Leven Deli is one of those places that just gets it right! Thoughtful food executed at a high…read morelevel. Everything feels fresh, intentional, and made with real care. The employees here are so attentive and make sure you are getting what you need and even what you didnt even think you needed. The macaroni salad was so delicious. It's creamy without being heavy, perfectly balanced, and has that nostalgic comfort factor while still tasting elevated. It's the kind of side that could easily steal the show. The roasted red pepper and tomato soup was equally impressive. It's a silky, creamy bisque layered with smoky depth from the roasted peppers, finished with chives that brighten everything up. Even being plant-based, it doesn't sacrifice richness or flavor. Deeply satisfying and clearly well-crafted. The Pastrami Reuben is exceptional. The 12-day house-made pastrami is deeply flavorful, tender, and perfectly seasoned, layered with melty Jarlsberg, tangy pickled cabbage, and their signature Leven sauce on toasted house-made rye. It's rich, balanced, and everything you want in a classic Reuben--just executed better. I even reheated it a day later and it was just as good as when I ordered it. Equally impressive is the Smoked Beet Reuben, which honestly holds its own against the traditional version. The pastrami-spiced smoked beets bring a smoky, savory depth that feels surprisingly indulgent, not like a compromise. Paired with the same Jarlsberg, cabbage, and sauce, it's a creative, satisfying take that proves plant-based options can be just as compelling. Leven manages to take familiar comfort foods and refine them just enough to feel special without losing what makes them comforting in the first place. Definitely a spot worth returning to.

Leven Deli Co. is what would happen if Ron Swanson opened a Jewish deli in downtown Denver and let…read moresouthern blues play over the speakers while he worked. There's no performance here, no hospitality theater, no one asking how the first few bites are treating you. You walk up to the counter, you order, you take a number, you sit down. The food does the talking. And the food has a lot to say. I went on a bright Wednesday morning with a couple of friends and ordered the classic breakfast, swapping bacon for pastrami (a first for me) with an everything biscuit on the side (also a first). Both were revelations. The eggs over-hard might be the best version of that order I've ever gotten from a restaurant -- just a whisper of uncooked yolk in the center, perfectly seared on both sides. Skillet potatoes were spot-on. The skillet pastrami was rich and properly crisped at the edges. And the two generous slices of sourdough arrived with a scratch-made blueberry jam that I ended up smearing on everything I could -- sourdough, biscuit, probably would've eaten it with a spoon if no one was looking. My friend ordered the breakfast sandwich, which clearly belongs in the staples category. The baguette was the star: toasted outside, pillow-soft inside, zero tug-of-war with your teeth. That detail alone tells you the kitchen cares. This is the Ron Swanson part: there's an unapologetic confidence to this place. They know exactly what they're doing, they're not trying to oversell it, and they're not interested in charming you into liking it. They're just going to hand you something excellent and trust you to figure out the rest. The coffee was good. The food was setting-a-benchmark good. A real 5 out of 5 stars, no pickin nits. Mild observation, not a complaint: the service is counter-only, no traditional table service. Would Matthew McConaughey or Reese Witherspoon dropping plates off elevate the experience? Sure. But Ron wouldn't have it any other way, and honestly, neither would I after eating here. If I lived within 45 minutes of downtown Denver, this would be my destination breakfast. As it is, I'm a 12 hour drive away, and if it were only 11, perhaps I'd go tomorrow. The real downside? The food was so good I completely forgot to take a picture.

Finally was able to try a sandwich from here after having it on my list for years. #1 Jerry's…read moreClassic Italian Sub did not disappoint. Zapp's and a Boylan's cream soda in the mix made for an extremely enjoyable eating experience.

I spontaneously visited this local Italian gem after exploring the Museum of Nature and Science…read more The staff was impeccably friendly and helpful and the sandwiches were delicious (I had the Italian Roast Beef - the marinated onions and roasted red peppers were a wonderful touch!). I sat outside to eat on a beautiful, sunny day, and then went across the street to the used bookstore. 10/10 recommend both the sandwich shop and bookstore!

