4. Restaurants

Welton Street Café

2736 Welton St,Ste 107, Denver, CO, 80205
  • (303) 296-6602
  • Store is closed

Welton Street Café Menu

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  • Mela C.

    I am visiting Denver, and really wanted some soul food. Found Welton Cafe, read the reviews and check out the photos. I arrived only to find out the dining area was closed, so I ordered my food to go. The decor is dated, but gives you that southern grandma kitchen vibe, with is cool with me. The staff was extremely friendly, and welcoming. I ordered the smothered pork chops, red beans and rice, Mac n cheese, and greens. The sides are on the small side. The Mac n cheese was too cheesy, and my pork chops were a little on the tuff side, and salty. My greens were good, and I loved the beans and rice. I would return to give it another shot, so I can give an update and rise the 3 stars to a 5 star!!

    (3)

  • Kristin G.

    Had just arrived in Denver and I was starving. We stub led on this place through yelp, and we usually don't eat soul food, so we thought we give it a whirl. The server came over right away and was very attentive. 3 out of the 4 of us order the fried chicken meal, and boy was it a meal! I could have fed 2 people easily. It came with 3 HUGE pieces of fried chicken, fries, corn bread and macaroni n cheese (you can change up the sides) it was so much food, I couldn't eat for the rest of the day. The fried chicken was not too greasy, cooked just perfectly. But let me warn you, it does take a while to cook, so pack your patience. Overall, cute tiny place with southern hospitality, and great food.

    (4)

  • Kim G.

    Once again, fantastic soul food down in Five Points! Service has improved tremendously! Great food takes time!

    (4)

  • Erica J.

    Delicious food, good portions, mixed crowd but it appears everyone loves this spot. I would have given 5 stars but macaroni n cheese was not good (soul food spots MUST have good mac). The yams were different but lived them. I had perch and shrimp combo - seasoning reminded me of back home!! Service was quick even with only one waitress :)

    (4)

  • Niki S.

    Really really good fried chicken. I'd give it 5 stars but the cornbread was just not good and neither was the potato salad or mashed potatoes. But I'd definitely go back for the fried chicken. In case you're looking up the menu online, their dinners are now up to $15.

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    Ok.. I have mixed feelings about this place. Everyone seemed nice but were a bit standoffish. I ordered the fried chicken which was ordinary and disappointing. It was perfectly fried, but had no flava; no kick, spice, nothing. The aftertaste is fried mouth and nothing else. It took about 30 mins to get my order to the table. The atmosphere is pleasant and friendly but ordinary. The Mac and cheese was good. The hush puppies was ok. The cornbread was good. Left there meh :/

    (3)

  • Ron B.

    Amazing fried Catfish platter. Excellent taste, combined with Collard greens and red beans and rice. EVERYBODY need to give this a try. Very good people, good atmosphere. Definitely coming back if I ever make it back to Denver!!

    (5)

  • Marv B.

    Went there for lunch there was along line but the service was quick and good the wait staff was attentive. The atmosphere was pleasant and the food was tasty. I would definitely return again

    (4)

  • Aaron W.

    Hands down the best soul food in Denver! Ok, when you think Denver you don't think Soul Food. I'll admit, this isn't the kind of amazing that I find on my trips to Atlanta (Marry Mac's is possibly the worlds best), but considering how far from the south we are, this is a surprisingly high level of quality soul food. Granted, this place hasn't been featured on Diners, Drive inn's, and Dives, and they don't serve chitlins (but who eats those). They do have the best collard greens in town, and yes I have tried them all.

    (5)

  • Alissa S.

    Best soul food in Denver, hands down!! I am never disappointed with Welton Street Cafe. Only in my dreams could I imagine making fried chicken this good, so I'll just leave it to the experts. I typically get my food to go, so I can't really comment on the dine-in service. But everyone is very friendly whenever I go to pick up my order. Another thing that most people don't really think about is the hot sauce. Their recipe is perfect, like a thicker and more flavorful version of Tabasco. Not everyone eats fried chicken with hot sauce (it's helps cut through the grease and fat), but this is a great place to start doing it.

    (5)

  • Juliet N.

    Amazing fried chicken! Simple restaurant, nothing fancy. Service is friendly but not pushy. Went on a Wednesday afternoon and there were plenty of open seats. They warn you that the chicken takes a while so we were prepared for that, I believe it took over 30 minutes to be served after ordering our food. Fried chicken meals come with a huge plate of food, I think 4 pieces of chicken, 2 sides and an order of bread. I got the fry bread- not that impressed. I ordered the wing platter. Wings were good, but not nearly comparable to the amount of food you get with just ordering the fried chicken. I stole some of my husband's because it was plenty. Highly recommend this spot for some good, authentic southern food.

    (4)

  • Xionn C.

    Where do I start? Maybe the fact that I can't walk because I didn't / couldn't stop eating ! The fried shrimp was flavorful and went well with the greens and Mac & cheese! I was starving so I couldn't wait the 20 minute prep time for the fried chicken but the folks across from me had some and I was this close to stealing / asking for a piece ( jk don't judge me ). Just when I thought Denver was lacking culture ;) bwahahahahaha

    (5)

  • Brandon H.

    Great place to eat. Heads up, yelp says open til 7 on a Sunday, closed at 5:45. Witnessed the server locking the door. Cheers

    (3)

  • Kou H.

    Great meal on Saturday! My wife has been talking about the Welton Street Cafe for quite some time so I had to go try it out. Friendly and helpful staff especially with the Pates, "pick it up and eat it like a sandwich!" The Catfish was simple but tasty, and I enjoyed the Smothered Pork Chops with Red Beans and Rice with Mashed Potatoes. Today's special was Ox Tail but will have to go back to try out the rest of the simple menu with plenty of tasty choices for sides. Overall a great experience on a beautiful Saturday!

    (5)

  • J R.

    Really liked thIs place! He service was great. The prices reasonable, but above all, the food was wonderful. Especially reccomend the Jerk. Also heard the pate (stuffed pastry should be great) I had no room but hope I can try the dessert next time.

    (5)

  • Safford B.

    Welton Street Café looks like it's been around for a long time and has a lot of loyal followers, if the full dining room we saw on a Saturday night is any indication. I had the catfish along with okra and collard greens. These guys must have their fryer temperature just right because there was not a drop of grease on my plate. Considering that almost everything was fried, that's pretty impressive. Same goes for the fried chicken. Jamacian jerk chicken was not something we expected to see on the menu. A friend ordered it, and it was the surprise winner of the night. It was really tender with just the right amount of spice. Sides and desserts were all ok, but I think that the main dishes are what warrant coming back.

    (3)

  • Grecia S.

    My sister and I came on a Friday night. We split the pork chips smothered in brown gravy and wild wings with their honey hot sauce with cole slaw and mash potatoes. Although we waited more than half an hour for our order, the food was AMAZING. My favorite was their homemade brown gravy. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. I was amazed how they new almost everyone in the dinning area by first name basis. The atmosphere was like walking into a friends house for some great food that touches your soul. I'm definitely coming back.

    (4)

  • Courtney P.

    This place is the bomb. Everything I tried, catfish, jerk chicken, corn bread, fried bread, red beans and rice, and fried okra was just amazing. In fact I would venture to say it was the best corn bread I have eaten in years. The staff is super friendly and the food is very well priced, especially considering the mountain of food you are served. I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Caleb W.

    I love this place. Everything is great here. They have some of the best fried chicken in the country. Service is a little slow, but that is because food preparation begins once you order. I always take my friends from out of town to this place. Relaxing environment where no one is in a hurry. Set down and enjoy

    (5)

  • Ashley B.

    Yeah....I'm conflicted. There was some good food during my visit, there was some not so great food during my visit, there was some good service and there was some bad service. I came here with my family at a weird time, around 3:00-4:00 on a weekday afternoon, but it filled up as I was leaving so maybe it's more popular a time than I thought. Initially we were almost the only people here. As we were eating it seemed like one of the employees made themselves food and sat down. She was.....exceptionally loud. The way she spoke to other people working, (IE: Rudely) made me think maybe she was an owner or family member. At one point while we waited for our food, two younger guys walked in and tried to sit down, and this woman barked "pull your pants up or go back outside." Partially, I totally admire this, but partially, her volume and ascerbic tone made the environment really uncomfortable. For food, my dad and I split jerk chicken with collard greens, red beans and rice, and cornbread. The jerk chicken was overall good, though some pieces were very small and mostly made of cartilage and/or bone. Several pieces had large chunks of very slimy skin, which was also a bit unpleasant. The collard greens were good but dare I say, overcooked? I know a green has to be cooked for quite a while but they seemed like they'd given up. The red beans and rice needed some seasoning, and tasted exactly like the black eyed peas, which we also tried. The fried okra that my mother ordered was very good, and maybe actually didn't come from a Sysco bag!! I know cornbread is a very personal preference, but for me, a crumbly cornbread is a bad cornbread, and my piece was so crumbly I basically had to hold it completely vertically over my mouth. On the plus side, prices are pretty reasonable (though $13 for a plate is a bit steep for lunch) and the portions are big. Our server was very nice as well. I would also add that although I am not the type to be swayed by a sketchy neighborhood, I'd probably leave this as a lunch spot, and probably wouldn't come here after dark for dinner. That's a total personal preference- if you are coming here using light rail, the Welton stop is right outside the front door of this cafe, which makes it really accessible. For the downtown/Five Points area, especially if Tom's is closed, this is probably your best bet.

