cafe|bar

I came here for lunch with a friend the other day. We kind of picked it at random. We were seated on the nice shady patio. This was very enjoyable, up until the rising wind started knocking tiny flowers from the tree into our food and drinks.

I started my meal with house iced tea. It was nicely flavored, without any funky peach, nectarine, raspberry, or potpourri flavors lurking within. For my lunch, I opted for the Pesto Chicken salad sandwich with arugula and parmesan. The bread was nicely toasted and the flavor of the sandwich was great. It could have used a bit more "total chicken salad mass" between the bread slices, as it was a bit on the lighter side. The sweet potato fries I had with this sandwich were excellent. The service was very good.

Sorry to say that we had a very disappointing meal at Cafebar last night. We were with friends and everyone was excited about trying out their new spring menu.

Kerrrsplatt. Major fail.

I asked for the fennel seed gnocchi. My sweetheart had the elk burger, ordered rare. We both had the house salad to start.

I think the word "salad" is supposed to mean a mixture of various raw or cooked vegetables with dressing. The house salad at Cafebar turned out to be essentially a bowl of one kind of greens (so not "mixed greens" as stated on the menu), with a few cherry tomatoes for $9. You can get a half order, and if you do, you'll get a smaller bowl of greens for a bit less. Not a dish I'd recommend (the sunflower seeds, leeks and chevre mentioned on the menu are there . . . but only in what geologists call "trace amounts").

The gnocchi was described as being prepared with "Indian eggplant, shallots, artichokes, spinach and beurre blanc." Me? I luvs me that gnocchi. The Cafebar's gnocchi were really excellent--when I could find a piece--but those pieces were far outnumbered by artichoke quarters. Truth in advertising would have demanded the dish be called the "Artichoke Plate," served with a few gnocchi and 1 (yes 1) small piece of under-cooked eggplant the size of a cocktail olive.

I cannot think of a time when I have sent a dish back to the kitchen, and I didn't do it last night. But I should have. However, the problem is that when you're dining with friends and they don't express any complaints about their food, you just don't want to cause any interruption to the meal and flow of the evening. Anyway, getting too many artichokes when you're out at a pretty nice restaurant is what they call, on SNL skits, "a rich white peoples' problem . . .."

And as to my wife . . . remember her, the one who likes her elk burger rare . . . well she told me after we left that her burger wasn't rare. It wasn't medium rare. It was medium. The fries that came with the burger were fine, but when they get the burger so wrong as to be overcooked by 2 levels, there's not much to notice beyond that.

All-in-all, while the service was very good and our server very sweet, the meal itself was very disappointing. And that's unfortunate because we were growing to really like the place. Bottom line: I hope they improve on the execution of their new menu and get back on track. We'll give it another try, but if there's a repeat of what we experienced last night, then there are lots and lots of new (and old) really great restaurants in Denver these days. Not gonna throw money away on a bad meal.

I had a fabulous dinner at Cafebar this past Saturday night, thanks to the suggestion of Frances G, Denver's new Yelp Community Manager!

Our party of four lucked out and got seated without a reservation, but I have a feeling that doesn't happen too often on the weekends as the place became super packed just after we arrived.

Our server, Ashley, was attentive and sweet. I love the comfortable ambiance of the restaurant as well. It's comfortable and even when crowded, easy to have conversation with your party.

I believe the menu is seasonal and there were several options that appealed to me right off the bat. The special of the evening changed shortly after we arrived, but there were still plenty of options to choose from. I started my meal with the (half portion) of the Brussel Sprout Salad. It was healthy and delicious, and the half portion was the perfect size. I balanced out the healthy though, and went with a burger for my entree along with sweet potato fries. I ordered it medium and it was more medium rare when it arrived, but I still scarfed down every last bite. Mmmmm....

Prices are moderate, or maybe a bit pricey, but this place is a gem and I'd return in a heartbeat!

Cafebar reminds me of one if the many "boutique style," hipster restaurants in Scottsdale (I say this not as criticism but as praise; Phoenix certainly does food well!).

Delicious food, succinct menu and refreshingly down-to-earth waitstaff. Come before 3 pm and you'll have the option of traditional breakfast items (i.e. strawberry buttermilk pancakes, duck potato hash, waffles) and a handful of lighter fare like the berry salad, trout salad and Fresh Take (a summer-inspired ciabatta sandwich with grilled squash and zucchini, tomatoes, avocado, goat cheese and basil-pistachio pesto). Hungry yet?

There's something special about every item; the french toast is made with homemade banana bread; potato hash is instantly elevated with savory duck confit; eggs Benedict is also accompanied with duck. Pistachio, berries, quinoa, lime and jicama make appearances in this season's menu.

