Vegan
American
International
Juice bar
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Fusion
Breakfast
Offers a wide variety of plant-based comfort foods from vegan benedict and tofu dishes to Mexican fare and international plates to weekend brunch and french toast. Has open space. Established since 1998 as a vegetarian restaurant and switched to all vegan in 2012. Open Mon-Thu 4:00pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sun 10:00am-9:00pm.
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Last update on 08 Apr 2024 by Guest
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517 Reviews
First Review by A.Z.P.
m@earthville
Points +9488
A Denver institution with friendly service - Edit
We've been eating at Watercourse since the dawn of time (or at least since its original incarnation on 13th), through ups and downs and a couple of reinventions. At its highest points it has been a runaway favorite. In the past few years (since the pandemic-era challenges) our experience has been a bit mixed, but still good overall.
Read moreTips for healthy and happy dining at Watercourse: Many of their main dishes are rich/fried/oily/heavy, so when selecting from the side dish options to accompany your mains, we highly recommend picking the lighter and fresher options, like salad or spring greens, rather than going for the fried sides, which can cause cumulative overwhelm in the gut. The portions are generous enough that we often wind up taking something home, so consider bringing your own reusable take-out container.
We love the staff here. It's a colorful mix of friendly souls who take good care of their guests.
One questionable practice emerged in the covid times and (as of mid-2023) still hasn't gone away: The restaurant tacks on a 20% service charge (on top of the menu prices) to support the staff (which we're all for), but then also hits you up for another standard tip on top of that. If you order online, it explains that the first 20% service charge is for the whole staff (front and back of house) while the additional 15-25% gratuity is for the front-line staff (servers — or in the case of take-out orders, the person who hands you the bag). Either a 20% flat gratuity *or* a customary discretionary tip is fine and great, but if you ask for *both* it becomes too complicated and awkward, and can result in sticker shock when the bill comes. It would be more honest and transparent (and much more user-friendly) just to raise the menu prices by 20% and raise the whole staff's pay commensurately. We're all for workers being paid well, but the restaurant could make this more straightforward for their customers. We know other long-term customers feel this way, too, and we all hope they'll reconsider this.
There's plenty of seating (including outdoor tables when the weather permits), but the place still tends to fill up during peak mealtimes, and sometimes there's a wait.
Finally, we appreciate that Watercourse supports charitable projects doing good work in the world (if they're still doing that).
Enjoy!
Updated from previous review on 2023-08-18
Pros: Friendly service, generous portions
Cons: Both 20% service charge *and* additional gratuity
Guest
LynnieLou
Points +152
Yummy! - Edit
So happy on the club sandwich and cauliflower bites are always yumm!
Read moreGuest
ProsperoRamen
Points +93
Favorite vegan place - Edit
Amazing food full vegan, I loved, dreaming with the best cheesecake I ever tasted 😍
Read morePros: Desserts, Gf options, Service
Guest
chaisushi
Points +622
vegan haven - Edit
i was soo looking forward to coming here. i got the cuban sandwich with maple dijon vinaigrette and it did not disappoint. staff was super friendly and the place lived up to its hype. i got a maple bacon cupcake to go that was unreal, the frosting was bacony and the cake part was moist and almost like a pancake. will 100% go back if i’m in the area!
Read moreGuest
Pakune
Points +109
Great food. Loud and slow - Edit
Enjoyed the food very much. Service started excellent, but then left us waiting for dessert and close out. Also a place you have to shout for your party to hear you. Eat outside for quiet. Agree with other reviewer on warm table water too.
Read morePros: Food!!!, All vegan, Desserts
Cons: So loud, Slow end of service
Guest
dannychase39
Points +71
The Ambience was awesome!! - Edit
I’ve been doing what I call a vegan restaurant tour. A good friend of mine suggested this spot. I decided to go one even by myself, it was a last minute decision. I’m such a music buff so the fact that they were playing one of my favorite artists Cleo Sol who I happen to listen to at times while meditating gave me a euphoria feeling, while waiting for my food. I loved the real plants, the wall art, very clean environment, service felt personal, and the food was great. My favorite was the dessert which was a strawberry cream shake. I’m like “Are u sure this is vegan?”Geez!!! Also I took the Cuban sandwich to go which was delicious!! I only have pictures of the cauliflower wings and loaded fries. I definitely recommend this spot. I’ll be Bock!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-08-03
Pros: Positive Vibe , Great service , Cleanliness, Great food
Guest
DianeH
Points +1021
Great spot in Denver - Edit
I ate here a few years ago while visiting Colorado and had the Cuban sandwich… it was outstanding. I came back this year and had another one - it did not disappoint. The food is a five-star rating. But, I decided on four stars because the water at the tables was not even cool and the music was so loud. Also, there was a 20% service fee which was confusing since I was still prompted for a tip during the credit card transaction … Why not just increase the prices?
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-07-12
Guest
edenthedrummer
Points +488
Wow wow wow! - Edit
100% guaranteed that you’ll enjoy every bite and every moment in the place!
Read moreGuest
LoganMelton
Points +1245
Overall very good - Edit
This restaurant has lots of great vegan options and is absolutely worth a visit. Strong emphasis on southern comfort food with lots of meats no matter what meal you come for.
Read moreThat said... The service charge is ridiculous, there is a 20% service fee that goes to everyone working (including boh) to 'pay a living wage.' I'm all for fair pay, but this encourages people to tip less and makes everything on the menu look cheaper than it actually is. Please just raise all your prices and increase your employees wages. This current system is predatory to customers and employees.
Updated from previous review on 2023-07-14
Guest
FairfaxVeganFam
Points +385
Yesss - Edit
Oyster mushroom poboy was my favorite thing!
