Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse — Restaurant in Castle Rock

Well, my dear readers, I must begin by confessing that my optimism for this establishment had the resilience of a rubber ball. This was, in fact, my second rendezvous with destiny at this locale, a second chance bestowed upon it in hopes of redemption. Alas, my expectations were left hanging like a poorly timed punchline in a stand-up comedy routine.

Our inaugural visit, I must concede, introduced us to a cavalcade of issues that included a conspicuous lack of attentiveness, passion, service, and the fabled hospitality one anticipates. Nonetheless, we summoned the courage to return, only to find that the sequel was destined to be worse than the original.

Upon arrival, our party was graciously escorted to a seating area that resembled a lounge, albeit one adorned with garish, child-sized purple seats that seemed as though they had been pilfered from the set of a whimsical children's show. Undeterred, we settled in, our hearts aflutter with the promise of culinary delights.

Ten minutes, my friends, we waited for a server to grace our table with their presence. Granted, we understood that the establishment was bustling with activity, but patience can only stretch so far. Fortune favored us with not one, but two servers, like the culinary equivalent of a superhero duo.

Server 1, he/him in the annals of our restaurant saga, bestowed upon us menus and inquired about our beverage preferences. In response, we conveyed our desires with a sense of hope that bordered on desperation. Enter Server 2, she/her, who arrived on the scene with the air of someone embarking on an epic quest. "Drinks," she inquired, oblivious to the fact that Server 1 had already embarked on this perilous journey. We reassured her, "Fear not fair maiden, for we have already dispatched our drink order."

With our libations settled, we expressed our readiness to explore the culinary landscape, for we were a family on a mission, seeking naught but appetizers to commence our communal feast. Nachos, wings, and pretzels with cheese – simple fare, one might think. Yet, the hands of fate seemed determined to test our resolve.

Time marched on, as did our conversation, albeit punctuated with longing glances towards neighboring tables. A disconcerting observation gradually unfolded before our eyes – a procession of culinary creations, wings, burgers, and pretzels galore, all triumphantly arriving at the tables surrounding our enclave.

Now, dear reader, let me elucidate the true conundrum. We had graced this establishment with our presence before any of these other patrons, and yet, their orders had been fulfilled with the speed of a sprinter dashing for Olympic glory. In our corner of the "lounge area," frustration began to simmer.

It was at this juncture, my comrades in culinary tribulation, that my beloved spouse declared, "Let's depart this realm of culinary limbo." A full 25 minutes had elapsed, and our patience, much like a well-done steak, had been thoroughly overcooked.

Summoning Server 2, I dared to venture, "Dear server, we arrived here before these good souls, and yet their meals have materialized before ours." She nodded, presumably grasping the gravity of the situation, and embarked on a quest of her own to ascertain the status of our sustenance.

Minutes unfurled like an unraveled scroll, and she returned with assurances that our repast was imminent. In an act of culinary optimism, my wife initiated a countdown, setting a timer for five minutes. Eight minutes later, the hourglass had emptied, but our table remained barren of sustenance.

Imagine, if you will, the tableau before me – fellow diners reveling in their victuals while my own offspring's stomach emitted sounds akin to a grumbling volcano. It was, my dear readers, an untenable situation.

This narrative, dear readers, is not intended as a mere diatribe, but rather a cautionary tale. For the food, let it be known, possesses merit, but merit alone is insufficient to justify a sojourn of 50 minutes or more, particularly when it's accompanied by service that borders on...

🫥Disappointing Experience Despite Planning Ahead

Yesterday, we dined at Great Divide with a group of about twelve people. We had made our reservation more than a week in advance, hoping to ensure a smooth visit. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, the experience was unnecessarily frustrating and fell far short of what I’d expect from an established restaurant.

As someone with dietary restrictions, I try to plan ahead to avoid putting staff on the spot. Before our visit, I checked Great Divide’s website and tried calling to confirm gluten-free and dairy-free options. I was assured over the phone that the in-person menu would clearly list allergens and that the waitstaff was experienced and could answer questions easily.

However, upon arrival, our tables were not ready, despite the reservation. We had to wait for extra seating to be added after being initially seated—which, as anyone dining with kids knows, is not a small inconvenience.

Once we settled in, I asked our server about gluten-free options, since the menu (both online and in-person) offered no allergen details. Her response was, “I don’t know gluten. I’m not a gluten person.” She seemed confused and even slightly annoyed that I was asking, despite the assurances I’d received on the phone. She then had to go speak to the kitchen. Which is fine but that is also what I had asked to do / tried to do several times prior to being there and was brushed off and told that everything would be ready and clear when we arrived.

Beyond the dietary confusion, service overall was VERY slow. It took nearly 40 minutes just to receive drinks, and even longer for some who ordered simple items like lemonade. Meanwhile, no manager ever came by to check on us or address the clear issues, despite being made aware that our group was agitated.

When the food finally arrived, my meal (the half bird) was disappointingly underseasoned and completely lacking flavor.

I truly believe Great Divide could do better. My advice to management: • Support your staff so they’re equipped to handle large parties confidently, especially regarding dietary questions. • Consider assigning a second server for big groups to reduce stress and long wait times. • Provide clearer allergen information on your menu to avoid confusion and help guests with food sensitivities feel safe and welcome. • Have management check in proactively when significant delays or issues arise.

We were looking forward to a pleasant outing, and it’s unfortunate that a situation that could have been easily managed became so stressful. I hope Great Divide takes this feedback to heart and improves both their service and guest experience.

TL;DR: large group tables not ready despite a reservation, extremely slow service, staff unprepared for group size and food allergy questions even though I called ahead, no manager checked in even after waiting over 30 min for drinks and food was bland. A frustrating experience that should have...

We arrived before the lunch rush and had excellent service to start. Kristine was our server, and she was friendly and prompt. We ordered an appetizer (Fried pickles) and our main entrees. Our pickles came out quickly, and we watched as the place began to fill up with the lunch rush. About 35 minutes after finishing our appetizer, we realized that everyone seated after us had already received their meals. Kristine was not readily available, and we were now over 40 minutes after our appetizer. We asked our server why our food was so delayed, and she said it should be up shortly. She promptly disappeared to the kitchen for about 10 more minutes, and then we finally had our food 50 minutes after our appetizer and after all the other patrons were now boxing up their meals and paying their bills. My daughter ordered a salad and added the chicken. The salad was tiny, and the chicken was so overcooked it was unedible, chewy, and super dry. We complained about the chicken and she removed that from our bill. I ordered the short-rib enchiladas, but the Brussels Sprouts that accompanied them were over-salted, so much so you could see the salt, and they were unedible. The Turkey melt was great, but the fries were cold and not fresh. The ½ pound burger was more like a ¼ pound burger and very dry. I wanted to like this place because the menu was extensive and looked good, but you have to have good service and great food with the prices you pay and the options you have in Downtown Castle Rock. The manager (or what I assumed to be the manager) was walking back and forth in front of the bar most of the time, but when we looked for him upon our departure to give him feedback, he was nowhere to be found. I’m not sure what delayed our food – I assumed that the server either forgot to add in our lunch order after she placed our appetizer order or the kitchen messed up. Still, either way, the server should have sent the manager over to explain the situation and apologize. There was never an apology for the delay or an acknowledgment of the issue from her or anyone else. Our experience was unacceptable, and why I had to write...