My first experience ended up being my best experience.  I've returned several times since its proximity to my house makes me want to love it...However, it's just okay.  In all honesty the food is 4 or 5 stars, the service two.  My last visit (probably 2 months ago) ended  almost as quickly as it began.  My hubby and I popped in and sat at the bar...and we sat....and sat...and sat...after 10 mins of watching the bartenders (that's right TWO for a tiny little bar)  chit-chat with the servers, we walked out.  So disappointing.
Review Source:I had wanted to come here for some time, and finally everything fell into place and we were able to.
The Populist kind of reflects its neighborhood- it's an up-and-coming restaurant in an up-and-coming neighborhood, and just like the lower rent houses around it, this restaurant is certainly on the cheaper side for New American.
Note- they do not seat incomplete parties, even when I pointed to our third person walking up the block. So, have everyone ready, though they did say they'd put me on the list at the top if the restaurant filled up.
We sat at the community tables outside, which for the first time ever actually led to great conversations with those around us. I will note that the tables are REALLY difficult to get seated at- imagine a very tight picnic table; not easy to do in a dress.
We tried a variety of cocktails, which ranged from OK to good, but probably not worth $10. I also tried some of their Infinite Monkey Theorem wine on tap, which was better than IMT wine is in the bottle, at least to me. For food, we tried the kale farro salad (very good and easily split amongst 3 people), I got the mussels and marrow, and my husband got the bacon and egg plate. I would never have thought mussels and bone marrow would pair well together but they mostly did, though getting marrow out is a bit clunky and difficult. We also tried the earl grey tea cake for dessert which was very moist and really well seasoned.
Our server was pretty good; accommodating though a bit snippy. She walked by our table, nothing in hand, and I got her attention. When she came over I asked for a specific drink, and she replied, "is it OK with you if I go clear that table first?" in a really, really dismissive tone. I said sure, she cleared their table, then came back over for me to repeat myself....for no reason. It was a bit odd, but that was all.
I'll happily come here again- I'm especially intrigued by the $70 tasting menu for 2- what a steal! Considering it's 7 courses (though split, several of them), I think that's a great deal and I'll happily return, though I'll probably wear pants and look for a different server.
Decent prices, and -Â philosophically - an awesome program: five classic cocktails paired with five variations thereof. Â However, practically, there were some near (and slightly far misses), in my one experience here, along with one great hit:
Demon Vert (classic) -- This formulation was almost too drinkable, in the sense that it needed punch and was too lime-dependent. Â It could have benefited from the presence - traditional to this cocktail -Â of absinthe, as opposed to the weak anise quality afforded by the liquorice-nib (which I wouldn't recommend trying to eat afterwards); moreover, the absinthe absence belies its "classic" designation by the menu.
Paloma (variation) --Â This concoction really expressed a quite liberal interpretation of the term "variation." Â With no tequila and no grapefruit -Â the two primary taste-constituents of a Paloma - it was unclear how they'd capture the spirit of the drink in this re-imagining; I had assumed watermelon-and-white-pepper shrub would provide the bitterness and bite usually imparted by the grapefruit, and was moreover just generally excited to try an attempt at a shrub. Â Unfortunately it - and the overall drink - lacked punched, was too thin, and didn't meet my expectations, nor did it really seem much related to the flavor-profile -Â even in varied form -Â of the Paloma.
Old Fashioned (variation) -- This was the hit, and it was a massive hit. Â The Vida Del Maguey was an unsurprising choice, but the rose water, complemented by the sweetness of a touch of agave nectar, really brought some amazing qualities out of the smoky robustness of the mezcal; the rhubarb bitters - which I often favor even in classic Old Fashioned preparations - provided another, earthy-tart tweak. Â The dried rosebud garnish proved the final enhancement, forming an excellent aromatic supplement.
As for food, I ordered two plates: the Bacon & Egg and the Chicken Liver Mousse.
The egg was nearly perfectly poached, but the seasoned chopped bacon on which it was plated was a bit too sweet for my tastes -Â more like a bacon-bit than the animal textures I'd anticipated - while the onion-layered toast-points were a nice vehicle for the egg's runny innards blended with the bacon-chop.
The chicken live mousse was quite solid, if not a mind-blasting preparation, and was paired with a nice little jam; I'm not sure what the chocolate was doing, taste-wise, but it certainly provided a nice swath of ruddiness to the plating. Â
Nonetheless, at $6 and $4 thanks to happy-hour, both were a great deal; perhaps I would have been less enthused at higher price-points.
The feel and ambience were nice, and the space -Â particularly right at the bar - suffused a classic-cocktail warmth, was attractive, and happened to be particularly well-appointed with beautiful bottles (though I'm not sure how much Chartreuse VEP of either color they're actually selling). Â The two bartendresses were great, and highly attentive; indeed, service seems a particular strength of The Populist (as such one would hope suggests).
Theoretically, based on the cocktail-program, I'd like to appoint the highest rating; unfortunately, tasting only one trully winning drink drives this appraisal down a point.
I had so been looking forward to trying this restaurant. Its right in my neighborhood, and I absolutely love what the owners are doing over at Crema.
