So, so inconsistent. Welcome home to dry, mac n cheese, and awful customer service. More complaints but I don't care to put anymore energy into this shithole. Go for a cheap beer and forget about the rest of your experience. read more

Sputnik - So, so inconsistent. Welcome home to dry, mac n cheese, and awful customer service. Go for cheap beer and burnt food. Good luck. - Bars Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I love that Sputnik has a bunch of veggie friendly options and is super affordable, but I'd be happy to pay a couple bucks more for food that was executed a bit better - although I appreciate a good cheap dive now and again. Stopped in with some friends on a Sunday morning and shared a cheap carafe of cheap mimosa (would be a great starting point for a budget day-drunk). I had the falafel, and my friends shared the chilaquiles and a cuban. The falafel was a bit dry but had good flavor, I think adding some more tzatziki or having a more assertive flavor on the tzatziki would've helped. I liked the slab of vegan spam on the cuban but it needed a lot more pickle/mustard flavor to taste like the real thing. I appreciated that the restaurant wasn't slammed with brunchers, but it definitely felt and tasted like a cheap restaurant. Service was friendly but a bit slow. Next time I'm a little bit more hungover and in the area, I think that might improve the experience. read more

I like this spot for late night pickle chips and vegan corn dogs. It's a hipster spot for sure, but that's kinda what it's all about. The food is good, and the atmosphere is fun! read more

Everything about sputnik is great. What a lovely place that's like a home away from home.

I still love Sputnik for all the old reasons, but I thought I needed to update my review for two reasons that have to do with brunch specifically. 1. No more bottomless mimosas. Now they are $5 for a carafe which is still a helluva deal. It also makes it a wee bit easy to get a booth between the hours of 11 and 3 these days. Because people used to sit there forever before. 2. The Potato/Chorizo Taco Plate is my new favorite thing to eat at brunch here. You get flour tortillas with scrambled eggs or tofu, chorizo or vegan chorizo, potatoes, and cheese. And it's served with pico and pinto beans. Delicious! Especially when you add avocado. As Porky Pig would say, that's all folks. read more

Sputnik is a great name for this place, because it's like a knock-off McDonald's in Moscow during the Cold War. It's a bunch of kids trying to emulate something they know nothing about, and as a result, eating crappy food because they are under the mistaken impression that it is "cool". Let me spell it out for you - food and hipsters don't mix. If you haven't washed your hair in a week, good for you - I now know you listen to Hot Chip and Tegan and Sara (and you secretly STILL love the Shins), but dirty kids in skinny jeans who are practiced at seeming jaded, sarcastic, and ironic don't make the best waiters. Basically, Sputnik is full of people who want to be hipsters, and Sputnik is a facility that wants to be a restaurant, but no one is terribly successful at either, so at best it's a dramatic failure. A breakfast place that masquerades as a joint that caters to people who have (supposedly) been up all night playing a gig with their indie band or having a marathon stitch-and-bitch should at very least have good bloody marys. THEY DON'T. Tomato juice is only a starter ingredient, people. There are lots of other ingredients, and no, I'm not talking about fancy garnishes. There's no reason to put peppercinis and olives on a glass of frickin' V8. In other words, you can't polish a turd. *It gets one star because my fiance's grilled cheese was pretty good. Oh, and because you can't give zero stars. Hmm. read more

For all you peeps who like to put people in boxes: It is not a prerequisite to be a hipster to like the food or atmosphere of Spunik. I happen to like the menu here it's eclectic, yet comforting and anyone who puts sweet potato fries with breakfast has it going on! Plus hello they have the photo booth which is awesome! We came for the first leg of our mac n cheese tour and while I only had one bite of the mac n cheese it was pretty tasty and must have been baked cause it had some nice crunchier pieces in it that I really enjoyed. Knowing that there is a limit to how much mac n cheese I can eat I opted for a corn dog which was plain delightful. I also got a side of their habenero jelly to dip it in and it gave just the right zip of spiciness! Plus they were really accommodating to our large group and a bit heavy handed on our order which I thought was very sweet! read more

