It’s Denver Restaurant Week in the Mile High City. There are $25, $35, $45 and $55 per person eateries but reservations are filling up fast across town so don’t delay.
While prix-fixe menus and good deals are a big part of the appeal, they’re not the only reason to participate. Restaurant Week is also a chance to explore the cultures, neighborhoods and traditions that shape Denver’s food scene. From longtime family-owned staples to restaurants bringing global flavors to local streets, the city offers ways to dine more meaningfully while supporting the people behind each meal.
Here are a few restaurants that scream culture this Restaurant Week:
(Sidenote: None of the restaurants below are listed as part of Denver Restaurant Week. We just wanted to highlight the vast array of culture in our local eateries!)
1.)
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal
If you’re looking for a little piece of Mexico City right here in Denver, this is the spot you need to be at.
Located in an unsuspecting building off Larimer Street near RiNo, La Diabla has been serving up some of the city’s best Mexican food since 2021. Their pozole, a rich Mexican stew with chilis, corn and hominy, and tacos are to die for, but the establishment has become known for something else entirely.
Earlier this year, the Michelin guide named La Diabla’s Pambazo de Carnitas sandwich the best sandwich in the United States. Since then, foodies have flocked to RiNo to try the carnita sandwich that has been marinated in red chili sauce. Few, in any, appear to leave disappointed. That’s some incredibly high praise, especially coming from the world’s most prestigious restaurant critics.
2.)
Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
Over the last two decades, Nile Ethiopian Restaurant has become a staple of the Denver food scene. If you’ve ever been there, it’s easy to see why.
At Nile, dinner isn’t just served — it’s shared. After you order, giant and colorful platters arrive at your table. It’d be nearly impossible to finish an entire plate by yourself, so you better make use of your teamwork skills with whoever you’re eating with so no food goes wasted.
If you’ve never had Ethiopian food, the chicken wot, marinated chicken that’s stewed in red chili sauce with spices, is a great place to start. If you’re looking for a little something more simple, any of the lamb tibs dishes are another phenomenal option.
3.)
Gaetano’s
Gaetano’s is a beloved local Italian joint that used to be owned by the mafia, and it doesn’t get more authentic than that.
Once owned by Colorado’s infamous Smaldone Crime Family as a hub for illegal gambling in the 1940s, current owner Ben Robinson has transformed Gaetano’s into a must-try dining experience in Denver.
The atmosphere makes you feel exactly like you’ve been plopped down in the restaurants mafia days, with low lights, vintage red leather booths and photos of former mob members plastered across the walls.
That all wouldn’t matter if that pasta wasn’t good, though. Thankfully, that’s not an issue. Gaetano’s serves up some of Denver’s finest fresh-made pasta with extremely flavorful sauces.
If you haven’t been there yet, andiamo (let’s go!)
4.)
Domo Japanese food
Have you ever wanted to have some ramen at a Japanese zen garden without going too far from home? If so, you need to check out Domo.
Upon walking into the establishment, it feels exactly like you’ve been magically teleported to the Land of the Rising Sun. The old wooden building with straw ceilings and tengu masks lining the wall just screams culture. The pristine garden located just outside only adds to that experience.
The menu is simple, mainly just Japanese noodle dishes, but the quality of the food makes up for that. Everything you order is delicious and tastes like it’s made from scratch. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
5.)
Rougarou
Walking into Rougarou on Welton Street feels like a quick trip to Louisiana. The lighting is low and the space has a relaxed neighborhood feel that invites you to stay awhile.
The menu offers a creative spin on many creole and cajun staples, like hot and spicy catfish or creole-seasoned tofu with tomato gravy. If you’re looking for a meal that takes you to the Big Easy, but still feel refreshingly unique, Rougarou is right up your alley.
Denver Restaurant Week is more than a chance to score a good deal. It’s an opportunity to experience the stories, traditions and communities that make this city what it is. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll even get you outside of your comfort zone.
Step outside your usual rotation, try something unfamiliar and let your reservation double as a cultural experience. That’s what this week is all about, isn’t it?
Thanks for reading our Bucket Listicle. Not only do we send out three newsletters a week, Bucket List is on the web, social media and Nextdoor with video content too. We also have a monthly radio program on KGNU on the first Thursday of every month at 3 p.m.
We need your feedback to make Bucket List even better. Please take our annual survey! We’ve extended the deadline until March 6. Upon completion, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $50 Visa gift card.
See you next week!
Ryland Scholes
Production Manager & Senior Reporter/ Bucket List Community News
Follow our daily news feeds on Facebook and Instagram
Contact us with your story ideas.
Listen to our Podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