Indeed, the food is creative and the experience is unique, which is both fantastic and refreshing. The ambiance is magnificent and our server was certainly one of the best in memory. So with this rave review, why only three stars?
While the food was creative and the arrangements were thoughtful, it really didn't knock my socks off from a taste standpoint, which is ultimately what I want when I go to dinner. I so appreciate the beautiful platting, small tasting size menu, and seasonal cuisine. But, out of 10 dishes or so, I was only really excited about 2 - the deconstructed duck plate and the scallops (and let me say, those two scallops were indeed fabulous). While everything else was creative in concept and visually appealing, it was just A-OK taste wise.
If I was rating creativity and service, 5 stars hands down. But in a city that could really benefit from a handful of innovative, exciting restaurants like the Populist, I really expected the food to be, well... tastier.
The ambiance and the service were hands down outstanding-noise level aside. Â While we dined in doors I peaked outside at the backyard to find one of the most romantic spaces I've ever seen in a restaurant. Â In doors the interior is quaint and comfortable. Â We had our own table which was definitely a good call since, as I mentioned, the noise level got so high that we were somewhat yelling to communicate (strange for a restaurant that didn't have an empty seat but wasn't overly crowded). Â Our server was a delight and communicated the non-descriptive menu very well. Â She was clearly knowledge and passionate about the food and they quality of the service was something you don't see every day.
The wine we consumed was delicious and the menu offers great choices. Â Beyond that I would have to sadly say that while the dishes were thoughtful they just fell surprisingly short in taste. Â Some of the dishes like the chicken liver mouse had ill-competing flavors where others such as the jackfruit were just all sorts of bland. Â I didn't leave hungry at all but I don't think I'll be returning to the place.
Great interior, great service, great presentation, food was ok. Â
The flavors were not quite up to par for this price point. We (the four of us) shared about 7 or 8 different dishes. Everything was consumed, but nothing was exceptional. I don't think I'd go back, unless only going for drinks.
My fiance will be moving from Washington DC to Denver, and every time he's in town I try to find some new way to overcome his DC snobbishness about Denver's lack of culture. Â Last night I picked him up at the airport and drove directly to The Populist. Â It was a perfect cool, dry, Denver night (something missing in DC much of the year) so we chose to sit outside at a communal table. Â The outdoor seating is so lovely. Â You sit right next to a real vegetable garden, and there are those romantic round bulb lights strung above your head. Â We were presented with 3 separate menus: Â food, wine, and beer & cocktails. Â We ordered a nice bottle of Vouvray, and started to peruse the menu. Â That's what our server called it: Â "perusing". Â Â
We decided on a scrumptious butternut squash salad that was presented beautifully with arugula, pickled beetroot, and goat cheese, with little squares of squash sprinkled throughout. Â It was light and super flavorful. Â My fiance ordered the Broken Duck "Cubano" plate, which was basically a deconstructed cuban sandwich, but presented like a charcuterie on a long rectangular plate with piles of toast, Gruyere, mustard, pickles, and of course, duck. Â Duck breast, and Duck confit. Â My taste of the confit and Gruyere was super yummy. Â I ordered the Tandoori Half Chicken, that was served atop an Indian flavored sauce (sorry I can't remember the exact flavor) with a lovely poppadom on the side. Â We brought half of it home. Â
Dessert (not my favorite course but I always take a bite) was a heavenly Ginger Frangipane - a ginger flavored cake with raspberry sorbet on one side, and cream cheese icing piled on the other. Â I had MORE than my requisite one bite because it was that good. Â All of the plates were beautiful to look at, and I mourned the fact that I didn't have my good camera with me.
The service was super attentive, and while I was apprehensive about the communal table, it does make for some juicy eavesdropping if your own conversation drags. Â
I also love the neighborhood. Â Parking is on the street, and I suppose some might find it a bit scary with all the industrial surrounding the place, but I just think it's cool.
It's safe to say that with the perfection that is The Populist, I will slowly chip away at anyone's snobby views of Denver.
Kudos for creativity but the food was pretty gross. We did the 7 course sampler option . The 1st 'course' was basically Chex mix and popcorn. The 2nd was a milky cucumber soup and granola; basically cereal. The 3rd course was a salad with some pretty nasty cheese (and i love cheese). The 4th was bacon and egg, which I was really looking forward to, but the bacon tasted like candy instead of bacon. The 5th was a palate cleanser which tasted like dish-washing soap. The 6th was the main course and by far the best, perfectly cooked and seasoned steak. The 7th was desert, which was so blah I don't even remember it.
Review Source:The concept of The Populist is great. Long wooden tables reminiscent of community, mess halls. You wait your turn in line, then have a seat. Most likely, your party of two will be seated with two other parties of two. In theory, you'd look over, catch someone's eye, smile and introduce yourself: oh, the burgeoning friendships!
In reality, you're hungry and you're in close proximity with another person - a stranger, in fact - and neither of you are interested in small talk, smiles, or friendships. In fact, the fact that you're close to other groups, makes it hard to hear your own friend from across the narrow table. And this is where The Populist is a less-than-great eatery. Don't let the romantic, hanging lights outside and the hip youngsters crowding about: the volume inside is deafening. I've realized, upon hitting my mid-twenties, that I'd like to converse with my companion without feeling like I'M TALKING LIKE THIS.