Undoubtedly delicious, yet on the edge of being excessively pricey. Adding just a couple ounces of chicken (albeit incredibly moist and seasoned to perfection) is $4. Yet at a restaurant like Cafebar, you're paying a little more for the overall experience. I'd say it's worth it.

There are a few things Denver has that I wish I could bring back to Houston:
1. The huge variety of local breweries.
2. The hottest guys in the country. Really, I dunno how this town breeds such tall, hunky manly-men.
3. And CaféBar

This is one of Denver's newest eateries offering fresh - yet hearty - fare and amazing drinks. To top it off, the trendy yet simple atmo makes this place a great spot for casual lunchers or the scenesters looking for a great happy hour. It has a clean, contemporary feel, with modern art adorning the gray walls, an open kitchen and bar, and patio seating. Don't know who designed CaféBar, but I absolutely love the feel.

As for the fare, you'll find your all-time favorites like sloppy Joes, mac 'n' cheese and meatballs - but made with fresh, local ingredients and all with a gourmet kick - artisan cheeses and Charcuterie plates; seasonal items, and fresh salads. The buffalo meatballs on the happy hour menu make for a great starter, as well as the Brussels sprouts sautéed with soy sauce and cuts of bacon. They were featuring a lot of season items, such as a butternut squash mixed green salad with toasted nuts and fresh fig (Another great option - but I'd ask for a side of honey to drizzle on the squash). Since it was a chilly day, I couldn't resist the grilled cheese with my choice of applewood smoked white cheddar and a side of tomato soup. All of these items were up for sharing since none of us could decide on what we wanted. If there were a 15-course tasting menu, I'd certainly jump on that train.

Our server had some great recommendations and knew the menu very well (lucky her. She probably gets to sample everything!). Trust me, you need to check out CaféBar. I so badly wanted to return for another visit - and nearly did the ol' tuck 'n' roll as Tiffany N drove by the next morning. But I refrained myself. 'Til next time, Denver.

Came here on a Sunday for brunch and was seated on time as our reservations.

The place is cute. White/modern decor and outdoor patio seating.

It's just street parking but it's Denver so I should get over it.

The service was great but sooo slow. Maybe I'm the only one who goes to brunch STARVING and impatient.

I got the ricotta blueberry pancakes which were good but nothing special.

My husband got the bison burger which was good....but also nothing special.

It's a good place to hang out for brunch or lunch but there are plenty of other options if you want fantastic food.

This place is great! I was able to make reservations for brunch, huge plus, and great food!
Andrea was so great as was Yusef!
We had the mushroom hash, french toast, burger, blt, and scallops.
Everything delicious.
Also the bottomless mimosas are a great deal lol.

I'm in different about Cafebar.

Came here on Thursday night and got seated right away on the patio. My first impression was a fun, cozy space. I was excited for the food!

We waited for about 5 mins before our server (who was totally awkward) asked if we had been helped. We said no, and she told us because there was water on the table she thought someone had taken our order.

Anywho, I ordered the pea risotto, no mushrooms. I was told that it was vegan and there was no cheese. I said it was fine and she mentioned that she could get a side of parmesan if needed. I reminded her again no mushrooms.

Fast forward 10 mins. Our server (again, very awkward) asked if we wanted another drink. My friend ordered one, she asked and I told her no thanks, even though she brought me one. Food comes and there's mushrooms. Boo. I was way to lazy to remind her for the third time that I didn't want mushrooms.

All in all, the food was pretty good along with a fun atmosphere. Only downside was the totally awkward server, it would be a push to say she made me feel uncomfortable, but actually did.

We went with a big group tonight and had a great meal. I had to send my wild boar chops back because I didn't want them on the rare side but they were really nice about it and they were awesome! I loved the mashed yams that came with them. Others loved the brussel sprout salad. Bread was a big hit with the orange butter. All the cocktails were loved all around!!

One request would be to add cushions to all their chairs. All of us complained about the hardness of the chairs. All in all it was a hit!

*Tourist Review*

I had brunch at cafebar. It was cool. Gray coloring, with wood, chalk board with information and small tables. A real locally owned, a little bit hip, a little big organic feel. I loved the bottomless mismosas and the service was tip top.

The brunch menu was a bit bare with 1 egg choice, fruit, some french toast. All the food i had was great -- my favorite the rosemary grits! wow. Awesome. But I really wanted a hearty filling dish and it seemed like most choices were a bit light. But thats okay its the vibe of the place.

The food is all from local farmers, and the vibe is very relaxing and friendly. I enjoyed my brunch here and would probably like to try dinner to give it a full 5 stars!