Sputnik is a great neighborhood bar that is best enjoyed on a weeknight, when it is sparsely populated, and mainly by locals (including many artists, musicians and hipsters). The vibe is friendly. There's a live music venue next door, with the same owners, so you may see the band escape over here for for quick cocktail or snack. I enjoyed a cocktail myself here on a random Thursday; A DJ was playing an eclectic vinyl mix on two turntables; Plenty of room at the bar; plenty of friendly folks, even though I was outsider guy. Beware the weekends, when "bar tourists" and posers of all stripes descend in droves, crowding the bar 4 people deep. Or so I've heard from my neighborhood contact. read more

You had me at corndog. But kept me with macaroni and cheese. I'd heard about this magical bar but it wasn't until I checked it out for myself that I understood it's supernatural power. Clearly, this is a bar with a strong menu of drinks and food alike. The first thing that caught my eye was the pineapple infused rum but since I had a long night behind me and a party ahead of me I opted for food first. There is no easy way to describe the look of pure happiness I felt when I saw corndogs on the menu. Granted this is strange since I'd already heard these were on here. Anyways, I ordered the corndog and a few minutes later dinner arrives and looks as good as it sounded. It didn't disappoint in the taste category either. As I mentioned my delight to others nearby they all suggested the mac n cheese. Who am I to argue with locals? I ordered the bowl of cheesy goodness and once again I was not disappointed. Later that night I had some of the pineapple infused rum, it wasn't bad but wasn't corndog good. However, few things are and Sputnik set the bar pretty high. As far as service and staff they are wonderful. And of course the Miamian bartender didn't hurt. I only wish Sputnik's owners decided to open up a Miami location. Note to owners: We need you in Miami! read more

And again...why do you keep sucking me in, making me think you are cool? I took a friend from out of town for some late night food and drinks after Delite kicked us out. I ordered the mac and cheese b/c my experience on the tour was so great. When it was delivered it looked like burnt gouloush(sp?). I was kinda scurred to eat it. I tasted. Potatoes au gratin? hmmm My friend ordered the cuban sandwich which was tasty, but get this. Aside from greeting us and taking our initial order - our server went from smiley to surly in about 10 minutes. Dropped our check without the teeniest concern for "Would you like another drink"...in a bar. Puh - lease. Bite me. read more

Can't hate on Sputnik. Like my grandpa always used to say, "Mess with the hipsters, get the girl pants." Remember, when it first opened, it was an extension of the newly fledgling Hi-Dive, offering food and a place to chill. Would you rather have Quixote's back there? Food is better than decent. I like the sweet potato fries, and I appreciate the different sauce choices (ghetto Vesta anyone?). The Vietnamese sandwich is also quite tasty. I have no need to be part of "the scene" anymore, so most of the time, when I hit up Sputnik, it's for a quick bite before seeing a band next door, or at the 3 Kings, and it's not crowded, nor bumping.... ...just like me. Take that as you will. read more

Great service, I was so excited to see a menu that was so vegan friendly. I had two corn dogs (vo), pickle chips, basket of fries, and a Philly cheese steak (vo) and LOVED all of it. Will be back for sure, can't wait to take my parents here! read more

Where to begin? I had heard accolades about Sputnik for ages, but have never found my way here. Thankfully, Miss Carly B suggested it for our book club location for this month. Perfect pairing for the novel! Sputnik is dark, but welcoming. Plenty of space is to be had at the long bar or at the cozy booths. The food was surprisingly tasty; I had the green falafel pita and it was nom worthy. I took everyone's advice and added a side of the sweet potato fries: definitely a good decision! Dip these bad boys in siracha ranch sauce, oh my! Fantastic! In short, two words: hipsters' paradise. That being said, there's nothing wrong with that! The hipster at the bar knitting his next beanie certainly kept me entertained. Good food, cheap drinks, good service. Sputnik is a little rough around the edges, but I dug it. read more

I really used to like the Sputnik concept; until last time I went there for happy hour, we still had 5 minutes left on the clock, grabbed the waitress attention and ordered a drink, she than mentioned that happy hour was over and if it was okay, I showed her the clock and she told me that Sputnik's clock is about 10 minutes ahead and that's what they go by. Lame. read more