Perfect, classic ham and cheese, great bread quick service, great for those short lunch breaksread more

I love a local sandwich shop, and this was within walking distance of my hotel. I popped in around…read more2 on a Friday and there were a few conventioners who had the same idea. I had checked out the menu before I came and decided to order something outside of my norm, and went with their Italian without mayo, of course. It didn't take long for it to come out, nice and toasty. It was a mixture of Italian meats, provolone, onion, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and hot peppers. I love the super thin sliced onions. The veggies were fresh and the peppers added a nice little heat. The bread was toasty and fresh and I enjoyed the sandwich. There is a $4 difference between the 5 inch and the 7. I ordered the 7 but would have been fully satisfied by the 5. There weren't many people at tables but there were crumbs on every surface and the trash was full. I may have just missed the end of the lunch rush.

I was craving a fresh deli sub and coming from NY, I have pretty high expectations when it comes to…read moreItalian sandwiches. We decided to try Lou's Italian Specialties in Five Points and it definitely gave that authentic deli feel we were hoping for. I ordered a half Louie cold sub, and my boyfriend got a full Severino Grande cold sub. The portion sizes were perfect for me, and my boyfriend couldn't even finish his--which says a lot. My only note for next time is I'd ask for a bit more vinegar on mine, but that's just personal preference. We also shared fried ravioli and mozzarella sticks, and both were really good. The ravioli stood out as the favorite between the two. We were also pleasantly surprised (and excited) to see canned Gatorade--such a nostalgic deli touch. AND the rainbow cookie... absolutely unreal. Easily the best I've ever had. It was so soft and fluffy, and the chocolate layer was creamy and delicious. I'm genuinely going to be thinking about it for a long time. Service was great, parking was easy on the street, and everything tasted fresh and high quality. Overall, it really hit the spot for a solid deli experience in Denver. Can't wait to come back and try the hot plates next time.

Stopped here on a Thursday evening as we were driving by. Brayden behind the counter was super…read morefriendly in helping what we should order. What we swallowed: *THE LOUIE *EGGPLANT PARM sandwich: This was so good and filling. I was able to keep the other half for the next day and it was still so tasty. *CAPRESE PANINI *BEEF ITALIAN *CANNOLI *TIRAMISU Everything we ordered (to go) was so good. The cannolis were so tasty. Worth stopping here if you're in the area.

Stopped in for a quick sub for lunch and was not disappointed. I ordered the Italian Deli half sub…read moresandwich. It was great, no complaints. It was actually very filling for a "half" sub. If I had ordered the large, I do not think I would be able to finish it. I waited for my order and it was ready in like 7-8 minutes. Not a bad wait. I also love the old building, see the photo they have of the building in its previous life as a garage. Great use of an old building. I was lucky to get one of the very few parking spots in front of the building, otherwise it is all street parking. I could see parking being an adventure during busier hours. I showed up after lunchtime.

My new fave sub place. What took me so long! Had the Italian deli. Fresh fresh fresh. Nice person…read morebehind the counter. Quick tasty sub

Honestly you are missing out. The hummus was top notch, serving sizes are huge. The fries were some…read moreof the best I've had in YEARS! Make sure to check them out. They have couches to relax while eating and the owner is so personable and kind. We will be coming back again and again.

Food was delicious! Service was friendly and quick- my son loved his pesto sandwich and my gyro…read moreplate was fantastic and huge! Ambiance is cozy and relaxed- we will be back!!

I returned to the Grateful Gnome on Halloween 2025 and brought 4 friends. We had a blast!!! Being a…read moreJersey girl, I recommended and described the New Jersey sandwich favorites, but our server, Monea, was delightful and helped guide my friends to many delicious options. We had the Taylor ham, egg, and cheese, the sloppy gnome, the patty melt, eggplant parm, the Cuban, and great fries. We shared, and everyone was thrilled with the flavors and textures. I was so happy my friends enjoyed Jersey food as much as I do! We all loved the atmosphere, and the seating is plentiful inside and out. The parking is wonderful since they have their own lot! I have to add that we asked to speak to the owner, Ken. We were told he is not really a talker. To our surprise, Ken came over and was terrific! He told us the story of his dad starting at 4 am every day to begin the prep for the Taylor ham, egg, and cheese sandwiches for all the Jersey trades workers and other patrons. This is a strong part of the NJ culture. Ken told us the story of how he got connected to gnomes (ask him to see the tats). Ken shared his favorite Jersey food and how he got to Colorado. Great stories that should be on the website! Ken also spoke extremely highly of the brew master. Since I am not a beer drinker, I have no recommendations. This is a fun place to visit! We drove 40 minutes to get there, and we all want to return soon. Thanks, Ken and your talented staff!