That said, the food was a-ok. We missed happy hour so the small plates were a tad bit expensive, and we managed with the Bone Marrow and the steak plate. Both were okay. The Bone Marrow wasn't as good as some of the other marrow I've had, though the steak was tender (but nothing special).
The plus: dessert of Ginger Frangipane. So, so good. Do try it.
TLDR: Invasion of personal space. Loud. Don't miss happy hour. Have the Ginger Frangipane.
Went here for an impromptu dinner. It's a restaurant in the middle of an up-and-coming area, so it's not in the most ideal location. Plus, if I hadn't yelped it beforehand, I would never have known this place existed because it's such a modest building with little signage.
For a self-proclaimed foodie like myself, the menu was quite enticing even though there weren't any descriptions of the foods on the menus. Luckily, the server kindly explained the items to us when we had questions. A great thing is that happy hour goes until 7pm, so get it while it's hot! I got to take advantage of some happy hour cocktails, which were divine. Yes, they put some TLC into their drinks and I love places that do because it does make a difference. A+ for the cocktails! Pimm's cup was particularly enjoyable. I may have had more than one...
The food is served sort of tapas style. We got quite the roundup of bar mix, mussels, rabbit sausage (sooo moist by the way), diver scallops, and the duck. All of it was delicious and carefully crafted so that the flavors would dance on your palette. Did I mention they also have a tasting menu? It's $70 for 2 people for a 7 course meal. Wowza! Totally going to go back there with my love and be wined and dined.
Side note: If you're looking for a chill, laid back kind of vibe, I would say this isn't it. It might be slightly pretentious BUT if you want some culinary wows, this is your spot.
I went with the Bacon and egg, Broken duck 'cubano' plate (my favorite), and Gravlax panzanella (didn't impress me, but my friend loved it). The table also had Curried chickpea salad (people really liked this as well), Kale and farro salad, Beet, pea, & chèvre agnolotti, and Tandoori poussin (good sized portion).
Good service and we, unlike what someone else mentioned, were able to be seated even though party was not all there...perhaps because it was a Wed night? I loved sitting outside on the patio.
Street parking was easy.
1) This place is like a NYC club...they tell people 30-45 minutes if they are dressed okay, 1.5 hours if they are like a spaz. I watched it all night and was amazed nobody called them on this.
2) Food was only 2nd to a 5 star gourmet French Laundry-esque tasting menu in Sonoma, CA. Â It was truly tremendous.
3) The service was off as my wife and I (a) don't eat red meat and (b) ordered wine by the bottle and unfortunately got wine by the glass (more expensive) and received red meat in our tasting menu when we opted out of those courses expressly.
Seriously, the food made up for any shortcomings. If you can eat in a NYC club because you love good food, this is your spot. If you don't like vapid, hipster discrimination coupled with small portions, go to Cheesecake Factory, as it will suit your wishes more than the Populist.
Food: Â 5+ (Best food I've had in Denver)
The bar mix is a great appetizer, perfect size for two to snack on before the meal and its saltiness complimented the alcohol my group was having. Â Split three ways, as we did, will leave you wanting more. Â The curry seasoning on the popcorn and the homemade corn nuts were both well done, eclectic takes on classics. Â We had the bar mix and pork belly over drunken noodles as appetizers. Â Mussels, rabbit wurst, and a pink creamy ravioli/dumpling thing whose name escapes me as entrees. Â Dessert was a lady finger with vanilla bean creme fraiche, rhubarb jam, and sorbet.
Ambiance: Â 4
It has a large outdoor patio and a few large tables that need to be shared with other guests. Â We were able to get in without wait on a Wednesday night at 7pm, but I can see how this place can fill up. Â It was a bit noisy. Â The lighting was soft, but not too dim. Â The place definitely has a modern loft feel that was modern yet inviting.
Service: Â 3
Given the many small portions, great drinks, and a young, hip, often fussy looking crowd, I can see where service could lack. Â We had an appetizer, entree, and dessert and got out in 1:40, not bad, but not great. Â It's what I was expecting and gives you time to savor your courses and enjoy the well made drinks. Â Bartender, waiter, and hostess were all friendly. Â Note, partial parties cannot be seated.
Drinks: Â 5
Old time bar menu with a wide variety of spirits, tinctures, bitters, etc. Â They have a small menu of classic drinks, with take offs of the staples, but will make anything from a vodka-soda to an old fashioned to a Moscow mule (complete with copper cup). Â The beer selection is small, but varied, no macro-brew swill here.
Wow! Â Just wow! Â The space! Â The service! Â
And the food! Â The delicious food! Â I will dream about this food! Â The deconstructed duck cubano on homemade gluten free focaccia... The tricolor carrots with cardamom aioli and pumpkin seed brittle... The tangy braised jaw fruit (I don't exactly know what that is, but I know I like it!)... The pork belly special on top of black lentils and delicious puree... Well, I don't hate that at all.
All this food was accompanied by a sparkling red wine and many, many "Mmmmmms." Â All conversation stopped for several minutes as the entire party was overcome by waves of yummy satisfaction.
And five dishes (two appetizers and three main courses) and a bottle of wine? Â Only $25 per person.
