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Categories: Bars, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Northwest"I'm SO glad we don't live close to this place, or I'd have to forego making dinner and just slip in here every night! Went here on Easter…" read more »
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The best fish tacos in Colorado. Hands down.
That is all.
This is an update to my previous review:
I've been back to Billy's a few times since my last review, the fish taco's are still great, maybe getting better?,and I have to admit, the staff has also turned around, maybe they were just going through some growing pains the first two times I went, but I'm a believer in 3 strikes and you're out, and my last couple of visits to Billy's has earned them a few strikes back.
Billy's Inn has great fish tacos, some of the best I've had. The house marg is so, so, but I do like… Read more »
Boy, the Larimer Square guys really put a lot of lipstick on this old pig. It was a real dive - and not the good kind either. Now, quite the cute, comfortable neighborhood bar and grill. Open, light and airy - nice patio. The menu isn't huge and it certainly isn't going to change your world but it is very tasty bar food.
We started out a late lunch with one of the better Bloody Marys I've had lately. Not quite like the ones I make at home but, if I do say so, I make a killer one. I had the Santa Fe burger and fries - $9.45. Still getting used to pay almost ten bucks for a burger but unless you go to a real dump it seems to be the going rate. Anyway, the burger was perfectly cooked and the fries were crispy, salty and hot. Service was friendly. The waiter even brought us a sample of their baja slaw - very nice and tasty, too. Desserts sounded tempting but we opted for a second cocktail (no work that afternoon). All things considered, a fine little spot. Not sure if I'd drive across town for the experience but if I'm the neighborhood, I'd certainly go back.
Have been here now a couple times and this place is great, we have had food a few times and the Mexican is killer. They have great fish tacos and the pork is yummy as well. Bartender and staff very attentive and they want to make sure your time at Billy's is blissful. Oh and I love the pictures of the old timers in the bathrooms, great. This place is clean and actually fairly nice bar atmosphere
Did not expect to find a fish taco in this town that could rival what I'm used to in SoCal... Billy's did! Took a really quick lunch break there today, not much time to gather information for a proper review. Think I'll go bakc this sunday and report back afterwards.
If you had the pleasure of visiting Billy's pre-renovation, you know that at least two of these stars are given for Best Transformation. THAT Billy's did have two stalls in the ladies room - but you had to walk through one to get to the other. Seriously.
THIS Billy's has one of the best patios in NW Denver, great happy hour specials, a loooong tequila list, and very good bar food - fish tacos, burgers, salads, nachos, etc. Service is attentive, bartenders know how to make a great margarita, and I can walk home. What a splendid combination.
Three stars for awesome margaritas and a nice atmosphere. I know this place is a North-Denver staple, but I always leave a bit disappointed.
There are so many wonderful restaurants in this part of town, it's a shame to drop so much money on inferior Mexican food and so-so sandwiches.
It would also be cool if their patio didn't smell like cat pee.
Heard a lot raves for this place but it was just so so for me. Great spicy peel n eat shrimp! Mahi Mahi tacos were not good. Service okay. Just didn't live up to the hype.
Billy's Inn has transformed itself into a nice bar with a great patio and good food. On a recent visit we tried the classic burger - with swiss cheese, medium well - and thought it was juicy and flavorful and delicious, an excellent bar burger. I tried the spinach, apple and chicken salad which was also very good. I can't wait to go back and try more items from the menu - the fries and rings looked great as did the tacos. I tried one of their mojitos, and it was strong and delicious. I will definitely be back!
I freakin' love this place. Mahi tacos are a little pricey, but I think they're definitely worth it. Wednesdays are a good time to go, they have a PBR and a shot special for $5. Waitstaff and manager are both great and they have a decent patio.
Wow, Billy, I love you. Don't tell my husband.
