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Plates of all sizes at Super Mega Bien.
Lucy Beaugard/Eater

Where to Eat With a Group in Denver

Sure bets for gathering with friends and family

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Plates of all sizes at Super Mega Bien.
| Lucy Beaugard/Eater

Spacious settings, communal tables, and big energy. Heaping platters, brimming baskets, and bubbling pots. When it comes to group dining, size matters. In one way or another, these 18 places, listed geographically, aim to please a hungry crew, whether they’re primed for a casual chow down or prepped for an upscale night on the town.

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African Grill and Bar - Lakewood Colorado

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Stews, soups, and starches of all kinds are made for family-style feasts at this homey Lakewood gem. From red red, chakalaka, and egusi to fufu, kenkey, and jollof rice, trying a little bit of everything with a band of fellow food fiends is the only way to go here.

Okra and oxtail stew with kenkey at African Grill
Stews both vegetarian and meaty star at African Grill.
Ruth Tobias

Seafood Empire

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Among the Vietnamese-Cajun seafood joints that have been bubbling up across town for years now, this promising Lakewood arrival does it all: Not just crawfish and crab boils with corn and potatoes, not just baskets of fried shrimp or squid or even alligator, but also oyster platters, stir-fried snails, grilled lobster, and massive shellfish boats feeding up to seven people. The recent acquisition of a liquor license only sweetens the pot.

The Kraken boat includes four pounds of crawfish, eight crab clusters, six lobster tails, and much more
Seafood Empire’s The Kraken boat includes four pounds of crawfish, eight crab clusters, six lobster tails, and much more.
Seafood Empire

Star Kitchen

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No group-dining list would be complete without mention of a dim sum parlor — and this Athmar Park longtimer is the one to beat. Come early (10:30 a.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. on weekends) to avoid a wait for all the things on the ever-circulating carts: dumplings, buns, rice-crepe wraps, turnip cakes, egg tarts, and much, much more. Granted, it’s an equally solid bet at dinnertime, when a Cantonese extravaganza of seafood, clay-pot dishes, sizzling platters, and so on awaits.

Baked buns and dumplings at Star Kitchen
Baked buns and dumplings at Star Kitchen.
Ruth Tobias

Savory Vietnam Restaurant

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Located in a veritable banquet hall (it used to be a dim sum joint), this top spot for Vietnamese fare is obviously well equipped to handle large parties — and so, of course, is the wide-ranging menu, laden with such crowd pleasers as stir-fried whole crab; rice-paper wrap platters starring the likes of deep-fried sugarcane shrimp or lemongrass pork skewers; and fire pots bobbing with seafood of all kinds, from catfish to squid and mussels. (Reservations are recommended for six or more.)

Squid in a fermented shrimp-paste sauce at Savory Vietnam
Squid in a fermented shrimp-paste sauce at Savory Vietnam.
Ruth Tobias

Bar Dough

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This eternal LoHi hot spot is all about convivial gatherings both out on the hopping patio and in a dining room bifurcated by communal tables. Behind them, the open kitchen turns out modern, seasonal Italian dishes for everybody to dig into with abandon: pizzas, pastas, generously portioned entrees like the pork chop milanese, and more. Reservations for 10 or more guests are required.

A seasonal sausage pizza at Bar Dough
A seasonal sausage pizza at Bar Dough.
Kayla Jones

The Wolf's Tailor

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Offering not just a meal but an immersive experience for all involved, the multicourse prix fixe tasting menu at Kelly Whitaker’s Sunnyside sensation — centered this season around buckwheat — is served inside or out in fireplace-equipped tents. Parties of more than six should contact the restaurant directly to book.

Skewers, pasta, fermented cabbage, and more at The Wolf’s Tailor
Expect a focus on heritage grains, fermentations, and global influences at The Wolf’s Tailor.
Lucy Beaugard/Eater Denver

Rhein Haus Denver

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Communal tables and bocce-ball courts start the party at this RiNo bierhalle, while hearty German fare keeps it going. From giant pretzels with three dips to the heaping grillwurst platter of sausages with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut to the smorgasbord, featuring schweinshaxe, roast chicken, and spaetzle, Rhein Haus Denver will satisfy whatever your group is craving. Reservations are recommended for eight or more.