The only cons: I didn't love my pre-dinner cocktail (probably just poor ordering on my part), and they don't take reservations. Â Even so, we got there at 6 on a Thursday and had no trouble sitting with a party of five.
I would recommend this place to anyone! Â But don't go. Â I want to keep it all for myself.
DREAM spot. Inside is perfect and simply decorated. Dim lighting and real candles. Let's be honest, yes it is hipster central. But these are the places that give you the best cocktails! I'm actually dreaming about their Old Fashioned right now.
Get a Denver Passport if you don't already have one so you can get BOGO specialty cocktails for the rest of the summer.
Oh my yummyness! Â Hubby and I went Tuesday night around 7 and immediately were seated at a community table. Â Service was prompt and informed, our server was really sweet and provided excellent suggestions. Â
The menus are cute and crafty, love the DIY feel and the beautiful mid-mod credenza/desk that works as the hostess stand.
The food was incredible. Â I would say this is some of the best, if not the best, food I've had in Denver in a while. Â Playful, beautiful presentations, creative pairings, just wonderful. Â
Beer marinated olives with lavosh, heirloom salad (tasty dressing and tastier maple gastrique on the plate), hubby said it was the best salad he's ever had. Â
Mussels+Marrow. Â So much marrow! Â Mussels were perfect and fresh and the broth was sooo delicious, I would have drank it if the bowl didn't have such a large rim.
Deconstructed Cubano was unbelieveable. Â I LOVE duck. Â Duck Ham and Duck Confit, gherkins, whole grain mustard and crispy bread...doesn't get much better.
Then we had beet, pea, chevre agnolotti. Â It was presented with a beautiful beet brush stroke, you'll see if you go. Â Gorgeous colors, pea shoots, pistachios...just enough coarse grain salt to get a few salty crunchies...it was delicious.
Then we had the Ginger Frangipan suggested by our server. Â It did not disappoint. Â Fennel ice cream? Â Who knew it would work perfectly with the ginger/blueberry "bar", vanilla creme fraiche? Â It was serious dessert delight.
Typical Denver prices, all this food plus 2 drinks, $75. Â But well worth it compared to a lot of similarly priced restaurants.
Thank you to the Populist for making my mouth and tummy happy. Â We'll be back many times to enjoy your creative, fun and beautiful food! Â Love the neighborhood too :)
I love the Populist. The drink menu is superb, the food is consistently good and the services (albeit a bit pretentious at times) is spot on.
The shared tables can be a bit weird especially  for an odd number party. I'm  left handed, short and carry a big purse so I'm usually the awkward girl without enough space.
The happy hour menu can be deceptive. Â Many of the happy hour menu items are also on the small plate menu--different sizes, different prices. Â Double check with your server to ensure that you are ordering off of the happy hour menu or be stuck with a bill double the expected size.
If you are looking for a trendy place to eat out with some fun cocktails and a great wine selection, and fantastic dishes executed nicely...well then, this is the place. Â I would suggest making reservations, the wait would have been over an hour but we lingered behind some patrons at the bar and snagged their spot as they left. Â
The bartender has some fun game going with his patrons for a free drink, finding little animals around the bar while they dined.
My girlfriend and I shared small plates, soup was wow! and I don't normally get the soup. Â I'm not sure if they still have the deconstructed cubano on the menu but it was pretty interesting. Â
Dessert was great. Â Again, much thought put into ingredients, presentation, flavor profiles. Â Very appreciated! Â Bravo Chef!
Pricy, so not somewhere a student like me could eat regularly but excited to be a return customer.
I ventured to the Populist a while back and pleasantly surprised with the space, the food and the service.
The patio seating area is perfect for good weather and if you don't mind getting cozy with strangers. Â There are a few picnic style tables that lean towards community dinning. Â If this isn't your bag there are some smaller traditional type of tables where you can't ease drop on what your neighbors are talking about.
The food ... in a few words. Â Small plates, tasty, fresh, different and worth coming back for. Â To avoid any decision making we did the tasting menu and got to experience a lot of different food they offer. Â I highly recommend this option to take the thinking out of dinner and to experience the whole menu.
Overall the service is stellar, the food is fresh and the space is cool. Â Worth checking out or coming back to if you've been before.
I had great reviews and couldn't wait to try it. We went on a Friday and sat in a community table outside in their lovely patio. We shared their plates and a bottle of Chateau de Musar, a Lebanese wine we had tried years ago.
We first started with the curry garbanzo salad. Garbanzos covered on green curried yogurt sauce. Delicious. We then tried the eggs and bacon, toasts and bacon sautéed with onions and delicious sweetness and a poached egg. We then tried the seared scallops as well as the Cornish hen which was delicious and accompanied with raita and a popadom. We were still a bit peckish so we completed our meal with beet and green beans agnolotti. Simply, delicious, fresh, and amazingly presented with lots of goat cheese to balance the beets and peas.
This place is so intimate!
They do not take reservations but we came here at 8 on a Tuesday night and had no problem getting a table for 4. Â
The cocktail menu is small but they offer a variety of beer and wine. Â Service isn't the quickest so make sure you go with a group of people you can converse with.
