Willie G's Restaurant

Everything was wonderful when I ate at willie g's on thursday.

Posted 10/21/09

We work downtown and have fallen in love with this un-assuming Denver locale. The menu is full of great steaks, seafood specialties, yada yada yada but we tend to order the consistently amazing nightly specials. The service is detailed and high-end but not starchy. It's hard to find "professional" servers anymore with all the restaurants populated by peppy yet unskilled twenty-something collegiate part-timers. G's has apparently found those few professionals in town and delivers an outstanding dining "experience", blending great food and professional service, that is rare to find.

Pros: Dinner specials, service, happy hour

Cons: Not the cheapest place in town

Posted 10/20/09

Came in for dinner with two friends the other night and we were greeted by a server at the door. She kind of gave us the up and down look (we were in jeans and tees) and seated us at a corner both in the back of the restaurant; out of view. Our server was in his mid twenties, a bit scruffy, and seemed energetic at first then seemed as if he were just reciting the same thing he would say to every table; in fact we overheard him talking with another table and it was literally a script. We had calamari, soaked in grease, I had their cowboy ribeye special with lobster that the server told us about. The steak was overcooked (medium well.. i wanted medium rare) and the sever didn't even apologize. The manager of the establishment brought out the steak and seemed pretty uncaring about the situation; another young kid. Before we finish our entrees the server asks if we want desert, we tell him we're unsure, and then he immediately drops the bill. We skip on desert tired of this place and look at the bill. The server never told me that the "special" for the evening costs 50.00 dollars. I was furious but said nothing, paid the bill, and left. If you want to wait forever for food prepared wrong, servers that have no life, and a management staff that shrugs this off.. go to Willie G's.

Pros: I'm still trying to thing of one..

Cons: Where do I begin?

Posted 05/17/09

We arrived to the 16th St Mall by cab. We we're staving so Willie G's looked like an inviting place. The menu was available in the lobby with prices. Once inside we we're seated at the back of bar area. Probably because of our hiking attire. The service from the staff was excellent and very professional. We did suspect the pricing was just a tad higher than advertised however it was worth a few extra. I had the Almond Trout with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. We had an overall great dining experience. The staff was also very through in giving us directions to the best night spots. We were there on a Wednesday night.

Pros: Location in the middle of 16th St Mall area.

Cons: Parking didn't appear to be close but we arrived by cab.

Posted 10/18/08

In Denver for a week long convention, I was excited to try the local restaurants. Based on the reviews on the CitySearch site, we tried Willie G's last night, and could not have been more pleased. The restaurant is very easy to find, right on the 16th Street Mall, and we were seated right away by a very cordial hostess. The restaurant is very comfortable, done in dark hues, but what was truly the best feature was our server, Bobby. She was polite, friendly, and very knowledgeable of not only the menu selections, but also of the extensive wine list and which wine would compliment our selections. The red snapper was delicious, as was the sirloin, both were cooked to perfection. Again our server was the epitome of professionalism, appearing immediately when we finished or needed a refill, but never hovering. We hope to return soon.

Pros: The service! Our server (Bobby) was just fantastic! And the food was great!

Cons: The only criticism, and it is negligible, was the presentation of the dishes was only average.

Posted 07/28/08

I love this place, great food, great service. I try and get down ther once a month and order the snapper. It's like buuuuter!

Pros: Snapper

Cons: not able to get downtown enough

Posted 07/10/08

Took my wife there for her birthday. They gave us a romantic booth. Her Halibut was the best i've ever tasted and my filet melted in my mouth. Service was flawless. I can't wait ot return. Kudos

Pros: Service and food

Cons: I wish there was one in Highlands Ranch

Posted 04/03/08

I enjoyed the food, but I guess I didn't enjoy the waiter constantly trying to drive up the bill with our group. It seemed like every dish had one or two options for how it was prepared, which in one way is nice, but he was really pushing them. The one girl who ordered her fish breaded ended up paying an extra $12 for it. To be fair I asked the waiter about that one afterwards, and he assured us he mentioned there was a "slight up-charge" for this.

On a lighter note, I actually saved the receipt and the $12 bread-crumbs are an ongoing joke now!

Posted 03/16/08

The food is tasty but a bit over priced for the end product-- especially with Oceanaire down the street.

The happy hour is great for the $.50 cent oysters but the service is a bit lacking. The host/hostess staff can be downright rude.

I am going to try it one more time before I completely write it off.

Pros: Good happy hour, tasty food

Cons: a bit overpriced, rude staff, crowded bar area

Posted 03/02/08

On Monday night, my husband and I went to Willie G's for my birthday. A friend had recommended it. It surpassed our expectations. The food, service and atmosphere were wonderful. It is rare to find all three in one location.

My husband's steak was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I had the Nut Crusted Halibut and it could not have been better. Our waiter recommended both.