    (3)

  • Gina S.

    Everyone here was lovely. Great, cheerful service from the moment I walked in. I ordered the fried catfish dinner which was excellent; probably the best Mac and cheese I've ever had. Will return to try the honey hot fried chicken.

    (5)

  • Ilovefood L.

    The first few times we came here we were tricked by their hours because it says they close at 10pm, but they actually close down seating a little before 9pm. I don't get off work until 9 so we had to just wait for take out. By the time we got our food, we were so hungry everything tasted 1000x's better. When we recovered from our hunger, we realized it wasn't as great as we thought it should be.. Then again, we were like the last customers there so we probably got some left overs.

    (4)

  • C S.

    Nice staff and AMAZING food. We got the jerk chicken, honey hot, fry bread, hush puppies and Mac and cheese. All were so delicious. This place could go head to head with any Harlem or DC soul food joint and hold it's own.

    (5)

  • Becca R.

    This was excellent! Best wings I've had in Denver and the funnest service I've had in a long time. Our waitress was great! I'll be back at some point for some more food. Thanks, Welton Street Cafe!

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    I was looking for a place for a bite to eat before stuffing my face with sweets and cupcakes at the Yelp Elite Event last night. Perusing my Yelp app for close and yummy places I find Welton Street Cafe and I was sold, so off I went. Upon entering I find some of the most friendly ladies greeting me as I walk in. Smiles from ear to ear eager to assist me. The smell of home cooking surrounds you like a warm blanket. Taking a look at the menu and remembering some of the other Yelp reviews I decided I was not in a mood for fried chicken tonight but I wanted the Jerk Chicken that's so raved about with Mac and Cheese and Red Beans and Rice as my two sides. Keep in mind that if you decide to order the Fried Chicken it notes on the menu that it will take 25 minutes since it's made to order. I don't know about you but I'm totally willing to wait for made to order Fried Chicken. The Jerk Chicken arrived piping hot with a house made Caribbean Jerk sauce. The depth of flavor was sensational, every bite I got different flavors, my taste buds were dancing about with pure joy. Mac and Cheese was solid, I added some of their hot sauce to mine for some extra kick - that's how I roll. Red Beans and Rice was also good, a nice soul favorite. The atmosphere was that of a family get together. Everyone laughing and visiting with friends and family. Very casual dining with authentic Soul/Caribbean food served with love. This is a place to savor, take your time and eat leisurely. Definitely a place added to my hot list of great places with great food.

    (4)

  • Chelsie H.

    I have to give this restaurant 5 stars. The owners are SUPER friendly and we made great friends with them. They sat down and chatted with us and we were informed they are a family. I ordered the smothered pork chop, friend shrimp, Mac n cheese, candies yams, fry bread, peach cobbler, and chicken and broccoli stuffed pates. Everything was soooooo extremely delicious. Everything was season correctly! Shared between the hubs and I.

    (5)

  • Moria K.

    Soul food at its best. I can always count on this place to liven my spirits. My family is from South Carolina and this place definitely feels like home.

    (5)

  • Maggie T.

    Liked it. Nice servers. Chicken sandwich and seasoned fries were delicious. Combo platter (fish and shrimp) was a whole lotta fried. Red beans and rice were pretty darn good. I'd go back and stick with the fried chicken offerings and get some good sides. It loses stars for me because I felt like any time you ask for something, there's this back-and-forth with the server about what's included and what is "extra." Like all these rules -- "with wings you can get hot sauce and ketchup free, one ramekin of ranch, but additional ranch is extra." The charges are explained on the menu, so I wish the servers didn't dwell on it so much. It makes the place seem stingy and cheap, all the talk about money. And they are a bit stingy with the tiny size of the condiments relative to the portions of food they are supposed to go with.

    (3)

  • Kara M.

    Nothing like soul food to go along with the Five Points Jazz Festival. This restaurant has the familiarity of a cafe on Main Street of my hometown. The waitress made us feel right at home in that southern kind of way. We had the fried chicken with sides of yams and collared greens. The chicken was crisp and delicious, the yams sweet and the greens just right. Nothing felt greasy. It's a lot of food for one person so make sure you are good and hungry! They do put a note on the menu that the fried chicken takes up to 20 minutes to cook, so be patient--but isn't that how the best kind of home style cooking is done? It takes time to put loving into it. The wait staff managed the crowd fairly well even though it was a really busy night. Also note that they do not serve alcohol--but Spangalang Brewery is right across the way for before or after. I WILL go back to Welton Street Cafe, especially to try the jerk chicken.

    (4)

  • Clayton L.

    Personal service. Haven't been in for a fee months and they remembered my order. Had the jerk wings with yams and Mac. You can't beat it!

    (5)

  • David E C.

    THE BEST EVER ! Their food is amazing and the service has always been good. I have to say that the chicken wings are out of this world ! I always get them with Onion rings, cole slaw and hush puppies !

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    I love this place! Get the fry bread hot pocket (Pattie). I suggest beef and cheese or the seafood. I was chatting with the waitress and she said the jerk chicken Pattie Is really good so that's what I will be trying next time I'm in five points ( it's not on the menu) . Menu could be laid out a little better the Pattie section is a little confusing. The sides are all really good southern sides collard greens, "Rib Sticking" Mac n cheese , and Okra. I hear the fried chicken and the wings are really good but I just can't bring my self the order anything other then the Patties. I have been coming here for years.

    (4)

  • Kane P.

    Meh, the food is ok. The food takes forever and even longer for them to take your money (never thought that would be a problem). My buddy got his food (chicken wings with a few sides), I got chicken wings as well and it took 10 min to get my food-so I watched him eat. Other tables around us had incomplete meals as well and had to wait for the rest of their party. Then when we went to pay the check out lady was MIA, seriously you don't even want to collect my money. Move on...

    (2)

  • Toni D.

    Southern style cooking in the heart of five points. I stopped here for lunch basically because of my long wait at the DMW. I ordered the Perch sandwich, fry bread and mac and cheese. The previous reviews are completely right about the long wait. I waited almost an hour for my food. The perch was really salty and the mac and cheese was just OK. The food was nothing special. The service was good. The waitress sat down with her friends for a while and didn't follow up with how my food was. At one point I needed hot sauce and honey and I basically had to get up and get some hot sauce from another table myself. Then I had to remind the waitress about the honey a 2nd time. I ended up missing my number being called at the DMV. I then had to wait another hour for my next number to be called. Going to lunch at this place wasn't worth that extra hour at the DMV.

    (2)

  • Sylene J.

    After living in the South, you develop a taste for certain foods, like greens. I love greens and the greens at the Wilton Street Cafe were delish: tender, sweet and more green than stem! I did not have the fried chicken, however the rest of the table did and they are proclaimed it to be crispy, tasty and non- greasy. The fried catfish, done in a cornmeal batter, was also nice and crispy with a non- greasy flavor. The sweet potato pie was traditional meaning no toppings or extras and it was yummy!

    (4)

  • Marie H.

    Husband and I went on a Saturday at 1 p.m. I expected slow service but we were seated immediately. The restaurant seats about 50. Waitress was friendly. I ordered Perch and husband ordered catfish. We had greens, okra, cornbread, fry bread, cabbage and peach cobbler. The catfish was excellent and fried to perfection as were the huge pieces of fresh okra. The cabbage was also delicious. I have never had cabbage like that and can't put my finger on the seasoning. Cornbread and fry bread were delicious. We took the cobbler to go. It was good but not the best I've ever had. Overall this was great food that I cannot wait to eat again. Price was about $26.

    (4)

  • Chloe W.

    Absolutely addicted to the Jerk Chicken. Go there. Now. Thank me later.

    (5)

  • Heather P.

