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Name: Colterra
Address: 210 Franklin St, Niwot, CO, 80544
Telephone: (303) 652-0777
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.90

Colterra

210 Franklin St, Niwot, CO, 80544

(303) 652-0777
Store is closed

Colterra Menu

Appetizers

House Marinated Olives

Roasted Marcona Almonds

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Charcuterie Plate

Pasture Raised Beef Carpaccio

Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels

House Marinated Olives

Roasted Marcona Almonds

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Charcuterie Plate

Pasture Raised Beef Carpaccio

Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels
Salads

Colterra Beet Salad

Roasted Asparagus & Local Arugula Salad

Warm Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Salad

Hearts of Romaine Caesar

Colterra Beet Salad

Roasted Asparagus & Local Arugula Salad

Warm Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Salad

Hearts of Romaine Caesar
Small Plates

Spring Vegetable Gnocchi

Ahi Tuna Steak

Slow Roasted Berkshire Pork Lasagnette

Pastured Petite Filet Mignon

Spring Vegetable Gnocchi

Ahi Tuna Steak

Slow Roasted Berkshire Pork Lasagnette

Pastured Petite Filet Mignon
Large Plates

Spring Vegetable Tasting

Pastured Filet Mignon

Pistachio Crusted Alaskan Halibut

Pasture Raised Steak Two Ways

Bouillabaisse De Marseille

Honey Cured Berkshire Pork Loin Chop

Ragout of Boulder Lamb

Duck Two Ways

Spring Vegetable Tasting

Pastured Filet Mignon

Pistachio Crusted Alaskan Halibut

Pasture Raised Steak Two Ways

Bouillabaisse De Marseille

Honey Cured Berkshire Pork Loin Chop

Ragout of Boulder Lamb

Duck Two Ways
Cheeses

Sheep's Milk

Goat's Milk

Cow's Milk

Sheep's Milk

Goat's Milk

Cow's Milk

Healthy Meal suggestions for Colterra

Appetizers

House Marinated Olives [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Marcona Almonds [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuscan White Bean Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Charcuterie Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasture Raised Beef Carpaccio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Marinated Olives [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Marcona Almonds [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuscan White Bean Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Charcuterie Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasture Raised Beef Carpaccio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Colterra Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Asparagus & Local Arugula Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Warm Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hearts of Romaine Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Colterra Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Asparagus & Local Arugula Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Warm Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hearts of Romaine Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Small Plates

Spring Vegetable Gnocchi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ahi Tuna Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Slow Roasted Berkshire Pork Lasagnette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pastured Petite Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Vegetable Gnocchi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ahi Tuna Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Slow Roasted Berkshire Pork Lasagnette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pastured Petite Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Large Plates

Spring Vegetable Tasting [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pastured Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pistachio Crusted Alaskan Halibut [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasture Raised Steak Two Ways [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bouillabaisse De Marseille [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Honey Cured Berkshire Pork Loin Chop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ragout of Boulder Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duck Two Ways [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Vegetable Tasting [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pastured Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pistachio Crusted Alaskan Halibut [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasture Raised Steak Two Ways [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bouillabaisse De Marseille [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Honey Cured Berkshire Pork Loin Chop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ragout of Boulder Lamb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Duck Two Ways [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cheeses

Sheep's Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goat's Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cow's Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sheep's Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goat's Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cow's Milk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Niwot for healthy meals suggestion.

Niwot Tavern ( 7960 Niwot Rd,Ste D12 )

Subway ( 7960 Niwot Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Niwot for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 7960 Niwot Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

Mike R.

Pretty good.
(4)
Laura S.

This is one of those unknown treasures of Boulder county. In fact, this is a destination, worth the drive from Boulder, Longmont, Northglenn, Broomfield, even further. If this restaurant were in Denver proper, it would be all the buzz. But then it would lose some of its charm, which is that it's on a quiet street in a small town, and has a large patio with tall old-growth trees. The food is fabulous! I went there for brunch, and it was the kind of brunch where you know that they can do just as much of an outstanding job at dinner. Also try their Bacon Bloody Mary. There's plenty of street parking.
(5)
Dietra P.

Very nice atmosphere and vibe to the entire restaurant. The wine was delicious as we sampled some flavorful cheese and nuts. The prosciutto was very fatty and almost inedible. The potato and seasonal veggie pairing was spot on. We would have liked a bit more veggies on our plate as we were left wanting more Brussel sprouts... yeah, more Brussel sprouts?! We finished with the eggnog creme brule and it was rich and flavorful, an excellent end to the evening. Overall, we'll be back, but didn't totally knock our socks off!
(5)
Jeff U.

I had a bison steak served on top potato dumplings with fresh vegetables and artichokes. A great dining atmosphere both inside and out. I really enjoyed eating at this highly acclaimed eatery in this amazingly charming small town.
(4)
Stacy M.

First visit & really enjoyed the food, decor & cocktail list. Started with the cheese plate. Great cheeses but a little skimpy on bread. ( just ask for bread & u will get a basket) ordered the ahi tuna melt sandwich & it came with truffle fries. The fries were good but need more truffle flavor. Lives my sandwich. We also got a choc caramel tart for desert. You must order this! Overall definitely would go back.
(4)
Loren O.

We went here for brunch to celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary and I have to say, I was quite impressed. The patio seating was just lovely. They had a nice band playing outside while we ate and enjoyed the scenery. The drinks we tried were excellent. I had a cranberry Mimosa and my husband had an Irish coffee. The food was certainly top notch. We had beignets for an appetizer that were out of this world. Their sausage was some of the best I ever tasted, and I was equally impressed with my veggie scramble that tasted amazingly fresh. My husband's French toast did not disappoint either. Overall, a fantastic dining experience. I look forward to going again and trying out their dinner menu.
(5)
Don R.

This was our first time coming here, on the advice of my new landlord. The food was amazing, and the service was fantastic. It is sometime hard to find a place that can perfectly cater to both me (GIVE ME MEAT!) and my girlfriend (vegan) but Colterra pulled it off amazingly well. My steak was done perfectly, and her vegan risotto was phenomenal. Our waiter, Josh, was fantastic and really helped seal an amazing evening. The only one minor little bit of a complaint (if you could call it that since it's common) is that they didn't have anything vegan friendly on the dessert menu other than some sliced fruit. Can't wait to come back when it's warmer and sit on the patio!
(5)
Donna V.

One of my favorite restaurants in the area! Always a real treat. For Saturday brunch on the patio, I had a Grand Mimosa and the daily special Eggs Benedict. My friend had the Au Pear martini, a lovely beet/walnut salad and the carrot/apple soup special. The service was excellent! We both enjoyed our meals (after I poked the beef off of mine) and specialty cocktails! I would like to add one note for the staff. I haven't eaten beef in 27 years. I'm not allergic, which is good--because it was, in fact, beef--not cured ham on the Benedict. My friend also said it was for sure beef, or the worst ham she's ever had. Either way- thanks for taking it off the tab.
(5)
Veronique C.

We had dinner at Colterra multiple times and have never been disappointed, on the contrary. We went again last night, and even though the place was packed, the service was perfect, actually, outstanding, which is quite rare, even in upscale restaurants. But I also noticed that this place has plenty of waiters which explains in part why you never have to wait for water, bread etc. We each had different appetizers, entrees and desserts, and everything was delicious. The menu offers such a nice selection, it's quite difficult to choose what to eat. One of the best restaurants in the Boulder area.
(5)
Bunny G.

This is a quaint little restaurant and bar in the cute little teeny tiny town of Niwot (which is about a 15 minute drive from Boulder). Located in a little old house this restaurant has a quaint luxury and elegance to it. The waiters and very formal but friendly and the menu is upscale. We started off at the bar with some cocktails, I saw a few people dining there. It's a small bar with seating for at least 10 people. I drank ginger-ale (I know) but I was not feeling well after leaving the National Park with all the winding roads. Since we had a light dinner prior to coming here and meeting up with family, I was not having dinner. I did sample some risotto but it tasted more like plain ole white rice. The dish sounded amazing. Seafood risotto with lobster, crab, shrimp, etc. But lacked the starchy consistency that a true arborio rice provides. Overall if I'm in the area, I would still come back and sample other dishes. We were here during the beginnings of a snow storm so it was cozy and had lots of great windows to see the snow falling down.
(4)
Kevin C.

