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Julia Blackbird's New Mexican Cafe
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Latin American Restaurants Mexican Caterers, Latin American, Mexican [Edit]
3434 W 32nd AveDenver, CO 80211
Neighborhoods: Highland, Northwest
(303) 433-2688
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 10 am - 8 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
76 reviews for Julia Blackbird's New Mexican Cafe
Review Highlights
"I had the acorn squash with green chile and beans."
(in 4 reviews)
"...and delicious, especially the blue corn tilapia tacos."
(in 3 reviews)
"We also had the sweet potato fries."
(in 3 reviews)
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76 reviews in English
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Review from Meredith G.
Denver, CO
10/2/2011
Needed a lunch spot and wound up here. I like their front street facing patio.
Started off with chips and salsa. Salsa was OK, but not memorable. I ordered the tacos with chicken. They were a good, but for $10 I think should've included a side of beans or something. My friend enjoyed her tacos with tilapia, but I think she also wanted a side. -
Review from Claire C.
Denver, CO
1/9/2012
My husband summed it up with, "The best thing on this table are the fountain drinks."
Ugh, I should've read Yelp reviews before buying my Groupon, I could've saved $20 and our Saturday night out. I went to this restaurant 8-9 years ago when it was at its former location up the street, and I thought the food was bad then! My husband insisted I'd had an uncharacteristic experience and that I should try it again before making a final judgment, so we went.
My shrimp burrito was flavorless, and frankly, my shrimp seemed boiled versus grilled. In fact, I'm SURE they were boiled. Sadly, they weren't boiled in spiced water, so imagine a soggy burrito wrapper (no flavor), plus boiled shrimp (no flavor), plus a mixed greens salad on the side (no dressing, no flavor) and the least flavorful queso fresco I've ever eaten sprinkled carelessly over the whole plate. Even my husband's "go-to" Tres Hermanas ("I've ALWAYS been happy with the Tres Hermanas") was bland, flavorless and somewhat structureless. As a final insult, our service was lousy throughout the meal, despite a half-full restaurant.
Final judgement is this: Julia should learn to cook food with FLAVOR or find a new hobby. -
Review from Kathryn H.
Denver, CO
Updated - 12/19/2011
I was sorely disappointed in our last dining experience here. We brought friends this time, and we are kind of sad we did. The service was poor, they ran out of salsa, and honestly, my stew is something I probably could have made better at home. I wish I would have just stuck with the rellenos. It took way too long for someone to even greet us at the table, let alone bring us water. We had just come from El Camino, which sucked too...we were hoping JB's would help us redeem our night...it didn't. I want to continue to like it, but with two poorer experiences and one good, I am hesitant to return.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/4/2011
The first time we went to JB's I was rather underwhelmed. Unlike previous reviewers, my partner… Read more »
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Review from Muck S.
Englewood, CO
9/18/2011
Here's the problem with Julia blackbirds. The personality of the person in charge. We've been in there twice since it's opened, and both visits left us with the same impression. The food was tasty, but the overall "attitude" of the place is cold and uncaring. Uncaring as if no one "cares" that you have shown up. I dont need a red carpet rolled out for me. But a friendly greeting? Or a thanks for coming in? Not happening.
And that starts from the top down. And that's too bad because the place should be better than it is. -
Review from Kat A.
Arvada, CO
2/9/2011
I feel like I'm betraying a friend of mine by writing this review (she loves the place). I want to like Julia Blackbird's - I really, really do. However, after a couple visits there, I just feel underwhelmed. The first visit, I had some chile rellenos and then most recently, the stew. Neither meal left me in any kind of stupor, but it wasn't bad food. Granted, I haven't tried much in the way of New Mexican cuisine, either. Maybe it's the cuisine that just isn't my thing. I'll be the first to admit that I am far from a foodie.
The service, especially this time around, was a bit lacking. I didn't feel especially taken care of, but our food did come out quickly. I will say that one of the waitresses remembered my friend mentioned above and knew before she ordered what she wanted, so that was cool. Also, we did have a constant stream of chips and salsa, and the salsa was really good.
My favorite part of the experience was the decor. It's fantastic and very cozy, so there is that, but for me, it's not enough to warrant the desire to hit them up again. -
Review from E M.
Denver, CO
Updated - 1/16/2011
If I heard the microwave beep one more time, I was going to laugh out loud.
