Beef Carpaccio is a hit, I looked on yelp and it was absolutely right. Zack is the man!read more

The human body is, in essence, nothing more than a biological furnace that requires regular fueling…read moreto keep from shutting down. Most restaurants treat you like a boiler that just needs a shovel full of coal or two. A few rare places, however, persuade you to stay a little longer because returning to the streets seems like a failure of imagination. Stellar Jay is one of those places. There were three of us. We targeted the Populus Hotel downtown, a building designed to mimic the white bark of an Aspen tree, though all of us called it the cheese grater. It is a strangely beautiful building. Finding the restaurant requires a bit of minor navigation. We wandered into the lobby looking like lost sheep until a doorman, who had clearly witnessed our specific brand of confusion a thousand times before, quietly escorted us to the elevator. When the doors opened on the top floor, we didn't see the dining room first. We smelled it. The air carried the distinct, clean scent of burning hardwood. It wasn't smoky; it was just a gentle announcement that the most ancient human technology, a very large fire, was being used correctly. Our server, Emily, was excellent. She explained the kitchen's core rule: just about everything on the menu is kissed by an open flame. We started with drinks. A Rittenhouse Rye for me, and a Crémant d'Alsace Rosé and a Washington Riesling for my companions. Then came the food. We chose to share small plates because ordering individual entrees encourages greediness and isolates you from your friends. First was the sourdough from Rebel Bread Co. It came with a charred onion butter that was a minor miracle. Butter is usually content to be a background character, but this stuff deserved its own union card. Next was a grass-fed beef carpaccio dressed with sunflower emulsion and potato, followed by gnocchi tossed in a bright broccoli pesto with chili and ricotta. Then came the bone marrow, split open and piled with oxtail, shallot, and mustard. It is a primitive business, scraping the fat out of a mammal's leg bone, but it was magnificent. For dessert, we ordered the strawberry rhubarb zeppole and drank Espresso Martinis made with Del Diablo tequila. The martinis were sharp and woke us up just enough to appreciate the view. After paying the bill, we stepped out onto the outdoor terrace. The Denver skyline was blinking away in the dark beneath us. The universe is a chaotic and indifferent place, but standing on a rooftop with good friends, watching a city glow, feels like a very pleasant victory, no matter how fleeting. We went in looking for calories and left feeling like actual human beings.

My husband and I have lived in the Denver/Boulder area for 37 years, and over the years have eaten…read moremany times at Bonanno Concepts restaurants--favorites include Luca, Mizuna, Osteria Marco. Frank Bonanno often crafts a themed menu/wine pairing night at these restaurants, which are always a treat, and we have become regulars at these events. On August 22nd, 2026, Frank Bonanno's flagship restaurant, Mizuna, turned 25. The celebration "progressive" concept was oh, so fun! You may know that Bonanno Concepts basically owns the corner of 7th and Grant St., sharing the area with another of his longstanding successes, Luca, as well as his neighborhood bar called Vesper. Well, the 25th anniversary celebration was a progressive dinner. One could choose to start at Luca or Mizuna (we chose Luca--no real reason why). Part of the way through the meal, the lucky diners were released into the beautiful evening onto the patio behind Luca and Mizuna to enjoy live music and popsicles, and chatter with the staff, customers, and Frank Bonanno himself. Then, on to the other restaurant (in our case, we took a seat at Mizuna) to complete the evening. The menu and other details were not released prior to the evening, but were to be experienced as the evening played out. My expectation was that we had our meal and Luca, and would eat dessert at Mizuna. I also wondered if the menu would be different depending on the restaurant at which you started the evening. After "progressing" to Mizuna, we had a new menu revealing more information. This two-sided menu celebrated Mizuna's 25th birthday, and told a little about the history of the space. It also had double-numbered courses, and two sides. Indeed, everyone at both restaurants were eventually served the same courses, in a different order depending on the restaurant at which you started. At popsicle time, we were only 1/2 finished with our experience! As usual, the service and food were impeccable. The wine pairings were fun, and served by a knowledgable wine steward. We always have questions to ask about their often unique alcohol offerings (they usually also have non-alcoholic choices, if you prefer). Their classic lobster Mac, and Gerry's rolls (Gerry is their baker, and these iconic rolls are always on the table at Mizuna) and flavored butters are as good as it gets. My favorites of the nigh were the heirloom tomato, the ravioletta, the green tea poached Chilean sea bass, and the cookies and bread pudding (note--Frank Bonanno has introduced me to "Pre Dessert", a fabulous concept to add to life!). I don't have a picture of the ravioletta, but the first bite was like nothing else--rich, cheesy, ooey-gooey. I had to save mine to take home, as it would have been the last thing I ate that night! As a special treat this evening, Jacqueline, Frank's wife, with all her positive energy, stopped at our table to chat and say "Hi". Congratulations on 25 years, and here's to 50 more!

