Cafe Star

Service: Great
Food: Mangeable (edible), nothing special here

Meh is right. I’ve lived around the corner from this place since I moved to the mile high city, but only started going recently. Musta been the siren’s call of $ 5 bottomless mimosas.
Well, let me tell you — these mimosas are a calorific rip. I like my mimosas mostly champagne, with a shot of OJ. I understand you can’t give away the farm and serve them bottomless and to my standards. Bottomless and half and half would be more than fine for this price. But Café Star totally inverts the good mimosa equation and it makes me mad. So, I’m over this place as a good bottomless mimosa place. Don’t bother. Save it for your sober brunch place (which, come on, isn’t that a sad thing to write? I don’t brunch all that often, post-​Houston-​days, but when I do it’s usually for the express purpose of catching a nice, warm, daytime buzz).
Now that I’ve exposed my lushy tendencies, the food.
I will give them this — there is thought to this menu. It’s getting there. I know brunch tends to be the time to sling el-​cheapo ingredients and staff the most hungover line cooks. Here, they’re making a concerted effort. I appreciate that.
Seeing as I’ve really only eaten brunch here, my thoughts on how to approach it:
Go in knowing that they’re looking to overwhelm your senses — Aggressively going all the way. We’ve taken to ordering different things for the table, because you cannot order one dish for yourself and make your way through the whole thing without wanting to stop and try another taste. Take the shrimp n’ grits. Arguably one of the best items on all menus here. But it’s so aggressively rich and salty and… well, cooked… that your palate will beg for a hit of green, of fresh, of sweet, of anything but fat and salt. So have your companion order a salad, and your other friend should order the french toast. First, main, last course all there.
Don’t bother with the overly gummy, bland omelette’s. Or the pizzas, just terrible and lacking flavor. I’m surprised at the good reviews below, but seriously — the pizzas suck.
Keep in mind — I REALLY wanted to love this place. I just cant’/don’t.
OH! And nail in the barely-​two-​star-​column — the service sorta sucked. Unlike below, my small flute glass has always been very slow to be refilled. Again, mimosa’s here are not worth the $ 5. Yuh…

They should really rename this restaurant to «That Place on Colfax with the Really Awesome Stained Glass in the Window.»
Though, it might cost a lot to get a sign printed that says that.
That being said, of course, the ambiance for this place is spot on. It feels warm and inviting. It is intimate without being cramped and, when I went, surprisingly empty. Someone said something about some kind of basketball thingy being the reason for that.
Our waitresses were both very sweet and professional. Our food and libations were delivered in a timely manner and with a smile on their faces.
I had the sausage fettuccine and it was like sausage heaven. Just the right amount of sausage so that you could get a piece in every bite or so, but not so much that it completely overpowered the pasta or the yummy cream sauce.
The portions were a goodly size, so I had some left overs to take home for dinner the next day. Alas, the big portions meant no room for dessert, but there were some tasty looking dishes on the menu. Sometime I’ll have to go just for dessert.
Since this place is right in my hood and there are many more things on the menu that I haven’t tried, including brunch, I hope to head back to this place sooner rather than later.

Sunday brunch with a few friends. We decided on Café Star, and we were sold once we heard the good news of $ 5 bottomless mimosas.
Service– good
Menu– good
My french toast– good
Bottomless mimosas– great, especially since they truly were bottomless. We had even paid our bill and were still chatting, a waiter came by with a pitcher and still offered us another glass. Of course we said ‘yes’.
Husband’s benedict– good
Coffee– good, and hot!
Atmosphere– good.
I wasn’t as «wowed» as I had hoped. But, overall a good time with good friends and food.
Unfortunately, bottomless mimosas make for an extremely lazy (maybe wasted?) Sunday. And I think that’s a good thing every once in awhile.

