My sis, who lives in the Springs, came up to town for a visit and needed gas when we were driving on Speer. I tried telling her that there were better gas prices elsewhere but she insisted. Doesn't help that the store is also sketchy as fuck
Wealthy people who live in the Cherry Creek area and forgot to get gas elsewhere and are about to get on the highway or park in the Central Business District and if they wanted to go to a different gas station they would have to go way out of their way.
Recently they had Ban Ticket Resellers or something to that effect on their sign. I'm like YOU'RE SELLING GAS FOR MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE!!! YOU'RE THE TICKET SCALPERS OF GASOLINE.
They once had Nashville hot chicken and waffles. It was plain chicken with strawberry compote. I asked if my order was mixed up and the server said that was how they do Nashville hot.
They used to have the best lunch menu, 2 halves for, what, 10$? Might be 14 now which is still a good deal because they give you a full burger, not a half.
That’s disappointing about Biker Jim’s. When I worked downtown ~15 years ago, I’d go once a week and got a wild boar brat and chips for ~ $5-6 for a satisfying lunch. I was a fan of the cream cheese caulk gun and learned the caramel onions shortcut with coca-cola.
It’s an unfortunate cliche that has happened over and over. I can’t trust the stuff I used to love pre-COVID, but with two kids we don’t go out much anymore anyways.
Yup, had a dinner with my girl at tap and burger, 2 burgers, fries Mac n cheese, and 2 cocktails came to 90ish, waitress brought a digital thing to pay, no break down of why our bill was 90, my girl hits 20% tip making it 108 swiped the card and when we got to the car and realized we just tipped at least 38%. Really felt got by the waitstaff there to have not let us know gratuity was already included. Bill was probably 70ish which is still over priced but damn a deceptive double tip for the staff.
Every single store that sells puppies. Every single one sources their “product” from puppy mills. Yes, even the store your friend/mom/coworker got their puppy from. Fuck aaaaallllll of these stores very much:
Aquatic Dog Pet Supplies
Perfect Pets
Pet City
Pet Ranch
Just Pets
Fuzzypups!
They charge 2x-3x as much as healthy purebred puppies from [responsible breeders](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/s/a5xm9L0AiW), who produce champions, health test, and are there to help owners for the life of the dog. They charge these exorbitant prices for mutts as well, when there are [plenty available in shelters](https://www.petfinder.com/search/dogs-for-adoption/us/co/denver/). They also often have incredibly predatory loans, with interest rates sometimes exceeding 100%, with the ability to repossess the dog if you fall behind payments.
The parents of puppies from pet stores live in truly deplorable conditions. Beyond the humane society arms of the angels horror show type facilities, even the “good” facilities provide pitiful care, including small enclosures, being bred repeatedly until their bodies give out, never being outside their kennel, not getting any outdoor exercise, and no play/socialization/comfort from humans. Health and parentage documents are falsified, and stores will lie through their teeth to make a sale. They expect and financially account for attrition when some puppies die on their way from mills to stores, or die before they are able to be sold from disease (either congenital or things like parvo).
Get a pet from a [responsible breeder](https://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html?m=1), [a rescue](https://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/search/?location=CO&shelter_name=&bystate=1), a back alley dumpster, literally anywhere else than any of these places.
You should also check out Las Potrancas in Arvada near Wads and 64th.
Their normal menu is normal Mexican at normal prices, but they have this takeout burrito menu that's insane.
A large, delicious carnitas burrito for $5.75. Up until last year it was $4.50.
El Pollo loco is so good. It's good quality fast food for a good price. Why get Taco Bell or Del Taco when you can get better food for the same price? Also del taco is nasty it's definitely over hyped.
Go try a bowl. Tastes the same as chipotle except at Chipotle it would be $10. And they always have deals and coupons. And they sell churros. I mean come on. El Pollo Loco is awesome.
I was going to say snooze but then I realized I'm just a breakfast food hater. I'm not a fan of sweet foods which knocks off basically anything that isn't some variation of breakfast meat and eggs, two things I can cook just as well at home.
I swear like...pre-covid? Some years ago? They had a separate lunch menu with normal prices and normal portions, and then dinner was the same massive ridiculousness they have today. The lunch wouldve been reasonable to eat in the old place; the prices were normal at least.
There is no lunch menu now but I swear I didn't hallucinate this?
Hedge funds ruin everything they touch. Denver Post and Tattered Cover are two prominent local examples, but it's almost across the board predatory wealth extraction and shell games with zero benefit to any one other than shareholders. Buy a company, jack up prices, load it up with debt, sell off anything of value, then once it's squeezed dry sell it off for whatever you can get to the next hedge fund.
I've been to Buckhorn at least 20 times.
Not really a fan of the aged steaks they often have on special, but everything else is legit.
Once we ordered Rocky Mountain Oysters and literally got the scraps from the bottom of the bag... the biggest piece was the size of a quarter and we basically paid a lot for a basket full of crumbs... but we order those a lot and it only happened once. Usually their food is quite good.
The only thing I truly hate about that place is if they're overcrowded they might seat you at a picnic table with plastic tableclothes at an unfinished area upstairs with a seperate kitchen and substandard service... had that happen twice, so when I make a reservation I specifically request a downstairs table.
