Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails
Ukrainian restaurant · City Park
3333 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Highlights
Refined Eastern European dishes & horilka-based cocktails.
Refined Eastern European dishes & horilka-based cocktails.
"The words “Eastern European food” and “sexy” rarely appear in the same sentence, but this snug East Colfax charmer may change that. Even the humblest and heartiest of ingredients — turnips and rutabaga, beets and buckwheat — get the gourmet treatment from endlessly creative owner Bo Porytko and his team, who transform them into refined dishes like mushroom- and chestnut-stuffed pumpernickel dumplings in mulled wine gravy and rabbit meatloaf with parsnip puree and golden raisin ketchup. It all pairs perfectly with horilka-based cocktails and wines from, say, Slovenia and Serbia. (Pro tip: Book seats at the the counter for the ultimate intimate experience.)" - Ruth Tobias
"To quote Eater’s list of Denver’s 38 top restaurants, while “the words ‘Eastern European food’ and ‘sexy’ rarely appear in the same sentence,” this Bluebird District gem proves they’re not mutually exclusive. But the opportunity to discover the pleasures of dishes like sour cherry borscht with duck dumplings or bison short rib sauerbraten together is just part of Molotov’s appeal to couples; the tiny, whimsically decorated space ensures its share of enchantment, too." - Ruth Tobias
"It didn’t take long for people to latch onto Molotov Kitschen & Cocktails—from the time it opened in early 2023, it’s been one of the busiest spots in town. Of course, it doesn’t help that the space is tiny (we’re talking your first apartment tiny), so you should make a reservation before stopping in. Molotov serves Eastern European dishes with creative twists, like corn and crab varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings). The starters are the main draw, so this is the place to make a meal out of appetizers. As for the vibe, well, the cuckoo clock collection has got to be Denver’s finest, barring some rare bird timekeeping collector we don’t know about." - allyson reedy, patricia kaowthumrong
"Molotov Kitschen and Cocktails is an Eastern European restaurant from the team behind Denver’s Misfit Snackbar. Misfit became a local favorite for its personality-filled menu—one dish is simply titled “my f*cking burger”—and unexpected ingredient pairings, like brussel sprouts with cranberry char siu and pork and beans with a honey lavender glaze. But with Molotov, the chef is focusing on the Ukrainian dishes and flavors like braised duck and sour cherry borscht and rabbit in a clay pot with creamed mushrooms and pickled shallots. The space is also filled with odes to Eastern European and Ukrainian culture, including a large floral art piece that resembles traditional Ukrainian flower crowns, photos of the chef’s grandmothers, and vintage wheat-pasted posters on the walls." - anne cruz
"A mischievous, design-forward ode to Ukrainian culinary heritage that blends playful decor with bold, modern flavors. The menu and bar celebrate horilkas (infused vodkas) in adventurous flavors like horseradish, and seasonally driven Colorado ingredients are used to remix classics into dishes such as elk tartare with buckwheat blinis, corn-and-crab varenyky in cold-smoked corn broth, and beet-and-plum borscht with whimsical ‘beet gummies.’ The atmosphere is exuberant and convivial, often punctuated by staff-led toasts and lively service." - Nicholas DeRenzo
