City O’ City

This place was in our dining out Denver passbook (I would highly recommend getting it) so my husband and I decided to try it out. I got the El Jefe burger and it was awesome! I love that you can’t tell it’s not a meat burger. My husband got the chicken and waffle special and it was good but a little saltier than I prefer. Overall it was good and I’d come back to try other items. Oh and they have good happy hour deals!

I love City O City! I try to come every time I’m in Denver. I loved the cauliflower tacos that were the special of the day. Simply, and consciously, delicious!

Two Words: Savory Waffle
More than two words: simply the only vegan breakfast I have had that does not suck. It also suits just fine for a dinner as well (I believe it is on the dinner menu). The waffle is one of the things I miss the most about not living in Cap Hill.

I’ve been a vegan for a long time and I love restaurants where i can eat most anything on the menu. This place is fantastic for vegans! Everything I ordered was made vegan:
Seitan Wings
Amazing! Even the meat-​eaters I was with happily chowed down on these. I’m not usually a big fan of seitan but these were crispy, tasty, and well-​sauced.
Miso cauliflower & Shishito peppers
Wow! My friend wanted to order these and I wasn’t expecting much — I ended up LOVING them, I wanted to eat every last pepper and bit of cauliflower.
Onion Rings
Okay, we gotta talk about these onion rings. I haven’t had onion rings like these since becoming vegan and I have missed them — they are the puffy big ones the size of donuts, with delicious moist breading. Can’t recommend them enough, get those as your side instead of the fries.
El Jefe Burger
This burger has a lot going on. The onion ring inside is the highlight but it also has mushroom and scrambled tofu. It’s not really sure what it’s trying to be. My first bite was mouthwatering and then about halfway through I wasn’t feeling it anymore. Still really glad I tried it, though.

I’ve been going to this place for over a decade, and while it’s expanded, it still has the same charm and great food.
They have a large vegetarian menu with many vegan options, but this meat eater loves it. My big meat eating boyfriend loves it too.
They often have waffles on special. I suggest you consider them.
Food quality: five stars
Menu creativity: five stars
Ambiance: four stars
Service: three stars

The miso cauliflower is delicious, too bad I can’t say the same about the Baby Kale salad.
But the place is awesome, I like the decoration and the ambience makes this place special.
Good late night option (12−1am) to get a drink and food.

I had the vegan chicken fried cauliflower and waffles, which thanks to City O’ City is now my favorite breakfast food. Before I ordered I thought «this is stupid, why don’t they use chicken fried seitan, that would be way closer to chicken.» Then I realized *I* was stupid because this cauliflower is insanity. I have no clue how they batter and fry it so perfectly, but damn.
It’s a good thing I don’t live in Denver or I’d spend all of my money here.

Since this review is based solely on drinks and dessert, I’m doing 4 stars. Next time I eat actual food, I’m sure it will be bumped up to 5.
Came here after a film screening next door at Deer Pile. I like that they are open until 2am!
We arrived around 10pm and only waited a few minutes to be seated. It was a nice warm evening so we opted for the patio out front.
Service is a little slow but friendly. Don’t come here if you’re in a hurry. Obviously a hipster vibe here but no attitude.
Drinks were great — I had a Moscow Mule that was really strong. Desserts were pretty good — we had a strawberry rhubarb pie in a jar, lemon raspberry cake, and a gluten free chocolate chip cookie (which we ordered because they were out of the regular kind). I can’t recommend the cookie — it was pretty bad. It was gluten free so I wasn’t expecting much but it was just not very appetizing. Anyway, I can’t wait to return and order actual food. Their menu looks awesome. There’s also a great view of the capitol from the patio, which looks pretty at night.

This is my favorite vegetarian restaurant! On my recent trip, I got the savory waffle which is definitely worth coming back for. So good. The vegan cheese sauce on top is coconut based and pairs perfectly with the waffle. In the past, I’ve gotten the wings and pizza which never disappoint. I also love their tea selection.
My only issues with the restaurant to not give it 5 stars is that it’s usually busy due to popularity and, in turn, the wait staff seems to be too busy every time I’m here. Additionally, some of the baked goods offered are a hit or miss. I recently tried a lavender sugar cookie that was gluten free. The texture and taste were very off (not at all what a traditional sugar cookie is like), as the cookie was undercooked in the middle and crispy on the outside. The dough tasted salty. I’ve previously had others that were good, though.
I usually stick to the pizza or waffle selection for entrees. They are always coming up with new savory or sweet waffles (called waffle of the week). The serving sizes are large so the price seems fair. I will continue to go back!

