Poppies Restaurant & Lounge — Restaurant in Denver

This is not an easy review to make. The food is great. The service is great. However, I was harassed by an elderly gentleman throughout my entire meal. I came in and sat at the bar. 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon. The restaurant was busy and there was one other person at the bar. Once I sat down, I gave my drink order and asked for a menu. Then, I put my phone down and started scrolling through. After a few minutes, the elderly gentleman sitting a few seats from me attempted to engage me in conversation, I guess. I don't know him, I don't feel like talking and I am enjoying myself. As the time went on, he was constantly making comments about how nice my nails looked, how nice my hair was and wondering out loud, why I was constantly looking at my phone. "What was so important". I ignored him. Because, again, I don't know him and I don't feel like talking to anyone and I am enjoying myself. Feeling a little creepy now. I am trying to enjoy my meal, looking at my phone and this gentleman continues to make comments about me, out loud, again, wondering why I am there, having lunch and constantly looking at my phone. He mentioned that it was disrespectful. I said I enjoy looking at my phone, if it bothers him that it is his problem, and said that he was disrespecting me. I said I didn't want to talk to him. A few minutes go by and he says "can I ask you a question". I said ok. He, again, asked what was so important on my phone that I had to pay so much attention to it. I, again, said I enjoy it and that if he has a problem with it, then that is his deal. Then he puts his hand up to his ear and says, "I can't hear very well" and proceeds to come over to my chair and continue to ask me why I am so interested in my phone while saying how beautiful I am and why am I being rude. As he was walking over, I immediately told him to go back to his chair, that I didn't ask him to come over, I don't want to talk to him and to get away from me. As he continues to asks questions and make statements, I am continually telling him to go back to his chair, get away from me and leave me alone. I said that several times. He is right next to my chair. I pointed at him and told him to get away from me and he finally got the message. As he walks away he says "you don't have to worry about that young lady". He gets back to his chair and continues to make rude comments and stare at me. He starts to tell the bartender about how rude I am. I finish my meal, pay my check and leave. This transpired over my entire meal. No one intervened...

Remember, our dining experience is influenced by the cleanliness/environment of the dining space, the service/kindness from staff, the sight and taste of the food. The price is “moot” at that point because most folks don’t mind paying for a great experience.

I have visited Poppies several times with the hope that I could have a similar food experience I enjoyed during my first visit some time ago. Now that I think of it, it could have been the company that made that first visit so memorable and tied the whole dining experience together. Nevertheless, my visit on 04/24/2025 at 8:56pm crushed that, and NOT in a good way. Chicken Piccata and Grilled Salmon Dinners were ordered for takeout at 8:27pm. My experience when arriving at the bar for your pickup order in the past and tonight, has been “you’re seen, but NOT addressed”. After waiting, the bartender came over, and I asked if my order was ready. I paid for the order and went back to the car. The bag was “wet” at the handles and on the sides. I placed the bag on the car roof and pulled the “to go” containers from the bag. The containers were dripping with a “liquid” soon to be known as the cream sauce from the chicken piccata. I then placed the bag on the floor inside the car and was able to wipe the containers down with napkins from the glove compartment. After waiting for the pickup, this did not feel good at all. I glanced at the food and noticed there was no sauce on the chicken piccata. But wait…it was in the bottom of the bag! The salmon looked very dry, and the green beans were waay overcooked. I was starving at this point and did not want a “redo”. Just done. I took the bag of sauce back into the restaurant and asked for a container of the cream sauce and a different bag. I knew then I would have to find another place that offered chicken piccata where I wouldn’t have to drive 8-10 miles or more to find it. After smothering the salmon with sauce, the dryness was an afterthought. The chicken piccata survived after being awakened by the sauce. When you’re that hungry, the food is just “meh”. Thank you, Poppies, for my first experience, and nothing better thereafter. I really tried to enjoy my visits with you, and you have made it...

We were recommended this restaurant by a family member so decided to have my husband’s birthday dinner here with family. 5 adults and 1 almost 2 year old. Upon arrival, we asked for a high chair. The female hostess asked if we had reservations, we said no. She said “that’s fine we’ll seat you at a large booth that can hold all 6 of you.”

We were walked to a room to the left, where we were sat down at a large booth in the back corner of the room (no tables behind us, just a wall). I asked, “where can I grab that high chair?” She said “we only have booster seats. A high chair would be in the way.” I said, “she’s 1, she’s too short for a booster seat. we’re in the back corner not blocking a walking path, can we please get the high chair we asked for?” she just said “I’ll go see what I can do.” Then another girl came back with some seat contraption that you attach to the table, where there are no legs supporting. this takes up way more room than any high chair would have, and also was extremely dirty and just not safe. The server leaves, doesn’t ask if we want waters or food or anything and we don’t see anyone for a while. Meanwhile, the large group at a table next to us is literally yelling and pretending they’re the only ones there. I was so upset by everything else happening and overstimulated that we had to leave. There was another woman with a necklace fan attached to herself who seemed to want to fix things but had no solution.

OVERALL CONS: absolutely not kid-friendly at least for high chair sized kiddos. the restaurant & multiple women we interacted with made it seem like I inconvenienced THEM for asking for a high chair. it’s dark. and red? like way too extremely dark, hiding all of the grossness. it just felt grimy inside and gross honestly. it’s loud. super overstimulating service was slow. they were not attentive. it’s hot. the servers are even wearing fans themselves!

PROS: it looks pretty sketchy outside but the inside was much bigger. they serve food. we weren’t able to actually try...