I'm so happy you're in my hood, cuz I love margaritas, and you're are fantastic. And, I love tacos, and yours are delicious. And your staff is super friendly and helpful, even when I make bonehead moves like asking 15 people to meet me there, and not remembering to make a reservation. So thanks, and you'll be seeing much more of me, but I promise to call first if I'm bringing the HM posse.
I just read a yelp article talking about Nachos and Tacos and there was no mention of Billy's Inn. It's bitter sweet, because this IS a premier taco joint (you can order a la carte), however, if more people don't fall in love with it... that's OK with me, because it already is pretty hoppin'.
I have a special place in my heart for Billy's because this place was gutted and reopened right around the same time I moved to this neighborhood. And man, from what I heard, it is quite a few notches better than what was there originally. The former Billy's inn was an infamous dive... the new owners of this place went ALL out in its rebirth. The space is really cool and they have some nice outdoor seating which is open YEAR ROUND!
Billy's Inn does not aspire to compete with the many wonderful authentic mexican restaurants around it... this is a place to get a delicious drink and have a couple tasty tacos. their nachos are fantastic too... I think they put crack in them, because i crave them on saturdays.
This is also the only establishment where i have ordered "Deviled Eggs" and I order them every time i go. my mouth just started watering thinking about them and it is 10am in the morning.
The bar is incredibly impressive serving 70 (count em) tequilas, and if you don't know which one to order, just ask... the staff is knowledgeable and helpful.
The highlight of this above average taco/bar food menu is the BOMB Burger. If you want to feel full try it... Bacon, Onion, Mushrooms, Blue Cheese... get it? B.O.M.B. and it is just that!
Consider this a "pre-review", as I'm heading there later this eve... Been there a good half-dozen times now, and just getting around to writing the deep thoughts about Billy's.
First: some history. My grandma, 94 years old, used to work for Billy back in the late 1930s. Have a seat. She was a cook in the back, and tells us many a story about what a big borracho Billy was, how he treated everyone like a turd, and the only way he kept his gal around was buying her a new dress every night he got taken home drunk. Which was every night. After dinner, they'd clear the tables, open up the dance floor and do what they used to do back in those days. Sell pencils and apples for a living.
Anyhow, I like Billy's - for a bar-type joint, it's got decent food and a great social atmosphere. Best part about it - is a good place to hang out for Berkely/Highlands/Cottage Hill "locals". The wait staff has spunk, the happy hour is always entertaining and the outdoor patio is the best thing of all. Agree with other reviewers that the Texas BBQ burger is the bomb, the happy hour 1/2# shrimp special could feed a densely populated Mexican fishing village. Or maybe three people. Tasty stuff. The booze prices could come down a tad for my budget, but I suppose they've gotta recoup the massive Cholula investment that is proudly displayed on the west wall.
Post-visit update: Service was HORRIBLE tonight. Waitress was grouchy from the beginning, then completely disappeared. Seemed the entire staff was hanging at the bar boozing up on the tequila, and in the mahem our table got lost in the mix. Had to practically BEG for our check, and still felt guilty giving out a 10% tip for some reason. Just lost a star, Billy. Downgraded to three. Make up for it next time, or you get two.
Loved it, loved it, loved it. Excellent soft tacos - I had the crispy fish taco and the chicken taco. Tasty, firm corn tortillas, delicious slaw mixture and lots of meat. All flavors blended really well. I also love that they served my tacos in this cool little taco stand. Ttwo is plenty for a meal - unless your the kind who can down an entire Chipotle burrito in one sitting - in that case, you'll need 3.
The accompanying salsa tasted homemade.
My husband had the Billy's burger (medium-rare, thank you) with blue cheese, fries and a side of cole slaw. I had one bite of the burger and knew instantly that this is where I want to come the next time I'm in a burger mood. Delicious meat, cooked perfectly (juicy and firm), great bun (soft but not wimpy). The fries - crisp and well seasoned. This is a great deal for $8.50!
I also loved the service and ambiance. Although we were there on a Saturday afternoon (not packed), I felt like our server really took good care of us without hovering. We sat next to the garage door/window (opens in the summer to the patio).