Schweinshaxe with a beer at Rhein Haus
Rhein Haus’s schweinshaxe.
Rhein Haus

The Post Chicken & Beer

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Feeding six to eight is a snap at Big Red F’s chicken shack in Rosedale (as well as LoHi, Boulder, Longmont, and Lafayette). Just order the Big Bubba Love, which comes with two fried birds, four large sides — think buttermilk waffles, green chile mac-and-cheese, and collard greens — and eight biscuits. An 88-ounce tower of beer from The Post’s own brewery should help to wash it all down.

Gluten-free fried chicken on a platter with a side
Gluten-free fried chicken is the centerpiece at The Post.
Mona Esposito

Death & Co Denver

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Located in the stately, high-ceilinged lobby of The Ramble Hotel, one of the city’s best cocktail lounges takes reservations for parties of seven to 10. Nothing like a table laden with wildly inventive drinks and eats meant for sharing — think chips and cola-braised onion dip, smoked trout with crispy hash brown, and mushroom fritters with horseradish aioli — smack in the midst of the action to foster a festive mood.

Seasonal cocktails on a table at Death & Co
Seasonal cocktails at Death & Co.
Elliott Clark

Super Mega Bien

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For groups of eight or fewer, this pan-Latin fiesta right next door to Death & Co. is an adventure waiting to happen. Cover the table with small plates from the dim sum–inspired carts, including patatas bravas, fried pork wings, and ropa vieja, or dig into large-format dishes such as Yucatan-style braised pork with housemade tortillas or whole pan-roasted striped bass in red curry. Better yet, do both. (Just don’t do it at the height of the dinner rush: Super Mega Bien doesn’t take reservations, so come early or late to ensure seating.)

Peking duck heads with chipotle-honey glaze, gorditas, and curtido at Super Mega Bien 
At any given time, large-format dishes at Super Mega Bien might include duck, pork, brisket, or whole fish.
Lucy Beaugard/Eater Denver

Carmine's on Penn

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This old-school Italian haunt in Wash Park (which now has a sibling in MacGregor Square) has been serving up family-style portions of red-sauce classics since long before it was cool — 1994, to be exact. Prepare to be plied with the large-format works: antipasti misti, sausage and peppers, chicken piccata, eggplant parmigiana, baked ziti, and other classics.

An antipasto platter at Carmine’s
An antipasto platter at Carmine’s.
Carmine’s

Safta Restaurant

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From the famous hummus and the dazzling array of salatim (small shared plates) to hefty entrees like the pomegranate-braised lamb shank, there’s no place quite like Safta for breaking bread — or in this case pita — with a tight-knit crew. (Note that parties of eight to 14 will be seated at a semi-private table with a prix fixe Chef’s Menu, served family-style.)

Hummus, lutenitsa, pita, and pomegranate-braised lamb shank at Safta
Hummus with pita, lutenitsa, and pomegranate-braised lamb shank count among Safta’s signatures.
Lucy Beaugard

Ni Tuyo

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Opened in July by the family behind La Adelita Cocina y Cantina, this lively Mexican eatery and bar in Bonnie Brae already has a loyal following who make it feel like the neighborhood place to be as they gather around cocktails, appetizers like queso fundido and shrimp aguachile, and molcajetes brimming with goodies (take, for example, the Morisqueta featuring tomato- and garlic- braised pork ribs, black beans, rice, green onions, and two cheeses). Reservations for parties of six to 16 are a good idea, though walk-ins prepared for a possible wait are certainly welcome.

The Cielo Mar y Tierra molcajete at Ni Tuyo
The Cielo Mar y Tierra molcajete at Ni Tuyo.
Boheme Fox

Culinary Dropout

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Sprawling and high-energy, this all-American hangout in the 9+Co. development is just the ticket for a sizeable, spirited squad. Though it can’t hurt to book a reservation for groups of up to 12, the front-of-house crew aims to accommodate walk-ins no matter the number — while the back-of-house team whips up sociable stuff like BBQ pork-belly nachos, Detroit-style black truffle–mushroom pizza with smoked-onion Alfredo sauce, and monkey bread à la mode.

