Looking to satisfy your appetite for French fare?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best high-end French restaurants around Denver, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to meet your needs.
1. Bistro Barbes
Topping the list is Bistro Barbes. Located at 5021 E. 28th Ave. in Park Hill, it's the highest rated upscale French restaurant in Denver, boasting 4.5 stars out of 84 reviews on Yelp.
Serving both French and Middle Eastern cuisine, you'll see menu items like the Duck Leg Confit with couscous, romano beans and roasted shallot apricot soubise; the Alamose Sea Bass with quinoa, baby artichoke hearts, wilted spinach and lemon beurre blanc; and the Beef Entrecote with roasted red pepper panisse, hen of the woods mushrooms, sauteed tomatoes and balsamic gastrique.
Finish your meal with some Brown Butter Palisade Peaches topped with blackberry sorbet, carrot creme anglaise and ginger snap. (See the full menu here.)
G B., who reviewed it on June 2, wrote, "This is a fabulous little French/Continental restaurant. We had octopus appetizer, two different salads, the beef and the duck. Each dish was perfect!"
2. Mizuna
Next up is Capitol Hill's Mizuna, situated at 225 E. Seventh Ave. With four stars out of 245 reviews on Yelp, the French restaurant and bar has proven to be a local favorite for those looking to indulge.
While the menu changes on a monthly basis, recent dishes have included Magret Duck Breast with matcha panna cotta, sesame soubise and carrot puree; the Duo of Veal with a smoked ricotta-stuffed strip loin, braised cheek and potato croquette; and the Skuna Bay Salmon with heirloom tomato and olive tapenade. (See the menu here.)
Pair your meal with a cocktail like the Ghostwriter (Arette Blanco tequila, green apple, matcha and lime) or the Doughnut Old Fashioned (doughnut-infused bourbon, coffee and peanut butter liqueur and angostura bitters).
Yelper Nate M. said, "One of the best dinners I've had in Denver. Everything, from drinks to food to waitstaff, was perfect. Expensive, but probably worth it for a splurge night."
3. Bittersweet Artisanal Cuisine
Bittersweet Artisanal Cuisine, located at 500 E. Alameda Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the fancy New American, French and Italian spot four stars out of 201 reviews.
On the menu, you'll find the Confit Lamb Shoulder with sunchokes, heirloom tomato and dill creme fraiche; the Maple Leaf Farms Duck with chermoula, butter-poached radish and charred fennel; and the Dry-Aged Pork Rib-Eye with kohlrabi zucchini pierogi, grilled zucchini and sour cherry jus. (See the menu here.)
Yelper Wednesday Q. wrote, "Bittersweet is simply excellent, no other way to say it. Although it is located on a busy street, the restaurant feels quiet and cozy, just like you're at home. We had the smoked bone marrow to start, along with the tagliatelle, both prepared perfectly."
4. Café Marmotte
Café Marmotte in Washington Park is another pricey French go-to, with four stars out of 95 Yelp reviews. Head over to 290 S. Downing St. to see for yourself.
The restaurant features entrees such as Coq au Vin (chicken leg braised in red wine with bacon, mushrooms, cipollini onions and red cabbage) served with bacon mashed potatoes; Veal Chop with herb butter, au jus and grilled asparagus; and Dijon Herb-Crusted Colorado Rack of Lamb with parsnip puree and mint demi glace. (See the menu here.)
Katrina S. wrote, "Café Marmotte is nothing short of perfection! The food was to die for, the service was impeccable and the ambiance was just right. Everything we ordered was just delicious!"