    For all the southern transplants this is a great taste of home. Best catfish ever! I also tasted the greens, fried okera, mac n cheese, corn bread, fry bread, & fried chicken, none of it disappointed. The food is a great deal for the price. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Lawrence C.

    I had the fried chicken. Good god they give you lots of food. I ODed on grease so bad, I was amazed nothing clogged inside of me. The servers were really friendly as well. The chicken was awesome, I couldn't stop eating it.

    (4)

  • Rachel H.

    Great fried chicken. Love the sides too. The service is friendly.

    (4)

  • Marla K.

    Today it's pretty darn chilly out. And I forgot I was supposed to go to the DMV for a client and let my son take the car... So off I went to catch the train to Five Points DMV. It wasn't a bad day - I only had to wait an hour - but I sure was hungry when I got out! Standing waiting for the train, I look behind me and see "Mona's Wings & Things" and well, lunch won out over getting back to work! And boy, did I ever make the right decision! I was looking at the menu thinking "how in the WORLD am I going to decide?" They have good ol' Southern food AND Jamaican yumminess! Then the sweetheart of a waitress happened to mention to me that they have brisket today and decision made! I got slaw and huspuppies, and some amazing cornbread. It was all good (and a lot - I had to get a box) and I will go back when it's not so ding dang cold! Of course, I also had to let my son know right away - they have fried catfish! I personally can't stand fish - but that boy has been in love with catfish since he was about 4 years old (and he's 18 now). I guess I'll have to take him out to dinner!

    (4)

  • Miranda C.

    After leaving the south, I've avoided fried chicken because it's always disappointing. Not anymore, I found the place to change that! Lightrail (D line) drops you off at the front door which is really convenient. The waitresses are super friendly and outgoing and the atmosphere is just totally laid back and comfortable. Nothing pretentious about this place. The food takes a while, but is SO GOOD! And so much of it! I got the fried chicken, cornbread and hush puppies. I don't know what spices were in that batter, but it was heaven in my mouth. I ate till there was no more room in my belly with half my meal left, but still wanting that incredible taste. Leftovers were almost as good. I'll be back. Frequently.

    (5)

  • Wanda C.

    This was my second time eating here. The first time was last summer. I recently (as in March 2011) dined here again to treat a friend to a birthday meal. The place is on Welton Street right on the Light Rail line and there is parking in the Five Points Plaza. I am all for Southern food (being a Southern girl myself) and I was happy to have a reason to return. We were greeted promptly and seated. We both selected the catfish sandwich and sides. After we received our sandwiches, we both took off the buns and just ate the catfish fillet, as it was a full piece of catfish and we'd both decided that we didn't want all the bread. Our waiter told us that next time if we didn't want the bun to just let them know, so they wouldn't waste the bread. My friend was offended as he felt it didn't matter because the price wouldn't be any different. I have to say the catfish was prepared wonderfully. It was very light, not greasy or heavy and very flavorful. I must remember to come back more often than once a year. While I do try to refrain from eating fried foods on a regular basis, their catfish is a reason to make an exception on occasion.

    (5)

  • Tiffany N.

    If there is one thing I've learned from growing up in the South it's that good fried chicken takes time to make and that it tastes worth every minute that you'll wait for it to come out. If you order fried chicken at Welton Street it could easily take up to a half hour before you see your food. But, when you get it and the breading is perfectly crisp while the meat it juicy and tender you'll immediately forget about the wait. A word of warning about perfectly prepared chicken - it is burn-your-mouth hot when it comes out. So try and give it a few minutes to cool if you can. If you can't wait I recommend tearing it apart and at least giving it a little blow of air to cool it off to avoid maximum mouth burning. Another thing about good Southern food is that it always comes with cornbread. Welton makes corn bread that I'm envious of. It's moist and flakey, crumbling apart in you hand/mouth as you're trying to wolf it down. In addition to my delicious chicken and corn bread I had yams and mac and cheese. (Come on now, you know if a place offers mac and cheese, I'm ordering it.) The mac was really good, not fancy pants good, but basic cheesey pasta comfort food. The yams were the same - just the right amount of sweet. The service was friendly, just like eating in a Southern restaurant, or a really good soul food place here in Colorado. If you're a fan of Tom's or Joseph's or just really good Southern food I'd recommend paying Welton Street Café a visit.

    (4)

  • Angela A.

    Wow-Welton Street, you are something else. Let me just get this off my chest-I love your jerk chicken! But, I have nothing to compare it to. I have a feeling though, that this is some of the best and if I dare order it anywhere else, it was be total disappointment. Our waitress told us most places use pre-mixed sauces, but here, they make their own special blend and even have some secret ingredients that are special delivered just to them. The fried chicken was really good too, but I was hoping for some more peppery flavor in the breading. It's mto (made to order) so it takes some time, but is served up fresh and hot. The chicken is tender and juicey, and not too greasy, well, for fried chicken at least. The mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy were okay. The red beans and rice were my favorite side. They had reggae music playing and everyone was smiling and singing along. The staff was so nice and very outgoing. Our waitress chatted it up with us and so did the crew from the kitchen. They came out and introduced themselves and asked us about our day. The restaurant had an amazing energy and vibe. We felt very at home here. Being here made me miss Sunday dinners at my Grandma's house.

    (4)

  • Aryn L.

    We ate here on a tuesday and came back for take out on thursday. Probably one of the best soul food places in five points. They have Pates! pastry dough filled with meats and cheeses they fried to perfection its a meal in its self. they also have great waitresses and friendly service!

    (5)

  • Jade M.

    Good ol' soul food! Love the vibe of this spot. Good service but not bougie! The service is sweet and timely. Everything on the menu is a must-try :)

    (4)

  • Hunter R.

    Coming from Georgia I had to find a soul food restaurant so I searched around where I live and found nothing but when I looked in Denver I found a few places. Welton st, toms home cooking, and corafayes. Anyways I tried them all and can't get enough of Welton st. The fried chicken is perfect, never dry or chewy, and it takes 30 minutes to prepare so in usually call my order in and head to Denver and by the time I get there it's all ready to go. They have awesome sides and if you aren't in the waiting mood then you can get the fried shrimp or pork chops which are also amazing. I wish they had a good sweet tea but that's ok. A good coke is just as good sometimes. As for toms and corafayes. I would definitely go to Corafayes first as toms is mediocre and highly overrated. Corafayes is good they have multimeat plates so you can get fried chicken and fried shrimp with 2 sides. Welton is the best overall in Denver. There are a few others that I have tried but these three were the tops on all the searches I did.

    (5)

  • Carley W.

    Got this for takeout tonight. By far the best cheeseburger I've had in Denver anywhere. Kind of a weird atmosphere but the food is so so worth it.

    (5)

  • Karl W.

    Yelp keeps bothering me to review this place because I posted a picture so I'm finally giving in. My first visit I had the jerk chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese and fry bread. I don't know what did it to me, but I was nauseous for like a half hour after I ate, but everything tasted good, minus the fry bread....you gotta go with the cornbread. The second time, I decided to stay away from the Jerk Chicken and got the fried chicken with cornbread, collard greens, and mac and cheese. Everything was amazing, I've been to Sylvia's in Harlem, and it is right on par with it. The mac and cheese at Welton is actually the best mac and cheese I've ever had so they have Slyvia's beat there. I just wish Welton had those amazing ribs. Since I didn't get nauseous this time, I was much happier with my experience. And I love the waitress that's always there. Sweetest woman ever.

    (4)

  • Alisha C.

    Cooooomfort food. If you've got some time to spare and Tom's isn't open, look no further than Welton Street Cafe. Thats what we did on a Saturday afternoon. Boyfriend and I came here with one goal in mind- to satisfy our fried chicken craving, and satisfy we did. We both ordered the fried chicken dinner plate: $11.55 (25 min wait) Breast, thigh, drum, and wingette with choice of bread (we opted for the cornbread) Two Sides- me: Mac and cheese/ greens, him: slaw and hush puppies Our server was kind enough to warn us that the chicken will take 25mins and she was not lying. Don't come here starving unless you can wait because the portion was huge. Now as for the chicken, the juicy pipping hot seasoned chicken (slightly on the salty side). Tons of chicken and fried with a crunchy skin. I wouldn't say the best chicken ever, maybe if I didn't have to wait and ease up on the salt, but very satisfying for Denver. As for the sides go, they were ok, nothing special but it did provide a nice accompaniment to the hot chicken.

    (4)

  • Noah B.

    Legit soul food. One of those places you eat when you want to "get yo grub on". Jerk chicken with Red beans and rice is amazing. If I lived in the area I would be a regular. Otherwise it is my second time this week.

    (5)

  • Shana H.