We always have a good experience at Colterra, but I feel like it's still not quite up to par with the BEST restaurants I have been to at this price point. Everything tastes great, nothing specifically wrong with it, just not entirely mindblowing enough for that kind of money to get a 5 star from me.
(4)
Cara M.

This a wonderful restaurant. Everything was fresh and flavorful!
(5)
Amy F.

We've gone twice for restaurant week plus a couple times for brunch and it's always been a winner! Great service, great food, good portion size, nice wine list. We're definitely fans!
(4)
Syrena O.

Everything was delicious... Wine, appetizers, entree, and dessert! We sat in the wine room so it was nice and quiet- perfect for a business dinner.
(4)
Nikki C.

Never been to this place but always wanted to try it as we live in Gunbarrel and so we biked over to just check it out for a quick beer. Unfortunately they closed at 8 and it was 810. There were at least 20 people still dining and several patrons at the bar and they turned us away. We just wanted one drink and would understand had the place been empty but they were clearly going to be there for a while...enough time for us to finish one beer. We were shocked by this treatment and now adamantly will never go back.
(1)
David K.

I decided to give this place a shot and shouldn't have waited so long. Absolutely fantastic. Service is perfect....genuine hospitality. The food was amazing as well. Charcuterie and cheeses were diverse. My salad was the best I've had in a year. And the chicken was mind blowing. What a gem. Worth the drive from Denver and beyond.
(5)
Lydia R.

Pretty little restaurant in "downtown" Niwot. Requested a special raspberry vodka martini and the bartender obliged! Food is very good, although one time had the risotto special which didn't have much flavor. But, this little gem is a wonderful gift for Niwot and Boulder County.
(4)
Lindsey P.

Colterra may have just become my new favorite high-end dining experience in Boulder County. Period. We made our reservation via OpenTable and I will say that I don't think we've EVER had a restaurant outwardly acknowledge the notes that we include in the reservation - nevermind going out of their way to accommodate them! Through OpenTable, we noted that a booth would be preferable and upon arrival, the hostess confirmed that a booth is still what we wanted. Often times we have to ask a second time because it gets overlooked. They were on top of it. How nice! Additionally, my boyfriend noted that we were there celebrating our anniversary. The hostess wished us a happy anniversary, as did our waiter and they graciously gave us a creme brulee dessert on the house to celebrate. That alone might be enough to warrant 5 stars! But, it gets better! The service was fantastic. He was very attentive but not extensively so. We were able to have a nice, quiet and private meal with limited interruption but still felt well attended to. Oh gosh, and the food!!! Divine. Simply delicious. We started with the curried butternut squash soup, so good and highly recommended. Perfectly spiced and delightfully smooth. For entrees, the boy got the lobster scallop risotto which was a special. DELICIOUS! I got the crispy duck breast (served with polenta and garlic wilted chard) which was also very good. And that free creme brulee would have been just as tasty if we had paid for it ;) Overall, I would say that Colterra can easily compete with the best in Boulder. Dine here. You'll love it.
(5)
Pete C.

#FishingNaked's pick for best lunch in Boulder County this week. The Curry Chicken salad is particularly good today!
(5)
Julie B.

I have been coming here for years and always have an amazing meal! The staff is always friendly and the ambiance is great.
(5)
Teresa P.

Don't go hungry. Small portions and pricey. The bean soup was not warm and had no broth. Because of dietary restrictions, I inquired about the pea ravioli on their Spring Tasting Entree & was told something else would be exchanged. I did not see that anything had been. By the time it arrived an hour later, I was starving. It looked like a small salad with a few roasted vegetables- not an entree. I ate a peanut butter sandwich in the middle of the night because I was still hungry, and I am a small person.
(1)
Dick B.

My go to high end restaurant in Boulder County. Have never had a bad meal there. Risottos are generally outstanding. Quiet atmosphere, excellent unobtrusive service, and very accommodating. Wine dinners are very nice and unpretentious. Dinner on the patio is one of the best dining experiences around.
(5)
lynn l.

I know people love this place. Went for lunch. Had the yellowtail which was way over cooked. Beurre blanc sauce was good as was the vegetables. Service was lovely and setting was very pleasant but food is ok. Had the berry tart good phyllo light and flaky it's just hard to give this place a higher rating when the protein was small and overcooked. Better food at Salt or the kitchen in boulder
(3)
Natalie L.

We will NOT go back! HAIR IN OUR FOOD!!!! We had a family Easter Brunch at Colterra ($45 pp +tax +tip +drinks). The main problem was that we had food served to us with a hair in it TWICE!!! I could not believe that it happened in the first place, but then to send the food back and have it arrive again with another hair in it is completely unacceptable and DISGUSTING! Neither the manager nor the chef came out to apologize. They did take some $ of our bill, but I cannot believe that at $50 per person this was our experience. The rest of the food, the parts without the hair in them, were OK. The appetizers were good, entrees were OK and dessert was a joke, tasteless and more of a micro-dessert than a real dessert. We only ordered two drinks (Sprite) and were there for almost two hours, without them offering to re-fill the Sprite glasses even once. We are big fans of local restaurants and drove to Colterra from Denver. For $50 pp person this was a HUGE disappointment and we will never go back.
(1)
Bob L.

We have eaten here many times. As always, things were a bit inconsistent. Early on a Saturday night they were already out of at least one of their specials - the one that caused my wife to want to eat here. Staff did a good job of creating a replacement, however. Also, dessert took forever, and was only so-so. Our waitperson was kind enough to tell us that the kitchen messed up the dessert - not the first time this had happened to us. Bottom line: at these prices, you need to be far more consistent. We'd eat here more if it wasn't such a crapshoot.
(3)
Leanne G.

Oh my goodness! This place gets highest ratings for food and atmosphere! Ingredients are local and organic, for re most that they can source. We ate lunch on the back patio under a cottonwood tree. So delightful!
(5)
Paul D.

I went here durning Denver restaurant week. Great cocktails and dinner. Nice date place.
(5)
Ross W.

Our best meal in Boulder by far. We had to wait 30 min at the bar even with a reservation and food was slow to arrive yet still had an incredible meal. I had PEI mussels as my app and pork loin for the entree, both were excellent. Everyone at our table was happy with their plates and portions were large enough to share and try many things. The vegetarian options are plentiful, creative and impressively flavorful. If I were to go back I think I would get the pistachio crusted halibut. For dessert i highly recommend the almond rhubarb gateaux, which i would never have chosen but i was glad someone else did. The beer selection is good but it is all bottles and cans with no draft lines. Service was very good and the prices are really good for an exceptional dining experience.
(5)
Charlotte S.

SO GOOD. The patio is awesome.
(5)
Fair W.

On a sunny Summer day we sat on the terrace and enjoyed a delicious Caesar salad (with fresh anchovies), eggs Benedict and a veggie omelet -- all excellent. Ample portions, cheery waitstaff.
(4)
Elaine Z.

We drove into Niwot on a Sunday afternoon, hoping to explore, but finding the town absolutely abandoned. It was a little creepy, in fact. We walked around and peeked in store windows for a bit before heading to our reserved table at Colterra. The restaurant is HUGE and rambling. There is an extensive outdoor patio, and the restaurant itself goes back farther than I managed to see. We sat in a front room with a giant chandelier. The thing was most impressive. We were glad not to be sitting under it! The staff was friendly and quite happy to fulfill our bizarre requests. The meals were excellent - I had the ahi tuna steak, and while it came sitting on a lake of sauce, a format I hate, it was worth every bite. The strawberries were outstanding, even if they were just a garnish. The cheese menu is a little confusing. They have several varieties of cheese listed by animal (goat, cow, etc) , and then above it a list of numbers, like 2/9. The first number is the number of cheeses you can order, the second is the price for that number of cheese. You can get cheese from any list. As we had our meal, we began to notice the place slowly filling up. People were crawling out of the woodwork to come and eat, it seems! (I went back to the town on a Wednesday and it was a normal bustling shopping area. Thank goodness!) We'll be going back!
(5)
Lou P.

