We went here for my fiancé's birthday recently. While none of the dishes were particularly transcendent experiences, there were a lot of highlights that I thought deserved to be talk about here.I know of the change in the head chef, and speaking to one of the chefs, it seems they're going in less of a sole focus on Latin American flavors and into a bit more global (Asian fusion-y) with a focus on locality and in-house fermentation programs. One of the surprises I took away from the menu was how much culinary gems Colorado had to offer--ciders, grains, pears, and obvious things like lamb and peaches, some right around the neighborhood too.We got the tasting menu and the mixed beverage pairing. My fiancé loved every pairing but I personally don't think all the drinks paired that well. They were all interesting nonetheless. I wanted to highlight the scallop dish with THE absolute freshest scallops I've ever had--it was sweet and buttery-- and along with the chamomile tea infused sauce, the subtle tartness and crunch from the jicama and apple slices, it was such a marvelous bite of food. But the MVP of that dish was the crabapple gelée which was the most perfect sour for me and tied the whole dish together. Loved it. The apple martini was a great pairing with it and I am NOT a martini person.The second dish to highlight was the celery root course with spinach capelletto stuffed with this supremely juicy and tender bison filling that tasted like most fatty and delicious barbacoa. There were 3 different preparation of celery root and scraping the pasta, the bison, the chestnut, and the celery root puree was a perfect bite. This was made with celery-root soda (it tastes amazing trust)Finally, the desserts. The pear and tulsi tea that utilized the Colorado pear in several different ways including that delicious "stem" made from the peels. Best of all, the chile chocolate jicama mousse that teetered between the savory and the sweet; it was confounding in the most wonderful way because it kinda breaks the rule of what's "supposed" to be sweet or savory.This was also my first time having duck heart and I would like to have duck heart every day from now on as well as the house baked sourdough bread that was absolutely divine.Less successful for me was the lamb dish. It was paired with a confit eggplant and glazed with a sweet squid ink sauce, which I originally thought it was mole. Lamb is gamey to me no matter what, but a successful dish can really eliminate that lingering sweaty taste. I don't think neither the glaze nor the eggplant was particularly successful in doing that or adding anything else to the dish. That said, the paired Old Fashion "washed" with lamb fat and Abruzzo was so good.Overall, I loved BRUTØ. Not everything worked for me--some were a bit more technique focused than flavor I felt. However, I was never bored any of these dishes. They were inventive, playful, and it was obvious a lot of labor went into constructing these dishes, and I took a lot away from having this experience. I'd be more than happy to come back.Thank you BRUTØ for an excellent experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hearth Bread
Jonathan West
The food was amazing, and it was very Intimate! We had Raymond as our server and I am giving it another 5 stars because of him! His knowledge of the drinks and his wonderful hosting made this a memorable experience. I am forever grateful to Bruto and their staff for the memorable experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul Falk
Phenomenal food as always. This was my first time dining since chef Michael departed...new head chef Byron created a great menu full of great flavors/textures and combinations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Krista Reed
Such an amazing meal and experience!! The staff signed a card and presented it to my husband when we got there, since we were celebrating his birthday in Denver. We will for sure be coming back in the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hearth Bread
Derek Milioni
Amazing experience, we did the tasting on a weekday and every dish was fantastic.Dietary restrictions: You can let chef know of restrictions beforehand and they try their best to be complimentary.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eli Kelehan
What an amazing evening made even more perfect by Alan and his amazing management of the experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cam Olsen
Our evening at Bruto was exceptional. The food, the presentations, the creativity, the service, and the ability to tie all of that together into one cohesive and memorable experience is what sets this establishment apart from many other fine dining restaurants in Denver.The setting is cozy and intimate. I was often mesmerized watching the team prepare our courses with such precision and excellence. The timing between courses was perfect as it allowed us to fully appreciate and reflect on what was before us and then begin anticipating what was next. Our server Curran was spectacular. He knew the menu inside and out. He was able to answer questions, as well as went above and beyond to procure part of a recipe for a friend in our group. His recommendations for wines and cocktails were all on point and elevated the meal. He delivered some of the best service I’ve experienced and was a big part of what made everything special.As for the food, it was a beautiful meshing of flavor, texture, and artistry. The creativity of the chefs was on full display through their ingredients and plating. Every course brought a variety of delights ranging from unexpected flavors, to contrasting textures, to gorgeous design. My favorite dish of the night was probably the cocoa butter pear dessert dish.We will rave about our experience at Bruto to many and we can’t wait to return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gustavo Ranz
This is the best fine dining experience I’ve had in Denver thus far (Went to Frasca prior and this is WAY better).The service and attention to detail was above and beyond. The interesting part to this tasting menu is that they offer a cocktail pairing. I highly recommend the cocktail pairing, they say it’s equal to about 3 normal alcoholic drinks, but it’s definitely a lot more than that! They did not hold back and the drinks tasted incredible. Every single dish was delicious, they didn’t miss whatsoever. Came here with some friends as one of them was visiting town and it definitely left the right impression of Denver on them!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ghassan Bitar
Service and presentation of food were great. Very theatrical and entertaining. The food itself was really lackluster and could not compete with the “show” of service.At the price, I would not go again. Nothing to write home about food wise. Appetizer was slightly promising. Everything was downhill from the entree to the dessert. And the wine pairing only had white wines which I found to be an odd choice. If you’re into verbal story telling and don’t care about mediocre food, you’ll enjoy it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Michael Watkins
Fabulous dinner from start to finish. A special occasion meal that incorporated flavors you don’t get elsewhere. Warm, knowledgeable service. Highly recommended.
