The Most Scrumptious New American in Denver

Cherry Cricket

★★★★☆ 4 (3306) • $$

"Cherry Cricket, the famed black sheep of Cherry Creek, somehow still impresses after all these years. Hailed as one of Denver's best burger places, I'm shocked if anyone says they don't have an enjoyable burger here.When you see the legendary Duffy's sign you know you're in the right place. Entering the restaurant I've mostly received weird interactions upon entry. They do, in fact, seat you, but often times I've had bad luck and find myself waiting for an employee to seat us.There are plenty of dining rooms indoors like booths, community tables, and bar seating. But the Cricket is known for their massive outdoor patio. Part of it is covered underneath a gigantic tent set up, the other picnic table style seating overlooking the foot traffic of Cherry Creek.What to order at the Cricket? They do have some signature burgers they're known for that have won awards at burger festivals. The green chile relleno burger stands out because I don't know how they invented this concoction, but it's a beast of a burger that has DENVER written all over it.More often than not, the Cricket Burger is the pro move. A customizable half pound burger with the toppings of your choice. The one I had the other night was with American Cheese, Bacon, and Jalapeños. It was cooked perfectly, an undeniable beefy flavor. It was a damn memorable burger.Oh. And the frings (with ranch) are a MUST.The knock of the star just boils down to the restaurant being too big, which means occasionally you feel like the forgotten stepchild depending on if your section is busy or not. On multiple occasions the service has been incredibly slow. Other than that, I'll continue to support this Denver institution.Here's to another 50 years, Cricks!"

Jelly

★★★★☆ 4 (2056) • $$

"UPDATE!All of the things mentioned in my previous review still ring true! Although the menu is breakfast heavy and served all day, the lunch shines just as much and is OMG so good.++ The Ruben - Slow-cooked corned beef or roasted turkey, or both - with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut with Russian dressing on rye bread. Do yourself a favor and get the corned beef as the meat is generously layered with melty cheese and absolutely delicious! ++ SBLT - Griddled salmon with bacon, lettuce, tomato and basil mayonnaise served on multigrain bread. I know what you're thinking, "salmon, at a breakfast joint?". Well, let me tell you this sandwich was well cooked, layered perfectly and refreshing! My side of sweet potato fries were icing on the cake!Mom and I left with a full belly after a wonderful experience!When in the area, I'd easily return!"

Osteria Marco

★★★★☆ 4.1 (1870) • $$$

"The space is pretty big in the lower level of the restaurant. There were several tables with patrons. It was still early in the evening when we were seated quickly yet the pizza did take a while to arrive although it was really delicious. Too bad I didn't have enough time to revisit this establishment to try other items on the menu.Heads up they have a few service charges that are not usual in most restaurants."

Fruition Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (972) • $$$

"My partner and I came here for dinner the night before Valentine's Day. Perfect because it was totally empty. Calm before the storm. Service was fantastic. It's clearly intended to be an upscale, romantic experience. We were seated immediately, and my only qualm is the cold draft that's let into the restaurant every time the main door is opened.The food was delicious! We started with Pan Seared Scallops with lobster cream and caviar, which are making my mouth water as I write this. I love how many pescatarian-friendly options there are. We shared the Potato Crusted Icelandic Cod with baby manila clam chowder, as well as the Sautéed Barramundi with buttered spinach and smoked trout roe emulsion. Both were quite tasty. I would order them again.As far as fancy restaurants in Denver go, this wasn't my all-time favorite but definitely enjoyable and worth giving a shot. There tends to be a decent amount of reservation availability, so make sure to do that in advance. You might have to walk a bit after parking in this neighborhood depending on the evening. Would love to come back someday though."

Appaloosa Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1158) • $$

"Excellent local bar/restaurant spot. They have it all -- lunch, happy hour, live bands at night. The food is pretty dang good and bartenders/servers are always awesome, And for once they actually TELL customers about added gratuity! So many spots are so sneaky about it & try to capitalize on greed. Appaloosa does NOT! Good on you all! Their Caesar salad dressing g is excellent! Yes, it comes with a bit of anchovy and it's perfect. This dressing has anchovies as a main ingredient, it surprises me how many people aren't aware of that fact. Another fun fact - Caesar salad was not created where you might think. It was invented in Tijuana, Mexico. But, the chef was Italian so there ya go. They have a nice carpaccio dish too. Oh and a super yum Cooperstown Cabernet barrel finished Rye bourbon whiskey that is to die for. Recommend allll the way!"

