Visited yesterday to celebrate two birthdays in our friend group and I gotta say this is one of the…read morebest meals I've ever had in the Denver-metro. Coming from Chicago the food scene in Denver was underwhelming to say the least but there were always those few diamonds in the rough that truly showed through. Xiquita is one of those places. We started off the evening with the Pipian Verde which had a perfect variance of textures and the mole was incredible. We also got the Salsas Y Tostadas that came with a trio of sauces reminiscent of good Mexican food but with a special twist that brought more nuance to your normal chips and salsa experience. We ordered the Meijillones à la Veracruzana (mussels) and the Sikil Pak (vegetarian blue corn tostadas) both were absolutely perfect with just the perfect flavor combination in the tostadas and the richness of the mussels were to die for, the freshest I've had out here so far. We also ordered the Ceviche which came with luscious tuna that felt and tasted perfect. There were also these baked carrots in a beautiful verde salsa that changed my perspective on carrots. As for grande plates, we opted for the Asada de Pollo, Cochinita Pibil and Carne Asada. The chicken was ridiculously moist, melt in your more level soft and carried great depths of flavor through the bite when mixed with the rice and pico de tomatillo, this was my favorite thing to be consumed. The carne asada was a NY strip seasoned to perfection and included a beautiful salsa arriera which I wish I could get in a bottle and apply to literally everything I make at home, it had a touch of spice and a complex mix of flavors that evolved through the tasting. The Cochinita Pibil was my least favorite of the three grandes we purchased but still super good with tender shredded pork that incorporated a bit of the fat and included a great spattering of veggies and ensalada de frijol. As it was the birthday of a few friends present we received the Pan de Elote complimentary and that was awesome as well. The incorporation of corn into a dessert with the ice cream on top was truly the cherry on top of a great experience. Our server was super attentive with replacing plates, refilling water and providing explanations for each dish table side. We definitely felt that she exceeded our expectations on service we typically receive. Overall, 10/10 experience and I wish I took photos but I was hungry and plating made me want to eat right away. Will definitely be making this place a staple on my rotation when I'm looking to treat myself or a date to a nice night out. Huge thanks to the crew for putting on a meal that I won't be forgetting any time soon.

We needed a last-minute early dinner and Xiquita obliged with the full menu available at 4pm. We…read morearrived just before 4:30 and the restaurant was pretty quiet with only a few tables occupied. I had not been for awhile, even though my house is only five minutes away. I looked forward to introducing my girlfriend to their elevated food. Alas, we found an inconsistent kitchen instead. We started with the usual complimentary tortillas and jalapeño ash butter which is fun and a tasty introduction to the authentic style of this place. I had a house margarita which was nothing special. My girlfriend enjoyed her Agua de Horchata which she indeed thought was elevated from the usual version. We ordered two tacos from the Happy Hour menu. The Taco de Suadero (beef cheek) was fantastic, deeply flavored and very tender. The Taco de Campechano (chorizo and carne asada) was awful. I didn't detect any beef, just the sausage, which was dry, tasteless, and over spiced. Not good. Next was the Ceviche. This was a really delicious dish, but it has nothing to do with ceviche. It's not quite sushi or sashimi, so I'd probably call it poke: diced raw tuna with an amazing sauce of coconut milk, habanero, onion, and herbs, served with three tostadas. The "ceviche" was really hard to eat, especially trying to share the dish from the middle of the table. No serving implements were provided. The sauce was very thin and it was hard to scoop out of the bowl. And why three tostadas on a dish for two people? Nevertheless, the tuna was superb, the flavors were great and we enjoyed it. We were excited to try the Pescado a la Talla which featured Kanpachi (amberjack), most often found in Japanese cuisine. The adobo glaze was flavorful, but the fish was way overcooked on an unsuitably high heat, turning a sweet, tender, flaky sushi-grade product dry, dense, and mealy. What a disappointment (and for $57!). I should have sent it back, but we had already shredded half of it to go into the tortillas, as the server suggested, and we didn't really appreciate the deficiencies until we had eaten quite a bit, so complaining seemed unreasonable at that point. The tortillas that came with this dish were another disappointment--they arrived cold and wet. How the kitchen could send them out like this, I don't have a clue. And again, three tortillas for two people to share. Huh? Is there a tortilla shortage? We did end on a high note with the Nieve de Xoconostle, prickly pear sorbet with aloe vera gel. I had never eaten aloe vera before. The little balls of gel were very refreshing with the tasty sorbet. Service was mostly very good. We were seated promptly. Multiple servers and managers came by our table, perhaps because I was busy taking photos (other tables did not get that much attention). The food was delivered efficiently, but despite all of the traffic, dirty plates sat on the table rather too long. The seating was incredibly uncomfortable. The metal banquette on one side had an odd shape and was hard as a rock. The few cushions scattered about helped a little. The chair had an odd back that was too far forward and too high. It was equally uncomfortable. Another couple arrived and was seated right next to us in an empty, quiet restaurant. This was also uncomfortable and unnecessary. This meal cost $148 with one well drink and one soft drink. I was expecting near perfection, not a kitchen that doesn't know how to cook a luxury fish. Very, very disappointing.