Outstanding experience on all counts… just wow.. must visit when in Denver… well done!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angie R
Three stars because while there were some very high “highs” - the moles, the bread, the service, and cocktails, there were some very low “lows”. Most notably, the squash dessert wasn’t good (we didn’t finish it), and although they were notified of a food allergy well in advance and said numerous times that they were accommodating it, that was not the case and my partner got very sick. Rather disappointing at this price point :(
Natasha Mitra
I was so excited to go to Bruto, one of the Michelin star rated restaurants in Denver, and I had built the experience up in my head…and rightfully so after pre-paying $600+ dollars for two just to reserve our place.The service is definitely top notch. We were greeted by several hosts and assured we’d be seated shortly, they took our coats, and offered us a welcome drink, and the whole meal service was elegantly orchestrated. Although, because it was a batched experience, it felt like our dishes sat assembled a bit too long sometimes - making crispier parts of it soggy by the time it came to us.The overall layout is unique/open concept with the kitchen in the center and the bar-style seating facing into it with a couple satellite tables off to the side for the lucky few that weren’t squeezed into these high chairs. Despite the layout’s uniqueness, it didn’t hit the mark because it sacrificed comfort significantly. My back was literally aching (I’m a young/healthy woman with no prior back issues) on the high chairs for hours. My chair was even rickety/rocking slightly with any movements I made, which in my mind does not seem appropriate for the amount we’re spending on this experience.I appreciated being able to watch the chefs/staff at work preparing our courses. It was fun to be able to interact with them and ask occasional questions. However, it wasn’t an atmosphere that allowed for privacy within your own party. My party of two just so happened to be sandwiched between two couples - honestly not a super good vibe at all. As another reviewer mentioned - literally bumping elbows with strangers while also fine dining - it just didn’t add up.Finally, the food…The first 3 courses (aka canapés) are bundled…very small portions and only 1/3 really blew me away.Biggest food flop: dessert Squash + Honey, which was hard squash with sour/tangy cream with lemony ice cream (looked beautiful but taste was lacking severely), which also didn’t pair well with coffee and this wasn’t brought up to us when we ordered it…we were so disappointed :(Potential but “missed the mark” dishes: Caviar + Sunchoke had delicious components and a cool concept but the base was soggy and the whole dish lacked structure after sitting around after assembly (nori got wet/soggy) - so it kind became mess while eating which meant you lost the taste of expensive caviar somewhere in it. I honestly completely forgot the Bison + Roots, which I think speaks for itself.A few truly standout delicious dishes imo: scallop + chamomile dish, THE BREAD (aka Grain + Harvest), cabbage and quail (Quail + Vadouvan)All drinks were paired very well. Their cider was delightful (and I’m not usually a cider person). Unfortunately, none of the mixed drinks blew me away in and of themselves.Overall, glad I went to know what Bruto is. Unfortunately, I won’t likely be coming back here - not worth the very high cost as it stands in my opinion.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jamie Hoy
So above all else, the food, drinks and service were otherwise excellent.However, those with allergies be wary. When we made our reservation, I noted I had a tree nut allergy. When we got to then restaurant, our server noted my tree nut allergy and said (direct quote) “We do not have tree nuts in house.”We had our first 2-3 courses and I started having trouble breathing. A course was brought out and the server mentioned it was prepared with chestnuts (A tree nut). I had to ask for another plate. We then received our menu at the end the meal and the first course had pine nuts listed. This explained my tightness.My partner was also brought out a dessert made with almond flour for her birthday. It was for her and not for me but still contradicts the “We do not have any tree nuts in house,” statement.All in, it was over $600 for two dinners and cocktail pairings and I wish more care had been taken with food allergens. We were served tree nuts not once, but twice. Our server did comp my cocktail for almost serving chestnuts, which I appreciate.Luckily, pine nuts are not a life threatening allergy for me, but please scrutinize each course if you have any concerns.