The queso was OK- nothing special; small portion for the price. (Queso is one of my favorite things in the world so I love trying it any restaurant that has it.)
Had to send my entree back
It was cold
It had the wrong type of enchiladas
The icing on the cake was the wait staff complaining loudly enough for all of us on the dining area to hear that Julia hadn't hired more staff before the LivingSocial coupon had started
The chips were super salty
Salsa was pretty good
Waitress was friendly and helpful
I have given this restaurant many, many chances over the past year and am disappointed every time. I'm done.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/5/2010
I want Julia Blackbird's to be good, I really do! I love restaurants where the owner is there and… Read more »
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Review from David S.
Denver, CO
9/26/2011
The worst of the worst,terrible slop just like expensive dog food how it is still in business amazing in new York it would close in 1 day.portions small,prices high service fair at best.taco bell is much better.
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Review from Evan A.
Updated - 12/17/2010
Yikes Julia's!
Don't know about this place anymore.
I love the sangria but the atmosphere is just blah. The inside is not inviting at all. The chicken tacos were SALTY. I mean I didn't finish 2 of them because there was way too much salt, I couldn't taste the food.
Bummer. May just head here during the summer for the drinks and outdoor patio.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/31/2010
I don't know what's up with all of the bad reviews. Came here last night with my friend and we both… Read more »
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Review from Renee K.
Wheat Ridge, CO
3/13/2011
I guess I should check Yelp before buying a Groupon because I agree with all the other 2-3 star reviews. We went Sunday night, it was mostly empty. Service was friendly, but our waitress was reluctant to ask if vegetarian tacos could be made. They take No Substitutions seriously!
The meals were fair, the salsa excellent, the guac delicious. I'm with the other reviewers who are just underwhelmed. -
Review from Jenny S.
Denver, CO
2/4/2011
I have to preface this with one thing: the ONLY reason that I kept coming back was because the patio happy hour is amazing. That being said, the rest of the experiences there have been anything but good.
I will be the first to admit that I am a foodie and a harsh critic of restaurants because I worked in the biz so long. I know what it takes to give good service and when I have great service I am ecstatic. Julia BB just lacks, period.
The server, although nice and amicable, forgot to put in half our order which we ended up just canceling in the end. We only saw her about two or three times over the course of the evening and along with forgetting half the food, she also never remembered that we had asked for water or more chips and salsa.
The food was a bit bland: the tamales were hastily put together and the rice and beans had minimal flavor. The sangria was good, a little juicy with not much fruit in it.
I really wanted to like Julia BB, but this was the last straw - I will not be back no matter how much I like the patio in the summer. -
Review from Tiara Q.
Denver, CO
6/22/2011
Grossly overpriced underwhelming food. I had the salmon and my husband had the chile rellenos. We also had the sweet potato fries. Everything was dusted with a dry salty somewhat spicy seasoning rather than being seasoned before or during cooking. I think we got 12 fries for $5. Service was painfully slow and the place was empty. The prices on the menu are higher than those on their website. The portions were small and overall I would recommend going somewhere else.
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Review from Stephanie B.
Denver, CO
10/2/2010
Like others, I want to like this place. In fact, I did used to like this place. They used to have prompt service and tasty food. Now, after the construction went in next to it, I think they've experienced fewer customers and that has led to them cutting back on staff, and down on the quality of the food.
This results in really slow service-- my honey and I got there around 5:45 on a Friday evening, sat around for 10 minutes before anyone even came to ask for our drink order, and then we had to wait about 40 minutes to get our food after we ordered it. And we didn't pay our bill until 7:30! The waitress apologized for the wait and mentioned that she had an 11-top inside... but, most restaurants can handle that. Not this one.
Julia's has real potential, but they need to overhaul their business plan. Charge less, hire more people, and revamp the menu-- there is no reason it should be the same as it was 10 years ago! With so many great Mexican and New Mexican inspired restaurants around town that are CHEAP and GOOD this food is relatively expensive for not being so great. I hope they can turn themselves around. -
Review from Tim B.
Denver, CO
6/8/2010
I heard this place was great, but WOW, this was one of the worse dining experiences I've had. Very sad, being that we prefer to dine locally.
First, the waitress was great, prompt and friendly. The margs and mojitos were okay. But that's it.
When we arrived, we were greeted by a very rude hostess, who turned out to be Julia herself.
We started with some queso. It was good, but was nothing more then Velveeta and Rotel.
