Leña
24 Broadway,Ste 104, Denver, CO, 80203
Leña Menu
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Address :
24 Broadway,Ste 104
Denver, CO, 80203 - Phone (720) 550-7267
- Website https://www.lenadenver.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Mona E.
I love this place sooo much! It's what every restaurant should be - giving you great atmosphere, good service and most important - delicious food that is well seasoned and executed. We've eaten here twice and I can't wait to go back to try some more menu items. We had the chilaquiles (such good comfort food with great flavors), all the tacos (make their corn tortillas from scratch - would avoid the goat), duck meatballs (good), pan de yuca (so awesome - def get this), flank steak (good but wasn't as special as some of the other dishes), papas, but the most stand out dish - besides the chilaquiles was the shrimp and grits! You wouldn't think this could blow your mind but it will. The grits the most flavorful and smooth I have tasted. I like sitting downstairs more than up. The bunuelos (basically churros) were a tasty way to end the meal. I want to go back for brunch. Don't hesitate - go here!
(5)Eric H.
The food at Leña was pretty good. We went with a large group and ordered several plates. The papas were pretty good but not quite authentic Peruvian according to several friends from Peru. The service was terrible, it took at least 10 minutes after sotting down to get any service. We felt very rushed and the server slammed our bill down before even asking if we wanted anything else. Decent food, but bad service so I doubt we'll be back.
(3)Ben And Paige L.
If I was a chef at this restaurant I would be furious with the front of house staff. The food was impeccable but we received the worst service of all time!!! The drinks are high quality, the food is beyond reproach, but our server could not be found! At one point we didn't receive food or a visit for over 35 minutes. Even worse was the lackadaisical approach the hostesses took. I worked in a restaurant for four years and if there was one thing I learned it was to address any customer service issues immediately. As soon as the staff realized we were unhappy, they rushed us out. No apologizes offered, no invitation to return to attempt to overcome this experience. A true shame as everything we ate was fantastic but I would never recommend anyone going to this place due to the poor service. We wanted to order more but had already spent 2.5 hours there. I would challenge management to get involved in these situations in the future to help control your brand.
(1)Sarah T.
I went there on a double date with two of my friends and my boyfriend, and we all absolutely loved it! After learning that it was a small-plate, shareable type restaurant we all ordered a dish, and shared. Our waiter (who was fantastic!) recommended the octopus ceviche, and we were all BLOWN away, it was the standout by far. We also ordered the bison tacos, chilaquiles, tamales, and of course, the yucca bread. All were good, but the tamale, and ceviche were by far the favorites overall. Needless to say - we were all stuffed and happy by the end of the meal. Great service, great food, excellent ambiance, and the house margarita was fantastic too! I am still dreaming about that octopus ceviche!
(4)Jalmuguh Y.
So far so great! I really enjoyed the goat taco, veggie empanada, and the hearts of palm salad (forget the spanish name). Service is pretty good, happy hour is awesome, and music is always right. Hard to beat. Great addition to the South Broadway selection.
(5)Venessa C.
I have been here a few times now. This is one of my go-to spots on Broadway for dinner in the Baker neighborhood. Amazing cocktails that are deftly crafted, margaritas are not overly sweet (like they shouldn't be!) And a full bar for those who seek that out. About the food - oh the food. I have never had a sub par dish here. This particular venture was quite delectable with an order of goat tacos to start - I've never had goat before and at the insistence of my boyfriend and the bartender we tried them and the meat was cooked perfectly, served on top of homemade tortillas (winner). Perfectly balanced flavors. We also ordered the sea bass, it was lovely, nice and flaky over a potato cake that contrasted the fish texture quite nicely. Topped with baby vegetables the dish was a sure winner. I highly recommend you come here if you like great food. Nothing is overpriced - the only potential complaints I could see were that food comes out from the kitchen when it comes out of the kitchen. If you like coursed food and rigid service, this may not be your joint. Also portion size can be a little small for some - I've never walked away hungry but of you're used to gargantuan American size portions you may be disappointed. For me however, this is an absolutely fantastic restaurant.
(5)Brittany B.
Service was great, food was fine but the only dish that stood out in our four were the chilequiles. (After reading all the reviews about the fish tacos, I was greatly disappointed... enjoyed the empanadas though. The sauce makes the dish.) Happy hour seems to be the time to go as you get more bang for your buck, though be advised it's only weekdays despite their website staying it's daily.
(3)BrentandMichelle W.
Pretty good food - I'm not sure what all the hype is about. It's good, but I'm not concerned if I don't make it back any time soon.
(3)Christina T.
I love this new spot! Jimmy did an amazing job, but it's no Prohibition (his other establishment). Still enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Service staff was friendly and helpful in making suggestions. A Little price for the portion size, but still great food!
(5)Larry L.
Found it, found parking, and had a great time. It was 5:30 and fairly loud inside - not much sound dampening on the walls or ceiling. Our waiter, Nick was very helpful and guided us through the menu. We shared the Ceviche de Pulpo, Duck meatballs, Lamb shank, and the Yuca bread. More then enough. A couple of Mojitos and we were totally satisfied. Food is very good. Can't wait to go back and try something else on the menu.
(4)Sara W.
Went here after a friend recommended and thought it was ok. The Paloma was delicious, but after trying a few small plates, decided to move on. It's a cool place to go for happy hour, but outside of that I don't think the value is worth it.
(3)A T.
Came here for date night with my husband on a Saturday. Our reservation was for 9:15 but we arrived 40 min earlier and we're lucky to be seated right away. The place was PACKED and very loud. Even with a table away from the main dining area near the entrance, we could hardly carry out a conversation. Now, onto the food. I ordered a couple their specialty cocktails, and they were balanced and fresh. Food was also tasty especially liked the ceviche and the grilled dishes. I would've given it a 4* if the atmosphere wasn't so loud but if that's your thing, then you should give this place a try.
(3)Mal K.
What a wonderful place! Come check out Lena and make sure to ask for Andy and Jen! They are amazing, knowledgeable, and so friendly. I will definitely be back because the drinks are splendid! :)
(5)W M.
Leña is a welcome addition to Denver's dining scene. The chefs put a lot of work into reearching flavors and ingredients in pan-Latin American cuisine and it shows. They served a full food menu until 11 p.m., and stay open serving drinks well after that. A city must have good food available later in the evening in order to be a national and global city; thankfully Leña is one of them in Denver. The menu's lay of the land is small to medium plates inspired by the cuisines of Latin America. The tortillas and yucca biscuits are all made in-house, basic but delicious. The grilled meats are all wood-fired, but there is no overpowering smoky flavor thanks to their use of white-oak, the meat dish we ordered came correctly medium-rare and was delicious. All the small fish, chicken, and veggie dishes we ordered were well-presented and excellent. The flavors show that the chefs have managed ingredients that are commonly used in South America, but not here, such as aji panca and aji amarillo. Service was attemtive and enthusiastic. Go to Leña and order several dishes, at least one or two from each of the categories (Asado, Caliente, Frio) for your group and share, add a side of plaintains and yucca biscuits, and it will be a very nice culinary experience.
(5)Will A.
The plato mixto was really good and I'll definitely be going back again!
(4)Unicorn S.
Our dinner at Lena was one of the most disappointing meals we have had in a while. We usually can't go wrong with a restaurant that has received rave reviews from Yelp and 5280. My husband and I are vegetarians and all our dishes were completely bland including the Llapingachos (potato cakes) and Empanadas Verde, which were filled with more tomato than anything else. To make things worse, the space was so loud we could barely have a conversation. We went to Quiero Arepas the next day to fulfill our Latin food craving. Yum!
(2)Lydia L.
Delicious tapas. My fave the octopus appetizer and the lamb shank. Beautiful decor and lighting. Service was very good as well. Great place to be social as well.
(5)Allison L.
Arrived on a Friday night about 730pm and was told there was a 45 min wait. Which doesnt seem too bad except there a ton of empty tables. Which I understand theres probably reservations but even when we sat at the bar which is first come first serve a lot of the tables remained empty throughout the night. Anyways onto the food. The place is tapas style so ordering several small plates for 2 people was perfect. We started with octopus ceviche and it was fantastic. I would definitely get that again. The octopus was so tender. Then we got fish tacos. They were pretty good but a little salty. The best part about them were the tortillas which I are made in house I believe. Then we got flank steak and papas. Both had a great smoky flavor. The flank steak was cooked perfectly. Lastly we got the bunuelos which were sorta like dense churros. Flavor was good but prefer the airyness of churros better. We also got a pisco sour as a drink. If youve never had one I would recommend it. Great flavor and smoothness. Overall food quality was great but the place is a bit pricy for the servings I think.
(4)Amy L.
This restaurant is super cute and the food is decent. I went with someone from Panama, who described the dishes as having varying authenticity. Overall, I felt the dishes were hit or miss. We liked the twice cooked plantains, the braised short rib tacos, the octopus ceviche and ONE individual loved the blood sausage. We thought the empanadas, mushroom dumplings, and plain meat were just so-so. A bit of a heavy meal. I left wishing for some veggies! Overall, can't complain.
(3)Chato D.
They deserve 4 stars but the noise was unbearable so they got 3. The service was excellent, the food was well let me say this, I lived in Ecuador for many years and some of the dishes and aromas took me back to the ceviche shacks on Sunday mornings with an ice cold Club and a BIG bowl of ceviche, I had the octopus ceviche ( 2 bowls!! ) it was that good! Pataconees LOTS. Coconut rice which was a little too sweet for me so the waiter brought me the beans and rice side traditional. The rest of the table ordered full meals that looked nothing like what I was use to eat so I just stuck with what I knew the staples that made me love South America. The only thing that would bring me back would tell everyone to SHUT UP AND EAT!!!!
(3)Ilinca S.
