Jerusalem Restaurant — Restaurant in Denver

I have had this restaurant a dozen times. Each occasion getting less and less like they care about not only the food they put out but the customers satisfaction. Very busy restaurant so to be patient when picking up your order is needed. With saying that we've had multiple times where we are sitting outside in our car waiting on the order that was already called in well over the time it takes. My husband only had hundred dollar bills and the parking is terrible always. So I had to drive around looking for a parking spot while they took 40 min on our already called in order. My husband left his debit card in the car which is why he used cash. We had an almost $50 order and the man at the register couldnt figure out how to give him change back and told my husband most people use cards. Well most restaurants have adequate parking thus preventing a wife circling the block trying to park. Hense a husband accidentally leaving his debit card in the car needing to then use cash. But instead of using common sense to give adequate change back he tried to short my husband 2 dollars in change back so as to not have to short himself and his drawer. All because a business didn't have enough money or the right money in the register. I mean we are just customers so short us dollars, or yes reheat food that your business made actually hours ago, or pita "bread" (more like thinner than actual tortillas that your business made in the early morning most likely). Our meal was at about 9pm Friday night. Who cares about 1 customers displeasement, mostly college kids come in and locals who love the convenience of the location, the dishes when they are fresh. So I know I'm only 1 customer. But it's been issue after issue over a long while. They have forgotten my husband's dessert, we never called about it because we didn't want to travel back to get items they had forgotten to pack in our order. My husband's chicken meal has had less and less amounts of chicken now 3 times. Plus very dry meat. Last night he ordered his chicken dish and I got Tabbouleh, and Fatouch Salad, plus 3 desserts. We received 1 thin, cracked, broken, supposed to be pita bread but was actually thinner than a regular tortilla. Both my salads were supposed to have pita bread with the orders, but doesn't specify just 1 singular pita bread with an order anyway. Let alone 1 singular pita bread with 3 menu items, 2 salads stating pita bread comes with and the Combination 'Super Dish' shows a pile of pita bread in the picture along with the pictures on the menu of pita bread for the salads. I'm writing all this in hopes the owners who have maybe grown accustom to the constant flow of customers fueling their business and most likely aren't concerned about a guy and his wife's complaints. We are a family of 7, who are all paying customers minus our youngest. We all like Jerusalem restaurant but the quality is failing most times than it has been fresh, and great. The skimping of portions has become a regular occurrence and again well over more times than not. Forgetting a dessert or a pita bread can happen once maybe. Giving 1 broken, thin, dry pita for 3 menu items is wrong and leads me to think your restaurant doesn't care about every customer experiencing good food they paid for by having all the orders items in every order. Or the convenience of carry out with their parking to the cashier rather shorting a customer $2 all because of not only no common sense but not being more apologetic for not having proper money to change in a hundred. And acting as if my husband was behind the times for not paying with a card when it all revolved around the no parking spots, it raining last night and he couldn't run back to get his card from the car. Overall quality down, proper quantity of meal down, customer service down, common sense to please a customer that just wants exactly what they paid for that's it, down. Just what the meal or order consists of, nothing more, nothing less. It's a customers choice to dine here unless it improves we will be done hoping it...

I really debated writing this review but after I had multiple terrible experiences with their catering services, I felt like it was important to let other people know that if you value your time and sanity, DO NOT ORDER CATERING HERE.

Within the past 2 weeks, I ordered catering twice for work. The first was for 100+ people for an event opening. I was ghosted by the catering person after multiple attempts to get in touch. I finally reached someone the morning of the event and they had absolutely no record of my order, anyone having notes to reach out to me, or any record of my call. I was now stuck holding the bag hours before a big event. An incredibly kind employee there handled the whole thing, despite it not being his problem to fix at all, and comped the pita and brought the food out to my car. This order was meant to be for delivery, so the set up for the event was still screwed but at least we got the order and it was right and this employee attempted to fix the mistakes made by others.

