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.

In Denver on the way home tonight and need a great sandwich for the plane. I've been to Denver…read morenumerous times and have never heard of Levan's Deli. That changes tonight. We arrived at noon only to find a huge crowd with everyone enjoying outside dining on a sunny day. This place is hopping and the staff is working their butts off. The energy here super high and I wish we were not pressed for time. We ordered a 12 day old pastrami on an unbelievable home-made toasted rye bread with Jarlsberg, Levin sauce and cabbage. The sandwich was hot, tasty and flavor-packed. The crust was a bit tough but it did not stop me from inhaling. The menu is vast, energy is high and this is a place you just were you want to be. I can't wait to return with plenty of time to drool over the menu and survey the dishes flying out of the kitchen. Great job, fun environment and tasty food, congrats Levin Deli!

This is truly one of my absolute favorite places to eat. The Bagel Deli & Restaurant is always…read morebustling with energy - the kind of lively, busy atmosphere that lets you know you're somewhere special. Despite how packed it can get, the food is consistently outstanding, full of flavor, and always hits the spot. What really makes this place unforgettable, though, is Monica. She brings such a warm, welcoming energy even in the middle of the rush. She keeps us laughing and somehow makes every visit feel personal, like we're right at home. An exceptional experience every time - delicious food, vibrant atmosphere, and service that truly stands out. Highly recommended.

Great food and amazing staff. One of my favorite go-to's in Denver. Just an all around top-notch…read morerestaurant. Their service is incredible. Other restaurants should take note.

Local gem, absolutely love Lou's! It is an excellent spot for Italian food, especially sandwiches…read more Always hits the spot. I've tried a few sandwiches from here, and they are all great. The chicken and meatball parms are my favorite. The sauce was delicious, bread was light yet crisp, and was filling. The mozzarella sticks here are also incredible. It's the breading where you know it's an elite mozz stick as soon as you see it. Service is prompt and friendly, and location is clean. They have a good assortment of drinks too. The patio and bocce is a nice touch while waiting or eating, although it is not exactly a calm and quiet street outside. But the inside is very nice. Would recommend and come back here often for a good sandwich!

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.

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!

Stopped in this morning for a sausage, egg, and cheese, and it was exactly what you want from a…read moreclassic bagel spot! The bagel had a perfect balance of chew and saltiness, and the sandwich was put together well with filling in each bite. Rosenberg's is a solid spot for a reliable breakfast sandwich whether you're grabbing something on the run or staying in to eat! They have plenty of seating in the front and back of the restaurant. Definitely looking to come back and try more of their extensive menu!

Got takeout and it didn't disappoint. Tried a breakfast bagel sandwich and the matzo ball soup…read more Competes with the other great bagel places around Denver.

We are longtime fans. There have been some changes over the years but it has consistently been some…read moreof the best food around. Unfortunately a more recent change has cast a shadow over our bright spot. The new French fries. The previous version was a highlight of our meals. Just a humble potato lightly dusted with seasoning salt. Delicious! Not sure what prompted the change but the new ones seem to have breading on or something on them. If they still have the seasoning salt it's difficult to detect. It's a sad day in black rock. The menu still has a lot of quality food. Unfortunately these fries are not included.

We loved everything we had with one exception. I'll explain later…read more The brought a bowl of dill pickles to the table, we enjoyed. We started with the chicken soup. Perfectly simple soup that hits the spot on a colder day. I wish I got the bowl instead of the cup. Our teen has the brisket sandwich. The brisket was tender. We weren't huge fans of the BBQ sauce, would get it on the side next time. My husband had the meal that meal had potato pancakes topped with pastrami. Corned beef and cheese. He loved it. Then I had the pork verse soup it was served with a warm tortilla. It has heat but the pork was so tender. Rey good. Then she brought the potato kinish. I was so excited for it. However. It was microwaves to heat up. I think it was forgotten then quickly made. I didn't eat it. That was our only complaint. We will certainly go back.

FASTest delivery ever!…read more I ordered online from another state to provide food for a family in Shiva. The ordering process took longer than the delivery! So quick and the staff was amazing to offer to help me with a card.