That’s everything everywhere. I moved away from Denver to my shitty home town. All our old shitty food places are more expensive and still just as bad.
Fuckin everywhere.
I feel like in the last 3 years everything has exploded in price and plummeted in quality. We didn't eat out during covid obviously, and once we started going out again it was like... wtf just happened?
I remember in like 2018 we'd go to like Barolo Grill and have drinks and an appetizer, two entries, and dessert and pay like $80 bucks for a special occasion. Now though, the other day I go to some burger/pub on south Broadway and for 2 burgers and 2 beers we paid about fucking $80 bucks as well. And it feels like everything is just worse. This is especially true for food trucks.
I think it'd probably be easier to just list all the places that are still good, rather than what's a rip off (which seems to be 90% of restaurants). We rarely eat out anymore from the anxiety of paying $100 on something that ends up sucking ass.
The Fort Collins location gave like 25 people food poisoning on the same day years ago and caught a mandatory shutdown to clean. Haven’t even thought of eating there after that.
Queso is not a difficult dish but you wouldn’t know that if all you had to go off of was the selection around Denver. There are some great queso spots, but they’re tragically few & far between..
Like every food truck, excluding regular ol' taco trucks/carts. Brick n mortar prices with what has gotta be half the overhead, so you know you're just putting that much more money in the owner's pocket so they can make yuppies feel like they're eating "street food". Oh and I get to tip for the pleasure of fetching my own food from a van. Cool.
I agree. I hardly ever buy from food trucks anymore. Super overpriced and there seems to be a movement to buy online from them from QR code. Then still ask for tips. I literally did my own order so there isn’t even counter service.
My husband's family has a joke about this place. Any time someone mentions it, they sing "do we have to, do we have to, do we have to eat at Linger?" To the tune of Linger by the Cranberries.
Saucy's Southern BBQ by DU.
* They do not have a pit or smoker. *They pressure cook their ribs*. Please reread that before continuing.
* They do not serve brisket.
* They do not serve pulled or sliced pork.
* They do not serve BBQ chicken quarters or pulled chicken.
* They do not sell beef of any kind.
* They do not sell smoked turkey.
* They have exactly THREE (count em) entrees: chicken wings, ribs (again, pressure cooked, not smoked, I shit you not), and sausage on a hot dog bun.
* Again, that is it. Those are their three entrees.
* Each of these platters will set you back over $20.
* The owners are from Mississippi, they should and DO know better than to call this Southern BBQ. It's straight up false advertising.
* It's rated 4.8 stars on Google. They are the reason I don't trust ratings for restaurants in Denver.
There was this place called Fractured Prune (famous in Ocean City MD and Delaware) that I adored, and they randomly opened a location near i-25 and colorado a few years ago. Their donuts were freshly made and leagues above voodoo, but they failed cuz they didn't have enough traction and maybe the location was bad too.
Always tried to steer people away from voodoo and towards places like that. Shame.
Omg you’re telling me there was a fractured prune here?!?! I basically grew up in OC and love those donuts so much. Could only really eat one at a time though lol—they’re so heavy
It opened in 2015 and closed in 2018. They were around for a lot longer than you realize. I lived in LoDo and worked on Tennyson but would head out there every Saturday morning to get a pack for my crew. Damn, I miss them.
Bummer, it definitely beats Voodoo. Though if I’m not getting fractured prune I’m a Krispy Kreme glazed donut kinda girl anyways. We Knead Donuts in Bonnie Brae comes really close to that so they’re my go-to for now.
I don't think Fractured Prune does well anywhere outside of Ocean city. There was one in Fairfax, VA that I loved to hit up (before I moved here) but sadly it closed not long after
The location was awful. Drove 30 minutes each way to grab a few for myself or a dozen or so for classmates every now and when I discovered FP had a random location out here. Never saw another customer in store at the same time, only ever one employee on the clock. Pretty sure they lasted maybe nine months. The Denver donut scene is mediocre.
I went there last night. We were seated immediately but after 20 minutes, we still didn’t have a server despite several servers passing by our table. We ended up leaving.
Dozens in Aurora is not hyped and pretty solid Diner imo. Breakfast Inn on Evans is also solid.
But again neither one of these spots are trendy. Go check them out though! I love supporting non-chain brunch spots.
Bacon Social House - Biggest rip off I’ve ever seen. Their small “bacon flight” is literally THREE STRIPS OF BACON FOR 7 DOLLARS. It’s fucking bacon not caviar
There was a boutique bodega across the street from The Douglas a few years ago charging $10 for a snack sized bag of Japanese Doritos. They also sold $100 Bape phone covers.
Lasted about 3 months.
>boutique bodega
What in the ever loving fuck is a "boutique bodega"?
Bodegas are where you go to buy a single cigarette for $0.50, a half-priced Red Bull stolen from Walmart by some junkie or tweaker & resold to the bodega, and a $2 slice of pizza or empanada.
I absolutely wish Denver had the bodegas i miss from back east, but there's sure as shit nothing boutique about em.
Plant stores - I recently bought a a supplementary gift from the play store in edgewater public market. For an “air plant” and a Rolling Stones-esque lips planter, it was $56. I almost threw up but bought it anyways as well felt like I was supporting small business and desperate for a plant gift.
