This is a great place to eat. I was curious about for their fried oyster mushrooms and they were other worldly delicious. We shares with our tablemates and everyone enjoyed them. We had a small bowl of their vegan posole which was very flavorful and satisfying and filing. We shared their falafel wrap which was packed with great fillings and three or four falafel balls. Also very satisfying.
My complaint may be aged based as I'm older, and also I also used to work in the food industry. This is a counter service restaurant. You get everything yourself, they bring out the food. Explain to me why at the end of purchase, there is an automatic 18% tip? You can change it, they suggest 20% or 25% (FOR NO SERVICE) and right below a button to customize or offer no tip. I am not going to be a shmuck and not tip at all, but starting at 18%? I gave 10%.
I've watched the industry deal with wage issues. I know the margins are thin for restaurants. Maybe it is hitting me more since we just came back from Spain, where there is a different price for sit down verses bar and no tipping (and a whole different culture of how we care for people). But assuming 18% or more tip for counter service is audacious.
Will I recommend this place? Yes. This is a great addition to vegan/vegetarian and gluten free food scene in Denver. They also offer chicken and fish and pork for the meat eaters. It's cool and hip and welcoming. The food is tasty. Try it.
Go to spot, delicious food with interesting flavors combinations that have me coming back! Safe for gluten free and took other allergies very seriously!
This place is incredible, especially for someone who has celiac. The food was delicious, some of the sauces were so surprising it really made the dish. There are plenty of GF of options to try.
Service was fantastic! They were quick to seat us even though they were busy. The menu had so many options from omelets to pancakes to eggs Benedict’s! Plus gluten free!!! I got the flight of pancakes gluten free and they were soft as pillows and so amazingly delicious. My hubby ordered a burrito and it was ginormous! He lives spicy food and their hot sauce had his “bald spot sweating” (his words 🤣). Christine also offered us multiple options for things to do in the area and places to see. It was an extraordinary experience!
the food was pretty okay!! unfortunately they were out of all of their lemonades which was a bummer :( otherwise they’re good with gluten free accommodations (on pizza and and sandwiches)
Came here because of ads about the fried chicken! I haven’t had a real life chicken parmesan in years due to my gluten allergy but always craved one and was so excited to order it, my partner got the meatloaf and they loved it as did I my chicken parmesan though I wish it was pasta instead of squash but I can understand at least they had this option for me. The gluten free desserts were delicious, the chocolate chip cookie and peanut butter tart were to die for and we had their zero proof cocktail spicy margarita which was very flavorful to the point where we weren’t sure if it was NA! The cocktail was a big highlight for me, I could definitely come here again and try some more things off the menu!
I found this place on accident because I was the DD for my friends yesterday. All the bars that we were going to did not have any safe foods for me. I recently discovered my stomach cannot tolerate dairy and gluten. So, my partner found this place for me to go to on my own. I had a great waiter named Rob H, who was so nice and had really fast service. I couldn't believe how full I got so fast on the food, the ventilation in this restaurant is really good, so I felt safe taking my mask off when I needed to eat. Another thing that sold me was they served luke warm water in bottles and I'm always asking restaurants for this and they never accommodate. This is why I always go into food places with my own water bottle, but I don't need to do that here. It's very LGBT friendly, I felt very seen and safe. I also loved that I do not think they serve any drinks with high fructose corn syrup (which is another trigger ingredient I can't have). They have a small little bakery and I loved how they had alcohol stuff, but it was minimal and it was less in my face. As a person who's trying to stay sober, I really appreciated this. I definitely will be back and I'll be telling all my friends about this place. The food was hot, came fast and super filling. I hope next time I can talk to the chef so they can give me pointers on how to cook gluten free and dairy free dishes that are filling, because I'm struggling with that. 5 stars, hands down
If you’re EVER near Denver, this is a must stop. I live in Colorado Springs and have already warned my partner that their gluten free Nutella pizza will be a pregnancy craving in the future we’re def driving for. 😂 They use gluten removed wheat starch from Italy (celiac safe but not safe for a wheat allergy) and separate prep areas and ovens for gluten free orders. Their fried eggplant is also one of the best meals I’ve ever had from a restaurant. They do have vegan cheese options too.
