Indulge French Bistro

I can’t say enough good things about Indulge. I have been going for years. The owners are very personable and I enjoy myself every time I go. All others I have introduced to the restaurant also love it. The consistent quality of the menu and the pleasant staff keep me coming back. Best Salmon dish in Denver!

Went here for restaurant week last weekend with some friends. We had a great meal, and enjoyed everything.

Well what can I say… I went with another couple (elite Unilocaler) and was so excited to have some great food. The restaurant is small and very cozy (Tables on top of each other and if you are over 6 feet not a good place for you to go). We did go during 5280 week so I was expecting a wait. However, not ³⁰⁄₄₅ minutes for a drink. We ordered our food and almost everything had an up-​charge. We ordered snails and they were good however the portion size from ours to our friends was huge and we had to send it back.
Now it gets good.
Main course. two ducks and two tenderloins (both had up charges). The duck was over cooked in parts and medium in others the skin was fatty (yes it is duck) but not crispy. My tenderloin was a poor bit of meat and the sauce was overly sweet. My fiancé and friend sent their duck back. Next thing we knew the CHEF is at the table telling us we do not know what we are talking about and that the food is great and that you cannot get crispy skin on the duck without making the duck well done! it was very embarrassing and well awful.
Desert, more of the highlight, my girlfriend got the chocolate desert and it was great, the rest of us got the crème brûlée and it came with two mini ones on the place of different flavors, one of which was banana and well not my cup of tea nor anyone else.
After all of that we still had to pay and had to ask them to remove the up-​charges.
Well, I am sorry to say we will not be going back and thank goodness for the nearby drive thru!

Great potential — poor follow thru.
I recently at at Indulge with a friend. Coming through the door we entered a very intimate setting. Loved the look and feel of the restaurant.
We sat several minutes before getting water and then ordered a bottle of wine. The wrong bottle was delivered to the table but we had already waited 20 minutes so we just went with it. We were still waiting for appetizer when our main dishes were delivered. Those went back and finally the steak tartare was delivered. It was very good once we finally got it. Then came the main dish. Coq Au Vin The chicken was good but it was served over ELBOW MACARONI. Disappointed in the pasta choice here and it really brought the quality of the dish down. I did enjoy crème brûlée for dessert.
Overall the food was fine, not great and the service was horrible. Difficult to get water refills, the fact our main dish was delivered before our appetizer, it took 20 minutes to pay our bill, etc.
Won’t be returning.

Wow. I never thought that an evening to dinner could be so awkward and dissatisfying.
Thank you, Indulge, for inspiring me to start a new list on Unilocal called «Never again».
Here were the high points: bread (oh except for the one with the pesky hair in it!) and the chocolate dessert with the mango sorbet. Delicious.
First off, service is SLOW. It took us at least a half hour to get drinks the first time, then 45 minutes to get the bread (yes, including the one with the hair in it). It’s also a bit awkward and tentative with no real knowledge of the menu.
Secondly, the food. We started with the steak tartare and the escargot. Our order of escargot had only 3 snails. Yes, THREE. I sent it back. We got a few more. These were in a wine sauce that was very good– though it would have been nice to have them served in the shells. The tartare was OK. A bit dry (no egg) but the flavor was there.
For our entrees we ordered the Duck and the Beef Tenderloin. (We were dining with another couple and they ordered the same.) The Duck consisted of a breast and a leg. We both asked for medium rare prep. The leg was well done and the breast was probably medium with a very soft skin (no crispiness). We sent them back and the chef CAME TO OUR TABLE and proceeded to tell us that they were properly cooked, we were wrong, and there was no way to get a crispy skin without making the duck well done. (Methinks he should return to cooking school.) My friend had barely touched her tenderloin. He asked what she thought of it. Well, it was a very low quality piece of meat drenched in an overly sweet sauce and the server said it was the best thing on the menu. Hmmm… sadly, he could be right. Though Hubs agreed that meat from Costco is way better than whatever supplier he was using, he’s 6’3″, we were starving, and so he ate it. Frankly it was just so embarrassing and unprofessional for the chef to be insulting us at dinner in front of the entire restaurant that we just wanted him to go away.
Thankfully my chocolate dessert was fantastic but everyone else ordered the crème brûlée (another server recommendation) and were pretty disappointed. There were 2 tiny portions of brulee with different flavors– one being banana which didn’t sit too well with people– not exactly as it was described on the menu. Oh and the strawberry garnish looked like it had been recycled from the previous diners’ dessert plates. Classy.
Lastly the tables were packed so tightly that our friends couldn’t even slide their chairs back. They had to «shimmy» into their seats. Hubs and I were up against the wall so we couldn’t move back to accommodate either.
If I’m getting attitude from a restaurant I should at least feel like I’ve eaten as royalty. No thanks, Indulge. We will never be back. Don’t waste your dollars here.