I am always in the market for new brunch places — so I was thrilled my fellow Unilocalers recommended Café Star and that we decided to give it a try. The food was great — I ordered the devilish steak & brie omelet and a bottomless mimosa ($ 5). Definitely try the home made jam. yummy, yummy. I will definitely be back.

$ 5 Bottomless Mimosas. Yes. On Colfax. You read that right!
I’ve lived in the hood since last summer and never made it out here til recently. I always walk by exclaiming how cute the place looks inside but never actually went in. It’s a little on the pricey side as far as brunch goes, but if you’re in the mood for something a step above the normal greasy spoon this is a great place to go to. I got the caramelized apple-​strawberry french toast and OMG… first bite and I was in heaven!
Our waiter made sure our mimosa glasses were kept nice and full. We were greeted with fresh baked bread and jelly. I probably would have eaten more if it had I not ordered the french toast-​that was way too many carbs for me to ingest on a Sunday morning!
I definitely recommend this place for a nice Sunday brunch. It’s never crowded! I’d love to try their dinner menu at some point as well.

I’ve been eyeing Café Star for a while now, with its trademark stained glass wallscape thingy. I love the interior and lighting — the tables aren’t too close together, and the booths on the south side give a great view of Colfax and the dining room.
I can vouch for their brunch menu. My brother in law said their french toast (carmelized apple-​strawberry french toast on fresh baked bread) is the best he’s ever had; my sis went for the eggs benedict with a trademark roasted red pepper hollandaise — sounds weird, but tastes delicious — and I had the potato crepes with eggs and smoked trout. I was tempted to indulge in mimosas or a bellini, but I did that a few weekends ago at brunch and it effed up my day. BUT, know that you can get your brunch drink on here. Note: they don’t have a cappucino maker, so you can’t order specialty coffee drinks.
They do have a homemade dessert counter, which looked super tempting, but when I’m in that close of proximity to Lovely Confections, I gotta get me some cupcakes.

Of all the gin joints along Colfax Avenue, we walked into this one last night during Happy Hour (5 – 6:30PM). We sat in the bar area and enjoyed glasses of Cotes du Rhone along with mussels and leeks in a white wine sauce, followed by pizza with smoked pepperoni and house made mozzarella. The bar is cozy with a big screen TV and the bartender was very helpful and attentive. Prices are reasonable. This is an oasis of good food and pleasant atmosphere in a sea (East Colfax) of dive bars, 7 – 11’s, and eclectic shops.

«Casual enough for jeans and a tee, yet upscale enough to take a first date,» that’s a good way to sum up the ambiance of Café Star. The food fits right in with its overall vibe… yummy without trying too hard. Nothing fancy or fussy. Perfectly-​sized portions too… you’ll be full but not stuffed, and you won’t need to take home a doggie-​bag.
Like most other Unilocalers, I really dig the big stained glass doodad thingie in the the middle of the space that sets the dining area apart from the bar zone. The bar zone sports a big, projection TV front and center, and while that’s awesome for those of you who want or need it… it kind of messes up a date night. You know what I mean… you’re checking the score of the game and over your date’s shoulder while he or she is picking nervously at his or her arugula thinking, «do-​da-​doo, what a lame date» in his or her head. Check the score when you go to the bathroom, loser.
What? Oh sorry, I digress.
Four of us split the mozzerella and olive (yum!) and the pancetta wrapped shrimp with polenta (double yum!) appetizers. I had the butternut squash ravioli, which was good but not mindblowing. The squash was a little too sweet inside– almost pumpkin-​pie-​esque. Maybe it was the nutmeg, but it was a little unexpected. The best entrée of the night was probably the seared scallops over risotto.
Service was a little lacking… our waiter seemed like he was trying a little too hard to be laid-​back and cool rather than attentive. We had to ask for things like bread and the drinks we’d ordered… even though the place was far from busy. He also didn’t really ever check back with us during dinner to see if we wanted anything else. No worries, though… we didn’t. Sometimes it’s just nice to be asked!
We were too full for dessert, but the pastry case looked like it housed some real winners (chili chocolate pot-​de-​crème, I’m talking to you). Someday I’ll go back just for apps and dessert… no shame in that game!