Ate with a big group dinner. For appetizers, we ordered the guac, salsas, corn ribs, and queso…read morefundido. The queso fundido was the best out of all of them hands down. For entree, i ordered the skirt steak medium rare. Was pleasantly surprised to see fried plantains with it. It doesnt come with rice so i ordered rice and beans on the side. But it also comes with a ton of corn, and I felt this was much better than the rice and beans. For dessert, got the strawberries and cream. Was tasty

Love that there is parking, since that can be QUITE the challenge in the area. Service was great,…read moredidn't even bat an eye when I asked to be surprised by either the watermelon or signature margarita (brought out the watermelon - delicious, as always!). My hubby and I shared the fish tacos (always yummy!) and nachos (no added protein - first, but not the last, time having these. They hit the spot!) We were able to visit during happy hour and it was excellent!

What a wonderful experience. I had a near 10 hour layover so decided to checkout some highly…read morerecommended spots and this was at the top of the list. Made a reservation for 9 pm but got into town around 3:30 and they made sure to get me a table right away which was so kind of them and something they did NOT have to do. Kelsey was my server and she was so beautiful both inside and out. Very warm, welcoming and gave me great recommendations that were both personal for her but also worked with me when I wasn't sure about what to get after she recommended a few things. The food....was...SENSATIONAL. The Tostada De Toro I think every person needs to try once in their life. I feel like for whatever reason Mexican seafood is still underrated to the average person as I mentioned to Kelsey. They told me I could eat it open face or use a fork and knife so I tried it both ways starting with the first couple of bites open face. To be honest you could eat this upside down in a blizzard and it would be great, it was that damn good! The people sitting next to me giggled because I looked like I was having a foodgasm from my reaction to every bite. Then the Aguachile De Erizo had me licking my lips and then eventually drinking the "broth" (hope that's the right term) to the last drop with Kelsey's full approval hahahaha. I had never tried Uni before and what a great introduction it was. I kept finding pieces of scallops and uni in my mouth after and it was such a pleasant surprise. The Non-Alcoholic Colada I actually had first and it made be feel like I was on a beach somewhere. Delicious! The only downside to the meal was that I had to walk through the city after I left so I couldn't keep eating more which I really wanted to. But that's a blessing in disguise because I'm so excited to come back and try even more dishes that I didn't get to and I immediately recommended it to friends who live in Denver but were out of town and couldn't join me when I was there. Again cannot say enough about the service and the atmosphere which was so sexy. It felt both relaxed and accessible while still feeling upscale. (I mean I walked in with a backpack and a sleeveless shirt and didn't feel out of place or too dressed down at all. And if I was the staff didn't make me feel this whatsoever). Finally one more shoutout to the entire team for making it a great experience and make sure to ask for Kelsey as your server she's one in a million! PS my forgetful self forgot my wallet at the table and Kelsey came running out to bring it to me with a laugh and a smile. So somehow even after my meal they were still finding a way to be the best!

This place was absolutely delicious!! Make reservations ahead of time as it gets booked very…read morequickly. We got seats at a dining table but you can also sit at the counter where you can see them making the food. I preferred the dining table. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly! I got the paloma for my drink - refreshing and tasty! We got the following to share between 2 ppl (I forgot what the actual full name of the dishes are): toastada - highly recommend, so good!! Could eat the whole thing myself carne - this was essentially beef tartare - SO GOOD- Loved the chile sauce kampachi crudo - very fresh and tasty! burrita - this was porkbelly burrito- highly recommend!! I dont usually love burritos but this was a hit - great mole! pollo - this was okay, I think it just needed a bit more flavor but was still good We were pretty stuffed but we also had lunch around 12 and our reservation was at 4 lol Would come back if I was ever in denver!!!

Two word: moan worthy…read more Service was amazing and the food was incredible. We will be back!

The food here is AMAZING!!…read more I previously tried the cauliflower taco on fry bread during a Denver food tour. This was my first time trying fry bread and I was blown away! When having guests in town, I raved about the fry bread and knew we had to go back and try the desserts. We got the churros with cajeta sauce and chocolate sauce. This is easily my favorite dessert I've had in Denver so far. We also had the stuffed sopapillas with berries and mascarpone. The presentation of this dessert was so well done, and having this be made with the fry bread made it even more delicious. Overall, this has become one of my favorite Denver places between the delicious food, amazing staff, and cute decor. A great place to take guests or to enjoy on a weekday!

