Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Downtown / LoDo

The staff went out of their way to make us feel extremely welcome and invited us back to their reopening after remodel. If you have a chance to grab their brunch before they close for remodel, do so! Manny was a tremendous server. Seek him out if you can.

We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary and a birthday at Osteria Marco, and the experience was absolutely unforgettable. Our server, Bex, went above and beyond to make our night special. She was incredibly attentive, warm, and made us feel truly valued. The food was outstanding—every dish was delicious—and the drinks were crafted to perfection. The atmosphere was inviting and added to the joy of the evening. We couldn’t have asked for a better place or team to celebrate such a meaningful night. Thank you, Osteria Marco, for making our celebration so memorable!

Christmas Dinner with my son at Venice Ristorante in Denver. Great view across from a decorated Union Station. Reservations at 6pm, sat at 6:15. Bread service was an ample amount for two with leftovers. Worth the price as far as volume but not overwhelmingly amazing. Appetizer: fried zucchini and calamari. Zucchini was amazing! Calamari needed salt but well cooked. Spicy marina dipping sauce, very mild, zero heat. Enough for 3 people. Entrees: Gnocchi with Burrata was incredible and a large portion. We took half home. Excellent texture and taste. Highly recommend. Piccata: well cooked, could cut with a fork, mash potatoes silky, veggies average. Three huge pieces, easy dish to split, if desired. Pics of of not great due to lighting. Huge shout out to the manager and hostess. There was an elderly gentleman that missed the stairs and fell face first on the floor, resulting in a bloody facial lacaration and injuries. They did great with a packed restaurant on Christmas, handling the situation. Holiday dining note: our server was great, I ashed him about his night and he seemed reserved. I said I hoped he was making some good holiday money with nice customers. And he his face dropped. He was so sweet and said not really, no one’s tipping or really nice. We did our best to change that and basically left half our check amount as a tip. But a small reminder that a bit of kindness even a compliment or smile goes a long way, especially on the service industry, on a holiday.

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve lunch. The fillet was perfect, as usual, and the crab salad is a must. Our server, Stephanie, was on point and a true delight. Overall, our family had a wonderful afternoon. Capital Grill never disappoints. 

Cholon is always phenomenal. Great food, very chill atmosphere, wonderful service. A highly recommended spot for delicious, creative and satisfying food. Everything is thoughtfully prepared. The dishes are well balanced, interesting and meticulously presented.