My husband took me here for my birthday and we had an astonishingly wonderful experience! We had…read morejust gone to see the new movie "Tony," and this was a fantastic follow-up to that experience as we were reminiscing about both of our past work around restaurants/the culinary field. We didn't realize the setup ahead of time: it's primarily a tasting menu with 7-plus (!) courses, served at a perfectly timed, leisurely pace, in such a warm and welcoming environment that it feels like you are having a spa day at the home of the most wonderful family friend. We especially enjoyed the arancini (divine - the best I've ever had) and the chawanmushi (egg custard with pork belly) -- I *love* chawanmushi and so seldom encounter it in the wild!! The duck was delicious, but I was too full by that time to appreciate it, so my husband ate both of ours and gave it its due. The bread, the Austrian (?!) sauvignon blanc by the glass, the chocolates and pre-dessert (which I honestly preferred to the dessert) were all so wonderfully delicious, but the service elevated the entire evening to a truly special night that was worth every penny. The team here is extraordinary. We haven't been to Mizuna in many years, but we will remedy that situation soon. This would be an incredible choice for a birthday, anniversary, or proposal (swoon).

Wonderful dining experience in Cherry creek! The outdoor patio is secluded and feels like stepping…read moreinto Paris. The staff is always attentive , knowledgeable, and friendly. The robust rotating specials menu makes this place extra special since I always find a new favorite. The mussels are my go to appetizer. I tried the lamb for the first time and it was fantastic, very flavorful and perfect cooked. Seafood risotto was quite good too

To start, lovely ambiance. My boyfriend and I ordered the Caesar salad to share and start. I was a…read morelittle disappointed in the lack of flavor in the dressing and the lettuce was a little brown. I should have taken a picture but I was so hungry! Next we ordered the steak Au Poivre to share. The portion size was perfect for us. I really enjoyed the sauce on the steak and it was cooked perfectly to temp. I thought the vegetables and au gratin potatoes were both plain tasting. It was by no means bad but it wasn't worth the price in my opinion. However, I would be open to coming back to try something else next time.

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.

Note that my partner and I dined at Beckon a month prior. We opted for the multi course menu…read more 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.

Food was delicious. My only comment is that the only options for vegetarians are salads. I was…read morehoping for a warm vegetarian meal, so this was a bit disappointing. My meat eating friends loved their meals and had wonderful feedback. Ambiance outside was lovely. Pet friendly also made it extra nice. Overall, we will definitely be back with high hopes for future veggie options

I've been going to Le Bilboquet Cherry Creek since the day it opened and was a regular for years…read moreand years, going multiple times every week. We were extremely well-known and respected there -- to the point that they created custom drinks specifically for us that eventually made it onto the menu. That's how familiar we were with this restaurant. I stopped going years ago after the management and menu changed, and because I was moving out of state near a different location. Yesterday, I decided to come back with two friends and see how things were. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment and will never be returning unless appropriate action are taken. We're cherry creek locals and have been since birth so this sucks to have to write. From the moment we walked in, we were treated coldly and dismissively and were looked at up and down very rudely. We were dressed casually but were hardly dressed inappropriately or slobbish -- I was wearing The Row with a very rare and expensive crocodile Birkin, and we were all wearing significant jewelry costing well over 500k which isn't a flex or a thing to try to be better but obviously we work very hard for people almost 30. Regardless of how someone dresses or styles themselves, that should never affect the service they receive anywhere. We asked for bread and were rudely told, "It's coming." And I don't understand why it would be coming when you have to order it and it's an extra charge for bread now as well. Twenty-five minutes later, still no bread. We asked again when ordering and were told yes, yet we ultimately waited around 50 minutes and never received it and or our food which they made us put in with in being sat down within 10 minutes. When we asked about the fig salad special, our server flat out told us in a rude voice " it's lettuce, cheese and fig," with no explanation of the greens, cheese, dressing, etc. This is supposed to be a luxury restaurant, not Applebee's. Also it's greens not lettuce and also what kind of cheese ? You expect that in a "five star restaurant" We eventually spoke with the manager, who apologized but seemed completely indifferent and like he had other stuff to worry about. And honestly: PLEASE BRING ELONA BACK. She was amazing. When she was here, the service, professionalism, attention to detail, and hospitality were completely different and it felt amazing from the staff to the environment as well. I never experienced anything like this when she was managing the restaurant. She knew her guests and understood what a luxury dining experience was supposed to be. This restaurant is a micro shell of what it used to be. We were longtime, loyal customers who supported this place multiple times a week for years, and yesterday we were treated like we were an inconvenience. We left without paying because after that experience, we did not feel we had received anything worth paying for. Le Bilboquet used to be a five-star experience. It simply isn't anymore. Bring Elona back. She was amazing and please fix the staff and your training of your staff as well when it comes to how they treat everyone. You don't know who has money and doesn't so never judge off there looks