Wow, so bad! We walked in and no one greeted our group of 6, we were then rudely told "seat yourself wherever!" After we sat we waited quite a long time for service and our waitress was so rude I could barely stand it. We went in for the vegan options and the food was actually good but the service was so horrible I can't imagine returning. We asked her to split the check and she said no.... She was condescending, never brought refills, and completely ignored our requests. I've never left no tip in my life until now. We heard her tell the bar tender "I'm not splitting a F#$ing check, like really? F@#k off" I'm baffled that this even happened, she made us feel bad for eating there. I will not return. read more

A Vietnamese sandwich within walking distance. I love my South Broadway. Dive bar, great food, hipsters and neighborhood folk alike, this place is cool. That would be cool with a "K" in some circles. The Vietnamese sandwich was perfect. Great really, no driving to Federal all the time for this little bit of heaven stuffed inside of fresh bread. Delish, finger licking good. The sweet potato fries, oh my, good and good for you! The ball-n-chain had the pulled pork sandwich and ate every bite. Yabba dabba do. In the near future, find me at the bar, eating and having my way with those endless mimosas. read more

Good food for a bar, but that's about the only redeeming quality of this place. If you want a waitstaff and kitchen staff that could care less that you are supporting their business then this is the place for you. Sputnik used to let you order takeout from the small window alongside the building. They stopped doing this, which is fine, but when my wife tried to order from the window they made her feel like a complete idiot. They mocked her and they treated her with great disrespect because she simply asked if she could place an order. I don't think we'll be supporting Sputnik anymore. read more

I hadn't been in here in a while, and since I had friends visiting from California (and we were hungover) I decided to take them to the hangover brunch. The food was fine (although the bread used in the sandwiches seems like a serious downgrade from the bread I remember). The service was so bad it was like those terrible corporate training videos where they show you how NOT to act, and then show you HOW to act. This was all what not to do. Our server was great at first, and then fizzled out until by the end of our meal we didn't have a server (despite the fact that dude was still loitering around). We ended up walking up to the bar to handle our final few requests, which were met with outright indifference from other employees. While we sat there, wanting more drinks or more food, we watched our server and other employees slouch around and idly chat. It wasn't slamming busy, in fact at this point we were the only table. You might think a food service job is beneath you, kids, but keep it up and you'll be lucky to hold down a shift at Taco Bell. read more

Food is wonderful! Everything on the menu is fairly priced and delish. I honestly think this place is 20x better --taste wise--than Watercourse in Denver. My all-time favorite is: Buffalo Po'boy with fries and the sriracha ranch dipping sauce. Service is hit or miss, typically miss. It seems half the time the staff wants to ignore you and text on their cell phone or chat with their friends. Taking people's food/drink orders seems to be a low priority. Finally, I agree with others that the music is way too loud for a normal dining experience. You honestly feel like you're at a club where you have to talk directly in someone's ear or use hand signals to communicate. Tip: We typically order food to-go to bypass the service issues and deafening music. read more

Heard rave reviews of the food and atmosphere. Went in after a show next door. 2 male servers having casual conversation with one person at the bar, in between holding the counters up. Female server made brief eye contact then turned completely around to face the wall. I think she is on break or this isn't her "section". Promptly removes fries from the plate in front of her and then carries it over to a table of customers. After making more awkward eye contact with the 2 male bartenders, several times, one makes his way over and takes our drink order. Now I have heard the cuban coffee here is great... so I ask for it and he tells me they don't make it...okay, at this point anything liquid will due. He gets us our drinks and walks off. We sit and discuss the possible reason for an almost complete lack of give-a-damn. Within 5 minutes he is walking by and with a puzzled look says "Do you need menu's?". YES, now all is well. Except not, we ask for a minute and got another 30 before our order was taken. Anyone with scruffy facial hair, tattoos in abundance and homeless hair is obviously much more interesting to talk to. I mean I get it, PBR is so expensive a bartender should really woo those big spenders. Never you mind that the hungry newbs in may be habitual over tippers because they WORK in the service industry. The story doesn't get much better. To go in to detail about the complete disappointment that played out just makes me angry I wasted time there. The food was okay, variety was great but execution was off. I'd rather have well cooked food than variety. I likely would think more of the food if in addition to the above these servers hadn't done everything you shouldn't do when in a position of "bartender" or "server". Everyone has a bad day, I believe these 3 didn't give a shit or have had a bad LIFE. Either way I won't be back and won't recommend this place to anyone. Did we tip? Yes. Anyone who serves you (anywhere) deserves a tip, if they don't then obviously a manager needs to be informed why. (this visit was in March) read more