I have been here a couple of times now, and every time I love it more! The food is amazing, especially the Tira (short rib) and the Pan de Yuca. The ambiance is very cool....and service has been great every time I have been there!
(5)Mike S.
Very cool laid back atmosphere. The bartender Andrew was very knowledgeable of drinks in general. I was questionable on what to drink so Andrew recommended I try a pisco sour and let me say it was delicious. Chris recommended the tacos carnitas de bisonte and WOW very yummy. I would definitely come back and tell friends about. Good place to bring a first date :)
(5)Christine N.
One of the managers reached out to me after my review, and it really meant a lot! She has addressed the team on special occasions, and offered a belated birthday drink! I will update again after we try some more plates from here! Thanks Jen!
(3)Andrew W.
100% the best place to eat in Baker. Awesome environment and a great location! The staff are friendly and fun and do an amazing job. Andrew is the bartender here, funny as can be and makes and delicious pisco sour. Chris was our server, amazing job. Made the perfect recommendation (bison tacos) had a great night!!
(5)Crystal A.
Bartenders were super, super helpful with the menu. Sit at the bar if you don't want to wait for a table.
(4)Alberto A.
Great food! Empanadas dé picadillo are great and the meat mixto is awesome!!! Reasonable pricing and the decor is very cool.
(5)C. T.
Tried the brunch, happy hour, and dinner... Reasonable prices at happy hour (only), and nice atmosphere. Wish they changed the menu seasonally and had more veggie options, but worth visiting overall.
(4)Jon K.
I got an invite to the soft opening which was a great night! Pros: Service - Excellent! Our waitress Ashley was amazing and made sure we were attended to all night! Ambiance - The interior decor was very inviting, and the upper seat loft gave a great view of the main floor. Food - I know a couple other reviews said the food was bland, and I can relate as not all dishes we tried were great. However, the main dishes and appetizers we tried had great flavor! The bison tacos were amazing! The duck meatballs were out of this world!!! Desserts could use some tweaking... Drinks - Unique cocktails at a reasonable price. (Under $10) Cons: Water Glasses - Very small Restrooms - Maybe I'm just dumb, but I stood outside the bathrooms for 5 minutes trying to decide which picture was for Men...it was the left side FYI... All in all I will go back to this place. I'm sure once the place has some time to work out the kinks, it will be even better!
(4)Kaylee J.
Went to Lena for brunch on a Sunday. They were busy, but we were able to find seats at the bar. Our bartender, Andy, made our brunch a great experience. His sense of humor, patience and calm demeanor were refreshing. It was apparent he enjoys what he is doing, The food: everything we had was really good. I had the steak sandwich...it needed a little extra chimicurri but after that addition, it was really good. I highly recommend Lena for brunch and can't wait to go back for dinner.
(4)Neal K.
Best restaurant in Denver. New or old. Shrimp and grits are off the charts. Best dish in Denver hands down. Ceviche, empanadas. Can't go wrong with anything. Been here twice. Same waitress. Brandy. Best damn waitress in town as well. No wonder it's so hard to get a table
(5)Sean M.
We visited Lena early Saturday night and had a great experience. The food and cocktails were all excellent. Absolute go to is the yuca bread with the duck meatballs. They pace out the meal nicely, which is great when you're ordering 4-5 dishes per couple.
(4)Joseph C.
For complicated reasons having to do with my companion's diet restrictions, I returned. This time we focused on meat--mostly the big 'mixto' sampler--and we did much better. The short ribs, the skirt steak, and the rib eye were great. The chorizo was not so good, but the blood sausage--which I was not entirely looking forward to--was rich but not overwhelming. Delicious. On the other hand, judging from the asparagus and some other, unmemorable thing we ordered, I guess you CAN get away with not taking vegetables seriously in Denver (while charging $8 or 9 a plate for them). Waitstaff still pushing the mode of delivery of "Your dishes will come out as they are completed." -Fine for what we ordered. We were trying to figure out how to place this restaurant, because it's not quite like anywhere else in town in terms of pricing, waitstaff skills, decor, and style and quality of food. We finally decided the best equivalent was the kind of place somebody's monied, gastronomically unadventurous parents would go to in Mexico City. (However, that place would have professional servers, and not the one-step-away-from-summer-job-at-the-clam-shack service you have here.) -Because even at it's best this place is just a good piece of steak or a tasty but completely uncomplicated meatball. -Nothing wrong with that in itself, but let's not get carried away with the comparisons to really innovative restaurants. Let's put it this way: if, rather than eating twice here, you go once to a place like El Taco Veloz on Federal and once to Mercantile, you'll come away with a comparable price tag and a lot less category confusion.
(3)Jessica S.
Awesome food and drinks! Loved the ceviche de pulpo and Bison! Staff was very knowledgeable and helped us to navigate through the menu! Great atmosphere - was even kid-friendly. Great addition to SoBo!
(5)Danielle M.
I'm very impressed with the food and drinks!! Kyle is a great knowledgable bartender and made some a amazing suggestions! The food was incredible!! My first 5star!
(5)David D.
Best meal I've had in Denver in a while. Best empanadas ever. Stunning shrimp and grits. Sea bass tacos are stellar.
(5)joe g.
I think customers get carried away by critics reviews and start believing them! The tacos are nowear near the quality of Pinche Tacos but are twice the price. You will leave this place hungry, but the good new is Sweet Action is close by.
(2)Ashley C.
Long live the ceviche!
(5)Hailey Z.
Overpriced and mediocre at best. Nothing stands out as all that good. However I do recall that our churro for dessert was doughy and underdone. No one likes a floppy churro.
(3)Francheska C.
Over priced... Service is lacking and foods a bit bland if you ask me. Three stars tops.
(3)Leslie R.
WOOHOO first review!! I checked out Lena last night during their soft opening which I was invited to. I was really excited about trying this place because I heard some really good things about it and I knew that it was managed by the same people who manage Prohibition, which is a pretty cool place in-itself. The restaurant itself has a wonderful layout, with an upstairs seating area that provides a view that looks down upon the rest of the bar. The bar itself has 3 long mirrors on the wall behind it with beautiful lights hanging down to illuminate everything. The ambience is quite amazing. The service is also outstanding, with our water glasses being filled quite often and people walking around making sure we're doing okay and had everything. Our server Melissa was awesome, and was really knowledgeable and informative on the dishes they had. She seemed to know a little bit about everything we asked her about! The reason why I am giving this place only 3 stars though is due to the main thing I disliked about the place - the food. Maybe it was just due to the fact that last night was just a soft opening, but a LOT of the food we received was extremely bland. We ordered a sea bass dish that looked delicious, wrapped in a banana leaf and had some sauce on it, but not only was it bland, it wasn't cooked all the way. Our dessert was probably the most disappointing of the food we ordered, with the "flan" looking more like liver pate and tasting like unflavored gelatin with little drops of artificially flavored sauce on the side. For a restaurant that is supposed to have Latin inspired food, the food lacked significant flavor. I will say though, that the Chiliquiles con Pollo was AMAZING and I could seriously have finished the entire thing myself. The salads we ordered were pretty spot on as well. I will definitely try this place out once again, because I feel like it's a place I should like more due to the ambience and feel, plus the oustanding service. But I will say I was quite disappointed by the food as of last night.
(3)Marshall M.
Delightful new restaurant near my home. Argentinian tapa bar. The smoked spare rib with chimicuhura sauce was filing, delicious and affordable. The restaurant was fun, charming and fun place to go to on a week night.
(5)Luke J.
Very good food. Plates are small. 3 or 4 plates will feed two people. Not typical Mexican american fare, unique flavor. Nick is incredibly friendly and knows the menu very well, A+ service from this employee in particular and his recommendations were excellent. Very satisfied.
(4)Christopher P.
Wait we're is the food? Trust me this is not Latin food, not authentic what so ever, over priced and under flavored. For shame on the chef for fooling his customers into thinking that this is is even right. For example $14 for 3 fish tacos (street style) and $14 for chiliquellies and not beans or rice because of a sinful word called gluten. Look dude Latin foot is made to give you the runs, hypertension and cardio vascular disease, I regret to report I did not type this on the toilet as usual but in a Denny's
(1)Marc P.
Loved the yuca bread and the Chilaquiles. Great menu of small plates. Left full!
(5)Victor B.
We went out with my parents to celebrate a little holiday cheer this past Sunday and they told us to select a restaurant. After scouring some reviews on Yelp for restaurants in our area we settled upon Lena. While I had such high hopes for this establishment based on reviews and a look at their menu I have to say I was left way less than astonished. First off the staff are pleasant and attentive so my less than average rating does not stem from them, if anything they were what saved it for me and earned the restaurant 3 stars instead of 2. The food while good, is not worth the prices that they have established. I had the Tacos de pescado and they were flavorful but for $14 I would have preferred a serving that wasn't children's menu-esque (is that even a word....while for this review it will be). I would have gladly paid $3 a taco for a total price of $9....but $14 was simply too much for what was offered . My girl had some of their empanadas which were good as stated before but not worth what the price was. Dad had the pork tacos where the meat was savory and oh so wonderfully cooked (score, Lena!). We also had the papas.....tasted like smoke from a campfire and not in a good way. The highlight of the evening was my mom's chilaquiles....oh so wonderfully spiced and served up in a nice cast iron skillet. Definitely delicious and definitely something I'd order again if I chose to visit. With all this being said, I wish Lena well....it appears they are new and in the plethora of restaurant offerings here in Denver they will have their work cut out for them. I'd say visit them for happy hour if you want to get the most for your money.
(3)Michael S.
One of my all-time favorite dining experiences in Denver. It was like visiting Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, and Argentina. This food is legit. So are the drinks. Try the Pisco Sour, flank steak, bison tacos, coconut rice, and plantains. Finish with 23-yr Ron Zacapa rum. So good. Andy at the bar is a consummate professional.
(5)Mariano d.