Olive & Finch

★★★★☆ 4.2 (900) • $$

"Lucky Uptown, Denver. Affordable and healthy is in their neighborhood! Their focus is scratch-made and wholesome food made to order.Featured dishes:FARMHOUSE SCRAMBLE Two scrambled eggs with roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, spinach and provolone. Served with a green salad, roasted potatoes and toast. I added the pulled pork to it.BOGOTA Hash. Two over medium eggs,* chorizo, roasted sweet and white potatoes, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese .Patio out front. Catch some sun. Enjoy good food with good people!"

Culinary Dropout

★★★★☆ 4.2 (813) • $$

"We love Culinary Dropout! We stopped here for lunch in Denver before heading up to Steamboat. We visited during lunchtime on a Friday afternoon and it was pretty empty (though it is a very large space) so we were able to grab a table easily. We've dined at Culinary Dropout in Arizona, so we have a few menu items we love, including the pretzel bites - so good! And I love that they are served with a candle under the cheese so it stays warm. I went with the crispy shrimp caesar salad. This was so good, and the perfect size for lunch. I left feeling perfectly full. Our server was wonderful - I didn't catch his name but he was so friendly and checked in on us frequently. Another great experience at Culinary Dropout!"

The Corner Office Restaurant + Martini Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (1074) • $$

"One of our go-to's whenever we come to Denver! You can't go wrong with anything that you order off of the menu. The food and drink service is quick and always accurate/consistent. Not to mention the location is super convenient and the ambiance is fantastic!"

Oak at Fourteenth

★★★★☆ 4.2 (785) • $$

"Lovely service from the hostess and server. Sat at the "chef's table/bar" and asked the gentleman behind the counter what his favorite dish they offered. "Meatballs." That's it. That's the only interaction I had with him the entire time. Not exactly the experience I was hoping for when I selected the chef's table, but whatever. Nice little place with a cozy dining room, bar, chef's table/bar plus a back room, which was hosting a private party during my visit. The hamachi crudo aguachile was quite delicious. I should have gone with my other choice, which was the crispy arancini with blue cheese and spicy honey. (Sounds yummy, right?) But I went with the server's suggestion of the special roasted sunchokes and just really didn't like them. I also asked for a slice of their focaccia (who can resist the squishy softness of some good focaccia?!) but I was sorely disappointed when it came out oven roasted and rock hard. Wait. What? Thankfully, the removed the $5 charge for the single piece of bread from my tab when I mentioned not loving it, and the server did apologize and said she should have asked if I wanted it heated. Overall, a bit of a swing and a miss for me. I think it could have been a better experience with a few different choices on my part. I'd certainly give them another try if I find myself in Boulder again."

Acova

★★★★☆ 4.3 (649) • $$

"Acova is home to one of the best patios in all of Denver. I'd love nothing more than to give them higher praise, but I've left here wanting more on numerous occasions.From the same ownership as The Hornet on South Broadway, Acova took over this place from Patsy's, a beloved restaurant from Denver's yesteryear. Visually and aesthetically, they're doing it right. Execution of food and service though could use a reboot.I brought my parents here when they were in town, because I knew it'd be a wonderful atmosphere for dining al fresco. The meal almost never even took place, because when we arrived we were ignored for about five minutes. This wasn't a weekend, it was a normal night during the week. No hostess, server, bartender, etc. acknowledged us. We were on the verge of leaving, but I walked up to the bartender and eventually it all get settled. This is a huge pet peeve of mine, it's like ignoring someone that walks into your house!My dad and I ordered wings to start and these were the star of the show for me. The wings were crispy and well cooked. I wish I doubled down and ordered a second portion of them to be honest!For mains, I ordered the beef short ribs and they were served over risotto. The short ribs were relatively tender and had nice flavor. The risotto, however, was just not good. It's a tough dish to make don't get me wrong, but I couldn't even finish my plate because the texture and taste was off.We also had an issue with one of my family's dishes that was wrong, but eventually they made it right. I appreciate that the server and the GM actually took responsibility and ownership of the situation. I will give them kudos for that! Ultimately they were nice and tried to make up for the previous blunders of the evening.Am I running back? Absolutely not. I've been here a few times over the years and this experience matches all my other ones. But if you simply want to have a few drinks on the patio and soak up the sun, this is an excellent place to be when in LoHi."