Connie Leung
Had such a wonderful dining experience tonight! A must visit when you're in Denver. Thank you for such a lovely meal with great food and drinks. The hospitality was amazing and you made everything so special.
We went here for my fiancé's birthday recently. While none of the dishes were particularly transcendent experiences, there were a lot of highlights that I thought deserved to be talk about here.I know of the change in the head chef, and speaking to one of the chefs, it seems they're going in less of a sole focus on Latin American flavors and into a bit more global (Asian fusion-y) with a focus on locality and in-house fermentation programs. One of the surprises I took away from the menu was how much culinary gems Colorado had to offer--ciders, grains, pears, and obvious things like lamb and peaches, some right around the neighborhood too.We got the tasting menu and the mixed beverage pairing. My fiancé loved every pairing but I personally don't think all the drinks paired that well. They were all interesting nonetheless. I wanted to highlight the scallop dish with THE absolute freshest scallops I've ever had--it was sweet and buttery-- and along with the chamomile tea infused sauce, the subtle tartness and crunch from the jicama and apple slices, it was such a marvelous bite of food. But the MVP of that dish was the crabapple gelée which was the most perfect sour for me and tied the whole dish together. Loved it. The apple martini was a great pairing with it and I am NOT a martini person.The second dish to highlight was the celery root course with spinach capelletto stuffed with this supremely juicy and tender bison filling that tasted like most fatty and delicious barbacoa. There were 3 different preparation of celery root and scraping the pasta, the bison, the chestnut, and the celery root puree was a perfect bite. This was made with celery-root soda (it tastes amazing trust)Finally, the desserts. The pear and tulsi tea that utilized the Colorado pear in several different ways including that delicious "stem" made from the peels. Best of all, the chile chocolate jicama mousse that teetered between the savory and the sweet; it was confounding in the most wonderful way because it kinda breaks the rule of what's "supposed" to be sweet or savory.This was also my first time having duck heart and I would like to have duck heart every day from now on as well as the house baked sourdough bread that was absolutely divine.Less successful for me was the lamb dish. It was paired with a confit eggplant and glazed with a sweet squid ink sauce, which I originally thought it was mole. Lamb is gamey to me no matter what, but a successful dish can really eliminate that lingering sweaty taste. I don't think neither the glaze nor the eggplant was particularly successful in doing that or adding anything else to the dish. That said, the paired Old Fashion "washed" with lamb fat and Abruzzo was so good.Overall, I loved BRUTØ. Not everything worked for me--some were a bit more technique focused than flavor I felt. However, I was never bored any of these dishes. They were inventive, playful, and it was obvious a lot of labor went into constructing these dishes, and I took a lot away from having this experience. I'd be more than happy to come back.Thank you BRUTØ for an excellent experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hearth Bread
The food was amazing, and it was very Intimate! We had Raymond as our server and I am giving it another 5 stars because of him! His knowledge of the drinks and his wonderful hosting made this a memorable experience. I am forever grateful to Bruto and their staff for the memorable experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phenomenal food as always. This was my first time dining since chef Michael departed...new head chef Byron created a great menu full of great flavors/textures and combinations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such an amazing meal and experience!! The staff signed a card and presented it to my husband when we got there, since we were celebrating his birthday in Denver. We will for sure be coming back in the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hearth Bread
Amazing experience, we did the tasting on a weekday and every dish was fantastic.Dietary restrictions: You can let chef know of restrictions beforehand and they try their best to be complimentary.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What an amazing evening made even more perfect by Alan and his amazing management of the experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our evening at Bruto was exceptional. The food, the presentations, the creativity, the service, and the ability to tie all of that together into one cohesive and memorable experience is what sets this establishment apart from many other fine dining restaurants in Denver.The setting is cozy and intimate. I was often mesmerized watching the team prepare our courses with such precision and excellence. The timing between courses was perfect as it allowed us to fully appreciate and reflect on what was before us and then begin anticipating what was next. Our server Curran was spectacular. He knew the menu inside and out. He was able to answer questions, as well as went above and beyond to procure part of a recipe for a friend in our group. His recommendations for wines and cocktails were all on point and elevated the meal. He delivered some of the best service I’ve experienced and was a big part of what made everything special.As for the food, it was a beautiful meshing of flavor, texture, and artistry. The creativity of the chefs was on full display through their ingredients and plating. Every course brought a variety of delights ranging from unexpected flavors, to contrasting textures, to gorgeous design. My favorite dish of the night was probably the cocoa butter pear dessert dish.We will rave about our experience at Bruto to many and we can’t wait to return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is the best fine dining experience I’ve had in Denver thus far (Went to Frasca prior and this is WAY better).The service and attention to detail was above and beyond. The interesting part to this tasting menu is that they offer a cocktail pairing. I highly recommend the cocktail pairing, they say it’s equal to about 3 normal alcoholic drinks, but it’s definitely a lot more than that! They did not hold back and the drinks tasted incredible. Every single dish was delicious, they didn’t miss whatsoever. Came here with some friends as one of them was visiting town and it definitely left the right impression of Denver on them!