Brian Nagele
Denver’s culinary landscape boasts a tantalizing array of flavors, and when it comes to steak, the Mile-High City’s offerings are a cut above the rest. Steak restaurants in Denver are celebrated for their mastery of the art of grilling, serving up sizzling, succulent cuts that cater to the discerning carnivore. From classic cuts like filet mignon and ribeye to innovative preparations and sides that push the boundaries of steakhouse dining, Denver’s steak scene is a culinary adventure in itself. Whether you’re a dedicated steak enthusiast or someone seeking an unforgettable dining experience, our guide ensures you savor the finest steaks that Denver has to offer. Join us as we explore the city’s top steak destinations, where each bite is a celebration of bold flavors, precision grilling, and culinary excellence.
Guard and Grace
1801 California St, Denver, CO 80202
303-293-8500
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Named for head chef Troy Guard’s daughter, Guard, and Grace is a beautifully designed, giant contemporary steakhouse located in Denver’s downtown business district. Not only do they offer the finest prime Angus and Wagyu cuts of American beef, but they also have an oyster bar, charcuterie menu, and a two-story wine cellar display case. Their menu has a Western European influence with an impressive selection of local and imported artisanal cheese and prosciutto tastings. I recommend the burrata with hazelnut romesco and oak-fired bread. As for beef, I suggest the filet flight tasting menu with a 4 oz sampling of prime, wagyu, and grass-fed filet mignon.
Shanahan’s Steakhouse
5085 S Syracuse St, Denver, CO 80237
303-770-7300
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Shanahan’s Steakhouse is a tasteful combination of contemporary Western and a lively sports bar. They have an excellent cocktail bar with plenty of big-screen T.V.s playing live sports, and a classy modern dining room with a giant fireplace. Additionally, their outdoor dining patio is just as inviting during the summer months. I recommend an indulgent surf-and-turf experience, starting with jumbo lump crab cakes with sweet corn succotash and creole lobster sauce. Follow it up with the A5 Wagyu Tomahawk steak as your main course.
Elway’s
1881 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202
303-312-3107
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Located inside Denver’s super fancy Ritz Carlton Hotel, Elway’s offers a high-end traditional steak and seafood bistro experience as elegant as the hotel in which it’s located. Whether you’re a hotel guest or a local looking for a special fine-dining experience, Elway’s is a wonderful and classy steakhouse option. Their menu features locally harvested produce, meat, and poultry. Take, for instance, their Colorado Rack of Lamb with grain mustard and rosemary crust, or the Colorado lamb chop fondue with green chile cheese fondue, lamb chops, roasted sweet potatoes, and handmade tortillas for dipping.
Buckhorn Exchange
1000 Osage St, Denver, CO 80204
303-534-9505
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This over-a-century-old exotic game chop house is not only Denver’s oldest steakhouse, but it is also a national historical landmark and western history museum. Its walls are lined with taxidermy of all the local animals, and its menu features every local meat you can imagine, including elk, deer, lamb, buffalo, rattlesnake, and alligator tail. Buckhorn Exchange is an essential wild west experience for history buffs and adventurous eaters alike. With the most authentic and exotic menu, our recommendation would be to try the most exotic menu items. For starters, try the boneless rattlesnake in red chile and lime marinade served with Chipotle queso dip and tortilla chips. For the main course, the Buckhorn Exchange has many exotic combination plates with two or more meat options. Try the elk and Cornish game hen, or the quail, duck, and Cornish game hen.
Urban Farmer
1659 Wazee St, Denver, CO 80202
303-262-6070
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Urban Farmer is a modern farm-to-table steakhouse that is one of the most beautifully designed restaurants on our list. They’re located inside The Oxford Hotel, right down the street from Denver Union Station. Their beef and bison chili with red pepper cream, pickled Fresno, and green chile will certainly stick to your bones. They even offer a local High Plains Wagyu New York strip steak, keeping with their farm-to-table motto. Their vegetables are especially wonderful with the sweetest creamed corn and locally roasted mushrooms that are as meaty as the steaks and served with caramelized onion, sherry, roasted garlic, and beef jus.
Quality Italian
241 Columbine St, Denver, CO 80206
303-532-8888
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True to its name, Quality Italian is a contemporary Italian American steakhouse in a beautiful industrial-chic dining room. It has repurposed wood fixtures and a giant garage door as their back wall that they open during the warmer months for dining al fresco. They offer the finest cuts of beef and fresh seafood prepared the classic Italian way. While their meat and fish dishes are exquisite, their handmade pasta dishes are the star of the show. I recommend the dry-aged porterhouse agnolotti with brown butter, vincotto, and charred onions. You could also try the spicy lobster rigatoni alla vodka with Calabrian chilies and crispy garlic.
Del Frisco’s Grille
100 St Paul St Suite 140, Denver, CO 80206
303-320-8529
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Located in the beautiful Cherry Creek neighborhood, Del Frisco’s Grille is a family-friendly bar and grill. They serve delicious steaks along with a more eclectic menu of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and bar fare appetizers. Chefs at Del Frisco’s have created an interesting menu that contains comfort food dishes from around the U.S. and the world. Perhaps recommending a salad at a steakhouse is blasphemous. Still, their steakhouse salad is pretty over the top. It includes sliced prime steak, smoked bacon, deviled eggs, avocado, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, and bleu cheese with horseradish lemon dressing.