Our most recent visit was on Valentine's Day. Colterra featured a fixed menu. The selections were great, and our meal was largely of the same high quality we've come to expect from Colterra. The only detracting note in the meal was the dessert, a pear tart, which was so cloyingly sweet, it was impossible to tell that a pear was in the dessert at all. However, every other course was impeccably prepared and presented. However, some attention to detail could be improved. Seating was a bit close, and some tables were uncomfortably close together. One row of tables were placed in a way that positioned many diners facing the large window on the north of the building. On the other side of that window were parked cars, all facing the building. During the evening, any number of people got in their cars, and turned their headlights on, blinding those diners. One car sat for 15 minutes, HID headlights blazing into the restaurant. It was quite annoying. Another odd note (to me) was the sachet of bath salts that were on each table. What that had to do with our meal was beyond me. However, we loved our dinner, and enjoy Colterra immensely. We'll be back.
(4)
Bruce F.

High quality food without pretension. The service was professional and prompt from beginning to end. The food was all fresh, excellent quality and perfectly prepared in a modern way. The true flavors of the seasonal offerings were the standouts of each course. We had a charcuterie plate starter. I had a melon salad second course and the seasonal vegetable sampling for my entree. Dessert was a dark chocolate symphony. The entire meal was music in my mouth. Definitely worth a drive out to Niwot. Fairly priced and I'm stuffed.
(5)
Rob F.

Dear Rachel. A note of appreciation to you and the Colterra staff. The service was outstanding and the food was exceptionally delicious. Jim did a wonderful job at helping us select the wines...and then we received numerous compliments on all of the wine. I know that he went out of his way to get Yella Pils beer from Oskar Blues...and that was much appreciated, as several out of towners enjoyed it! Your staff was smiling and happy to please - going above and beyond. They offered to bring our citronella...and I and the guests didn't even think it was needed. They helped me time the toast with the pouring of the champagne. I don't think that I can think of anything that I would change. Just a phenomenal evening! Rob
(5)
Greene F.

Our favorite, go-to restaurant in all of Colorado. After sampling dozens of others we still return to Colterra for the meticulous and imaginative selections and preparation, the lovely patio, the flawlessly kind and professional staff. Super fresh food, the finest locally crafted breads, excellent wine selection. No complaints, ever- and we're super picky.
(5)
Sara M.

This was our first visit to Colterra, but the owner/chef has been around Boulder for many years and I have eaten at his previous endeavors, but have not yet been to SALT, his newest. I had always liked Full Moon and his version of the Chautauqua Dining Hall. The restaurant was busy but not packed, though when I made the reservation it had sounded fairly full so I was pleased to get a table. However, there were several nice tables , the same size as ours, empty throughout our visit, so I felt it was inappropriate to have given us such a marginal location. It happens a lot when we show up at high end places, as we are a gray haired pair, very short (perhaps perceived as mild mannered) no matter how well we are dressed. We saw other tables the same size, set as a table for 2 in the same room, with very nice locations, but the occupants were all young and tall, seriously! We thought the empties were all for reservations, which, apparently, they were not. Our table backed up the the kitchen door on one side and the glass wear station on another so you can imagine the commotion, including dropped (empty) dishes! Otherwise, we had a lovely meal. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. They helped us make a wine choice as we did not see any of our regular fall back options. Since I had looked at their holiday menu online before making the reservation, I had a sense of what we would want, but there had been a few changes made so we needed some time to think it through. The food was excellent. To start, I chose the arugula salad, done with golden beets, chevre and walnuts. The arugula was fresh and tiny leafed tender with a light vinaigrette. My husband had the truffle flan in a crepe cup with a touch of chanterelle sauce, unusual but very tasty. We both had the turkey dinner, ample portions of all the standards, arranged very artfully and served nice and warm with incredibly tender, moist meat. For dessert I had the pumpkin spice cake with maple whipped cream, all very delicate. My husband had the chocolate pecan tart, which he loved and it seemed like a nice take on the usual heavier traditional pie. Certainly appropriate sizing as we were pretty full. We do plan to return for another special occasion, perhaps the next birthday that comes up, to try their regular menu. This restaurant is priced a bit higher than the ones Bradford Heap had in Boulder in the 90's but I think it was worth it. And I will be more assertive about our seating. A good table would given them a 5 star review!
(4)
Louis P.

Really shock this place only got 4 stars. I'm really confused... To ppl who ate here, you really didn't think their food was out of this world, seriously?? Their food is top notch. I'd say better food than most places in denver or boulder. All the dishes I've had here has been really yummy. I don't get to eat here as often bc it's bit pricey but lunch is nice bc it's a lot cheaper than dinner, very affordable actually. If you're looking for a place to eat, I would HIGHLY recommend coming here!!! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Margaret C.

3.5 stars and I'm rounding up. Once again this week, I've tried a restaurant that is new to me--without reading the Yelp reviews first. Would I have come here if I had read the Yelp reviews? Probably so, since I was invited by a friend during the local Jazz Festival, kind of a spontaneous invitation, and Colterra's patio dining area is extraordinarily inviting. Our waiter was good. A bit stiff and formal, but great with his timing and service and communication. The fellow who was bussing the tables was remarkably over-eager to clear things off the table, which was ultimately rather annoying. It wasn't that crowded that there was any real desperate need to hurry people up and clear them out quickly. My friend's eggs benedict looked so good that even though I hadn't intended to eat food at Colterra as I wasn't particularly hungry, I decided I would eat something after all. So I ordered their special omelette of the day which had goat cheese and an assortment of delicious fresh vegetables in it. Bacon was also an ingredient in the special omelette, but I opted out of that. The potatoes accompanying the omelette were yummy too. The fresh-brewed iced tea was topnotch. But mostly, spending time out on Colterra's patio was the best treat of all. I will have to try Colterra again sometime, perhaps for dinner.
(4)
Deirdre B.

If I could give this place a zero I would. I live in Niwot have tried to eat there 4 times but cannot even get in to eat there. Apparently you must have a reservation. Even for lunch. The one time we did eat there my meal was not good. They got order wrong and it didn't taste good. They did credit me for my meal but they sat us off to side when there were plenty of tables. I'm not making reservations for lunch. If you can't run your restaurant I'm not interested in eating there.
(1)
Fred W.

I like the place, the food, the room and the location,, its a relaxed atmosphere. My only complaints are as follows.. I feel the selections are limited,, and don't seem to change much from what I remember. Also some of the prices are too high for my taste, for example the fish special was $38 and their leading off Chard was $ 18/ glass, I think the other Chard was $12.. On the positive side, the food is good and I like the fact you can order a "small" dish as well as a "large" dish. Prices reflect the differences in size as well. I would go back more often if i had a wider choice, I don;t even remember a pasta on the menu
(4)
Kymmba K.

service was superb food was great ambiance met my expectations
(5)
George D.

Always reliable. Always good. Terrific patio in summer. My wife and i go at least monthly. The only thing keeping it from five stars are some relatively minor quirks in the wait staff. (Some servers are just not as skilled and knowledgeable as you might expect in this caliber of restaurant.) But this is only a minor flaw in an otherwise tasty experience.
(4)
andrea c.

We came here for mothers day brunch and had all around a disappointing experience. We had a table for 9 and sat on the patio. They only offered a prefix menu for $40/person, food only. Fine. We sat for 30 min with no one coming to talk to us, bring us water, take a drink order. Finally got water, it was warm, and it was about 80 degrees outside. Asked for ice - had to ask 3 times before we got any. Got the order taken eventually - at this point we were sitting for an hour before our first entree came. My dad went inside to politely ask the host if our waiter could pay more attention to us. I understand it's mother day, I understand it's busy - then bring in more help day of, apologize for the slow service. Maybe buy the table a round of drinks. Anything is better than being ignored. On top of that, because we had such a large table, they of course added in a service charge, but 20%???? That's ridiculous. I have no problem tipping, and I usually tip 18-20%, but being if you're going to include service, and you've been terrible, please only add 18%. This just added salt to the wound. And this might be nit picky, but every single entree that came out, we had to direct to the correct seat. Again, for $40/head, please know who ordered what. Food was great, but needless to say, will not be returning.
(2)
Hiromy P.

