This sleek downtown gem is a seafood lover's paradise, serving up fabulous dishes and creative cocktails, all while wrapping you in warm, friendly vibes.
"A pioneer in LoDo in the 1990s — back when the neighborhood was just beginning to emerge from a long economic downturn — this seafood spot has evolved (and expanded) with the times while remaining true to the indie spirit it opened with. On the classic side is raw bar fare along with crab cakes, chowder, caviar service, and more; on the seasonal side, there might be seared sea scallops with grilled fennel, charred rapini, kohlrabi puree, and agrumato oil or lobster maltagliati in sage brown butter with whipped ricotta and beech mushrooms. All of it will be sustainably sourced, too, thanks to the longtime efforts of executive chef Sheila Lucero." - Eater Staff
"A pioneer in LoDo in the 1990s — back when the neighborhood was just beginning to emerge from a long economic downturn — this seafood spot has evolved (and expanded) with the times while remaining true to the indie spirit it opened with. On the classic side is raw bar fare along with crab cakes, chowder, caviar service, and more; on the seasonal side, there might be seared sea scallops with grilled fennel, charred rapini, kohlrabi puree, and agrumato oil or lobster maltagliati in sage brown butter with whipped ricotta and beech mushrooms. All of it will be sustainably sourced, too, thanks to the longtime efforts of executive chef Sheila Lucero." - Eater Staff
"Eating fresh seafood in an inland city like Denver is certainly a unique experience, but don’t let the distance from the ocean be a concern. Jax’s mission is to bring the coasts to the coastless, and it does so with aplomb. For the eco-minded, the restaurant is deeply mindful about acquiring ingredients from sustainable sources; it's the first eatery in Colorado to be certified by the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch program. Jax encourages customers to be smart about their own fish purchases and recommends that patrons use the Seafood Watch app. You’d better believe, after taking that kind of care to bring the ocean to the mountains,Jax prepares everything to perfection. There are two locations in Denver to choose from—as well as two other Colorado outposts, one each in Boulder and Fort Collins."
"One of a handful of restaurants that helped transform LoDo into a destination when it launched in 1996, Jax is still a hopping neighborhood hub as well as a regional leader in sustainable sourcing. A full raw bar isn’t half of what it does so well: The seasonal menu integrates global influences to offer the likes of fried catfish with bacon-braised collards and hush puppies, spaghetti alle vongole, and grilled salmon with miso-roasted potatoes and charred Chinese broccoli in one fell swoop." - Ruth Tobias
"While a dark roux loaded with roasted okra, green pepper, onion, and celery is the soul of Jax’s gumbo, Louisiana crawfish and andouille sausage are its heart. Velvety and deeply savory, it goes down easy on its own, but it’s also available atop fries during happy hour — which beat spoons any day, as edible utensils go." - Rebecca Treon, Gigi Sukin, Ruth Tobias