I really love this place and am looking to going back again and again.
I am ready to give Billy's best burger in Denver.
Mine was cooked perfectly medium rare this afternoon. And the accompanying fries and coleslaw were delicious. Loosely-packed meat (almost a 1/2 pound) with great flavor and no gristle. Rich, creamy blue cheese.
Cheap PBRs.
What more do you want for lunch?
Don't answer as it was a rhetorical question.
Well, I really like Billy's.
Went there for lunch on Saturday and it was quiet and uncrowded.
Drink:…
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A bud of mine eats here pretty often and being transformed from what it was makes me see why. I don't comment often on decor but the west wall of the dining area I've been in love with that particular oramentation for quite a while. Also turn up the goddamn lights, and get some sound absorption in here! Have you tried to read your friggin menu in the dark? What'd you say? Huh?
Food was okay. Not amazing by any stretch. Paper thin piled shredded turkey when you're calling it oven roasted is like getting hamburger when you're expecting steak. $4.75 for a Corona, ten bucks for a turkey sand, Okay, I tried it. Call me if it gets any better
WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU! YES, I KNOW YOU ARE RIGHT NEXT TO ME, BUT IT'S TOO LOUD IN HERE!
The fish tacos were decent, the beer was cold and the sweet potato fries were right on. Now if I had been able to talk to my dinner partners about anything that would have made it a good time. Unfortunately, it was so loud I left with a sore throat just trying to have a short conversation. No good.
I'd not been to the old Billy's Inn so I can't compare the new one to what it used to be or opine that it was so much better before, et cetera, et cetera. All I can tell you now is that the renovated Billy's Inn is fantastic. It has a nice atmosphere, both outside and inside [OBVIOUS TIP: grab a big table near the bar with the bench seats with 7 of your friends and enjoy the people watching and the feeling of sitting up high as if you're on some sort of throne overseeing your fiefdom], the service is great and the food is delicious as well. We usually get a few tacos and some fried goodness when we're there and fill up the empty spots in our stomach with beer. Our neighbor BG loves tequila and so he was happy to see the many different varieties behind the bar. There are lots of TVs for the sports fan and a good vibe all throughout the restaurant.
Bonus: on the night that the lights went out in the Berkeley neighborhood, Billy's Inn was one of the only places on that block of 44th and Lowell that was still lit up, serving drinks and having fun... What it the backup generators or the benevolent god of food and drink? I prefer to think the latter.
Popped in for a quick bite, and kinda regretted having bitten.
The fish tacos seem to be pretty popular and I mistakenly went with the flow. The mahi mahi one was really really sweet (it was so dark I couldn't see what was inside that made it taste like that) and the baja was more edible, but still not that great. Also had a taste of the chicken sand, and was not impressed there either. The bacon comes in thick slices, but it was way too sweet!!! The chicken didn't have much flavor either. The fries are the thin crispy kind, but they weren't anything to write home about either.
The best thing we had last night was the guac, and that was only OK also.
On the plus side it seems like a happening place to be go to and drink and the wait service was really attentive and friendly.
A little history: Made a 'Bad Bar Tour' to this location a couple of years ago. The interior was dirty and smoky (the owners were fighting the smoke-free ban), the floors were sticky and the women's bathroom consisted of a toilet with a shower curtain and another toilet behind that. Sweet! Truly disgusting! Next thing I know the place gets bought by a local restaurant investment group, a half a million dollars gets poured into it, and voila! Instant cute and always full. Bet you the old owners are kicking themselves.
Location: Excellent. Close to Rocky Mountain Lake, bike parking out front, patio seating on the side. Perfect for a neighborhood beer night. Beer selection: Good. Nice selection. Food: Meh. Ridiculous to offer American tacos in a neighborhood that has some of the best Mexican taco joints in the city. Sandwiches are ok, sweet potato fries are excellent. Service: dismal and sometimes bordering on snotty. There is serious room for improvement in this area.