A wild Converse-sneaker display graces the dining room at Culinary Dropout
A wild Converse-sneaker display graces the dining room at Culinary Dropout.
From the Hip Photo

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant

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There’s something about using one’s hands to scoop up a rainbow of meat stews, legumes, and greens with tangy, tender injera that makes the Ethiopian dining experience feel especially merry with a group, which this Montclair charmer can gladly accommodate (though it’s not a bad idea to confirm availability in advance).

Shanghai Kitchen

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Chinese food served family-style is always a sure bet for a crowd. This Greenwood Village longtimer welcomes them with a slew of Shanghainese and Sichuan specialties, including tea-smoked duck, Dynasty fish with pine nuts, cumin lamb, and twice-cooked pork belly, as well as a few tables decked out with Lazy Susans.

Dynasty fish with pine nuts at Shanghai Kitchen
Dynasty fish with pine nuts at Shanghai Kitchen.
Ruth Tobias

Old Town Hot Pot

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With eight different broths and some 50 ingredients to choose from — including crab, mussels, fatty beef, lamb, pumpkin, tofu skin, seaweed, dumplings, and glass noodles, just to name a few — this bustling all-you-can-eat hot pot spot serves up interactive feasts for groups of all sizes and ages, complete with a self-serve sauce and topping bar. Note that reservations for six or more are required on Friday and Saturday nights.

Hot pot with fatty beef, brisket, mussels, dumplings, fish balls, pumpkin, lotus root and more
AYCE hot pot at Old Town starts with two choices of meat.
Ruth Tobias

Shin Myung Gwan Korean BBQ

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From the banchan onward, Korean barbecue is a communal affair if ever there was one. Ordering’s easy here with combo packages that include multiple meats, a choice of stew, a pancake, and a bottle of soju — but that galbi, bulgogi, pork belly, and more are also available à la carte for supplementing with anything from spicy fish-egg soup to stir-fried squid with glass noodles.

Stir-fried spicy squid with glass noodles at Shin Myung Gwan
Stir-fried spicy squid with glass noodles at Shin Myung Gwan.
Ruth Tobias

African Grill and Bar - Lakewood Colorado

Stews, soups, and starches of all kinds are made for family-style feasts at this homey Lakewood gem. From red red, chakalaka, and egusi to fufu, kenkey, and jollof rice, trying a little bit of everything with a band of fellow food fiends is the only way to go here.

Okra and oxtail stew with kenkey at African Grill
Stews both vegetarian and meaty star at African Grill.
Ruth Tobias

Seafood Empire

Among the Vietnamese-Cajun seafood joints that have been bubbling up across town for years now, this promising Lakewood arrival does it all: Not just crawfish and crab boils with corn and potatoes, not just baskets of fried shrimp or squid or even alligator, but also oyster platters, stir-fried snails, grilled lobster, and massive shellfish boats feeding up to seven people. The recent acquisition of a liquor license only sweetens the pot.

The Kraken boat includes four pounds of crawfish, eight crab clusters, six lobster tails, and much more
Seafood Empire’s The Kraken boat includes four pounds of crawfish, eight crab clusters, six lobster tails, and much more.
Seafood Empire

Star Kitchen

No group-dining list would be complete without mention of a dim sum parlor — and this Athmar Park longtimer is the one to beat. Come early (10:30 a.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. on weekends) to avoid a wait for all the things on the ever-circulating carts: dumplings, buns, rice-crepe wraps, turnip cakes, egg tarts, and much, much more. Granted, it’s an equally solid bet at dinnertime, when a Cantonese extravaganza of seafood, clay-pot dishes, sizzling platters, and so on awaits.