Valentine’s Day dinner disaster with multiple diners walking out. Meal took 3 hours and we left before dessert on a prix fixe meal. Clearly a great deal of drama between the servers and the kitchen, but no communication about the train wreck to the patrons. Food was very good, per usual, when it showed up. An evening-​ruined experience with no recognition from the house that it was overbooked and overwhelmed.

Now I know why the 100 year war took 100 years. The French took 75 years to show up.
If you would like to watch the Chef socialize at the bar for two hours while you and your family sit there waiting for your food, and then finally get it 2.5 hours later, then this is the place for you.
We went here for my aunts birthday tonight. We had early reservations so they knew we were coming. We proceeded to wait for 2.5 hours to get salad. By far the worst dining experience I have had in 27 years living in Denver. My grandparents had to leave because it took so long.

Very small and intimate setting with friendly owners waiting on you. The French bread is amazing, crispy and crunchy.
Duck confit appetizer is rich and tasty. Blue crab avocado and mango salad is a good tasting and not too filling.
Sea scallops are amazing and gigantic and seared to perfection, very tender inside. Salmon and lamb both looked well-​seasoned.
The pear dessert was unexpected. Thought it would be warm and baked with ice cream on the side, but it was a cold pear. It was good but definitely not the highlight.

I made my reservation here for NYE super last minute. The food and service were both awesome.
We both had the 3 course menu and each had different selections so we could sample as much of the food as possible. Everything we had was excellent. The plates were all balanced nicely when each component was tasted together.
The reason why I am not giving 5 stars is because the décor is less than optimal. Not that it’s bad, just out dated compared to newer, trendier restaurants.
This is a place to go for an awesome meal and good service. Since the décor is a little outdated my first impression wasn’t super high but I knew based on other reviews that we were in for a great meal, and it was awesome. Bottom line, Indulge was a perfect low key, last minute, NYE restaurant.

I have literally driven past this place daily for the past five years and I never even thought of stopping. I had no idea that this was a) a French restaurant nor b) it was this spectacular. The food is spot on and very traditional, the best escargot I’ve ever had. It’s quite, quant and Stephanie who served on me was a complete doll. I have no idea of what’s going on yet I am on a total roll of discovering great new (to me) places here in Denver.

When I walked into the restaurant on a Friday evening to find only a handful of table occupied inside and out, I should have known I was not in for a good experience.
Seeing that several of the dishes featured «white truffle oil,» a synthetic perfume that quality chefs avoid like the plague, my heart sunk, but I was really in the mood for French cuisine, so I soldiered on.
The fennel and beet salad was made with mayo and overly sweet – totally unbalanced flavors. It reminded me of the sort of dish an old lady would bring to church potlucks when I was a kid. It looked horrible as well… the sort of presentation I’d expect for a first-​year food service student at a community college.
The main dish, duck breast and leg, was even worse. It came served with a mixture of cold green beans and cold french fries piled on top of the breast. I commented to the waiter that the beans and fries were cold. He let me know this is how the chef serves it. I simply told him that I’d never seen such a thing before. I scraped this mound of nonsense off the duck and dug in. The breast was tough, grisly and luke warm… I managed to eat about half before I gave up. The leg was very nice – succulent and tasty.
What absolutely ruined the meal with the chef coming out and getting in my face b/​c I didn’t care for the food. I didn’t send anything back, nor did I ask to see the chef. Nevertheless, he felt the need to come and out inform me that his food is «delicious.» Clearly a very insecure man. Twice I told him that he was free to serve whatever he likes, but that it wasn’t my cup of tea. He walked off in a snit and proceeded to talk to a table beside me about how you can never what some customers will like and others won’t.
Having had enough, I told him that there was absolutely no need to be rude and asked for my check.
His wife and the waiter apologized for his behavior (after taking the duck off the check, to their credit), but it wasn’t their place to apologize for the chef.
The worst «fine dining» experience of my life.
I will never return.

Great food. Good service.
Went there to propose to my girlfriend. I mentioned my intentions when making the reservations. We got a nice small table away from other diners. The food was fantastic and came out promptly. They came to the table only when needed. Better service for the occasion I could not have asked for.