We wanted the Ancho Chile BBQ Ribs, but they were out, so we had the Rellenos Norteno, which were soggy and lacking flavor. We also had the Chicken Cordon Green. There were a few flavorful bites, but overall it was very underwhelming.
On top of all this, the thing we couldn't believe is that the rice and beans we horrible. How do you mess up rice and beans? Honestly, the beans sucked the flavor from my mouth.
Worst of all, as we were leaving, I spoke with Julia to let her know that our experience was bad. She didn't care and said she hadn't had a bad review in 10 years. I mentioned that while sitting at our table, I looked at what was on Yelp and that there were a lot of bad reviews, she said she doesn't pay attention to what online reviews say.
I hope Julia reads this one day and starts making some changes sooner then later. -
Review from Alexxa T.
Denver, CO
1/26/2011
I bought a Living Social deal a few months ago and finally decided to use it. Unfortunately, I didn't come to this restaurant with an open mind. A few people told me it just wasn't very good.
So, we ordered margaritas and the waitress said they weren't able to make them blended. Weird. The chips and guacamole were pretty standard. We tried to order the ancho chile ribs, which sounded amazing, but they were out. So, we went with the enchiladas and chili rellenos. I loved the texture and flavor of the goat cheese. The pinto beans were perfectly cooked, not soggy. The chicken enchilada had a very strange flavor, along with the rice. I guess I'm just used to greasy Mexican food.
Overall, this is just a strange restaurant. The inside setup attempts to be homey but it just didn't do it for me. -
Review from Sammy G.
Denver, CO
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food was not even close to good enough for how much they charge - $13 for a shrimp burrito that was, at most, mediocre. They need to lower their prices or cook better food because they have a lot of potential and pretty good competition on that block. They have beautiful artwork, so go check it out after they've made improvements.
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Review from Vanya L.
Denver, CO
1/5/2011
I came here recently after not having been here for years. I remembered, fondly, the New Mexican style goat cheese chile rellenos I had eaten at the previous location. I was intent on ordering these again when I was thrown off track by the baked squash dish on the menu. I have never ordered a baked squash as an entree but the description intrigued me. So, I ordered it.
It was excellent. It was a whole acorn squash, baked with brown sugar and then topped with pinto beans, green chile, and queso fresco. It sounds a little odd but it was to die for. The green chile is very different from the traditional tex-mex style- it was full of fresh grilled chiles and not overly thickened with corn starch. It was full of flavor.
My friend got the vegetarian tamales with the vegetarian red chile and it was very bland and lackluster. She tried my squash and was filled with jealousy!
The service was fine but the restaurant was very slow for a Saturday night. I will gladly return but I will be hard pressed to decide between the delicious rellenos or the baked squash! -
Review from Wanda C.
2/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
So another of those Groupon-like deals, this time a Living Social deal that I purchased and I was at the very last day before it expired. I was meeting a friend for a belated birthday dinner and based on the reviews (as I purchased the deal without looking on Yelp first, for shame!), I did feel that I wouldn't enjoy the meal, but I hate losing money more.
When we arrived at 6 p.m., we were told there was a wait 15-20 minutes and asked if we'd made a reservation. As we hadn't made a reservation, we were placed on the waiting list. The wait ended up being 35 minutes, but I was thankful that we got in when we did. As it got later in the evening, I kept seeing people coming in and looking surprised at the long wait.
It was a quaint decor that was very colorful. After being seated, our waitress promptly brought us water and took our drink orders. I believe I ordered the tres hermanas enchiladas with the red chili, which wasn't spicy. That turned out to be a bad move, as the sauce was bland and flavorless. However, my friend's dinner was excellent and he couldn't stop raving about it. Although I didn't enjoy the red chili, the enchiladas themselves were good and the rice and beans were good.
Basically, we had a good meal and I was pleasantly surprised.Comment from julie s. of Julia Blackbird's New Mexican Cafe 2/23/2011
Thanks Wanda, we know the wait on the first and last days of… More » -
Review from Laurie S.
7/25/2010
Yeah.. Meh. That's about the feeling you have when you leave, after you pay for your overpriced, bland meal. Initially after sitting and looking at the menu I was pretty surprised that I had to really search for something that sounded appetizing. I love Mexican food, New Mexican food.. Ok, I love all food.. So to have to really search to find something that sounded good on the menu was really off putting.