School House Kitchen & Libations

★★★★☆ 3.5 (958) • $$

"Something has changed...And I love it! The food has improved. Plates and ingredients seem purposeful and in harmony. (BRISKET TACOS = YUM!) Bloody Marys are flavorful, garnished, and don't break the pocket. This place is charming! After a few elementary-level whelmed trips to school house over the last few years , they have graduated to a place where you want to go and study the whisky selection."

Briar Common Brewery + Eatery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (570) • $$

"Good Ruben , good beer, great bartenders, nice ambience, Outside dog friendly seating and rooftop area."

The Cow An Eatery

★★★★☆ 3.8 (691) • $$

"I'm not sure why they have such low ratings. When you walked inside, it was covered with cows. Even the bathroom had cow paintings and artwork inside. Thats why they call it the cow and eatery. You can either eat inside or the outside patio or the back closed off patio. The service is great, and they are quick and check on you frequently. When I asked for hot sauce, they brought over three from their own brand. I was impressed by all three. It felt like I was in the show hot ones on youtube, haha!!I found out that this place used to be just an ice cream shop with just outside seating, but renovated it for food and dessert with seating inside. I think that was a great idea. Food wise, I ordered for myself the seafood mac and cheese. I'm on a diet not eating fried food, so it was limited, and of course, I got myself dessert too. Their banana split was so good. I enjoyed it thoroughly even though I'm not a fan of chocolate. But their two flavors and all of the toppings together combined matched well. I would suggest getting their dessert as it's all handmade."

ELWAY'S Downtown

★★★★☆ 3.7 (670) • $$$

"I was impressed with Elway's. I came with a group of friends on the recommendation of one friend's father and we were not disappointed.The restaurant is lovely and one particular thing I liked about it was that it was lively but not deafening. For some reason, every high end steakhouse in NYC is so loud and filled with finance & tech bros trying to out-testosterone each other than you can't hear the person next to you. Elway's, by contrast, although filled with the Colorado equivalent of tech/finance bros-- but wearing cowboy hats-- had a good energy level but I could hear people across the table from me. Service was top-notch from start to finish. Scott was our waiter and he was exceptional...one member of our party has particular likes and dislikes and he handled everything with grace and aplomb. Matching the service was the food and drink. My rye old fashioned was spectacular. For food, I started by splitting a Caesar salad and that was wonderful. Then my 12 oz NY Strip came out and it was perfectly prepared and delicious. The sides were great too, especially the mashed potatoes, asparagus and spinach. I wasn't thrilled about the brussels sprouts as I prefer mine a little crisper but that's not the way they were prepared so I can't fault them. For dessert, my husband and I split a key lime pie that had a special anniversary message on it. It was a nice surprise and the tartness of the pie was a great coda to the meal. This was an exceptional meal from start to finish. I'd definitely go back...especially if someone else was paying because it is not cheap. But if you want a memorable place for a special occasion, you can't go wrong with Elway's."

Table 6

★★★★☆ 4.1 (528) • $$

"We've been to Table 6 several times...and it is always a hit.Cozy Comfy spot with great service and excellent food.Smallish menu with something for everyone."

Henry's Tavern

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (766) • $$

River and Woods

★★★★☆ 4 (539) • $$

"Super tasty restaurant. It's this awesome glamping x upscale dining mashup. Good vibe and great service.My husband took us here for a surprise date. We started with some drinks and the duck wings and and crispy artichoke. Both were good, but the duck wings were the preferred.We then doubled down and got duck and short rib for dinner. Beautiful plating and delicious dishes.We ordered their SA Syrah, which they were unfortunately out of, so settled for their last bottle of a vintage of Barolo. Delic!We got dessert and dessert wines but I'm totally forgetting what we got.Anyway, super great place."

