back to Wolfs. read more

I had to reflect on this one. But for a Michelin star place, the atmosphere was lacking decor, it felt like you were in someone's kitchen, rather than having an open kitchen to observe. I can see this being a test kitchen, but not a place where you walk about paying close to $800 with drinks. The service was efficient but lacked genuine care, it felt a bit sterile. The food, while some of the dishes were interesting and plated well, didn't shine or make me say I want more. Some were over salted. What really annoyed me is they gave us a bread course that wasn't even good right before the main entree, it's like they were trying to fill us up instead of give us another high end dish. The dessert was also lacking and lame, it was my husband's birthday and they didn't do anything extra besides sticking a candle into it. All and all it feels like Michelin here is grading on a curve rather than holding these places up to the highest standards that I've had in Europe or other states. read more

I would say this is more of a 3.5 than 4. Came early and had to wait til reservation time like another review mentioned. We were able to book a reservation day of (even though only one time was offered). We were offered champagne while waiting. There is an a la carte cocktail menu, wine list, nonalcoholic cocktails, wine pairings and mixed drink pairings. BRUTØ definitely gives moody Scandinavian interior decor. We had asked for some preference accommodations through the reservation and noticed later that they typically require 48 hours in advance for changes. Since we booked same day, we figured we wouldn't be accommodated but they actually were able to replace finned fish with alternatives for my husband! That was a pleasant surprise. Our primary server was very knowledgeable about drinks and easy to talk to. We did feel like it took a while to get our drink orders. Service was great in some areas but not in others. For example, one of the chefs came to explain the dish but did not explain my husband's dish since it was different than ours and walked away. I had to flag down our server to ask. Not a big deal to us but maybe to Michelin agents but wrong silverware was placed at one point and had to be cleared and reset. Tasting menu-wise, it was good but not mind blowing. It is very earthy and feels more like a winter menu than summer menu. A lot more heavy, savory tastes than bright and uplifting. Our favorites were the bread, bison, blood sausage, mushroom consume, and for me, the white asparagus ice cream. I dare say the menu is maybe a little too vegetal forward and savory? The only fruit that showed up was lemon. Drinks were great and very nuanced. The bill racks up quick though! Like another review mentioned, even though you reserve for $175 per person, the total for me including the service charge and one cocktail was $270. While I enjoyed my meal, I did not feel it was worth that cost especially since there were some obvious mistakes during service and the tasting menu felt a little one dimensional. To me, it feels like they're trying to play 2* without the rigor or oversight for the standards (even noticed by my husband who recently ate a 2* and commented that their plating there was much more detail oriented and supervised). Bruto leans into sustainability and felt very Denver-coded with that in addition to the earthy flavors. It is worth checking out but may not be suited for picky eaters. The white asparagus ice cream was completely bizarre but I end up loving it- I ended up enjoying more as I ate it, but the initial taste was a little off putting. I hope they consider the recent reviews on taste and consistency and plan more exciting seasonal menus in the future. read more

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Note that my partner and I dined at Beckon a month prior. We opted for the multi course menu. Friendly staff. Well coordinated. But the food was just ok. For $650 (with one alcohol pairing), it could have been better. The only dish that stood out to both of us was the barracuda fish. Everything else was just ok. read more

I enjoyed my experience at Brutø very much! The staff were very friendly and inviting. They all were very good at talking and explaining the dish to us but in a familiar way, I'm usually a little uncomfortable at michelin places. I enjoyed the food too, there were a few bites out of my comfort zone but it was definitely fun to try it. I'd recommend trying them and I heard they change their menu so if you've been before don't knock it off your list! It's also a nice place very imitatively set up. read more

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I really wanted to like this place but I was underwhelmed and disappointed. The sustainable and local concept of the restaurant is wonderful, but almost everything on this month's tasting menu tasted off, and the flavors did not complement each other. The trout was bland and soggy. The pork chop was overcooked and dry. My favorite things were the bread (amazing) with corn butter and the mezcal cocktail (available as part of the mixed drink pairing or if you ask for it). The dessert was the worst dessert I've ever had. The chocolate wafers served with a tiny scoop of charred eggplant and green curry ice cream was sour and tasted bizarre. It was the one item I could not bring myself to eat more than one spoonful. I do have to say we had excellent service. I did not like, however, that the evening's menu was a total secret because it did not allow me to plan my drinks and palate expectations for the evening. I would have liked to have at least known the number of courses and what the main entree's protein was going to be so I could enjoy an appropriate glass of wine or a cocktail with it. Not being allowed to anticipate the courses was a huge turn off. The menu changes in November, so if you are planning to go, I'd suggest going in November or December when the menu changes to something else. We went mid-October 2025. read more