Terrible terrible service. I have stood at the bar for five minutes while the bartender completely ignores me, only to have them HIGH FIVE SOMEONE WHO WAS STANDING BEHIND ME- and have them take that drink order before ever acknowledging that I was standing there. Places like this are creating a shit dynamic of feeling like you have to kiss the bartender/servers ass to get food or drinks. The vegan breakfast burrito came with its contents, beans and fries, completely uncooked. We ate it anyways because we were hungry from having waited a while for our food. We did send the fries back to be fully cooked, because they also were soggy and really undercooked. I love local businesses, local beers and places that serve vegan goodness. But I can't vibe with being ignored and treated less than the staff. read more

The most amazing restaurant I've ever been to as a vegetarian. Their homemade vegan sauces (get the Habenaro Jam) are to die for. They also have the best vegetarian sandwiches I've ever had (White BBQ Tempe is my favorite). Even my meat eating friends come here to get vegan/vegetarian sandwiches. They're drinks are also really good and they have the best fried pickles. Go here! read more

Service is excellent. Food is ok. My friend LOVES this place for their veggie options and I'm happy she lives so close.

I stopped coming here for a while because of the lousy service I received in the past but I dropped in last Thursday night for a friend's birthday and I have to admit that the food was very tasty and the service has improved a lot.This time our server was actually attentive and nice. He suggested the tofu noodle bowl and some kind of spicy tequila drink and they were to die for. There's definitely an eclectic crowd,interesting artwork on the walls, and I've always loved the fact that they have a photo booth. Glad I gave Sputnik another chance!!! read more

The sweet potato fries here are beyond fantastic... but that's old news. Were I just reviewing the fries along, Sputnik would get ten stars! I love that they give you your choice of a dozen or so different dipping sauces, because I'm a girl who loves her sauce (heh). I recommend the wasabi mayo! The chimichurri is also quite well suited to those fries, but the garlic level is pretty unforgiving. Don't eat it if you're on a date or value your breath for any other reason. In fact, I strongly suggest you brush your teeth IMMEDIATELY after consuming even a little bit of the chimichurri, because its uber-garlicky level that will cause your mouth to actually BURN afterwards and, if you're hyper-sensitive, little bits of your soft palate and gums might actually be eaten away by the oils. I'm not kidding about this. You've been warned. It IS tasty, though. Some of the other menu samplings I've tried have only been "just okay." The grilled cheese sandwich, for some inexplicable reason, has an extra slice of bread in the middle. I don't get it. Sure, they're using a couple different kinds of cheese... but the point of a GRILLED CHEESE is that it all melts into one delicious, gooey mess! Am I wrong here? Down with cheese segregation! This is America, dammit... the Great Melting Pot! An extra slice of bread... pfft. What is this, communist Russia? Oh... SPUTNIK. I see. read more

There ain't much to look at, and the bathrooms are creepy and nasty as hell, but the food, drinks, and people watching are all worth the visit. Sputnik has a nice little selection of craft brews, many of which are local and are $1 off during happy hour which make them pretty cheap. Speaking of happy hour, it runs every day and goes until 7pm. Plus they have some snacks for real cheap during that time, like their delicious hush puppies. I think they change their menu around every now and then, as it wasn't the same listing that I ordered off of about a month ago or so. I miss their shredded pork arepas, but said pork is now in the form of a Cuban sandwich that is absolutely delicious. In fact, their whole menu looks tasty. Going to have to try the chilaquiles next time, as it's hard to find those around Denver. And finally, the people watching. Oh mmmmyyyyyy the people watching. If you're a hipster, you'll be amongst friends. If not, sit back with your beer and take it all in. Overall, a nice place to meet up with friends for happy hour or a late night beer with a snack/dinner. read more