The food concept is small plates so here is what we gorged on:
-bacon and egg. Â SWEET bacon bits
-chickpea salad
-mussels and bone marrow
-duck cubano
-tandoori chicken
-ginger pie
Honestly, the presentation for every dish was outstanding and everything tasted so good!! Even the indian spiced food tasted so authentic. Â
I was really impressed with all the dishes and will definitely be back again! Â Only wish the food was served a bit quicker. Â We ended up staying there for 3 hours but hey, it was worth it.
Total hidden gem in an otherwise unassuming neighborhood! Â My friend and I went out for a girls night and decided on the Populist. Â We opted for the outdoor seating which could not have had a more perfect night. Â The temperature was just right and the wall of ivy, lights strung across the courtyard and community benches made the whole thing feel like a spread in Sunset magazine.
The menu, which is not posted on-line much to my chagrin as I pour over menus in my spare time, begs for descriptions from the waitstaff. Â That's not a bad thing at all and the printing on the menus was awesome. Â Funky and fun.
I opted for the carrots three ways for my starter and my friend got the kale and farro salad. Â The burnt carrots were the best part of the trilogy and I may have swiped the plate with my finger, over and over until none was left. Â Yes, that good that basic table manners in public went right out the window. Â
My main was the tandoori poussin. Â I saw another plate go by me and we both agreed that was probably what mine was going to be and I gave myself a little fist pump and a yesss, under my breath. Â And when I got my own dish that was the same, I was blown away by the flavor of the chicken combined with the kale/spinach saag sauce. Â Although my friends steak with duck fat potatoes and chimichurri was good, we agreed mine was the better of the two.
Dessert we were lucky enough to order off the chef's tasting menu which was a deconstructed strawberry shortcake. Â Three little cubes of cake (which was rather on the salty side) were topped with a brown butter meringue and surrounded by pickled strawberries, strawberry-basil gelee and strawberry sorbet topped with basil seeds. Â The strawberry sorbet was my favorite part of the dish and had the perfect essence of summer strawberry.
I've already told my hubs that I want to go back with him and order the tasting menu. Â I cannot wait to see what goodness awaits us.
Yelp 2013 Review #100.
A bird pooped on me. That was a fitting memorable end to a memorable dining experience. Fortunately, The Populist had towels to spare.
The Populist had been on my Food Adventures list since I read their executive chef's Westword interview. Then I discovered they had a happy hour thanks to a fellow Yelper. Plans were shaping.
Myself and 3 others visited Populist this past Friday. We were there to share plates, commiserate, and well, basically eat our way through their menu. We started with the bar mix  ($3) and mussels ($5). If your friend has a corn allergy, don't order the bar mix. It was tasty with popcorn, chex mix, dried fruit and herbs. We also enjoyed the mussels topped with fresh greens and pickled onions (???) and accompanied by grilled bread.
This leads to my only complaint with Populist. There needs to be more bread. The grilled bread was insufficient for soaking the delicious mussel broth. I asked for additional non-grilled bread and they obliged without an additional charge. There still wasn't enough bread for soaking all the broth. The grilled bread was also quickly gone with the Bacon and Egg and Broken Duck Cubano plate.
The Bacon and Egg was gorgeous; the pillowy egg sat atop the saturated bacon. We quickly broke the egg and began sharing. Soon enough the Broken Duck Cubano plate arrived, teasing us with the duck confit, duck ham, mustard, cheese, pickles, of course, grilled bread. Â The shaved cheese made perfect open faced sandwiches when topped with the rich confit. And the ham was pink and fatty with flavor.
Between those dishes, other friends were marveling over the Rabbit Weisswurst, exclaiming how fluffy it was. Remarkably enough, it was a fluffy sausage. I'm glad they were in a sharing mood. Finally, our last dish arrived, the Beet Pea and Chevre Agnolotti with pistachio pesto. With its bloody beet red smear, red tinged pasta emitting pea and chevre, thinly shaved cheese, and micro green balancing the pistachio pesto, it was our most colorful plate and the highlight of our meal.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our food. Some plates were more memorable than others, but nothing disappointed. The service was great and our bartender helpful, though he needs a witty answer to: "why is the duck broken?". Also, thanks for loaning me green sunglasses for a picture and again, thanks for the towel. Damn bird!
Out of the way, but worth the trip. Â Killer food at reasonable prices.
Small plate dining in a casual setting with a well-priced wine list sounds like it was made for me. Â The kale and faro salad is the best salad I've had this year and the rest of our dishes were nearly as good. Â The menu is tough to figure out, but I think they want you to have a dialogue with the server, rather than giving the diner all the information up front. Â
Next time, we will try the tasting menu. Â At $70 for two, it may be the best deal in town.
Wake up, Denver! And smell the scent of what and where the restaurant world is heading. And ummmmm what a great smell it is.
Here's the perfect way my honey labeled the place: she called it a "medium priced high quality nouvelle American tapas restaurant," and that precisely describes it. Creative small plates working their way up from appetizer-sized to entree-sized, with none above $18, and a 7 dish tasting menu for 2 for a total of $70 (up from the original price of $65).