My goodness, this place HANDS DOWN has the best vegan/​vegetarian food I’ve ever tried. I could literally go vegan right now if the cook at this place was my personal chef! I had the most amazing burger, that tasted 10x better than any meat burger I’ve ever had! Never, ever, ever, EVER thought I’d be saying that. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a HUGE meat lover. If anyone I know hasn’t tried this place, I will recommend it, no matter their dietary preferences!
Oh, and they also pour a mean cocktail! I wanted something in particular, and the bartender whipped it right up, and on happy hour! Will most definitely be back. And often!

SUPER hipster place. I am so surprised that City O’ City doesn’t have better reviews overall! I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this restaurant overall. Everything is vegan, but there are some cheese/​milk options on the menu. My group of 3 friends all enjoyed what they got– omelets, biscuits and gravy, barbecue sandwich.
My only issues were the wait and the greasiness of the food. We went around 11:30 qnd didn’t get to eat until about 12:30. But the wait is only there because the food IS tasty! The tempeh bacon and potatoes were super greasy, which wasn’t pleasent. But it was still a good brunch!

City O’ City is going to make me fat. And I’m OK with that.
Before reviewing this place, I found myself stuck between stars. Four or five? Because on one hand, this place deserves five. But If I give four, then maybe it won’t become overrun. Eventually I settled on five because it’s not my place, ultimately, to decide how frequented a business should be. Businesses do that quite well on their own. Ha.
Since moving to Denver about three weeks ago, I’ve been here about five or six times. That’s twice a week! The people that work here are staggeringly kind. I’ve found this to be true about Denver in general, but this place really embodies it. And I can’t believe they probably don’t eat meat. I’d be so angry if I didn’t eat meat.
I’ve come in here to get wi-​fi before it was ready to go in my home. I’ve come in here for coffee a gang of times. I’ve come in here to pre-​game. I’ve come here for a night cap. It’s odd how versatile this place is.
It also reminds me of home a bit, as there was a vegetarian restaurant there that opened my mind to meatless. And so, I appreciate that.
Naturally, the food here is top-​notch, lest I taketh some stars. The highlight reel for me:
— Cauliflower and shishito peppers (which I was going to call Shinto peppers and accidentally offend a religion, but thankfully I double-​checked it). Great flavor and healthy, too. Even remembered it through the blurry haze of a late night.
— The pizza. The toppings are inventive and the crust is an exercise in DIY pizza without the benefit of a stone/​brick/​whatever oven.
— Drink deal. Drink deals! Yay!
So, there you have it, America. And if you read to the bittersweet end, won’t you consider nominating me for Unilocal Elite status twenty-​sixteen? I’ll work hard for you, America!

So good, even a meat eater can like City O’ City.
It’s like a punk rock vegan decided to open up a restaurant in Denver. And somehow, the concept works.
Is it clean? Meeeeeh, mostly.
Is the staff nice? I guess so?
Is the food good? Actually, yes
Is the ambiance inviting? Confirmed
So really, if you go in with the mind set that it’s 1) 100% vegetarian, 2) Kinda grungy, 3) Hipster chic, you’ll be fine.
Oh yeah, and there’s alcohol. That makes a meat-​free brunch *much* more palatable. If there wasn’t booze, oh man, it’d be a whole different story.
I ate the Saison sandwich and fries for lunch. Sandwich comes with a grilled tomato and cheese on a nice sized bun with a dijon majo on top. Sometimes the simplest of foods are the best. Paired with a glass of the house white, Sauvignon Blanc.
Get a «Scout» cookie on your way out the door. It’s huge and does the best vegan impersonation of a Girl Scout Samoa that I’ve ever had. And that’s sayin’ something…

My first visit to City O’ City, a vegetarian restaurant in Denver was about five years ago. This lively restaurant/​bar is a go-​to destination for vegetarians and vegans in the city, but little did I realize how popular it was. They expanded into even more space and on this Friday night, there was a 45-​minute wait.
This place has a lively atmosphere with several bars and table seating. The exposed ductwork and minimalistic décor make for a relaxed setting. We were finally seated at a high-​top table. Unfortunately, after a week in Colorado Springs, I was beginning to get altitude sickness and wasn’t feeling well. So, I just ordered a ginger kombucha on tap.
To my dismay, they were out of the Kimchi Stew that I wanted so I went with the Udon Noodle Bowl and I’m glad I did. I seriously wasn’t feeling well and this hit the spot. Filled with a tasty carrot ginger broth, this bowl was loaded with mushrooms, bok choy, fennel, shallots, jalapenos, thai basil, and fresh noodles with daikon, pickled carrot, tofu, and sprouts. The tofu was a sub for the egg that is normally in it. I absolutely loved this dish!
Their menu has tons of other vegan options from omelettes, waffles, pasta, and soups to sandwiches and small plates.
Unfortunately, this is a short review because we just had a little to eat and then left due to my headache. The experience of waiting so long wasn’t great, but the food certainly made up for it. The bowl was $ 13 so it was priced right and the service was okay. I think you should come here for good food with friends and have dessert too because I remember how good it was the last time.