Mein Bubbe would PLOTZ (explode)!!!!! Just an embarrassment…read moreof a Jewish diner. While the former Ambli space has been brightened and renovated to look very much like an east shore market, the seating is less than comfortable. I guess the combo of poor food, bad service and uncomfortable seating is great for turning tables? I will put aside the TERRIBLE service and focus purely on the food. We ate at Zaidy's for breakfast. Many of the breakfast sandwiches are based on their in-house-made bagels. This is a failure! The bagels taste stale for "freshly made" and I find it very odd for a Jewish-themed joint to toss bacon into the sandwich (I personally love bacon, BTW). So setting aside the shanda (shame) bacon...with the cheese, there is an utter lack of seasoning. The breakfast sandwich came with home fried potatoes which were cooked nice and crisp but lacking any seasoning whatsoever. The latke grilled cheese looks appealing but is basically a greasy sponge filled with limp tomato and undercoooked cheese. And finally, the blintzes are an embarrassment to any self-respecting Jew. Zaddy's version are these small pockets that are under fried and more the size of a hamantaschen than a true blinze. I see no reason to rush back. Another few blocks down the street is Sam's 3, where a far better breakfast could be realized and Rosenberg's bagel on Monoco for better bread (albeit that Rosenberg's doesn't serve sandwiches)

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.

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!

Drove past this deli and pulled over because it just screamed at me to come inside with its bright…read moreteal aesthetic! No joke! I am a savory breakfast girlie so I picked out the Mountain View bagel sandwich and a cold brew to go. This spot was so cute, staff were so fun, but the bagels were DELICIOUS! So glad I was able to pull over and try this place!!

I've been here multiple times before and was planning to give 5 stars, but after this visit I was…read moredebating between 3 and 4. I ultimately went with 4 since the sandwiches were great and it's always been great in the past. My best friend and I ordered two bagels and two drinks to split. For the bagels, we got the Bacon Sun City, which is always a favorite, the hot honey adds the perfect touch. For the second bagel, we ordered the Grandezza, which was delicious. I love anything with pesto, and the mozzarella was perfectly melted. For drinks, we ordered an iced Very Cherry Matcha Latte with oat milk and a Honey Lavender Latte (hot). Unfortunately, once we left, we realized the cherry matcha was made as a coffee drink instead of matcha. We were pretty disappointed since we planned to split one matcha and one coffee. The cherry flavor was good, but I would've loved to try it as we ordered it. For the lavender honey latte, we could taste the lavender, but it didn't seem like any honey or sweetener was added. It ended up tasting extremely strong and not sweet at all, so we didn't really drink it. Overall, the bagels were amazing, but I wish there had been more attention to detail with the drinks.

Omg. This was yesterday over on east Colfax. I was originally going to try Park Hill Hub but the…read morewait was too long so I wandered across the street to this gorgeous spacious eatery! It really gave me RVA (Richmond, VA circa early 2000s) nostalgia vibes like for places I worked in around Broadway during college! Wow. Love everything about this place. I'd been going to a lot of coffee shops lately where the style is all like new stuff and new style (which I LOVE) but the style of Tessa Delicatessen was so unexpectedly refreshing. I didn't realize that this part of Colfax was Park Hill! I saw a lot of other interesting places nearby. Can't wait to go back and wander! Not sure if it was the owner that greeted me at the register but she was very friendly and warm. I love the self serve coffee and water and you get to pick a unique mug to drink from. Really strong neighborhood vibe and I think she said it had been open since 2017. So cool! I'm obsessed with the spaciousness and space! My breakfast sandwich did explode all over my hand - so be careful! The egg is soft inside! I got coffee, cheesy hash and the breakfast sandwich. $25 for everything including tip. I think that's a great deal for a lovely morning vibe and breakfast in 2026!

Tessa Delicatessen was our first stop of the year, and if inviting prosperity involves eating well,…read morewe absolutely did it right. We started with their traditional black eyed pea soup because good luck traditions matter. Shortly after, I "found" three dollars in my coat pocket. Was it already my change from the store? Yes. Did I still credit the soup? Also yes. From there, we leaned fully into deli mode. The cheeseburger was solid and satisfying, the Reuben hit all the right notes, and the macaroni salad was exactly what you want it to be. No frills, just done right. Dessert sealed the deal. The cheesecake was rich without being heavy, and the carrot cake was genuinely excellent. Tessa feels like one of those neighborhood spots you can come back to again and again. Comforting, straightforward, and very good at what they do. Fortune and prosperity aside, this place is worth a visit on its own.