Unfortunately there is no negative star. This is, probably, the worst restaurant in Denver. Fusion is a word being bastard by these cronies who think that reading a couple of cooking books and spent a week in Mexico makes them restauranteurs. We ordered many of the plates in the menu: the mixta a slap in the face of anything remotely close the Argentine barbeque; ceviche or how to ruin perfection; many of the tacos in the list ...none can be called tacos; the grilled esparragous please somebody tell me I was just having a bad dream or how to ruin the most simple and easy recipe. Bottom line Leña is absolutely the fusion cuisine nightmare!
(1)Bessie C.
NOISY. I wish these restaurants would do a little more to keep me from having to literally shout across a two person table. How about hang some drapes on the concrete walls or something?! BUT the food and drinks absolutely made up for it. The pescado ceviche was my favorite and the serrano margarita was ingenious. I also love that they have a huge bar. I say order as much as you can even though it might sounds weird because I am certain it will be delish! I recommend!
(4)Liz F.
All of Lena's ceviches are awesome! I particularly love the octopus! Very true to authentic Peruvian style ceviche! This place has everything good from what Latin America has to offer. Yum.
(5)M. M.
Wonderful, fresh flavors, interesting plates, tasty drinks. Busy for a weeknight, but we were seated promptly. Exceptionally friendly staff and informative about menu. Only hesitation on 5 stars was having to place order for another drink with hostess after waiting quite awhile for our server to return. In fairness, she was kept running with a big section of the restaurant. We will bring our food-loving friends back with us next time. A lovely surprise with impromptu run into town for dinner.
(4)Eliana S.
SO good! I will dream about the chilaquiles for many nights to come. Delicious margaritas, great service! The only mediocre thing were the vegetable empanadas- however, the accompanying chimichurri makes them worthwhile! I'll definitely be back.
(5)Amy O.
Sad to say I only stopped in for a drink and no food! The atmosphere was very nice with dim lighting and a quiet buzz of chatter. I think the South Broadway neighborhood needs more food establishments, so I'm really happy to see Lena move in. We had great service and some tasty wine. WIll definitely be back for food!
(5)Joan V.
Went here for happy hour last night with a couple of friends. The food and drinks were amazing! They have a ton of gluten free options and we got a few little plates to share that they offer on happy hour. I had the coconut rice, bison taco, and the fried plantain. It was all so amazing. Even my margarita was great - fresh lime juice and just a hint of agave sweetener. I usually don't even like margaritas. Two drinks, a bunch of food (we got even more I just can't remember the other dish's name), and after splitting the bill, we all owed 20 bucks. Can't beat it for the quality of the food and drinks.
(5)Niki S.
Celebrated a friend's birthday here recently. I'll start with the drinks: the house margarita is great - not too sour or artificial tasting. The chupacabra is a total trip -- smoky, spicy, tequila-y. Super interesting and not for the faint of heart. We ordered family style. The ceviche de pulpo (octopus) was fantastic. I could easily sit there all day with a giant bowl of it and a bag of tortilla chips. I highly recommend it. The ceviche de camaron in contrast was rather bland. I'd say to stick with the pulpo. The chilaquiles were amazing! Just a giant portion of tortilla, chicken, tomato sauce, and cheese in a piping hot cast iron skillet. I could have made a meal out of that one plate. The housemade chorizo sausage was oddly dry and bland. I expect chorizo to be spicy and flavorful and this just did not deliver. We got a couple of orders of all the empanadas -- all great and even better with the chimichurri sauce. Overall, a really nice dinner. We got there at 6 so we were easily able to get a big table. The restaurant itself is quite lovely and it's not too loud, even though it was packed when we left.
(4)Casey R.
Love this place! Read about it in 5280 magazine Our 1st time there and we sat at the bar. Started with happy hour (great deal) and continued ordering. Started with the albacore ceviche (albacore, orange, ahi amarillo, lime, celery, onion, plantain chips), then the Peruvian potato cakes with Huacatay cheese sauce. The pork chop was unbelievably good and prepared perfectly! I'm addicted to the yucca bread! Kyle mixes up great cocktails! We had mojitos and asked for them to be lighter on the simple syrup. Have to say they give CubaCuba's mojitos a run for their money! Yum! We'll definitely be regulars here! Love the vibe also.
(4)Lucy K.
Love this place! The atmosphere is inviting and have gone back multiple times to sit at the bar and enjoy great cocktails and food. The ribeye is so yummy-- definitely a staple and their chimichurri sauce is so good I want to bottle it up and take it home with me. The unique menu, consistent service, and beautiful decor make this spot a fantastic addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Kati B.
Lena was just ok to me. We tried LOTS of options on the menu - I thought the food was a little bland and underwhelming, especially considering the price. I had a mezcal cocktail that was not my favorite. The mezcal was smoky and hideous, like the ugly bastard child of scotch and tequila. Yikes. On the plus side, the atmosphere was cool and the service was excellent (although our food runner had a tendency towards mumbling, so we could never hear exactly which dish he was bringing us). I think maybe this place just needs a little more time to develop? And, I can't fairly blame them for the mezcal cocktail, because the waitress described it very accurately and it was my poor choice in ordering such a thing when I hate scotch. Scotchy scotch scotch! Anyway, I'll give it another try in a month or two - I'm definitely a big fan of the space and the location. So-Bro is so hot right now!
(3)Sarah M.
Best margaritas ever!!!! Also yucca bread is a must. I love this place. Small portions which is why I wouldn't give it a 5 star but the food is truly wonderful. Yep I will be back!
(4)Mila M.
The food here was FANTASTIC. Small-plates style, great ambiance and delicious cocktails. A little on the pricey side, especially if you want to walk away with a full stomach but it's definitely worth it. I highly recommend the duck meatballs and the bison short rib tacos.
(5)Amber C.
First and foremost, the food here is delicious. The service, however, at least on this occasion was awful. We asked for information, or suggestions on what to order and got a snarky attitude from our waitress. It went something like: "Can you tell me what warm seafood options you have?" "Listing, naming, etc.." "Oh, tell me..." *rudely cut off* "...I was getting there." The entire service was cold and distant. We almost felt like pests. At the end of the meal, myself and my five friends wanted to split checks and when we brought it up, our servers response was, "it would've been nice to have known that at the beginning." The entire focus of our experience went from enjoying each other's company to bitching about our server among one another. The service should be as warm and wonderful as the food and the ambiance. This visit was most certainly not that.
(2)Sherri L.
Our server Nick was amazing! Best service we have had in we can't remember when! He wasn't afraid to recommend what would amplify our experience and he didn't steer us wrong. Highly recommend the octopus ceviche and duck meatballs! Don't forget the tequila! Run don't walk and ask for Nick!
(5)Patrick H.
After I wrote a yelp review about a so-so experience, the manager reached out with a personal message that was exceptionally classy and heartfelt. I mean, every restaurant is going to go through a period to work out the kinks, but not all will be as responsive and conscientious as this one was. I'm going back for sure.
(4)Lisa B.
Good atmosphere - food ok -was expecting more well prepared unique flavors. Also a minor note - the mint in my drinks was brown and past its prime.
(3)Michelle S.
I was a little hesitant when our friends invited us here for dinner because the menu was unlike anything I had ever seen. I'm so grateful now! We ordered a bunch of small plates so we could all get a taste of everything. Not a single bad dish. Everything we ordered was absolutely wonderful and unique. This is my new go to place when friends are willing to try something different. Be careful on busy nights if you sit upstairs. It was a little warm up there but I'm sure it's because it was a packed house. Their happy hour is a great way to try a few dishes for a couple bucks.
(4)Juan P.
This is a really good place. Tremendous hospitality, good energy, knowledgeable staff and most importantly we had fun. We tried a number of different Latin inspired dishes and drank Sangria, both red and white. I think it's a fun place for date night or with a large group who wants an adult style party atmosphere.
(5)John S.
Great addition to the Broadway/Baker scene! Went for an early dinner and enjoyed a fantastic selection of shared plates - pork belly taco, albacore tuna ceviche with plantain chips, green plantain veggie empanadas were all excellent! The yuca bread is insane - so good! Exceptional house margarita too. I've seen comments here about poor service, but we had an excellent waiter who led us well through the menu.
(4)Huy P.
The octopus ceviche is good. It has a very good consistency. I think it could use some more fresh vegetables or some sort though. The AL pastor tacos delicious and so was the pescado tacos (perfect spice). Skip the twice fried plantains they were dry. Skip the deserts too. They are bland. But the yuca bread was unique and a good try! Overall I would come back.
(4)Hailie S.
Amazing amazing food. The platanos dos veces are a must and any of the ceviches are really great.
(5)Sarah W.
Leña has a great space, calm and open and right next to all the best South Broadway bars and concert venues. Since it just opened, it's easy to grab a table and sit down for dinner or small plates before you hit the streets. I read some other reviews claiming bland food, but I love flavor and spice and I thought the ceviche and tacos were great. They don't pile on salsa or guacamole, but the seasoning was just right. Four stars on food, but the service was a bit aloof, hence the old "A-OK" three.
(3)Sadie M.
Their food is soooo good. I got the pork chop and it was one of the best I've ever had! Their empanadas are sooooooooo good also!
(5)Patrick M.
Great new Latin American spot on S Broadway! The service was fantastic. Friendly, attentive staff that answered every question I had to ask...the cocktails were creative and delicious...I had the pork chop with black beans and rice. The pork chop was cooked perfectly, moist and succulent . This place will definitely pull me out of downtown again for sure .
(5)Jeff B.
Menu winners: -- red and white Sangria -- homemade chorizo -- yucca bread - worth dining here just for this side -- short ribs Many other unique dishes on the menu that we didn't get to. Beautiful night in Denver to sit by large open window table (there are 2).
(4)Katie W.