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We finally were able to try Brutø which has been on the list for quite some time. The ambiance and staff were wonderful! There were a couple of dishes that knocked it oit of the park! The caviar dish was our least favorite followed by the ice cream at the end. They both were very earthy. The to go pumpkin cookies were phenomenal read more

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I found Brutø to be an exquisite and refreshing experience. While waiting to be seated we received bubblies as they were running a bit behind - nice touch. The dishes were creative, delicious, and overall I love the focus on sustainability! The menu consisted of: canapes, mushrooms + greens, uni + squash, trout + carrot, piada + corn, pork + whey, eggplant + chocolate, and rice + carrot (detailed descriptions in my attached photos!). The sourdough piada with smoked corn butter was just as amazing as all reviews mention - I definitely took one home! I also really enjoyed the canapes, pork (which is surprising, I rarely eat it), and the eggplant + chocolate which was served with green curry ice cream that I now cannot wait to have again. We also received handmade truffles with our bill. I got the non-alcoholic drink pairing which I was very impressed with. I highly recommend a drink pairing with your meal; yes, it's an added cost but also an added element to rounding our your meal. I also love the location, in the Dairy Block - very fun. I'll look forward to visiting Brutø again in the future! read more

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Dining at Bruto is an experience. I was lucky enough to be seated at the chef's counter ( majority of the seats face the kitchen ). You are taken to your seat at the time of your reservation ( aka, arriving early just means you relax in the comfortable area in the hall ). Please be up front about any allergies and good sensitivities as it's a set menu, but if you let them know, it will be adjusted. Each guest has a server that maintains the beverages and the check at the end. The food is delivered by a member of the Team. The Team at Bruto consists of their staff. The culinary team will introduce themselves throughout the evening and everyone there takes care of you ( aka answers questions, delivers courses, clears plates... Etc ). This was my first time at a Michelin Green Star restaurant. Sustainabllity is the undercurrent of the menu. The flavors are international, with local and fresh domestic ingredients. At the end each guest is presented with a menu listing each course, the ingredients and the process. Maestro Chef Bryon Gomez is incredible and orchestrates the entire evening! read more

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TLDR; great experience with super creative dishes and friendly service but left not entirely full. Came to Bruto to celebrate a birthday and was able to snag a weekday 5:15pm reservation a week in advance. We were seated promptly at the counter and opted to go with a la carte cocktail pairings. We personally aren't a fan of wine pairings or drink pairings as we tend to get more value / bang for our buck just by ordering ourselves. We enjoyed each cocktail we got, and we ordered one of each cocktail they had throughout the night. Each course was carefully thought out and curated. The bread course was honestly fantastic and a favorite of the night and the meat was perfectly cooked. The dessert cocktails to end the night were amazing and we were given a little dessert treat to celebrate the birthday. The whole experience took around 2.5 hours. We overall left really happy with the experience but because it was an early dinner we did end up getting a snack afterwards. That was our only criticism is that for the price, we wish we left just a tad more full. read more

4.5 stars Great service. They were kind enough to accommodate us last night. My favorite dishes of the night were the canapés, the prawn, and the bincho tan dessert. The food was generally excellent in taste and very good on creativity/innovation. read more

