Columbine Steak House & Lounge — Restaurant in Denver

This one is tough to rate. I pride myself on taking emotion out of my reviews and just being honest. I want my reviews to give value. So here’s the skinny… Husband is on the carnivore diet, son has many food allergies. We were on the west side of town and I found this place with great reviews so we went. Upon entering the confusion was king. There’s a grill and people standing about. They were waiting in line. To order? To get their food? We had to ask. There is no server in the dining room, only the bar. ??? You order at the grill and then I guess stand in front of the door cuz you’re afraid someone is going to get your food, meaning it challenging for folks to get in the door. It’s a peeve of mine to walk into an establishment and a) not be greeted and b) be met with blank stares when you’re obviously confused and when you ask. So we went into the bar where we weren’t really acknowledged so we just picked a place and sat down. The menu is basic. And it turned out, so was the food. So basic there was zero seasoning on anything. The salad was drowned in dressing before it arrived and I could barely eat any of it. The Texas toast looked delightful but, so bland and dry it was like eating cardboard. As were the steaks. I asked for mine medium and most of it was rare. My guys ate theirs because they were starving but none of them were even salt and peppered!! I don’t know how the reviews are so good honestly. I was born in the Midwest and grew up in a tiny town in the mountains, working at my grandparents little restaurant and love small, family owned businesses, diners and restaurants. We walked in fully expecting to love everything about the Columbine. The only enjoyable things at all was spending time together and Jennifer the server/bartender. She ended up being just delightful! If we drank, we would go back and have a beer at the bar and chat with her but we don’t so we won’t be back. I honestly can’t recommend anything about the place but Jennifer. It was also freezing in there and we all kept...

Steaks done right! Basic and delicious, affordable and fresh, Columbine Steak House has a business model that has been the same for decades and could possibly be the best bang for the buck in all of Metro Denver. Steaks that are the main focus and the star of the show perfectly prepared shiningstars, with a supporting cast of baked potatoes that are perfectly done and served with only basics of ice cold fresh sour cream, smooth rich butter and salt and pepper wrapped in tin foil that is the perfect wardrobe for a delicious costar to the opera of old fashioned quality without gimmicks or frills. "Bakers" could be a star of any block buster all by themselves. Salads of legend served ice cold with crisp, perfectly portioned, fresh vegetables that somehow are set in a wooden bowl that highlights the deep character of the simple greens properly portrayed freshness supporting role. Rounding out the cast of legendary stars is the unsung hero of a dramatic festival of flavor and taste of Americana - the always popular Texas toast. Butter dipped and flat top toasted with the same suculanty smooth rich buttery delight as thier potatoe cast mate. Beautiful and delightful, bravo to the director of hometown honest food with a price of admission that is baffling as refreshing like the Coca-Cola extra that adds to the perfection of Columbine's performance that costs a $20spot. Cold hard cash is the king of tickets to culinary simplicity that is worth maxing the credit card for, but the basic plot of the ownerships "west side of Denver story" isn't card swiping or phone tapping to pay with complicated devices, here at Columbine Steak House only cash is accepted for a standing ovation of quality, freshness, and outstanding experience of a lifetime, every night. A true blockbuster, so come with cash, an appetite and experience the legend. BRAVO...

We ordered the porter house W/ baked potato and a steak sandwich with fries, both with side salad.

The good:

The steak was cooked perfectly, super juicy and plenty of flavor. The baked potatoe was great too.

The steak sandwich was also very delicious. Not dry or overcooked, as steak like that often can come (from past experiences at other places).

The not so good:

The fries were piping hot, but definitely taken out of the dryer a good solid minute, minute and a half early... Making them soggy. (I should note that on our way out, we both noticed other plates that had MUCH better looking fries. Just a bad break? Likely.

Please note:

When you walk in the door from the side with the menu above the cooks, that side is considered self serve. Get your sides, sit down and they will either call your name or bring it to your table. And the other side ("the lounge") is full service like a typical restaurant.

We didn't know this and the booths over there looked a little more inviting. After we ordered the food from the self service side, we tossed a few singles in the tip jar and walked into the lounge area to sit down. One gentleman mentioned once we sat down, how it's supposed to work. Not rude by any means. But rather explained for future reference. We apologized and explained it was our first time. He said no worries, you're going to love it. And for the vast majority, we totally did!

Only other gripe, was being that we sat ourselves in the full service side (with waters and a sprite I should also add), we were completely ignored by the staff on that side. Feeling bad, I would have got a drink just for that reason, but the opportunity never presented itself. Nonetheless we left a small tip for the table cleanup and went on our way.

We'll likely be back... That steak...