Solid Latin American cuisine, that felt unique for the area. I highly recommend the fish tacos, and the plantains dos veces were something unexpected and delicious. Empanadas were light and flaky but the filling was not as good as other things on the menu. Drinks sounded great but were more tequila heavy than expected; I would have preferred my Paloma to have more of the sweet tartness of fresh grapefruit juice. Oh and atmosphere was adorable -- this place would make a great date night or evening with friends. Plus it doesn't hurt that it's a few doors down from Sweet Action ice cream!
(4)Jessica G.
Very good drinks. Margarita was delish. The vegetarian options are yummy (since I am one) and everyone else thought meat eaters, agreed. I will be back!
(4)Wendy W.
Lena is our neighborhood bar. These people are family now, haha. The food is prepared with love as are the drinks. The serache Marg is great as is the sangria. We spent our vacation in Spain and it was wonderful to have Lena to fall back on once home. We've introduced many people, and they are always very happy. We've even run into friends we brought, bringing their friends. There is nothing I don't like on the menu, yucca bread, pulpo ceviche, shrimp and grits...everything is amazing and consistent. Love small plates and absolutely recommend this place!
(5)Lindi M.
Everything went smoothly and the food tasted great. The server, Tiara, was informative, friendly and cool- I could definitely be friends with her :) The prices were a little steep, but we went during happy hour so it was awesome. Tacos are usually $12 for 3 but happy hour is $2 tacos :) $5 margs. All in all- we'd come back
(5)Don M.
We went to Leña last night before a movie and really loved it. It was nice to be able to share a few plates and everything we tasted made is want to come back and try everything else on the menu! The menu is a little intimidating, because of all of the new and wonderful dishes, but the staff were very courteous and knowledgable of the menu and helped us understand what we were choosing. We WILL return!
(5)Allison T.
Went to the soft opening, so there was a limited menu, and no beer or wine. Everything was absolutely to die for!! The Bison was my favorite, we also had ceviche, rib eye, chicken chiliqueles, and duck meatballs. Everything was perfect. I knew it would be good because I love the food at Prohibition. We will be back!
(5)Brian W.
Great service and food. If you are looking for great Peruvian inspired food this is the place. The meat plates are great and all the meat is smoked to perfection. It is a fantastic place to get meet friends or have a romantic date. Easily the best restaurant on south Broadway right
(5)Leslie H.
We had the civeche ....which was delicious, but only a few bites. We also had the sea bass tacos, they were a bit bland. He best thing of the night was the yucca bread, a nice dish to share for sure. The service was good, and it's a nice restaurant (definitely better than the vintage store that was there before). One thing I'd like to see is bigger water glasses....seriously they're tiny little shot glass sized things. I'll probably give it another try, especially if they launch some sort of happy hour, but can't say I was wowed by my first visit.
(3)Joe S.
Good vibe brick walls and tin ceiling. Service food and ambience is great. Good price point. Varied menu that can be ordered per person or with two couples as tapas. Octopus ceviche esta muy delicioso and the cocktail menus is more than interesting
(4)Michael T.
Solid food, very reasonable prices. Happy hour is especially good. Looking forward to when they start brunch!
(4)A B.
We wandered into Lena last night and had a delightful experience. Our server Ashley was knowledgeable and attentive. Of the two delicious ceviches we had, the octopus was better. The tuna ceviche was fresh but a little bland. We loved the plantain chips that accompanied them. I enjoyed the empanadas verde con calabacitas but my husband thought the dough, made from plantains, was not flaky enough. We also had the coxinas de setas asadas, a kind of fritter featuring trumpet mushrooms. While the texture was good, the taste of mushrooms was not present. If they had been served hot, we would have enjoyed them more. All in all the food was quite good, the servers are attentive and the decor is elegant. The wine list had plenty of options under $10. Hopefully the high ceilings will absorb the din from the hard surfaces on a busy night. I'll have to return with friends soon to try more dishes.
(4)Amy p.
Wonderful new addition to the baker neighborhood. Intense and delicious flavor, you won't leave hungry or disappointed. Bring your friends. Cheers baker and welcome Lena...well done.
(5)Michael S.
Based on a friend's recommendation, we came to celebrate the end of my birthday week. It was packed on a Friday night, and we enjoyed having a table that was separate from the crowd, up against the window. As you might know, South Broadway is excellent for people watching. The space itself is great...interesting light fixtures, HUGE mirrors that open the space up, a second floor in back overlooking the front of the restaurant. The food itself was fine...we had fried plantains, yucca bread, two kinds of empanadas, tortilla soup, chilaquiles, and maybe a couple more things. Most of the food was good, but not great. The standouts were the dishes that had more balance. The dishes that were just good or OK desperately needed a hit of acid or another punch of flavor somewhere. I found myself longing for a lime juice squeeze bottle. All in all, it is good food in a very nice space. However...Denver is FULL of restaurants that fit this description, making it pretty mediocre.
(3)Kent T.
Lena might be great for the late night munchies along South Broadway, but for a dinner rendezvous with friends, we were all left apathetic. They seem to be angling for more a tapas-style selection, so maybe our expectations were skewed? We ordered a fairly good sample of entrees and sides, yet nothing really blew us away. We ordered ceviche, chicken/pork tacos, pescado tacos, fired plantains, chilaquiles, and papas. Of those, the ceviche was probably the best-received. The tacos were about average; I'd say the corn tortillas were the best feature on them. I was disappointed by the chilaquiles, as all the ingredients didn't seem to mesh very well. Nothing made me say : "this is terrible", yet nothing made me say: "wow. You guys should try this". If you're doing dinner, I'd suggest about 3 plates per couple. Hopefully your experience will be better than ours. The drink menu was exceptional. Plenty of selection for wine, beer and cocktails. You'll probably find something you'll like. More than 1 drink, per person, will jump your "Price Range" from "$$" to "$$$" (moderate to spendy).
(2)Ivan R.
Being Latin and having grown up in Panama, you can imagine my standards are going to be high for Latin cuisine. Many restaurants label themselves as "Latin", few actually represent well. It seems as though "Latin" typically means Mexican. I felt that the cocktail menu was well represented in the different latitudes of Hispanics regions. The food menu is tapas style with some nice selections that represented many countries. It caught my attention that there was no salt and pepper shakers on the table and quickly realize that it was not needed after our first empanadas came out. The chimichuri complemented then nicely. We followed that with the grilled artichoke (alcachofa), flank steak (falda), criollo chorizo, and had a side of the plantains (tostones), and the coconut rice (arroz con coco). I must say that chorizo was amongst the best I've ever had. Everything else was also very tasty. Overall I had some minor nick picks.. 1. Latin place = good rum. They had two bottles that I notice. Not an extensive selection. A bottle of Don Q and one of my favorites, Zaya. 2. The music! Playing the right music will complement you experience. Playing oldies 80's music just doesn't mesh well with the food. Where is my salsa and merengue?? Overall the libations were cleverly and uniquely mixed. Food was good, ambient and service was also great. Prices are a bit on the high side, but not out of this world.
(4)Carolyn M.
New favorite neighborhood restaurant! I had no idea this place existed until late last week (and I call myself a foodie...oh, the shame.) The space is awesome - hard to believe it used to be a furniture store. I enjoyed my upstairs table until a large party (aka a bunch of yellers) sat down next to me. I started with the Albacore Ceviche, which was delicious, and then shared the bison tacos and the seabass plate with my friend. We washed it all down with serrano margs - the perfect compliment to our excellent meal. Service was perfect - Ashley took great care of us. I look forward to returning!
(5)Claire C.
My friends couldn't stop raving about this new restaurant on Broadway so I decided to check it out myself. Oh man have I been missing out on this great spot for Latin American food! You feel instantly relaxed and at ease when you step in. The high ceilings and rustic chic decor add coolness among the hustle and bustle on this stretch of Broadway. My friend and I came here just in time for happy hour and sat down at the bar. Happy Hour: I'd say this is easily one of the best happy hours in Denver without a doubt. The menu has a good mix of drinks and food all under $10. Vegetarians will have no problem ordering something delicious off the menu. I had the fish taco and veggie empanadas. The fish was grilled and seasoned to perfection! The veggie empanadas was sort of bland and the thick dough was a bit overpowering. You have to get the bison taco! The Humitas was very good too! And don't forget the margarita!
(5)Lauren B.
After a year away from Denver, I returned to this gorgeous city and an enormous amount of new restaurants. When deciding on a new restaurant to try with a girlfriend, she suggested Lena on South Broadway. Having no idea what I was getting myself into, I agreed. Here's what I got myself into: the best Latin American cuisine I've experienced in Denver. The decor and ambiance is extremely well executed. Even upstairs in a space that could be described as tiny, the layout of tables works efficiently and doesn't deter from the overall experience. The bar itself is pretty grandiose, with fun lighting fixtures, and the tile on the ceiling adds to the trendy vibe. Having been back numerous times, I've sampled quite a few items on the menu. (And here's why the four star, instead of five, review: some of the portions are just too small for the price being charged. That said, I have enjoyed every dish I've tried.) All versions of empanadas are worth a go (though they are heavy on the dough and not necessarily the filling), with my personal favorite being the chicken and pork combo. I think the best thing on the menu is their chilaquiles, and the twice baked plantains were so good that I always end up ordering a second plate. Yes, I'm serious. Once, I went on a particularly rough day and ended up ordering just cocktails and dessert. I can't even remember which desserts were consumed, but I will swear that they were delightful. In terms of cocktails, I approve of the margaritas, pisco sours, and palomas. Do yourself a favor--put this one on your list.
(4)David T.