    I grew up on a variety of authentic cuisine, southern being one of them, but I rarely eat it anymore due to the setbacks outweighing the benefits; however, when I want decent southern food in Denver, this place is at the top of my list. It is heading north towards Five Points but located in an area that is only mildly seedy- close enough to downtown to stay continuously monitored but far enough on the outskirts to have an increased level of loitering and buffoonery going on outside. Though, I usually always order a pate, I normally steal a bite of other entrees ordered by the people I am dining with so I have enjoyed small quantities of the wings, fries, fish, chicken, mac & cheese, fried okra, and peach cobbler. The only downfall would be the amount of time it takes to actually be presented with the food you have ordered which, to some, may not be a downfall at all. Made to order, great, southern food. You're willing to wait a bit longer for that, aren't you?

    (3)

  • Leonard E.

    Nice place to get some down South cooking. I love the the fish sandwiches! Takes a little extra time, but they have great prices and tasty food.

    (3)

  • Joe S.

    Nice service, food o.k. I had Catfish with hush puppies and greens. The Catfish was of common quality, hush puppies o.k...... greens good for Denver. I went about 6:30 pm. A few scary looking characters around the building. I will keep my dining time to a little earlier in the day. Family style, very friendly people, I will return. They have take out as well

    (3)

  • Julio T.

    Welton Street Cafe is a Five-Points institution and proof positive that there is still a bit of soul amongst the gentrification. Part soul food and part Caribbean restaurant, Welton Street Cafe serves generous portions of jerk chicken, catfish and fried chicken with heaping sides of mac and cheese, okra or greens. Everything is made to order so make sure you have time to appreciate your meal. Last time I was in I had the jerk chicken, which is the best variation I have ever had on the dish. It was definitely spicy with a great chili kick but also some underlying sweetness of pumpkin pie spices. The meat was smoked and fall off the bone tender. I always order greens for the side, because they are simply amazing. Pork and spices compliment the light bitterness of the leaves for the perfect greens flavor. The rest of the sides are all excellent though I have never been a fan of okra. And everything is served with a sweet homemade cornbread roll that I love to soak the last bits of sauce with. And if you have room, try their rotating selection of deserts such as cobbler or spiced rum cake. Yum. Service is always great; an informal but convivial feel that makes you think you're eating in your aunt and uncle's kitchen. Simply one of top destinations for Caribbean or southern cooking in the city.

    (5)

  • Caroline C.

    The food was good but, damn, service was sooo sloooow. The place was surprisingly busy for 2pm on a Saturday, but over 45 minutes to get a couple of plates?? Definitely not recommended if you're in a hurry! I ordered the jerk chicken (absolutely delicious - a juicy, spicy, sliced boneless chicken breast. I would have it again, for sure), mac and cheese (good but not great. Didn't taste homemade tbh), hush puppies (super crispy and really dry but, when smooshed up and soaked in the jerk chicken juices and spices, every bite was a mini explosion of flavor), and fry bread (doughnut-like and fantastic). He had the pork chops with fried okra, black eyed peas and corn bread. Apart from the peas which were perfectly tender and flavorful, everything else was satisfying but not really exceptional. Although I wasn't completely blown away by the experience at WSC, I definitely want to go back to try the fried chicken - it looked (and smelled) amazing! 3.5 stars for now.

    (3)

  • Kileen R.

    My dad and I go to Welton St. Cafe every year on Father's day [and in between too], and it's always something we both really really look forward to. The food is the absolute best soul food you can get in Denver, and the staff is so sweet, they make you feel right at home.

    (4)

  • Diane N.

    Every time I dine at Welton Street Cafe, I giggle inside at the bunch of suckers, just a block away, that THINK they are dining on good Soul food. Welton Street Cafe has nice service and a sincere, unique sense of style in their food. Yeah, you need more time to spare when dining here. But they make your meal from scratch EACH time, which is a standard that goes heavily under appreciated. Hidden behind the light rail, in the inconspicuous Five Points Plaza, this is what a good secret looks like. The Good & Bad Rundown: + made fresh each order + fried chicken is not dry; flavor-fully spiced but a teensy salty + tender catfish but unless I'm mistaken it's still the fresh frozen filets + nice service + good hours of operation + casual, relaxed + good hushpuppies (and I've never before liked hushpuppies) + accepts cash AND credit cards - pricey BUT the food is GOOD so price and wait are worthwhile Psst.. just so you know: ~ read the signs (i.e. wait to be seated or you won't be served) ~ have patience ~ decor is humble, which makes the food more real

    (4)

  • Matty G.

    After reading other Yelp reviews I decided to give this place a try. One of the handwritten signs on the wall warned that the food will take time to prepare because delicious takes time. The person behind the counter hyped the fried chicken, so I decided order it. Sitting in chairs placed off to the side, I waited 30 minutes until our food was finished. Excited about the prospect of real soul food in denver, I rushed home and began unpacking my food. The first thing I noticed was a giant, 5 inch long, nasty, black hair poking out of the mac and cheese. Didn't they look at it before they closed the lid? I said to myself, "ok, simple mistake, I'm not going to let it ruin my meal." Then I took a big bite out of the fried chicken breast. No flavor. Dry. Stringy. Gross. I traveled 20 minutes across town, waited a half an hour, and drove back for this garbage!? I spit it back into the container and threw the whole thing away. I was not going to risk getting sick by eating more. I ate a PB&J so I wouldn't go to bed hungry. KFC, on it's worst day, has better fried chicken than this place.

    (1)

  • Monty B.

    I liked them better than Tom's. Yes we waited half an hour for our fried chicken to cook, but it was worth it to eat some freshly fried chicken. The outside was well seasoned (maybe a little too salty) and crispy, not at all oily; the inside was moist. The freshly fried catfish was great too. I kind of wish it was served with some homemade tartar sauce. Overall, the sides were pretty mediocre. Tom's has better mac & cheese. So while we waited a bit for our food to be cooked, we didn't have to wait to be seated on a weeknight. To me, this kind of balances out with the waiting in line at Tom's. However, as other have noted, they don't seem to be interested in taking your money after clearing your table. I guess you could see it as them letting you take your time, but we were never brought a check and had to go find someone to pay so we could be on our way.

    (4)

  • Tina G.

    Wow - you all must be desperate for soul food, but this was not good at all! I went based on yelp reviews and was totally disappointed. I ordered catfish and mac & cheese and I should have asked for cardboard with a side of packing peanuts, because they tasted about the same. On top of the bland food, the decor sucked and I was served on paper plates with plastic utensils. The neighborhood was also a little seedy complete with creepy guys standing outside staring at me through the glass window. The only positive was that the service was fast. Clearly that's because the chef skipped the step where you season the food. blech.

    (1)

  • Idan S.

    I might be from Israel, but I know good food when I eat it, and this "soul food" was very mediocre (didn't even come close to soul food I had in Louisiana and Oklahoma). I've eaten there twice, and can absolutely say I will not be giving this place another shot. I never judge a restaurant based on one experience, but if I don't like it the second time I won't come back. The first time I ate there I got the fried catfish with a side of greens, mac-n-cheese, fried okra, and cornbread. The catfish was flavorless and dry, the greens were bland and overcooked, the mac-n-cheese tasted only slightly better than something you can get out of a box, the cornbread was flavorless and slightly stale, the only part I enjoyed was the okra, which was fantastic. The experience definitely wasn't worth the money (around $18 including tip) On my second visit I got the 12 piece honey-hot wings. The wings were nice and juicy and with application of hot sauce and ranch they were pretty tasty. But again, the meal wasn't worth the price ($10ish). I would rather get my wings at BWW. Overall, the food at the Welton St. Cafe isn't bad, but definitely overpriced for the received gratification.

    (2)

  • William W.

    Worst service ever. First the rude waiter took our order after 10 minute's. Then we waited almost another 50 minutes to get our food. We were the only customers in there the entire time. My fish was completely raw. After returning it I did not even receive a sorry. Then 4 minutes later my refried fish returned without so much as a word. After being fried twice fish was unedible. As I was paying I didn't even receive a thanks for coming. Considering there was about 7 employees working I find this unacceptable. Sad because I've previously had great experiences there. I probably will not return as this may have been one of the worst experiences ive had at a restaurant so far in Denver.

    (2)

  • James G.

    Overly cooked tough chicken, The food wasn't worth the 30 minute wait or the $11.50 price tag. I can't understand why everyone west of the Mississippi can't do a simple meat & veggies correctly. 1st of all, get the meat right! 2nd an anorexic portion of greens that tasted straight out of a CAN!! isn't going to make the chicken any less inedible. I also can't understand why everyone west of the Mississippi finds most of these restaurants 4 stars & up? I lived in NC, GA, & FL & honestly had better food at a dodgy rest stop in SC.