Went here to meet a group of friends for lunch last month. Beautiful enough day that we sat outside on the patio, which was a very nice relaxed yet classy setting. Our waitress was great, wish I got her name. She was right on, very patient, bringing us drink refills, answering questions, etc. I had the ahi tuna salad, though everything sounded delicious. My salad was very delicious, had a nice selection of olives on the side and was just right. The tuna was prepared to chef's recommendation. My only small complaint might be that the tuna was slightly on the old side or at least part of it was...it tasted fine but it had that weird sheen to it that seafood and beef gets when it's getting old? Didn't smell and it was only on 1-2 pieces so I didn't send it back. We also had bread served which was delicious and you could have olive oil with it. One of our friends had an extra side of polenta cubes which we all tried...tasty, maybe slightly on the heavy side so maybe it was fried and not grilled. The prices are on the higher end and some portions seemed small but I guess if you are having Dover Sole or something like that that is to be expected. I've heard great things about dinner so definitely would like to come back for dinner. If you are looking to try something more high end for lunch, would recommend trying this place. Nice setting, nice ambiance...now I need to see how the inside feels...
(4)
C. K.

I love the patio here. SItting outside on a beautiful day and eating Colterra's fresh food is one of my favorite summer things. Service and food have always been great. Sitting inside is just not as special for me, but the food is still good.
(5)
Tessa H.

My husband and I tried Colterra again after a long time away. We loved it when it was Le Chantecler, but did not love the two other times we tried there after it changed hands. We recently tried again. We got there early for our table and still waited about 20 minutes even though the restaurant was not full. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks which were basically disappointing. For $12 you'd like to get a well-made martini! We had a friendly, knowledgeable waitress who explained the menu but felt the wait time between food deliveries was a bit too long. My husband is a picky eater and had looked at the menu ahead of time. He planned to order the steak, but they were out of it. We were tempted to just leave, but we stuck it out and he ate an appetizer, salad, and dessert. My food was quite good, but I did not care for my dessert. The atmosphere is nice in there. It is quiet and neighborly feeling. It's a bit more formal dining than we like, but that is no fault of the restaurant or the menu/menu style. It's just a matter of preference. We will probably go back for lunch sometime, but will no longer try dinner.
(3)
R Y.

Went for 1st bite boulder as I've heard both good and bad on Coltera and the standard menu prices are very high. We were very underwhelmed by the atmosphere, the service and all 3 courses.
(2)
Megan E.

Came here for DRW 2013 - much better than my last two visits, the food was good, service was quality and we all enjoyed our evening.
(4)
Xinmiao L.

Ok, Don't hate me but my whole family had pretty bad experience. It was my mother's birthday and she always wanted to try this restaurant because the "French" food. First, we ordered 3 appetizers; 2 ham and cheese and 1 escargot. Ham and cheese was tasteless and there was a TREE BRANCH in the plate. ...no comment. And escargot was pretty tough. This was the first time we had escargot, I guess no more escargot for us then. We had Alaskan Halibut for mom, New York Strip for my sister, Crispy Duck Breast for dad, and Colorado Lamb for myself. I do have to say the duck was the best of all. I didn't try the New York Strip. Alaskan Halibut was tastless and oily. Bleh...I had 10x better one at McGrath's Fish House. Lamb is my favorite meat. But I rarely order lamb from restaurant because it always disappoint me. Except Kevin Taylor's lamb was EXCELLENT!!! Colterra's lamb was tastless at the beginning but a bit better toward the end. Still disappointing. I was expecting the desserts will be a better ending for my mom's birthday dinner. Started it out alright with Creme Brulee. My mom liked it because it is not too sweet and heavy. I do have to say it was really delicious. Flourless Chocolate Cake was a bit too sweet. Saddest Part was Warm Molten Chocolate Cake with a birthday candle. After 20 minutes wait, waiter told us they messed up the cake. Sigh... Ended with $145 of bill and $22 of tip. The waiter totally deserved the tip because he was a cool and funny guy. but the service only can do so much when the food sucked. Give them another try? Maybe but I live out of state now. Meh. My little sister? lol...After Waiter said, come and see us again, my sister looked us and said, yep, you will never see us again.
(2)
D P.

Comfortable and elegant, professional and very attentive service, very accommodating of food allergies, creative dishes and drinks -- a perfect dinner date!
(5)
Lori H.

One of our favorites in the Boulder County area. The restaurant is charming on the inside and there is a large tree covered outdoor dining area. There are too many items to list that we have tried but they always exceed our expectations. The items are always fresh and well paired with favors and sides. We have gone many times for brunch and dinner, both exceptional. The pricing is high but well worth it, I highly suggest.
(5)
Adrienne C.

Wow! Over the top delicious! Such attention to flavor and my husbands steak was cooked perfectly. One of his lifetime bests. We celebrated our anniversary, but it attracts a variety of occasions or just a cozy night out. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Rick M.

One of our favorite Boulder County pleasures is to ride our bikes along the LoBo trail to brunch at Colterra. Sumptuous locally grown food under the shade of magnificent cottonwoods smelling and viewing the patio herb garden while listening to live music is a winning combination.
(5)
Nicole M.

This little restaurant is bursting with charm. Their ambiance is casual yet sophisticated. Large wooden beams line the ceilings while ornate mirrors line the walls. The food is absolutely marvelous. Just about everything is house-grown or picked up locally. Their food combinations will tickle your taste-buds. This particular visit was our first brunch visit. And it will not be our last. Their "never never" steak and eggs were to die for!
(5)
Mary B.

This is our favorite restaurant in the North Boulder area. The food is AWESOME! The ambiance is wonderful and the service is great. This is a little pricey but worth every penny. We've had some celebrations here, and they have a small house in the back that they use for parties. Great food!!
(5)
Jennifer G.

We checked this place out last week for Restaurant Week, and it was great! The menu was lovely - curried butternut squash soup, braised short rib with potato cauliflower mash, and gateau Basque. Everything was delicious, and the wine pairings were impeccable. I would've liked to have been seated in the more intimate part of the restaurant instead of the large dining room, but it was still a nice meal. I would like to try this place again!
(4)
Barry S.

Really nice Father's Day brunch. Very pleasant patio seating. Food was very well liked by all. Presentation of food was beautiful! I had the tilapia dish with white bean. Very flavorful! Service was also very good. Will definitely return.
(4)
Kelly K.

I waited to cool my temper before I wrote this. Went on Father's Day this year (2011) with my husband & two college age daughters. Had never been there. We showed up 15 minutes before our 1:15 reservations, but we were not seated in spite of the fact that the restaurant was more than half empty. I chalked that up to either the servers or the kitchen being slammed, so I was OK. When we were finally seated, our server immediately began telling us how busy and stressed she was (in a half empty restaurant?), spilling water in her haste to fill our glasses. She ran away before we could give her a drink order. When we finally gave her our drink order, it took 10 minutes before we saw them. Our food was a joke. I ordered a duck confit frittata with "bronzed" fennel. I received dry scrambled eggs with a couple of pieces of duck "jerky" (as I called it) on top of the egg. Nary a vegetable in sight, not to speak of that I didn't get what I ordered: a frittata - a crustless quiche. It took so long for us to get our food, I didn't even think about sending it back. I was STARVING after waiting almost 50 minutes between the time we sat down and the time we got our food. I couldn't wait another 50 minutes before eating. The reviews have mostly been excellent for this restaurant - that's why we went. Our service was terrible, our food was even worse (I won't even mention the undercooked omelet that oozed raw eggs before you even cut into it). It was my guess that the chef walked off the line that day and left the dishwasher in charge of the food. If that was the case, they need to start cross training their dishwashers a little better. We will never be back.
(1)
Michael S.