Bastien’s Restaurant
3503 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
303-322-0363
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Just blocks away from Denver’s famed City Park, Bastien’s Restaurant is an American chophouse and home of the sugar steak. A sugar steak refers to their unique sugar and spice rub that has won them countless awards and a faithful following. They recommend trying their famous sugar rub on a rare or medium-rare ribeye or New York Strip. They also have 11 other sauces, rubs, and garnishes for your steak with everything from traditional gorgonzola and balsamic reductions to jalapeno seasoning, jalapeno bacon, and roasted jalapeno toppings.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
7001 E Belleview Ave Suite 100, Denver, CO 80237
303-854-9304
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Ruth’s Chris Steak House is a national staple for high-end steak in a traditional and elegant setting. The dining room is absolutely beautiful. With wooden accented walls, golden chandeliers, luxurious leather chairs, a large visible wine rack enclosed in glass, and uniquely western art that champions the incredible scenery of the Rockies. The food is as enchanting as the setting. The menu has everything you could possibly desire from a high-end steakhouse, and it’s all excellently prepared and beautifully plated. We recommend the crab-stuffed mushrooms with romano cheese as a starter. For the main course, we recommend the petit filet mignon with jumbo shrimp.
Columbine Steak House & Lounge
300 Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219
303-936-9110
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Located right down the street from the Denver Bouldering Club, Columbine Steak House, and Lounge is the perfect spot to grab a steak after an evening of climbing. You don’t even have to change into nice attire, as this no-frills lounge is as casual as they come. It’s a cash-only establishment with a menu posted up on the wall with simple yet mouthwatering beef plates, hamburgers, pork chops, fried chicken, and battered and fried fish or shrimp. Food is cooked to order and served with your choice of salad, baked potato, or fries and a thick slice of Texas toast. You can’t beat their prices, and they make a mean milkshake.
The Capital Grille Denver
1450 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202
303-539-2500
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The Capital Grille Denver is in the heart of Denver’s Central Business District inside Larimer Square, making it a perfect option for business lunches, corporate dinner parties, and after-work happy hour get-togethers. The dining room is an industrial-chic masterpiece with large windows and great views of the bustling downtown. The service and food are impeccable standards of fine dining that are sure to make you a repeat customer. The Capital Grille serves cuts of perfectly marbled meat that have been dry-aged from 18-24 days in an on-site drying room for the best flavor and tenderness. We recommend the filet mignon with cipollini onions, wild mushrooms, and fig essence.
801 Chophouse
3000 E 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80206
303-214-6474
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Family-owned and operated since 1993, 801 Chophouse is a traditional New York-style steakhouse and wine bar with locations in seven major cities across the country. Their Denver location lies in the lovely Cherry Creek neighborhood and serves the finest aged USDA Prime beef. For an authentic traditional New York steak experience, I recommend the New York Strip steak or the roast prime rib au jus. You can choose from a list of all the favorite sauces and garnishes, including bearnaise, Oscar-style, Au Poivre with cognac cream, and black truffle butter. For sides, try baked creamed spinach and the scalloped potatoes with gruyere and parmesan cream.
EDGE Restaurant & Bar
1111 14th St, Denver, CO 80202
303-389-3050
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EDGE is a contemporary urban restaurant and bar in the heart of Denver’s Theatre District in the Four Seasons Hotel Denver, right down the street from the Colorado Convention Center. Watching the professional mixologists here at EDGE prepare elaborate and award-winning cocktails is a great way to start your evening or enjoy a post-concert nightcap. Their delicious menu features locally sourced Colorado produce and game along with fresh seafood plates. I recommend the American Wagyu flat iron steak with a crab bake topper and loaded potato gratin with scallion crème Fraiche, bacon, and cheddar as a side.
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
1513 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202
303-623-9600
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Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse is truly a Brazilian steakhouse as it originated in Brazil in the ‘70s, opening its first U.S. restaurant in 1987. Since its U.S. debut, Fogo de Chao has been a hit with meat lovers. Today there are more than 30 locations. At Fogo de Chao, you can experience a Brazilian churrasco, wherein all kinds of beef, pork, chicken, and select fish are grilled on spits and served tableside by experienced wait staff. The menu at Fogo de Chao is a set menu that includes all-you-can-eat offerings of beef, chicken, pork, and fish. There is also a salad bar that any vegetarian would be impressed with, plus bottomless sides of mashed potatoes, cheese bread, and plantains.
Citizen Rail
1899 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202
303-323-0017
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Citizen Rail provides an intimate dining experience centered around an open kitchen and a giant wood-fired grill where customers can watch skilled chefs prepare and plate their spectacular meals. They also have an outdoor heated patio that is charming and open year-round. Presentation at Citizen Rail is colorful, artistic, and elegant, with beautiful plates and cutlery to boot. Their menu is locally sourced and highly imaginative. I suggest starting with the plancha roasted pork belly with huckleberry mustard, cheesy grits, and green tomato relish. For the main course, the grilled albacore tuna and mussel plate with spring onion risotto is excellent.
STK Steakhouse
1550 Market St, Denver, CO 80202
720-597-8010
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Located at the center of Denver’s Five Points district, the STK Steakhouse has a sleek, modern dining room and a lively, bustling atmosphere that young professionals and couples will enjoy. Their menu features top-quality USDA-certified Black Angus beef from Nebraska and Iowa ranches. Their menu offers classic steakhouse and seafood dishes with flavors that run the gamut from Italian to Asian to American. I recommend the Alaskan Red King Crab with Dijon and cocktail sauce from their raw bar. If you’re looking for Asian flavors, try their miso-glazed Chilean sea bass with sauteed bok choy, ginger, crispy shallots, and Thai basil. Their classic bone-in filet with crispy bacon brussels sprouts and sweet corn pudding is a more traditional choice.
Why Trust Us?
When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 6 credible sites and blogs, including Tastingtable.com and Tripadvisor.com.
We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible.
Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 6 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.