10/23/09

Owners need to renovate to maintain expectations

by daveinbroomfield

Seven of us visited the Briarwood for dinner last night. Nice restaurant, but certainly not up to some of the effusive reviews I have read. This is a place badly in need of a head to toe refurbishment. The concept of the restaurant is probably solid: good ambiance, quiet, very well prepared food. The value for the price is not good.

The owners need to close down for a month or so to bring the place back up to good condition. The floors need to be refinished, the copious amounts of wood needs to be cleaned and revitalized (the wooden lazy susans with the appetizers were greasy to the touch and the wood around the edge of the chairs was dirty), the upholstery on the booths needs to be replaced – in most of the booths it is torn and the stuffing is coming out, and the place just smells, well, old. The fireplace was nice, with its copper housing, the carpet helped keep the ambient sound level very low, so we could converse easily, but it too is well worn. It was a bit dark for older eyes to read the menu out in the open part of the dining area, after they dimmed the fixtures.

The food was very good, but not worth the prices. The crackers for the appetizers were somewhat stale, but a good variety. The cheddar cheese spread with port and the olive tapenade were both excellent and I was told the pate and spinach spreads were also very good. The shrimp were enormous and cocktail sauce very tasty. The spinach salad was somewhat limp with too much dressing and not tossed at the table as the menu suggests. Even though I asked for no onion on the salad, they included it anyway.

My wife and I had Chicken Rochambeau – very very good, but not worth $48 – and the sauce was excellent, as were the yellow squash, carrots, and sugar peas. Others had filets – perfectly cooked, wellington – excellent, and seafood au gratin – perfect.

The desserts were ok, nothing special. The coconut covered bananas were not fresh. After dinner coffee was very weak.

Service was exceptional; our server – Ray – was very attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. Water glasses and ice tea were kept full.

I cannot with a clear conscience recommend this restaurant to anyone. Not until they refurbish it and lower their prices to provide a better value. The good food doesn’t quite balance out the shabbiness of the interior.

• Pros: Good food, good service
• Cons: bad value, shabby accoutrements

02/16/09

My mother loved it for Valentine's weekend

by JedZeppelin

I have found the service to be very good. I never ran out of coffee. If you know me, that means the service was attentive. I branched out and tried the Eggs Columbia, which was salmon in a pastry shell, topped with a couple of poached eggs. I didn't find the salmon to be top notch... But the key draw for most people I think is the traditional romantic fine dining atmosphere. Some places shouldn't change with the times, and this is one.

• Pros: Pastries at brunch are phenomenal
• Cons: Should've stuck with the prime rib

11/25/08

Management needs to quiet down staff

by bobbbbyy

I've been going here for 4 years now for my Birthday and anniversary. The service and food always stood out so much. Our waiters were always so kind and food was always prompt. But things i notice have changed ALOT. We had a booth by the kitchen entrance and we were very surprised and FRUSTRATED at what we heard. We heard waiters or all of the staff talking loudly, cracking pretty nasty jokes, etc. One of the waiters started to argue quite loudly with one of the bussers right in front of our table!!! It was sort of embarrassing. And it happened again right when we were about to leave. Food and Service was very prompt and very good but just the arguing and the loud talking really made the night bad. At least our waiter was very kind and talkative. Hopefully for Christmas, i can post a better review.

• Pros: food, service
• Cons: loud talking of staff, arguments between staff,

11/07/08

It's a Unique Restaurant with a Powerful voice

by sweetjane12

I went there on Saturday night back in September. When we first entered, there was no one at the front and we stood for about 1 or so minutes before the manager came to take us to our seat. I don't blame him, it seemed like a REALLY busy night for just him. Within in seconds of sitting down, a busser brought us water and was very talkative and kind. Most bussers at other restaurants normally have no interest in you. We had a wonderful appetizer already on our table with shrimp and a bunch of dips and sauces. The Cream cheese and jelly stuff was disgusting but the other 5 sauces where pretty good, especially the salmon butter stuff. Our waiter Ray i believe his name was came 2 minutes later and was especially kind and more personal and treated you as a unique person and not just another table. The busser was always taking dirty plates away very promptly and replacing dirty silverware with new. Salads were ok, nothing special. For the price, i expected the place to have ranch dressing instead of the 2 dressings they gave us. The wine selection was huge and our waiter Ray seemed to be a genius in recommendations of wine for the entree we selected and was right. The Red wine we had to our filet and lobster was PERFECT. Food, WOW!!! Perfect temperature, moist and juicy with flavor, by far the top 3 best filets i have ever had. The Desert tray was a treat but the cookies were very dry. The manager, Jeremy i think his name was came over and talked to us for a few minutes also giving a warm more personal voice instead of a just another table. Very kind person. The price was high but you get a appetizer, salad, entree, and desert tray all included in one price so well worth it, especially the service. Service by far is what leaves the most biggest imprint and by far, the Briarwood has a very great team.

• Pros: service
• Cons: ranch dressing

05/22/08

BEST Service!!!!! AMAZING FOOD!!!! You never stop EATING!!!

by ryfly

Service WAS BY FAR!!! Excellent. The Staff including EVEN the bussers were in to talking with you!! It was VERY friendly, many jokes passed back and forth between not only the staff, but other tables.