We were there for lunch/brunch on Saturday and I thought the food was overall very good. The help was very attentive and I think everyone enjoyed it. We started with beignets and went on from there. I think Saturday lunches are likely quieter than the rest of the week and nights, but the atmosphere was great (with the exception of one screaming kid). I had a steak and eggs brunch item and enjoyed it. Taters were a bit oddly spiced for my taste but o.k. Bloody Mary was primo!
(4)
Jeff K.

Just wonderful. Amazing cocktails, fantastic food and a staff that is genuinely excited about what they're doing. Stay at the Niwot Inn and you have a memorable destination weekend.
(5)
Ali H.

We went for dinner and the food was delicious! I had steak carpaccio and ahi for my main course. The ahi was a little over cooked for "pan seared" but it still tasted very good. Overall, it was a great experience with good food.
(4)
David W.

Great Local and Fine Dining with a Causal Atmosphere.
(5)
Scott S.

It was Ok, but that is it. Steak was not tender. Risotto was under cooked and I like min al dente. service was OK, but not on par with the prices. Sugarbeet in Longmont is a better option.
(3)
Harry P.

Chicken liver pÃ¢tÃ© followed by duck confit w/ garlic mashed potatoes and spaghetti squash, finished with carmel apple bread pudding.... In a word, delicious.
(5)
Rachael B.

I hadn't been out to Niwot since before Colterra was Colterra....It used to be a different restaurant and the name is escaping me at the moment. Anyway, it has been years. I had been hearing really fantastic things about their brunch menu so we went out for a Sunday morning meal. The location is just amazing. We sat outside on the patio under a huge cottonwood tree, dappled in sunlight. That is tough to beat. We got a bit cold at one point and our server picked up our table and moved it into the sun without batting an eye. Lewis was really sweet, we could tell he was a little stressed so we put in our drink and food orders quickly (it was quiet outside but really slammed inside). Sausage stuffed french toast and Steak & Eggs Benedict. It did take awhile for our food to come out....maybe 30 minutes from when we put our order in :/ But that is where ambience saved the day! How could we be pissed when we were in such a great spot. When our food came out it was a touch on the cool side...kind of a bummer but whatever. My steak and eggs benedict was really tasty, it had a nice sauce (not Hollandaise but a tomato based reduction) and my eggs were perfectly poached. It came with some yukon gold potatoes and a little side salad that was pretty forgettable. Mike's French Toast was good but his certainly wasn't stuffed with sausage...it was more like it was sandwiched with a small piece of sausage....fairly disappointing as a bite with fruit, french toast and sausage was outstanding. The outdoor patio was delightful, the service was slow but friendly, the food was tasty and reasonably priced. The French Toast was $10 which was great, my benedict was $14 which was a little pricey for my taste but I'm glad I tried it. I still think Brassiere 1010 is my favorite for brunch! I would definitely come back though for the atmosphere and I'd like to try dinner.
(3)
Frank Z.

We went for dinner on a Saturday night a couple of weeks ago. Very impressed. The place has a great feel about it. The service was top notch, and the food was fantastic. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu, as well as their wine list. He recommended the Ex Libris Cabernet for my wife, and she loved it! He was also great at explaining the different cheese plates and types of cheese that we could choose from. We had a goat's cheese plate and it was an awesome way to start out our meal - really liked the presentation too! For our entrees, I had the fish special. I can't remember for sure, but I think it was Mahi Mahi. Either way, it was awesome. Prepared perfectly. My wife had the pork tenderloin. Loved that too! I had a small bite of their chocolate cake, and we had some coffee. Again, loved it. We will definitely be back here.
(5)
Tom S.

Tom S. Several weeks prior to the Valentine's Day, my wife and I decided to call Coltera and make reservations for that evening. We have enjoyed Bradford Heap's American Cuisine dining spot in the past, and since we hadn't been there for a while, we thought that would be a delightful way to spend a wonderful evening. We were informed that the restaurant was already booked, but that we would be put on a waiting list, and that we would be called, if there was to be a cancellation. Two days before Valentine's Day, we got a call informing us that there in fact had been a cancellation, and we could have a 6:15 pm slot. We were delighted, and accepted it quickly. Upon arrival at the maitre d's desk, our reservation could not be located. Nonetheless, after several ackward moments, the two of us were offered a table. That momentary disappointment proved to be a harbinger of what was to follow. After being seated, we were handed the evening's menu, a prix fixe listing @ $75.00 per person. Perhaps this is normal for Valentine's Day, but we were unaware of that and were taken somewhat aback. It would have been helpful to have been informed of that fact by the person who called and made our reservation on the preceding Tuesday. Despite this second surprise, we decided to relax and enjoy the evening. My wife ordered the signature beef salad, and I the lobster tomato soup. The former was excellent, as usual, but the latter was served in a bowl much smaller than those of adjacent tables who had ordered the same first course; their bowls were much larger! In addition, and more significantly, the soup was lukewarm, at most. Second course included the scallop/ladrons, which was very tasty and succulent, but again lukewarm, at best. My wife's choice was the lobster gnocchi, which not at all warm; in fact, she stated it was "cold." We moved hesitantly to the third course: the duck breast for my wife and the tenderloin for me. Again, much to our chagrin, both dishes were not at all hot, in fact, barely even warm. And, the sauces for both entrees were mediocre, more like a packaged sauce, rather than a genuine au jus. Dessert were average. While their presentation was exquisite, their flavors left much to be desired, falling far short of the quality we have experienced there in the past. Likewise, our waitress was unimpressive. While courteous enough, she exuded little or no interest in how we were "enjoying" the meal. She did not even inquire if we desired coffee after the meal! Bottom line: we were terribly disappointed and most likely have had our last meal there, especially at an outrageous cost of over $200! Sugarbeet in Longmont is a much more desirable venue for truly fine dining!
(1)
Jess M.

5 Stars for the food and ambiance but seriously 1 star for the service and a few other random complaints. Therefore I will give Colterra the benefit of the doubt this time and go with 3.5 stars. It was just as I was hoping for: cute, cozy, candlelight and tasty farm to table fare all the right ingredients for a perfect night out with friends...except for our terribly awkward and super inattentive server. The cheese plate was exceptional, although the portions were a little bit tiny. All of our appetizers and small plates were perfect and each of the soups (I tasted my friend's tomato and and had my own corn/crab bisque) was INCREDIBLE. The bread they provide is also fresh and top notch- perfect for sopping up the last bits of soup. The main event was delicious all around...I tasted numerous entrees and was impressed by each- great vegetarian and meat lover options. Even dessert was quite tasty, although nothing to write home about. Overall I think it was unfortunate that we left with such a bitter taste in our mouths, primarily bc the service was so terrible and as a party of 7 gratuity was included so we didn't really have a venue to speak our minds, well other than of course right here :) One last thing that pissed me off...Dales pale ale for $7 are you kidding me? Great to have local beer on the menu (like 2 minutes away local) but who in their right mind would ever pay that price for a Dales?
(3)
Benny M.

I go here for lunch/brunch about 10 or so times a year when family visits and I don't wanna deal with Boulder. The food is normally really tasty, but the bread is almost always stale and $6 for a can of local microbrew (Dale's Pale) is pushing it a bit to me. Wish they would just have 3 or so locals on tap at $5 or so a pint. If you sit inside the ambiance is really old-lady-ish, but I really enjoy their outdoor seating. EVERY TIME I go I ask why they haven't got Salt's house-made ketchup yet as they're both owned by the same guy and am always told they are working on it....WTF!! makes no sense to me why he has such a tasty product at one location and high fructose corn syrup crap at the other? Its a shame because all the lunch sandwiches are offered with really good fries. Also wish they would use the same Udi's hamburger buns as Salts is amazing! I eat about 2-3 burgers a year and would love to do it in Niwot at some point!! WORST experience was a brunch where a buffalo steak benedict was on special. It sounded good, but the server didn't mention the price. With the other benedicts on the menu at $12-14, we figured it'd be somewhere close to that.....ended up with two $26 breakfasts. It was pretty good, but I can't believe the server would not mention the exorbitant price (he obviously didn't because he knew no one would order a breky at that price) When we got the bill, I almost thought the waiter was trying to screw us and pocket some cash so I enquired with the front of the house and it was indeed $26. (But FYI all of the waitstaff I've had have been great besides for this younger mid 20's kid who has a very off-putting attitude)
(3)
Kenny N.

