Easily one of my favorite places in Denver. You need to go with a big group so you can try…read moreeverything. Here's some of the best things we got: Lemon bucatini is a must. The pasta was el Dante and it was the perfect mix of lemon. Mushroom aranchini was delicious. I was doubtful but it was easily one of the best. Corsican frites could be over looked but they were a crowd pleaser. I could've done without the rigatoni, nothing special about it. I also could've done without the mussels, they were a little fishy but my friends loved them. The service was amazing. It was my friends birthday and the waiter brought over espresso martini shots with a candle and a cake. Everything came out super quick but timed well.

BEST food in Denver, both me & my boyfriend agreed after our recent dinner there. Every single…read moreplate was outstanding so it's hard to choose which one was our favorite but you at least need to get: the lemon bucatini, mushroom small plate, and the NY strip. Need to add that service was incredible. Chef James, Brandon, and Billy wowed us and felt like friends by the end. We're also picky about restaurant lighting (LOL), and the lighting & vibe were perfection. Going back ASAP!

Love their tapas and the big warm bread baskets…read more The service is very patient and kind. The ambiance is great for a date night or to sit at the bar.

What a nightmare. I live in Connecticut where there are many Barcelonas and this being the only one…read morein Denver. This is the worst representation of how a Barcelona should be. Let's start with the size of bathroom 1 stall 1 urinal for a place this size is ridiculous.Guys stacked inside all waiting to use bathroom . Next we were sat outside by the flower box. There were dead flies floating in my glass of water, I asked for a new glass which was given immediately. The plate for the oil had to be asked to be replaced as well because there was dirt and facial hair on it. That was also replaced and after pouring the oil on new plate we clearly see and took a picture of more hair in the oil. The flies were out of control the whole time constantly swatting at them. Yellow jacket wasps flying around the flowers which is probably causing more bugs i recommend fake flowers or any attempt to decrease them. The flowers were also watered twice by I belive a manager mid aged male who splashed my fiance both times with water has he did not water them carefully he was flinging the last of water out of can nd got her both times. He was not mindful of her being litterally 1 ft away and she made it very obvious in her reaction both times just careless. The new york strip had to be re done as we asked for it to be with out horseradish it came with it on anyway and medium rare . Cooking style was never asked nd shouldn't be assumed to be rare at all especially when its not listed on menu that way. I personally refused to order anything and only stayed because my fiance didn't want to waste the trip. This whole experience felt like anything but classy. Will never return.

Great service. Instagram-worthy, you get a great view, the decor is artistic, and the food has a…read morebeautiful presentation. Food is something to enjoy for its flavor, but it is not a place to get a big plate for your money; it's more of an experience for you and your date night. Recommended if you want know about food more a taste experience.

From arrival to departure was exceptional. The amuse bouche really set the tone at the chef's…read moretable. It truly blew me away. And from that point on, from first taste, I knew my experience would be exceptional. The service was attentive without being overly attentive, and the chef's were so kind, answering every one of my weird questions about what they were preparing or ingredients that I noticed. I ordered the smoked burrata to start. The balance between the candied pistachio, artichoke pesto, and wagyu cecina really created a well balanced and unexpected dish. The burrata was creamy and the salty and sweet components balanced the aged sherry gastrique and made for an incredible intro to a beautiful performance by the chefs. Next was another small dish, which I wish I remembered the description for (I need to bring a little notebook with me), but it was a perfect segue into the next course, the ibérico presa. Wow. Just wow. White asparagus has got to be one of my favorite vegetables next to artichokes, when done exceptionally well, as they most definitely were. The piquillo peppers and pickled shallots complemented the pork, which was so soft, perfectly. I definitely died and went to heaven at this point in the meal. This is probably when I should've stopped eating because after this point, still pure delight, but my poor stomach was soooooo full. Next was another small bite to lead into my next course, also incredible. Wish I could describe it. My next course was the European sea bass. Now, sea bass is my favorite fish of all time. The perfectly crisp skin, the red onion jam, the spicy sweet balance was perfection. I loved every bite. The olive oil potatoes were a perfect complement. And at this point, I was bursting at the seems... but I still ordered dessert, because you only live once and food is one of the great joys of life. For dessert, I had the crema. The honeycomb on top, the cherries, all leading to a perfect finish. A time was had. Thanks El Five

Went to Mantra Cafe for a late lunch after hearing a coworker mention the naan tika tacos. I…read moreusually stick to the same few places, but this ended up being a nice change from the usual downtown spots. The tacos came out fresh and had a good mix of flavor without being too spicy. Service was easygoing and the cashier answered a couple questions about the menu without making me feel rushed. My food took around ten minutes, which seemed reasonable since they were getting a steady lunch crowd. The place has a casual atmosphere where people actually sit and relax for a while instead of eating and leaving right away.