Great food; perfect portions; impeccable service
The only reason I don’t give this a perfect rating is because of parking. The parking lot is very small and the street was already filled up with cars most likely from the residents in the neighborhood. We had a very early reservation and the restaurant only had around 6 tables filled at that point.
The place was packed but the owner and chef came out and talked to us for a while giving my niece the pros and cons of being a chef (she wants to be a chef). Him and his wife are both from France and they know French food!
We tried Indulge during 5280 and our experience was flawless. We had reservations and brought one extra with us and they were able to accommodate us. Although this is a small establishment were not crowed. Being that it was 5280, we were not rushed and our server spent all the time we needed and answered our questions patiently.
For appetizers, we had Scottish Salmon Tartare, Escargots de Bourgogne and Pâté de Campagne. All were palatable. My favorite was the tartare.
For entrees or «plats» we had the Crispy Scottish Salmon, Steamed Mussels Mariniere and Coq au Vin. All were cooked perfectly and tasty but the salmon would be the only thing out of the three that I would order again. Just personal preference.
For dessert we had Granny Smith Apple Tarte Normande, Duo de Crème Brulee and Moelleux Au Chocolat. The crème brûlée was my favorite.
The wine list is ample with a wide range of prices. I checked out their usual menu and everything looked good. I will be back to try the braised rabbit or roasted duckling sometime soon. I have never dined during 5280 so I would like to see how this place differs on a typical evening.

This has just become one of my favorite restaurants in Denver (and I say that having gone during restaurant week, which many people consider to be the worst time for service).
First, thank you Liam (sp?), our extremely friendly and attentive server who definitely disproved the idea that Restaurant Week means bad service.
FOOD: A
For appetizers, we had the escargot, the potage vichyssois (cold soup), and the steak tartare. We thought all three were delicious and came in a perfect small portion.
For the main course, we had the duckling, the salmon, and the mussels. I would gladly eat all 3 myself again. The duckling and salmon were both tender and succulent — not dry in the least bit. They also had the perfect ratio of meat to side (about ¾ meat to ¼ side). The mussels were as good as any I’ve had in Belgium. The wine/​shallot/​butter/​parsley sauce is definitely a winner. I’d come back just for the mussels.
The crème brûlée was fantastic. Perfect ending to a perfect dinner.
SERVICE: A
Our server gave great suggestions for wine pairings, was always friendly and prompt, made sure we were enjoying each course, and made a special effort to ensure the salmon wouldn’t be dry because someone in my party had briefly mentioned being worried about that. Overall, I couldn’t ask for more.
ATMOSPHERE: A
Very cozy and romantic. It’s a small restaurant, so you don’t feel overwhelmed by space or noise. Perfect place for a date or a family dinner.
DRINKS: A
If you ask, you can get some great pairing recommendations or ideas of what you might like. The wines are also not too overpriced, which a lot of nice restaurants (especially French ones) tend to do. Our bottle was $ 30 (normally about $ 15 in stores) — which is a great deal if you ask me.

I’ve been looking forward to trying Indulge French Bistro for a very long time — and was very, very disappointed. We went with friends on a Saturday night, over the holidays. It was a late reservation — but the place was not too crowded. They stuck us in a corner at a tiny table that should have really been a two-​top not a four-​top. Service was extremely slow — snail paced at best. Food was «meh» unimpressive, and all it left us with were very upset stomachs later in the night… Should have left during the 45 minutes we waited in between courses, with no apology or complimentary drink. The table next to ours had similar complaints… Needless to say, we will not be back.

I would give this ¹⁰⁄₅ stars if possible.
Chef William not only has a great story but he creates some of the most excellent French dishes in the state. His wait staff is trained with the highest standards and the flexibility is impeccable.
We went in on Father’s Day for Sunday Brunch (brunch is offered most Sundays) and had an outstanding experience. This is a little bit how it went:
One of the guests in our party didn’t want one of the smaller Sunday dishes and asked for tenderloin. The waiter didn’t hesitate or correct him that it wasn’t even on the menu. He returned shortly after to double check that the tenderloin was what the guest wanted and not the tartare that was on the menu. NO BIG Deal!
Then we had the pleasure of greeting the chef who told us about his collector Mustang GT… 1970 something car. He returned after completing our meal to show us pictures of the treasure. At the end he mentioned that we should try fries with butter. We hesitated to order any because of the calorie content in the fries. 3 minutes later, he presented us with a dish of fries and homemade butter, «Just to taste» as he said.
Every time we are here we get great service. Anywhere from a free taste of their most popular desert to a little extra salad with the mussels (which are incredible).
Check out their mussel night!