You're worth the drive, Colterra. Once Restaurant Week released its list, I hunted Colterra down and booked immediately. Your reputation precedes itself and is well deserved. Tucked away in Niwot, it's an unassuming building. Inside you'll find hues of beige, brown, and red with metalwork accenting. Friendly and attentive staff can be found here. Our waiter was very helpful pointing out favorites on the 5280 menu and their regular menu. I'm glad their menu had several options for each of their three courses. This allowed my dining companion and I to differ our orders for max sampling ability. While waiting for our first course, we enjoyed their bread along with olive oil and cracked pepper. The pepper isn't on the table, so be sure to ask. It's muted inside, which is perfect for conversations. Even seated close to other guests we never felt they were intruding or us to them. The first courses started with potato gnocchi (good, but not excellent) and their plum tomato soup with a floating miniature grilled cheese sandwich. I couldn't resist and neither should you. It was slightly salty and the grilled cheese was a pleasant surprise for the taste buds. Round Two brought out the Pan Roasted Cod with white beans, tomato, mussels with chardonnay broth and Pumpkin Cannelloni with squash. The cannelloni was quite good with the constrasting smoothness of pumpkin and rougher texture of butternut squash. The cod itself was simple, flaky without falling apart. It was good by itself but transcended excellence with the white beans and broth. The mussels were good too, but the cod was the star. Dessert applied delightful shock to my fellow dinner as she savored the apple turnover. The flaky outer shell, the subtleness of flavors, the chantilly cream, and the slight saltiness of the candied walnuts were exclaimed over. The fresh fresh sorbet (plum and blueberry) with blueberries and pineapple was quite good too. All in all, we left satisfied as Colterra lingered in our minds.
(4)
Leslie H.

Chef Bradford Heap also owns Salt restaurant in Boulder and perhaps that influences his cooking at Colterra too. Everything was heavy on the salt, distractingly so. Menu options were not that creative. I hate it when a kitchen buys something on special or is trying to clean out ingredients before they expire and put that ingredient in EVERYTHING on the menu...Colterra did just that. Pears, in everything on the Denver Restaurant Week 2012 menu. The service was very slow and not very responsive. Waiter didn't have much knowledge of their wine list and sold me on a glass that was not what I described I wanted so I asked to change it. The second glass tasted fine, but glass was dirty. Waiter didn't seem to care, not apologizing or even offering to get a new glass. When the bill came, he charged me for my first glass of wine I didn't like that was $14, compared to the $9 glass that I actually drank (he charged me for that one too). He acted put off that I actually asked him to correct the bill. As if it couldn't get any worse, our waiter was eavesdropping the entire 2+hours that we were dining there. I know because he repeatedly commented on our conversation; one time even stopping to lean against the wall--I pause and look at him--he says, oh I'm eavesdropping and I wanted to wait to hear what you were going to say. seriously?!!?! Awkward and inappropriate. As a destination restaurant--I believe that by the way Chef Heap markets his restaurant & prices his menu, he wants to compete with the best restaurants in the region. Then, you need to provide that quality of food and service. Some in my party felt Colterra was going for more of a small town community restaurant so those negatives should be tolerated more. I disagree. To drive 40 min from Denver to dine here too, it should be worth it. Colterra is definitely NOT worth it.
(2)
Pam H.

We went on a Saturday, CU graduation weekend, party of 4. the lamb was ordered and was the best thing at our table. My son ordered the steak with mushroom risotto, and that was pretty good as well. service was wierd.. I felt like it was her first day on the job, and she seemed very shy My guy had the steak starter, and he said "meh" The reason for the one star was (unfortunately) my entree. The most awful thing I have ever had in a restaurant. No kidding. It was barramudi with sweet potato mash and spring peas with mustard. The mustard sauce was as strong and pungent as wasabi and obliterated any other taste. It was all over the plate. I spent the entire meal trying to take bites that hadn't touched the sauce, so that I could at least get a decent meal. Why they thought to pair such a strong flavor with such delicate tastes like mild white fish and spring peas? Go figure.
(1)
V Y.

Great food, great service, great location, outdoor seating, live music. What more could you ask for. Well, I know they can't do much about it, but watch out for the mosquitos when eating outside at dusk.
(4)
Mary ellen B.

5 stars for the general experience, 0 stars for the attitude of management. I've gone to Colterra several times and always enjoyed the food and service. However, I went in the other day to buy a gift certificate for a friend. I waited 15 minutes for the manager to get off the phone; no one else is permitted to issue gift certificates. When I told the manager that I had been waiting a long time, he went off, spent another five minutes processing my gift card, and never apologized. For someone who was walking in waving money around, I was treated very poorly.
(2)
Robin B.

My husband and daughter brought me here for my birthday. Our dinner was amazing, from start to finish. Our waiter couldn't have been more professional, knowledgeable and helpful. We started with a Moscow Mule - delicious cocktail with the essence of fresh ginger. Pumpkin soup with diced apple was so delicious, as were the beet salad and goat cheese salad. Loved the special of risotto with vegetables and seared scallops, and my husband really enjoyed his halibut with roasted sweet potatoes - very nice presentation. We ended with the apple cranberry crisp - not too sweet and very fresh. I felt very special as they acknowledged my birthday several times. We'll definitely be back, a great place for a special occasion or just to celebrate the joy of food!
(5)
Nick F.

A little gem of a restaurant in Niwot! My wife had the filet mignon and I had the honey pork tenderloin last night, and both meals were excellent. She also had a seasonal squash soup she said was the best she'd ever had, and my caesar salad was very good if a little small. Overall their dishes are a little on the small side, but they more than make up for it with excellent flavors and good pairings. We finished with the Caramel Salt tart which was excellent even though I'm not big on coffee ice cream. It's a good thing they're a bit of a drive, otherwise they'd get a lot more of our money.
(5)
Laura S.

We went here for Denver Restaurant Week. I'll admit, I didn't want to go here with all the other restaurants whose menus and reviews seemed better. My apprehension grew when we drove into what appeared to be an abandoned ghost town...but Colterra stood out in the dark with it's twinkly lights. The restaurant itself is large, but cozy. It's decor was upscale country and it really worked for them. The food was awe-inspiring! I had the Tuscan gnocchi, pumpkin canneloni, and apple tart. Every bite was divine!! I do have to say, I wish I could have had the tomato soup instead; my hubs barely let me have a bite of his, it was so utterly heavenly. The waiter was attentive, but not intrusive. All in all, a wonderful meal. We did see the regular menu and the prices were substantial (20-30$ per entree) so Colterra will remain a special occasion place for us.
(5)
Andrea K.

This place is wonderful! Four of us went here on Saturday night for First Bite Boulder. We were all really hoping for great things since it's such a haul from Denver. We were not disappointed! I find that the pre fixe menus are quite hit and miss sometimes, but Colterra delivered. We had excellent service. For our appetizers we had the curried butternut soup and the parmigiano crespelle. Both were fantastic. The chantrelle with the crespelle was delicious. We all ordered different entrees. I had the Ahi tuna and it was perfect. Well seasoned, beautifully cooked (seared nice and rare since it was sushi grade!) and a lovely sauce to accompany. My husband had the sirloin and that was perfectly prepared too and the port wine reduction was wonderful...and the gratin was too! I loved my tuna so much though that I didn't poach as much food from his plate that I normally do! We ordered a really tasty Jester Shiraz that was only $36- which I think is really great for a restaurant. Dessert was probably my least favorite part of the meal but I had the sweet potato tart which I liked- the ice cream was totally the best part of it, however- very yummy. The chocolate torte was kind of dry and lifeless but the fruit surrounding it was wonderful. Our other friend had the cobbler and apparently that was the best...so if you go, that's the one to try!! All in all, absolutely terrific. Of course we won't be driving up to Niwot every weekend but if we find ourselves *near* that area, we will definitely go back!
(5)
La F.