Been a year since we last did HH here and the reviews are getting better so thought we'd give them another try last night. Pretty quiet when we arrived about 5:00 pm so we got to sit at a table for four in the window which was closed and they wouldn't open it - grrr. Why have those great windows and not open them on a gorgeous afternoon? - I don't get it. Lots of flies inside, too - ick. Anyway, as I said, it was quiet and it still took forever to get our first margaritas ($5 HH). They were just as delicious as the last time though but again with all of the ice - ended up fishing some of the big cubes out and putting them in our water glasses which ironically don't have any ice. Subsequent drinks arrived more promptly and we liked our server very much. Food was very good with the exception of the fish tacos - really kind of mushy fish. Bison tacos 5 stars once we got some salsa for them. They really don't want to give it to you but it's excellent so make a little scene. Worked well on the superb pork and chicken empanadas - much better than the oily chimichurri that comes with them. Also tried the humitas (kind of an open faced tamale - not on the HH menu) - oh yes! Could make a meal of those. So, I still think they could bump up their happy hour offerings - still not bringing in much of a crowd. And, yes the house margs are only $5 but if you remove the icebergs you are really only getting about 1/2 a margarita. We still managed to spend $60. It's OK and once a year is probably about right for us.
(3)Alley V.
It makes me so happy that upscale Latin food is becoming more common in this city!! I had been looking forward to trying Lena for a few months and was absolutely not disappointed. Met friends for dinner on a Friday- it was surprisingly not that busy, though we were there a little on the early side. The service wasn't the most amazing, but also not terrible. It just seemed to take an extra long time to get our drinks (whether it was a margarita or water.) Speaking of- their house margarita's are pretty great! For starters I ordered the Patacones which I was SO excited for, I really love plantains! They were kind of disappointing, though. The plantains themselves had very very little flavor, like they weren't even salted. There were two mystery dipping sauces that were just all right. Those were not on the menu, however, so it was a complete guessing game in figuring out what they were. There was a yellow sauce that was a little sweet and a little banana-y, the other was a red/orange sauce that had a little spice to it. Neither were outstanding. Overall I was not thrilled with them- next time I will go with the twice baked plantains as I think those are probably more similar to the traditional West Indies style plantains I'm used to. My friend ordered the Papas (potatoes with a cheese sauce) which I thought were delightful, but she wasn't sold on. For dinner I ordered the Chilaquiles con Pollo which was delicious! For some reason I had it in my head that it was tacos, so I was very surprised when a small skillet came out to table, but wasn't at all upset.... especially after taking the first bite! The dish itself isn't the prettiest thing, but I've found that often times the more messy a plate looks, the better it tastes. Definitely excited to go back and try other things!
(4)Lauren D.
My dad was passive aggressively complaining that I chose a restaurant with "bad reviews" as we drove to Lena for my birthday dinner, but as our meal came to a close he was definitely eating his words. We all loved this place! Our waiter was super knowledgeable about the menu, which was key, and he was patient with our group of five, who I'll admit was being annoyingly indecisive. As for the food... incredible! We ordered a bunch of small plates and nothing disappointed. Between the five of us we tried the fish, bison and goat tacos, the veggie empanada, the twice baked plantains, humitas, asparagus, chilaquiles, a shrimp skewer and an order of the pan de yuca, which was easily the crowd favorite. The bison taco was a close second though. I'd recommend the house margarita but not so much on the red sangria. Already planning another trip back!
(4)Nina H.
Great brunch menu and wonderful decor! It isn't as crowded as other brunch spots on the weekends either. If you're feeling adventurous and want some Latin American/Mexican type food, this is your spot. I particularly enjoyed the short rib Benedict dish!
(5)DC A.
Their food dazzled my taste buds! The bison tacos were delish; the meat was very tender and rich. The coconut rice had a unique and light taste to it; definitely worth trying. Their Chilquiles were so delicious! They weren't too spicy, were crunchy and the chicken was nice and tender. I didn't care much for the cheesy papas. The papa's were cute and yummy, but I didn't care for the flavor and texture of the cheese. The service was excellent. The server was very attentive and gave great recommendations!
(4)Shea W.
First impression: this place is loud. And busy on a Friday at 10pm. And way too cool for me. Next impression: THOSE PEOPLE NEXT TO ME JUST GOT SERVED A BAZILLION CUTS OF MEAT ON A HUGE PIECE OF WOOD! Where is my waitress!? Margarita: so strong. so tart. so delicious. Sangria: eh. not my favorite. weird after taste Service: excellent. VERY busy and takes quite a bit of time to get your waiter/waitress' attention but they are so gracious about it! Very friendly and if your margarita takes extra time to come out they give it to you for free woot woot! Menu: So. Many. Options. We started with a hearts of palm salad that was tart and crisp. Then came the vegetarian empanada with this spicy dipping sauce (bonus: 2 huge empanadas for 8 bucks!). Then we got our flank steak...worth every pennnnny. I want to fill my bathtub with that chimichurri and put it on errything. Finally, we enjoyed some sea bass tacos (3 to an order, wish it had been 4). I can't wait to try the HH someday! Final impression: I am so cool eating Tapas at 10PM on a Friday. I deserve to get some Sweet Action ice cream.
(4)Briana B.
Excellent house margaritas and very fun "day of the dead" theme going. Fun ambience without being too loud. We really enjoyed sitting at the bar. Looking forward to trying more of the ceviches!
(5)Natalia K.
I absolutely loved Lena. Admittedly yes, it is a little expensive -- but if you're looking for upscale Latin food, it's a great place. I would highly recommend getting here during happy hour though (M-F 4-6pm). Margaritas/sangria/wine are $5 and you can get some tacos or empanadas for $3-$4. As for dinner, some of my favorites were: Pulpo a la Brasa de Roble (Octopus) -- admittedly it's a little pricey at $17, but the octopus is fantastically prepared. Tacos Barbacoa de Cabra (Goat Tacos) -- I'm a huge fan of goat, and these don't disappoint, although they are $14 for two. Camarones y Sémola (Mexican Shrimp & Grits) -- This is pretty awesome, but don't expect a huge plate ($16). BEST VALUE By far, the best decision we made was to get the "Mixto" -- which is pretty much a mixed meat platter (sorry vegetarians!). The "small" is $36 and should be good for 3-4 people (the large is $72). You might want to get some side veggies. Or not. I won't judge. Anyway, it includes the things below, if you're more interested in individual recommendations: - Chorizo (somewhat disappointing) - Blood sausage (slightly spicy and F'in amazing) - Short rib (pretty good) - Skirt steak (awesome) - Shishito peppers/potatoes (you need SOMETHING to go with all that meat I guess) AWESOMENESS OUT OF LEFT FIELD Side of "Pan de Yuca" for $4. I don't know what it is, but I could eat these fluffy puffs all night (and maybe I did).
(4)Tiffany N.
Lena has a pretty sexy feel. From the dim lighting to the dark wood, the delicious drinks to the food meant to be shared it is a place that works well for a date night or a night out with friends. Looking at the drink menu and trying to decide which one to order was monumentally hard for me because everything looked like something I wanted to drink. Eventually I went with the Serrano Margarita (espolon blanco/ serrano agave/ lime) for my first cocktail and the Pisco Sour (hacienda abuelo/lime/ simple/ egg white/ bitters) for my second and really enjoyed both. I will definitely want to go back and try others though, like the Gitano (hendrick's/ sage simple/ soda/ lime) or the Mezcal Hibiscus Old Fashioned (del maguey vida, hibiscus flower/ orange/ bitter.) For food, my table shared one of the ceviches, the Escabeche de Palmito salad (hearts of palm/ chayote squash/ apple/ red onion/ tomatoes/ watermelon/ sherry vinegar), the vegetarian enchiladas (green plantain dough/ spinach/ cotija/ corn/ ancho chili/ aji rojo), the twice fried plantains, the Papas, and the flank steak. There wasn't one dish among of of these that I didn't like. It's probably worth mentioning that I am a fan of sharing plates and Lena is definitely a shared plates kind of place so I really enjoyed that. I'm also a big fan of plantains and enjoy pretty much any place in Denver that serves them because they are rarely served here. It is definitely loud, but not so loud that I couldn't hear what the people at my table talking. All in all I really enjoy it!
(4)Sophie L.
Food was good and cool ambiance but portions were small and it's a tad overpriced. We were there for happy hour with a group and ordered a bunch of tacos, empanadas, meatball and shrimp with cheesy grits. The tacos were delish: they were out of the goat but both the bison and fish tacos were yummy. The bison was a personal favorite. They were $3.5 during happy hour but just too small. The veggie empanadas were the best out of the empanadas. Meatball and shrimp were okay. The Yuca bread balls (or whatever you call them) were AMAZING!! I can have a whole cheat meal of just those things. That made the whole meal worth it. Overall, worth checking out since the flavor of food is yum.
(4)Diana K.
Got lucky and hit this cute spot during happy hour. Drinks are nice and strong and happy hour food menu was delicious and cheap!! Got a couple regular dishes. The octopus ceviche was one of the best I've tried.
(4)Nick C.
In the mood for some tacos, we came here on a Saturday afternoon. The lower floor was packed already probably since happy hour had just started. We wound up on the top floor which was a relief since it was pretty loud on the main floor. Even on the top floor the noise carried which gives you an idea of how loud it can get. Acoustics aside, we were beyond pleased with our happy hour experience. We each ended up with an array of happy hour dishes and drinks. The $2.50 12 oz drafts were the best bargain off the happy hour menu. My fiancé had both a white and red sangria at a reasonable $5/sangria. She thought both were good and refreshing but favored the white. We each had the fish, bison, and goat tacos at $3 apiece. Although not the best deal considering they're street taco size, I guess they constitute the price considering they weren't just the trite pork, beef, or deep fried variety you can get anywhere. Each one was delicious with the goat being both of our favorites. We also had the vegetable empanada and escabeche de palmito. The hearts of palm salad was delicious and perfect for a hot summer day with the included watermelon. We certainly found a new food and drink happy hour staple to add to our list.
(4)Aaron P.
