Best Contemporary American Restaurants in Downtown / LoDo

The Corner Office is a great place to go before a DCPA show, just make reservations ahead of time as they fill up. Food is good and service is excellent. It's our go-to place, when we remember to call ahead! The chicken and waffles are great for Brunch, the grilled cheese with tomato soup is a great quick lunch, as is the french dip sandwich. Generous portions cooked well.

My sister and I went for a late dinner. This place was gorgeous! Great ambiance, lovely, knowledgeable waitress and great drinks! The food was good too! The only thing I would say is we ordered steak medium well and it came out a bit undercooked. We were so hungry that we went ahead with most of it except for the centerpieces that were just too undercooked for us to eat. When our waitress came over to check on us, we told her about it… She assured us that it could be cooked longer, but since we only had a few pieces left, we did not take the offer. However, we did order dessert and she ended up comping us the dessert to our surprise! Overall, this was a very good experience and a beautiful place! Although it was too cold to sit out on the rooftop patio… they encouraged us to walk out and take a tour… It was breathtaking! Make your reservation ☺️

Brutø is next-level dining—seriously, what a ride! From the second you walk in, it’s clear this place isn’t messing around. The vibe? Modern, cozy, and a little edgy, like it knows it’s cool but doesn’t need to try too hard. Even the plates, bowls, and cutlery were so on point that I caught myself thinking, “I need to step up my dinnerware game.” We went big with the 11-course tasting menu, and wow—just wow. Each course was like opening a little gift, perfectly wrapped and full of surprises. Every single dish had a story, a purpose, and a whole lot of heart behind it. You could feel the thought and care that went into not just the food, but the entire experience. The flavors were bold and inventive but somehow still comforting. Oh, and everything? Sustainable in some way, which made me love this place even more. And Lauren, our expert in literally everything…absolute rockstar! She didn’t just bring us food; she brought us into the food. The way she described each dish and wine pairing—like she was giving us the inside scoop on a masterpiece—made the whole night feel like a VIP event. Plus, her energy was infectious. You could tell she loved what she was doing, and it made all the difference. This isn’t just dinner; it’s a full-on experience. Brutø is the kind of place that makes you want to tell everyone you know about it and then book your next visit before you’ve even left. I’m counting the days until I can go back and hopefully see Lauren again. If you’re on the fence—go. Just go. You’ll thank me later.

The food was well prepared and hot. The ambiance was quiet and a good place for conversation. The Nickel is located close to the DCPA complex, so it is convenient to enjoy a meal and walk to the complex.

Had the best time! Even sitting on my own, I felt part of the group and enjoyed the drag bingo a lot. Miss Zarrah miss America jackson turned the party!!! Can’t wait to come again and again!