I have been to this Tavern once for brunch once and it was decent enough with its bottomless mimosas & bloody bar, but after going here for late night dinner my opinion of this place totally changed and we probably won't be back.
For dinner, everything was average bar food. They do have gluten free burger buns which is nice, but they are super dense. They are like a heavy spongebread so they take a lot of room up in your stomach, although they do taste ok. They also label anything fried as non-GF because they fry gluten containing things in their frier. It's nice that they warn you of this & are conscious of gluten contamination.
Where it gets bad is later at night. There were 4 of us, we were a very tame crowd (2 couples, 30s, 1 drink each, eating dinner not getting drunk) but around 9:30pm two different bouncers in a row came up to my husband and were unnecessarily aggressive out of nowhere, like they suspected us of potentially causing trouble. They said he must remove his fedora (which was white & preppy style BTW, not a gang color baseball hat), RIGHT NOW because it was against dress code. No introduction, no excuse me sorry to bother you blah blah. They just interrupted our dinner mid conversation, called my husband "bro" like 5 times, and were very rude. They said there was a sign on the front door saying no hats "and that we should have known" but we checked later and there was no such sign. We looked around and there were 5 guys within view still wearing their hats. We never saw the bouncers approach them or be randomly hostile out of nowhere like he did with us. The second bouncer came back a few minutes later even more heated and argued with my husband, like his hat personally offended his morals or something. At this point we were paying our check and about to leave & he still insisted he take off his hat even though we'd be out the door within 5 minutes. It got so bad that our waitress and the bus boy both apologized to us.The whole scene was handled so poorly we were all shocked, and I was embarrassed I had taken my friends who were visiting from out of town to this place.
The location in downtown Littleton is nice with a rooftop patio (which is totally awesome). Unfortunately, every time I've been here the service has been sub-par.
Last time we went we sat up on the patio and asked if the kitchen was still open. We were told it was and got a menu and although what seemed to be our server was attentive to the table next to us, he literally seemed to be avoiding us. We had to flag him down for drinks, again to order, we were never checked on and had to go find him to get our check.
Terrible customer service for Mother's Day brunch. Â
My husband called 2 days in advance and was told that all the reservations were taken for brunch, but that the restaurant typically holds tables for walk-ins and if we were there right at 10 when it opened we would be likely to get a table. Â We were about the 5th group in line. Â And after each group walked in and walked right back out, we found out why. Â The hostess was extremely condescending to us that they were only taking parties with reservations that day. Â He explained the call earlier in the week. Â She said she was sorry, however it did not really sound like it. Â We left with our party of 6 and found great food and atmosphere elsewhere. Â
We will not be going back.
The best Tavern to go to due to its more chill croud. Happy hour specials are fantastic, and our server (Tyler) made sure we got another order in before it ended. Ordered a bunch of appetizers for the table and they were all good. $1 sliders were the highlight. Can't wait for patio drinking this summer!
Review Source:Out of all the Taverns in the Denver area, this one is by far the best. Â I'm sure that crowd isn't as cool as it is in other areas, but it is a conveniently located place that has pretty good food at reasonable prices.
The last few times I've been there, I've ordered the AI burger with crispy onion rings and it has been a good order each time. Â I usually suffer from order envy but not when I order this. Â
I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can go sit on the rooftop and enjoy a drink.
Came by for dinner after arriving in town, and wasn't exactly blown away. It seemed like a typical, maybe slightly above average bar. While the place is decorated nicely, the service was really lacking. After ordering our drinks, a new waitress came by and said she would be taking over...Oh joy. Before we had a chance to order an appetizer, she disappeared. It would be another 10-12 minutes and 1 beer later before we saw her again. When she finally did return she told us that the computers were down, I assume as an explanation for her poor service.
The disappearing act continued throughout dinner. The appetizer came out a few minutes before our entrees, and with the table already being super small, it made everything kind of awkward. Â
It seems like a fun place to watch a game or maybe check out  trivia night, but the food itself was pretty average.
And lastly, the valet parking on a Thursday night seemed a bit unnecessary.
This is one of my husband and my favorite local spots. Â They have an amazing happy hour that extends to 7 for those of us that work later hours, and there is always a fun atmosphere whenever we go! Â It is our #1 sports watching location. Â The sliders and pizza on the weekends are great bar food, and they are one of the only spots in the area that can make a great Moscow mule.
Review Source:Tried the Tavern in Historic Downtown Littleton and it is really good. Â Meet a friend for lunch and it was not too busy on Thursday at Noon. Â That was great because we wanted a quiet place so we could talk. Â The space is plush and contemporary with soft lighting. Â It was really cool that the booths have individual HDTV above them.
