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Alteño, Denver, CO

Alteño

4.9 (91)
$31 to $50
Mexican
249 Clayton St, Denver, CO 80206-4842

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 43 times today

About this restaurant

  • Hot spot
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
From the heart of Michelin-starred Chef/Owner Johnny Curiel comes Alteño. Curiel’s newest creation pays homage to his Jaliscan Highland roots and traditions, incorporating a mix of heritage flavors and rustic preparations that spotlight the cuisine and culture of the iconic Los Altos de Jalisco. The spirit of Johnny’s restaurateur father, the original Alteño, is felt in the very soul of the restaurant.

The campestre influence woven throughout Alteño is inspired by Johnny’s childhood spent in the mountainous region of Los Altos, known for its rolling hills, historic colonial architecture, and wild, untamed land. Chef Johnny and his partner and wife, Kasie, developed the beverage program balancing top-shelf, native Mexican flavors and agave spirits like raicilla and mezcal, with classic cocktails and a wine list that includes a selection of Mexican, European and American wines overseen by Alteño’s in-house sommelier.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Contemporary Mexican
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 3:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Chef Johnny Curiel

What 91 people are saying

Alteño reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Denver / Colorado

    Hot spot

  • Denver / Colorado

    Mexican

  • Denver

    Best Overall

  • Denver

    Best Food

  • Denver

    Best Ambiance

  • Denver

    Hot spot

  • Denver

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Alteño offers a vibrant dining experience with "incredible service" and an "innovative menu" that includes standout dishes like Pollo A Las Brasas, sweet potato, and cornbread. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, with many patrons praising the "fantastic food" and "attentive staff." A must-try in Cherry Creek!

91 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Phoenix3 reviews

    1.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Be prepared for a LONG wait between courses. We eventually had to cancel the end of our dishes and just leave it was so long. 2 hours of being there and we only got 3 appetizers, the large plates never made it out. Service was prompt and we didn't lack for attention, just food. Needless to say, I wouldn't go back.

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  2. Lorne VIP

    Denver2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Truly amazing food experience. One of my best in Denver. Great service by Fiona. Will be heading back soon.

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  3. Leah

    Hawaii5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Amazing fresh food - love the crudo options and wonderful Mexican wine selections. Everything we had from cornbread to the lamb was fantastic. The music was very loud, increasing the volume of speaking required and hearing your table mates or waiter usually required a repeat or a decipher attempt after. Will definitely try again - reservations are months out

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  4. Tyler VIP

    San Francisco1 review

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    This place was decent. For the hype and 3 week wait for a reservation, I felt it did not meet expectations. The food was very heavy, tons of butter and creams, we left feeling uncomfortable and but still hungry. They say the meals are to share but everything was much more single serving than sharing size. The food tasted good and the drinks were excellent, but this place felt way over hyped, if you can just walk in and get a table it would be great, but waiting weeks feels unnecessary.

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  5. Linda VIP

    Denver3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Johnny Curiel and his folks simply shine. Food & service amazing. Every time I eat at his restaurants, I am so happy both for the experience and for their success!

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  6. Carol VIP

    Philadelphia1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was perfection, both in creativity and presentation. Service was great and very knowledgeable. I look forward to returning!

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  7. Tracy VIP

    Denver18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We took our waiter's every recommendation and it did not disappoint! The sweet potato dish was fantastic, as was the cornbread, the fresh tuna with fennel salad and the stuffed mushroom was unique and delicious. My husband LOVED the fresh fish entree and our son said the chicken was fantastic they "should stop now because it doesn't get better than THIS!" Literally every morsel of food was fantastic.

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  8. nancy

    Chicago6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best meal we’ve had since moving to Denver 5 years ago

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  9. Rachael

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful time. We had to order all upfront and the food was paced out well. The service was excellent- very knowledgeable wait staff and all was delicious. The avocado margarita was incredible and each dish was better than the last.

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  10. Barbara

    Denver3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall great experience. The food, service, and ambience were all excellent.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Alteño is rated 4.9 stars by 91 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Denver / Colorado
  4. Denver
  5. Cherry Creek

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 43 times today
Google Map for Alteño

249 Clayton St, Denver, CO 80206-4842

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Cherry Creek
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 3:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Contemporary Mexican
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Executive chef
    Chef Johnny Curiel
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