Simms Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 3.5 (693) • $$$

"Came here for Father's Day. This restaurant is on a side of a hill with a spectacular view. How am I going to maneuver a wheelchair up this hill? No worries, they provide complementary parking which makes it an extra special event.Entering the restaurant provides a spectular view. We ordered a delicious Simms salad. The fried calamiri came with a surprise bed of healthy beans! Less guilt for eating this appetizer. We were then treated to complimentary homemade fresh hot bread!We ordered the most delicious fish dish I have ever had. The roasted miso sea bass was tender, flaky and not over cooked. This was accompanied by sticky rice and baby bok chiy. Our server Bailey provided attentive excellent service. I will be back."

Pony Up

★★★★★ 4.6 (398) • $$

"Really cool spot. We did wait about 5 minutes for bar seating on a Friday night. Service was really quick. We shared the Chicago French dip. So nice that they split it for us and gave us two dips. The sandwich was delicious and perfectly spicy. The beef was so juicy and delicious but was slightly dry on its own which was a bit disappointing but everything tasted awesome. I had the Parmesan bourbon drink. This was super delicious and would definitely order again."

5281 Seafood, Steakhouse and Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (391)

"Great locals kind of place. Reasonably priced for food and drinks. I loved the loaded baked potato and the filet was decent and priced right. Worth a visit for sure."

The Plimoth

★★★★☆ 4.4 (384) • $$$

"This place is definitely on the pricey side, for example, a well vodka was $10. But the service was great, it is a beautiful atmosphere inside, and the food was really good. It's probably a place I would not return to again, unless I won the lottery."

The Bindery

★★★★☆ 3.8 (504) • $$

"Nice way to start Restaurant Week. The Bindery was busy on this first night so I was glad I made reservations. Got a nice seat by the window to overlook downtown Denver. Very filling menu with a wine pairing option that was reasonably priced. First course of asparagus with beef carpaccio was nice. The lamb oso buco was an enormous portion. I don't care for meat on the bone but the guajlillo sauce with this dish was very tasty. Best dish of the night - dessert. Lemon "was a cake and now dreams" did not disappoint. A flavorful dish of lemon curd with moist cake topped with meringue. I will go back just for this dish!"

Opa Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (421) • $$

"As you can tell by the plethora of reviews, this is a spot to drop into. My favorite local restaurant in all of Parker, Colorado in addition to JuJu's Coffee! Consisent high quality Greek food at a more than fair price. EXCELLENT!"

Cherry Cricket - Ballpark

★★★★☆ 4 (416) • $$

Potager

★★★★☆ 3.8 (459)

"Potager is a fine dining farm-to-table restaurant. I ordered from the summer menu. The dishes I got (and most of the others on the menu) were light, crisp, refreshing. They use a lot of vegetables and herbs, with a few protein- and grain-based ingredients. There are some bold flavors and creative combinations. It's not exactly a vegetarian or vegan menu, but it almost could be. The menu changes occasionally, so it may have a different feel in a few months. The space is rustic. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Small issue: the zucchini carpaccio had lots of parmesan on it, and it was on a small plate. It was impossible to eat without getting parmesan everywhere. It would be better to serve the zucchini on a larger plate."

Indulge Bistro & Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (456) • $$

"We arrived to town after a long day of travel and just needed somewhere to get a good meal. We found this bistro and wine bar with a decent menu that has flatbread and burgers, though they are a little pricey I think it's apropos for the downtown area.The service was fine but a little short. It was still happy hour but they didn't offer us happy hour, though they did to the next table. We were too tired to argue. Ordered some spicy burger with cream cheese and it was amazing. Really hit the spot. Their cocktails are tasty. The cherry drink that came in a tall glass was too easy to drink at $15 each. The dining room is intimate, with nooks and crannies for small parties. I asked the server if the garlic fries come out crispy. He said they did but I asked for him to request a new dish. They were bad. They should have never left the kitchen. The pic included has the fresh fries that were perfect. Good spot for a decent meal in downtown. Just don't expect much."