    (1)

  • John D.

    Great people! Got the jerked chicken and jerked pork. Unfortunately while tasty, both lacked any heat. Maybe they dialed it down so as to appeal to more people but when I order anything jerked I expect it to be hot. Both had no heat at all. Again, both were flavorful. Going to git it another shot and order something different.

    (3)

  • Josh M.

    Hmmm. True southern food. Fried chicken was delicious, it's made fresh when ordered so it takes 25 minutes, but worth the wait. Finished it off with sweet potato pie. Will be back for sure!

    (5)

  • Cobra K.

    All I got to say is FRIED CHICKEN and FRIED BREAD!

    (4)

  • Kristy R.

    My experience here exceeded my expectations! Great service and amazing food, so much yummmmm for my money. Tom's Home Cookin' has some competition. We wandered in here on a snowy Friday night and the place was pretty much empty. We scored a booth table, were promptly served drinks and had our orders taken. Although it took me an eternity to pick 2 sides from the laundry list of home cooked goodness. We were warned it would be 27 minutes until I received my piping hot plate of fried chicken-a nice courtesy if you weren't aware of the time required for really really good freshly fried chicken. Then we waited for what seemed suspiciously less than 27 minutes and were rewarded with 2 enormous plates of food. One HUGE plate of jerk pork with hush puppies and yams and another HUGENORMOUS plate of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and fry bread. Mmmmm fried. The fried chicken was incredible. Crunchy, fresh, not too greasy, but moist and beyond delicious. Loved it. The mac n' cheese was a perfect amalgamation of all my favorite versions. The noodles were soft like my favorite childhood recipes, the sauce was a balance of creamy and cheesy that landed somewhere between velveeta and fresh cheddar and the flavor was out of this world. This might be my favorite old school, home style, take me back to childhood mac n' cheese in town. Also fry bread+ honey = yum. My boyfriend's plate of jerk chicken got a thorough visit from my fork. I loved the hush puppies (perfect crispy little corn balls) and the yams. But truly I couldn't keep my hands off the jerk pork. Tender, succulent, and juicy, soaked in a sweet and spicy jerk sauce that made me smile. Good food. Not fast. But serious home cooked deliciousness resides here. And it happens to be a 2 minute walk from my house. I win.

    (5)

  • Kirk M.

    After an hour long wait at the DMV, my partner and I were hungry and some soul food seemed like the right thing to do. She ordered the jerk chicken dinner with sides of Mac n cheese, collard greens and fried bread and I ordered the fried catfish with hush puppies, fried cabbage and corn bread. I have to say it was some of the best soul food I've ever had. The jerk had a really good spice to it and the catfish had a nice crunch on the outside and was nice and tender on the inside. As far as the sides go, I could eat them as a meal bet themselves, especially the Mac n cheese which was nice and creamy and the hush puppies were very well seasoned. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. We were lucky that we arrived early because the place really filled up for he noon lunch hour. We are definitely looking forward to coming here again.

    (5)

  • Ed B.

    Good Southern Food. A great alternative to Tom's Home Cookin either for dinner or on weekends (when Tom's is closed) or when Tom's is packed out at lunch on weekdays. The service was super friendly, but be prepared to wait awhile between ordering and getting your food. Making from scratch takes time. The fried chicken was great, and my friend said the jerk chicken was as well. Best fried okra I have had in Denver. Good yams as well. As you can see, it may not be super healthy, but it is a great place for a good slow meal with friends and lost of hearty food. All entrees are priced around $10 or a bit higher. So, it ain't cheap, but it is a lot of good food. For you Southerners, sorry no sweet tea. That was a bummer for me, but the lemonade was a decent alternative.

    (4)

  • Jeff V.

    As a few other reviews have indicated, come here when you got a little more time to spare. The fried chicken is made fresh to order so it takes a while...but damn it...it's the business. The food here is great and the people are friendly. Best part, for any students, you can lightrail train D up here and get right off and walk into one of the best southern food joints in Denver.

    (4)

  • Craig S.

    Very good fried chicken, greens, and red beans and rice on my first visit. I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Unknown C.

    So, after living in Atlanta for a few years (as well as spending time in Memphis), I LOVE FRIED CHICKEN! Since I've been back in Denver I've been on the hunt for some delicious fried chicken. Tried Tom's Home Cookin' - chicken is just ok and it's served as if you are eating at the local trailer park...White Fence Farm - the Casa Bonita of fried chicken...gave up looking for it. And of course, there's YELP*....I looked for what others had to say and found the Welton Street Cafe. Thought I'd give it a whirl... We walked in and two lovely ladies asked if we were eating in or take out...we said eating in and were handed menus and asked to take any seat. Since I was specifically looking for fried chicken, the rest of the menu didn't grab my attention. I asked the server if it really took a long time if I ordered the fried chicken and she replied it takes about 25 minutes. I'm on a mission...I'll wait...I'll also take the mashed potatoes and the coleslaw. It was fun to listen to her ask what kind of bread I wanted...I opted for the corn bread. She repeated the list to almost every table without missing a beat. One awesome addition to the meal: the restaurant does not mess with the soda dispenser and the Coke was just as sweet and tasty as you would get in Atlanta. Yep, a half hour later she brings out a plate of what smelled and looked like deliciousness. It's almost a meat and three, but dessert is not included in the meal (I miss certain things about the South). The potatoes were fresh with just enough gravy, the coleslaw was fresh and tasty...was perfect to put the dry corn bread in :) And then there was the chicken....the delicious 1/2 of a chicken....four pieces ever so lightly breaded (not so much "breading" but flour and seasonings), was fried perfectly golden brown and the meat was hot a juicy. There's definitely enough to take the breast and the wing home for a late night snack. Upon leaving the restaurant the ladies were just as hospitable as when we got there. I believe I have found a little tasty bit of heaven in Five Points. Thank you for reading.

    (4)

  • Jessica H.

    Great food and freshly made. This place is all family run which I think is great. The only bad thing was that the A/C did not seem to be working and it was hotter inside than it was outside...the only relief we got was when a bus passed by the huge windows in the front to provide some shade for a brief moment. Overall, great food and staff.

    (4)

  • Brian S.

    I only take the time to write reviews for those who deserve 5 stars. Having said that, this won't take any time at all: 1) Order fried chicken. It's the best you've ever had that you haven't prepared yourself. 2) Pick your sides, you'll love any of them - my favorites are the mac and cheese and the greens because then I can pretend to get my dairy and fruits/veggies in there. 3) Now, just you wait your 20 or 30 minutes. If this isn't acceptable within your time frame or expectations, good. That means less of a crowd for me . . .and more lively banter with the severs that know I'm just a chicken-fry-smitten white boy, and haze me accordingly. PS - watch out for the distinction between hot sauce bottles and ketchup bottles here. It can grow hazy at times.

    (5)

  • Renee R.

    The food was good, the service was good. It was easy to find for tourists like us. Parking in front, free on Sunday. We were seated right away and although it took a few extra minutes for the food, it wasn't too bad. I had the fried chicken, my husband had the whiting and my colleague had the smothered pork chops. Everyone was pleased. The yams weren't what i expected. i wouldn't recommend them. The mac n cheese is creamy as stated in other reviews. The red beans and rice was tasty also.

    (4)

  • Carmen J.

    Went to Welton Street cafe on Easter Sunday because my niece was craving catfish and we didn't want to do a 'traditional' Easter brunch. The catfish is mouthwatering,hot,crisp and delicious,came out a wee bit salty for my taste but I still loved it. I got the wing platter with 2 sides,also delicious,they offer the wings fried with no sauce,hot,sweet hot and bbq. I just had the plain ones and added my own hot sauce to taste (their hot sauce is awesome too!) my sides were yams and collard greens OMG so good,cooked to perfection I was dipping my cornbread in the juices of both! They offer cornbread,fry bread and white bread,with your meal,my niece had the fry bread and it was very good,moist inside and crisp outside. The cornbread was moist and home made. My younger niece had the mac and cheese with was creamy and flavorful. All and all a great meal, price won't break you and it wasn't crazy crowded like I'm sure most places were on Easter Sunday. The staff was very nice and made sure our glasses were kept full, I only wish they offered sweet tea,I'm hooked on that but they had lemonade and fruit punch and sodas so that was okay.

    (3)

  • Monica L.

    Thanks Yelpers! I had not heard of this place until I started seeing reviews on Yelp. Well, let's just say, they didn't steer me wrong. The fried chicken was delicious, the cornbread great, the macaroni & cheese fine, and the yams like candy. The place is bright and cheery, and the staff is friendly. If you like fried chicken, GO!

