Jungle — Restaurant in Boulder

Before my first time visiting Jungle yesterday I read a pretty decent number of mixed reviews. Some people complained about the drinks being underpowered and over iced, some said the food/service was not all that great. I went in with an open mind and sat at the bar to see if this new haunt could live up to the hype I experienced when first looking at the drink menu (and instagram photos!)

I will first say, I'm a bit biased: tiki drinks are my guilty pleasure. When I first saw the specialty drink menu I started doing the math on how much it would cost to order ALL THE THINGS. $12 for a gorgeously presented handcrafted tropical cocktail is a pretty middle of the road price. (I was just paying $17 at a speakeasy in Seattle and $14-18 at Trader Sam's at a Disney resort in Orlando)

I came with a friend and between the 2 of us we had 6 drinks: each one was a winner. Sitting at the bar allowed me to watch them being created and despite the other reviews of "underpowered and over iced" I saw that they were in fact all thoughtfully measured. Certain drinks did have large amounts of ice added at the end to keep the specialty mug cool. (Rock Out With Your Conch Out was dazzling and, of course, my first choice) Everyone has different tastes so exploration is definitely encouraged. I was secretly judging the guys next to us at the bar who kept ordering rounds of mai tais while I was presented with a foot tall flaming parrot mug.

So how about the food? I cheated a bit and found the winners in reviews beforehand. The curried yam fries, luau pork sandwich and fried plantains were all perfection. I would recommend each of these dishes with zero hesitation. (Ask for extra sauce with the fries!) My best indicator of how great a dish is happened naturally: One bite of that juicy pork sandwich and I was cursing quietly under my breath. (my mouth is watering again as I type this out)

I thought the atmosphere/decor was great too. Some people complained about it "not being tropical enough" but, like the cocktails I tried, it seemed rather balanced. Expect some lush green mixed with wood grain around the space. Indoor and outdoor seating was available. At first I was a little disappointed that they were playing reggae over more stereotypical polynesian style music but then I noticed THEY WERE ACTUALLY PLAYING RECORDS behind the bar. Who does that?! Absolute respect. Our bartender was friendly, helpful and attentive despite being rather busy with a Saturday night full house.

I for one am super happy to have Jungle here in downtown Boulder despite the havoc it may wreck on my low carb diet. I will be recommending it to all the locals and dragging along any friends who come to visit from out of town. The sign outside said it perfectly: when you step inside Jungle you are on vacation. Put on your favorite hawaiian shirt and go enjoy your holiday!

Chic décor · Friendly bartenders · Fun atmosphere · Stylish interior · Great food · Hip atmosphere ·...

Went here on a Friday night date with my wife. The first thing we noticed was how loud it was. It was difficult to hear each other without yelling. Their cocktails looked great, but I didn’t want to drink tonight. My wife ordered a cocktail that she liked, and I told the server that I was fine with the water she had already brought me. Despite that, she still demanded my ID. When I questioned her about it, she said “just in case you decide to try her drink,” as if I need a babysitter. I told her I wouldn’t be doing that, but she still demanded my ID. That’s the first time I’ve been IDed for a water, and hopefully it’ll be the last, as I won’t be coming back to this joke of a tiki bar. When we finally got our drink, we closed out and left for Avanti where we ordered food—and a water—without being profiled and IDed.

UPDATE (regarding owner's response) I’d like to clarify a few points. The noise issue wasn’t limited to the community table; it was loud throughout the entire space. While I understand that tiki bars can have a lively atmosphere, other tiki bars I’ve visited have managed to incorporate better sound absorption to create a more enjoyable experience without sacrificing energy.

Regarding the ID policy, I completely understand the need to be cautious in a college town and the potential consequences of failing a sting. However, there’s no explicit obligation to check the ID of someone who isn’t ordering a drink. If your establishment is strictly 21+ and IDs are checked at the door, that’s a different story, but that wasn’t the case here. Moreover, I wasn’t asked for an ID when I first arrived, so if the concern was underage drinking, there was already a gap in your protocol.

The server’s approach was what made the interaction uncomfortable. Instead of explaining that it was a universal policy to ID everyone, she speculated that I might drink from my wife’s cocktail. This assumption felt invasive and unnecessary, particularly when I had clearly stated I wasn’t drinking that night. If there’s a blanket policy requiring everyone to show ID regardless of whether they’re ordering alcohol, I would have appreciated being informed of this upfront.

As a privacy advocate, I believe it’s important for businesses to respect their patrons’ choices. Some people simply choose not to drink, and it’s important to approach such situations with understanding rather than speculation. Being asked for an ID when all I wanted was water is not something I’ve experienced anywhere else. Clear communication, consistent policies, and a respect for personal choices would go a long way in preventing...

Visited the Jungle last night and don't even know where to begin. It was amazing! We started out with a couple of cocktails which were unique and delicious (word of warning, this is a Tiki bar, the cocktails are tropical and fairly sweet. Not all of them are the cloying sweet of a cheap frozen daiquiri, but they will inherently be sweeter than your typical classic cocktails). Next, as an appetizer, we started with the Jamaican Beef Patty which was insanely good. The only thing I have had which is even close is a Samosa. The Beef Patty though, is a crispy golden pocket of goodness filled with delicious, moist ground beef and a nice spicy aioli sauce - word of caution, this dish is spicy, it was a 4 .5 on a scale hotness scale of 1-10. We also ordered the chicken sandwich, which was perfectly done, crispy chicken, tender on the inside, perfect pickle, soft bun. Also ordered the fries which were just textbook perfect - golden and crispy outside, nice soft potato goodness inside. We got them Cuban Style, which was nicely balanced spices and a side of aioli. Also need to say, we ordered a second Jamaican Beef Patty for dinner, because, it was just that good. We visited in mid December, so the patio was not open. The restaurant itself is a bit small, but they have made excellent use of the space - expect community seating in a welcoming, happy atmosphere. As a bonus, the music played is actually coming from a record player, they are spinning vinyl. Something about that makes me love this place even more! Overall, excellent food, fun atmosphere, friendly, helpful staff, and creative, tasty Tiki cocktails - make Jungle your next delicious mini adventure, you won't be...