We will definitely be returning.

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere

Cons: None

Posted 09/18/07

Went to dinner at Willie's last Friday night with my girlfriend. Was really looking forward to it since she loves seafood and it was supposed to be romantic. It definitely fell short of my expectations. For one, it wasn't romantic. It was loud. As loud as a diner. Maybe it was because the celings were low or all the fixtures are wood, but it was loud. The food was also not very impressive for what you paid for. Her crab quesadilla was pretty decent, but my bacon-wrapped mango-BBQ sauced shrimps were not all that impressive. They didn't seem all that fresh and didn't have the zing I would of expected. My vegetables were also overcooked, not quite boiled to death like at a retirement home, but definitely on the soggy side. To top it off, I ordered their local IPA beer and it tasted more like an ESB (yes, I am a beer snob).

The service was impeccable however, but I would rather go to a diner and get what I pay for next time.

Pros: Service was great

Cons: The food, the atmosphere, the lack of value

Posted 09/13/07

Great Seafood, excellent service. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone. We were seated promptly, service was seamless and the mahi was cooked perfectly.

Pros: Great food and service

Cons: none

Posted 07/02/07

I must say this place was pleasant suprise. My girlfriend and I happened upon it while walking down the 16th st mall. We sat on the patio and enjoyed a very relaxing meal. The server made us feel at home and the steaks were excellent. I can't wait to go back

Pros: patio

Cons: none

Posted 07/02/07

If your downtown looking for a good restaurant, keep walking past this one. They told us 20 minute wait which turned into 60 minutes. The service started out good enough. She brought over 2 bottels of wine and asked if we wanted to sample so we did, then felt obligated to have a glass only wasn't told $9 for 1/4 of a glass. After we we served she only came back once , then totally ignored us. She was nice enough but when your paying good money for dinner, you want service.
The food was so-so. Overpriced for what you get. My son had pasta alfredo which was gross. My fish was dry and tastless. Maybe the steaks are good but w all had seafood and it wasn't good. I do not recommend this restaurant. Not recommended for family dining. We don't mind paying alot for dinner as long as it's worth it.

Pros: Nice atmosphere

Cons: HIgh Price: Poor Quality

Posted 06/24/07

Wow, was I impressed. I went there for my anniversary and my wife and i were blown away. I had the filet and my wife had the halibut.They were cooked perfectly. The service was even better the server paid attention to detail without being obtrusive. They even sent us champagne! We went to the Buell afterwards and it only took 5 mins to walk there. I highly recommend this place

Pros: Awesome service very detailed fantastic food- These people get it.

Cons: None

Posted 06/14/07

My experience at this restaurant was not very pleasant. The service was terrible, but the food was pretty good.

Pros: Really good food

Cons: Horrible Service

Posted 03/26/07

AWESOME FOOD,SERVICE IS THE BEST AROUND TOWN.DRINKS ARE HEAVY POURED.ATMOSPHERE IS VERY NICE. TRY ANY STEAK,AND THE CALAMARI APPETIZER.

Posted 10/29/06

So the $$ isn't really correct, but the high price is well worth coming to this restaurant. I had $49 crab legs and salad and my husband had the steak - very very good. Service terrific. I never wanted to go to Willie G's cause I thought it was cheesy from the outside view, but GO INSIDE - amazing place. Bring a date. Not really a kid place.

Pros: Great food, great wine, great desert - yummmmm!

Cons: Very expensive, but well worth the high price tag

Posted 10/21/06

I recently decided upon Willie G's for a first date after doing some research and reading reviews on this site. Upon arrival our reservations on this Saturday night were confirmed and we were immediately seated. Wine and dinner specials were immediately explained with prompt friendly service. Water was kept topped off and all was up to expectations. The food was a little delayed but this further facilitated conversation and was not unreasonable for the quality of the meal delivered. The restaurant offers an excellent environment for a nice evening out and facilitates conversation extremely well. They offer Great food, superb service, and a romantic environment. I will come back to this restaurant. Thanks Willie G's for a great first date!

Pros: Great food, superb service, pleasant ambiance

Cons: I have none worth noting

Posted 07/15/06

Not a bad place for a steak. Pricey but that's what you would expect from a place like this. Enjoyed the dinner there. Service was wonderful.

Pros: service

Posted 05/25/06

amazing menu, super staff, great wine list. had amazing lobster & steak, divine appetizers. i cannot say enough great things about this place, wonderfully delicious & great atmosphere. nice upscale casual with a comfortable atmosphere. i am looking forward to returning to denver in june & to willie g's.