The Food, The Appetizer can REALLY get you. Got to be careful not to spoil your dinner. Full of fresh shrimp and a nice selection of dipping sauces etc. The Salad was ok, disappointed they didn't have ranch. The Entree was full of FLAVOR and it even smelled Delicious. You GET ALOT more meat than other places. Little fat. Vegetables were fresh and steamed, food was hot,

The Desert Tray, was ok, nothing real special, but they REALLY let you pick what you want from a BIG variety. Coffee is brought to you right away and kept full. same with water until the end.

Music is HORRIBLE though!!!!!!!!!

Bussers there and Waiter really kept things off the table and clear.

Overall, Go there, and RELAX, don't be nit picky, enjoy the food and simply relax.

• Pros: Service is AMAZING, Food is Delicious, VERY good Variety!!
• Cons: Music.....

05/17/08

Lovely setting, great service

by canwetalk

We went on a Sunday night for a special family event and were not disappointed. I had never been there before, so I had no particular expectations. Service was terrific. The menu was expansive, with something for everyone. I had never tried elk, so the waiter brought me a small, complimentary sample, beautifully arranged on a plate. We had a 7-yr-old with us. The staff was very kind to her. They, also, took family photos for us, even suggesting some other parts of the restaurant for photo shots. Yes, it was expensive, but for special occasions or a "splurge," it was well worth it.

• Pros: Great food, lovely setting
• Cons: Leisurely dining, not recommended for children

09/15/07

Sve your big bucks for another restaurant

by ilenekk

This was my second visit to the Briarwood, and I was as disappointed this time as I was after my first visit. I think it is highly over-rated and over priced. The restaurant feels like a factory. While the waiters are well trained, they are more like a atomatons than humans. Evereything about the place feels rote and worn out, from the menu, to no-personality wait staff, to the quality of food. The spinach salad was limp, the fish entree tasted like shoe leather, and the dessert tray had no freshness to it . If you are looking for fine dining, take 20 extra minutes and drive into downtown Denver; because you are not going to find it at the Briarwood.

07/30/07

Just average

by gjohn444

Sorry I have to give this place a just average review.

I have been there 4 -5 times over the last 4 - 5 years and the only thing that has changed was my expectation. The service was only a little less than prompt the food was ok and the prices were high.

Us, being in our forties were the youngest couple in the restaurant.

The section of the restaurant we sat in was dark and hot and with the music selections being played I felt like I was in a mortuary. I guess they just do not know how to compete with the new upscale places that have raised my expectations of what kind of friendly service I should expect. Even though we were seated right away, received prompt service our order was accurate it felt robotic and was not a special memorable experience. Our waitress even though efficient did not have a personality and was not very knowledgably with the wine list. We had to ask for a wine list and what the specials were.

Signed,

Probably not going back

• Pros: Steak and Seafood
• Cons: Hot & Dark

07/22/07

Fabulous all around, a must see!

by 4venture

My family and I have been going to the Briarwood Inn for years, and never have been disappointed. If you have never had the chance to visit, do. I highly recommend this restaurant not only for it's exceptional service, but romantic ambiance and delicious food. As soon as you sit down to the table for dinner, an appetizer tray with shrimp and spreads for the crackers greets you. For brunch, the pastries are wonderful. Sure, it is a bit on the pricey side, but the experience is worth every penny, and you can't beat the romantic feel this restaurant gives off. The antique European atmosphere mixed with the 8 page wine list is more than impressive. This is a beautiful restaurant all around, and hope you visit this timeless classic, it is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in the greater Denver area, and one of the best in the whole city.

02/04/07

NO WONDER THE PLACE WAS EMPTY ON A SATURDAY NIGHT...

by gr8n8n8

$40-115 entrees?

I thought I was walking into one of those cheesy 1970s corporate espionage thriller flicks, with dated decor and the medley of cheap looking oak veneer and behemoth discount antique carved wood pieces. Gulf shrimp and port cheese appetizers... although tasty, not high quality items and more reminiscent of a midwestern spinster aunt's wake spread than an Haute Cuisine bistro.

The waiter was creepy, and the staff smelled like cigarette breaks in scientific notation. I joked with my cousin that the vested and aged staff might slip up and start yodeling. I love Golden, I think it is a great little town, but maybe on the way to Central City, they picked up too many employees with casino etiquette to keep their image shining.

Too damn expensive. If you are an old school Republican without much culture, and extra dough (money creates taste, right?) you might take your trophy wife and the in-laws here from Wisconsin to impress them with all the refinanced home loans bonuses you received this month. Otherwise, if you have any self respect, find a bistro in Denver... or the Mesa Grill @ Table Mountain Inn, if Golden is on your agenda.

The Briarwood used to be a Breeze ski rental and a road house in one stop. It should have stayed that way. At least a working man could enjoy it for what it really is... a dive.

Food was good, Steak was great, but not worth $65 for a filet mignon. If they change their tune, let me know.

I admit, I have high standards, but for New York City prices, an establishment ought to live up to New York City expectations, or yield to the competition.

• Pros: Tell them you interested in just appetizers and water, and see what they say...
• Cons: If they actually had live yodeling, it might be worth tapping your savings account...