Our food was good too. Â Had the Tequila Chicken Salad and my friend got a cup of Beer Cheese Soup & a Philly Cheese Sandwich. Â Everything was excellent. Â Our tab was $26.48 with ice water so prices are moderate. Â
Parking is tough in Littleton so be sure and take advantage of the complementary valet parking behind the restaurant off Curtice St. Â There is even a back door straight from the parking lot into the restaurant so it is easy to get in out of the bad weather.
We dined here on a Sunday around 2pm, mostly to get Bloody Mary's ($4.50 each if the bartender makes them) and watch the Broncos game. The drinks were decent, but we missed out on the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar they have for brunch - it's available from 10am to 1pm, for $5.50 a drink. He ended up switching to Crown and Coke, and those seemed somewhat excessively priced at $7.50 each. The Bison Chili was amazing, which our rather helpful server allowed to be substituted as a side for a $1 upcharge. He got the A1 burger ($11.50), I got the chicken enchiladas ($11). My enchiladas were tasty and well-presented, and he did not say anything either way about his burger.
The food is comprised of quality ingredients, but still seems overpriced a bit. The atmosphere is pleasant, particularly with a roof that has a fireplace and a fireplace in the main dining area. Our server was very attentive.
This won't become a regular dinner spot for us, but we'll be back soon on a Saturday or Sunday for the Bloody Mary bar and maybe an appetizer.
Horrible experience at The Tavern. Â Had a party of seven and only once did two dishes come out together. Â There was at least a 25 minute lag between first and last person served. Â Food was so-so but service so bad. Â The waitress got one order wrong altogether and then started to argue that diner ordered wrong. Â
Will never return.
I give this place 3-stars simply because everything is OK. Nothing really exceeds my expectations and there isn't really anything that I find disappointing. Â They have good happy hour deals, decent service and I've never been unhappy with what I've ordered. I won't seek this place out as a place to go, but I won't be unhappy if a group of friends decides to meet there.
Review Source:I don't understand the bad reviews. I was just visiting Colorado, so it's probably the first and only time I will go there, but my experience was excellent.
The Good:
Pretzel rolls. Pretzel rolls. Pretzel rolls. Two big loaves of baked pretzel bread, hot and buttery, served with a horseradish mustard, and jack cheese dip. The horseradish mustard was SO good. Later I put some on my veggie burger! They also had the seasonal beer from the New Belgium Brewery, the Red Hoptober, which is awesome.
The Bad:
Any of the burgers can be made with a veggie burger. Great, right! They charge an extra $1.50 to use a Boca Burger. So, it costs an extra $1.50 to use a frozen Boca Burger Patty? I don't understand that at all. I ordered it, because I didn't have much choice, but that's pretty lame.
The Ugly:
Nothing!
Overall:
Clean, good service, lots of TV's, and a good place to hang out. I don't know if I will be in Littleton again, but I really enjoyed this place.
My husband and I had a great lunch at this place with the chicken wings... We could order as many as we wanted and 12 wings was only $7.50 as a special... We had great lemonades and they gave our dog biscuits and water... Great service... Next time I want to try the sliders as they sound good... We sat out on the front patio. Â We look forward to when we can return to try some other items on the menu.
Review Source:Wings with Asian sauce were awesome. 12 of them cost $7.20 today -- deal of the year. We brought our little dog along and the staff was very welcoming when we sat on the patio. The place is clean, cool, and welcoming. Service was attentive and friendly. I might even get to 5 stars if I eat here a few more times and try more of the menu. I want to come back.
Review Source:This place is amazing!
All the comforts of a down home bar and just steps from my front door!
Time to daydream..... picture this
You approach the nuvo design of the front of this building in the classic oldtown littleton area. A great feeling rushes in to your system and you are ready to relax, partake in some cool beverages, have some laughs and enjoy some not quite, but almost Chili'sesque food....  Pull the door open and you are greeted by a dark, bar-classic atmosphere. Standing directly in front of you, there are two lovely hostesses  deep within a text conversation with each other about the college drop-out bartender whom has promised each of these barely legals a night on the town in and around his bachelor pad in which he resides with his bro Steve. ..... Anyhow, you approach the host stand with a smile and ready to be seated in your home for the next few hours. It is a busy location, with desperate houswives and aspiring mixed martial artists floating about and you are hopeful a secluded seat is open within this glorious hole! One of the hostesess looks up from her phone and gives you a beautiful, blank stare! I'm talking the blank stare that can not possibly mean anything but there is a complete lack of computative or rational thought flowing behind those glitered up eyes! Now that's the kind of stare I can go home with!! Personal issues aside, you request a seat for two, and realize it is the happiest of hours, which means the bar area, which I am not sure in a place like this what is and isn't the bar area... but this 'area' is open seating! You must be sure you have properly learned your happy hour rules over the years of sudsy, grainy ryeish partial drowning, so you ask the hostess to confirm. She replies that you may sit anywhere you would like and smiles, again with that amazing blank stare!! I lead my lady friend past these mutts and spot the prefect booth! That kind of discovery is one of those occurances that could be easily compared to the first time you kissed a girl, the first time you fell in love, the first time you ignored the call of that escort you met in Reno and realized she most likely didn't have another quarter to call you back.... well, you get the point.