Read moreGuest
JT_Vegan
Points +34
Denver’s Finest - Edit
Watercourse serves excellent vegan food year after year. Always tasty, always inventive. Great desserts, and superb service.
Read moreGuest
TorayDai
Points +32
So good - Edit
The food is on point, it’s a must visit.
Read moreGuest
SoyKal-El
Points +4056
All-around Amazing - Edit
Everything about this place is great: the location, service, and ambience. Most importantly, the food is delicious.
Read moreI’ve been a few times and some dishes are admittedly misses but most everything is excellent.
Updated from previous review on 2023-03-12
Pros: All vegan, A ton of menu options
Cons: Expensive
Guest
The_Seitanist
Points +1431
Decent vegan fare - Edit
The staff are super friendly and sweet. Truffle fries and Mac and cheese were lovely, but our mains were a little less impressive. Gnocchi was a little greasy, and our sandwich arrived pretty soggy on the bottom. Soup of the day had split and tasted a little like baby food. But all round decent fare. Was disappointed because of all the 5 star reviews on here.. didn't quite live up to the hype.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-06-23
Pros: 100% vegan, Easy parking
Guest
ChrisCather
Points +273
Amazing - Edit
I had the chorizo and polenta, OMG... The sauce is mellow and only a tiny bit sweet to counteract the strong chorizo seasoning. The polenta and sofrito made a perfect balance of flavors and textures. The chai latte was very good, but could have been hotter, it was served at a tepid/warm temperature. I finished with the cheesecake/carrot cake, excellent, especially with the latte.
Read moreUpdate: The sesame crusted tofu was amazing! The broth was earthy and smokey, I literally drank it at the end!
Updated from previous review on 2023-06-17
Pros: Amazing recipes, Interesting menu items, Friendly staff
Cons: Latte was not hot
Guest
tigre369
Points +205
Never had a bad meal - Edit
Never eaten a bad thing at Watercourse! The gnocchi and arancini are some favourites
Read morePros: Great happy hour too!
Cons: The atmosphere is a little cafeteria like
Guest
Arafel
Points +37
One of the best - Edit
Great all vegan menu. Too many options every time I go.
Read morePros: Fully vegan, Happy vibe, Great service
Guest
CarlaTalarico
Points +75
Cool vibe and great food - Edit
Full plant based menu with great options
Read morePros: Full plant based, Friendly environment , Delicious food
Guest
emarder
Points +79
Obsessed - Edit
This place is so good. I dreaming of when I can return. So much flavor! So many gluten free options!
Read morePros: Love the gravy , Love the pancakes , Gluten free Cupcakes
Guest
Cordan
Points +121
Delicious vegan food and cozy vibes! - Edit
The restaurant itself is teeming with personality and the food is absolutely delicious! I brought my non-vegan dad and stepmom and they thought the food and drinks were among the best they’ve ever had. I can’t wait to come back if I’m in the area!
Read morePros: Delicious options, Reasonable prices, Friendly staff
Guest
RyanP
Points +530
Amazing! - Edit
Really great food. Large portions and moderate pricing. Really nice charcuterie board, and awesome Cuban sandwich. The seitan wings were just mediocre.
Read moreGuest
NoEgrets
Points +81
Amazing breakfast food - Edit
The substitutes are clever and the dishes are delicious.
Read morePros: Lots of effort and thought put into each dish, Seasoned well, All vegan
Guest
AllissaDelhagen
Points +81
So good! - Edit
Love that the whole menu was vegan. I got the buffalo tofu sandwich and the seitan wings. I don't normally like tofu but it was so good! I also brought a non-vegan friend who really enjoyed the charcuterie board.
Read morePros: Everything is vegan, Cute atmosphere, Friendly staff
Guest
elisasaurus
Points +17
Unique and comforting - Edit
There were comfort food dishes like the seitan ribs and unique dishes like the carrot risotto balls. Both were delicious!
Read moreGuest
teejay
Points +164
Great food, all vegan menu - Edit
This place really has a lot to offer, whatever you’re in the mood for, you can’t go wrong with Watercourse Foods. We came at 1pm which was crossover between Breakfast and Lunch so we had the choice to order from both menus.
Read moreMy girlfriend and I ordered the Chicken and Biscuits, Turkey and Brie sandwich with fries and Seitan Wings with half buffalo/half barbecue sauce w/ ranch. Everything was delicious, the waiter was super friendly and attentive and the vibes of the restaurant is very chill. Also on Tuesdays, there is 25% discount to takeaway food, excl desserts. My only gripe with the food is, I wish the portion size was bigger for the Chicken and Biscuits because it was a small portion for the price, especially compared to the Turkey and Brie sandwich that was a bigger portion with plenty of fries. Also, the 20% service charge is automatically added onto the bill, which isn’t a problem cause the service was great. But there is another option to tip again, which can really add up on the bill.
Pros: Food was delicious, Lots of choice on the menu, Indoor and outdoor seating & Friendly waiters
Cons: Food portions differs for some items on the menu, Service charge and additional tip can add up!
Guest
bowenbs
Points +198
Always a hit - Edit
I love bringing people to Watercourse. Vegan or not, no one has ever had a complaint. It’s one of the best vegan spots in Denver, especially for breakfast food. If you’re hungry, the big rig breakfast hits the spot. The pancake soufflé is also delicious!
Read morePros: Very good food, All vegan menu options, Friendly staff
Guest
Jamielee8453
Points +251
Worth all 5 stars! - Edit
I typically get the Turkey and Brie sandwich with a Caesar salad and it never disappoints! Anytime we are introducing our non vegan friends to a vegan restaurant, this is the restaurant and meal we recommend. It’s THAT good! (Salad pictured is not the Caesar)
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-05-05
Guest
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