It’s order at the front, then they bring items to the table for you. If you like Kombucha, they have a rotating homemade Kombucha flavor which they make very well. I always leave here with my tummy feeling great. I do think the portions are on the small side, so come here if you want to feel light after eating. So many delicious gluten free options, and the staff are attentive to your dietary needs which I really appreciate
100% gluten free and extremely allergy friendly. Their chicken and dumplings was super flavorful and their French toast was the best gluten free French toast I’ve ever had — crispy on the edges and soft in the middle. Super convenient to order since you use a digital stand to do so and can see all allergens when picking your meal.
Allergan FriendlyDairy Free OptionsDinnerOpen Late NightOutdoor SeatingDessertsMediterraneanDeliveryTake AwayKid Friendly
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Alanna Reynolds
El Five delivers a solid dining experience, especially for those navigating gluten and dairy-free diets. The staff is attentive and accommodating, ensuring dietary needs are met without fuss. While the prices are on the higher end, the food meets expectations, though it doesn't necessarily exceed them. The atmosphere is pleasant, but not particularly memorable. Overall, it's a reliable choice for a special night out, offering a menu that caters well to specific dietary requirements.
They are very good at offering options for a variety of diets, but experienced some discomfort after. Wouldn’t recommend anything from the kitchen (they have gf wrapped pastries) for anyone with celiac.
So excited about their many gluten free, celiac safe options. I wasn't even expecting them to have anything for me to eat, as I was out with some friends. I ordered the burger with GF bun and GF fries (they have separate fryers and pans for the gluten free foods). And it tasted sooooo good. Very satisfied 😌
I ordered takeout while visiting from out of town. I accidentally ordered pickup but because I was at a conference I couldn’t leave to pick it up. I called and the kind owner Monse picked up and told me she’d deliver my food herself. Which she of course did.
The food was wonderful! Filled with flavor. I wish I lived closer and could come back. I had one beef and cheese pupusa, one beef and cheese pupusa, and rice.
Service was top notch of course.
And to top it off all off, as someone who needs gluten free food, finding this place with authentic, amazing safe food was the highlight of my trip.
I ordered one of just about every gluten free appetizer since they have a dedicated fryer. Everything was so delicious and the service was awesome! Also recommend the wedge salad mmmMMmm
I was so excited to stumble upon a Gluten Free bakery that my boyfriend and I make the trip back and picked up a few more items to try out. I will say the orange poppyseed muffin was the winner and the funfetti and lemon blueberry cakes are great.
The staff was super nice both times I was in as well.
I think we would personally pass on the cinnamon rolls and monkey bread the next time. The texture is definitely more like a bagel and something in the flour substitute in those particular baked goods (possibly a xantham or guar gum to help with texture) seemed to cause both my boyfriend and I serious GI upset (diarrhea/gas/bloating) the rest of the day.
Overall a great find and I don’t want to dock them any stars for our sensitive GI tracts.
Love City O’ City, been coming here for over 15 years. The food is top notch, service is great, and we beat the morning brunch rush by arriving at 10 o’clock on a Saturday. Met a dear friend there for our last breakfast before she moved out of state. Nice to know this place is still doing well. Had the chicken and waffles…it was delicious and gluten-free.
Everything here was amazing!! Our server Matt was incredibly helpful and detailed with navigating allergens on menu. They have so many gluten free options, without needing to modify or miss out on any of the dishes.
The chicken, trout, and plantains were all exceptional, can’t wait to come back and try more!
The new mulato glaze short rib is to die for!!! Falls off the bone no need for a knife.
And the gluten free churros or bruleed banana split are a great way to end a great meal!!!
Overpriced and disappointing.
I ordered the baked al forno, which was described as having a bechamel sauce to it, but was dry as a bone minus what seemed like some sort of consomme drizzled around it. Without a sauce to carry any flavor, it also tasted quite bland. For some reason, they also didn't provide a sharper knife to cut through the pasta, so I had to saw through it with a butter knife. I feel like they may have given me some dairy free version because my partner couldn't have dairy, so I don't know if the service was bad or the food.