I decided on the tacos, which had the potential to be good, (I've had tacos at the bar up the street that were way, way better). They come with salsa on the side which isn't as flavorful as Pace Picante sauce... I did ask for something hotter and I was brought a cup of chopped jalapeno's, obviously a kind effort by the waitress as the kitchen couldn't offer anything substantial.. No pico? No hot sauce? Something??? The food had no spice, I'm not talking hot either (I had the jalapenos for hotness) they just weren't very flavorful. The tea and sangria were good but overall after leaving it was way overpriced for what your getting (for the food anyways) and I wished we would have just stuck with the plan on going to the sandwich shop because this place just didn't do it for me. -
Review from James J.
Westminster, CO
6/23/2011
I've been here many times and at her other location up the street. I'm always left wanting more to eat. I do eat a lot but don't look it. I'm a fan of the tres hermanas and rarely have tried anything else. For $13 the portions should be larger.
I like the New Mexican flavors and the motif in the restaurant. We even purchased some of the Dan Luna art. But there's just not enough food on the plate and the chips or salsa always run out before the other.....and never replenished by the server....I've never asked if they charge for more but they charge for the first basket of chips for sure. Chips are tasty as well as the very small portion of salsa.
Last night we walked in and Julia was the hostess at that moment. No smile, didn't seemed please that we didn't have reservations and then seemed put off by me asking if we could sit in a particular empty table because she had to "clean" it.
The server was very nice however and a couple of days ago when we went there the server was very good and has been working there a long time.
I'll still go back. It's just too unique and spicy to not go again. :) -
Review from John M.
Littleton, CO
8/21/2010
Seemed like a good plan.....
I really really wanted this place to be good after years of curiosity and recalling old reviews. Well we finally saw the perfect opportunity with a $15 Living Social Coupon good for $35 and gave it a whirl.
I'll make this quick so you others don't get disappointingly yanked like us: extremely sub-par food, overpriced (for example $12 for 2 tamales, $6 thimble of tasteless guacamole, etc.), service was good (which should be expected with only 3 tables dining on a Saturday night), and they were out of their so-called famous signature key lime pie and Mexican chocolate cake. One positive is their great decor and outdoor patio area (however it is right across from Happy Cakes where you have to watch the sheep going to the $4 cup cake slaughter).
Left hungry. Only saving grace was the coupon - full bill would have been a real bite in the shorts. -
Review from Jason S.
Denver, CO
1/5/2011
First time visiting JB's and probably will not return unless they offer some kind of happy hour this summer on their great patio.
Upon walking in it appeared that Julie was working (frantically) which is typical in a lot of kitchens however her kitchen is open and is what one sees right away. In addition, a young boy (probably 8) was helping out, however, he was not dressed for the role he was being thrown into and probably should be home on a school night instead of working.
We had guac.salsa and chips. The guac was good with large chunks of avocado in it. The salsa was good but the portion size was very small. Chips were nothing special a lot of broken ones and was never offered more chips.
I had the enchiladas which were served with a side of beans and pesole. The enchiladas were good, the blue corn tortillas made for a authentic taste. The beans were blah as was the pesole. My wife had the tamale plate which came with rice and beans. I tried the tamales and they were ok.
The service was good.
Overall, I feel I paid more than what I received. Unless a menu tells me I'm eating local products then the menu prices should reflect that. -
Review from Elexa W.
Marietta, GA
8/17/2010
The patio is lovely. The margaritas are waaaaay too expensive and fairly bland. Also, I don't like being charged for chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant, but they absolutely charge you here!
My husband got the burrito (decent) and I got the tamales (pretty good). None of the food was mind blowing. But, it wasn't horrible either. Fairly tasty.
Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating.
They close at 8pm on Sundays (weird!) so we had to rush our meal a bit, but we were headed to a movie so it wasn't the end of the world. -
Review from Ken K.
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
With a big outdoor patio, sangria, and green chili, Julia Blackbird's is an afternoon well-spent. I recommend the chicken cordon green -- grilled chicken with a perfectly cooked green chile, smothered in a bowl of green chili, topped with queso fresco, it's like savory mouthbliss.
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Review from David T.