Casual food and beer joint is a perfect match for this neighborhood. I hope that Billy's success is a signal to other restaurants about what is possible in this location.
Tip: Check out the photos of the 'old Billy's' in the bathroom. Nearly every person in the photos has a cigarette in hand. This cracks me up.
My burger was the bomb.. so, I tried the tacos on my next visit.. get 'em on flour tortillas.. (I have a thing).. chicken.. mahi mahi... steak.. scrumptious.
You will leave a smitten kitten..
Perhaps the heaping plate of nachos next time..
Mmm.. mmmm.. mmmmm!
I have not eaten hear so I cannot comment on the food, but I had a beer and was irritated by the staff and the management. The place smells of very stale beer and unkept bar mats. By the flies buzzing over warm uncovered fruit I'd say that I'm not that mistaken, and that when I just sat down. The "dingy" "wanna be" " child looking" bartender had no personality or grace, let alone the ability to sell me a damn beer. The fat and hung over looking managers were having stupid daily shift change discussions in front of me like I give a damn and want them talking for 30 min in front of me about their inability to properly balance their register. No one person greeted us, or smiled or thanked anyone of their customers and instead of making small-talk like a barkeep does, they at any given chance went to hang out with the rest off the staff or stare at the TV's behind them. IDIOTS!! LEARN YOUR TRADE. And I just sat and observed having just a beer. Make better decisions in your bar and you will get better reviews. PS-I don't care if their food is good or not, too many options. I don't need to go back.
I can't wait to return again and again to see how Billy's gets better.
The baja menu perfectly matches the wide range of tequilas (that you can get three ways: salt/lime, pink grapefruit juice or with sangrita). One marg really made an impression: Billy's Coin!!
I sat at the bar so can not comment on the waitstaff (there seemed to be alot of them). The patio has misters and the place seems to be packed every day that I ride (the bus) by.
For those of us that had been in the old Billy's, this is night and day, and I'm glad they saved some of the photos of the old customers.
It was good service, but that was about it.
The food was sort of ok, not really worth the price. Maybe I'm cheap, but the drinks seemed really overpriced.
I probably won't be going back, there was a lot to be desired.
I have only had burgers here, but both times I have had them they were awesome!! My favorite is the Texas burger bacon cheddar and bbq sauce. Oh so yummy! I have also had the santa fe burger with green chilis and that was great too. Don't miss out on the veggie fries either.
I have only been in here at off luch hour times (2-4pm) and it hasn't been real loud or busy. But I can expect at night this being a small place and having been around forever they are packed and loud. But give the burgers a try and you won't be dissapointed.
This has actually been the best burger I have had in a while.
Although the food an ambience is average, the overall service leaves something to be desired-primarily due to the management. On three separate occasions I have received flat beer, undercooked food, or extremely late service and had to pay for it all with no apology from the management. In fact, I received the opposite.....He actually argued with me about it and told me never to come back to the establishment. I have never experienced such rudeness and abject display of egotistical and crude behavior. Its really too bad, as the old Billy's, even though a dive, always was a friendly place to go and I never had to drink flat overpriced beer and pay for it. I feel sorry for his employees.
I guess you can make a silk purse out of a pig's ear after all.
Love the makeover..........................
This was a really fun place!
I went two days in a row. The first time I went was with a group of about 10 during Sunday brunch. It was kinda crowded and our bartender, Ryan, kinda got swapped with bar and waiting our table. Nonetheless, it was good food. I had the burger on this day! WONDERFUL!!!!!
The next day, my husband and I went there for lunch. For a Monday, it was pretty dead, but the service was much faster. I had the chicken tacos and they were splendid!!!
My only thing was the amount of flies that we had to keep shooing away from out table and our food, but otherwise it was really good food!!