Located in the ART hotel on the fourth floor, off the lobby…read more I ate here twice and made the unfortunate decision to try the same thing twice (I thought it would be different between lunch and dinner). I had the steak frites. The first time I asked for medium and it was well done. The second time I got the right temp delivered, but it didn't help the lack of seasoning or the bland sauce. The fries were hot and crisp both times. I think it would have been smarter for me to try the spicy vodka rigatoni, the hot honey glazed salmon, or the burger, or even the herb marinated chicken sandwich. It's totally on me for not trying something new. All of their drinks were decent. The margaritas were classic. The Girl with the Red Balloon (Titos, ginger, clarified lemon, grapefruit seltzer) was refreshing and not too sweet. The High and Dry (gin, aperitivo, elderflower liqueur, orange blossom, cava, grapefruit) was dark and moody and savory. Service both times was attentive. The restaurant itself is open and has tall, broad windows and modern decor. This is a good hotel food option, but I would just avoid the steak frites.

Honestly the worst restaurant experience in my 5 years in Denver. Only 2 stars because the food was…read moremostly good. Ate dinner and breakfast here while staying at the art hotel. Dinner server seemed like she didn't want to be working and busily passed up our table without checking in. Breakfast was no better: our food was clearly forgotten but we had to remind multiple servers and when I finally decided to talk to the manager at the end (that says a lot for me), she gave a standard apology and didn't really offer anything. Don't waste your time coming here

I visit Denver quite often and was on the hunt for a new spot to grab a drink before heading to the…read more13th Floor "Love Bites" attraction. That's when I came across Dearly Departed and I'm so glad I did. We arrived right when they opened at 5pm and were able to walk in and be seated immediately. The speakeasy is tucked into the underground portion of the restaurant, which adds to the charm. The space is beautifully decorated, moody, intimate, and effortlessly upscale. It truly sets the tone the moment you walk down. We ordered two spritzes and a charcuterie board, and both exceeded expectations. The drinks were refreshing, perfectly balanced, and felt elevated without being overcomplicated. But the real star was the charcuterie board. For $20, it was an incredible value, stacked with a variety of meats, cheeses, fresh veggies, nuts, and peppers. The freshly grilled bread was a standout touch, and the portions were more than generous. Every bite felt thoughtfully curated, and there was something new and delicious in every corner of the board. Between the ambiance, the quality of the drinks, and the impressive food, Dearly Departed delivered an experience that felt both cozy and refined. I'd absolutely recommend checking it out for the atmosphere alone. I'm already looking forward to going back and trying more from their menu.

Absolutely loved trying out the new bar in this space! Great service at the bar, and stunning…read moreatmosphere. Food and drinks were delicious too!

My husband has been wanting to take me here since he came with our son. So on the way to the Denver…read moreArt Museum we stopped for lunch. It's loud, it's fun, the staff is soooo friendly and helpful, and the food is delicious! On Fridays it's happy hour all day so gotta love that! We ordered a margarita ($5) and you can't beat that. And they are well balanced- a little on the limey side which is exactly how I love them and refreshing! My husband and I think red snapper is one of the best fishes so we got 2 red snapper tacos and one carnitas taco. The carnitas is flavorful and fall apart tender. The taco is so stuffed that I actually had to eat part of it with a fork. The red snapper is super delish with a pineapple salsa or?? Anyway there is pineapple involved. Not my go to but my husband loves it and the red snapper was so yummy! We did ask for some spicy salsa to add a kick and it was super spicy and amazing as it danced on my tongue. We want to come back for brunch pambazo (sandwich). Thanks for a wonderful experience!

On our trip to Denver, my friend really wanted to try some pozole. We stopped by La Diabla and they…read morecoincidentally had a buy one, get one free pozole for their Thursday special. We tried both the chicken and vegan pozoles. While the vegan one lacked flavor, the chicken one wasn't bad. I just think pozole isn't my personal preference when it comes to Mexican food. Their pastor tacos were pretty good and I'd get those again. The place was busy when we got there so it may have contributed to the chaotic environment. But service can pretty slow and felt disorganized since we had to flag down multiple servers to place an order or ask for refills.

I was surprised to see a Federales in Denver. I've only been to the one in Chicago, so it was a…read morepleasant surprise to find one in Denver, too! This was also my first time trying food at Feds. The drinks and ice shots are always a blast, but I honestly thought the tacos weren't bad at all. The crispy shrimp taco and pork & pineapple taco were both solid and I definitely see myself ordering a few after some drinks.

The service here was absolutely atrocious. I came with a group of friends for a fun afternoon of…read moreday drinking and tacos, and it ended up being one of the slowest dining experiences I've ever had. We waited about 30 minutes just to receive six glasses of water. Once our server finally came back with the waters, we were able to place our food order. Only two people in our group ordered food, and both meals were just tacos, yet it still took over an hour for them to arrive. After we finished, we then waited another 20 minutes just for the server to bring our check and then another 40 for her to come pick up our cards. The food itself was actually good, but the service completely overshadowed it. Spending that much time waiting for such simple requests made the experience incredibly frustrating. Unless you have several hours to spare sitting around, I honestly can't recommend this place. That said, I do like the atmosphere. The bell where you can throw your ice shot glasses is a fun touch and definitely adds to the bar vibe. It's also usually packed with people stopping by for food and drinks, so it has a lively energy. Unfortunately, the service was so poor that I have no desire to come back, despite the good food and fun atmosphere.