Recently had brunch here. They have a nice brunch menu. I ordered the ricotta and blueberry pancakes and they were fabulous. A cup of coffee with a shot of amaretto was the perfect accompaniment.
My previous visit:
I love the stained glass half circle that stretches from chair rail height to the ceiling and surrounds the cozy bar seating area. The main dining area was well lit in a soft glowing way. The service was great and the owner was buzzing around making sure everything was just right.
As for the food, it was really good. I had a crawfish pot pie. Being from New Orleans, I knew ordering a crawfish dish in Denver was a gamble. Luck was on my side. It was wonderful. It was loaded with crawfish tails, peas, potatoes, and a lightly spicy brandy cream sauce.
My friend had a spinach salad with bacon vinaigrette, which I tasted and found amazingly bacony. He also had a ravioli dish that was good as well. We shared a key lime tart for desert. It was overly sweet and there was nothing tart about it. It was lacking in the key lime department, but we still enjoyed it.

My girlfriend and I went to Café Star on Saturday night and it was awesome! We were in the neighborhood doing some other shopping and had seen it before but never went in. We will definately be back. The staff was super friendly and attentive. The wine list can be a little bit pricey, but there are some reasonable selections and the waiter was able to recommend a bottle to suit our entrée’s.
She had the Gnocchi special and I had the Italian Sausage from the regular menu and it was hard to tell which one we liked more. the pasta was not over cooked like a lot of places I have been to and the Gnocchi was fresh and melted in your mouth. The desserts were fabulous too! I had the Pot de Crème (smooth and dark) and she had the Key Lime tart.
Definately better than Campo di Fiori that I had the night before and it was cheaper.

I am truly in love with the lemon mint ravioli! Oh so good I could eat it everyday.
So beyond that the 1^st time we went here we were not overly impressed by the service and the waiter had this kinda I have other thing more important than you attitude. The food made up for the service!
The 2^nd visit went better! We had amazing food and wine! Good place to visit!

My husband and I shared a delightful evening here at Café Star. We started with a couple of delicious martini’s. I had a pizzette that had arugula, onions, and truffle oil on it. Yum. The hubs had some kind of steak which he devoured. Great place. Good service. We sat on the patio and it was a great start to a great night!

I’ve now become a regular of this place, even though it took me a while to get back there after their original chef/​owner left. I was dreading the big change after that happened and avoided it.
But in reality the place is at least as good as it always was and it has some wonderful items on the menu that just keep bringing me (and various friends) back for more. They have a zesty ahi tuna salad that I love and an arancini risotto appetizer that is heavenly (if you don’t know what that is, good, just go try it, it’s a great combination of deep fried risotto and a red pepper couli). They have small pizzas with wonderful fresh ingredients and several ravioli dishes that the best kind of combination of pasta, sauce, and cheese.
Full bar and fun drinks, plus a very good by-​the-​glass wine list (a real rarity in this town). Add the lovely patio, friendly waiters (who recognize a regular when they see one) and a spot right on Colfax for convenience — couldn’t ask for anything more in a very desirable neighborhood restaurant. (Oh, and I also took my parents there for mother’s day brunch and it, too, was impressive.)

I’ve eaten here twice now… once quite a few years ago, and since then the menu has softened to fit the neighborhood a bit better. No more foie gras on the menu, but still some fancy schmanzy selections.
We started with a bottle of wine and prosciutto wrapped prawns with pollenta. YUM!!! One friend had the duck, another the gnocchi, and I had the risotto and scallops. We were all very happy, though the friend that had gnocchi felt there was a lack of sauce and it made it a little dry. We all agreed we’d be back soon.