Started with 2 of the best dishes I've tasted in a while--the smoked fish rillettes and then the kale and farro salad; followed by lots of people's favorite, the bacon jam and poached egg taste bomb. As bigger dishes we had the huitlacoche agnolotti (think Mexican homemade mushroom mini-raviolis) in a rich but not overpowering cream sauce, and finally, the broken duck cubano plate, a deconstructed duck 2 ways (confit and "hammed" (!)) sammie with shaved parmigiano cheese. Wow!
Finished by splitting a deefrigginlicious Meyer lemon tart, and the total food bill was $65 (so we essentially made up our own tasting menu since we split everything). And that's probably how the restaurant works best--the share everything kinda way.
Their bar menu is also creative, and on the small side, but goooood.
The space and policies are truly "populist." Large outdoor patio. No reservations taken (for fewer than 6). Community table, as one seating choice. Reclaimed fixtures. In sum, a place for great food for the people and not aimed at "the elites" (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPopulism&s=018279ad414338db1dcf98fcf88e66a6e5af215195df36951bbfae43b7065e0d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/…</a>). But as for me, I like tastin' that elite food at peoples' pricin', so you bet your elite butt I'm making this one of our favorite spots.
Bottom line: Power to the people! Eat on! (And a shout of thanks to the Crema Coffee folks who've brought this treat to Denver:).
A new restaurant has crept into my top list!
This place opened down the street and I've been so intrigued by it ... my boyfriend was worried it would be one of those joints where the food is good, but you leave and want Taco Bell after about 30 minutes, so we backburnered it UNTIL we read 5280 and it said that it was a lot of food and was really reasonable, with no entrees over $18.
We went around 7:30 p.m. on a Tuesday and it was packed - a good sign! We squeezed in at a community table and were warmly welcomed by the staff. They immediately filled our waters and dropped off a well-rounded and robust drink menu. They carry Infinite Monkey Theorem on tap (fitting considering I.M.T. is across the street) and have a great selection of local brews and a notable whiskey selection.
Our waitress, Seth, was awesome. She had great suggestions and was more than willing to talk through different menu options, as there aren't descriptions to encourage conversation (as per 5280). We wanted something semi-light, and everything is for sharing, which I loved ... we selected the bar mix (a yum combo of nuts, chex, apricots, etc. in a chili seasoning), the apple and parsnip soup (which had jalapeno jelly balls in the bottom and rocked my world), huitlacoche ravioli things, which I will dream about.
I'm not good at saying no to dessert, and to quote Seth, their pastry chef "is a genius" ... so we had to try something. The honey and thyme custard was incredible.
The entire meal was filling enough, not at all expensive for a nice night out ($55 for two drinks, three small plates and a dessert ... and to be fair our drinks were almost half that cost, so if you're not a lush you're golden).
In addition the ambiance was awesome - very cool decor and great people in an up-and-coming area. They also have a killer patio space ... I cannot wait for summer!
I officially have a new top pick in town!
I went here a few weeks ago with some friends and was blown away. The cocktails were good, better than most places as they have a traditional or modern flair to them.
They offer vegetarian/pescetarian/omnivore dishes, which all were fantastic and had tasty wine pairings. The deserts were to die for, sweet but not overtly sweet with a lot of interesting and unique flavors.
There was one dish that was a bit over salted, but I was so full from everything else, it didn't matter.
Try this place! You won't regret it.
What an all around wonderful dinning experience!
Westword's top ten best new restaurants of 2012 came out just a few days ago and I am so glad we picked Populist from the list. It's a gem of a place.
Before arriving we were contemplating the Chef's 7 course tasting menu for 2 with wine, which we heard a great deal about by word of mouth, but once we sat down and went over the menu it worked out that our own 7 course choices and cocktails was only $6-7 more. I suggest getting exactly the combination of plates you like.
Our selections for the evening:
Smoked fish rillettes
Apple and parsnip soup
Bacon and eggs
Mussels and marrow
Broken duck 'cubano' plate
Seared diver scallops
Double cut steak bavette
We started out ordering cocktails, the variation version of the old fashion for myself, which is more a strong sipping drink than a standard old fashion, and my wife ordered a gin fizz, which I tried, and liked as well.
We started out with the Smoked fish rillettes. The rillettes were so tasty, and really set the tone for how great our meal was was going to be for the evening. (A special shout out to Ben Parsons across the street at Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery - I'm not sure we would have picked out the fish rillettes without the suggestion.)
Then we had the apple and parsnip soup, which was delicious. The soup was served from a small kraft into two bowls then topped with jalapeno jelly dots. The texture of the soup was perfect, so smooth, and the taste so rich and warm. The occasional punch of jalapeno, flavor not spice, from the jelly dots made it so fun to eat.
The bacon and eggs came next. The lightly poached egg was resting on a bed of bacon jam. It wasn't at all what I was expecting visually. The combination of the yoke and bacon jam on toast was so savory and absolutely delicious.
After the bacon and eggs we had the mussels and marrow and the broken duck 'cubano' plate. These were my favorite dishes of the night. The combination of the mussels and marrow on toast was wonderful. The marrow cut through the brine of the mussels perfectly, and the mussels helped give a bit of texture back to the marrow. My only critique is that the mussels were just a tad bit over cooked. They were so to having a chewiness to them. Overall though, the dish was so tasty. The marrow melts in your mouth like whipped butter!