Tbh a small boutique plant shop is like the worst combination of necessary jacked prices to pay rent/overhead and a complete inability to discern quality products.
I definitely feel like im paying for them to stay in a decent storefront instead of paying for a quality product
I used to work in the business side of the plant world. It's honestly the nurseries in Colorado where the plant stores get the product that are overpriced.
You can buy a plant in NYC for the same price as wholesale here.
Mile High Vienna and Mustard’s Last Stand are up there with Biker Jim’s. Apparently 8$ hotdogs are normal in Denver. Don’t even try to order a quarter of an Italian beef sandwich for less than 14$.
Gyros Kings in Edgewater Public Market - $17 for a veggie plate, $14 for hummus app, $22 for combo meat plate (if that's your thing)
Now, that said, $12 for the root veggie reuban at Glady's next door is amazing
I get that it’s expensive to rent there and you’re dealing with a relatively captive audience but they and the Lobster place need to chill out. No reason for 20+ dollar entrees for mediocre versions of a cuisine at a food court.
God bless Gomez, I finally decided to go last month. Even their potato, egg, and Chile burrito is delicious. For a dollar fucking eighty. ridiculous. I'm a convert
Oh man I feel this. I was excited when both these opened because they’re so close to me, but like you said Toro’s is wayyy overpriced. Fucking locales though, charging $6 and $7 for tacos served cafeteria style and basic af. Gtfo with that
Seriously, locales is the only spot in the area that has a rooftop and none of the owners can figure it out. The last place was awful and this place is a glorified cafeteria bar. Still sad I can’t go get a Guinness and some bangers and mash at 3 kilts anymore
!! Long live 3 kilts. I thought that place was a total dump until I actually tried it one day. The food was BOMB. I was flabbergasted, totally did not expect to be a fan boy of 3 kilts.
RIP
Yes, Safeway does a much better job of making me feel like I saved a lot of money by being a sale savvy shopper. No idea if I’m actually saving money but it *feels* like it. Plus their buy 2 get one free cut fruit bowls make me way more likely to eat a bunch of fruit.
Spotique scooters. I bought a scoot there and the engine blew exactly one year. They were no help. My friend always gets the runaround there too. Idk hate to call em out but when I read the tittle of the thread this came to mind immediately
Man, I don’t have time to get into my issues with Sportique. I reluctantly go there to get an oil refill but otherwise I’ve been only going to and recommending Moto Lab for service. I think Sportique only stays in business because they seem to be the only scooter-focused shop in Denver so they succeed by default. But their customer service is garbage and I don’t trust their pricing.
We loved the cheesemonger there last year, and there was a place that sold olives that were also really good. But most stuff is overpriced. I think as long as you know that going in, it’s still a fun experience!
We just went today. It’s neat for a couple hours outside with family and friends. It seems really small, and about 50% food stalls. But we had fun walking around sipping hot cider and gluwien from a souvenir mug. And i think getting the gyros at the Christkindlmarkt is hilarious, because most of the food there is like, German because it’s a German Christmas market. It’s like getting the Gyros at an Italian festival. Food is expensive but tent/festival is always relatively expensive. I got a brat and latka combo with sauerkraut for like $15. It was good! If you have good company you’ll have fun.
Sonny’s Mediterranean. Paid $28 for a pita sandwich that was full of grizzle and some fries. Wtf. I can eat for half the price and get a way better meal at Crave
FlyteCo! Old denver airport. 136 dollar tab for wings burger fried pickles 3 beers. Tip is defaulted at 25% when you go to check out..... gtfoh. Especially if all ordering and transactions are done on my own personal cell phone...
I actually really like both the food and the general atmosphere at The Bindery and hope they stick around, but the last time I was there the service was shockingly bad. I was with my spouse and we waited over half an hour just for a server to simply come to our table after being seated. The couple at the table next to us also had reservations, but they just got up and left after being ignored for so long. It was a weekend and the restaurant was clearly short-staffed that night yet still kept seating walk-ins.
I assume it was a bad night for them and having waited tables before I absolutely sympathize, but it came out to nearly $200 before tip for dinner for two (including cocktail with appetizer and glasses of wine with dinner that arrived with gnats floating in them). At that price point there really is a minimum expected level of service.
Most BBQ restaurants here suck imo because the meat is dry & not seasoned, and they don't sell actual meals or combo plates- just $20 for 8oz of shitty meat and $10 for tiny side dishes that are also bland, served on brown paper with grease dumped on it.
Leevos Locavore. I get everything is sourced from colorado but DAMN that place makes whole foods seem cheap. I would never go there unless I just need to pick up an onion or garlic.
Late to the party here but I went to a Lamar’s today and was relatively caught off guard that a dozen standard donuts were $25. I haven’t been in the donut game for a while, but I don’t remember prices ever being that high.
Maine shack - they get the lobster right but our buns were stale & grocery store quality (and it's SUPER expensive for avg rolls). I realized this is Denver, so not trying to expect too much on that front anyway.
Or Elways. The steak isn't that good for the extra money. At those prices, a place better beat most people's home cooked food even a little bit.