Probably one of my current favorite restaurants. The décor is great, it has a neighborhood feel, yet each time we go we have such amazing food. They offer small and large entrees for those who want more «European size» portions. They also have a seasonal menu to keep it interesting.
And I always expect the check to be more than it is…
Great for a romantic/​date night although I would like to try it in a group as well.
Plus I’ve never had to wait very long, even on the weekends.

Great food!
I stumbled across this restaurant while visiting a cupcake shop down the road. My friend and I were hungry and we wanted to try someplace new for a change. This restaurant may not look like much from the outside, but it’s very quaint and relaxing in the inside. The service was fast and friendly and the menu is moderately priced.
We ordered the Anacini for an appetizer, Risotto for me, and Gnocchi for him. Prior to the appetizer, we were given a few slices of sourdough bread to enjoy with the olive oil on the table. The bread was very tasty.
When the anacini came out, we weren’t quite sure what to make of it. It looked like two medium sized crabcake things on a plate of orange sauce with green sauce drizzled throughout. I braved the first bite and I almost died from delight! The cakes were gnocchi breaded risotto and mushrooms. The sauce tasted like a savory tomato-​saffron sauce with a hint of citrus. This appetizer was so good, it lasted all of two minutes. We wolfed that sucker down!
My risotto was very rich and savory and the scallops complemented the dish very well. My friend was very impressed by his gnocchi to the point of where he almost wouldn’t let me have a bite. I convinced him that he had to in the name of research. The gnocchi was tossed with flavorful sauteed mushrooms and spinach coated in vinegar. Let me tell you, it was fantastic! Kudos to the chef!
Although the portions are small, the quality is supreme and the arrangement is indulging to the eye. The food is moderately priced ($ 8 – 26) and the atmosphere makes it perfect for dinner dates.

Good times were had at Café Star last night. A colleague and I decided to visit after work. As it had just opened for the evening, we were the first to arrive.
The waitress was exceptionally nice and informative about the specials and wines, and more than happy to offer opinions about what to try.
We went with a goat cheese appetizer — warm goat cheese topped with a dollop of tomato jam, wafer thin apple slices, and a mini-​baguette. I came precariously close to licking out the inside of the ramekin when all was said and done.
We also split one of their pizzettas — chicken, brie, pancetta, red onion… sweet LORD. It was tasty, but I think I preferred the goat cheese.
I tried the wine they had on special last night — a chianti. I’m not much of a wine person, so I apologize for not remembering the actual name. It was a tasty one, though. You can buy wine by the glass or bottle. The special ran at $ 8/​glass.
All told, our bill came to $ 40. We spent an astounding three hours there, chatting and laughing. The owner came by and asked how we were doing, and was really excited that we’d found this place through a Unilocal review — they’re all anxious to find out what the public thinks of their new head chef.
I though the place was lovely, save for the somewhat depressing parking situation. Good food, a fine view of Colfax, great company, and terrific service. Totally planning on going back for more!

This was a good find.
My husband and checked this place out on a friday, and we got a table quickly. The décor is super cute and the food is reasonably priced. More importantly though, is the nice wine list that is also reasonably priced.
The servers are cute and friendly, and the place has a really decent vibe.
Sadly, the food was good but not excellent. The husband had the chicken pizza, which was nice because it had actual roasted chicken in it, but I had the ratatouille, which was okay. Not great, not bad. Okay.
But I will totally go back because I just think its rare that you can find a good date restaurant that doesnt feel all date-​y, if that makes any sense.

I lovingly recall meals at Café Star. It’s been over a year now, since I had the pleasure but this was definitely a top-​notch dining experience that has rarely been matched since.
It’s a small space with a super cool vibe– obviously someone put a lot of thought into picking the fixtures to create the décor. The wine list is also well-​planned, offering a Portuguese favorite of mine, vinho verde. And of course, the food is amazing. I have sampled a variety of things and can’t think of one that I didn’t enjoy. The lobster pot pie is absolute decadence to be cherished.