If you can't tell by now I love savory dishes.
After having such dynamic and wonderful flavors in the previous dishes the seared diver scallops missed the mark for us. The scallops came out with a great sear on top and cooked through to perfection. I think some people might consider them a little under cooked, but I wouldn't agree. The problem with the dish was flavor, there just wasn't much of it. I would say scallops are supposed to be light and delicate, but they just didn't fit into our evening. Maybe that was our own fault for pairing them with the rest of what we ordered.
Lastly came the double cut steak bavette (flank steak, mmmm my favorite cut). Â The steak was placed on top of a polenta cake and served with a little side of mixed greens. The polenta was crispy on the top and warm and fluffy on the inside, the perfect side, instead of potato. The marinade on the steak had just a hint of sweetness. A little bit of greens, polenta, and steak was the perfect bite to end the meal.
I ended my meal with a shot of espresso like I usually do after such a satisfying meal. It's a bit like having a cigarette after dinner I would guess, but I don't smoke. ;)
Thank you to The Populist for a wonderful birthday evening out!
I dunno. Do we really need more "deconstructed" menu items? Why am I paying to reconstruct my food?
Why can't the menu items have descriptors? What if the name of the dish didn't intrigue me, but the ingredients used in its preparation did? Well, unless I asked the waitress to describe the dish, I'd never know. Fortunately, our waitress was very informative.
The food was good. I'm just not terribly interested in plating being such a huge focus of the food. I appreciate a beautiful plating, but I don't appreciate a dish being mangled and torn apart in the name of plating. Call me rustic.
We also got charged full price at the bar during happy hour and an Abbott and Costello-like conversation ensued with the bartender over the bill.
It's a nice place for a snack and a drink if you're in the area, for sure, but I'm not gaga.
Nicer dining that feels like it was made for me.
As a huge Crema fan, I almost went through the roof when I learned that the guys behind it were opening a restaurant in the defunct Garden Spot Cafe space with it's oh-so-alluring looking patio. Â I can't say why I didn't make it out sooner (I live six blocks away), but the wait to have The Populist as my birthday dinner was worth it.
As I mentioned, it's nicer dining but it didn't feel stuffy to me in any way or like the see-and-be-seen-rooftop-bar-get-soused restaurants opening closer to the ballpark area on Larimer. Â It fits in perfectly with what is now being referred to as Upper Larimer and all of the artisan makers (OMF, Denver Seitan Co, Ritual Chocolate, Huckleberry Roasters, IMT, etc) that make this part of Larimer so great.
The menu is designed for sharing and is one of the few places with such a menu that feels truly shareable. Â They also list dishes in ascending order based on price and size. Â The menu is on the smaller side, but has a nice variety of vegetable dishes ranging from light and small to substantial. Â
Mom and I started with the apple and parsnip soup. Â It was smooth, slightly sweet, and rich, poured into two bowls with a dollop of jalapeno jelly in each. Â Our next course was the curried chickpea salad. Â This is a dish I could gladly eat every day for lunch. Â It had a bright green yogurt curry sauce and a very clean taste. Â This was followed by carrots three ways: charred/pureed, sweet and roasted, and raw, marinated ribbons. Â A little scoop of chive mascarpone accompanied the dish and served as a nice, creamy contrast to the sweetness of the carrots. Â At mom's request, we also got the bacon and egg. Â As a non-bacon eater, I was still able to dip pieces of grilled bread into the (as advertised) perfectly poached egg (and rightly so). Â The egg was served atop a bacon jam for those who're into that.
Our main was the huitlacoche agnolotti. Â The huitlacoche (billed as "Mexican truffle" but is just corn fungus) is blended into a creamy puree and served with beurre blanc, corn, and shavings of cheese. Â It was a perfect main course, enough to finish between the two of us (me comfortably, and mom not-so-comfortably).
Despite being full, we couldn't turn down dessert as we were both drawn to the honey and thyme custard. Â Luckily, the dessert was just the right size so as not to feel like a complete glutton and it came with orange fennel sorbet and a salty, crunchy almond brittle.
I think what I enjoyed most were the punches of herbs and spices in each dish. Â Not overpowering, but appropriate and different. Â From the cardamom roasted carrots, to custard with thyme and sorbet with fennel, to a bright curry sauce, this was like a dream menu to me.
They have a happy hour (5-7), and it's mainly selected smaller portions (the bar type foods on the menu) at smaller prices and a few specially priced cocktails. Â The wine list is short, but eclectic. Â I had an HH priced glass of white wine from Macedonia, very similar to a Sauv Blanc. Â Mom had an HH vodka tonic (tonic is housemade).
While not an every weekday type of dinner place, the prices were not terrible at all. Â We shared five dishes and dessert, each enjoyed a drink, and mom had an espresso and it was just shy of $70, pre-tip.
Our server was fantastic and personable, offering great advice on dishes and drinks and managing to be present but not intrusive.
Beyond a fitting birthday dinner. Â This place is a keeper.