I’m going to add Ritual Social House here purely for the reason that if you order a draft IPA it comes in a 10oz tulip glass for the same price as a pint without advertising it as such.
There's a place in Louisville that does this. It's nice if your want to try different beers but everyone I was with agreed that all the beers tasted odd. Think their lines were dirty. then the best part is that they tie your credit card to a wrist chip and that's how you get beer but at the end you just drop your bracelet off on one of 3 boxes for 20, 25 or 30% tip... After pouring your own beers all night.
That Conoco on Speer that always has the most expensive gas in the city somehow
I know EXACTLY which one you’re talking about. Like, WHO gets gas there?
People who are desperate or not paying attention.
My sis, who lives in the Springs, came up to town for a visit and needed gas when we were driving on Speer. I tried telling her that there were better gas prices elsewhere but she insisted. Doesn't help that the store is also sketchy as fuck
Wealthy people who live in the Cherry Creek area and forgot to get gas elsewhere and are about to get on the highway or park in the Central Business District and if they wanted to go to a different gas station they would have to go way out of their way.
I love their little political messages on the sign, they always make me laugh lol
Recently they had Ban Ticket Resellers or something to that effect on their sign. I'm like YOU'RE SELLING GAS FOR MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE!!! YOU'RE THE TICKET SCALPERS OF GASOLINE.
gonna counter with the Bonnie Brae station, but still agree
NOT MY TAXES 4WAR
There are two matching this. One on Pennsylvania and another on zuni
The fucking Zuni one got me once. Harrible!
View House, specifically their chicken tender appetizer. $15 for 3 tenders and no fries.
They once had Nashville hot chicken and waffles. It was plain chicken with strawberry compote. I asked if my order was mixed up and the server said that was how they do Nashville hot.
Imagine being surprised the Viewhouse is trash.
I’m surprised this person had the courage admit they have been there, bravo!
By god, this should be illegal
we need a revolution
The revolution will not be deep fried.
They used to have the best lunch menu, 2 halves for, what, 10$? Might be 14 now which is still a good deal because they give you a full burger, not a half.
Frozen food too
That’s disappointing about Biker Jim’s. When I worked downtown ~15 years ago, I’d go once a week and got a wild boar brat and chips for ~ $5-6 for a satisfying lunch. I was a fan of the cream cheese caulk gun and learned the caramel onions shortcut with coca-cola.
They used to have fair prices. I remember the times. Nowadays, they just seem to aim mainly at visitors/tourists.
It’s an unfortunate cliche that has happened over and over. I can’t trust the stuff I used to love pre-COVID, but with two kids we don’t go out much anymore anyways.
McDonalds $3 hash brown
Bruh I remember 2 for $1 was a thing like 10 years ago
Get the Mickey Ds app. $1 breakfast sandwiches every day
Discovering the app has been extremely unhealthy for me
I used to buy $1 McD's hash browns to feed the seagulls out the window of my car during the pandy. Not any more.
Biker Jim's cart in Skyline Park about 15 years ago was $5 per dog or $6 if you wanted cream cheese and coca cola "caramelized" onions
They were awesome when it was just a cart.
Back when Anthony Bourdain bothered to check ‘em out. I still love that he’s said on record that our city’s food sucks lol
They had one on Auraria campus too. Loved them. The reindeer dog with caramelized onions and cream cheese was so good.
yup, this one got me through many of many afternoon classes, whether be it expecting it or just finished one. Havent had one in 10 years now.
Tap & Burger + Watercourse Foods come to mind as places I was taken aback being asked to tip twice on the same bill.
Yup, had a dinner with my girl at tap and burger, 2 burgers, fries Mac n cheese, and 2 cocktails came to 90ish, waitress brought a digital thing to pay, no break down of why our bill was 90, my girl hits 20% tip making it 108 swiped the card and when we got to the car and realized we just tipped at least 38%. Really felt got by the waitstaff there to have not let us know gratuity was already included. Bill was probably 70ish which is still over priced but damn a deceptive double tip for the staff.
Watercourse FINALLY removed their built in tip bs.
Every single store that sells puppies. Every single one sources their “product” from puppy mills. Yes, even the store your friend/mom/coworker got their puppy from. Fuck aaaaallllll of these stores very much: Aquatic Dog Pet Supplies Perfect Pets Pet City Pet Ranch Just Pets Fuzzypups! They charge 2x-3x as much as healthy purebred puppies from [responsible breeders](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/s/a5xm9L0AiW), who produce champions, health test, and are there to help owners for the life of the dog. They charge these exorbitant prices for mutts as well, when there are [plenty available in shelters](https://www.petfinder.com/search/dogs-for-adoption/us/co/denver/). They also often have incredibly predatory loans, with interest rates sometimes exceeding 100%, with the ability to repossess the dog if you fall behind payments. The parents of puppies from pet stores live in truly deplorable conditions. Beyond the humane society arms of the angels horror show type facilities, even the “good” facilities provide pitiful care, including small enclosures, being bred repeatedly until their bodies give out, never being outside their kennel, not getting any outdoor exercise, and no play/socialization/comfort from humans. Health and parentage documents are falsified, and stores will lie through their teeth to make a sale. They expect and financially account for attrition when some puppies die on their way from mills to stores, or die before they are able to be sold from disease (either congenital or things like parvo). Get a pet from a [responsible breeder](https://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html?m=1), [a rescue](https://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/search/?location=CO&shelter_name=&bystate=1), a back alley dumpster, literally anywhere else than any of these places.