Denver, CO
11/2/2009
She's lost that lovin' feeling. Now it's gone, gone, gone, woh oh woh (cue Tom Cruise). I'm from Santa Fe and when Julia opened her little spot, what? Probably ten+ years ago? I thought I had died and gone to heaven - in the space that is now Venue or was it next door? memory fails (maybe that was the original Bang! - well, it was right around there. And, WE LOVED IT - for the most part. Some things were even a little too "earth shoe" for me even back then. I remember she had her six year old waiting tables - umm - that's even a little casual for me. Whole wheat crust on pies - blasphemy. Nonetheless, flavors were true to the Southwest and even though the service was casual to the point of being nonexistent, we gave her a lot of business.
Since the move, not so much. I think the service is uniformly terrible and the food, especially for the price, is not worth the trip. Sorry, Julia, you had me mesmerized for a long time, but I've moved along. Many better Southwestern options these days. -
Review from Alexandra F.
Denver, CO
So this week I had to do major butt pumps at the gym.... I am up to 100
lunges a day because the hard metal chairs outside on the patio of
Julia Blackbird's were uncomfortable and unflattering... I mean, I was
wearing a skirt and at that point I could care less who saw my hot
sauce panties because I was in pain from my tush being pushed through the squares of the metal seat.
I used to live in Santa Fe, and believe me, this is not a southwestern
menu... The food was horrible and their margaritas were too sweet, and the drink presentation was not too sexy. ( I like to feel sexy when I
drink.... That's what alcohol is for right? What?)
The best darn thing about this restaurant is their outdoor patio. A
little behind the main street of Lowell, Julia Blackbird's front patio
acts as an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the long lines in
front of Stellas down the road.
Come here to sit outside and to be seated right away. Order a beer
and munch on some chips and then head back over to Stellas when the wait time dies down.
* Star one is for a great location right on the popular Highlands
street of Lowell
** Southwestern style star number two is for cute southwestern dcor
inside the restaurant
*** Our final and last star is for the great patio at Blackbirds... good
for groups or couples, but not good for food.Listed in: The J-Lo Booty Shake
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Review from Ben A.
Denver, CO
6/15/2009
We stopped into this restaurant for lunch the other day, and I was immediately impressed by the decor. The room was very cozy and decorated well. The patio area looked like it would be nice (it was too windy this particular day to check it out). However, that would turn out to be the only good thing about this establishment.
My first tip should have been the $3 chips and salsa. I cannot believe that they are trying to charge $3 for chips and salsa! To me this is a major mark against the restaurant. We were there, however, so we decided to give it a shot.
Nothing on the menu really looked appetizing. I inquired about the steak, but the only way they cook it is well-done. The waitress indicated that they were not a steakhouse and therefore couldn't cook a steak to order. I won't go into how ridiculous of a statement that is, as I think it speaks for itself.
Me any my girlfriend both ordered different things, I had the salmon and she had the enchiladas. Both were bland and tasteless. Not to mention small portions. We choked our meals down and took off as quickly as we could. The meals were overpriced and not worth the time spent eating them.
This was my first experience with "New Mexican" food, and I certainly hope that this is not indicative of the style. -
Review from Anne S.
Littleton, CO
10/4/2009
Ah yes. I too, have been meaning to slap my review on Julia Blackbird's back for quite sometime.
Overpriced, bland, expensive. I felt like our patronage was the perfect chance for the staff to hold us upside down by our ankles and collect the loose change as it fell from our pockets.
I went last winter and the restaurant was freezing!! I ordered hot tea and received luke warm water. (Was charged $3.00). I later ordered more hot water (was charged another $3.00).
That's right, kids. You saw it here in black and white. I was charged $6.00 for Bigelow hot tea. Not even the most expensive restaurants in Denver charge $6.00 for hot tea!
I brought the ticket up to the waitress and was basically told "tough shit".
Never, ever again.
I wouldn't even recommend this place to a famished man who just won the lottery.
If they have survived the recession and stayed in business up until now, then they must be blackmailing people. Worst restaurant ever. -
Review from Bonnie S.
Denver, CO
10/15/2010
Beautiful decor, awesome service. Husband's chicken cordon green was excellent. "Signature" enchilada plate was like a nonlethal iocane powder - odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Sangria was good, not too strong which is awesome for someone like me who has no tolerance for alcohol. The green chile was VERY good.
The service really was good. We dithered about whether to order an appetizer and decided not to. We changed our minds after ordering entrees but never had a chance to order any because the waitress was already bringing some out since husband's entree would be delayed. It wasn't but it was nice to have the chips. And the chips were delicious.
Can't wait to go back and sit on that wonderful patio!
