Charlie Brown's Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Denver

I visited Charlie Brown’s on a busy Friday after the 4th of July, and it was during what I guess is their well sought after free “pig” roast night. I recently moved to Capitol Hill from Breckenridge to work for a non-profit organization and do graduate research in the field of sustainability and I had gotten word of the classic old haunt known as Charlie Brown’s. With it being walking distance from my new home, I was excited to try it out and toast to my new job. I checked out the menu ahead of time, settled on dinner plans, and set out for my walk to the restaurant.

I am African American, and as soon as I arrived in the door, I was treated by what I think were two waitresses, like I was homeless and had just wondered in off the streets from the park adjacent. Even though I was dressed cleanly, spoke eloquently, and had my hair nicely arranged, I was treated like I should not have come and could not afford to pay.

I came alone and just asked to sit at the bar since it was so busy with it being a Friday and a holiday weekend. Like I mentioned previously, I came for dinner off of the menu, not for the gaudily banner advertised, “free pig”, that was being passed around like it was the last supper. I sat down at the bar and the brunette waitress behind the bar with glasses and hair in a bun or pulled back did not even offer me a menu or any of the coveted “free pig”. Everyone around me of course was offered plate after plate of the stuff; but they also were not African American.

When I sat down, I ordered a drink from the brunette waitress and immediately pulled out my wallet, ready to provide an ID or a card to start a tab if needed. I thought me pulling out my wallet signified I willing and able to pay, but I was treated otherwise by the female bar tender.

Luckily, there also was a dark-haired gentleman behind the bar and he offered me some of the “free pig”. After I finished the “pig”, the brunette took my plate without asking if I wanted more pig, or anything else for that matter, but it was a buffet for others. I actually did not want more pig because I wanted to order off of the menu, but it would have been to have been asked since everyone else was. I was treated like I could not afford the menu and was rushed out like I came for the free pig. I ended up eating dinner elsewhere, and I’m sure the restaurant did not miss the measly $50 I would have spent on dinner, but it was a sad experience for me and turned me off from patronizing the place even though I live right down the street.

I find it funny though that the waitresses who work in a restaurant attached to a hostel full of low-income housing where they refer to their popular dish as the charmingly trailer-trash colloquial “pig” instead of pork would have the nerve to turn a nose up at someone coming in to patronize the place. In fact, the staff looks like they themselves commuted here to Capitol Hill from some far-off rural trailer park, and brought their closed mindedness with them. Places like this are what keep holding this country back.

I will give the staff the benefit of the doubt and say perhaps they treated me like I was homeless is because I arrived wearing track suit and workout shoes since I walked there. My mistake, but I did not think a restaurant that advertised, “free pig roast…. while it lasts” on a huge, colorful banner out front of their restaurant had much of a dress code. Plus, the hippie Caucasian people sitting next to me with the piercings, tattoos, and colorful hair, were dressed similarly, (actually they looked homeless), but they were not treated the way I was. The dark-haired guy behind the bar was cool...

I will preface this with the fact that I make drinks for a living. I am giving this a 1 because there aren't many on here. I have been to Charlie Brown's many times and have always been ok with the mediocre service and all around old bar vibes. But I have had a few bad experiences that constitute the 1...

Last night I was rushing to meet some friends and cut my nose shaving. The first thing the bartender said was "ok, whats the deal with the bloody nose." Pretty understandable thing to ask. I explained, he didn't listen too well and to my conclusion took it that I was in a fight or something. I asked him if happy hour was still going on. He said yes, so I ordered a white russian, and then a gin and ginger for my lady. When I was surprised that i only got one white russian instead of two and the bill was actually 3 dollars more than expected, he explained that it is hard for him to hear me with that fing tissue in my nose and I should speak up. I paid the bill and didn't leave a tip. He implied that we should sit somewhere else which we were about to do anyways. As I walked away he said thanks. And then "NO REALLY, THANKS BUDDY!" We had a seat with friends who were drinking up the bar for a friends birthday and found that our gin and ginger probably had about a 1/4 of a shot in it. I took it back and said, "hey man, this is weak." He replied, "You know what is weak...your fing tip."

This is the first time since high school that I haven't tipped a bartender. This is the first google review I have ever given. Yes, people can be difficult, but please don't be prejudice to someone who is potentially hurt. I am sure he was having a bad night took it out on me. Either way. I thought this story was worth sharing and also pretty hilarious.

Charlie Brown's, you should find some better people, you are better than this dude. I've worked in the irishist of bars with bartenders that had tempers that would destroy this childish man, but they would never treat someone unkind because he had a...

This place may have changed my life forever.

I went here with some friends for the first time last week, and everything about my experience was superb. The food is great, with many options to choose from and fairly priced. The drinks are exactly what I'd want in a bar - Simple, full of personality, and very affordable.

But what really makes this place so excellent is the atmosphere. Starting with the piano bar karaoke, it's hard not to have the time of your life singing along to incredibly talented pianists (Shoutout John and Tanya). From Rat Pack classics to modern day ballads, they have a song for everyone. The crowd is so supportive, tapping their foot/clapping along with the song, and applauding after every singer. It makes everyone feel like a modern day Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald. Even professional opera singers, crooners, and thespians were in there. Felt like a Broadway show from 4 feet away.

The leather seating, beguiling lighting, and sunken bar gives the feeling that you're in one of the most special places in Denver. And in fact you might be. Even in the 1940s, Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady stayed here and wrote portions of On The Road in this building, basing one of their characters off the bartender at the time.

I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I've been here once and I think it's already my favorite bar in Denver after living here for 5 years. I will be frequenting this place to make up for the past...