Ay Papi — Restaurant in Denver

Four of us went to Ay Papi for drinks before dinner reservations elsewhere. We were (just) able to walk in at 6pm on a Saturday, no reservation, so that wasn't too bad.

DRINKS:

Some fine rum-forward drinks. I had a couple of versions of a mojito. We also had at the table a fantastic daiquiri, good cuba libres; a very rummy rum old fashioned, and a few others. Everything was quite tasty -- the drinks are the stars here.

FOOD:

The food menu is pretty limited, and little of it seemed the natural small plate sort of thing. We did order one of their cubano sandwiches and asked to have it cut in four pieces, and it was very good.

AMBIANCE:

On the up side, lots of white paint and long skylight give the whole interior a bright, airy feel. That's good, because the building is quite narrow, with bar on one side and small tables on the other and a tight passageway between them. When the place is crowded, it can get a little claustrophobic, even if well lit.

Along with that is the sound level, which definitely hits the "loud" level -- but at our tiny four-top, we were able to converse comfortably, so it wasn't too bad.

Nice, up-beat Latin music in the background was marred by the blown speaker buzzing and bumping overhead.

In addition to the interior, the patio area is chock-a-block with more tables. .

SERVICE:

Our server was attentive without being pushy, and got us everything we asked for. Of course, we were sitting in the back, near the POS station, so she couldn't exactly avoid us, but she did a fine job.

(Note: the bar charges a standard 20% service charge; any tipping beyond that is at the diner's discretion. I had no hesitation adding to the tip.)

NET-NET: A fun place for good drinks and, if that's what you are looking for, some tasty sandwiches. Not quite my cuppa, so I don't know that I'll be back, but that's because of what I'm looking for, not because of what Ay Papi pretty...

Yesterday I suffered one of the most racist acts I have ever experienced in my life in this place I have nothing bad to say about the place other than to throw one of the bartenders who was literally rude and disrespectful from the first second he saw me and my friends he sold a drink to my friends WITHOUT ASKING THEM FOR ID and when I asked I asked me for mine like every protocol of each bar I give him my ID and he simply told me that my ID was false just because it is a foreign ID , he treated me so badly that he wouldn’t let me talk or order my drink ANYTHING, I use my ID for absolutely everything, who thinks to tell me it’s fake? When one of my friends tries to tell me “just ignore him” he immediately gets upset and starts telling him to leave the bar just for that!!!

The guy is totally out of place of what you really should be doing, at no time did he treat us well he just saw us badly and talked to us in an arrogant and rude way, I’m more than sure he was drunk! I was even afraid to put this review because sometimes there are such bad people in the world and I know it was racism because I also saw him treating two Mexican girls badly, they shouldn’t have people of that level in such an elegant bar!! Disgust is what gives...

After a prior incident where we arrived for a reservation made through OpenTable only to find the restaurant closed, we decided to give it another chance. Unfortunately, the experience did not improve.

Although OpenTable consistently shows availability for every time slot, upon arrival, we were informed there would be a wait of over an hour. This discrepancy between availability and actual wait times was frustrating and misleading.

Moreover, the service was subpar. The staff was notably unwelcoming and inattentive, which created an unpleasant atmosphere. While I understand that restaurants can get busy, basic courtesy and acknowledgment of patrons are essential to providing a positive dining experience.

Additionally, the menu online did not align with the options available in the restaurant. Two items I had specifically planned to order were no longer offered, though they remained listed on the in-person menu. This inconsistency suggests a lack of proper management and attention to detail.

Based on these repeated issues, I regrettably will not be returning. There are many other dining establishments in the area that prioritize customer experience and operational efficiency. Do yourself a favor and pass...