If I were basing my review on my husband's entree, the place would have gotten a 4 or 5. My entree knocked points off. -
Review from Rhonda J.
Denver, CO
3/20/2009
I'm a bit out of sorts after reading all the reviews before me ... My experience was vastly different.
To begin, the decor is southwestern and really welcoming. It's warm, colorful and intimate. It immediately made me feel like I was entering a space that was personal - personal in the sense that the owner put a ton of effort into expressing her own style.
The service, admittedly was a bit slow. But it was a Tuesday night and there was only one server. After talking with the server and experiencing her gracious approach, I understood why it took a bit for her to make her way to our table.
The food was delicious. I had the Raspberry Chipotle Salmon and it was delicious. Now since I'm a taco fanatic, I asked for a few corn tortillas and made my dish into a fish taco meal.
They were friendly, accommodating and really gracious. The owner actually even came over to our table to quiz me about my request for the corn tortillas. Which says, she cares and is paying attention to how customers are responding to her menu.
The margaritas were also pretty darn good. -
Review from Ave H.
Denver, CO
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
you know, strangely, i like this place. i'm not certain why, but i do.
i am not sure how they stay in business because it always seems empty, but perhaps their catering is busier.
it seems that there are only two people who work there ever, and one of them has a hard time with getting orders correct, but i think the food is decent, and if you weren't gazing into the kitchen awkwardly and instead walking into the dining area you might be somewhat impressed with the decor. its a ute little dining room tucked behind the kitchen which is sight unseen unless you actually go in and sit down.
their sangria is huge, and pretty good. not the best, but refreshing. not super sweet, but i would rather it be more tart than sweet anyways.
the food i have had is creative, and tasty, though many of the dishes taste the same. i like the acorn squash dish, and the new mexican stew was pretty yummy too. their dishes are pretty spicy so if you are not a fan of that be sure to mention it. their enchiladas i really enjoyed, but anything filled with cheese and covered with mole= yum in my book these days. the chicken enchilada was a little drier, but not obscurely so.
the flavors don't knock my socks off and it isn't neceSSARILY anything i would write home about, but i wouldn't steer clear of the place. in fact, i want to go back some time. if i did not live in this neighborhood, i would probably not be as apt to go again, but i think it has potential to be great... perhaps with a few more people working, a little more flexibility (sounds like they don't do substitutes?) and a little rearranging of the space (or just make the entry a little more welcoming, it might be a big hit... the patio looks inviting... i might try that next time.
cheers! -
Review from Scot P.
Denver, CO
3/8/2009
My wife and I used to live a block away. But, for what ever reason, Julia's was closed every time we wanted something other than the usual Highlands fare.
Today was different. Julia's was open. 13 month in tow we walked in to a staff conversing with each other with barely a word to us except for "sit anywhere you like" with a rude tone. We had to ask for a hi-chair.
The lunch menu is expensive. I doubt there are any price differences with the dinner menu. Chips and salsa are $3 if you want guac you'll add another 6. Really, $9 for guacamole and chips.
The strawberry lemonade was weak at best. I guess it was watered down to make it last the day. For $3 I expect at least some seeds in it.
The bowl of red chili, as advertised with two tortillas, came only with one and had no flavor what so ever. Had to add a lot of salt. A poor excuse for red chili in a city with great Mexican food of any kind.
The tilapia tacos were salty and very expensive. $13 for tilapia tacos. This is the the cheapest and moat lack luster fish in any grocers seafood section. Maybe that's why it was so salty. The avocado was not fresh. In fact there were several rotten areas.
I'm very disappointed in Julia Blackbirds New Mexican Cafe. It's a tragedy that a restaurants like this has to tarnish an otherwise stellar selection of restaurants and cafes in Highlands Square. -
Review from Jackie B.
El Paso, CO
My 11 year old was outraged as I read the reviews. JB's is a destination meal for us--meaning if our destination is anywhere in the vicinity we end up here for a meal. Always been tasty with gracious service. No different on today's visit. We were in after a game for a 3pm late lunch/early dinner. Parking was challenging, as usual. Owner greeted us graciously, as usual. Waitress came promptly as usual. Food was tasty as usual.