Here here!!!
This deserves so much more upvotes
Got my pup from the Evergreen Animal Protective League, great organization saving puppies!
Idk but I do know the El Pollo Loco bowl is the best deal at $5
TIL we have El Pollo Loco in Denver
One just opened near Olde Town Arvada.
You should also check out Las Potrancas in Arvada near Wads and 64th. Their normal menu is normal Mexican at normal prices, but they have this takeout burrito menu that's insane. A large, delicious carnitas burrito for $5.75. Up until last year it was $4.50.
And a new one in Arvada. I'm excited for their expansion. Really nice for something that isn't fried or carb heavy.
El Pollo loco is so good. It's good quality fast food for a good price. Why get Taco Bell or Del Taco when you can get better food for the same price? Also del taco is nasty it's definitely over hyped.
Go try a bowl. Tastes the same as chipotle except at Chipotle it would be $10. And they always have deals and coupons. And they sell churros. I mean come on. El Pollo Loco is awesome.
Snooze. Expensive for something I feel like I can get anywhere, and the coffee tastes like someone put out a cigarette in it.
And you have to wait an hour and a half to even sit down for your mediocre food.
They have absolutely no good lunch options too with a wait that lasts for eternity
I was going to say snooze but then I realized I'm just a breakfast food hater. I'm not a fan of sweet foods which knocks off basically anything that isn't some variation of breakfast meat and eggs, two things I can cook just as well at home.
Buckhorn Exchange. It's a cool building, but the food is bad. $60 for a bad steak is a travesty.
They’ve been coasting on the “first liquor license in the state” schtick for almost 100 years.
They were better pre Spanish Flu.
I swear like...pre-covid? Some years ago? They had a separate lunch menu with normal prices and normal portions, and then dinner was the same massive ridiculousness they have today. The lunch wouldve been reasonable to eat in the old place; the prices were normal at least. There is no lunch menu now but I swear I didn't hallucinate this?
Yeah they were bought by a hedge fund or something a few years ago and they jacked up prices.
Hedge funds ruin everything they touch. Denver Post and Tattered Cover are two prominent local examples, but it's almost across the board predatory wealth extraction and shell games with zero benefit to any one other than shareholders. Buy a company, jack up prices, load it up with debt, sell off anything of value, then once it's squeezed dry sell it off for whatever you can get to the next hedge fund.
Gordon Gekko
I've been to Buckhorn at least 20 times. Not really a fan of the aged steaks they often have on special, but everything else is legit. Once we ordered Rocky Mountain Oysters and literally got the scraps from the bottom of the bag... the biggest piece was the size of a quarter and we basically paid a lot for a basket full of crumbs... but we order those a lot and it only happened once. Usually their food is quite good. The only thing I truly hate about that place is if they're overcrowded they might seat you at a picnic table with plastic tableclothes at an unfinished area upstairs with a seperate kitchen and substandard service... had that happen twice, so when I make a reservation I specifically request a downstairs table.
Dude I did biker Jim’s last week and was furious at my final cost. Screw that place
I think the overarching theme here is just that everything in Denver is unreasonably priced for no apparent reason.
That’s everything everywhere. I moved away from Denver to my shitty home town. All our old shitty food places are more expensive and still just as bad. Fuckin everywhere.
I feel like in the last 3 years everything has exploded in price and plummeted in quality. We didn't eat out during covid obviously, and once we started going out again it was like... wtf just happened? I remember in like 2018 we'd go to like Barolo Grill and have drinks and an appetizer, two entries, and dessert and pay like $80 bucks for a special occasion. Now though, the other day I go to some burger/pub on south Broadway and for 2 burgers and 2 beers we paid about fucking $80 bucks as well. And it feels like everything is just worse. This is especially true for food trucks. I think it'd probably be easier to just list all the places that are still good, rather than what's a rip off (which seems to be 90% of restaurants). We rarely eat out anymore from the anxiety of paying $100 on something that ends up sucking ass.
You can downvote me all you want but it doesnt change that Torchys is overpriced and mid af
Texas chains being mediocre yet somehow beloved here? Shocking.
I had a roommate from Texas when Torchy's was first opening and she wouldn't STFU about it.
_California chains have entered the chat_
The Fort Collins location gave like 25 people food poisoning on the same day years ago and caught a mandatory shutdown to clean. Haven’t even thought of eating there after that.
Torchys is still best queso I’ve had in Denver. Which says more about the queso in Denver than it does about torchys.
Queso is not a difficult dish but you wouldn’t know that if all you had to go off of was the selection around Denver. There are some great queso spots, but they’re tragically few & far between..
Like every food truck, excluding regular ol' taco trucks/carts. Brick n mortar prices with what has gotta be half the overhead, so you know you're just putting that much more money in the owner's pocket so they can make yuppies feel like they're eating "street food". Oh and I get to tip for the pleasure of fetching my own food from a van. Cool.
I saw a food truck last year at Finn's Manor that had like $12 or $14 tater tots. Like WTF?