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We went for our anniversary and we were honestly a bit disappointed compared to other Michelin star restaurants and omakase dinners we've enjoyed. Let's start with the positive: a few of the courses were honestly fire. The mushroom consumee and the sunchoke dishes were simply divine. The drinks pairing was incredibly spot on and the cocktails were beautifully done. We got the mixed drinks pairing so there were cocktails, cider, sake, wine. Very unique and a nice variety to have a pairing like this. One cocktail was one of the best I've ever had! The okay: pacing is always slow at these but I felt the time between courses was kind of a bit much especially since when the drinks/food were dropped off the rotating servers seemed rushed in their explanation. I usually take great stock in exceptional service so I found this and the random servers each time a little off putting but it may not be an issue for others. Similarly, much of the seating is bar seating to watch the chefs. This makes you packed in like sardines. This is similar to other places BUT you can't really see what they are making so it just makes it hard to converse and so you are constantly reminded of your hunger as you watch the food being made for other tables. This seating awkwardness isn't helped by the fact they didn't have a standard side they dropped off and picked up food so you were constantly juking them it seemed to make room for your plates and trying to guess where it was coming from. Just seems poorly thought through. Finally, they seemed so stressed and serious that it made the overall mood a bit down. If you're going to be stressed then hide the kitchen. The bad: multiple dishes were super over-salted where I couldn't even eat one. That's simply shocking to me. Why hide good flavor by oversalting? No one server so couldn't even tell them. Also because they pride themselves on being sustainable (a noble goal but if overdone detracts from the flavor) they like to use as much of what they buy as possible. That meant we had I think three fennel flavored items and a 2-3 with carrot. Variety is the spice of life. Sustainability is great but also I don't want so much of one flavor. The final dessert was fennel forward and it fell flat for me. Lastly, again, I think service is so important at a nice restaurant. They flat out forgot a pairing until I asked them why the steak dish had no pairing. Really no excuse at a Michelin level restaurant. Overall, maybe they had an off night but we were a bit underwhelmed unfortunately compared with reputation and expectation. read more

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LOVED Brutø! Honestly the only reason I even considered taking a star off is because the parking situation in that area is kind of a disaster most nights, and I came on a Friday night so even more so. Nevertheless - the dinner itself was very enjoyable, the staff are incredibly knowledgeable about both the menu and the restaurant itself. The seating area is initiate and small, you kind of eat as a small group of 5, getting your courses of the menu (and add on drinks if you go for that) all at the same time. For ref, the cost for the tasting menu is $175 per person, but they have a 22% service charge (which includes tip), as well as a couple other smaller city-mandated charges which add up - the total for my dinner which had no add ons was $240. So be prepared for that! But I still think the unique-ness of the courses and the explanations we got were outstanding. For one of the dishes, they actually did give me a glass of a sparkling tea that is made by one of the prior owners of the Michelin restaurant "Noma" in Denmark which closed down in 2024 (previously held the title of "world's best restaurant). They told me that even though I hadn't purchased an add on, the caviar dish should have some kind of pairing so they just gave it to me. Thought that was very nice, and the sparkling tea was lovely! Side note: the bathroom is downstairs, shared with a bar that is also down there. It's nothing special but the space for Brutø is small so makes sense. Overall - would def rec Brutø. It's pricey but you're paying for an experience, not just a meal. Would just rec you come early with plenty of time to find street parking. read more

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Writing this review brings tears to my eyes because it was such a treat dining at one of Denver's first Michelin-starred restaurants. Brutø was just as you'd expect from the reservation flow on Tock to the seating process upon arrival. My partner and I came here for our anniversary and felt incredibly special throughout the evening. I'm still drooling over the menu. Everything was exquisite, served with detail and enthusiasm. My favorite dish was probably the Lamb + Eggplant because I had no idea lamb or eggplant could taste so emotional. The bison carpaccio as part of the Canapes was also delightful. I'm sure none of this will sound familiar as Brutø rotates their menu, but all I'm saying is that it's worth saving up to visit. I didn't do their alcohol pairings and went down the street for a brief happy hour instead, since we got to Dairy Block earlier than expected. From experience, call a car if you're doing any of their pairings. I had some FOMO from our neighbors that indulged. Maybe next time! I will forever cherish the printed menu from our dinner, to keep the memories alive. read more