Now to today’s situation. I tried to place a catering order on Friday and was told the catering person would call me back. They didn’t. I called again and finally an employee managed to get someone to call me to take the catering order. This was delivery for Monday (today at 11:30) for a shiva (an event for mourners that happens after a funeral in Jewish communities). I made it clear that this was really important and was even fine with paying the $70(!!!!!) overpriced delivery. They took my payment and order and confirmed it would be delivered. On the day of the event, 11:30 passes and we hear nothing. I call them and they had no record of the order. No one seemed to know anything about it at all. The employee I spoke to sounded genuinely sorry and was responsible when I asked if the order could possible be refunded to us. They end up getting the food to us over an hour after it was originally intended. The people attending this POST FUNERAL MEAL were left waiting. The delivery driver dropped off the order and called to let me know that they did actually find a record of my previous order and that apparently my payment didn’t go through properly. The logic was basically, your payment didn’t go through so what did you expect us to do. They had DAYS to reach out to me, multiple ways to contact me, and NOTHING. If that was the reason they ghosted an order on the day of the event (for a POST FUNERAL MEAL), then they should seriously reconsider their business practices. I was able to give them a different payment method, and - despite previously talking to an employee about the order being comped - I was instead asked to pay for the whole order with a “discounted” delivery fee. The discounted fee was down from the original insanely expensive $70 for a 3 mile delivery down to $45. The manager and owner did not follow up to apologize or offer to fix this.

I gave them multiple chances to make this right. It was my mistake for trusting them again with a catering order, but my want to support a small business won out over my logic. And Jerusalem cafe (if you happen to read this), you need to fix your catering immediately or stop offering this service. It’s irresponsible and deeply disrespectful to your customers. You lost my entire workplace as customers and anyone else who would’ve considered ordering from y’all after having your food at one of our events. And, when you screw up this badly, you need to right the wrong as best you...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 STARS — JERUSALEM’S IS A DENVER ICON

Jerusalem’s in Denver is the standard. Full stop, knock-your-socks-off good. Everyone else is compared to them.

For over 40 years this place has been consistently deliver unbelievably good — not just “for late night,” not just “for Middle Eastern” — but genuinely some of the best food in Denver, period.

This is the spot chefs recommend to other chefs. This is the spot people take visitors to prove Denver still has a food culture.

FOOD — SECOND TO NONE

Fresh, bold, and true-roots authentic. The shawarma, the gyros, the kabobs - every protein is juicy, marinated, seasoned correctly.

Their vegetarian options are equally legit! Their hummus, falafel, foul, baba ghanouj - all made right. The “Combo Super Dish” is what I got the first time and is a legendary all-star plate. As for those big glass dessert displays, they speak for themselves: filo pastries, bird’s nest, baklava, ladyfingers, coconut + semolina cakes — all worth the pick!

These aren’t bakery “interpretations,” they’re actual Middle Eastern pastry texture; crisp, aromatic, honeyed, nutty, and delicate.

ATMOSPHERE — WARM • WELCOMING • ROOTED

The interior has crafted geometric patterns, gold textures, arches, and backlit star latticework. It feels like a small portal to an older world. The exterior patio has string lights and covered seating, perfect for late-night hangouts. There’s something cozy and honest about that neon “OPEN LATE” sign glowing above the dessert cases where you can literally see trays of fresh pastries stacked behind glass.

PRACTICALS — THEY GET IT RIGHT

Open late, ample parking (rare for Denver), counter service for takeout that moves efficiently even when it’s slammed — or opt for a personal experience dining in with family / friends / date night. Seating inside is comfy and expands to a chic covered patio outside.

My favorite treat - Make sure to grab one of their Jerusalem olive oil or balsamic — imported directly from Mediterranean farm— which I found out is just a few miles from the owner’s hometown. Really excited.

This is the kind of place where the parking lot at 1 AM tells you all you need to know — people are here because the food is worth driving for.

BOTTOM LINE

Jerusalem’s is not just a restaurant; it’s a Denver institution.

If you live in Denver and haven’t eaten here; fix that. If you’re visiting Denver and want the real local legend; you found it!

Right near the heart of the city, this Denver gem is the main vein that keeps your tastebuds alive.

Try it for yourself or hear it from the masses with over 4000 raving reviews - Nothing...