We went to Colterra on a Friday night in May 2012. It is a charming restaurant in a converted older home(s). We sat outside on their huge patio and it was the perfect evening. We both had a beet salad, and the pleasant surprise was that there was more beets than greens. Unlike many beet salads that just have one or two little pieces of beet. Delicious. For entrees my husband had the special of the day which was a filet and I had the Barramundi. We both loved our meals and thought they were perfectly seasoned. There is another reviewer here that did not care for the sauce on teh Barramundi - I on the other hand loved it! It is a hot mustard sauce but I thought it paired nicely with the fish. The waitress told me that she loved the sauce also but she was a 'mustard girl'. Guess I am too, when they were packing it up my leftovers for me to take home I made sure that they added the remaining sauce too. I am excited to think that I have another meal as delicious as my dinner last night. I am going for 4 stars for two reasons (I would do 4 1/2 if I could). Dessert and the service. We split a cheesecake for dessert which we both did not care for. Cheesecake is hard to mess up so maybe this was just an off night. It is not often that we don't finish a dessert when we are sharing - but we did not finish this. The service itself was good. Our waitress did a great job with what she had to work with. The problem was that she had too many tables. And we all sat at the same time. For a restaurant of this caliber they need more waitstaff. Adding one more server on the patio would have done the trick. Luckily she had good staff in the bussers which did a great job. I would definitely return here. I thought Niwot was a wonderful little town and how lucky they are to have a restaurant like Colterra.
(4)
Susan W.

My husband and I tried out Colterra after a few recommendations from co-workers. We made reservations for 8:30 on a Friday night, when we got there the place was over half empty, and there was no one at the hostess station when we walked in. We stood there for a few minutes before the bartender finally noticed us and flagged the hostess down. We were seated immediately, in a small quiet room. The decor and the atmosphere itself was very nice, and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. The menu was interesting, and had many offerings for smaller appetites, which was great for me since I wasn't in the mood for a huge dinner. The problem that I had with this place was the pricing, I ordered the duck confit gnocchi while my husband ordered the tuna steak. Now I understand that a we both ordered a "small plate", however, for $15 - 17 a plate, I would expect more than 4 pieces of gnocchi (which honestly is not that expensive to make) and more than a few pieces of duck. The "tuna steak" was just 2 - 3 pieces of tuna that were barely the size of toast points. The presentations were nice, but we felt that the dishes had way too many ingredients for what sounded like simple dishes. The food itself tasted okay, it wasn't anything that would blow your mind, and we felt that there could have been a lot more flavor and complexity to the dishes. We then decided to order dessert because quite honestly we were still a little hungry. We went with the poached pear honey cake, which tasted great, but was so tiny that I would hate to see what their "small bite" would have been. Probably something the size of a dime. Our dessert was probably the size of a golf ball, with diced poached pear bits and whipped cream. So quite honestly we were not impressed at all, and we definitely won't be going back.
(2)
Ernest C.

The brass tacks: it's only a two star restaurant for the entrees, three stars for our appetizer, and four stars for service and the beverage list. If I could, I'd give them 2.5 stars overall...once again, I will state that Yelp desperately needs to shift to a 10-point scale. I'm awarding three stars because the overall experience was very pleasant despite the ho-hum quality of the most important part...the entrees. It reminds me a bit of John's Restaurant in Boulder in that they got the appetizer right (escargot in this case), but they just can't seal the deal with their entrees. They have Orval on the beer list (HUGE props for that!), and their bottle list is excellent...Torbreck, Penfolds Grange, Juan Gil, Opus One, d'Arenberg, etc. Many are badly overpriced, though (Juan Gil is just under $15 at the store, they're trying to get $45 for it here...I expect double price at a restaurant, but not triple, come on guys...). They even have Pierre Ferrand cognac (albeit only the entry level Ambre). So yeah, even if you're a picky snob, you should be satisfied by the drink menu. Add a few more world class beers like Orval and they'd be the bees knees. The appetizer was escargot, as mentioned above, and excellent...aromatic, flavorful, nice pairing with the mushrooms, bread, and mashed potatoes. We were both excited about the prospects of the entree quality based on this. Alas, both of our fish dishes (ahi tuna and halibut) were lackluster. Edible, ok, but not much more. Very simple and uninteresting characters in any of the food on the plate...almost bland. Both fish perhaps a touch on the dry side too. Give me raw tuna sashimi with no accompaniment any day over this. Service was very very attentive and polite from start to finish. Rework the entrees and I'll be back, otherwise it's not worth the price. Ditto for John's...the entree quality just isn't up to the high price.
(3)
Jordan A.

This used to be Le Chantecler. I left some of my worst tips there. On a couple of occasions, they actually forgot we were there at all. As a restaurant, apparently they found it logistically difficult to take an order and make sure the kitchen actually makes it. Why did I keep coming back like an idiot? I just love the location, and the food was good for the most part. Plus it was almost always an expensed business lunch, so no money out of my pocket for the crappy service. I don't know why they changed the name. New owners maybe? Bad association with the previous name, kinda like why Land Rover did away with the "Discovery"? Anyway, the other day, I felt like going somewhere nice while simultaneously wearing my new pair of fuzzy pink Crocs. I thought I'd try Le Chantecler in its new re-incarnation. Well, some things never change! The hostess kept us and like 10 other people waiting in the tiny lobby until my husband flagged down the manager. Then they never told the waitress they sat us outside. Then they drowned tuna tar-tar in so much vinegar (my husband argues it was oil), it was actually swimming in it. So now the food sucks too! The front lawn is gorgeous though! Despite the food and the bimbo hostess, we had a very romantic evening. We left a good tip too, 'cause the waitress was actually embarrassed for the staff and kept apologizing. Will I be back? Who knows! Maybe if someone pays for it again!
(2)
David C.

Overall, superb food and excellent service. We were there though on a very slow night. Between the 5 of us everyone thought the food was consistently excellent which we have found doesn't happen that often.
(5)
Nina K.

I went to Colterra really WANTING to like it. But unfortunately I was terribly disappointed. We were seated and served promptly, but to a fault. Maybe it was because we were in the back room by the wait station, but we had a distinct feeling that the staff could not wait to get out and fast. And our meal was served in that type of haste the whole night. We started out with the gnocchi, while the flavor was good, the texture was awful. Probably some of the gummiest, most terrible gnocchi I have ever experienced. Granted my hubby huffed it down due to shear hunger but that doesn't say much, he would have eaten his own arm at that point! We then had salad and the mussels. I will say broth in the mussels was awesome, however while I was finishing off the waitress brusquely asked if I was finished, whisked it away before I could object and plopped the next course on the table. I HATE THAT. the The rest of the meal was fine in quality, nothing special. It all went by so fast I left with a tummy ache. Unfortunately, we will not return. If you want better showing of Bradford Heap - head to Salt.
(2)
Amaryllis S.

The customer service in this restaurant was awful. We were treated as a nuisance rather than guests. When my husband and I arrived for lunch with our infant son in a stroller the outdoor seating area was only 2/3 occupied. There were at least 10 empty tables so we assumed we would be able to get one right away. However, the hostess first made us walk inside to her hosting station and after a lengthy operation on her computer informed us we would have to wait 10 min. because a bunch of people with reservations would be arriving soon. "Really?", I thought, "On a sleepy day in such a small town, 20 people are going to appear out of nowhere in the next 10 min.?" Sure enough, in the 15 min. we were made to wait only one couple arrived. Finally the hostess said she could seat us now, and led us to the least attractive table on the patio, between the door to the kitchen area and the busing station-- a lot of foot traffic and clanging by waiters. We asked our waiter if we could switch tables and he just mumbled something and acted confused and irritated as though this were a completely unreasonable and unheard of request. Then he disappeared. I had to go back to the hostess who grudgingly led us to the part of the patio with all the (still!) empty tables. If our (new) waitress hadn't been really sweet I think we might have left. The self-importance and unfriendliness of the other staff members were really grating -- especially since we were there with our baby on a hot day and just wanted to sit down in the shade and order something to drink. The food was fine, but average, nothing to write home about. Not an establishment I would ever return to.
(1)
David H.