Went to BearLeek to celebrate my siblings all being in town for the first time and years and the…read moreexperience did not disappoint. The service was attentive, kind and very quick. Checking in on our experience and making sure we were enjoying ourselves. My family tried almost everything on the menu and everything was delicious. The French Onion Tart blew us all away as well as the Tuna Crudo. The biggest surprise of the night was the Compressed Melons!

Bear Leek was so good. The atmosphere is great, the music and lighting are perfect, and everyone…read moreworking there was incredibly friendly. My friend and I sat at the bar and had such a fun night. The ricotta agnolotti was easily my favorite dish. It was a 10/10. We also got the French onion tartlet, which I loved. If you like caramelized onions, you have to order it. It was sweet and savory and almost tasted like an onion dessert (in the best way possible). The bread and butter was also delish. There were only two dishes I wasn't crazy about, but that was definitely more of a personal preference on my end. One was an artichoke dish where you ate the whole artichoke. I realized I just don't love that texture. The other was a tuna tartare with cheese. The combination wasn't really for me, and the tuna was a little fishier than I prefer. My friend loved both, though. I also love that the menu is seasonal, so there's always a reason to come back. Overall, this is an easy five stars, and I can't wait to come back and try more!!!

What a great dinner for our anniversary celebration!…read more Not gonna lie anytime I see - farm to table - my initial thought is always - could they be pretentious? Not this place! We had such an amazing time with all the yummies! Their menu changes by the season and availability of the products. We started with the roasted beets - always a summer staple - what an interesting mix of plum sauce and sesame chili crunch oil. A little on the spicy side if you're spicy sensitive but it was the perfect level for us. We loved the sauce so much that we let Tina know that we wish we could sop up the leftover sauce when she was taking our plate away - she immediately sat it back down and said she could totally get us a couple slices of bread for that - drool! We also ordered the cast iron corn bread from the starter menu - it was piping hot and served with some sweet cream butter and house made peach jam. Don't sleep on those - I could have this for dessert too, so tasty! Main entrees - we ordered the pork chop and the salmon. I initially wanted the pork chop but didn't want the BBQ sauce cuz I'm not a sweet on savory girl... I opted for the salmon w all savory ingredients... Gosh, both are so amazing, thanks to the hubby for sharing his pork chop with me, the sauce was good and not too sweet - also it was more on the plate than drizzled all over so the pork really was able to shine through. So tender and juicy too. The curry potato salad paired w it was very refreshing and delicious. The salmon was nicely done, placed over a bed of dill dressed salad and smashed baked baby potatoes.. the potatoes were hot and crispy, the salad well dressed with nice big pieces of cucumbers and croutons. We are usually not dessert folks but we couldn't pass up the double chocolate pot du crème. It was lightly sweet and the cream was creamy but not sweet - really brought out the double chocolate - the sugared walnut was such a nice touch. We received complimentary 2 little celebratory bubbles for our anniversary from the restaurant and it was such a nice touch. I remember Wildflower also did that for our last anniversary dinner - so grateful for those. Tina was our server and she was amazing, made really great recommendations and super thoughtful w the bread for our beet sauce. Thanks Plimouth for making our anniversary special!

