El Five is a little sneaky. The good kind of sneaky though. It sits high in an office building in LoHi. You wouldn't guess there is a restaurant there, let alone one that draws such huge crowds so many nights of the week.
A quiet elevator off the side of a small parking lot takes you up to the fifth floor. When you step off, you'll find classic, over-the-top Justin Cucci decor and views of the city unlike any other.
The layout provides several dining experiences. There is a more private back room on the west side where the golden light pours through the windows as the sun sets. There are two options for bar seating: either around a chef's table or at a traditional bar that is open to the patio. There are several large tables in the middle of the restaurant as well as plenty of patio seating.
And on Sunday nights, usually one of the slowest for restaurants, all those tables are full. In fact, you probably need to call a week in advance for a table. It is definitely not the restaurant's busiest evening: every Friday and Saturday are booked from open to close. But it's become kind-of an industry night—chefs, servers, and bartenders who have the night off come for some tapas and drinks.
Look through this gallery to see what El Five delivers on a Sunday at 6 p.m.