FWIW, I've now returned & the place still sits very well with me...It just feels like the right joint at the right time. If you squint you can pretend you're in a roadhouse on the border. Though the menu's casual and cheap, it doesn't cut corners--way more than you'd expect is made from scratch.
Staff is young & eager, for better or worse. Ultimately I'd say better--chattiness trumps sullenness.
Checked it out today just for a drink; dug it. Drove by at 4:30, parking lot was empty. Drove by at… Read more »
What a delightful renovation. It's true if you build it they will come.
After playing with clay at E.V.B studios on first Friday a group of us headed over to what used to be a washed up dive bar on 44th and Lowell. It's now a hoppin' spot!
I had the Santa Fe turkey burger. Which did not look like a frozen perfectly round patty! Hooray! It had a wonderful smattering of chopped jalapenos. I like it hot. I also opted for the sweet potato fries. So yummy. The cole slaw was a great tasting surprise. The others in my group enjoyed a buffalo burger also in the Santa Fe style, lobster tacos, and a chicken sandwich which didn't look as boring as it sounds. The menu has your typical bar food with a Mexican twist. We started with some of the best tortilla chips that I have had in a long time. The salsa was fresh and did not seem out of a can. The guacamole was also quite tasty. They also have tequila flights, martinis, beer, and some interesting non-alcoholic drinks.
We sat on the patio which was great considering it had been so hot that day. It was a bit noisy inside, but I did enjoy the old pictures of customers smoking it up in the old Billy's.
The food was a slow to come out, but I did appreciate the waitress' attentiveness. She checked on us plenty, but it was pleasant and she seemed happy and quick to reassure us that our food was on the way. I think the kitchens slow tickets will improve as they work out the kinks after all they have only been reopen 3 weeks.
I will definitely be back.
I wasn't impressed with this place. Yes they did have a lot of tequilas behind the bar but heck...I can go buy tequila too.
We decided to stop for a beer and snack on Saturday evening (about 6pmish) There were waaaay too many workers in the front area...some guy doing paperwork...and three others all standing around in a tiny space eyeballing us as we walk in. Ok...which of you is gonna seat us? Oh, we seat ourselves...thanks.
So we decided to sit inside since it was a little hot out still. Not a great draft beer selection, Boddingtons was the best of the bunch. So our waiter was good...brought plenty of napkins for our order of wings. And checked up with us often. (this actually saved them from a one star review)
A side note...a busboy was cleaning off our table and we asked him how the wings are...he stated that they were ok...but not great. A waitress was walking by and was all "they are the best wings in the world" "jesus would come back for them" "I named my baby after them"!!!!
Why do they lie like that...we had an order of them and I was offended that this person thought they were any good or thought that humans would like them. They were small and the salsa that covered them was sour and actually made a bigger pile than the wings did once we excavated them out from under it. And only three carrot and celery sticks? .
Don't lie to me period! You would have gotten a better review if you had told the truth.
Oh...and I almost forgot...this place had a wildlife preserve going on in there. We were sitting next to the garage door and at one point had two flys and one bee buzzing right next to us. At this point I'm wondering what is in the kitchen.
Yeah...I doubt we will be coming back.
Great margaritas! The food is pretty good considering it's a bar. I recommend the big burrito salad. Decent happy hour specials, too.
Dear Billy,
We met last weekend, I live in the neighborhood. I stopped by for some drinks and dinner. You were really busy, but I just wanted to let you know that I really like you. You've got great taste (nice decor), a good heart (nice servers), you're a ridiculous cook (the burgers are really good), and you really like to party (sweet bar). I kind of like it that you're an outdoorsy guy too (awesome patio). You're still a little rough around the edges (just opened, service was a little spotty), but I'm willing to overlook your minor shortcomings because, like I said, I really like you.
xoxo
Oh, man, I love this place.
I'll admit, I've been a fan of Chrisopher Mohaupt (ex- of Patrick Carroll's, general manager of Billy's) for years, so I was biased going in. That doesn't change the fact that the food is excellent, the restaurant is comfortable and they have great tequila.