I. LOVE. THIS. PLACE. Beer selection is always on point. There are never «too many» choices on tap, but there always seems to be something for everyone. The cheese board is my go-​to and great to share. It features three rotating cheeses, homemade jam, nuts, fruit, delightfully crispy and simultaneously soft bread, and garlic. I’m not a fan of goat cheese and they’re always very gracious about accommodating my request for no goat cheese. I’ve enjoyed the tapenade pizza on a couple of occasions and have been impressed both times with the crust being cooked to perfection. Lastly, I will attest to the fact that their molasses cookies are the bomb!
To be clear, I am NOT a vegetarian/​vegan. I return time and time again for that cheese board and those cookies!

This is a cool spot. It feels both like a coffee house and a restaurant/​café which I like because then I don’t feel weird going there by myself for lunch and working on my laptop.
The menu is mainly vegetarian, and they have a lot of unique dishes. I’m not vegetarian but I enjoy it. The kimchi stew is unique and tasty. Also, get the seiten wings if, like me, you like anything with buffalo sauce.
It’s an eclectic place with a menu to match it. They also have some really good looking bakery items which I have yet to try.

Awesome food, location and ambiance!
Went to City O City for brunch and I’m already craving it again! You walk into a trendy and hipster restaurant with unique artwork and chandeliers. It’s very open and friendly with a well stocked bar/​café, a pastry display, and a restaurant with lots of seating. We dined at the community table and sat on bar stools right next to the kitchen which was awesome! We were able to see all the different dishes coming out.
After reading reviews I ordered the chicken and waffles, and split the tempeh bacon hash with my friend. Both were fantastic. The chicken is made of fried cauliflower which can be a little too rich when not balanced out with the waffle or crème fraîche. The waffle itself is delicious and packed with various seeds and carrot bits.
However I think the savory items were definitely the way to go. Get the hash with the gravy and green chile on the side! The potatoes are PHENOMENAL and I could not get enough of the tofu scramble. Awesome flavors and sauces: even the Spanish was a life changer.
Next time I’m going for the Sardou. My boyfriend got it and finished his plate in 5 minutes it was so good.

I should start this review off by stating that I’m not a vegetarian nor a vegan and still love this place.
I came here with a friend who is a vegetarian and not having been before or to many restaurants that cater to that I was a bit worried about options that would grab me.
First off it has a very relaxed and cool atmosphere, half local coffee shop half bar/​restaurant.
I had a Phở bowl with extra veggies and it was excellent, great flavor in the broth and the portion of noodles to vegetables was perfect.
If you need to accommodate vegetarian or vegan eaters this is one place I can definitely recommend that won’t leave the meat eaters complaining for the next week.

I love this place. Always fairly busy but I’ve never waited long.
I’ve had the seiten wings, delish! The «chicken» & waffles is good. My 2^nd piece of cauliflowers breading wasn’t cooked all the way but the 1^st piece was bomb. The pretzel with vegan cheese is great. And of course vegan Mac n cheese. Yummm!
I brought my BF once, who is a straight carnivore, & he also enjoyed the seiten wings. I was shocked lol he said he would get the seiten sausage on his pizza the next time.

Even meat lovers will respect and adore this food.
Outstanding menu and variety of options, from the acclaimed Waffle with cheese fondue to Udon Noodle Bowl to Burgers to Pasta and Pizza. The breakfast selections looks amazing too!
The El Jefe burger was hands down one of the best veggie burgers I’ve ever had and it was a big as my head. Cheat meal and healthy option all in one! I would also recommend the hatch green chili posole soup — this isn’t your usual bland posole, watch out! ;)
Great drinks from the bar too. I had the gin cocktail, which was refreshing, strong, and the perfect touch of mint.
And if you still have room after your dinner, there are more than ample dessert options. Usually this is the weak point at most restaurants, but City O City does not disappoint. The chocolate éclair was decadent, rich, with the right balance of whipped cream (or was it mascarpone?) and graham crackers — it was more like a rich s’more to me than an éclair, but why judge it by it’s name? It has a lot of chocolate, so if you’re not a big chocolate fan, there are plenty of other great options!
Service was fantastic as well. Props to Liz. She was so fun, helpful and made amazing recommendations!
Happy hour daily 4−6pm. For parking, meters are free after 6pm or pay lots nearby. I had no trouble finding street parking at 5:30pm.