Wonderland Brewing in Broomfield, CO is a fairly unique place to enjoy an eclectic collection of beer. They do seem to haves something for everyone, we where able to find multiple beers that each of us liked. Since we both like very different styles that is not something that is easy to find.
The atmosphere also has something for everyone, it is a welcoming place that has something to do for the whole family, especially during the summer. They have a large outdoor area that includes a mini-golf course and other activities. On the inside there is a pinball arcade with over a dozen games. Speaking of games, they also have a selection of board games that you can use during your time sipping on the beer.
Some of the themed decorations.
They do have a few nods to the theme from Alice in Wonderland. Like the Cheshire Cat on the glasses and the near life size twins. The decor that they use does lean into the fantasy and lends to the fun and playful atmosphere.
Finally the service was attentive and not overbearing. The bartenders seemed to know the product and establishment, and seemed happy to talk about the products as much as needed for you to make your decision, and enjoy your beer.
To begin, we have been to this Bar multiple times. It was one of the first places we went to when we visited Denver. We have also been to the location in Westminster. Normally, 5280 Burger Bar is one of our favorite and most reliable go-to places when we are in Denver, on the 16th Street Mall. Something seems to have changed recently. We will get into that shortly. First, let’s talk about the positive.
5280 Burger Bar entrance.
The food, especially the wings, is still top notch. They do have something for everyone, even vegetarian options. More on the wings, they are on the appetizer portion of the menu, called “Jumbo Wings”. They are, generally, big enough to be called Jumbo, and crisped to almost perfection. There are only four options for sauces, but our favorite is the “Honey Sriracha”. The sauce has a great blend of sweet and spicy. Again, the food is very good.
The interior of the Restaurant while we were there.
Unfortunately, we must now talk about the negative, the reasons that this review is less than positive. The service we received on the last visit was some of the worst. To start, you can see how busy the bar was when we were there. We sat at the bar and watched the bartender talk to two of the customers for more than 10 minutes while everything and everyone else in the bar was ignored. Even the wait staff was coming and going from the bar waiting for drinks. One customer came in, sat down and left before getting service.
We knew what we wanted to drink as soon as we sat down, so we were able to get a drink while we waited. While we nursed our drinks waiting to be able to order food, we watched the bartender do anything other than help customers, except for the ones he knew or liked. We even asked once if we could order some food, and he told us we had to wait until he was done.
After a while, another bartender came off break. We were prepared to forgive and move forward, assuming service would improve, we were wrong. After initial contact, this bartender decided it was more important to talk to one person at the end of the bar.
Finally we asked to talk to a manager, he listened, apologized and offered us a free drink. Service did improve for about 10 minutes then went back to poor. In total we had been at the bar for about an hour, and the bartenders asked if we wanted drinks a maximum of three times, and we had to ask to order food. If things had been different we know we would have had more drinks, the bar let money on the table by ignoring us and other customers.
If the service continues at this level we will have to stop using the 5280 Burger Bars as one of our go-to places. With all of that in mind our final rating for this visit is 3,000 out of 5,280 feet.
We are starting a Denver adventure. Heading up to the “Big” city, we where looking for somewhere to stop that we had not been to before. Some place that a good selection of brews and was not to “corporate”.
We thought about Rare by Grist, but it did not open early enough for us. With that in mind we did find the original Grist. It is usually a bit off the normal path for us, but that happened to be perfect in this case.
This brewery is hidden back in an almost industrial area. Finding it is definitely worth it.
We started with a beer each, a Hopferno and a Crimson Crow. The Hopferno is an American IPA, while the Crimson Crow is an amber ale. Both where delicious with the notes you would expect. They do have a great list that should have something to satisfy just about any Craft Beer fan.
Now, the food really was excellent. The pulled pork was an extremely generous portion, and the apple slaw gave it the right bitterness and snap to make the sandwich come to life.
The veggie burger with pepper jack and a fried egg was also a surprisingly large sandwich. It hit all the right notes and certainly will fill you up.
Overall a great experience with a little something for everyone. We rate this location 160 out of 200 Bees.
After a long day hiking the mountains, sometimes you just need to have some comfort food and a place to relax. A place that can feel familiar and have everything you need with no frills.
“The Backyard” in Castle Rock can be just such a place. The setup is exactly what it says it is. It is very much like a backyard and cookout, but with a better beer selection.
The first thing you will notice is a major difference from most restaurants you have been to. The whole thing is open seating. After selecting you picnic table, you scan a QR Code, and order what ever you want.
This is an excellent concept. You don’t have to wait for a member of the staff to take your order. The main drawback is the descriptions on the electronic menu is lacking.
We ordered the “Buffalo Chicken Dip” based on the title alone. While we waited for our food, we saw a plate go by that looked way better than what we ordered. It had vegetables on it, and all kinds of things. We could not find that anywhere on the menu.
It turns out that is exactly what we ordered, and it was great. The mix of veggies was outstanding, and the dip itself was a great blend of spicy and sweet. It hit the spot for a needed snack.
The rest of the menu fits perfectly with the Backyard theme. Basically, burgers and hotdogs.
There is a mismatch with the service. The beer service is excellent, it takes mere minutes from hitting the order button in your phone, to the beer being in your hand. However, the food service is significantly slower. It can be worth the wait, depend on how hungry you are, and your ability to wait for the food. Patience is key.
Overall we rate “The Backyard” 80 beers out of 100!