Let's get back to the food, shall we? Not that I don't love a good flight of tequila, but just about any bar can do that. It's a special place that puts together the outstanding homemade salsa, the fresh and savoury baja-style tacos and the amazing burgers Billy's does.
Our Tuesday night knitting group has been at Patrick Carroll's for more than a year. It's a couple of blocks from home for me, right across the street from Posh, a Yarn Boutique and still a great sports bar... but we're splitting our time between PC and Billy's these days. The food and the patio are both just too good not to take full advantage.
This neighborhood really needed a corner bar. Billy fits the role. Everything I've had to eat(Burgers, sweet potatoe fried, and tacos) have been good. The draft beer is relatively expensive at $4.75 a beer. If you drink PBR, Miller Lite, or Coors Lite it is going to be a lot cheaper for you. My biggest knock on Billy's is the mixed drinks. My girlfriend has order a variety of drinks, all with the same result. A whole lot of ice and not a lot of alcohol. She's come to the realization that she should just order beer. The service is mediocre to above depending on who you get. Billy's was much needed in this neighborhood; however, I'd definitley recommend checking out Zio Romolo's Alley bar on 32nd and Zuni or Meade St Station on 32nd and Lowell instead of Billy's if you're not set on going to someplace very near to 44th and lowell.
ended up at billy's inn last night with my brother, my pops and my 2 and 1/2 year old niece. (yes. we are those people. it's definitely a bar, but we ate outside and no one seemed to care that we had a toddler with us. in fact, maybe it made the service that. much. faster.)
in retrospect, the drunk dudes sitting at the bar inside were probably louder and more annoying than my niece.
at any rate, billy's was ideal because they have a wide variety of menu items- and no one knew what they wanted for dinner. still, it's your typical bar food. i got the basic, louisiana red hot chicken wings. (MMM.... chicken wings, nachos and pbr. nothin' but the classiest foods for me.) i'm so healthy.
my brother got the same thing and neither of us had any complaints.
pops got the rib-eye tacos. and as he was trying to pry his granddaughter away, he managed to eat every last bite.
the little one got a chicken taco. she ate it. when asked if she liked it, she said: yeah. it's good. can i have a sip? as she picked up a mug of PBR.
ummm..not in public, kid.
they also had sandwiches and salads and those bar appetizers like potato skins and fries and all sorts of goodies that are terrible for you.
our server was quick, funny, checked on us... a lot.
i'd never been to billy's inn before the remodel, so no comparisons there. but, the food was decent, service was good, and they have beer. so, i'll probably go back.
maybe without a 2 and 1/2 year old next time.
It took few visits, but I've fallen in love with this place - I've now been in 5 or 6 times and the food is totally exceeding my expectations. Here are the things I think are best -
The burgers are among the very best in town - especially the BOMB and the one with BBQ sauce (can't remember the exact name if it). You'll be impressed at how good they are. They do a pound of peel 'n eat shrimp in a big bowl for ten bucks on Fridays and it's got this great seasoning on it and they're not overcooked like most places. The fish tacos are the best in town hands down - filled with fresh mahi-mahi and this killer slaw with cucumbers and cilantro. Billy's is really just a neighborhood place, but it goes way above the call of duty with the food.
I love the new Billy's Bar, the remodel has brought it up to par with how the neighborhood is changing. I went to old Billy's Bar a couple of times and it was so dark and smokey that I barely remember what it looked like inside. It is great that even though Billy's has joined the modern era they have kept respect to what it started as... the neon signs, the white stucco, and the classic patrons. The food is great, the drinks are fantastic and the atmosphere is perfect for my neighborhood bar!
Haven't eaten there yet, but the fish tacos look fantastic! I have however been there for drinks and the Coin Margarita is a big time winner! They also have a great selection of tequilas and tap beer. Great bar!
Yummy fish tacos, casual atmosphere, fabulous mojitos
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