Guard and Grace - Denver
1801 California St, Denver
(303) 293-8500
Recent Reviews
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A group of me and my friends came from out of town. The service was excellent. The food was even better. Can't wait to return and enjoy this place again!
A top-notch experience from start to finish. They always make celebrations feel truly special. Thank you!
We celebrated our first anniversary at Guard and Grace, and it was absolutely perfect! The service was amazing, every staff member was so kind and attentive. The food and drinks were outstanding, and the quality was top-notch. We even received a cute card and dessert to celebrate our anniversary, which was such a thoughtful touch. Highly recommend this restaurant for any special occasion (or just because)!
I recently visited Guard & Grace for a steak dinner and overall, it was a good experience with a few caveats.
Walking into the restaurant, I loved the atmosphere. It's nicely decorated and the staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. I sat at the bar to avoid waiting for a table, and the bartender was super helpful in recommending a beer I really enjoyed.
Now, the food presentation was impeccable—the steak looked gorgeous, the veggie sides were beautifully plated, and I particularly loved the twist of Thai basil in the broccolini, which is one of my favorite herbs. So visually, everything was spot on.
However, I did find the actual taste a bit off for my liking because everything was a little too salty. The steak was well-seasoned on its own, but when combined with the sides, which also had a lot of salt or maybe Parmesan, it just ended up being a bit overwhelming. Also, the veggies were a tad underdone for my taste—I do like a crunch, but these were just slightly too crunchy and could have been cooked a little more.
In summary, it's a beautiful spot with great service and presentation. I just wish they'd tone down the salt a bit and cook the veggies a touch more. For the price, I was hoping for slightly better balance in flavor.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Really great restaurant. We were visiting from out of town and getting a reservation was fairly easy. The staff was welcoming and full of great suggestions! I recommend the tomahawk, gnocchi, crispy tuna, filet flight, and duck fries.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent meal, nice touches throughout. Great service. I only complaint would be noise if your city in the outer area I would ask to be seated in the back room if possible where the noise was much less.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Exceptional food and service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I recently had dinner at Guard and Grace in downtown Denver and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt sophisticated yet inviting. The space is beautifully designed with an open, airy layout, warm lighting, and a lively but not overwhelming buzz. The hostess greeted us warmly and our server made us feel right at home while walking us through the menu and wine list.
The food was truly exceptional. We started with a selection of appetizers, including the charred octopus and the tuna poke, both of which were fresh, beautifully plated, and full of flavor. For the main course, I opted for the dry-aged ribeye while my guest chose the filet. Both steaks were cooked to perfection with a rich, deep flavor that shows the kitchen takes their craft seriously. The sides deserve their own mention — the truffle mac and cheese was decadent and creamy, and the roasted Brussels sprouts had just the right amount of char and seasoning. Everything tasted balanced and thoughtfully prepared rather than heavy or overdone.
The wine list is extensive but approachable, and our server gave excellent recommendations that paired perfectly with our meal. The cocktails are also worth trying; they’re creative and well balanced, offering twists on classics alongside unique house specials.
Service throughout the evening was impeccable. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy guiding us through the experience. Courses were paced perfectly, water glasses stayed full, and small touches — like replacing plates between courses and checking in at just the right times — made the evening feel seamless and relaxed.
The ambiance strikes a perfect note between special-occasion dining and comfortable sophistication. You can dress up and celebrate or simply enjoy a great meal in a beautiful space. Even though the restaurant was full, it never felt noisy or rushed, which made it easy to have a conversation and savor each dish.
Overall, Guard and Grace delivers everything you would hope for in one of Denver’s top restaurants: outstanding food, a beautiful setting, and exceptional service. Whether you’re a local looking for a memorable night out or a visitor wanting to experience the best of Denver’s dining scene, this is a place I would recommend without hesitation and one I plan to return to again soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Next level fine dining. Nothing on the menu is a disappointment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our server John was outstanding. He had great recommendations. Everything came out at a good pace and was cooked to perfection. The waygu tartare was delicious, the oysters were fresh, and the steaks were seasoned well and had great quality. We'll be back for sure!
Restaurantji Recommends
Some of the best food I've had in Denver. The ambiance and customer service were fantastic. Will definitely be back again!
We started off at the bar and had an elegant twist on an old fashion while we waited for others to arrive. The focus was a business lunch with a group of five. We ordered a variety of entrees from sandwiches to steaks with the black truffle mac and chesse, duck fat fries and oak grilled broccolini as the sides. All of it came out cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. We had no room for dessert and some of us even took home leftovers which I was told tasted great even reheated. We will be going back for dinner and dessert in the near future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I can’t say enough great things about this restaurant, where I visited for my first time last night. I first called to find out about payment options before attempting to book a reservation for the evening, and the hostess was very kind and accomodating in getting me setup with an ideal table for one and told me they would have a spot ready for me whenever I arrived. While waiting to be seated I took notice to the amazing ambience of the restaurant. After being seated, I then was introduced to my waitress, Jessenia, who from start to finish was extremely pleasant and provided some of the most outstanding service I’ve ever had in a restaurant, along with the rest of the wait staff who were wonderful, friendly and attentive to all of my needs as well as being great conversationalists. Each course was well spaced out as I had tried a variety of options, and I can say that the cocktails from the bartenders I had were well balanced. The plates these expert chefs prepared from the bread to dessert was phenomenal in presentation and preparation of the utmost quality, every bite was truly delectable. The wait staff as a team genuinely made me feel like a rockstar!!!! They were on point at every moment and didn’t miss a beat. I am extremely grateful and impressed with my experience from everyone I had met and the overall service that was provided throughout my visit to Guard and Grace to wrap up my last evening visiting in Denver, CO for this trip, and I will certainly recommend this gem to friends, family and anyone so they can share the same exceptional experience that I had received. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was an excellent gustatory experience. Definitely recommend if someone visits Colorado. Very kind personnel, warm welcome, unique tastes . Especially octopus was like freshly fished! Last but not least, cozy music background and decorative elements
Let me start out by saying I have been blessed to have been to some amazing restaurants across the US (Alinea, French Laundry, Inn at Little Washington to name a few). The night spent here at the Chef's table (the far left 2 seats), was THE best service I have ever had. Literally everyone on the staff was sincere, engaging and so warm. Looking down the line, one could appreciate the seamless choreography of the loving preparation by members of the kitchen who impeccably prepared butter poached octopus finished on the grill which imparted an aromatic wood scent and a depth of caramelized texture. A flight of New York Strips (Waygu, Local grass fed and prime choice) accompanied by an exquisitely prepared Black Cod with a duck fat fries side was an Epicurean delight that was elevated yet very approachable. This paired very well with a 2019 Arkenstone NVD Cab. For dessert there was a take on a carrot cake that had layers of pumpkin spiced cream cheese with a ginger ice cream that was simply to die for with especially well paired with a Sauternes. Best Night EVER! Will definitely come back when I am in town again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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