If I can find a great cocktail before the meal starts, I find that I'm usually in for delicious food to follow. I had the Mezcal old fashioned, which easily jumped into my top 3 cocktails in CO. I was unfamiliar with Mezcal but the bartender described its smoky, scotch like flavor which sold me. Getting to the food, we had the octopus ceviche to start which I highly recommend. Very refreshing with the citrus and tomatillo dressing. We also had the yuca bread which is served hot and fresh. It actually does not contain gluten but has this slightly chewy texture that kept me going back for more. We also had the pork belly which was cooked perfectly with this savory BBQ on top. I would definitely come back for all these items I mentioned but their entire menu sounds delicious! I'll be back again to explore!
(5)Tony S.
Amazing happy hour! Andy is awesome and the beers and menu are superb, truly is a place to experience!
(5)Dwayne W.
This place is awesome I can't give it enough praise. Service check, Food check, Drinks check! This place isn't missing anything, great local, cool staff and great food.
(5)Rose Y.
Lena is a trendy place situated conveniently on Broadway. The service was good, but not great. Our waitress was nice, but seemed a bit impatient, as if other tables were much more important. The food came out quickly and was delicious, however. In particular, the pork and chicken empanadas were amazing. The yuca bread and coconut rice are also really unique and to die for. Presentation was great, and drinks are strong. It was louder inside than we expected, but it was still a fun atmosphere. Overall, great place to go with friends!
(4)Rachel C.
I've been to Leña twice now and have really enjoyed the experience. The ambiance and decor inside is beautiful - I am obsessed with the high ceilings and exposed brick! The food is delicious, and very reminiscent of the many meals I had when visiting Bogota last summer. Favorite dishes: PAN DE YUCA, ceviche de pulpo, chicken and pork empanadas, shishito peppers (Seriously, if you are a carb/cheese fiend like I am, order yourself a serving of pan de yuca. It is delightful.) Not-so-favorite dishes: Pork belly, bison tacos The only major downsides I've found is that when the restaurant gets busy, it can get pretty loud and service tends to slow down. Haven't visited during Happy Hour, but it seems like a great deal (all less than $10) and has a good sampling of dishes to try.
(4)Julie R.
We went to Lena on Saturday. Aside from having a really cool décor and awesome food, the service was a little lacking. Our server was slow and it seemed as if the tables around us got served before us even though we had been sitting there before them. The prices are a little high, but the food is awesome! I recommend this place when you have some time to sit and share some great food. However, bring money, it can get expensive.
(4)dana m.
Stopped in on a weeknight around 5:30 and there was a decent crowd already. It's a chill, yet trendy spot with some pretty awesome specials during happy hour. $5 margaritas, 3.50 tacos and a few other small plates (shishito peppers - get them). The staff was very nice and service was great. Get there early - happy hour runs from 4-6 and the bar fills up quickly.
(4)Kam D.
3.75 The space and decor are really nice. Good location. The food was pretty good. I had the Huevos Benedict with bison short rib. It wasn't bad. Would have been better if the eggs had not been overcooked. Even though the flavors were good, if you offer an eggs Benedict dish the absolute last thing you want to do is over-poach the eggs. My gf had the chilaquiles which was really good and I ended up finishing them for her since the benedicts I had were kind of small. I also really enjoyed their guava mimosas. I'd give this place 4 stars but the service was a little spotty. No one ever likes having to wait around or having to flag the server down especially if you offer bottomless mimosas and your drink has been empty for a few minutes. Overall I like this place as a brunch option and would probably go back.
(3)Cara C.
I went here for dinner with my P4L (platonic partna 4 life), who I was visiting in Denver from Detroit. Leña's food was delicious; the food was a good mix of unique and accessible, interesting and familiar. However, the best part of our dining experience was most certainly the service. I have a nut allergy, and my friend called beforehand to see if Leña would be able to accommodate. To my delighted surprise, they were so kind and thoughtful. The manager responded to my friend to let her know exactly what on the menu was safe. Upon arriving, the waitstaff greeted us and ensured us that they were aware of and prepared for my nut allergy. It was a really positive experience, which made the food all the better to enjoy. I don't remember *exactly* what we had, but everything was fantastic. As we all know, the environment and people can certainly make or break a place. Leña was superb, and there are a ton of cool bars in the area to make a night out of dinner & drinks.
(5)Kate L.
Leña is superb. I will absolutely return. With its polished wood floor, high ceilings, twinkling lights and balcony, Leña's interior is stunning. Neither pretentious nor overly homey, Leña strikes that rare (but truly Coloradoan) balance between upscale and relaxed. It is the perfect spot for a group of close friends, a first date, an intimate dinner for two, or a celebration. Score a seat on the balcony, and enjoy an exquisite view of the bar while you dine. The menu is a blend of comfort (chilaquiles in a cast iron dish topped with a fried egg, yuca bread, fried plaintains), classic (albacore ceviche, tacos, empanadas), and culinary (exquisitely flavorful pozole with braised pork, octopus ceviche). I highly recommend ordering multiple dishes to share, rather than committing your palette to one dish. Also, treat yourself to Leña's fine collection of cocktails: Chupacabre and La Recoleta are my favorites. The service is attentive, unobtrusive and helpful. Afterwards, wander onto the streets of South Broadway where the day or night will take you to a new adventure.
(4)john W.
So good! We went with friends and had a blast. The food is quite good, very tasty. It's kinda like tapas, but not as stupidly priced as most tapas places. Some of the dishes are better for just one like the soups. The yummy cheesy bread things were amazing. The Skirt steak dish was good but my "medium" and theirs wasn't the same. Oh well. Can't wait to go back
(5)Kristen H.
Pretty good, but not awesome. Sat at the bar because there was a wait, and the bar had plenty of room and was really cute. The good: service at the bar was great, really liked the bartender. Loved the drink selection and the Serrano marg was delicious. The short rib tacos and octopus ceviche were delicious. The bad: had the pork belly which was just ok (kind of dry for pork belly which is very unusual), the chorizo was not my favorite and came solely as 2 links of meat with a sauce. Just odd, as chorizo is not typically served by itself. The flavor was not great. Had the potatoes as one of the sides which was served with some type of cheese sauce. Very flavorless and the cheese sauce was weird. Needed seasoning badly. Also ordered the artichoke and was very disappointed. It was boiled and then grilled but seriously lacking in any flavor at all. It looked like they threw it on the grill for maybe a minute. It was so full of water that every time we ate a leaf, water was dripping onto our laps. It had random peppercorns throughout the leaves which was extremely odd. Just a watery, boiled artichoke with some grill marks and a lemony dipping sauce. For $9 no less. Not good. Overall it's a very cute place and I liked the drink selection. There was no music which I also thought was weird, and as many other reviews said, it can get quite loud. I'm still debating on whether I'd go back to eat as I really didn't love the food.
(3)Heather L.
Leña has quickly become one of our favorite places to eat in Denver. The food is awesome and unique and never disappoints! We love the cocktails. If you want a unique one, check out the Chupacabra. The ice cream sandwich on the dessert menu is quite possibly the most delicious thing I've had in a long time! They just redid the recipe and it is OMG awesome. Don't miss the Yucca bread. While deceptively simple, these little soft pillows of yucca and cheese are incredible (and GF)... Just trust me and order them already!
(5)Riza H. C.
Sunday November 2nd 2014 Time :16:00hrs. I went with 2 lovely girlfriends. TAKE NOTE: LENA ONLY Offer Happy Hour on WEEKDAYS aka (Mondays-Fridays). *Sad Face Indeed* For the Menu, there are several to choose and eat... but personally for me, it was just ok.. Maybe I did ordered the wrong items from the Menu. Anyways from The Menu I opt to have these : * Ceviche de Pulpo ($12.00) Slices of Octopus, Tomatillo, Lime, Red Onion, Tomato, Aji Jalapeño, Avocado and Thinly Plantain Chips on the side of the plate. This appetizer tends to have more Lime and Avocado tasting than anything else. *SIGH* It was indeed a disappointing Appetizer though I cannot deny, the Octopus is being thinly sliced. * Empanada Horneado con Picadillo ($7.00) This dish comes with 2 Empanadas stuffed with Beef, Chopped Egg, Peppers, Chopped Olive and Chimichurri Dipping Sauce. My Highlight Dish was the Beef Empanada though its just 3 stars. Its savory. I so wish I could have more. They could do better in terms of providing, different dipping sauces, or salsas etc *DOUBLE SIGH* While my friends ordered and we shared these items : * Platanos dos Veces ($6.00) Twice baked plantains, Chihuahua Cheese and Fresh Garlic Herb Sauce * Empanada Verde con Calabasitas ($7.00) Green Plantain Dough, Squash, Tomato, Corn and Chimichurri Balsamic dipping sauce * Coxinhas de Setas Asadas ($8.00) Roasted Royal Trumpet Mushrooms, Refito, Tomato, Smoked Apple, Green Pepper and Mushroom Reduction * Papas a la Huancaina ($3.00) Peruvian Potatoes with Huacatay Cheese Sauce * Patacones ($3.00) Twice Fried Plantains. If I am NOT mistaken these Plantains comes with Habanero Peach Dipping Sauce. * Pan de Yuca ($4.00) Yuca Bread, these reminds me of those Pao de Queijo (aka Brazilian Cheese Puffs) offered at those Brazilian Steakhouse. * Extra Chimichurri Classico ($0.50) C, ordered these : * Tacos de Pescado ($13.00) Chili Spiced Seared Sea Bass, Queso Cotija, Mango Salad and Crema Naranjilla * Empanada Cujiente con Cerdo y Pollo ($7.00) Roasted Pork, Chicken, Potato, Green Onion, and Chimichurri Picante For Desserts we shared the following items : * Dulce de Leche Sandwich de Helado ($7.00) Thankfully, this Dessert comes in 3 individual Ice Cream Sandwiches which are House-made Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, and house-made Graham Cookies * Bunuelos ($7.00) Its like "churros"... so flaky, so light, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and comes with a dipping sauce of chili chocolate - ITS SO ADDICTIVE!! Just take note, some of the pricing may differ from the Online Menu and the Actual Restaurant Menu. All in all, its a cool place, the ambience to chill out with friends. This establishment tends to be quiet. Maybe due to the fact when we went, it was FOOTBALL GAME ON that evening. No one is there. Good in my books, so I can catch up with my friends. Both my friends like the ambience and the food they had and shared. They are willing to come back with their other friends or significant other. Our server her name is Ashley A, is OUTSTANDING. She answers all our questions and queries about the food etc.. Ashley makes sure our water as part of our beverages are filled whenever it comes empty. YES, the food came out periodically but I feel there are ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT in terms of the Menu to excite me to come back. When we split the bill into 3, it comes $37 with tax and tips. Good to my pockets and I was slightly stuffed that evening. MIGHT return when needed Though NOT In A Hurry In My Books. We end our Dinner at about 18:00hrs ish. Check # : 5116 Table : B5/1 Guests : 3 LENA 24 Broadway, Suite #104 Denver, CO 80203 Tel : (720)-550-7267 @206/2014
(3)MaryAnna F.