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My review is about the overall experience. When you dive into fine dining, you should do it for the experience. It's not just the food, it's everything from the cutlery to the ambience. Bruto is an intimate space with only three counters all facing the kitchen. Diners have the option of seeing everything they eat to and drink get prepared before then. The lighting is perfect for food selfies, but not too bright. The huge open oven keeps it warm (but not too warm). The high stools at the counter are comfortable, and the hooks under the counter keep belongings tucked away. We were early so they offered us a glass of sparkling wine or cider One thing to note,vthis is an exception interactive dining experience. Each course is introduced by the chef who made it, with one staff member serving as the primary host. You can ask questions and they will offer anecdotes related to the food. That part was very enjoyable. I like knowing more about what I'm eating. They were also flexible. I have a fluid restriction, so they served me the pairings that they thought most hi lighted to food.vThe during pairings, both non-alcoholic and spirit, were thoughtful. The pacing was good. Not too slow, not too rushed. The coordinated serving ensured all the diners at my counter were all dining at the same pace. I enjoyed the food. I left feeling satisfied l. Sometimes with fine dining you leave feeling hungry. Definitely not the case here. I won't go into any detail about the menu because it changes regularly. My pictures speak for themselves in terms of what kinds of things are on offer. I will say it is veg forward, which is nice. The restaurant is committed to sustainability, and it was interesting how that was threaded throughout the experience. Most of the food came directly from the hearth, too. One thing to note, all the staff is male. That's not atypical for fine dining per se,but I wish there had been at least one woman. My 2.5+ hours dining adventure was enjoyable. Not sure I would do it again, but I don't think it was a waste. Definitely a place a foodie or someone celebrating a special occasion would enjoy. Recommend. read more

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Brutø exceeded all expectations! The service was more than I expected. We were offered a complimentary glass of champagne while we waited for our seats (we arrived 10 mins before our reservation). We were seated promptly and after we chose our wines our glasses were never less than half full. The culinary experience was truly incredible. Every bite a surprise to my palate in the most fantastic way. The portions were plentiful and satiating. Somehow all the dishes tied together in the most surprising journey. I can't wait to return. The restaurant atmosphere itself was cozy with an open kitchen concept and also communal seating if you are at the bar (which I preferred). I especially liked how the chefs were also our waiters and worked in unison to plate and serve - dinner and a show! If you are short on time or budget and can only choose from one of the many Michelin starred restaurants in Denver this is #1 in my book. Even better than the 2 starred Wolf up the road, IMO. Check out the photos I've included, although this doesn't do it justice. Bon appétit! read more

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What an absolutely wonderful experience. It was my first time at a Michelin Star restaurant, and second Omakase dinner in over 10 years. They even served me a glass of wine before hand to celebrate my birthday early! The whole experience was so unique and different, along with the flavor profiles and textures within each dish. I did forget to to take a picture of all of them, first dish I had I wish I took one, it was urchin squash dish which I enjoyed more than I thought I would. But again the menu was definitely tailored more for citrus lovers but also very odd flavor components I wouldn't have thought of with a handful of the courses. Beautifully prepared and explained through out the whole night. It's a night I will not forget! They even gave us a second dessert for the three of us with birthdays! (hint the one with the candle) read more

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A profound experience with a side of dinner. Finding our way into the building was a little tricky but well worth the sleuth to a chef's kitchen bordered by a spacious countertop and quite comfy seats that encourage a 'home kitchen' level of comfort. You melt into the sultry lit space as you feel the warmth from the large clay hearth that a chef nonstop tends to. This design allows you to control your evening, from private moments to befriending those beside you to having a chat with a focused but friendly chef anytime. I loved predicting what's what on the other side of that cleverly tilted just out of sight bowl before being served the wild creation in unison and tuning into it's tale. Down to the origins of each ingredient. The entire operation was relaxed yet meticulous. The tweezers. The precision. There was actual dew on the tiny leaves! I cannot emphasize that enough. My well balanced crisp and strong cocktail had me gazing at my dish/edible terrarium like David Attenborough in wonder. This is one I'd suggest for a great experience solo but if anyone needs a +1 I am here to help! Any excuse to experience this again. read more