    (4)

  • Jay C.

    My God, what can I say about this place. I ate here for the first time 6 years ago, it took 15 minutes for the waitress to come and take drinks. I asked for a Coke, she gave me a Sprite. 20 minutes later I was about to leave and then my plate of fried chicken, greens, mashed potatoes and cornbread came out. It was worth the wait, I would do it again. I have been in Florida for 5 years now and cannot get this restaurant out of my mind. Probably one of the best 3 meals I have ever eaten at a restaurant and my money is one of the other 2 was here as well. If you like soul food, I mean really want great soul food. Do not pass go. Go straight here. First day back in Denver, this is where you will find me.

    (5)

  • Christina V.

    I was craving soul food and thought why not head to the "hood?" I say this laughingly because having graduated from Temple U. in North Philadelphia (getting out of their alive everyday is truly the challenge) makes one appreciate this eclectic, culturally diverse neighborhood. I first tried Tom' s but he's gone fishing until the 6th. We continued a couple blocks up and stumbled upon another soul food joint. I asked a local if it was worthy. She tactfully said she lived across the street and never eats there. She told us that Welton St. Cafe is where it's at. My boyfriend went inside to order us some jerk chicken, mac and cheese, greens, red beans and rice, along with cornbread and flat bread. I asked a another local outside what was good at Welton's and he recommended everything. He also told me that the first woman was incorrect on the second soul food establishment we considered. He said it was "Hood Icon," and in business for over thirty years. I truly enjoyed the greens cooked to perfection without a trace of bitterness. The mac and cheese was pure comfort and creamy. The red beans and rice were certainly tasty, although I would have appreciated a degree more heat. Same is true for the jerk chicken. The corn bread was also satisfying, but would have been even better with jalapeno or perhaps some whole kernels of corn to retain the moisture. If I should return, I would most definitely order the fried chicken next time along with one of their Pates (Flat bread filled with many options). This bread is so delectable, somewhat like funnel cake without the sweetness. Heart attack on a plate? Perhaps, but we are eating soul food now.

    (3)

  • Scott T.

    I like to eat. A lot. It's why I work. I could tolerate living in a cave, if it had a fridge and an oven (both micro and convection). I like big, hearty meals, and I love southern cooking for that reason. I went into the Welton Street Cafe tonight after riding my new bike all day, knowing I was hungry enough to eat me some southern food! I had the fried perch and the jerk chicken. My sides were greens, yams, okra, and black eyed peas, biscuits and honey finished the meal off, and I ALMOST finished both entrees, but these were huge portions!! This is awesome southern-style food, and I am going back for everything on this menu!

    (5)

  • jay b.

    I have not been pulled over by the police or had to deal with the police in any way, shape, or form for years ... but this weekend they suddenly couldn't get enough of me. I've been pulled over 3 times and received a separate citation from the parking violations bureau, all in the last 4 days! Turns out my tags have expired over a month ago, but I did not know this because I recently moved and the expired tag reminder-mails specifically say "do not forward" to a new address. Point..? It's time to go to the DMV!!! Having recently read the reviews posted below, I have been itching to try the DMV's prestigious neighbor, the Welton Street Cafe - as fine a case of preparation-meets-opportunity as I can recall in recent memory. :) Loved the place. The service is extremely welcoming ... the daughter is the host/waitress, mom cooks the jerk and the greens, and the son cooks the hamburgers. The portions are hearty. I split a cheeseburger, a jerk-chicken sandwich, and sides of greens and fried okra. Down-home deliciousness. My only regret is I was too stuffed to try the peach cobbler desert, but there will most definitely be a next time, just as soon as I finish paying off all those tickets...

    (4)

  • Tyler S.

    So a previous reviewer mentioned that they had visited Sylvia's in Harlem... well I worked at Sylvia's in Harlem for 5 years (and grew up in south Georgia) and I am going to tell you that Welton Street Cafe is the S*&T! For people who complain about the time you wait for service or for the food to be cooked you clearly have never really been to soul food joints either in Harlem or in the south. Are they in a hurry? Hell no. Do they have to be when they are going to bring you this level of awesomeness? Double Hell no. People, do yourself a favor and calm yo ass down. This is soul food. Made with love, by people who know how. I loved the whiting... which is made even more awesome because I asked our waitress to "ask them to fry it hard" and she knew exactly what I was saying. Also ate the fried chicken, greens, mac & cheese, okra, corn bread, hush puppies, fried bread and a broc & cheese pate. Yes, this was all in one dinner. Don't judge me, my friend who shall remain unnamed from previous reviews was with me and we shared. And by shared I mean I ate the lions share! You know what you can do with the extra time it takes to prepare your food you uptight denverites? Put down your damn blackberry and actually talk to the people you are having dinner with. Novel concept I know. Great Job Welton street, this Fatty Southern boy, by way of Harlem is going to be back! Whats that sound you are hearing? Oh... its just my arteries slamming shut!

    (5)

  • Wyn F.

    This place is awesome! Amazing food and good service. The burgers are simple but excellent and the fried chicken is some of the best that I have ever had. The waitresses are awesome and the restaurant has soul.

    (4)

  • Andrew T.

    Inexpensive, and the have Veggie Burgers!! A great find for a vegetarian in a neighborhood that primarily serves soul food. My whole party had a pleasant dining experience.

    (4)

  • Douglas R.

    Small family owned great cafe in the heart of Five Points, sometimes the services is lacking but the food makes up for it. They have huge portions and a variety of dishes, My personal favorite is the big home style hamburger they sell for a little over $4. They also have a huge catfish sandwich that is sure to fulfill anyone's appetite. The menu ranges from full blown fried chicken dinners (enough to feed at least 2) chicken wings, burgers, fish sandwiches, mac and cheese (get some) and various others sides, pates (chicken cheese and broccoli is my favorite)

    (4)

  • Thomas S.

    Hopefully, reviewing the Welton Street Cafe before eating the fried chicken is like reviewing Fogo de Chao after eating just the vegetarian menu. I didn't eat the fried chicken. I dug into the Caribbean menu and went with the jerk chicken. It was alright. The chicken was served as boneless pieces of chicken breast cooked in a jerk sauce like gravy. The jerk sauce (middle schoolers are laughing at that phrase) was splendid, a nice balance of heat with all spice. The chicken was okay - a little on the dry side and not what I am used to when it comes to jerk chicken. But I would definitely get the chicken again. My sides were the red beans and rice, which were delicious, and the fried okra, which was not memorable. I am planning a return trip for the fried chicken - but for now, just three stars.

    (3)

  • Josh K.

    If you have not had the burger here, you are seriously missing out on the best burger in Denver hands down.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    It hurts me to give this place a 4 star review, I want so badly for it to be 5. I come here for the chicken, there are other things on the menu, but I'm in it for the chicken. I adore their fried chicken, perfectly spiced and golden brown, you receive half of a bird on an enormous plate. No, my complaint doesn't lie with the delicious chicken (did I mention the chicken?), nor with the service, which is always a good time, the ladies are always down for a laugh... It's the other half of my enormous plate of chicken. The sides make me sad. The chicken is practically bursting with the love that comes with careful preparation, but the sides feel like they were slapped together the same way they were slapped on the plate. That's it, that's the only thing that I don't like. I've tried nearly every side on the menu, and not one of them was put on earth to knock your socks off, but that doesn't mean I'd turn my nose up at the yams. Still, this joint is at the top of my list for best Soul Food in Denver Oh! And I have to say that I love the music. There aren't enough restaurants in this town that play good soul. I always dance in my seat while I eat.

    (4)

  • Lauren T.

    i love me some southern cooking. Glad I tried Welton's but I dont think I'll be back. My trip to the hood was a little uneventful. My friend ordered the fried chicken, and we were warned it would take 30+ minutes to cook. That was the only reason she came so I gave her the go ahead and we waited and waited... All three of us on our iphones looking for some entertainment. Welton's didnt attempt to decorate, they just put plastic flowers on the tables and left the walls blank. Which I don't mind, I came here to eat! Hurray for hush puppies, and the fried okra. The chicken was good, but nothing you cant get at Popeyes or KFC. And no doubt I make a better fried catfish at home. (not to be snobby, don't hate) Go here, but dont get your hopes up.

    (3)

  • Sarah C.

