General Denver Hotel

I keep coming back to The General Denver and it never lets me down. The fried green beans are a must for me, even though I’m not usually much of a green bean person. They come with a creamy, spicy sauce that I can’t get enough of. The haddock fish and chips is another favorite. Every meal I’ve had there has been excellent.

The food here is great and the place always feels special. But when it was time to pay and leave, all the staff seemed to vanish for about ten minutes, including the entrance desk, our waiter, and the bartender. How can nobody be around at 8 pm, with the restaurant left unattended? I’d planned to leave a really nice tip, the kind I only give about once a month, but when the bartender finally came back I just signed the usual amount on the credit card slip. Honestly, I was hoping my waiter would turn up.

I loved the atmosphere, though my friend wasn’t as into it. For an old historic building, it’s amazing how nice it feels inside. The rooms are roomy enough, with that old-timey character I liked. The two things that bothered me were the odd parking situation and leftover food in the fridge in our second room. I still love the feel of the place.

The fish and chips were a highlight after the Christmas parade. The fish was huge, thick and moist inside, with crisp breading that didn’t overpower it. The fries were cooked through and crunchy, and the hearty coleslaw was sweet without being runny. My wife had the alfredo with a big salad and garlic bread, and even though she usually compares restaurant alfredo with her own recipe, she called this the best she’d ever had. Our server kept checking on us and topping up our drinks before we asked. The old-fashioned charm inside and out reminded us of a Hallmark movie. Wood floors, light tan walls and warm incandescent lights made it inviting, especially at night when everything had a glow. There was plenty of room between tables and guests. The price was very reasonable for food and service of this quality, beyond what I expect from most bar and grills. We live about half an hour away, but it’ll be worth the drive. We didn’t stay at the hotel, just ate here.