After hearing many rave reviews we stopped in on a Friday night and managed to score a little high top table near the bar. Â The hostess was accommodating at finding a couple of stools for us to sit at. Â It was the last table before the place got packed. Â I'm not sure if they had the heat pumping or if it was just the kitchen heat since the place is so small, but it was extra extra warm inside. Â And dark. Â The seating is intimate, cozy, and the lighting is very dim. Â Makes everyone look better, right? Â If you're coming on a busy night - beware of the noise. Â It gets loud and can be difficult to hear. Â I wouldn't recommend coming on a Friday or Saturday night if you're planning on having a quiet, intimate conversation.
We ordered a couple of glasses of excellent wine and shared the green salad and the Broken Duck Cubano plate. Â The green salad was simple with a cheese and a champagne dressing and paper thin slices of apple. Â The dressing and the apple and cheese were awesome together. Â When the cubano plate came out I realized that broken meant deconstructed. Â There were 4 slices of crispy bread, little dollops of a whole grain mustard, some delicious cheese, a portion of pulled meat, and a portion of pulled meat and cured meat. Â The duck was fantastic - very tender.
The menu is a large selection of small plates ranging from $6-$18ish... The larger priced plates are more entree size so that's why we decided to share the one duck plate and get a salad. Â We could've eaten more - but it left us satisfied and not stuffed. Â They also offer a tasting menu which we plan to do next time - several courses of food for $65/couple. Â For the quality of food, we felt like that's a pretty good deal.
If you find yourself with a long wait at the Populist and their bar is full - you can pass your time at the Infinite Monkey Theorem winery across the street or head a couple of blocks down to Mile High Spirits for some locally distilled beverages.
I honestly don't even know what to say about this place . Everything I tried was good , not great but good . I had two items off the happy hour menu the Smoked Fish Rillettes and the Chicken Liver Mousse and after we left I was hungry again . We had a large group of about 15 people , and I gotta say the service was lacking . I usually give a little bit of slack when in a big group like this but it was pretty bad . They even refused to split the bill up .
Also being a chef I gotta say it's almost like they are trying way TOO hard. Everything looks beautiful but there is just something off put about this place .
I think the best way to describe this place is if Steve Jobs had opened a restaurant it would be The Populist .
In short I probably won't go back but who knows maybe I'll give them another try. There Old Fashion was really good
I'm stoked to have The Populist in our hood. We'd been waiting ever so patiently for the opening with a bit of apprehension, since our personal interpersonal experience at Crema hasn't exactly been ideal. A couple weeks after their doors opened we finally made it for dinner.
I'm thrilled to say that The Populist met and even exceeded out expectations. We went early, right around opening, on a Thursday night. The bar was already hopping and by the time we left the restaurant was packed. A bit loud, but buzzing with energy and happy eaters.
We started with drinks from the happy hour list and were impressed by the complexity of flavors and balanced hand of the mixologists. We then ordered the much touted bacon jam and egg dish, which was delectable-a perfectly poached egg paired with a sweet and savory chutney that made the mouth water. The marrow and clams were wonderful as well. We enjoyed the sweet broth, ocean salty but totally tender clams and indulgent marrow. A side of carrots three ways was pleasingly sweet and buttery with that slight bitterness of a fresh carrot. And our entrees, the deconstructed cubano and the corn fungus ravioli were perfect. I can speak personally to the wonderful warm and earthy richness of the pasta and highly recommend it!
We had a couple more drinks, coffee and an indulgent pumpkin dessert dish too. All told our 2 entrees, 3 apps, 4 drinks, coffee and dessert came in under $150, which I think is a steal for deliciously crafted food and drinks. Our bellies were full, our tastebuds were happy and after a sh*t-day at work, it was the perfect release.
I should also mention the staff, who got some rough feedback in other reviews. Everyone was a delight. The bartenders happily answered our questions. Our waitress was a delight. The chef stopped by our table to chat and everyone indulged us in our request to peruse their copy of a much coveted book series on cuisine.
We'll be back for certain!
Apparently, there is such a thing as 'art food.'
Their menu is anything but ordinary; from the delicious Bacon Jam and Egg concoction to the more-than-amazing Indian Chicken entree, you're in for a big surprise whenever they come out with some of the best dish presentations you'll ever see.
Drinks weren't bad -- nicely priced for happy hour, but with such great food, I felt they didn't do the dishes justice.
However, if you're tired tacos, pizza, and Chinese food joints saturated about town, I highly recommend giving The Populist a try. The food will blow your mind.
I went to the Populist a week ago and it is seriously one of the best places I have been this year! Â Plain and simple the crew at Populist don't make food they are creating ART. Â I was with a group of friends so I was able to try almost everything on the menu. Â
The bacon and egg was absolutely stunning a nice bacon mapley jam with a perfectly poached egg on top served with toasty bread with just the slightest piece of bacon lard.  Another one of my favorit dishes was the chicken liver mousse with dark chocolate and cranberry.  The mousse was smooth and the cranberry and chocolate added the perfect amount of  sweet and tart to the dish.  I also really liked the sausage and beet spetzel.  And the marrow and clams.  For dessert we tried the carrot cake which had a really tasty orange frosting and the chocolate ganache was absolutely divine with the right amount of sea salt and citrus on the plate. Â
I wish the Populist was in NYC so I could visit it more often.
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