My first encounter with this restaurant was 7-8 months ago as a quick takeout. As I was quite…read moreimpressed with the quality of the food I had back then I had been looking forward to experiencing it again. This time I go to dine in. Since my adult daughter and I were going to be there for a little celebration I made the reservation through the restaurant's website requesting to be seated at a 4-person table. Unfortunately upon arrival the restaurant not only did not even check to see if they had us on the reservation list they also didn't allow us to sit at a 4-person table. The restaurant wasn't busy at all on a Monday night so they simply treated us like a "walk-in" guest. Mmm...what's the purpose of the reservation link on their website if they don't value it?? They took us to one of the smaller two-person tables. After sitting there for 5 minutes or so perusing the menu, we kindly asked one of the workers if we could move to the bar seating that overlooks the busy Broadway. This was the game changer. The elevated seats and the tabletop made the ambience feel more like a special occasion. Thank goodness...this was the only bummer part of our dinner. The rest, fortunately, went quite well! Food: It looks like another Indian/Nepali restaurant at first but in my personal experience, this one ranks the best or top tier for their authenticity. The below is directly copied/pasted from the electronic recipe of ours: -PANI-PURI (Vegan/DF) $8.00 -Ice Tea $3.00 -Masala Chai $4.00 -COCONUT CURRY WHITE FISH. (DF/GF)$20.00 (Medium heat) -KHATTI MITTHI BHINDI (VEGAN/ GF) $15.00 (Medium heat) -WHOLE WHEAT BREAD $3.00 Pani-puri came out after our two main dishes although Pana-Puri is more of an appetizer (lol). Tho two main dishes were cooked in a medium heat and yet they were extremely doable even for someone like me who is not much of a "heat" person. My daughter is not a big fan of naan bread so as she is way more versed in the very cuisine (she had just come back from India spending a month to be trained to be a yoga instructor with a certification) she suggested we get the thin wheat bread. This bread went efficiently well with our two mains. Both iced teas were a great accompaniment to our whole meal. And again, how authentic everything tasted and how meticulously everything was cooked and prepared, it was something we couldn't ask for better quality. A bit of a disappointment with the whole reservation situation and yet the quality of the food broke even at the end. Service was good to decent although it wasn't exceptional but our basic needs were met.

Bruto is always such a memorable and enjoyable experience. This is a food Laboratory at its finest…read more 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

Elevated tasting menu inspired by Chef Byron's Costa Rican roots. Brutø is inspired by a brutalist,…read moreraw 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.

Step into the sleek, intimate charm of @ototoden in Denver's Old South Pearl Street Shopping…read moreDistrict. They're now offering a delicious lunch. As the relaxed counterpart to Sushi Den and Izakaya Den, Oto offers a more casual yet equally elevated dining experience, where the focus is on traditional pub-style Japanese cuisine. Explore a curated selection of sake, Japanese beers, and thoughtfully crafted cocktails that perfectly complement the savory menu. In Japanese, Ototo means "younger brother." The name is a perfect, playful nod to the restaurant's hierarchy and family dynamic on South Pearl Street. Bonus treat: The South Pearl Street Farmers' Market runs on Sundays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, typically from early May through mid-November. Lunch Hours : Sunday: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Lunch/Brunch) Monday & Tuesday: CLOSED

Went for Happy Hour to officially try this place. Ordered a handful on the happy hour menu and a…read morefew items from the menu. The ambiance was super chill and laid back. HH includes some entrees and small plates: 1. Crab Wontons: real crab, very minimal, a lot of sour cream and super overpowering. 2. Ribs: literally melted in your mouth and fell off the bone. The guava and fruity flavor was a nice hint. 3. Sushi Sample: completely forgot to ask without wasabi and the chef was extremely heavy handed, but it was still fresh. 4. Wagyu Sando: absolutely delish, and the blackberry sauce was super complimentary. 5. Honey Miso Eggplant: loved the flavor and reminded me of a sweet mushy cucumber almost Regular Menu; 1. Bacon Mochi, this is definitely an experience but was a huge miss 2. Pork Chashu Fried Rice: absolute must! Our server didnt mix it, but I figured with two large spoons I was suppose to. The crispy edges were perfection. Overall such a great happy hour! It was about $120 with tip for all of it! Would try and come back for the upbeat happy hour experience.

The vodka pasta was to die for and the salad was very good. The vibes her are great and it ls a…read moregood price for an amazing meal. Also very helpful with allergies and the gf pasta was one of the best I have ever had the atmosphere was amazing and great for a date. It's a must eat. Also the service was top tier and all the waiters where very social and easy to converse with

WOW! Dio Mio knocks it out of the park…read more I recently visited Dio Mio with a friend for their Monday spaghetti special, and I think I may have found my go-to pasta spot! We started with the focaccia appetizer with whipped black butter and were both thoroughly impressed. The focaccia was beautifully levened and spongy, finished with flake salt. YUM! We opted for the spaghetti and added meatballs and I'm so glad we went this route. The sauce was packed with flavor, I didn't think it was possible to capture the ripeness of the tomato base so perfectly in a red sauce this way. On top of the incredible food, the staff was very attentive and personable, which is unsurprising given the quality of the food. Seems they keep the bar set pretty high across the board. I'll be back, hopefully I get to try more items this go around!

We went in for an event that was being hosted at Bar AC. Paul was manning the bar and did an…read moreexcellent job. He efficiently handled the bar area even though there were a ton of us. There was ample seating with an array of types. The bathroom is just around the corner. We did order food to the bar. Both tapas were delicious. We really enjoyed the avocado toast. The lamb Albondigas were also excellent.

Recently stayed at the hotel and stopped at this place for a nightcap. It is a quaint space…read moreconnected to the Meridian offering a full bar and appetizer menu. The prices are typical for what you would pay downtown however they do have a free pool table patrons are able to use. We were there on a Friday and almost the entire place was empty so it seems to be a very transitional spot for tourists.