Restaurants near Lower Downtown Historic District

Christmas Dinner with my son at Venice Ristorante in Denver. Great view across from a decorated Union Station. Reservations at 6pm, sat at 6:15. Bread service was an ample amount for two with leftovers. Worth the price as far as volume but not overwhelmingly amazing. Appetizer: fried zucchini and calamari. Zucchini was amazing! Calamari needed salt but well cooked. Spicy marina dipping sauce, very mild, zero heat. Enough for 3 people. Entrees: Gnocchi with Burrata was incredible and a large portion. We took half home. Excellent texture and taste. Highly recommend. Piccata: well cooked, could cut with a fork, mash potatoes silky, veggies average. Three huge pieces, easy dish to split, if desired. Pics of of not great due to lighting. Huge shout out to the manager and hostess. There was an elderly gentleman that missed the stairs and fell face first on the floor, resulting in a bloody facial lacaration and injuries. They did great with a packed restaurant on Christmas, handling the situation. Holiday dining note: our server was great, I ashed him about his night and he seemed reserved. I said I hoped he was making some good holiday money with nice customers. And he his face dropped. He was so sweet and said not really, no one’s tipping or really nice. We did our best to change that and basically left half our check amount as a tip. But a small reminder that a bit of kindness even a compliment or smile goes a long way, especially on the service industry, on a holiday.

Delicious Christmas Eve dinner. Portions are big…we ordered way too much! The hand braided ravioli with sausage was our fav, but the seasonal lobster tortellini appetizer was a close second. Super cool vibe, great experience!

Amazing experience! Started with the prosciutto, a pinot grigio, and had the tagliatelle, followed by the torta. It was all so wonderful! HIGHLY recommend the tagliatelle!! I sat at the bar, where Caesar waited on me, and he was exceptional. Highly attentive but not over-bearing; he was personable and friendly. I loved the ambiance as well. It should also be said, Caesar went above and beyond, and is an expert in his craft! Make a reservation, and you will not be disappointed.

Excellent choice for our family pre-holiday dinner. We enjoyed the Hamachi and wedge salad to share as appetizers, then came Japanese Milk Bread, Mac and Cheese croquets all before the amazing steaks and chicken. Its a great place for special occasions.

Thor is our go to place to celebrate a holiday. Happy is the best but still a great value if you can’t get in before 6. Note: they can make off menu rolls so if you don’t see it on the menu, ask your server.