Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails

I went here while in town on business, and it is seriously one of my top five dining experiences. Everything - decor, drinks, menu - was unique and exceptional. The menu was small but clearly carefully curated and had something for even the pickiest eater in our group. We shared appetizers, entrees, desserts and cocktails, and every single thing was exceptional. The chefs are true culinary artists. At the same time, the atmosphere was so cozy and service so genuine and warm that it felt like being taken care of by someone in their home. I can’t wait for the chance to eat here again!

Disappointed because my first experience here was great. Several years have passed and I was excited to go back. While the food was ok (but not for the price), the service wasn’t just rude, it was unkind.

Ive recommended so many friends visiting denver try Molotov. It’s now off the list. I would implore management to reevaluate how you treat customers.

Interesting! Fun! Not exactly comfort food, but that's okay.

Delicious cocktails, small but perfectly curated menu.

Can’t speak for the authenticity as I have never had Ukrainian food. Regardless, the food was incredible. We were seated immediately at the bar on a busy Friday night. We ordered 4 dishes and 2 cocktails and everything was great; our favorite was the lamb dish and the rabbit kielbasa. It was cool to be able to try a different type of cuisine. The atmosphere and ambiance were great. We live very close by so we will be coming back.
P.S I recommend sitting at the bar and watching owner Bo and his staff prepare the dishes. It’s an awesome experience!

I usually don’t like leaving bad reviews, but today’s experience at this place was honestly very offensive, and I’ve never encountered service like this before. The prices were unreasonably high, and the quality of the food didn’t come close to matching them. The dishes had little to do with authentic Ukrainian cuisine — just the names.
The waiter was rude and clearly irritated. When I calmly and politely mentioned that I didn’t enjoy one of the dishes, even apologizing as I said it, he went to the kitchen and started mocking me with his coworkers. He also abruptly took the plate from in front of me without saying a word and walked away. Then, behind my back, continued to make fun of me.
A little later, a completely different waiter brought us the check even though we hadn’t asked for it. It was very clear that they wanted us to leave. Completely unacceptable service and a deeply unpleasant experience.

This place advertises itself as a Ukrainian restaurant, but unfortunately, it has nothing to do with authentic Ukrainian cuisine. They’ve taken a few names from Ukrainian dishes, but the food itself is completely off — confusing, poorly executed, and far from traditional. The taste of most dishes was maybe 2 out of 10. We ordered shashlik, deruny, and a toast. The toast was somewhat edible, but everything else was honestly terrible.

Drinks weren’t better either. I asked for the sweetest wine they had, and the server brought me a dry one — clearly he had no idea what was on the menu.

But the worst part of our visit was the service. Our server — I don’t know his name, but he was a bald man with a mustache — acted so poorly that we genuinely felt unwelcome. From the very beginning, his attitude toward us was noticeably worse than how he treated other tables.

One of the dishes we ordered — the derun — was left almost untouched because we simply didn’t like it. When we mentioned that, he took the plate away without a word, clearly annoyed. What happened next was unbelievable: in the small space of the restaurant, we could clearly hear him mocking us with his coworkers, saying something like, “Ha ha, those two didn’t like Ukrainian food.” It was incredibly unprofessional and disrespectful. He didn’t even try to hide his dislike for us.

Right after that, without us asking, another server suddenly brought us the bill. There were two of us, and no one even asked if we wanted to split it. It was obvious they wanted us gone.

While I stepped away to use the restroom, my friend told me they continued to laugh and make fun of us.

This was one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences I’ve had in a long time.

I’m from Ukraine, and I came to this restaurant hoping to try authentic Ukrainian food — but I was extremely disappointed. I want to warn others that this place has nothing to do with real Ukrainian cuisine, aside from the name.

First of all, the name “MOLOTOV” is completely inappropriate and offensive. Molotov was a Soviet politician from Russia, closely associated with Stalin’s regime — definitely not someone who should be used to represent Ukrainian culture or cuisine. Naming a Ukrainian restaurant after him is deeply disrespectful, especially considering the tragic history between Ukraine and the Soviet regime.

The food was neither tasty nor authentic. I came specifically to try the borscht, and it was a complete disappointment — bland, unbalanced, and nothing like real Ukrainian borscht.

As for the service — it was shockingly bad. At first, I thought it was a joke. The waiter was rude, didn’t introduce himself, and when I said I didn’t like the main dish, he said nothing, didn’t apologize, didn’t offer compensation — and even laughed when I said, as a Ukrainian, I didn’t enjoy the food. That kind of attitude is unacceptable.

Honestly, I’m surprised this place has good reviews. Maybe the people who liked it have never tried real Ukrainian food.

Amazing food, fantastic service, and incredible drinks!
Never have I tasted flavor bombs like the ones served at Molotov!
Every bite was a delicious explosion of flavors and textures.
I highly recommend the house made rabbit kielbasa!! Incredible!!

Phenomenal cuisine. At the same time, it feels home style, refined, and utterly unique. Highly recommend!

I am so glad my friend found this restaurant! We are both big foodies (she loves meat and seafood, whereas I grew up and remain mostly vegetarian), and none of the dishes we ordered disappointed us! It is spring, so of course the menu reflected that gorgeously, with pea shoots and green sauces galore. Everything was hearty and satisfying without being too heavy, thanks to the bright lemon and vinegars found appropriately situated in every dish. The beet kvass and the other drinks we tried were also wonderful. My transcendent moment was when I put a vinegar-y morel in my mouth and nearly died from pleasure! Incredible food aside (worth every penny), the service and atmosphere in the restaurant were top notch. I felt warmly welcomed, cared for, and lavished with exactly the right amount of attention without it being overbearing or overly familiar. We were an hour early for our reservation and were seated immediately, which was great because we were super hungry. The space is cozy, intimate, and quirky. You’re in for a real treat if you decide to stop by!

SO. SO. GOOD. One of the best dining experiences we've had in a long time. The food was innovative and DELICIOUS, and the cocktails were amazing. The staff made the evening really special--I think we were helped by everyone on the team at some point, and they were all friendly and professional. My quail was cooked perfectly, the licorice root mezcal old fashioned was an aromatic delight, and the buterbrod was the best appetizer I can imagine. I give them all the stars and look forward to returning.

Molotov was excellent! The menu options were great and the vibe was really nice. We had an enjoyable dinner and never felt rushed - we were able to relax and experience the food and the decor. It felt like we were in Ukraine in another time. We would love to go back!

Seasonal menu was awesome, great service and creative drink menu.

My fiance and I dined at Molotov tonight and ordered over half the menu… every bite was truly incredible and there was not one dish that let us down. This restaurant is fantastic and totally unique. The atmosphere is perfect and the service was incredible. I love that they switch the menu around for every season. It is very evident that a lot of care and consideration is put into this establishment. I’m so happy we gave this place a shot and I am already planning our return.