Maybe I erred when I went in NOT on a weekend brunch, because after last night's adventures at the Sputnik, I dont' know if I'll be going back. Two words: STOMACH AILMENT. The boyfriend and I heard good things about Sputnick from a coworker of mine, so we popped in last night, ravenous, for some food and drink around dinnertime. I opted for the Taco Salad and a Strongbow, he opted for the Vegetarian Cuban, and we shared a basket of home-cut fries with the Sriracha Ranch and Green Chili for our sauces. The Taco Salad dressing was a little on the "ripe" side, is the only way I can describe it. There was something a little too tangy about it. But I ate it, I enjoyed it. And the fries? DIVINE. Absolutely DIVINE. The Sriracha Ranch was delicious. The service was good -- that hipster flippancy abounded, but it fit the divey atmosphere. And the prices were decent, and the happy hour specials are killer. But then? I got home. I got sick. And I missed work today because I was sick! Yes, the food of Sputnick made me ill. Did they mix in some hipster blood? Sneeze in the food? Throw in some gluten into their gluten-free option? Who knows. I just know that I feel a little burned, so I probably won't be back anytime soon. read more

What a difference your server can make!!! What a shame. My only 2 visits were like night and day. Note: this review is for SERVICE ONLY. The FOOD is very GOOD. I went here exactly one week ago for my first meal. I was blown away by the service and food last weekend. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try that I vowed to visit again this weekend--and I did. (see previous review) Wow. Today, as all the tables were full, we sat at the bar. We ordered mimosas & coffee. Coffee was delivered but without spoon, sugar, or cream. No one even came by to ask if we needed any of that. My husband ended up getting up to grab sugar himself and took his straw out of his water as a stirrer. Once we ordered our food, I realized--as it was only my second visit--that fries didn't come with my sandwich. So, right as he was punching in my order on the computer screen, I decided to ask for fries. The guy actually ROLLED HIS EYES and--God forbid--had to walk about 15 feet into the kitchen to relay the message. This same guy later got us a to-go container and actually flung it across the bar in our direction. Food was very tasty. My husband's coffee cup was completely empty, and no one ONCE offered to refill that "never ending" cup of coffee until finally, a while after the cup sat empty. She refilled it and, as he was about to ask for a spoon and some sugar, she and another employee start a conversation immediately. By then he'd had it and got up--AGAIN--to grab the stuff himself. At that same time I interrupted the girls to ask for a spoon and sugar, which one of them went to get at the same time my husband went for it. Completely worthless wait staff today. Shameful. If you are TOO COOL to serve me, GET ANOTHER JOB. I'm not asking for the moon here. Just basic, normal, decent service. read more

I don't know what there is to say good about this place that hasn't already been said. The food- phenomenal. I have yet to eat something there I don't like. I haven't had the eggs, but I would hate eggs anywhere so that would hardly be fair. The Ethiopian chicken is seriously something I could have 100 times and not be sick of. The drinks- GREAT drink specials. $1 beers? What!? YES!! The staff are casual and less attentive than I usually prefer, but I like that I can sit, digest and have a conversation without the wait staff hawking me because they want another table to be sat. The only complaint I have is that I can't SEE my food. Maybe a candle on the table or just a little extra light over the tables only? I just like to see the fantastic food in front of me. Maybe I should go during the day... read more

I live around the corner so I'm pretty partial to this place. Here's why: 1. On a slow night, I can go over there and grab a drink wearing whatever I damned well please - my work attire ranges from Carhartts to heels. Alone. As a single lady, I appreciate that. 2. BEST CUBAN IN DENVER. They have a sandwich press! They don't try to make it anything it's not! It's pork, more pork, cheese, mustard, pickles and Cuban -not French - bread. 3. Sriracha ranch. I shouldn't need to explain why that's awesome. 4. Brunch. Get the quinoa cakes and a pitcher of mimosa. Woo day drunk! 5. I like the staff. They say fuck a lot, and so do I. read more

