At 9pm on a Sunday night in the LoDo district of Denver, we really had no idea where to eat (we had just arrived in town), but Vesta Dipping Grill came HIGHLY recommended by a pilot who lives in Denver, so off we went... and it was amazing! The restaurant is named after Vesta, the Goddess of the Hearth. She is supposedly the most beautiful of Roman divinities and presides over the preparation of meals. The atmosphere is so much fun, trendy but not stuffy, chic and elegant yet very comfortable. The decor is warm and the wait staff is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. The cocktails and martinis are excellent and the food was simply divine. The sampler platter is a great start to your meal because it allows you to sample several of their dipping sauces. Your meal is served with three dipping sauces, and the chef recommends three that go well with your dish, but you can always change them to your liking (sweet, savory, or spicy). I highly recommend Vesta's to everyone! We had a fantastic time!

Vesta Dipping Grill is very highly acclaimed by everyone, from critics to locals, I talked to in Denver.

I had heard stories that "you will wait, even with reservations," but we showed up to an empty restaurant at 4:55 on a Tuesday evening (they don't open till 5pm). We had a drink at the long, curvy sheet metal-covered bar (wine for me from their respectable wine list, a specialty martini for my date) while we waited. The restaurant seems as though it's inside an old building, from the original wooden floor to the exposed wooden posts and beams. Light is provided by dim lights and candles throughout the restaurant, definitely making for a trendy, romantic atmosphere. The whole restaurant and bar area is nonsmoking.

As soon as we were seated, more people came in to fill up the restaurant.

Everything on the menu looked delicious. All of the appetizers and entrees come with three of their signature dipping sauces. Their are recommended sauces, but you can also choose your own or add more sauces for $0.50 each. The appetizers range from $6 to $12, and entrees go from $18 to $30 (the vegetarian entrée is $16). I ultimately decided on the grilled beef tenderloin and my date decided on the ginger child seared tuna.

Both our meals came artistically arranged in a pile--entrée on top, side dishes below. My tenderloin was cooked exactly to my liking and was outstanding. The mushrooms complemented it, and the mashed potatoes were good, too (Of course, I've never had a bad mashed potato!). I was not particularly fond of the dipping sauces that were recommended with it. I usually prefer something sweet or tangy, but two of them were kind of peppery and the third was kind of bland. I wish I had ordered different sauces, but I did really enjoy my steak!

As for my date's seared tuna, he would not shut up about it! Just before our trip, he had been somewhere that he claimed had the best seared tuna, but he said that this one was even better--the best he's ever had. He also really liked the sauces that came with his dish (they were salty and spicy, which he likes). I tried his tuna--it was really good. I also liked his sauces a little better than mine, so I started trying his sauces with my tenderloin.

Overall, the food was delicious, but the portions were a little small. They do give you a basket of bread (and butter) before the meal, but I think I would have also liked to have had a small salad (the tuna came with a salad) with my meal. The experience was unique, and I loved the atmosphere. I would definitely want to take my friends there for a nice meal the next time I'm in Denver!

Vesta's is a Denver favorite for those seeking something different. The menu is Asian-fusion inspired. Entrees come with a choice of up to three specialty dipping sauces.

I have friends who are absolutely wild about the Vesta Dipping Grill. Personally, I wasn't as impressed, but it certainly is a unique way to dine. Diners chose a kind of meat or fish (there are vegetable options for the vegetarians, but who are we kidding? it's all about meat...) and several types of sauce, and the meal involves dipping the meats into the various sauces. It's great for a large group willing to share, since you wind up with an enormous variety of potential meat/sauce combinations. (Though it raises a dilemma for the person with the tastiest sauce -- to share or to hoarde?!?) The food is generally delicious, and the decor is attractive (as are most of the clientele). If you're looking for a "scene," this is your place.