So yeah, it was a pretty key spot! My mamacita and I take a seat and wait for our servstress to arrive. While getting comfortable, I felt a pressence lurk up from behind me!! All of the sudden a large, large man leans over our table and looks at me and places his hand oh so gently upon my shoulder. I meet eyes with this statuesque, magnificent representation of a man whom should be the poster child for the failed abuse of roids... This sex-pistol of a man speaks to me the words of an angel..... 'Hey bud you are going to have to take your hat off after 10." I was left speechless! First of all, he knew that I love to be called bud by other fellas I don't know! Second of all, it was just approaching 7:00 P.M., so letting me know I must remove my derby 3 hours ahead of time was the most polite thing anyone has ever done for me!!! While standing back upright, Mr. doorguy glance over at my lady friend and gave her a wink! Her heart began to melt and I couldn't help but be jealous of how intoxicating this man of mans presence had been!
Moving on..... our next visit was from our freindly hostess we had met just moments before!! She gently whispered to us 'Did a hostess sit you here?'
I leaned near to Ms Hostess and said "oh you silly, we just walked in and talked to you! nevermind though, I know you are a busy busy girl here at the Tavern!" And she proceeded to tell us 'well, you have to move cause this is reserved.'
So we hence moved forth to the patio on the rooftop, a much better location in which we were able to smoke AND drink. On our way up to the patio, which was up a flight of gorgeously designed stairs, I was stopped by a man. This man was another of the fantastic door men, just as the fella whom I had the pleasure of meeting a few minutes prior. The next doorman, he placed his hand on my arm and said ' Hey guy, after 10, the hats gotta come off.' BRILLIANT!! I thought to myself, they are so very polite! Two men with the exact same concern for my cranial health!!
I realize I am running low on space to complete my fabulous review.... so short and sweet....... I have never attended such a lovely dump in my life!! The food reminds me of what I might get brought to my solitary cell, the drinks(minus the frozen delicious boozy fantastics) aren't enough to get a freshly born fetus tipsy, the staff is barely able to breath on their own let alone provide any sort of hospitality and the door guys..... canned from 24 hour fitness for groping women and being out of shape!! Go here.... or you might regret not getting to see the best bar I have ever black listed!!!
Awesome rooftop & outdoor patio?
CHECK!
Spacious & trendy bar?
CHECK!
Decent prices for drinks?
CHECK!
[however, the food is a little more expensive than it should be!]
Killer location?
CHECK!
Attentive & friendly staff?
CHECK!
Despite not being an avid Tavern lover, this place is my favorite location and check's all my boxes :)
Great waitress.
A hamburger that three football players and an equipment manager could eat and only need a small desert.
Great flavor. Great service.
A very nice surprise in Old Littleton. Do not confuse it with another restaurant called Gary's Old Town Tavern after the Cheers TV show.
This is just The Tavern on the North side of Littleton Blvd.
Enjoy.
Had a great night out with couples! Â We wanted to have dinner on the main level, but had a better time upstairs and canceled our table reservation. Â The food was fantastic. Â We had mac-n-cheese and fish and chips. Â Both were served gourmet style! Â Our bartender was on top of things and made sure we had everything we needed. Â Service was superb! Â I'm looking forward to more summer nights on the rooftop patio this year. Â It's nice having a great place so close to home without traveling to D-town.
Review Source:I feel like the Tavern in LoDo is kind of known for douche-baggery (and I'm not disputing that), so it gives other Taverns a bad name. Â Having recently moved down south, I actually really dig the one in Littleton! Â It's a great place for a sunny afternoon lunch on the patio (same set up as the one downtown more or less). Â Plus, any place that offers a sandwich in a pretzel bun is always good in my book.