I would strongly recommend people to stay away from the food they serve here unless maybe you are…read morewanting a cold sandwich and I am told they have good beer. They simply Do Not care about general food safety getting a hot meal here is rather risky I will explain why. My friend was a cook here for a short while and quit on them once he realized they care nothing about serving food that is safe to eat, he saw them do sooo many things that would easily make the food contaminated and unsafe to eat and somehow that was there process of doing things. Here are a couple examples of menu items one should try to steer clear of Chicken parm sandwich- they cook off a large batch of the chicken cutlets and let them sit at room temp for a hour or two until someone orders one they refries them for a minute or so, your supposed to keep food hot once it is cooked especially chicken to leave cooked chicken at room temp for so long is extremely risky to the public's health. Meatball sandwich- they leave there meatballs on the hot line all day then they save all of the hot food items from the day and reuse them the next day without properly cooling any of the food and the cooks will leave these item sit out at room temp for about 45 mins before even putting them into the cooler. Many issues with this practice first of all hot food should be discarded after 5 hours according to the health department because after 5 hours it will start growing bacteria, to leave it on a hot line all day then save them for the next day and not even cool them down properly is Crazy risky to people's health and they do not just do this with the meatballs they do it for many of there hot dishes they are used for days on in, not properly cooled and not properly tracked for how many times it has been reheated and such me they keep them in the same pans it's flat out gross. Other issues my friend encountered there was never seeing anyone at all wash there hands at any point in time, a ancient dishwashing machine that didn't clean anything at all it didn't even get hot so half of there dishes are greasy and have food residue on them, in his short time there he saw people fired for no reason what's so ever from what he was told the owner fires people left and right and doesn't even give reasons as to why, that's why they have ads up on indeed looking for employees 24/7.

Average sandwich spot in a hip neighborhood in Denver. Really enjoyed the big selection of…read moresandwiches--there should be something for everyone here, including veggie options. I also love that you can order any sandwich in a half size. They're cheaper that way, and it was more than enough food for me! Points off because the sandwich did feel a bit sloppily made, but it was tasty! I'd visit here again in a pinch if needed.

Look, we all know prices are out of control, so I didn't blink too hard at the $14-18 8" sub…read moreprices. But if you're going to charge that, fill the damn thing up with something. My "bird and basil" (turkey with basil cream cheese) sounded like a good idea but didn't really work; the balsamic vinegar dressing drowns out all other flavors, except that it seemed to enhance an unpleasant bitterness of the basil. The cold bread is dense and super chewy, and there's barely any turkey, just one single thin-slice layer. Complaints about the service I didn't witness, but staff were a surly lot back there making sandwiches. If I lived in the neighborhood maybe I'd try it again, but I don't, and I won't. Its 3 star rating average is well deserved as far as I can tell.

My girlfriends and I were getting together to discuss starting a podcast and met up here to have a…read moredrink. We glanced over the menu and weren't really hungry but we decided to munch on a platter they had with pimento cheese, carrots, crackers, and sweet pickles. It was all really good and a perfect snack. The staff were fun. They had a good time joking around and making everyone feel at home. I need to come back and try a delicious looking sandwich.

Their sandwich was huge and delish! The service was fast and it's connected to a brewery so it was…read moresuper chill with counter ordering.

Nice food and environment! Good service! Like this restaurant. Location is also very convenient.read more

This might be my new go-to sandwich shop. I don't know how I haven't been here sooner because the…read moreRidgeline sandwich will have me coming back for now every time! I went at lunch during the week since my office isn't too far from this location. There were only a few people in front of me. I was probably in and out within twenty minutes at peak lunch time. It wasn't overly crowded by those in the restaurant either. It was quiet enough to have conversations with my co-workers too while we waited to take our sandwiches to go. I'll definitely be back for another visit!