    This place has decent soul food considering that it's in Denver. If it was in Georgia, I would go to Weaver D's instead. Sadly, that's not an option. I've been here once so far and tried the catfish: the cornmeal crust was nice and crispy, and the fish tasted fresh. They put a bit too much tartar sauce on the sandwich, so you might want to order it on the side if you're not a huge tartar sauce fan. I was disappointed in the sweet potatoes (I was expecting classic candied yams, and these were a lot lighter/less buttery than I would have liked). As a former resident of the South, I was looking forward to getting my sweet tea fix, but they only have unsweet. That said, it was still pretty good stuff. My husband enjoyed his fry bread and the broccoli, beef and cheese pate (which is kind of like a fried calzone or pasty), although it was made with what he called "welfare cheese," so if you're looking for a fancy sharp cheddar that might not be the dish for you (then again, if you're looking for fancy food of any kind, this might not be the place for you at all). Finally, the dining room is clean and neat and the waitstaff is very friendly. Service was a little on the slow side but not ridiculous (especially considering that we were there during lunch on a weekday and the place was pretty busy. They didn't have a high chair (they do have booster seats), but they seemed happy to have a baby there, so I would say it's basically a kid-friendly place anyway.

    (3)

  • Eleanora M.

    My absolute favorite if you want chicken wings or catfish! Great mac and cheese! Everything is fresh and made to order. Beware, if you want takeout call and order ahead or you'll be waiting.

    (5)

  • Caroline S.

    I love soul food and I love Caribbean food. Welton Street Cafe has both. They have awesome specials--bbq baked chicken, oxe tail plus a great menu with fried catfish, fried chicken, jerk chicken, wings, patties and sides. The food is good, not great and while it definitely fulfills a craving, it's not the best food I've ever had. A few of the sides were lacking flavor and the greens aren't anything to brag about. The catfish and the fried chicken are delicious if you're willing to wait 30 minutes for your meal. Also, Welton Street Cafe is one of the few holdout, African American owned businesses left in the Five-Points neighborhood. I support that as much as the food.

    (3)

  • Inyata J.

    On point!!!! Great people and even better food!!! A "must go" if you travel to Denver. Its in the heart of one of Denver's most historic neighborhoods. Mona is the lady to ask for when you go( its her est.) I've lived in cali for awhile now and still can't find a place that compares. Thanks Wings & things for all the wonderful food over the years!!!

    (5)

  • Jay B.

    I grew up in the south. I will admit, I am a bit of a food snob when it comes to good old home country cookin. I also grew up on the 'wrong side of the tracks' in Florida so frequenting a 'soul food' restaurant wasn't something new to me. I had expectations. High ones for that matter. Walking into the Welton Street Cafe reminded me of my favorite place for catfish in Orlando that I would take my grandma to when I would visit. Firstly, I didn't feel out of place or uncomfortable. Maybe that was my upbringing but I didn't get the feeling that it was 'weird' for a white boy to be walking in. I ordered what I always order - fried catfish dinner. Side of greens. Cornbread. And I always struggle with the second side order but this time I went with the mustard based potato salad. Every side dish in the place is homemade with the exception of the fries and onion rings. T and M ordered the chicken dinner about 10 minutes before I arrived. Yet, our food all came out at once. And their chicken was still hot and savory. I was pretty impressed with that. My catfish was lightly breaded and fried up crispy, not overcooked, not burned and not soggy. To top it off, there was a big bottle of hot sauce ready to go. I was pleasantly surprised that the greens weren't overcooked and not loaded up with salt. They had a wonderful consistency that I'd never had with greens at similar restaurants. The potato salad was good. Not anything to write home about and I'd probably get another side next time. Now, the cornbread is a different story. The BEST I've ever had! A bit crumbly, yet moist and bursting with flavor. I did go out on a limb and ask for something I was hoping to hear a yes to........'do you have sweet tea?' No. Oh the humanity!!!! How can I eat fried catfish with no sweet tea. (insert southern accent here) You like sweet tea? I like me some sweet tea. You gotta have some sweet tea. I'm not kidding. Sweet Jesus, make some sweet tea. I will even come in and show you how to boil down the sugar and make it. I know I live out west. There is no sweet tea west of Kentucky. I get it. I understand. But how cool would it be for the only restaurant in Denver to serve up some sweet golden deliciousness? It would make this great restaurant even more amazing.

    (4)

  • Jessie G.

    Holy crap. The first time I went to the Welton Street Cafe, the food absolutely blew my mind. The chicken wings were fried to a perfect crisp and coated in delicious barbecue sauce. They were so good that my friends and I fought over who got to eat the last one (unfortunately, it wasn't me). I had the fried shrimp with mashed potatoes and black eyed peas, and tasted all of my friends' dishes as well. The fried shrimp was ridiculous- large shrimp breaded and fried on 4 pieces of white bread. I have to say, the bread was completely unnecessary. I couldn't have fit the "sandwich" in my mouth under any circumstances, and it didn't soak up any of the fry oil because it was perfectly done- not greasy or oily in the least. The mashed potatoes were a mistake though. They were typical buffet-style mashed potatoes and brown gravy and kind of bland and tasteless. The black-eyed peas were great, perfectly briny and soft. The mac and cheese was creamy and delicious, and the red beans and rice were ok. Not the best I've ever had but certainly good. The jerk chicken was cooked in so much pepper that my boyfriend had a hard time eating it but pushed through all the same. It was very good, the best I've ever had (but I've never been to the Caribbean so what the hell do I know). The fried catfish was almost like a work of art. Huge strips of lightly breaded and fried catfish on white bread. I know what I'm ordering the next time I come here. The staff is also personable and friendly. The missing star is due to my second visit to the Welton Street Cafe. Based on our prior holy chicken wings experience, my boyfriend and I decided to get a dozen wings for dinner- 1/2 red hot and 1/2 barbecue. We ordered take-out and made the mistake of not checking the food before we took it home- we ended up with 1/2 barbecue and 1/2 plain. Who the hell orders plain chicken wings from the Welton Street Cafe? They were not good and I was less than impressed. Also, just FYI, when we first came here, we parked in the 5 Points lot in between 2 SUVs whose occupants were screaming obscenities at each other. When I looked up, the girl to the right of our car hucked a 40 bottle at the other car and hit the side of it. My friends were reluctant to get out for fear of being impaled with a broken 40 but the screamers were unconcerned with us. I walk to the Welton Street Cafe now so that when I leave my car isn't covered in broken glass.

    (4)

  • Megan W.

    The Welton Street Cafe has the kind of fried chicken makes me happy to burn my fingers, scorch my tongue, and generally make a huge mess. These are the kinds of uncomfortable things that I try to avoid, but when crispy, moist, not too greasy fried chicken is on the line, I will certainly buck up and take it! The sides were fantastic (I tried all of the ones that were ordered) and the hot sauce was really good too. What else is there to say? When you need some comfort food head over to Welton Street Cafe. Oh. One last thing is that the food takes a while to come out, but it is well worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Sandra L.

    Thought I would give this place a try since a friend told me it was great. I ordered the catfish and chicken dinner. Well first of all I would not have called it catfish. It was these tiny pieces of some puffy stuff maybe the breading. You got more fish in a mcdonalds fish sandwich. It was really chewy, "Where's the fish"? the chicken was wing pieces. I was expecting a leg wing or thigh. Not worth the money I paid. The service was horrible and very rude. When I walked in I got stared at like I was lost or something. One woman told me do I know you? she then said ALL ni**rs look alike, WOW! Why would someone say somethingl like that. But back to the food. It was not worth the $35 we paid for two plates. Our server kept forgetting about us. When we were done we waitied for 20 mins for our bill. She then yelled accross the room and told us to come up front to pay. I will never go back. The photos below are not what we saw at this place.

    (1)

  • Brandon D.

    Best fried and soul food period in the state of CO. Everything is finger licking good and I swear this place was from the south. I'm never eating fast food chicken again. Avoid Tom's and come here...u won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Thaddius B.

    Had the fried catfish with greens and fried okra. All done very well. On par with some of my favorite Meat and threes in the south, but dinners only come with 2 sides. I had a taste of the smothered pork chops and they were delicious. The fried chicken looked pretty good but I know they make it to order so it takes some time. If you like southern cooking and don't want to wait in line at Toms check this place out, it is legit.

    (4)

  • Gary M.

    Love this place. The jerk pork is great. Takes a while but worth the wait! It's a five points which is bit of a gritty area of Denver - just in case you worry about those things.

    (5)

  • Russ D.

    In serious need of Soul Food, I took the light rail mass transit down to the Welton Street Café in the Five Points. I absolutely love this restaurant. I am so satisfied. I am stuffed full. I am content. I am delighted. I am happy and smiling. Everything was hot and fresh! I had Mona's honey-hot wings. They were not too drenched in sauce and crispy delicious. They rival any wings in town. The hearty portion cornmeal breaded fried catfish was hot and crispy. It was laid on the plate atop pieces of white bread. Fried okra and coleslaw were my side dishes. Both tasty good! What delighted me most was the frybread. I lived off frybread in college and it brought me back to my youthful days. I gobbled it up and almost got another one. The staff was super friendly. The restaurant was clean. The music on the speakers was soft and soulful. Overall a great dining experience! You really need to patronize this business regularly. You'll be so super glad you did.