My partner ordered a ragu with gluten free fusili, which seemed like it came out of a box. Which is fine, but don't charge home made pasta prices for it? If it was home made, it was severely undercooked, so my guess is that the kitchen didn't know gf pasta takes longer to cook.
We also asked for cheese on the side and instead didn't receive any cheese until we had to ask for it.
We were excited to come here, but I've had better Italian meals at Olive Garden.
Overall: 5/5!
Ambiance: 5/5
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Coffee: 5/5
This place is adorable. There is a bit of seating downstairs and a lot more upstairs in some cute rooms upstairs. Upstairs doesn't have any music and that is not even a complaint, just something noticeable and different from other small restaurants. Every room has a window seat, so there's lots of natural lighting. The ambulance is good. The servers greeted us immediately and were friendly and helpful with our dietaries. They delivered our food and drinks quickly and cleared our plates when they checked on us, even though it is a counter service/self bussing restaurant.
Now to the food. I went with my wife. She got the eggs croissant sandwich and a side of fresh fruit. Her eggs were made over medium, instead of scrambled at her request. The croissant was crispy and her sandwich delicious. The fruit was very clearly freshly prepared and she thoroughly enjoyed everything.
I got the smoked salmon crepe. I ordered a gluten free (yes! Gluten free!) crepe, which is also dairy free. I didn't have to do any edits! It came with smoked salmon, dill, cucumber, avocado mayo and capers. The capers really cut through the smooth, creamy and rich flavors that would have otherwise dominated this dish, and balanced it well. I got the potatoes as my side. They are a soft, mashy like homestyle potato, that are well seasoned and feature one of my favorite spices: cumin. So I had two of my to five spices in the meal, dill and cumin. Overall, the meal was absolutely everything I could hope for and more, especially with the rarity of getting a gluten and dairy free crepe.
That said, our lattes were also incredible. I had a honey lavender with oat milk and my wife had a regular lavender with regular milk. The coffee beans they use must be imported and very special. I've never tasted coffee so good anywhere. I'll always show up here on the weekends to get a latte, even if I can't grab a breakfast every time.
We did also get a sweet crepe, the Nutella with strawberries. It's the only one I took a picture of because it was so inspired. The sweet crepes are not safe for my dietaries, so I did not enjoy it, but it looks so pretty and my wife did say it was delectable!
This was my favorite spot in town to meet friends for good food and good beer. I've met a lot of new close friends at trivia night. Loved the staff, the entire environment and the overall energy of this location. They had the best Karaage in Denver!!
Unfortunately, I noticed a big change in the energy and quality of the location under new ownership. The food menu was cut to a much smaller menu. They no longer had sports playing. The hours they were open were reduced. The beer used to be gluten reduced and was why I came here (gluten intolerant.) I had an incident last week after going to happy hour and got really sick. After talking to some of the staff I was informed they no longer reduce the gluten in the beer since the new owner took over. You can't just stop removing the gluten in the beer and not even tell the regulars or ppl coming in. Someone could have a serious reaction and be hospitalized. Luckily I was better after a few days.
The new owner has now laid off all the staff and it's turned into an Indian food buffet (yak and yeti.) I went into a yak and yeti one time a few years ago and walked out due to the rudeness of staff, smell and lack of cleanliness of the establishment.
I'm very upset spice trade is gone. This new owner destroyed spice trade. This is a great loss to the community and the memories we have all shared. My heart goes out to the great staff. Thank you for all the great memories! ❤️🙏
This place was a gem under the previous owners. It had been about a year since I last visited and as soon as I walked in, it felt different. Despite only one table with patrons , almost all the other tables were dirty. There was a very loud vent fan (~70dB) running that made it uncomfortable to be around. We had asked for gluten-free pasta and we’re told that it takes 18 minutes to cook and they’re only open for another 30 minutes. We ordered vodka penne pasta with sausage, shells & sauce, a had a Pelegrino to drink - it was $55. The pasta was a little overcooked thoguh the sauces had good flavor. Sausage was small and clearly had been previously cooked and reheated. It was very tough to cut through and chew. The bread was terrible, slightly stale and looked like Wonder bread shaped in a baguette loaf. The staff was very friendly, though never checked on us after our food was delivered to the table.