This isn't a typical Amerexican restaurant so the free chips and salsa complaint seems specious. We ordered guac which came with chips and salsa as well. We ordered sweet potato fries with cayenne which were truly marvelous. We (the adults) had margaritas with chambord which were tasty and powerful. The child wanted a bean and cheese burrito (all he ever eats) but the only one on the menu was for kids 10 and under (no exceptions!). They made an exception and offered a larger tortilla version since he's at the 'tween stage. I had the pecan stuffed acorn squash with both red and green chile (they ask you to choose but are happy to provide both). My husband had rellenos with goat cheese with both chiles (aka Christmas) and enjoyed them.
Julia stopped by a couple of times to see how we were doing and offer us dessert. She explained that they had flan which wasn't on the menu. She said flan was not her thing but her customers had repeatedly asked for it, so she was testing it out and would offer it regularly if it went over well. Well, flan is my son's favorite so we ordered it; it had a great flavor, lots of caramel and the texture implied a bit of gelatin. It was served hot which is not usual but was very pleasing with a dollop of whipped cream, some strawberry slides and a star anise on top. Another successful meal in a cool neighborhood we don't get to often enough.
The cost for two appetizers, 3 mains, 3 margs, and 1 dessert, with tip: $100. However, the most expensive main was $14. The whole thing would have been about 30 for 3 mains alone--not bad. Not cheap, but not super expensive. If you want cheap, if you want Mexican, this isn't it. If you want New Mexican done with some care in a nice atmosphere, this IS it. Might you find better New Mexican food in New Mexico? Possibly, but you'll spend more on gas to get there. We'll be back next time our destination takes us anywhere in the vicinity. -
Review from Kelly D.
Denver, CO
7/24/2008
On occasion, I enjoy taking myself out to lunch; dining alone, reading a book, and generally just enjoying my own company. Today was one of those days, and after debating between many places, I settled on Julia Blackbird's, mostly because of its proximity to an errand I had to run. It was way too hot to sit outside, but the inside was cute. It had a very New Mexican feel appropriately enough. I ordered a margarita and the shrimp burrito. The margarita was unimpressive to say the least. It was too sweet, and for $7 didn't deliver. The shrimp burrito on the other hand was delicious. The green chili had just enough spice, the shrimp was cooked well, and the fresh avocado was a perfect addition. All of the flavors were there, and I really enjoyed the dish.
My complaints about Julia Blackbird's are this: no free chips and salsa. I know more and more mexican restaurants are charging for chips and salsa but $3 is a little steep. Especially considering everything at Julia's is fairly pricey. That brings me to my next complaint, the price. All of the menu items seemed pretty overpriced. At lunchtime, my burrito was $14. It was good, but I think charging $9 or $10 would have been more than fair, especially considering it's a fairly simple dish. The service was okay. Nothing fantastic, but not horrible either.
I would go back again. The food was good enough to warrant a second visit. -
Review from Gabe R.
Denver, CO
5/9/2010
(Let me preface this review by saying I grew up in New Mexico)
Was hoping for a little piece of home.
Ended up being a piece of something else.
Worst dinning experience I've had in Denver.
I ordered the Raspberry Chipotle Salmon.
A hot, pink, flavorless mess.
Overpriced.
Bad service.
Chips and salsa should be free.
Just sayin.
All time low. -
Review from shelli w.
Denver, CO
11/15/2009
It definitely seems like some of the reviews on this place are "personal". Me, I just moved to this neighborhood, and didn't read anything about this place before going there on my tour of immediately walkable places. it was the brunch hour on sunday, and i was in the mood for a taco, so me and my bf spontaneously popped in at julia blackbirds.
this place had a very cute look. great murals, furnishings, bright colors, nice accents, and a traditional santa fe style adobe fireplace. someone had definitely done a great job at creating ambiance. it was warm and authentic.
we were "greeted" at the door by a woman who had all the warmth of the eastern bloc before the wall came down. she actually seemed so unwelcoming that she made me pause in my tracks, i was sure she was getting ready to tell me they weren't open. i believe she was the owner and she passed our table a few times making eye contact but not smiling. she struck me like someone watching to make sure you're not cheating on an exam. it was weird.
but service was fine. it was not busy and our young waitress was friendly. ultimately it comes down to the food. i was hoping there would be ala carte tacos, but i didn't see them on the menu. we switched modes and eyed the brunch choices. some things were clearly overprcied. i mean-a bowl of hot sweet rice, which is akin to a big bowl of oatmeal--for $10?? we settled on the fritatta and the quiche. they came out on petite plates after a short wait.