Ate here last week for the first time & will, for sure, be back! It was a little loud upstairs & hard to hear, but the food more than made up for it - I ate till I was stuffed!! I went with two friends and it was perfect as most of the shared plates came out with three items. I started with the watermelon-tomato gazpacho that was delicious, and we ended up ordering another for my friends to share. We moved on to yuca bread, sea bass tacos (spicy and so good), the artichoke (meh, wouldn't order again), the short ribs (will absolutely order again!!! Divine!!), and ended with an order of the chicken chilaquiles, which might actually be one of my favorite dishes I have had at a restaurant. Completely took me by surprise!! Putting the sauce from the short ribs on the grilled tomato changed my life. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Vera R.
I am Mexican and a good friend moving to Costa Rica brought me here so we can both fast and talk Latin America. The menu online look pretty good, when we got there the place looked open, modern, lots of space. We sat at the bar and Andy tuck care of us he not only knew the menu but the flavors and ingredients. The whole experience was amazing. I recommend it!!! Octopus ceviche was my favorite!!! Will be coming soon to taste more.
(5)Kelly R.
Visited Lena for the first time on the recommendation of an old friend- we had a blast! It was very busy, but we bellied up to the bar where we were greeted by two very cool and quite charming bartenders, Andy & John. The drinks were fabulous - I can't recall what I had but I stuck with it all night it was so refreshing. It had Hendricks, agave, and lime juice. Amazing. The food. Where do I begin? I am not a duck or lamb person, but I really enjoyed the dishes here. Duck meatballs?? Very inventive and tasty. I can't wait to return and try more of their fare. I love trying new restaurants - especially when they turn out to be as great of an experience as Lena.
(4)A G.
Meh. I've experienced better. I went there on a date. The waitresses are helpful, but the hostess had an attitude about not seating my date and I next to the noisy street outside or the loud community-style tables. The entrées are serviceable but uninspired, and the portions are small for what you pay. The decor is nice, and their upstairs seating is quiet enough to have a conversation folks you come with. The overall theme is kitschy, but they make an effort so I think they've earned two stars.
(2)Jessica L.
Nice modern space. Very loud, Friday at 7 was likely not the best time to pick for dinner. Basically had to scream at my husband if we wanted to talk. Drinks were great, highly recommend the Serrano marg. Sadly the food didn't hit the spot for me. We have so many great options in Denver and I cannot say this would be a restaurant I would recommend to a friend. Bison tacos were unbelievably salty. Shrimp and grits were nothing to write home about. Ceviche with plantain chips was the best, but awkward to eat. Based on reviews we should have opted for the meat plate.
(3)Ashley A.
Leña was fabulous. I came in with some friends, one of which has crazy food allergies, and our waitress didn't even bat an eye at accommodating her needs. The menu was so diverse, we all found many things to share and enjoy! The ambiance is great, the space is gorgeous, and I'm pretty sure the owner came over and touched our table, just to make sure we were content. The pair of men behind the bar were making their guests laugh all night, and played some really fun music. Our waitress was well informed and all smiles, all night. You can tell everyone really loves what they do there. As far as the actuall food and drinks are concerned, 5 stars across the board. The ceviches were delightful, the meats were perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the rest of our tapas had great range from savory to spicy. Maragritas done coin style hit the spot, and our waitress recommended the perfect bottle of wine to compliment our meal. We left full, happy and elated at finding this new jem in the Baker neighborhood. We will be back time and time again! Thanks guys! Keep up the amazing work, you have definitely earned your 5280 top 10 spot in my book!
(5)Oliver V.
Made a reservation on a Monday for dinner for 2 on a Friday. Arrived early for my table, and my date an I waited over 40 mins to be seated. After asking the hostess why other people were being seated the manager came over apologized offered to pay for a round of drinks and we were seated. That was nice of him and I appreciated the gesture.the drinks were good. If you go on a first date I would NOT recommend it because it is very loud and hard to hear over the crowd. Dinner was interesting I do wish I would have ordered the fish ceviche instead of having the waiter talk us into the octopus ceviche which was a green salsa and line ceviche. It was ok. We also had the coconut rice it was good. Shrimp skewer , can't really mess that up and the grilled asparagus. All in all it wasn't bad, but not as great as I heard it was . I would go back to give it a second try .
(3)Nora B.
We had a great meal at Leña. Duck meatballs were delicious. We cleverly got a side of Pan de Yuca to dip in the sauce...turns out Pan de Yuca is a puffy, chewy, cheesy little bit of tastiness on its own. Fish tacos were also really good, but on the spicy side. Only miss was the plantains stuffed with cheese...I normally love a sweet or fried green plantain, but these had that bitter, unripe banana thing going. Nice drink list, nice atmosphere, and friendly unpretentious people.
(5)Brian P.
The food here is fantastic! Leña is tapas style, which I love. The only reason why I didn't give this place a fifth star is because it's a little pricy for tapas. With that said, you're getting what you pay for! My girlfriend and I had the Tacos Carnitas de Bisonte, the Tlacoyos con Cerdo and the popular Chilaquiles con Pollo. We were very happy with everything we got. GET THE CHILAQUILES!!! They're amazing!! The house margs are great too. For dessert, we got the bunuelos, which are like fancy churros. Delish!
(4)David M.
If you're out on a date and later you happen to get lucky, and the gettin' of the luckiness had some reason directly related to having taken your date to the Lena, then it seems only right to give that restaurant a rating of 5 glorious stars. Just sayin. So . . . we chanced on the Lena after leaving a movie at the Mayan. We learned that they call it "Lena" (don't forget the enye over the "n," and by the way, in Spanish Lena with an enye means "firewood") 'cause they grill over an open flame using white oak as the fuel. On a scale of 1-5, this place is a 9 on the hipster scale. That, however, turned out to be a nice thing. Good hipster folks serving great hipster food. Had a few reasonably priced glasses of Malbec ($8/pop). Started the food part of the meal with the octopus ceviche which was unusual and truly excellent. Followed that up with their spectacular version of shrimp and grits with basil (god, were those grits corn-iliciously tasty!), had a side of wood-grilled asparagus with delicate Mexican cotija and lemon, and finally split a 9 oz. ribeye with prolly the best chimichurri sauce I've ever had outside of South America. All-in-all one of the best tapas meals I can remember having. And now about that dessert . . . Well that's a private affair and you should be ashamed of yourselves for using your sick spoiled brat imaginations to even consider the matter. And by that, you Golden Glober Tina Fey fans will know exactly what I mean. rollingstone.com/tv/feat… Whistfully, David "Loves 5 stars" M.
(5)Stacy P.
I'm so glad to have Lena in the neighborhood! Our first visit here was fantastic, and the host and server we had were informative and efficient. The food was amazing (can't say how happy I am to have a "nice dining" alternative to B&W, which is just meh in my book). The only thing I would recommend - stop back and ask if guests would like to order more! First, your food is that good! Second, the small plate concept lends itself to ordering a couple things at a time rather than everything all at once. Our server just came back when we finished our first small/medium plates and left the check (but not in the "hint hint" fashion, as they weren't that busy). No worries though - I'll definitely be back!
(4)Tammy B.
A new neighborhood favorite. I'm still working my way through the menu but my favorites today are the Ceviche de Pulpo and the Escabeche de Palmito. They have a wonderful happy hour from 4-6 and you can make a meal out of those selections alone, but I'd definitely recommend venturing out to other sections of the menu. The wait staff is great and friendly, even though it's a busy, busy place, especially during warm summer evenings. But my favorite thing to do is to go sit at the bar. All of the bartenders are friendly and knowledgable about food and drink pairings, totally open to suggestions and happy to share insights into why certain things pair well with others. They also have a good time and you can't help but get caught up in it and before you know it everyone around you is sharing stories, experiences and recommendations from the menu.
(5)Erin M.
Lena is a great addition to the neighborhood. Loved the exposed brick, the morovian stars, the large mirrors and the stately bar. The food tastes as great as the space looks. We ordered the mixto plate, the coconut rice, the yucca bread and the shrimp and grits. It was plenty for the 3 of us. As a group that has collectively traveled to most of the countries represented on the menu, we found the food to be authentic and flavorful (Forgive me in advance if that sounds pretentious), and sampling the various asados brought stories of travels and fun. The group favorite was the bison. The texture of the chorizo wasn't my favorite, but was a hit with the rest of the crowd. The rice had a nice savory/sweet flavor that had me coming back for more and the yuca bread was addictive as others have mentioned. I'm not a seafood fan, but the shrimp and grits were quickly polished off. For dessert we had the ice cream sandwiches, which fortuitously came 3 to a plate. The caramel flavor was a dream and easily allowed me to let go of the fact that we couldn't walk over to Sweet Action (closed in January) for dessert. The service was the cherry on top of this great experience. Our server was friendly, attentive and explained everything on the menu (and made great recommendations) beautifully.