Baked buns and dumplings at Star Kitchen
Baked buns and dumplings at Star Kitchen.
Ruth Tobias

Savory Vietnam Restaurant

Located in a veritable banquet hall (it used to be a dim sum joint), this top spot for Vietnamese fare is obviously well equipped to handle large parties — and so, of course, is the wide-ranging menu, laden with such crowd pleasers as stir-fried whole crab; rice-paper wrap platters starring the likes of deep-fried sugarcane shrimp or lemongrass pork skewers; and fire pots bobbing with seafood of all kinds, from catfish to squid and mussels. (Reservations are recommended for six or more.)

Squid in a fermented shrimp-paste sauce at Savory Vietnam
Squid in a fermented shrimp-paste sauce at Savory Vietnam.
Ruth Tobias

Bar Dough

This eternal LoHi hot spot is all about convivial gatherings both out on the hopping patio and in a dining room bifurcated by communal tables. Behind them, the open kitchen turns out modern, seasonal Italian dishes for everybody to dig into with abandon: pizzas, pastas, generously portioned entrees like the pork chop milanese, and more. Reservations for 10 or more guests are required.

A seasonal sausage pizza at Bar Dough
A seasonal sausage pizza at Bar Dough.
Kayla Jones

The Wolf's Tailor

Offering not just a meal but an immersive experience for all involved, the multicourse prix fixe tasting menu at Kelly Whitaker’s Sunnyside sensation — centered this season around buckwheat — is served inside or out in fireplace-equipped tents. Parties of more than six should contact the restaurant directly to book.

Skewers, pasta, fermented cabbage, and more at The Wolf’s Tailor
Expect a focus on heritage grains, fermentations, and global influences at The Wolf’s Tailor.
Lucy Beaugard/Eater Denver

Rhein Haus Denver

Communal tables and bocce-ball courts start the party at this RiNo bierhalle, while hearty German fare keeps it going. From giant pretzels with three dips to the heaping grillwurst platter of sausages with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut to the smorgasbord, featuring schweinshaxe, roast chicken, and spaetzle, Rhein Haus Denver will satisfy whatever your group is craving. Reservations are recommended for eight or more.

Schweinshaxe with a beer at Rhein Haus
Rhein Haus’s schweinshaxe.
Rhein Haus

The Post Chicken & Beer

Feeding six to eight is a snap at Big Red F’s chicken shack in Rosedale (as well as LoHi, Boulder, Longmont, and Lafayette). Just order the Big Bubba Love, which comes with two fried birds, four large sides — think buttermilk waffles, green chile mac-and-cheese, and collard greens — and eight biscuits. An 88-ounce tower of beer from The Post’s own brewery should help to wash it all down.

Gluten-free fried chicken on a platter with a side
Gluten-free fried chicken is the centerpiece at The Post.
Mona Esposito

Death & Co Denver

Located in the stately, high-ceilinged lobby of The Ramble Hotel, one of the city’s best cocktail lounges takes reservations for parties of seven to 10. Nothing like a table laden with wildly inventive drinks and eats meant for sharing — think chips and cola-braised onion dip, smoked trout with crispy hash brown, and mushroom fritters with horseradish aioli — smack in the midst of the action to foster a festive mood.

Seasonal cocktails on a table at Death & Co
Seasonal cocktails at Death & Co.
Elliott Clark

Super Mega Bien

For groups of eight or fewer, this pan-Latin fiesta right next door to Death & Co. is an adventure waiting to happen. Cover the table with small plates from the dim sum–inspired carts, including patatas bravas, fried pork wings, and ropa vieja, or dig into large-format dishes such as Yucatan-style braised pork with housemade tortillas or whole pan-roasted striped bass in red curry. Better yet, do both. (Just don’t do it at the height of the dinner rush: Super Mega Bien doesn’t take reservations, so come early or late to ensure seating.)

Peking duck heads with chipotle-honey glaze, gorditas, and curtido at Super Mega Bien 
At any given time, large-format dishes at Super Mega Bien might include duck, pork, brisket, or whole fish.
Lucy Beaugard/Eater Denver

Carmine's on Penn

This old-school Italian haunt in Wash Park (which now has a sibling in MacGregor Square) has been serving up family-style portions of red-sauce classics since long before it was cool — 1994, to be exact. Prepare to be plied with the large-format works: antipasti misti, sausage and peppers, chicken piccata, eggplant parmigiana, baked ziti, and other classics.