the food was really disappointing. the fritatta was served with "crispy potatoes" which were hash browned potatoes that were clearly cooked for a very long time or just left warming on a flat top for a long time, and they oozed a pool of grease underneath. they were severely inedibly greasy while the potatoes had cooked to an unappealing dryness. serving the potatoes with the fritatta was also a strange choice given that the fritatta was mostly shredded potatoes that seemed fairly unincorporated into the dish.
both the "quiche" and the fritatta were small slices that seemed like they'd been made in mini pie tins. they both missed on any egg texture, fluffiness and qualities that define these two dishes. they both seemed strangely compressed, and like there was less than one egg in each dish. the flavors were not good. the quiche had a layer of refried beans (i think) directly on top of the crust which ruined the crust completely. Even the bacon, which served with the quiche, seemed like it had been slow cooked and more closely resembled the type of bacon you find cooked in a vat of baked beans than the kind you want served with your breakfast.
We both ordered horchatas. I'm a big fan of the horchata, but they ruined it by trying to make it into a warm drink. it was gross. Covered in whip cream, like an overly sweet hot cocoa without the cocoa. just a big mug of warm milk. the only horchata flavor was nutmeg on top. as it cooled, huge gelatinous goo formed at the bottom of the cup.
i am probably too good at being a member of the clean plate club, but on this trip even these tiny portions were all only half eaten. the horchata i couldn't drink more than a few sips before i gave up. i can't imagine going back here for food even for their dinner menu, since every item we had seemed to show a bad sense of concept and poor execution. I"m crossing this one off my list. -
Review from Peter A.
Denver, CO
8/19/2010
Momma and I went down to check the place out - yeah, we got in on that coupon deal too - and after reading all of the hate here, we were expecting the worst.
I don't know what all the haters are really on about here. The margaritas were big, strong, and they carried some decent top-shelf tequilas. The food was tasty, flavorful and even better than a lot of other places people in this 'burg rave about in this category (Benny's, I'm talking about you here). Ok, you paid for chips and salsa, big deal. Get a life, this isn't unusual in bigger cities. The service was casual but attentive. The atmosphere was relaxed but rustic, particularly the patio.
All in all, we had quite a positive experience at Julia Blackbird's.
This exiled New Yorker says, 'don't hate'. Thumbs up! -
Review from Olivia K.
Denver, CO
6/19/2011
Yuck. This was one of the worst meals I have had in a long time. I ordered the chicken dish, and the meat was dry, stringy, flavorless and tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours. It was then smothered beyond recognition in some hardly mediocre sauce. All that for $13 plus tip? Well, luckily, the tip didn't have to be huge because the service was extremely slow as well. Don't bother coming here.
-
Review from Kym W.
Aliso Viejo, CA
10/4/2010
Funky little place in the Highlands with some amazing food. I had the acorn squash with green chile and beans. It doesn't sound that exciting, but let me just say it was awesome. Very unusual, unexpected, flavorful, yummy.. Need I say more? I actually raved about my meal to several people later that day. I don't do that very often!
Suggestion to the restaurant owner... Change the plastic glasses you serve the drinks in... They aren't very appealing. -
Review from Adam B.
Denver, CO
4/28/2010
Went to Julia Blackbird's for the first time the other night. I wasn't blown away but I liked it. The atmosphere was quiet compared to most Mexican/Southwestern places, but thats not a bad thing. Service was good - no complaints.
The food was good overall. Not awesome, but I didn't feel like I had wasted money. I had the rellenos, which I thought were tasty and met expectations. She had one of the taco plates, which she liked as well. The only disappointment was the queso. The chips we got with said queso were great, but the queso itself had an unappealing look and texture. It tasted ok, but I wouldn't recommend it.
I'm not eagerly anticipating a return trip, but the next time someone wants to go there I won't say no. -
Review from Jeff S.
Ridgewood, NJ
8/1/2009
I keep forgetting to write this review. But it always hits me when I'm driving, and I think..."man I better write that review before some poor shmuck wastes his money on such little taste"
Fortunately it's easy to pass, because its off the street, but if you happen to see the inviting patio, try to avoid the urge. The food is bland and expensive and the service is about the same. I think that they feel that since they are "New Mexican" food, they can be "different", but it's only enough to get you in once... and never again. If you want New Mexican food, just go down to Jack and Grill's, for tons of good inexpensive plates of satisfaction.
Cheers!