New York Deli News

★★★★☆ 3.5 (535) • $$

"Denver has a bunch of delis, would be delis, pretend delis, sandwich shops that think they're delis, sort of Jewish delis, and the New York Deli News which is the closest thing we've got to a classic, New York City-style Jewish deli. It has been my favorite since they opened in 1989 and it is my favorite now.They hit all of my hot buttons: matzo ball soup, deli salads, chopped liver, a huge list of fantastic, overstuffed sandwiches (corned beef, pastrami, corned beef & pastrami!), blintzes, all day breakfast, and weekend brunch.The space was getting a little tired on my last visit several months ago, but I was surprised this visit with a fancy new sign, a new color scheme, new menus, a tidied up interior, and new systems, including very nice hand-held terminals for the servers. Everything ran very efficiently.I had my frequent order of blintzes on this visit. They were tasty, hot, and fresh. My friend had a very generously-sized cheese omelet which he enjoyed. I love the matzo ball (chicken) soup here. The matzo balls are always tender and the soup richly flavored. The sandwiches are great. You can't go wrong with any of them. This place hits the spot whether you want breakfast, lunch, or dinner.The New York Deli News is one of Denver's treasures. This is the place for the authentic New York deli experience. Accept no substitutes."

Mizuna

★★★★☆ 4.1 (378) • $$$

"One of Denver's best restaurants. Was there recently by mistake. Let me explain...I was shocked when I recently made a reservation at Mizuna for Valentine's Day dinner and there were all kinds of seating choices open. How lucky! So I picked a prime time and felt quite competent as a husband who was going to show his beautiful bride how much I treasured her. And all of that was working pretty well until I realized on the morning of February 14th that I had made the reservation for February 16th.What an idiot. Of course they'd had lots of seating options available. Who would want to go there 2 days after VD? Apparently, not a whole bunch of people. So I quickly found another spot for Valentine's Day, and called Mizuna to ask if I could reschedule. They couldn't have been nicer and let me transfer my deposit to a new date when we had a great experience.The first interesting thing I noticed when we did eat there was that Mizuna is clearly aiming at getting Denver's first Michelin starred restaurant rating (if and when Denver ever gets to be considered for Michelin star-reviewed restaurants).At Mizuna these days they are doing the things that Michelin-starred restaurants do. For example: When you arrive they offer you a welcoming glass of champagne. They then present you with a menu which has a selection of "gustation" dinners where you choose from a list of set courses and then pick from options on that list. They then start you off with a series of amuse bouche plates, not mentioned on the list of menu dishes, teasing your palate with single bite delicious tastes. They also offer a list of "indulgences" so that after you decide on a certain number of courses you then also have the opportunity to add extra servings of things like a supplement of caviar, or an accompaniment of A5 Wagyu beef on the side, or a garnish of white truffles in addition to your already pricey order. They also offer wine pairings, and pairings at the "reserve" level that will cost you that much more but kick things up a serious notch. And finally after you've finished what was way too much for my wife and I to eat so we had to take a box of left-overs home, they send you off with a goodie bag that includes incredible muffins for your breakfast the following morning, choice pieces of chocolates, and their homemade cookies to boot! All of that is exactly what you would see at the Michelin-starred restaurants we've had the chance to visit.That said the meal was definitely worthy of a Michelin star and of course a 5 star Yelp review. Pix of a couple of the courses are included below, and the night's manager and sommelier recommended a beautiful french pinot noir that was at just the right price point considering the meal that we ordered. So my friends, if you're wanting to celebrate an important event or you're just up for spending some serious dough on a meal to remember then head on over the Mizuna's, a Denver restaurant that some day, if the folks at Michelin ever decide to include Denver in its list of cities eligible for star ratings, is sure to show up for serious contention, along with places like Beckon, and Fruition.Caio bella,David M."