Pros: amazing food, great staff, delicious

Posted 04/02/06

After an afternoon after the Phantom with my wife, we thought we cap the evening off with great food at Willie G's, based on the review and recommendations from this site. The salmon was prepared perfectly and our server was very nice. However, ordering the filet mignon special, prepared with crab, bernaise sauce, mashed potatoes, and asparagus left a lot to be desired. The dish had to be sent back TWICE for meat that was ill-prepared. The first two times my steak my prepared bloody rare when it was supposed to be medium. The final time it came back well-done. The crab was cold and the potatoes gummy. We were not impressed, to say the least, even after crediting us $35 for the meal. We were not there for a 'free' meal. I will be hard-pressed to dine at Willie G's in the future.

Pros: Service, wine

Cons: filet mignon.

Posted 12/03/05

We celebrated our Anniversary at Willie G's recently and were very impressed with our experience there. The food was delicious, fresh and well-prepared from the unique spinach salad, and the portobello mushroom appetizer, to the Alaskan King Crab Leg dinner, to the creme Brule dessert.
Ryan, our server, was friendly, very familiar with the menu, as well as efficient. It was a very special evening.

Pros: reservations, parking

Posted 05/11/05

We go to Willie G's several times a year. It is always a very special evening out and we have never been disappointed in the food, service or atmosphere. Money well spent when the occassion calls for something extra nice and rewarding.

Pros: Food, Service, Variety

Cons: Parking

Posted 05/09/05

Willie G's has become my favorite. I have been there at least 25 time (or more). The service is always top notch and the food is to die for. The Buffalo Filet or Ribeye are great and all of the Shrimp dishes are great! Dessert... mmm... cheesecake, chocolate cake... Great way to go for a great night out!!

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere

Cons: Nothing, Nothing, Nothing

Posted 05/08/05

The best time i've ever had in Denver. We had oysters on the patio and people watched. We then had the surf and turf, man the lobster melted in my mouth. We then finished the meal off with the turtle pie, heated with ice cream. Service was fantastic, i can't wait to go back.

Posted 05/05/05

This restaurant is one of the few really good restaurants left that knows how to serve a classy meal.

Oysters are $0.50 during happy hour (3-7PM). They also have a great selection of Single Malts and wines.

I love having dinner here before the Symphony or Ballet. I recommend the Halibut with the Crab topping. Big lumps of backfin crab meat, reminds me of the restaurants back home in Baltimore.

Service is excellent, matching the food preparation and decor.

Pros: Cuisine, Wine List, Oysters

Posted 09/29/04

On the reccomendation of a friend, my husband and I visited Willie G.'s steak & seafood house for dinner last weekend. We were quite pleased by the atmosphere and extremely attentive staff right from the beginning. The meal turned out to be one of the best we have ever had! My husband had the surf & turf (lobster tail & a petite filet mignon), and I chose a halibut entree that was smothered in avocados & mushrooms with garlic butter. We cannot wait to return, it was one of the best overall experiences we have had in a restaurant.

Pros: patio seating 16th st, casual attire okay, great seafood

Posted 06/04/04

I'm glad I didn't take what ccuneo wrote seriously. This is my new favorite seafood restaurant. I've never had a better dish than the halibut. That avocado sauce was to die for. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and their impressive wine list. My husband had the ribeye and said that it was better than the Palm or Ruth's Chris - and less expensive too!!! I'll definately be back.

Posted 07/04/03

After walking in the door we knew we were in for a treat. Harold at the bar started us off with the Willie tini, absolut peppar vodka with an oyster and cocktail sauce. Outstanding. We had a wonderful server. My husband had the halibut and I had the surf and turf. We had the dessert special pumpkin cheese cake.

Posted 11/21/02

The service was awsome, but the New York Strip was better!!!

Posted 10/31/02

this gotta be the best seafood restaurant in the denver area!!! we travel pertty often and every time when we in denver area, we always make sure willie g's is one restaurant that we will dine at. the service and the food, are just out standing!!

Pros: great food, great services, nice wine list

Cons: only 1 store in area

Posted 10/30/02

I'M FROM THE EAST COAST, AND JUST WHEN I THINK ONLY US CAN HAVE THE FRESHEST SEAFOOD, I WAS WRONG. DON'T KNOW HOW THOSE GUYS DO IT AT WILLIE GS, BUT THE SEAFOOD TASTED JUST LIKE BACK IN MARYLAND, THE CRAB CAKE AND THE HAILBUT ARE JUST SOME OF THE BEST STUFF THAT WE EVER HAD, AND BELIEVE ME, MY WIFE AND I KNOWS SEAFOOD!!!

Pros: BEST SEAFOOD, GREAT SERVICE, FAIRE PRICE

Posted 10/30/02

I have never had worse service or more horrible food in downtown Denver! Both the steaks and the seafood were terrible. The waiter was inattentive and refused to remove food that had to be sent back multiple times from our bill. The price was way out of line with the poor quality and the bad service!

Posted 05/21/02