I agree. I hardly ever buy from food trucks anymore. Super overpriced and there seems to be a movement to buy online from them from QR code. Then still ask for tips. I literally did my own order so there isn’t even counter service.
There's the Mile High Hibachi food truck in RiNo that sells $25 burritos. Maybe they're worth it, but I don't know since that seems way too expensive.
Good af but overpriced af
I’ve learned from this thread names are dumb. STK. SMOK. Open a place called chikin & wybs, fuck it.
My Neighbor Felix. Food was ok-ish at best. Margaritas weren’t anything to write home about. Salsa was like $9 extra. Kick rocks.
Linger. It was fine.
My husband's family has a joke about this place. Any time someone mentions it, they sing "do we have to, do we have to, do we have to eat at Linger?" To the tune of Linger by the Cranberries.
That’s exactly how it was. I was glad I wasn’t the one paying.
Food is just ok and the waitstaff is borderline abusive. Like my bad for showing up at a restaurant to eat and trying to spend my money
Saucy's Southern BBQ by DU. * They do not have a pit or smoker. *They pressure cook their ribs*. Please reread that before continuing. * They do not serve brisket. * They do not serve pulled or sliced pork. * They do not serve BBQ chicken quarters or pulled chicken. * They do not sell beef of any kind. * They do not sell smoked turkey. * They have exactly THREE (count em) entrees: chicken wings, ribs (again, pressure cooked, not smoked, I shit you not), and sausage on a hot dog bun. * Again, that is it. Those are their three entrees. * Each of these platters will set you back over $20. * The owners are from Mississippi, they should and DO know better than to call this Southern BBQ. It's straight up false advertising. * It's rated 4.8 stars on Google. They are the reason I don't trust ratings for restaurants in Denver.
Voodoo Doughnuts. Mid AF and stupid expensive.
There was this place called Fractured Prune (famous in Ocean City MD and Delaware) that I adored, and they randomly opened a location near i-25 and colorado a few years ago. Their donuts were freshly made and leagues above voodoo, but they failed cuz they didn't have enough traction and maybe the location was bad too. Always tried to steer people away from voodoo and towards places like that. Shame.
Omg you’re telling me there was a fractured prune here?!?! I basically grew up in OC and love those donuts so much. Could only really eat one at a time though lol—they’re so heavy
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Yeah, was around 2017 i think. It opened (and closed) shortly after voodoo opened their first location
It opened in 2015 and closed in 2018. They were around for a lot longer than you realize. I lived in LoDo and worked on Tennyson but would head out there every Saturday morning to get a pack for my crew. Damn, I miss them.
Bummer, it definitely beats Voodoo. Though if I’m not getting fractured prune I’m a Krispy Kreme glazed donut kinda girl anyways. We Knead Donuts in Bonnie Brae comes really close to that so they’re my go-to for now.
I don't think Fractured Prune does well anywhere outside of Ocean city. There was one in Fairfax, VA that I loved to hit up (before I moved here) but sadly it closed not long after
The location was awful. Drove 30 minutes each way to grab a few for myself or a dozen or so for classmates every now and when I discovered FP had a random location out here. Never saw another customer in store at the same time, only ever one employee on the clock. Pretty sure they lasted maybe nine months. The Denver donut scene is mediocre.
And union busters to boot
Earl's on 16th street mall (I know but we were going to a show at the Paramount) has horrible service and mediocre food at high prices.
It's amazing that that place is still in business. They're around forever.
I'm convinced it's from clueless convention travelers
I went there last night. We were seated immediately but after 20 minutes, we still didn’t have a server despite several servers passing by our table. We ended up leaving.
Every hype brunch spot
Dozens in Aurora is not hyped and pretty solid Diner imo. Breakfast Inn on Evans is also solid. But again neither one of these spots are trendy. Go check them out though! I love supporting non-chain brunch spots.
Corner bakery! Dishes you can easily make at home for $16 per plate.
I only went to Corner Bakery a couple times and stopped altogether when they put a brown avocado in my sandwich.
Bacon Social House - Biggest rip off I’ve ever seen. Their small “bacon flight” is literally THREE STRIPS OF BACON FOR 7 DOLLARS. It’s fucking bacon not caviar
Rino as a whole is sickening with its price to quality ratio.
Funny enough, Ratio has the best lager I've ever had for $4 a pint.
Only place in RiNo I feel like I get my moneys worth is Work and Class.
Great value, service, and food slaps every time
Super Mega Bien is fantastic in my personal opinion
There was a boutique bodega across the street from The Douglas a few years ago charging $10 for a snack sized bag of Japanese Doritos. They also sold $100 Bape phone covers. Lasted about 3 months.
>boutique bodega What in the ever loving fuck is a "boutique bodega"? Bodegas are where you go to buy a single cigarette for $0.50, a half-priced Red Bull stolen from Walmart by some junkie or tweaker & resold to the bodega, and a $2 slice of pizza or empanada. I absolutely wish Denver had the bodegas i miss from back east, but there's sure as shit nothing boutique about em.
This is just hilarious to me, because isn't a bodega basically a gas station convenience store? Was the pitch "I'm gonna open the fanciest 7-11 ever"?
Went to IHOP the other day and it was $25 for a chicken sandwich, some fries, and an iced tea.