I get that it’s tough to run a restaurant these days, rent is probably expensive there, but the old restaurant seemed to work really well. They had family recipe lasagna that was delicious and some of the best meatballs I’ve tasted. I wouldn’t even have written a review and would’ve just chalked it up to another now mediocre restaurant if it wasn’t so expensive and a bad value.
Only go here for dessert and cocktails! This place has the samw quality of food as Applebee's. I ordered the balsamic Ribeye and while the balsamic was a nice touch to the flavor of the steak. The cut amd cook was identical to Applebee's. The mashed potatoes were no better than apples bees. My kids ribs and other kids grilled cheese where like Applebee's quality. I was shocked. Adding balsamic to a steak doesnt justified a $10 price increase over Applebee's. The cocktails were really good and they have a separate gluten free menu which is nice. Gluten free souffle was also delicious. I will be back but only for drinks and dessert.
Allergan FriendlySeafoodAmericanDinnerOpen Late NightVegan OptionsVegetarian OptionsCocktailsLunchDeliveryTake AwayOutdoor SeatingBarRestaurant
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Carlos Hernandez
Had dinner here not too long ago & made sure that there were items on the menu that were gluten free as my girlfriend has Celiac Disease. When we were sat, my girlfriend asked what items are gluten free (to be 100% safe) and he said "just tell me what you want and I'll see." then she asked if he's our waiter or someone else and he said "we all help each other". Ok. Then the wine list arrives and my gf then had to ask the gal helping us with wine what is gluten friendly on the menu. She was SUPER helpful. Clearly the gal that helped my gf with wine confronted 'our waiter' because for the rest of the night, he was overcompensating and being awkwardly talkative. We just wanted our food at that point. Then on top of all of those awkward interactions with our waiter.... he charged us for an extra bottle of wine we didn't drink. I then had to flag down a member of the staff to initiate a return/bill again while our Uber was out front waiting for this. Spent $500 on dinner which was great BUT the experience with the waiter ruined it. Cherry Creek Grill is the better choice, their staff is ON POINT.
Great spot for happy hour! And lots of options too. If you’re gluten free - ask for their separate gluten free menu (love to see it!)
We did the Sunday all day happy hour and were so excited to try a few new things. It’s still pricey but worth it ☺️
Super cozy place, especially at night. For cocktails, this is as good as a speakeasy when you want the bartenders to make interesting drinks. I always want to be surprised and always am with the amazing cocktail creations! As for food, I recommend the French Dip but get the gluten free bread. The roll is better than the regular one. Hope you have as much fun as I do here!
Dedicated GF MenuBreakfastLunchDinnerBrunchDeliveryTake AwayPet FriendlyOutdoor SeatingKid FriendlyRestaurantGrocery Store
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Mary
We’ve been coming here for awhile. It’s a great little spot, but it’s a bit pricey. They do have a lot of gluten free options. They aren’t open often, so you have to time it right. (If you order the cheese bread, double check you get all 6. We’ve now been shorted twice on to go orders 😔)
Hard to put words to the experience. The food, the service, the recommendations, the atmosphere, the wine - everything was just perfect. All the dishes are intended to share and make sure you get a good variety including a couple of the large plates. The bass was cooked to perfection and the steak frites were unbelievable, just to name a few of the dishes we tried. No wonder the chef is a James Beard winner and Annette was named Denver’s best restaurant in 2019. We also had our 3 year old daughter with us and my wife is gluten free and vegetarian and they had no problem accommodating. They even have a cute little curated kids menu. They take walk ins but I highly recommend a reservation. This is your sign to go.
Great fresh food with gluten free options. Clean and elegant inside. Smart menu. Just wish they wouldn’t nickel and dime everything. 4% hidden charge for “fair wages” charges for each condiment and every substitution is an up charge. This is on top of 27 dollar burgers.
100% Dedicated Gluten-Free
Celiac friendly
Accommodating Gluten-Free