Okay, I know I might get chewed out for this but I'm going to go ahead and write it anyway. The food, is pretty darn good and they have great drunk deals. I really like the inside of the place and the music they play is fantastic. But, I feel judged every time I walk into this place. I know it is a "hipster" type atmosphere and thats fine but I don't like feeling judged based off of the way I look. I don't like skinny jeans, or pants for that matter so stop looking at me like that. The worst part is I felt the most judged by the wait staff, like they were upset I was there because I didn't fit the typical mold of their regulars. The food is good though so I'll go back and this time I'll have a little fun with the whole situation. read more

I'm not a hipster. Not even close. I like good beer and mainstream music and all that stuff. But Sputnik is pretty cool. I get my hair done next door and my husband had come with and said he'd go have a drink while I got my hair did. There's a ton of bars to choose from along that stretch, but my stylist recommended Sputnik. I met him afterward and ended up staying for a few drinks too. We split the mac & cheese, which was pretty awesome. They have a fun menu including hand battered corn dogs (and tofu dogs), salads, sandwiches, burritos and the like and they are all priced reasonably. The corn dogs are $1.50 at happy hour. Our total bill when we left was $26 for 6 beers and the mac and cheese. And they have Schlitz in cans. This totally brings me back to high school. Quite honestly, I haven't had one since and hadn't really even considered having one since. But I had one. And it hit the spot. They have PBR on tap if crappy beer is your thing, but not from cans. They also have microbrews including Fat Tire, some Breckenridge offerings and a few others, so they still cater to those of us with taste ;-) I thought the service was fine (we were at the bar on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of a Halloween scavenger hunt that stopped by). I thought the food was great, the beer offerings was good and despite the scary looking bathroom the decor was cool. I can't see this being a "regular" spot for us because it's not close to home, but I can see my husband wanting to tag along for more hair appointments so that we can stop in again. read more

Yes, Yes, there defiantly is a certain type of crowd here. I am not part of that crowd, nor are my friends...but really, who cares?! And no one there seemed to care either. We want some beer and some sweet potato fries darn it! The bar tenders always treat us really well. The fries are awesome! I love love love the sweet potato fries with banana ketchup. I could eat them all night long! The selection of dipping sauces is so fun and creative. I love the entire menu also. There are so many vegetarian, and even vegan, selections. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Try Sputnik. read more

Really? This little hipster place gets such big hype but is so not worth it. The food is ok, and would get 3 stars. The cocktails are poorly mixed with unbalanced flavors and get 1 star. It should never be a struggle to get through a drink. The service would get 3.5, but I have a feeling it would be more like a 2 had they been even a little busier. The over all atmosphere was a snobby "look at my $50 white cotton boutique t-shirt" kind of crowd who thinks they are indulging in something special, but maybe they really just don't know any better. If that sounds like your scene - have at it. Seems like plenty of people do..... read more

After reading over my other reviews I can see that I have a immature trend of talking about butts, boobs, farts, and poop so I am going to make this a serious review up to par with my age. Ahem: I am a big fan of the hipster place called the Sputnik. I always take my millions of friends there to listen to the good music and drink the drinks of the gods. The food is good and the waitresses have sweet tats (notice the spelling, I am still being mature). I don't remember the prices ever being expensive, but by the end of the night I dont remember where I put my left shoe either. So I give the Sputnik a big 5 punk stars. FART. read more

If I lived in this neighborhood (or Denver for that matter), Sputnik would definitely be my local hangout for a chill night. I came here late on Saturday night and everyone was just hangin'. There was no rowdiness whatsoever. The bartenders were friendly and accomodating, our well drinks were $5ish bucks, they played Bob Dylan, there was a photobooth, and the food was incredibly satisfying. After two days of hiking, sightseeing, and blowing cash, this is actually what I was looking for. My two friends and I managed to get seats at the bar and shared an order of fries and hush puppies. Both were served in generous portions. The fries were thin and crispy and the accompanying roasted garlic dipping sauce was amazing -- I'm a big garlic fan and loved that it was more garlic, less sauce. If that even makes sense. The hush puppies were great too (soft and fluffy on the inside) but needed a little salt. I noticed that people tend to park themselves at their tables or the bar (instead of standing around) so if you're looking to sit, come early. This small, eclectic bar is the perfect place to grab a bite and a drink and just hanggg. read more