Came here for the first time for my anniversary and I liked it quite a bit, but can't say all the…read morefood blew me away like I was hoping. We started with three shareable appetizers and the best one by far was the peach and ricotta with herbed oil. It was fresh and vibrant and played with the balance between sweet and savory in such a fun way. This was my husband's favorite bite. The next one was the cornbread and it was ok. The cornbread itself was sweet and a little gooey in the center but crispy on the outside. Not terrible by any means, but with the honey butter it eats almost too sweet. Then the jam it was served with was super tart and it just wasn't to my tastes. The last shareable was the charred broccoli with plums and Polenta. This was my second favorite but the char was intense and made it a little bitter. The polenta was delicious and creamy though and I loved the sauce and plums. Me and my husband shared two entrees and the first was the grilled pork. It had some really good flavors, especially the pork chop. In fact it was the best pork chop I've ever had and the peach and onion slaw went with it so well. Whoever was working the grill really knows what they are doing. This was definitely my favorite bite. What didn't work was how overcrowded the plate was. The potato salad also felt unnecessary and the curry flavor with all the other things on the plate was an odd choice. It was also unevenly salted on the cauliflower and some were bland and others super salty. The other entree we got was the salmon. The sauce was great and so were the crispy potatoes but the salmon was underseasoned and the skin wasnt crispy, so that was a bummer. The salad was really nice but we didnt enjoy the bagel chips as they were hard and in really large pieces. Dessert was good but the plum tart, wasnt actually a tart but more of a galette. I wasn't expecting Puff pastry but the cream and plums were delicious. The apricot sorbet was nice and bright and made a great way to end the meal. Overall the food had some real highs and lows, but the service was very nice. All the wait staff was very attentive and the restaurant is small but inviting. I love that this is a scratch kitchen and the menu changes daily but it can also mean that some dishes aren't as refined. I would definitely come back and try some of the other things cause when the food here hits, it hits good and is worth it to me to keep coming back.

We came here for brunch to celebrate our anniversary. Kir Royal is delicious! The Bellini was…read moregood too. ($11.5). Then we ordered two Benedict with confit du canard. (Duck) $22. It was delicious in English muffins. The waiter recommended the thick duck fat hash brown. It was good and different. Service was great - Friendly staff. We had our pup and they gave him a treat. We sat in their outdoor patio with shades and a slight breeze perfect for a brunch date.

Don't be fooled by the cutesy "Oui Chefs" menu...young kids are absolutely not welcome here, even…read moreif they're quiet, even in the middle of the afternoon. And you'll be openly humiliated and insulted as an adult by even daring to bring your kid. My husband and I come here regularly for a date and we love the place. This afternoon we brought our 1 year old with us for the first time; she loves fries and this place has great pommes frites. We came at 4:30pm and it was probably 90% empty, and obviously not like romantic date night time. First, they tried to seat us alone in the back room, and when we asked to sit in the main dining room (where there were ~15 open tables), the hostess was demonstrably annoyed...despite the fact that every other party was seated in the main room. Worth noting, we come here often at the same time without our daughter, and have never once been seated in the back room alone. Our daughter was sitting quietly in her high chair "reading" the menu and playing with stickers, a few of which she dropped on the floor...because, you know, she's 1. A staff member repeatedly walked by giving us dirty looks and complaining to other staff members about the stickers within earshot. After hearing it multiple times, my husband said, "don't worry, we always pick up after our child." The staff member snapped back, "well they're clearly already going to stick to the floor". My husband replied "we are going to pick them up...kids drop things and things happen". She rolled her eyes, and walked away. We always clean up after our kid. We go out of our way to make sure she's only in appropriate places at appropriate times...like, I obviously wouldn't bring her to this restaurant at 7 PM on a weekend night where she might disrupt adults looking for a romantic night. But she was just sitting there quietly playing with stickers, not bothering anyone (except apparently this staff member). I'm shocked that a place with high chairs and a kids menu would not only be so unwelcoming before we even sat down, but would also insult us as adults by insinuating we would leave our kids trash on the ground in their restaurant. And to stand there and openly talk about us in front of other staff members?? Genuinely stunned, offended and frankly humiliated. FWIW, before we left, I picked up every single sticker in under 10 seconds, because I'm a decent member of society and I intentionally buy my kid stickers that are removable and won't stick to a restaurant's floor or tables. Bistro Vendome: if you find a sticker belonging to my kid, I will personally return and remove it, but I will otherwise never in a million years be back.