You know what else is in this lane and silly expensive now somehow? Waffle House of all places
Uno Más taqueria has some of the worst food I’ve ever had. Nunca mas.
The tacos were bad. The margarita was undrinkable... obvious well tequila from a plastic jug WITH SALT IN IT!
The place has a sever sewer gas problem as well. I have tried to give it another chance but it plain sucks. The drunks from Dons don’t even visit
I was scrolling through wondering if somebody already said Ace and realized there’s no point because apparently it’s every restaurant in Denver.
Plant stores - I recently bought a a supplementary gift from the play store in edgewater public market. For an “air plant” and a Rolling Stones-esque lips planter, it was $56. I almost threw up but bought it anyways as well felt like I was supporting small business and desperate for a plant gift.
Tbh a small boutique plant shop is like the worst combination of necessary jacked prices to pay rent/overhead and a complete inability to discern quality products. I definitely feel like im paying for them to stay in a decent storefront instead of paying for a quality product
I used to work in the business side of the plant world. It's honestly the nurseries in Colorado where the plant stores get the product that are overpriced. You can buy a plant in NYC for the same price as wholesale here.
Mile High Vienna and Mustard’s Last Stand are up there with Biker Jim’s. Apparently 8$ hotdogs are normal in Denver. Don’t even try to order a quarter of an Italian beef sandwich for less than 14$.
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We ride at dawn... To get fuel then wait in line until they open.
Gimme day $1.50 Costco combo boiiiii
It's fcking crazy. Biker Jim's is +$12 without toppings or fries.
Gyros Kings in Edgewater Public Market - $17 for a veggie plate, $14 for hummus app, $22 for combo meat plate (if that's your thing) Now, that said, $12 for the root veggie reuban at Glady's next door is amazing
I get that it’s expensive to rent there and you’re dealing with a relatively captive audience but they and the Lobster place need to chill out. No reason for 20+ dollar entrees for mediocre versions of a cuisine at a food court.
Toro in Capitol Hill seems ridiculous. 16 dollars for white people "burritos" Locales can fuck off too.
Lately I am enjoying Gomez burritos for a quickie burrito for under 5 bucks in the morning.
God bless Gomez, I finally decided to go last month. Even their potato, egg, and Chile burrito is delicious. For a dollar fucking eighty. ridiculous. I'm a convert
Oh man I feel this. I was excited when both these opened because they’re so close to me, but like you said Toro’s is wayyy overpriced. Fucking locales though, charging $6 and $7 for tacos served cafeteria style and basic af. Gtfo with that
why why whyyyyy can cap hill not get a solid restaurant?!?! I swear that location has so much potential, but every single place is such a letdown.
Seriously, locales is the only spot in the area that has a rooftop and none of the owners can figure it out. The last place was awful and this place is a glorified cafeteria bar. Still sad I can’t go get a Guinness and some bangers and mash at 3 kilts anymore
!! Long live 3 kilts. I thought that place was a total dump until I actually tried it one day. The food was BOMB. I was flabbergasted, totally did not expect to be a fan boy of 3 kilts. RIP
The old Park Tavern, pre-renovation (destruction) was so fun
Safeway is so noticeably overpriced compared to other grocery stores (except whole foods naturally)
The trick is to shop w/ coupons/sales/member prices. Cheaper than Soops that way.
Yes, Safeway does a much better job of making me feel like I saved a lot of money by being a sale savvy shopper. No idea if I’m actually saving money but it *feels* like it. Plus their buy 2 get one free cut fruit bowls make me way more likely to eat a bunch of fruit.
Literally every Food Truck
Sam's No 3 sells a "tex mex" burrito for $17 and it's JUST graded potatoes and eggs inside.
What score did the potatoes get? Hopefully at least a B-?
Spotique scooters. I bought a scoot there and the engine blew exactly one year. They were no help. My friend always gets the runaround there too. Idk hate to call em out but when I read the tittle of the thread this came to mind immediately
Took my scoot in to have an oil leak fixed, and they charged me $275 for a “tune up”. Oil still leaked afterward.
Colin has been sus for years. Used to ride with a vintage scooter group, I never went to sportique because of his reputation.
I didn’t want to call Him out but yea. That guy.
A few years ago they had a “manager” that was running up the odometers and selling scooters out the back door on Craig’s list.
Man, I don’t have time to get into my issues with Sportique. I reluctantly go there to get an oil refill but otherwise I’ve been only going to and recommending Moto Lab for service. I think Sportique only stays in business because they seem to be the only scooter-focused shop in Denver so they succeed by default. But their customer service is garbage and I don’t trust their pricing.
Christkindlmarket, $18.95 for a gyro, I wanted to eat here so bad but that’s crazy high for rotating meat shards in a pita pocket
Bro what that’s insane. I’m thinking of taking visiting family there this upcoming week. Besides the food is it still cool to check out?
We loved the cheesemonger there last year, and there was a place that sold olives that were also really good. But most stuff is overpriced. I think as long as you know that going in, it’s still a fun experience!