By Jove, Guv! I've had a go at Sputnik and I can't say I'm arsed to have another anytime soon. You didn't expect this, did you? A British act for a review on Sputnik? What gives, you ask? Save your silliness for a write-up on fish n' chips, woman! But for me, being in Sputnik is like speaking in a really overdone British accent. It feels awkward, unnatural, and like everyone is staring at me. I can't pinpoint whether its the waay too loud music, the stupid art on the walls (usually stupid, anyway), the "hipsters" that others are so quick to complain about, or the bi-polar waitstaff (sweet one second, scathing the next), but I just can't get down with this place. Something about it just isn't welcoming. Which is a shame, because I think their sweet potato fries are the absolute tops! The sandwiches are also pretty tasty eats - but stay away from the gummy arepes and try the real deal at Red Tango, instead. read more

I want to enjoy Sputnik so much more than I do. Note, I haven't been there for brunch, nor drinks only, so take this with a grain of salt. But after two failed attempts to eat a bahn mi sandwich there, I'm not headed back for food anytime soon. First time around, they didn't have all of the ingredients for the thing. So I ended up with... something forgettable. Helped along by something off of the somewhat standard beer list for a hip-ish bar -- the cheap beers alongside some local microbrews. The second time around, we sat at the bar and had indifferent service, at best. I was partway through my coveted bahn mi when I realized that the patties were tofu and not the pork that I had ordered. Wifey's taco salad, though it was on the menu, didn't exist in real life. And maybe my glasses aren't chunky enough, arms not tattooed enough, and jeans not tight enough, but it's awful loud for 7pm on a weeknight. But maybe I'm just getting old. So, 2 meals in, and the food was entirely forgettable, when it managed to arrive. Pass. read more

The first time I went to this place I had a perfect, if unspectacular experience. It was a beautiful weekday and I had the day off. I strolled down Broadway to Sputnik with a book in hand ("The Stupidest Angel- A heartwarming tale of Christmas Terror" by Christopher Moore). First I ordered a Newcastle (yum), then a Vietnamese Pork sandwich with these great tortilla chips on the side (double yum), then another Newcastle (burp). The bartender played his role well- he filled beers when empty, served food quickly, played great tunes (I specifically remember Mars Volta), and even asked about the book and we had a good chat. After another beer my meal was done. I grabed a latte to go, and smiled the whole way home. I am a simple man, with simple tastes, and I went home simply happy. What more can you want? The second time I went to this place, it was a Monday night, and I was there specifically for "Blingo"- the unusual marriage of alcohol, fashion, and bingo. I like contrasts, so there is no way in h-e double hockey sticks I was missing this. It didn't disappoint.. As much as I wanted to try the corndog, the Viet Pork Sandwich was too good to pass. The rest of the night was filled with $1 miller lights (service could have been faster), people yelling bingo, me being p!ssed that people other than me were yelling bingo, and great tunes- I still remember hearing Punk Rock Girl, Brimful of Asha remix by Fatboy Slim, and Floyd (Astronomy Domine) and thinking that I was in heaven- fie on you, corporate radio lovers. I have been there several times since, and I have a great time always. The memories combine in a haze of sweet potato fries, photo booth debauchery, vegan wasabi mayo, sitting in old hair dryers, cheap pints, and the best intentions to try food beyond the pork sandwich and sweet potato fries- no luck. Judge the patronage if you wish (many other reviewers have), but I have a great time here, and my fellow patrons have only contributed to that. read more

We were wandering around this end of the city, and the boyfriend was starving so we ended up at Sputnik. We got there a little before brunch was ending, so the place was packed and service was super- slow. But looking at the other reviews, super- slow just might be their style. The food was okay. For some reason, the menu seemed really limited to me... Not sure if it really is or just my imagination. I got the grilled cheese with tomato, which was good, but nothing to write home about. The boyfriend got the Persian, which yet again was good, nothing outstanding. The one silver lining in this mediocre experience was the sweet potato fries (which were perfectly prepared) paired with the sweet habanero jam. That was some awesome stuff. Didn't notice it being too hipster-y.... There was actually a pretty diverse crowd while we were there. While the fries/ jam was amazing, I don't think we would go back... I'm sure there are places just as good with way better service and a wider menu in Denver. read more