Brutø - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Well this was a massive disappointment.... Hiding poor flavors and combinations behind the idea of brutalism doesn't make you unique, it just makes you a bad chef. This place focuses on form over function and flavor. From the beginning don't get here even five minutes early or you will wait. Everyone at your counter needs to be seated for dinner to begin. The staff ensures that all diners are served exactly at the the same time I'm guessing due to the lack of an actual kitchen and how they need to rotate dishes. The decor is bare as is the kitchen, think IKEA for fine dining. You'll see their oven high is the main cooking instrument and a hot plate or two. Staff was friendly but very focused on the formality and going through the motions to deliver food, it was pretty robotic. I chose the wine pairing which was disastrous and shocking. None of it paired well, the flavors were atrocious and the combination was just dumbfounding. Who goes white with skin, Champagne, Vermouth, Pinot Noir, all the way to a Sake. It was a nasty experience to the palate. I'm not sure how this place got a star but the food was unremarkable and seemed to try too hard to be different while missing the most important mark, flavor. The main Bison dish came out cold, pea flan was boring, bass and bananas was gagging, and the side for the bread was overpowering. The terrarium dish made you fell like you were eating dirt which I guess has some appeal to certain individuals. Nothing was remarkable to me and none of the dishes even met average. read more

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Food is 5 star, service is 5 star, and ambiance is 4.5 star. Would I pay this much to eat here again? Maybe, but probably not. Is this for everyone? Definitely not. This restaurant is specifically for foodies with deep pockets who seek adventure, cutting edge, and the excitement of witnessing a restaurant in hot pursuit of perfection. Bison tongue cooked perfectly, duck heart cooked perfectly. It starts to make one wonder, "why aren't more people eating tongue and heart?" But it is easy to understand, when realizing that Bruto is serving perfection on these items, while most other places screw it up. But again, this is not for everyone because if you think you dislike tongue, then you try it and still dislike tongue, then you're not going to have a great time. Dishes seemed built on a balanced foundation, but then the envelope is pushed in some area. Sometimes the push is a bit too far, in terms of salt, spice, acid, etc. However, I get a sense that this is what it means to pursue perfection, which is also going to be different per each individual's palate. The much-hyped bread did NOT disappoint. I'm very impressed at how each and every ingredient was so smartly integrated into each dish with an impactful and flavor-choreographed role, never getting completely overshadowed nor stealing the show. Service was excellent. Dishes were beautifully plated and each cohort of diners was presented with food in a synchronized manner. The eating area was wiped down between courses and water glasses never got too low. Every detail of the dish is explained, and a fun or interesting story accompanies the explanation. Ambiance was mostly great. It's always fun to watch the kitchen staff in full swing. Chairs were not the most comfortable, and sometimes car headlights from outside would hit my face. I loved the open kitchen and watching the giant wood-burning oven. read more

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One of the craziest nights I've ever had in Denver was landing the last seat at @brutodenver, & getting to meet the legend Chef Byron Gomez. I'm still shocked. It's a true pain in the ass to get in, for all the right reasons! It books months out, & this evening was completely random!       After a week of back to back long nights of slaying code I felt trapped like a lion in a zoo. I wanted to flirt & gift away bougie cocktails, that meant I was beyond determined to land a seat at @rftrbar. When I arrived, like God parting the Red Sea, I walked right in. Sadly it was dead, & nothing worth approaching that cost more than the booze. I called my boy & told him I was bummed. He let me in on the secret upstairs. He'd been to Bruto before & pushed me to give it a shot. I ran up, waited in line, & as luck or my charm would have it, the hostess got me in. She made me promise not to tell anyone how       Their website and theme focuses on brutalist architecture so being both a LEGOs fanatic and my childhood architect dream I had to check it out. More than the website, you can see it throughout each plating technique. If you love modern architecture like me, this will appeal to all of those affinities. [ Side note, that's an aspect of Vegas home design I love. You will see a vast variety of modern designs, & never have to cut grass! ]      Every bite blew me away and the staff never missed a beat. The wine parings matched perfectly as well and I never went thirsty. I can not recommend this spot enough, but like I said if you're going to visit book this way in advance.       Safe travels. Date with intention only! read more

