Ollie & Park's — Restaurant in Denver

In the world of dining, there exists a certain promise one finds in the excited whispers of glowing reviews—a promise of a transcendent experience, an escape from the banal, a night to remember. Alas, at Ollie and Park’s, this promise was broken the moment I walked through the door.

The decor, a haphazard collection of Denver memorabilia, miniature golf paraphernalia, and art pieces dwarfed by their walls, seemed less like the inspired work of a designer and more the product of a compulsive hoarder. There was no harmony, no cohesion—just an overwhelming sense that the restaurant itself was uncertain of its own identity.

But, as one who judges with my palate rather than my eyes, I would have forgiven the mismatched surroundings had the food compensated for it. Tragically, it did not. The miso cod, the highlight of the evening, was lackluster at best. The rest of the menu, inoffensive but utterly bland, lacked any spark, any seasoning to elevate it beyond the ordinary. A diner should not be left yearning for a pinch of salt in the way one yearns for water in the desert.

And then there was the service, a woeful finale to this disappointing affair. Though the staff were kind, their efforts could not make up for the sluggish pace at which the meal unfolded. Dishes appeared as though they had spent an eternity under the warming glow of a heat lamp, their vibrancy sapped before they even reached the table. Whether understaffed or simply poorly managed, it was a far cry from the attentive, seamless service one expects when dining out.

Ollie and Park’s, in its disjointed ambiance, uninspired cuisine, and languid service, offers little more than a lesson in unmet expectations. A restaurant with potential, perhaps—but for now, a...

I want to be clear that our server, Hope, deserves a full 5 stars for what she had to endure during the shift she was working. I came in with some friends during restaurant week before a concert nearby, planned plenty of time to eat and then get to the venue. The entire restaurant was packed, not even with small 2-tops, but larger groups and patrons at the bar. Hope was the only server at the restaurant that night, and kept profusely apologizing about how long everything was taking. At one point, she was even at the bar making cocktails. The restaurant week menu lacked something to be desired, and there seemed to be confusion between the kitchen and staff. At one point we were told the dessert was one thing, then another, then something else. It took an hour to get our salad, and then the Sirloin was so salty I felt like I was licking a salt block the entire time. We ended up having to get our dessert boxed up because we were late for the concert, as we thought an hour and a half would be more than enough time to get through our meal. Cannot stress enough how wonderful Hope was. She kept her composure throughout the entire service, and was handling some very large parties that you could tell were...

If you're hoping for a worthwhile new food and cocktail addition to the Uptown neighborhood, Ollie and Park's is certainly the place for you.

My wife and I had the privilege of being Ollie and Park's first ever guests on Monday for their soft opening. Immediately welcomed and greeted by Ned, Halley, and Jason--the GM and owners, respectively--we sat down at Ned's favorite table, were introduced to the restaurant and menu by our server Nick, took one look at the menu, and knew we were in for a treat.

The cocktails were certainly the highlight of the evening. A well rounded cocktail offering, each one inhabiting its own unique flavor profile that you could truly taste the care and expertise in each sip.

This is a tapas bar, so my wife and I shared the brie, risotto, and ceviche tostada. The plating, as you can tell by the photos, will tell you all you need to know about how much pride they take in their cuisine. Everything tasted sublime. All the bases of timeliness, freshness, and quality of ingredients was evident.

For us, as great as the food and drinks were, what really made the experience as great as it was were the people that make up Ollie and Park's. We're going...