Mead St. Provisions

★★★★☆ 3.8 (433) • $$

"A friend and I just ate here for lunch and I can't live! To me it's a sandwich lovers dream....I ordered the cutlet of chicken that was their chicken Caesar salad sandwich.....with extra dressing that was so fresh and delicious! Also had the calamari ( damn tasty and we destroyed that ! )and my friend had the towering roast beef sandwich that had NO fat and was served perfectly rare. Just incredible! Our server was Maile and you couldn't get more professional or be more personal than her. The golden basket of fries stole the show; I wish more restaurants would follow their lead. What an incredibly pleasant experience.....located on 32nd & Lowell Avenue in a charming , bistro/café setting . It takes a lot to impress me and Maile and Mead St. just knocked it out of the park!"

Olive & Finch

★★★★☆ 4 (378) • $$

"I worked here 3 years ago and they have definitely upped the dessert quality and variety the HH $5 cocktails taste amazing... love the music selection this afternoon. Service with a smile and clean environment."

240 Union

★★★★☆ 4.1 (345)

Esters Oneida Park

★★★★☆ 4.4 (296) • $$

"Yum! Good service and pizza and atmosphere! Ding ding ding! I've been to the other two location but something about this particular one seems ultra friendly! And I love the spacious area. Pizza is as tasty as the other locations. Bravo!"

Providence At 5280

★★★★☆ 4 (345) • $$

"This is my new favorite brunch spot in Denver has exceeded my expectation in every single way.I came across the spot on a Sunday morning walk close to Sloans lake, and this restaurant is located right next to the lake. I saw great prices on the menu and decided to give it a try and it was a really wise decision.Service was friendly, and the seating area is big enough, including a patio. We ordered steak and egg, a burger and a salad. In addition, I want it to try the pancakes. The portions were huge, and I got leftover as well. I really like the flavor of the steak and tots. Burgers were great as well. Pancake was a little bit Gracie, and on the heavier Tayside, but with the price I cannot complain, and it was just so satisfying on a cold Sunday morning brunch.I will recommend this place to everyone for a cozy weekend, brunch in this beautiful neighborhood, and I will deathly come back myself"

range

★★★★☆ 3.8 (380) • $$

"When I stumbled upon Range while looking for a new place to try for a pre-show dinner, it checked all my initial boxes - great reviews, good-looking pictures, and (above all) a stellar menu. I made my reservation immediately.Fast forward a few weeks to the night of the reservation. My friends and I arrived and were promptly seated. First impressions: love the interior; perfect mix of elegant and cozy. The first thing to snag our attention on the menu was the drinks, specifically the cocktails. So many compelling options! It's one of those places where you're reading through the menu and you think "that looks good...oh, that one looks good, too...oh wait, THIS one looks good, TOO!" and so on and so forth. After much deliberation, I got the Buttered Rum Negroni and thought it was divine.We settled on the Baked Camembert for an app (delicious, loved all the little accoutrements), and then got the Moulard Duck Breast, Mediterranean Pasta, and Warm Brussels Sprout Salad w/ Salmon for dinner. Safe to say, all three of us were pretty enchanted with our dishes! My sister loved the olives and artichokes in her pasta, and my friend who got the salad raved about it. The duck (my dish) was cooked perfectly (so tender and juicy and delicious) and the scalloped potatoes were a perfect side.Overall, we really liked this place! The location is ideal if you're walking from the DCPA for a pre-show dinner, but also definitely worth a visit, regardless!"

The Whiskey Biscuit

★★★★☆ 3.8 (379) • $$

"I don't know how I have never come here before because I work five minutes away and have seen it numerous times. They are really neat looking on the outside and I love the catchy name they have!We came here for my husbands work function and they were great! We had a bunch of appetizers and then I had the gouda mac and cheese. All of the appetizers we had were awesome, tasted great, and they have a great selection on their menu. The mac and cheese tasted good but the gouda isn't a cheese I would personally look for due to the seriously strong flavor it has. I got a side of fries as well and I know they are just fries but seriously their fries were amazing and I would come back here just for those!!We had around 10 people in the group and our server did an amazing job! They were always checking on everyone and making sure you had a drink or if you wanted something else to eat. Inside they have it decorated nicely and the ambiance definitely matches what the name gives off. If you want a fun place with good food for lunch or dinner definitely come here!"