There aren’t any words to describe how great this place was. French food is that rare treat and this place is the best. My sweetbreads were so tender and delectible. My mom was hesitant to order the duck, but when she did she said it was perfect. It was juicy without being fatty or greasy The pâté was not the best I’ve had, but it was tasty. Can you say bourbon crème brule. Oh yeah… I don’t know what else to say. I’ve never had food give me sensations like this before.
The staff was great. The owners both came to our table and had a delightful conversion with us. Our waiter was so much fun. Very upscale professional, but not stuffy or uppity. We also appreciated Lilly as well. You can find her on the roof?
Maybe next time I will try the Lobster potpie. (Inside joke)

Great, intimate, little restaurant with friendly service and fantastic food!
So, I was annoyed that during restaurant week I could only get a reservation for 4 people. I tried to make my reservation the day the menus came out. I figured they were just completely booked already. I obviously hadn’t been there before. This place is teeny. Four is about the largest reservation you would ever want to make here. The place is very intimate, but comfortable and the service is great.
I sat at the bar and had a glass of wine since I had arrived early and the girlfriends were on their way. Be ready to shell out some cash for the wine menu, here. They have a couple of house wines which are about $ 6 as I recall, but the prices go up exponentially from there. They certainly don’t serve crap wine here. I had a white and a red that were phenominal. Read the descriptions, they get you salivating before you even order.
Our dinners were the best we had during Restaurant Week. The salmon tartare had a creamy sauce, the mussels were divine with the tomato wine sauce and I think I licked the ramekins of crème brûlée clean. Absolutely delicious.
Bring your whole paycheck, this place is definitely pricey. But, I noticed that they do have specials. Tuesday nights they have a Live Maine Lobster Feast for $ 35. Thursday nights are the Mussel Feast for $ 20. We will most definitely be back!

I went to five places during Restaurant Week this year, and Indulge was by far the best.
If you’ve driven by Indulge a dozen times without stopping in, I can see why — the outside isn’t particularly impressive. But, don’t let that stop you next time. Indulge is a cozy restaurant with a friendly staff and a fantastic menu.
I started with the potage vichyssoise, which was served with a bit of crème fraîche and decanted at the table. It was simple, elegant, and very good. Next came the coq au vin, which I wasn’t sure about at first. However, one thing Indulge excels at is flavor pairing — when I ate the bird on its own, I was a bit mixed regarding how I felt about it. But, when I paired it with the other flavors in on the plate, it was really very good. Finally, that chocolate volcano cake with a spoonful of mango sorbet on top. Apparently this dessert is their specialty, and I can certainly understand why. As full as I was after enjoying the first two courses, I managed to finish every bite of the dessert.
The service was friendly and professional. Even better, it was great to see the staff helping each other out. When a water glass went empty, one server may have had his hands full, but someone else was there to pick up the slack (usually).
I’d be proud to suggest Indulge for dinner next time my group is looking for a place to go… can’t wait to go back.

I love restaurant week for trying new restaurants and getting out of my little bubble to try said new places.
We were greeted warmly and our server was very helpful with walking us through the menu and offering suggestions.
My friends and I ordered all different plates for all 3 courses so we could share and try more. I loved their homemade rolls with soft butter served with our drinks.
For my 1^st course I enjoyed the Pâté de Campagne which was a very generous serving. Also ordered were the Scottish Salmon Tartare and Organic Mixed Baby Greens. The salad while simple, was very good.
For my 2^nd course I had the Coq Au Vin. The chicken had been braised for hours and fell off the bone. There were also elbow noodles in the dish, which I didn’t think added anything to the to the overall taste. I did like the pearl onions and mushrooms. My friends ordered the Crispy Scottish Salmon and Steamed P.E.I Mussels Provencal style. The mussels were very good along with the hot fries they came with.
Lastly, dessert. We all love dessert and were sadly a little let down. I ordered the Moelleux Au Chocolat with Mango Sorbet and the cake was not gooey enough (a bit on the dry side), but the sorbet was really good. Also ordered were the Apple Tarte and Pear «Belle Helene.»
Overall this was a very enjoyable meal and the food was really good (except dessert). Looks like they also have a patio which would be enjoyable in the summer time.
I also liked that they have a private parking lot in the back.

Get DOWN!
This place is TOTALLY French! And like, in all of the good ways. It’s comfortable yet close-​set, the bread is mediocre, and the wine is DAMN good.
We came here for restaurant week, and what a nice ending to the week it was. Never had escargot like these, and the shaved fennel accompanying was absolutely wonderful. The crispy salmon was perfectly balanced. And then the chocolate whatchamacallit, with apricot… good LAWD it was decadent wondrousness. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here.
Word of warning– the men’s room is near the entrance, the ladie’s room is near the back. I know, it’s weird, so if you need to get your pee on be forewarned.
There’s not alot of seating here, and the seats are all pretty close together, so if you need to spill any deep family secrets you might want to wait for another night.
Just sayin’. :)