West Saloon & Kitchen — Restaurant in Denver

If I could give West Saloon & Kitchen more than five stars, I absolutely would. This place is everything you could hope for in a Colorado dining experience – warm, welcoming, flavorful, and downright memorable. From the food to the atmosphere to the absolutely stellar service, every aspect was beyond expectation.

Let me start with the food – because wow. The Mac & Cheese was hands-down some of the best I’ve had in any city. Perfectly creamy, rich, and comforting, with a depth of flavor that told me it was made with care, not from a box. It wasn’t just a side dish – it was an experience in itself. The pulled pork was next-level tender and juicy, with just the right amount of smoky flavor and a tangy finish that made every bite crave-worthy. It practically melted in my mouth.

Then there was the corn on the cob – sweet, perfectly roasted, and seasoned to perfection. It had that fresh, off-the-grill flavor that made it feel like summer in every bite. But the real showstopper for me was the Colorado chili. Rich, hearty, and spiced just right – this was a bowl of bold, local flavor that stuck with me long after the meal was over. You could tell it was made with authentic ingredients and lots of love. I would come back for the chili alone.

Now let’s talk about the ambiance – rustic but polished, cozy but with an energy that makes you feel alive. West Saloon captures the spirit of Colorado in all the best ways. It’s the kind of place you could bring out-of-town guests to show them what Denver is really about – or just treat yourself to a quality night out. Warm lighting, comfortable seating, and a vibe that feels like both a saloon and a modern dining hotspot.

And now, the real reason I’ll be coming back again (and again): Eric. If you’re lucky enough to be served by him, prepare yourself for world-class service. Eric wasn’t just attentive – he was engaged. Genuinely friendly, incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, and passionate about making sure our experience was nothing short of perfect. His recommendations were spot-on (seriously, thank you for guiding us to the chili and Mac & cheese), and he made us feel like VIPs the entire time. His energy, professionalism, and personal touch elevated our entire evening.

Honestly, Eric went above and beyond in every possible way. I would return to West Saloon & Kitchen just to be seated in his section again. He is the kind of employee that makes a place unforgettable.

TL;DR: Amazing food, chill yet vibrant atmosphere, and truly exceptional service. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation. And when you go, ask for Eric – you’ll thank me later.

We’ll be back – no...

I have left only 3 reviews in four years that were lower than 3 stars and it really takes a lot to get me frustrated:

We had a really odd experience here a day ago that left us feeling a little less than, if you know what I mean. A waitress answered pretty rudely as she was leading us to our table and my wife asked if the establishment was hiring; what followed confounded my brain:

the waitress walked by our table four times to get drink orders from the persons she sat after us, and it got to the point where they had drinks and food before we were even acknowledged. I had to wave the owner down and ask if something was wrong. She promptly fixed the issue and took our order, but it already had led to conversations where we felt we weren’t dressed well enough or looked odd or different, and it honestly made us feel kind of bad about ourselves. The waitress came over and apologized and I suppose everything turned out okay, but then, the food:

We ordered chili and the elk meatballs and I have to say we were not impressed with either. The meatballs had an off, almost raw taste to them despite being intensely dry, and the sauce used too many components of the Swedish sauce, making it intensely strong and not a pleasant combination. If they had thrown some of that flavor into the actual meatball, it might have balanced out the dish a bit.

The chili, something that is both of our favorites, had huge chunks of meat in it and not much flavor besides, well, meat. I expected some spice, maybe some unique flavor, but it was just overall disappointing. To top it off, I asked for sour cream and the owner said “only the green chili comes with sour cream” like it wouldn’t have taken them 20 seconds to throw a dollop on there.

They added a 3.5% charge to our bill. I get this is commmonplace now for some reason, but might I suggest the alternative of paying your back of house staff a more appropriate wage, and not relying on your patrons to make that happen?

We left quietly and tipped our waitress after the usual “oh, we’re so sorry” but to be honest this was the most disappointing experience I’ve had at a restaurant in Denver. That makes me really sad because we heard such great things about the place, and the decor inside is truly beautiful. The area really needs the beauty and wonder of food, historic restaurants and I’m hoping this one can pull...

I am not typically one to leave reviews after going out to eat. But, then again, it has been a very long time since I’ve enjoyed a dining experience quite like the one we had tonight at West Saloon and Kitchen.

We arrived a bit before our reservation and grabbed seats in the bar to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail. The Peacemaker was especially brilliant and delicious.

Upon getting seated for our meal, we were introduced to our server Chelsea, who will feature prominently in the rest of this review. She was incredibly polite and helpful throughout the evening, she assured us that our appetizer selection of the Kitchen Garden Fritto Misto was a good one and it did not disappoint.

Our table ordered a diverse trio of entrees, including the ribeye, the fish and chips, and the Cajun chicken pasta- all of which we found to be excellent. Though, the Cajun pasta dish was an absolute banger. When we remarked upon the quality of the food, Chelsea told a little about how involved the owners are in the establishment. It is clear that any pride they have in their establishment is well deserved.

While we weren’t able to finish any of our entrees, we found ourselves just curious enough to say yes when we were offered a dessert menu. They all sounded amazing, but after we narrowed our choices down to a couple, Chelsea - being the talented server that she is, led us in the direction of the cheesecake eggrolls and-DANG!- they were unbelievably delicious.

To hit on every course of the meal, from cocktails to appetizers to entrees and finally dessert distinguishes West Saloon & Kitchen as a solid choice for anyone looking for some elevated dining while maintaining an incredibly comfortable ambiance without a hint of pretentiousness.

Thank you West Saloon. Thank you Chelsea-...