That said, the reason I deducted a star is because the service kind of does suck. Â There's one waitress who is one of the more apathetic human beings I've ever met and she just always seems pissed at life. Â Last week I went with some friends and we had a super friendly waitress, but then she got EXTREMELY passive aggressive about not getting the check paid right away. Â Regardless of how friendly or not any particular server is, they're always kind of slow and are quick to neglect (think opposite of an 'up your ass' waiter....unless they want the check paid of course).
OH MY GOSH!! JEEZ LE WEEZ! GOOD GOLLY!! I went here for the first time on a Saturday night and I don't even know what to say. And I am never left speechless. I thought this place would be alot like the other Taverns, it was and it wasn't. The clientele at Tavern Littleton was how do I put it? Like a mixture or lonely sad housewives (not cougars) and if a correctional facility bus had stopped here for a bathroom break on the way to court and now their all hitting on each other. Now I know Littleton/ Englewood/Sheridan area is not let say Cherry Creek or even the Ranch but come on my fellow Engleites put on your good jeans if your going out.
It was the strangest crowd I have ever been involved in and I have been in some strange crowds.
Then to top it off I had to help the bartender pour my drink. 7 & 7 call does not mean 7 shots and no I did not tell her wrong. She then charged my credit card for 1 7 & 7. So I am up? But then she figured out what she had done. So now the kindly bartender girl gave me 7 shots with a tall 7 & 7. I am like how are I going to drink 7 shots, 1 7 & 7 and my sprite (seeing as I was the DD). So what do I do gave them to the first 7 people I found.
Upstairs bathroom sucked. Super small, 3 stalls and 1 air hand drier. Have you ever seen drunk women in high heels waiting for A hand drier. Just a clue: THEY DON'T!
I will go back during the summer months and see if it is any different from last night but I highly doubt it.
There's a reason I don't go to Lodo to drink- and this place sure felt like Lodo-meets-Littleton. So if you like a pretentious fancy-pant environment, hovering bouncers, and a less-than-special menu, go for it.
However, I am a firm believer in good/bad days, so it's entirely possible that there is a different vibe on a regular day of the week. My experience was on a September Saturday night at a friend's birthday party on a corner of the rooftop. The bar downstairs was virtually empty, but the rooftop was swimming with glitz and glazed-over jocks.
PROS: Love the fireplace on the rooftop. Overall the idea of the outdoor space was awesome, pity I couldn't enjoy it more because of all the bodies crammed up there.
CONS: Way too fancy, crowded, and overpriced. Service wasn't great, but it's not easy to weave through that many drunk orders either... especially when you probably aren't old enough to drink yourself.
SUMMARY: Any place that tells my buddies to take off their hats before they can come in the doors and then proceed to hover over our every move... watching... waiting... totally cramps my style.
The cup of chowder that arrived at the table was 1/2 full. Â The waiter shrugged us off and disregarded our complaint explaining that "it's always that way". Â The french dip was an insult even to the French. Â I lifted the bun to reveal an overcooked petite scoop of dried-up prime rib that didn't even reach the edge of the bun in any direction, was accompanied by cold au jus, and left it untouched. Â Calling the servings skimpy would be bragging.
Okay, I get it the business model. Â Focus on boozing up a bunch kids and food quality doesn't matter. Â Douse the plate in fries and portion doesn't matter.
As we walked to our car, (now there's a bouncer at the door) never to return here again, we were most struck by the noise level pouring out of this place that could be heard blocks away. Â Pity the other businesses nearby with outdoor patios and especially the local residents in the adjoining neighborhood for enduring the racket.
Not good Littleton City leaders, for letting this one in and spoiling a special historic downtown.
Bad food. Bad service. Bad neighbors.
I'm not normally the type of gal to belly up to the bar when I want a drink. I'm more of a sit in a dark corner and while the night away type. Â However, on my last trip to The Tavern in Littleton, I sat at the bar and I'm sure glad I did.
It's always a pleasure to watch someone who is astoundingly good at their job, and Simon the bartender is one such gent. Â I swear he has eyes in the back of his head and super-sonic hearing because nothing went unnoticed on his watch. Â
Our drinks and appetizers were delicious and the service was great from all sides. I have mixed feelings about other Tavern establishments around town, but the one in Littleton is very well run, and every server I encountered was busting their butt on a busy Friday night. The crowd makes for good people watching, and you don't feel like you are being overrun by frat boys or sloppy businessmen, like their other locations.
When I'm over in Littleton, I would definitely pick this place for a drink.
Pros: bottomless mimosas at brunch for $9.50 on Saturday and Sunday, free drinks for ladies after 9 on Thursdays, drink specials pretty much all the time, really good fries, lots of TVs if you're into sports, free valet parking (which you can also use for Kate's Wine Bar and Opus). I've never had bad service or a server with an attitude here.
