Bill R.
Yelp
3.5 stars. What happened?! Kitchen used to be the gem of LODO for upscale dining. It had impeccable standards and incredible consistency, and a clientele that appreciates and expects the same. Now it's a magnet for flip flopped, backwards-ball-cap-wearing hipsters that wouldn't know foie gras from frog legs.
Let's start with the menu itself, which is merely line after line of food words. Diners have no way to discern what is an appetizer, a shareable plate, a side, or an entree. Just a list of items with no context. There's an arrogance and smugness about a management team that would put a menu like this in front of guests. They think they're being cutting edge, but it's really a disservice.
I was excited to try the burrata as an appetizer. The cheese itself was very good, but it was served with bread that was grilled about an hour ago. Cold and soft but with some grill marks. No excuse for sending out beautiful burrata with old bread.
The cast iron roasted chicken was a huge disappointment. At almost $30, I expected a bone-in airline chicken breast or something. Nope. Just a dried out, overcooked breast with skin so tough and hard it needed steak knife to cut through. The "hand cut" fries that accompanied were equally dismal--poorly fried, pale, and sopping with grease. Looking at the plate you wouldn't be able to distinguish it from something you'd get at Applebee's. It's at this point I knew I had to cut my losses and move on.
On a high note, I can say the bartending staff is rocking fantastic cocktails. The Roku Manhattan is a winner. The servers and front of house were excellent. My server Juliana and manager Chapin took all my feedback in stride and seemed genuinely interested in understanding their opportunities for improvement and ensuring I left with positive vibes.
My gut tells me something has fundamentally changed at the core and it has manifested itself in poor quality, inconsistency, and a complete disregard for what made them great. Beyond the name, The Kitchen is unrecognizable to me anymore.
Original review: 2017
Stunning atmosphere. Wide open space. Tons of outdoor seating.
Fantastic bottled cocktails made in house featured daily.
So many awesome things on the menu. Salads, shellfish, beef, pasta, chicken, fresh fish.
Started with mussels. Extremely fresh and plump. Steamed in a white wine garlic cream broth. Nice crusty bread to sop it all up.
Halibut. I was worried the thick filet would dry out and toughen. Not so. Wonderful crust on outside and flaky tender throughout. Paired with earthy root vegetables and a light consume.
Told myself I wouldn't have dessert unless they had affogato on the menu. Wouldn't you know it, they did. Rich house made gelato topped with espresso.
Staff is warm and welcoming. You can tell they have been trained to be mindful of the little details that often get overlooked.
They aren't just running a restaurant, they're providing a customer experience. Definitely top on my list of places to return if I make it back to Denver.