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If you would like to find the worst Michelin star restaurant then come here. The entire experience was just off. When my friend initially made the reservation it was listed as Mexican/latin cuisine. We expected that it would not be exactly the same given the chef change this past January to Byron Gomez (a top chef alum), but the major changes should be noted at the time of reservation. We expected a Latin fare 11 course meal with appropriate pairings over 2.5 hours.... but that is not what we received. When we walked into the cute chef counter set up space it felt as though additional drinks for purchase were being force on us. We and most diners did not want them. Then our waiter said a lot of words for the descriptions very quickly so I really did not understand the dishes. He seemed disinterested in his job and impersonal. Now to the meal. It was a very different journey than expected and we both ordered cocktail pairings one of which was non-alcoholic. The pairings for the non-alcoholic menu were a waste--I think if you previously drank alcohol or liked black licorice or even enjoy a sugar high or a poorly balanced drink then you would enjoy it. If not then skip it!! I will say the celery drink was the best of the worse. The same for the alcohol pairings, they were uninspired and confusing. I think some editing would've done wonders for a more balanced drink. Also know your customer, please do not give alcohol to those who don't imbibe. The food - we enjoyed the bread course and the pasta... the remainder of the food was over salted and the pear dessert tasted like Lysol. At the end they ended with a Cherry wine and provided no alternative for non-alcohol drinks. They again tried to push more drink ordering like they needed more revenue to pay the rent it was very off putting. The waiter spilled wine all over the counter. All in all this place was a mess. Overall, I would not recommend dining here. Michelin should come and get the star back. This was the worst dining experience peppered with the oddest atmosphere and a 3-hour experience at a snails pace. El Cielo in DC does 22 courses quicker than this. There are better one Michelin star restaurants that are more personable and truly curate a wonderful experience. Lastly, Alinea was mentioned twice when referencing drink pairings, I would recommend not doing this because that is a 3 Michelin star with a much better standard and experience and for those that had the opportunity to dine in the Chicago based establishment we think back to how great it was in comparison to the horrid experience at Brutø. Please note I love top chef alum restaurants generally speaking (girl and the goat being one of my favs) so this was a very disappointing experience. read more

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I took my boyfriend to Bruto for his birthday dinner, and it was definitely a unique experience. The restaurant itself is small and cozy, which makes it feel intimate. I loved that the oven and bar are right in the dining area--it gave the space an interactive, open-kitchen vibe. I opted for the non-alcoholic pairing while my boyfriend went with the alcohol pairing, and I thought both complemented the dinner really well. It made the experience feel thoughtful and well-rounded. As for the food, I'd give it an 8/10. Everything was solid and well-prepared, but there wasn't a dish that completely blew me away. For me, it falls into the "great once-in-a-while experience" category rather than a spot I'm eager to return to regularly. read more

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I loved it!! Great place to celebrate a special event. Fun unexpected flavors the cocktail pairing is a must. Good vibes Great food awesome fun interactive team. Overall an amazing experience read more

Was I nervous that there is a new chef? Yes! Was the dinner everything I dreamed of and more? ABSOLUTELY!!!! From the moment we arrived we were welcomed into a beautiful space- intimate and warm. Our guide for the evening was Alan and he did an impeccable job of making the experience informative, fun, and comfortable! Ann was the queen of the oven and it was so impressive that everything we consumed was cooked in that oven by her watchful eye. We had 6 courses with 6 cocktail pairings and I kept thinking that as a foodie, when I taste something completely new, encounter an unexpected texture or flavor, that is when I know I've found something truly special! Our meal was amazing!! Learning about the origins of each dish and cocktail was spectacular. They have certainly worked for that Michelin star and based on what I experienced, it is well deserved!! read more

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The experience was incredible. Highly recommend doing the drink package with it. One does beer, one does wine, then you get to try everything! read more

Food 2.5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Service 5/5 Drinks 5/5 Seeing as we were going for the Menu we were pretty disappointed. The food was presented beautifully but about half of the courses were truly good. The best thing we had this evening was probably the sourdough and accompaniments or the amuse. Maybe January isn't their month. read more

I really wanted to rate this well and if you can afford food with no budget I recommend. I'm a graduate student though and booked as a treat for my birthday via OpenTable with the understanding that the bill was $125 and budgeting $200 to account for service charge. Boy was I wrong. My bill ended up at $450. The online booking is extremely misleading and had I known I would not have booked as it is not in my budget. I'm not a food connoisseur but like to treat myself for my birthday. The staff was extremely respectful and food was delicious. However, at the end when I got the bill and expressed the miscommunication I was told nothing could be done as they were aware of the OpenTable miscommunication and fixed it AFTER I booked with no communication of the change to me. Not a single dollar was discounted although the mistake was between them and OpenTable. Again, I highly recommend if budget is no issue for you, however, I would avoid if not, as there is no way to verify the cost of the meal until after you have fully enjoyed and can no longer walk away from the bill. Brutø I apologize for the review but as a student who really wanted to love this meal, the almost triple cost affects the entire rest of my month budget and NECESSARY costs so I can not in good faith recommend to anyone who can't be comfortable spending almost $500 a meal. read more