Cons: I don't actually love their brunch offerings that much. The breakfast potatoes are kind of bland and dry, and the omelet filling selection is paltry. Mixed drinks can be pretty weak. Food is a bit pricey for what it is.
Bottom line: This is the place I go with my sister for ladies night or to kill time before meeting someone at a better nearby restaurant/bar.
I'm actually shocked this place has such a horrible rating; we went with a group on the recommendation of friends who live a few blocks away, and LOVED it.
The vibe? Â Manages to be urban and cool despite the location in kind of suburbia. Â The rooftop bar is fantastic in the summer, and the combination of umbrellas and spritzers keeps it cool.
The food? Great. Â I had the enchiladas, and while bar food/not Mexican restaurant enchiladas can be sketchy, these were great. Â Most of the table went with burgers and everyone liked them. That said, the Mile High burger is ridiculously huge. Â Don't order it on accident. Â The fries and sweet potato fries were good as well. Â Servings were definitely generous.
The drinks?  Good as well.  They have a nice selection of wine and (largely local!) beer.  The mixed drink menu is good as well, and my fiancé said the mint julep was delicious.  One friend had a strange experience trying to order a whiskey straight up, but I feel like thie was an anomaly.
The service? Â Other than the whiskey strangeness, great. Â Our waitress was busy but kept us in drinks and water and kept the table clear. Â She was also helpful when we had complicated check-splitting requests.
Very much recommended. Â I wish I lived closer.
Updated 10/8/11 - Â I am gratified to see the Tavern less popular all the time. Went by Friday night and it was at best half full, while Merle's across the street had a waiting list. The novelty is wearing off - and folks are realizing the Tavern offers over priced mediocrity. I still can't believe they require you tender a credit card to dine...that does not go over well with the over 30 crowd. As my father would say - "I don't go to dinner to be treated like a criminal."
Littleton has too many better choices to patronize this place. I still love those damn pork sliders though. If I could bring a growler from the Old Mill and sit on the Tavern's deck chowing sliders life would be good.
Original review:
I learned the Tavern was coming to Littleton I wrote an email to the owners suggesting that if it was operated in the manner of their other establishments they would not last long in our town. The Tavern chain of bar/restaurants are over-priced meat markets. I detest being treated like a college student in a tie-dye, asked for a credit card to run a tab, even when ordering food and seated at a table  But I guess when your restaurants suck so bad and are such a rip-off lots of people walk out on the tab. I also suggested that in Littleton they would have to offer a better beer selection than the usual mega-brew swill. I was impressed that I received a reply to my email, in which the owner stated they would not be treating customers like criminals and that the beer selection would be better in Littleton. He lied.
That said, I wanted to hate this place, I really did. I love Merles and the Olde Mill. But I have to admit - the building is gorgeous. The upper deck is terrific, I love the fireplace and mountain views. I am addicted to those damn pork sliders. Most of the staff I have interacted with are at least pleasant and some are down right nice. The place is packed all the time...so far. BUT - the prices are ridiculous, the beer selection is lame, the food is mostly average. The crowd is not the beautiful young set found downtown, it is older, heavier and many should be wearing more and showing less, I was having Jersey Shore flashbacks. Parking is a nightmare if you are not a local and privy to the secret places to stash your vehicle. It will be interesting to see what the crowd is like on a November evening when the novelty wears off.
I hope the place goes belly-up and the owners of Merles take it over. They have better food, better beer and lower prices. In the meantime I will hit happy hour once in a while and gobble a trio of those sliders.
Agree with the beer selection and prices. $5.50 for a local micro brew? The selection on draft of what they call "craft" beers is underwhelming. We didn't eat there, but based on the bar prices, doubt I'd go there for dinner.
On the positive side, if you want to watch a game, there are TVs all over the place, so you're never very far from the TV. Don't think I'd like that for a dinner experience though.
You are paying high prices for the talent level of the wait and hostessing staff (Which is choice grade not prime anyway). The beer selection is HORRIBLE for a bar. 6 beers on draught one of them is PBR? Give me a break.
In two tries they couldn't make me a medium rare burger, it didn't matter since Red Robin makes a significantly better burger and that's a chain. The menu is unimaginative food which is hard to categorize.
It's not a place to go drink since their beer selection sucks, and its not a place to go eat since their menu is scattered and not good - so why would you come here? It's Littleton, not Denver - you aren't going to start off your night at The Tavern and hop over to Merle's unless your life is a sad sad place which you can't escape from.
This place is a hop skip and a jump from Opus - which is 2x as expensive and 10x as good.
Pass, you'll thank me.
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