(4)Amy S.
This place is phenomenal! I went back a second time because the happy hour plates were so good. So far I've had the humitas, bison tacos, short ribs, shrimp & grits, fried platains, yuca bread, and the chilaquiles and everything is incredible. I'm not even a chilaquiles fan but these were fantastic! The service is great, the atmosphere is inviting, while it is loud, it didn't seem as hipster as some of the other places. I'm not sure what would be suitable for children but there were families there.
(5)Katie G.
We started with the ceviche de pulpo (octopus ceviche). I was skeptical, but hands down it was the best thing there. The flavors were spot on and the kick in the end was nice. We moved into the goat tacos. Not my favorite and it seemed like it needed a little something else on it. The yuca bread and shrimp and grits were also delicious. Seriously, all you need is some bourbon, or spicy margarita, and that octopus ceviche.
(4)Lisa P.
Went last night and had a great dinner. The pan, tostones, short rib tacos and chilaquiles were some of our groups faves. Minus one star because the upstairs was pretty hot and super loud. Other than that, our server and the food were awesome.
(4)Cody C.
The saving grace for this place is the food and cocktails. The service is deplorable! We spent more time waiting on food and drinks than we did actually enjoying our food. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(3)Stephanie N.
Love everything about the place! Food is Amazing, great bartenders! But can you turn down the lighting at night?!
(5)Kim Y.
Went for a blend of happy hour and small plates from main menu. The margaritas were delicious and fresh. Just three ing.fresh lime, tequila and agave so one can order it less sweet. The standout was gazpacho. Also had sea bass tacos, shrimp & grits (just a bit salty) and fried plantains (would opt for regular version next time). Service was perfect.
(5)A S.
I went for brunch. the service was terrible. the ser ers were hanging out at the bar with their friends. I had french toast. it was raw in the middle and the flavor was rather pedestrian. the space is cute
(2)Crystal C.
Really enjoyed my meal here! I got the Tacos de Pescado, a Paloma marg and also tried the La Recoleta drink. I'm not normally a fan of fish tacos but these were REALLY good! I enjoyed the Paloma but some of my friends didn't. I chalk it up to personal preference. The La Recoleta drink was pretty spectacular.
(4)Jake V.
Anything coming off of the wood-fired grill is fantastic. The service is also great. Some of the other menus are a bit hit or miss: The Hits: Anything off the grill, particularly the steaks and short ribs Ceviche Plantains Blood sausage The kind of misses: Potatoes The beans that ride along with the braised short ribs
(4)Stacie S.
We celebrated our anniversary at Lena last night, and it was fantastic. We had a party of 7, including 3 kids...so we asked the waiter to just bring us his favorites and we ate family-style. Standouts were the octopus ceviche, fish tacos, and the mixto, which the kids requested seconds of. My father-in-law loved the blood sausage and my fave was the bison. The kids loved the fried plantains. The waiter recommended a lovely bottle of Malbec, which was perfect with the food. The owner sent over a round of port when we were too full for dessert, as an anniversary gift, and it was the perfect way to end our meal. I loved the space, the decor, and the vibe of the restaurant....and the owner mentioned that they are building out the downstairs to create a private dining room, which would be perfect for a holiday party!
(5)Aimee G.
Solid, tasty noms and good service! The drinks were hit or miss, and we enjoyed the hell out of the yuca bread and tacos. Definitely get the tacos! I had the bison steak plate and while it was good the tacos were really where it's at. I enjoyed myself, but wasn't blown away.
(3)Lala R.
Amazing. Best food I've had in the 6 months I've lived in Colorado. It is worth seeking out. I would order everything again but if I have to pick two things I would recommend the yuka bread and the artichoke. I've never had anything like the yuka bread, absolutely delightful. Other menu items we enjoyed, the lamb, the sea bass, asparagus, coconut rice, tuna seviche, hearts of Palm seviche, mojitos.
(5)Lara W.
We went to Lena's on this past beautiful Sunday afternoon for brunch. Arriving rather early, we did not have a wait, but it was wonderful that we could make reservations unlike some places (Snooze) where reservations are not accepted and you could concievably be waiting for an hour or more for a table. We were promptly seated in the loft space that overlooked the rustic, but beautiful dining room. Grand mirrors, reclaimed wood floors, restoration lighting and a bar bejeweled with the most eclectic and beautiful collection of spirits made me immediately want to move into the gorgeous space (which was once a vintage furniture shop). Our server was prompt and friendly. Our drinks came quickly and did not disappoint! I enjoyed the Gitano (like a latin gin and tonic) my husband, a Micheleda. We ordered a starter of Cachitos for the table, which tasted very much like a ham & cheese croissant, but the flavorful salsa on the side gave it a latin touch. My meal of Camarones Y Semla (latin shrimp & grits) was cooked perfectly and filled me up sufficiently. The only thing I longed for was a bit more spice, plus I kept stealing some of my husband's delicious chimchurri sauce from his side of chorizo (served with a roasted heirloom tomato) to dip my shrimp in! As we dined the place began to fill up and was a full house by the time we left. The large, open garage doors at the front of the house let in the warm breeze as well the the busy chatter on Broadway. All in all, an excellent meal, great service and a BEAUTIFUL space! Loved it!
(5)Aaron W.
This place is a cool new offering on south Broadway. I would definitely recommend checking this place out if you live in the area. We were there for happy hour so we decided to check out the tacos. First note, the beers on happy hour are "12 oz" but they come in what appears to be half of a pint glass. I can't say I measured it, and they were only $2.50 but the glass seemed a bit small. The tacos now, for $2 each are a great deal. These are street tacos like what many of the other new trendy places are doing, only they are definitely bigger. Bigger then Pinche Tacos, bigger then Machete, and bigger then anywhere else I know that serves street tacos. Them being bigger makes them a great deal. They only have 3 offerings, and I would say the Buffalo was awesome, the Pork was good, and the fish I would pass on next time (I'm somewhat picky about fish tacos). The standout of the night was the yucca bread. One order came with 5 pieces and they disappeared from the plate. I honestly wanted to order more to take home with me. Slightly crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside. You have to try these. Overall the place was good for happy hour, though I'm not sure I would come back for dinner. The menu looked interesting but seemed like they wanted to charge for a higher level of food then what was being offered. That said, if I'm in the area for happy hour I will definitely go back.
(4)Maureen M.
Had my first and certainly not my last meal at Lena for Sunday brunch. The huevos benedicts with bison short rib were delicious - not too heavy with a helping of tasty arugula on the side. The pan de yuca makes a nice change from the usual English muffin. The interior is very clean and open and manages to also look warm and inviting. Especially worth noting is my waitress Ashley. Ashley had helpful recommendations, was the right mix of professional and unobtrusive while being personable (not easy to pull off!), and clearly loves where she works. Looking forward to trying dinner!
(4)Daniela B.
I was so excited to see Ecuadorian staples in the menu as well as other south American dishes that I couldn't make a reservation quick enough. We were a group of 4 (3 Latin Americans) and were totally excited about the menu and ordered pretty much one of each except for the tacos/Central American dishes as we were more excited about the other dishes....plus, Denver has enough Mexican dishes all around. We started with the octopus ceviche with fried plantains that was light and delicious and the palmitos escabeche which was a nice surprise of beautiful flavours with the sharp vinegar. We then went for the chicken and pork empanadas and the empanadas de verde. The empanadas the verde were too fussy...the plantain dough is delicate and mild so the filling was too strong and overpowering but the plantain dough taste and consistency were great. The chicken and pork empanadas reminded us of Chilean versions and the chimichurri sauce was nice and spicy. We followed with the lamb with fava beans and hominy...delicious! The sea bass that was spectacular, and the goat tacos ( which were our least favorite). The morcilla (blood sausage) was well made. As sides, the llapingachos were very authentic and tasty....we wanted some to go as well as the warm yuca bread. The patacones were crisp, salty and warm, and the patatas a la huancaina were ok, but sauce was not the best. We still saved space for dessert and couldn't resist ordering the buñuelos...they were good, but tasted more like churro sand the dulce de leche ice cream sandwich was nice. Service was friendly and quick and we enjoyed the place and dish variety. Will be back
(5)Ryan S.
Our server Ashley was amazing. She had to deal with a complicated order and a demanding guest at our dinner last night. I will say that she did it with a smile and a great attitude when I knew that she did not want to. Sadly..... I thought that some of the food was great.... and some of it was not. But in the end the true hero of the night that kept our dinner alive was Ashley. Thanks Ashley Ryan Santric
(2)K M.
This restaurant focuses on the cuisine of Cuba and Puerto Rico mainly. The brunch menu offered unusual dishes, which is nice. On our last visit it started off slow. Service was slow at start, they seemed understaffed. Luckily the bartender was in the ball got our drinks and took our order. The drinks a yummy and stiff. The Bloody Mary was perfect with jalapeños muddled in. The kitchen was running slow that morning too. But the wait was not too bad with good drinks and conversation. Once the kitchen was back on line food literary flew out the kitchen. All at once it seems. The chorizo was delicious with a black pudding texture I enjoyed. The eggs were a little salty and the yucca biscuit were dry and chewy, with a weird Mochi like texture. I'll go back and try their dinner menu too. Overall pretty good.
(3)Kristine N.
Meat platter was expensive and just OK. The sausages were salty. The Korean BBQ was bland. The steaks were good though. I ordered the skillet with tortillas, shredded chicken, and cheese. It was very very very yummy, I liked it a lot. Imagine nachos mixed together in a skillet, baked, and smothered. The octopus ceviche is one of the best I've had.
(3)