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The hubs and I came here for his birthday. What an incredible experience. This was a menu created and curated by people who love food, respect the process and want to share that love with their guests. The space feels casual which makes the food feel even more star of the show. The staff that talked to us about the food courses and N/A/cocktail pairings we did, are genuine and excited. The food was absolutely outstanding and the pairings were top notch. read more

Way to little food for the $$. The food was great, portions would fit on a coffee cup sized plate. BTW, one of the most useless webites I have ever seen. read more

I was surprised to learn this is a Michelin star restaurant but maybe food standards are different in Denver. To start, I was quite late meeting my group there. Life happens. As a result, my penalty was not getting the first three courses. There were 6 courses including dessert. Ok fine I can accept that because I was late. However, did not really love the hostess throughout this process and I was not alone in this feeling. She had a very overbearing school teacher vibe. We had the meal. I enjoyed 3 of the 4 dishes that I was privy to. I only got to try the third course because a friend was willing to share with me since the restaurant was not willing to flex in any way. The bread was surprisingly good and flavorful and I tried the tostada with fried ants which was pretty good. The last savory course was meh. The quail was nice but nothing mind blowing or unique and the veggie side was really bitter. Bitter is not a flavor I like. I only ate it because I was hungry. I'm still hungry after all that. Before we even got to dessert, our dear hostess came over to scooch us to the outside table because she needed our seats for the next party and so we can sit at a table facing each other like we wanted originally but really... she needed the table for the next party. Unbeknownst to her, I've managed to be splashed by dirty drinkware being thrown in the sink by one of the other servers and half the time could not hear the descriptions of the drink or food over the sink running and dishes clattering. I felt the splash on my arm and was going to ignore it until I realized it was all over my side of the table and my phone. The person did try to help wipe the area and my phone but my phone is currently sticky as I type this out which is why I was extra motivated to write this review on top of still being hungry. I thought that was it but when we got asked to move...I realized all that splatter was also all over two of our work bags and one was really hard to clean. My guess is there was some sticky dairy based substance. I would say shoutout to our server. He was amazing. He really wanted to share the stories about the food and drinks and was very friendly. He kept our glasses full and checked on us in appropriate increments. He even called out that the tip was already included and no need to add more. Not everyone is that honest. Another server helped out at times and he was helpful. He was very quick to get us wet towels once requested so we could wipe our bags. I'm pretty sure we were charged full amount even with two courses missing from my experience and the bonus splatter adventure. Also, unfortunately once folks moved us, they mixed up all our drinking glasses and everyone just gave up on their glasses. Feel like they could have either told us to bring our glasses or given us new ones. Would not return or recommend especially for celebration events. I've been to several Michelin star restaurants and this is not it for me... I left hungry, soiled, and grumpy. Only had a good time because of the people I was with and our server. read more

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Michelin star restaurant located in the dairy block area of downtown Denver. We thoroughly enjoyed the chef's table dining experience. The ambiance was very nice. Small and intimate setting with just 16-18 guests. Our server Raymond, was great. He kept us informed of the preparation of each course. I chose to do the wine pairing so he also explained the story behind each wine, making the experience even more interesting. The courses were spaced out nicely and it was entertaining to watch the magic in the kitchen as each chef worked their station. It was like watching a beautifully orchestrated dance. The presentation was truly beautiful. Very artistic and a nice balance of different flavors. Highly recommend it for a special occasion. read more

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We had an amazing meal at Brutø, celebrating my birthday. What an amazing experience! The food was amazing, the service was impeccable, and the ingredients blew my mind. Definitely worth the price! It's an experience everyone deserves to try at least once (if not twice! Or more). They change out their menu with the season, I was told by the waiter. read more

Brutø - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Fantastic food and service. Next level dining experience. Both the food and drinks were amazing. I will be back.