An antipasto platter at Carmine’s
An antipasto platter at Carmine’s.
Carmine’s

Safta Restaurant

From the famous hummus and the dazzling array of salatim (small shared plates) to hefty entrees like the pomegranate-braised lamb shank, there’s no place quite like Safta for breaking bread — or in this case pita — with a tight-knit crew. (Note that parties of eight to 14 will be seated at a semi-private table with a prix fixe Chef’s Menu, served family-style.)

Hummus, lutenitsa, pita, and pomegranate-braised lamb shank at Safta
Hummus with pita, lutenitsa, and pomegranate-braised lamb shank count among Safta’s signatures.
Lucy Beaugard

Ni Tuyo

Opened in July by the family behind La Adelita Cocina y Cantina, this lively Mexican eatery and bar in Bonnie Brae already has a loyal following who make it feel like the neighborhood place to be as they gather around cocktails, appetizers like queso fundido and shrimp aguachile, and molcajetes brimming with goodies (take, for example, the Morisqueta featuring tomato- and garlic- braised pork ribs, black beans, rice, green onions, and two cheeses). Reservations for parties of six to 16 are a good idea, though walk-ins prepared for a possible wait are certainly welcome.

The Cielo Mar y Tierra molcajete at Ni Tuyo
The Cielo Mar y Tierra molcajete at Ni Tuyo.
Boheme Fox

Culinary Dropout

Sprawling and high-energy, this all-American hangout in the 9+Co. development is just the ticket for a sizeable, spirited squad. Though it can’t hurt to book a reservation for groups of up to 12, the front-of-house crew aims to accommodate walk-ins no matter the number — while the back-of-house team whips up sociable stuff like BBQ pork-belly nachos, Detroit-style black truffle–mushroom pizza with smoked-onion Alfredo sauce, and monkey bread à la mode.

A wild Converse-sneaker display graces the dining room at Culinary Dropout
A wild Converse-sneaker display graces the dining room at Culinary Dropout.
From the Hip Photo

Mesob Ethiopian Restaurant

There’s something about using one’s hands to scoop up a rainbow of meat stews, legumes, and greens with tangy, tender injera that makes the Ethiopian dining experience feel especially merry with a group, which this Montclair charmer can gladly accommodate (though it’s not a bad idea to confirm availability in advance).

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Shanghai Kitchen

Chinese food served family-style is always a sure bet for a crowd. This Greenwood Village longtimer welcomes them with a slew of Shanghainese and Sichuan specialties, including tea-smoked duck, Dynasty fish with pine nuts, cumin lamb, and twice-cooked pork belly, as well as a few tables decked out with Lazy Susans.

Dynasty fish with pine nuts at Shanghai Kitchen
Dynasty fish with pine nuts at Shanghai Kitchen.
Ruth Tobias

Old Town Hot Pot

With eight different broths and some 50 ingredients to choose from — including crab, mussels, fatty beef, lamb, pumpkin, tofu skin, seaweed, dumplings, and glass noodles, just to name a few — this bustling all-you-can-eat hot pot spot serves up interactive feasts for groups of all sizes and ages, complete with a self-serve sauce and topping bar. Note that reservations for six or more are required on Friday and Saturday nights.

Hot pot with fatty beef, brisket, mussels, dumplings, fish balls, pumpkin, lotus root and more
AYCE hot pot at Old Town starts with two choices of meat.
Ruth Tobias

Shin Myung Gwan Korean BBQ

From the banchan onward, Korean barbecue is a communal affair if ever there was one. Ordering’s easy here with combo packages that include multiple meats, a choice of stew, a pancake, and a bottle of soju — but that galbi, bulgogi, pork belly, and more are also available à la carte for supplementing with anything from spicy fish-egg soup to stir-fried squid with glass noodles.

Stir-fried spicy squid with glass noodles at Shin Myung Gwan
Stir-fried spicy squid with glass noodles at Shin Myung Gwan.
Ruth Tobias

Related Maps