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service and presentation of food were great. Very theatrical and entertaining. The food itself was really lackluster and could not compete with the “show” of service.At the price, I would not go again. Nothing to write home about food wise. Appetizer was slightly promising. Everything was downhill from the entree to the dessert. And the wine pairing only had white wines which I found to be an odd choice. If you’re into verbal story telling and don’t care about mediocre food, you’ll enjoy it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Fabulous dinner from start to finish. A special occasion meal that incorporated flavors you don’t get elsewhere. Warm, knowledgeable service. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Outstanding experience on all counts… just wow.. must visit when in Denver… well done!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Three stars because while there were some very high “highs” - the moles, the bread, the service, and cocktails, there were some very low “lows”. Most notably, the squash dessert wasn’t good (we didn’t finish it), and although they were notified of a food allergy well in advance and said numerous times that they were accommodating it, that was not the case and my partner got very sick. Rather disappointing at this price point :(
I was so excited to go to Bruto, one of the Michelin star rated restaurants in Denver, and I had built the experience up in my head…and rightfully so after pre-paying $600+ dollars for two just to reserve our place.The service is definitely top notch. We were greeted by several hosts and assured we’d be seated shortly, they took our coats, and offered us a welcome drink, and the whole meal service was elegantly orchestrated. Although, because it was a batched experience, it felt like our dishes sat assembled a bit too long sometimes - making crispier parts of it soggy by the time it came to us.The overall layout is unique/open concept with the kitchen in the center and the bar-style seating facing into it with a couple satellite tables off to the side for the lucky few that weren’t squeezed into these high chairs. Despite the layout’s uniqueness, it didn’t hit the mark because it sacrificed comfort significantly. My back was literally aching (I’m a young/healthy woman with no prior back issues) on the high chairs for hours. My chair was even rickety/rocking slightly with any movements I made, which in my mind does not seem appropriate for the amount we’re spending on this experience.I appreciated being able to watch the chefs/staff at work preparing our courses. It was fun to be able to interact with them and ask occasional questions. However, it wasn’t an atmosphere that allowed for privacy within your own party. My party of two just so happened to be sandwiched between two couples - honestly not a super good vibe at all. As another reviewer mentioned - literally bumping elbows with strangers while also fine dining - it just didn’t add up.Finally, the food…The first 3 courses (aka canapés) are bundled…very small portions and only 1/3 really blew me away.Biggest food flop: dessert Squash + Honey, which was hard squash with sour/tangy cream with lemony ice cream (looked beautiful but taste was lacking severely), which also didn’t pair well with coffee and this wasn’t brought up to us when we ordered it…we were so disappointed :(Potential but “missed the mark” dishes: Caviar + Sunchoke had delicious components and a cool concept but the base was soggy and the whole dish lacked structure after sitting around after assembly (nori got wet/soggy) - so it kind became mess while eating which meant you lost the taste of expensive caviar somewhere in it. I honestly completely forgot the Bison + Roots, which I think speaks for itself.A few truly standout delicious dishes imo: scallop + chamomile dish, THE BREAD (aka Grain + Harvest), cabbage and quail (Quail + Vadouvan)All drinks were paired very well. Their cider was delightful (and I’m not usually a cider person). Unfortunately, none of the mixed drinks blew me away in and of themselves.Overall, glad I went to know what Bruto is. Unfortunately, I won’t likely be coming back here - not worth the very high cost as it stands in my opinion.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
So above all else, the food, drinks and service were otherwise excellent.However, those with allergies be wary. When we made our reservation, I noted I had a tree nut allergy. When we got to then restaurant, our server noted my tree nut allergy and said (direct quote) “We do not have tree nuts in house.”We had our first 2-3 courses and I started having trouble breathing. A course was brought out and the server mentioned it was prepared with chestnuts (A tree nut). I had to ask for another plate. We then received our menu at the end the meal and the first course had pine nuts listed. This explained my tightness.My partner was also brought out a dessert made with almond flour for her birthday. It was for her and not for me but still contradicts the “We do not have any tree nuts in house,” statement.All in, it was over $600 for two dinners and cocktail pairings and I wish more care had been taken with food allergens. We were served tree nuts not once, but twice. Our server did comp my cocktail for almost serving chestnuts, which I appreciate.Luckily, pine nuts are not a life threatening allergy for me, but please scrutinize each course if you have any concerns.
Had such a wonderful dining experience tonight! A must visit when you're in Denver. Thank you for such a lovely meal with great food and drinks. The hospitality was amazing and you made everything so special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5