    (5)

  • Kristofer D.

    Take your tongue on a vacation... Let it soak in the goodness that is the Welton Street Cafe. THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. Just to get it out of the way. Now I must admit I am a simple man. I love food done in a simple and delicious manner. A manner infused with a lot of love and passion for that food. This place.. THIS PLACE. They do it. They do it well. Up and down. Front to Back. Lip Smack. I miss you already.. Gold. Pure. GOOOLD. This is the best fried chicken I have ever had besides my own MOMMA. Seriously, eat this chicken and this catfish right now. Honey Hot sauce is foolproof tastylicious. The place was getting packed quickly with people waiting for to-go lunch orders; but the staff was incredibly quick and courteous. Attentiveness to table liquid levels was on Beast Fleek Mode. The only thing about this place that can rival the food and service I received during my experience here was the quite possibly best in-restaurant playlist ever witnessed. I'm talking every major 90's hip hop and R&B hit you can think of. Kristofer's Heart Attack of the Day: -Fried Chicken Dinner with Mac, Greens and Frybread. -The Fried Catfish Dinner with Red Beans n Rice, Fried Okra and Corn Bread. -6pcs Reg & 6pcs HoneyHot Fried Chicken to start. **Split between 2-6 people**

    (5)

  • Krystal M.

    so... this is literally the best fried chicken, catfish and mac & cheese that may exist in Denver. The 2nd best friend chicken is at B-Side. We made it in here on a Wednesday night and it was a little late and near empty. They were open till 10PM (yay!) & they played some awesome old school music. The only downside is waiting for the food, which takes a while, but is well worth the wait. Also, my boyfriend was excited for wings, but they were not buffalo wings like he assumed, so he was a little sad. However, I was not because they were just the right size for me. Everything on my plate was delicious, I had the catfish & wings, with mac & cheese and cornbread. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Terri B.

    OMG!!! The best fried chicken EVER!!! Served with the greens, Mac and cheese and all the cornbread you can like in New Orleans. This is my second visit here and I had catfish and wings. I ordered some fried okra and red beans and rice for my co-workers. Friendly service!!!!

    (5)

  • Danny G.

    Love this place! My roommates and I come here all the time because we live right down the street. The wings are great, and the fried chicken is even better. They have specials that change daily, too. Give them a call if you want to know what the specials are for the day--you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Norma J.

    Great food!!! Great staff!! I love this place, the staff knows who you are and what you order when you come in. They are family owned and best fried chicken meal I have ever had. Everything is cooked to order.

    (5)

  • Kimberly S.

    I wanted fried chicken, and we have heard rumors that the Welton Street Cafe was the place to go for fried chicken. We were in the area, at the DMV right there, so why not? I am SOOOO glad that we did. Oh, this restaurant is located right by light rail too, so you have no excuse not to go. Comportable interior, a bit worn, but a loving worn (if that makes sense). The interior is welcoming, but it's the food that keeps you there, and brings you back and back! We had the fried chicken, and it was absolutely WONDERFUL!! It was not greasy, it was absolutely WONDERFUL - wait, I already said that! It was WONDERFUL! You can tell, when you walk in, that this is the place that locals go, and where locals go, it's good! No, not good, REALLY GOOD, no WONDERFUL!!! The service was good, the price was good, it was all GOOD, no WONDERFUL!!! Please know that good food, including good fried chicken, takes a while, so sit back, relax, and get ready for some WONDERFUL food!

    (4)

  • Margaret C.

    Still excellent, many years after our first visit. Now that my daughter and I are both vegetarians, we were quite pleased to see a veggie burger on the primarily-soul-food menu at the Welton St. Cafe. We ordered one veggie burger (priced quite reasonably at $4.95) and shared it. It was grilled perfectly, with tasty grilled onions and other veggies on it, + mustard and mayo. Soooo good! We also ordered 3 side dishes to share: okra, mac & cheese, and yams. All were marvelous. This was a challenging day for both of us, and neither of us had eaten all day, so this mid-afternoon shared meal really hit the spot! Love the kindness and care with which this cafe is run. I'm not in Denver very much anymore but will definitely return when I am.

    (5)

  • Savanah W.

    Great little hole in the wall cafe! Brought me back to my roots! Super southern yummy food. I had the chicken sandwich with a side of fried okras and it was amazing! My husband and a combination of chicken shrimp and a few other things. Everything was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. They let you know that it may take a little longer for your food to be served but it is worth it!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer R.

    Yum!!! Just yum!!! My friend and I shared the fried chicken wings, fried okra, cabbage, mac and cheese and greens. Everything was delicious and both plates were finished clean. I would go back here to eat anytime I am craving some good and crispy fried chicken.

    (5)

  • Harold W.

    If you want some good soul food come down to this place, the food is freshly prepared, FYI if you order the fried chicken it has a 20 min prep time but it's well worth it. Prices are not to shabby my only complaint is I wish they would upgrade the inside for a better atmosphere but maybe in due time. Still won't stop me from going as the food is just to delicious.

    (4)

  • Trevor S.

    I have only ordered take out from this place. The food is damn good. Everyone was happy with what they ordered (jerk chicken sandwhich, fried chicken, mac n chees, collard greens). The price is right also. The only criticism I have is that I was told 25 minutes, and it ended up being 45-50 minutes for the food. I will be frequenting this place often.

    (5)

  • David M.

    As you may have guessed from my genteel manners and respect for the feelings of others, I'm a southern boy. Born under the Mason-Dixon Line and having come of age in Norf (sic) Carolina, I know me my hushpuppies, cornbread and frrrrried catfish. And I'm telling you, since the closure of M&D's and Pierre's a few years back, I had mistakenly thought that there was nowhere in the Downtown/Uptown area to get me some of that wonderous soul food that I had as a youngin'. Except--I say--except, as I just discovered at the Welton St. Cafe; where their hushpuppies taste of the cornfields of Georgia, and their catfish is so light and fresh that it probably swam straight up the Platte and jumped in Chef Dickerson's skillet just before I sat down to order it. I hear that the chicken's the next thing I've gotta try, and I also hear that right up the street there's some competition laying in wait at Cora Faye's. But having just discovered the Welton Street Cafe, all I can say is . . . praise the Lord and pass the hot sauce. Their catfish is corn-battered-ly deeeeelishous.

    (4)

  • Angela B.

    Came across this place accidentally. Hungry for food! Had jerk chic sandwich (awesome ) and perch sandwich (good). Nice sides of fried cabbage, mac & cheese, mash tots. Satisfied.

    (4)

  • Sarah F.

    Just went in for the first time, and loved it! Was craving soul food and found this place. First of all, my waitress was awesome, didn't catch her name unfortunately. She was really friendly and sweet, and recommended awesome food, I had the jerk chicken. So delicious and tender, with great spices and I added some of their tasty hot sauce because it wasn't terribly spicy. Also had red beans and rice, fried okra and cornbread that came with it, which were also great. Took a while to get the food, but it was definitely worth it to me, they also had some awesome r&b on while I waited. Bathroom situation was also interesting, had to take an elevator to it, but not terrible. Was reasonably priced for the large portions, and would definitely recommend!

    (5)

  • Lindy L.

    So much good food! I've been here a couple of times and really enjoyed my food and the experience every time. The interior is no frills, with a mix of booths and tables. Service is great. They make you feel at home. On my most recent visit, I had the jerk chicken with macaroni and cheese and yams as my sides, and fry bread too. The jerk chicken is moist and flavorful and has a good kick. The mac and cheese is solid and of the creamy variety. The yams are nice and sweet, but not too sweet. The fry bread comes in the form of a very dense cylinder, and although a little bland on its own, it's great with honey. The platter of food was enough for two good-sized meals. I've also tried the fried catfish, which is served atop pieces of white bread and is especially good with hot sauce. If you get the catfish dinner, you get two sides and still more bread, with your choice of cornbread, fry bread, white bread, or a dinner roll. The seasoned fries are good, kind of like Arby's fries without the curl. The hush puppies are good too, with a nice amount of seasoning, a good crunch on the outside, and moist goodness on the inside. They don't have sweet tea, unsweetened tea only, so I tend to go with Diet Coke. It takes awhile to get your food, but they forewarn you, and good food is worth the wait, right?

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Welton Street Café

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