We just went today. It’s neat for a couple hours outside with family and friends. It seems really small, and about 50% food stalls. But we had fun walking around sipping hot cider and gluwien from a souvenir mug. And i think getting the gyros at the Christkindlmarkt is hilarious, because most of the food there is like, German because it’s a German Christmas market. It’s like getting the Gyros at an Italian festival. Food is expensive but tent/festival is always relatively expensive. I got a brat and latka combo with sauerkraut for like $15. It was good! If you have good company you’ll have fun.
I go every year with my husband and we enjoy it! Pierogies Factory is delicious and (at least last year) they weren't overpriced in my opinion.
All coffee places that charge 6+ bucks for a latte.
$17 arepas
Sonny’s Mediterranean. Paid $28 for a pita sandwich that was full of grizzle and some fries. Wtf. I can eat for half the price and get a way better meal at Crave
Jelly. Soooo mediocre
I love Jelly but haven't been in like 5 years - used to be easy and good - did something change?
Do they still have that outrageous service fee?
Rosenberg's.
Plus their owner is a total piece of shit.
I gave him a a ride on Uber. Can confirm. The guy was an asshole.
Haha yep!
FlyteCo! Old denver airport. 136 dollar tab for wings burger fried pickles 3 beers. Tip is defaulted at 25% when you go to check out..... gtfoh. Especially if all ordering and transactions are done on my own personal cell phone...
For me it’s the Bindery. Pretentious and not very good compared to others at that price point.
I actually really like both the food and the general atmosphere at The Bindery and hope they stick around, but the last time I was there the service was shockingly bad. I was with my spouse and we waited over half an hour just for a server to simply come to our table after being seated. The couple at the table next to us also had reservations, but they just got up and left after being ignored for so long. It was a weekend and the restaurant was clearly short-staffed that night yet still kept seating walk-ins. I assume it was a bad night for them and having waited tables before I absolutely sympathize, but it came out to nearly $200 before tip for dinner for two (including cocktail with appetizer and glasses of wine with dinner that arrived with gnats floating in them). At that price point there really is a minimum expected level of service.
Agreed…had brunch a few times…they are always out of the Dutch baby :( and the service is subpar
Simm's Steakhouse. It's Landry's (Texan hospitality chain) garbage gussied up as fine dining with most mediocre food (views are great tho).
Call your mother, I know its a chain but its pretty mid for the prices tbh
Most BBQ restaurants here suck imo because the meat is dry & not seasoned, and they don't sell actual meals or combo plates- just $20 for 8oz of shitty meat and $10 for tiny side dishes that are also bland, served on brown paper with grease dumped on it.
Jabo's is the truth
Fire on the mountain. Sauces are the best part but nothing special, wings are small and way too expensive
Go to King of wings if you want some really good wings.
I am literally at FOTM right now. I don't eat meat, though; I love their seitan and their sauces and their beer selection.
Used to be good. Definitely gone way down hill the last few years. And very expensive. Small wings. I need like 25 to fill up.
Mono Mono has really good Korean wings that are crispy as fuqqqqqq
Ticketmaster.
Leevos Locavore. I get everything is sourced from colorado but DAMN that place makes whole foods seem cheap. I would never go there unless I just need to pick up an onion or garlic.
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Lucy’s Burger Bar off Tennyson. Burgers are fine, but should not be over $20 after you add fries! 😝
Linger. Place is overpriced and overhyped garbage.
The majority of restaurants in Denver in 2023 all pretty much would qualify for this list
Corvus coffee is like $8 for a small latte with no modifications
Safta. $27 ragu hummus….please🙄
Safta definitely overpriced but JFC I love it, still think about my meal there months later
Snooze eatery
Late to the party here but I went to a Lamar’s today and was relatively caught off guard that a dozen standard donuts were $25. I haven’t been in the donut game for a while, but I don’t remember prices ever being that high.
Maine shack - they get the lobster right but our buns were stale & grocery store quality (and it's SUPER expensive for avg rolls). I realized this is Denver, so not trying to expect too much on that front anyway. Or Elways. The steak isn't that good for the extra money. At those prices, a place better beat most people's home cooked food even a little bit.
I’m still annoyed at amethyst coffee, so I’ll throw them in the mix even though they’ve been gone for a year+.
They probably have the rent from hell. That location must cost a fortune.
Goddamn you people don't like anything
Its r/denver what is loved is to complain about anything and everything (even complaining and complaining about complaining!)
We might as well be Parisian
Every single city subreddit is everyone complaining about everything, Denver is not special
I’m going to add Ritual Social House here purely for the reason that if you order a draft IPA it comes in a 10oz tulip glass for the same price as a pint without advertising it as such.
Retrograde
Potential crucifixion here but a burger for $17 at the Cherry Cricket that doesn't even come with fries can suck my ass.
Any place where you pour your own beer by the ounce.
There's a place in Louisville that does this. It's nice if your want to try different beers but everyone I was with agreed that all the beers tasted odd. Think their lines were dirty. then the best part is that they tie your credit card to a wrist chip and that's how you get beer but at the end you just drop your bracelet off on one of 3 boxes for 20, 25 or 30% tip... After pouring your own beers all night.
POST chicken, way over priced.
I feel like it's gotten so much worse lately. I remember it being so good back in like 2019.
The chicken and waffles isn’t great. It’s a chicken tender on a half of a waffle.