Comfortable, casual fine dining with some panache. Great atmosphere, although the tables are just a bit too close to each other. Interesting menu with some familiar dishes and some novel offerings. Had a well prepared tilapia that was very good, but not what I would call exquisite. Knowledgeable, friendly waiter was good, but a bit inattentive due to large Valentine's day crowd. They offer a gluten-sensitive preparation of most dishes and are willing to make adjustments to ingredients as necessary. Wonderful wine list (discovered a great merlot from Truchard winery). Great coffee afterward. Somehow at Colterra, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and should definitely be put on the list if you haven't tried it.
(4)
Ss S.

Went for the Denver Restaurant week, and glad we did. Overall, excellent and tasty food with attentive yet unobtrusive service. Of all the places we went during the restaurant week, this was the best. nothing more to say, just go.
(5)
Stacey B.

First time at Colterra and a bit disappointed. I had the three course menu on Thanksgiving and feel it was overpriced for the quality. ($45) They were serving a limited menu so I would think with fewer/limited options they should have nailed each course. My first course was by far the best overall. It was Parmigiano Crespelle: truffle infused flan, crispy crepe, hazel dell mushroom jus. The flavors were really nice and didn't overwhelm the light/fluffy flan. The second/main course was Slow Roasted Colorado Pasture Raised NY Strip: roasted hazel dell mushroom & garlic crushed potatoes, butternut squash, garlic seared chard, local cipollini & balsamic emulsion. I ordered the strip medium and the edges were medium but was mostly medium rare. I'm okay with a medium to rare steak so I didn't mention it, but it wasn't prepared to order which is why I'm bringing it up here. The quality of the butchering was poor and the meat was chewy/tough which resulted in some of the meat not being eaten. The crushed potatoes were really, really yummy. The squash was way undercooked and I moved it to the side. The seared chard seemed as though it was an afterthought with little to no flavor, so it too remained uneaten. And it was cold. I definitely didn't pick up any garlic flavor. Not sure where the cipollini and balsamic reduction were. (There were lightly fried onion straws on the dish as well which was odd, but tasted okay.) I had Chocolate Pecan Pie for dessert: creme chantilly, pecan tuile. It was good but nothing remarkable. Prior to my meal, I noticed other tables had bread which I was not given so I asked for some. It was okay, but could have been at least a day old so not really remarkable. The waitress was okay, but didn't inquire as to why some of my food was uneaten. I don't require a great deal of extra attention, but my feeling was she was just going through the motions to get me through my meal to get on to the next table. To end on a positive note, I could have made a meal out of the parmigiano crespelle and the crushed potatoes and I would have been a very happy camper! :)
(2)
Jane G.

The food is always great, and the service is improving. The first few times we felt the service was way too slow...did they forget about us? But, it's improved to a leisurely pace, and Bradford Heap continues to provide interesting, tasty dishes. Full Moon Grill was my favorite Boulder restaurant for years, and we're thrilled that he (Heap) opened a restaurant in Niwot.
(4)
stephanie p.

My husband and I visited Colterra for the first time recently. We eat frequently at the Chef's other enterprise, Salt, in Boulder, so we were excited to experience Colterra for dinner to celebrate my birthday. Unfortunately, there was a private party for 20 happening in the restaurant on the night of our reservation and because of that, as we were reminded with some frequency by the staff, our experience suffered by lack of attention and items on the menu being unavailable. (i.e.: "because of the private party tonight we have run out of the pate." Which really means, "because someone more important is eating here tonight we don't care about you and didn't prepare enough food to service our restaurant.") I found this really odd since we and the private party had reservations, and presumably, the private party ordered in advance as is customary for events in restaurants. Evidently not at Colterra. When we entered the restaurant no one was available to greet us. The hostess eventually showed up (she was seating late comers for the private party) but did not say hello, in fact did not utter a single word. She fiddled around with the menus and motioned for us to follow her to our table. Thus, we never got the opportunity to tell her we were arriving for our reservation or anything - we just followed her. Later in the evening another waiter (not ours) asked us if we had a reservation and we said that we did and told them our name and the time of our reservation. This was while we were eating our entrees so it was off-putting. We sat down and reviewed the menu. We ordered wine, which was very good - a Honig sauvignon blanc. As they were out of pate we each ordered soup. I had the cream of asparagus and my husband had the fava bean soup. When the soup arrived we had to wait a long while before eating it as we had no spoons. Eventually we were brought the appropriate utensils. As I mentioned earlier, I like the restaurant Salt, and in fact I like salt the seasoning as well. But the soup came back so salty it was almost not edible. The fava bean soup was great. We had each finished our glass of wine by this time, but the waiter never came by either to remove the empty glasses or to ask if we'd like more. Our entrees arrived and both were great. I had spring vegetable gnocchi and my husband had mahi mahi. Mine was delicious. He had trouble eating is because his knife was severely bent. Once our entrees were finished we decided to skip dessert . The food was okay but the service was inattentive, indifferent, lackadaisical, and, to be frank, the worst service I have ever encountered at a restaurant of this caliber and price point. It is the first time I have ever encountered this at a restaurant that is so highly regarded in the press. I have definitely never experienced this type of service at the sister restaurant Salt, or at Black Cat, Chez Pannisse in Berkeley, Del Fina in San Francisco, and certainly not Frasca in Boulder...all restaurants of similar style, similar reviews and similar in price. I will definitely not be returning. I would rather spend my money at Frasca, a place where you can get great food and great service for a similar price point than Colterra. Had I known the private party for 20 was happening and that 20 people demanded the attention of the entire staff (rest of restaurant was empty with only 8 people eating outside of the party, including us), I would have gone somewhere else. I give Colterra a D. Skip it and go to Frasca.
(1)
Carrie O.

My husband and I dined at Colterra with his family this past week. It was a special wine tasting menu night (though none of us participated), but neat to know they have those! Since my husband and I are vegetarian, I was really happy to see they had more than one option on the menu that would suit us. He had the vegetable tasting, and I had the winter vegetable gnocchi. Both dishes were good, although mine was maybe just a bit salty. I love that they used local veggies (the varieties you can get in Colorado this time of year), and that everything was presented nicely. We also split an avocado/orange salad (yummy, but maybe too much focus on lettuce & not enough on the components?) and a bowl of the celery root soup (which was quite good, very creamy). I think my favorite part of the meal was my dessert, a blueberry and ginger sorbet with fresh strawberries and blueberries. It was incredible, and such a neat flavor pairing that I'd never thought would go well together. My husband's creme brulee of the day (a grapefruit campari CB) was yummy as well. His parents both had some of the meat dishes, and thought they were prepared well (looked to me like they were) and tasted good. I'd definitely recommend Colterra for it's atmosphere (while a bit loud, was quite cozy), nice service, and tasty food. I'd like to go back in the summer and try sitting on their cute patio (like others have said). It's adorable!
(4)
Lee G.

Colterra is our go-to restaurant for special occasions. As always, the food was fantastic - the quality of the food and thoughtfulness of the menu were great, and the portion size is good. The wait staff was attentive but not intrusive. Overall, an A+!
(5)
Janell B.

Colterra is one of my new favorite places to eat. They offer wonderful farm-fresh ingredients in innovative specials. Recently I had the special salad: arugula, fresh cherries, haystack cheese ... it was excellent. The "duck two ways" is delicious. I am not usually a fan of duck but this dish is a must order. The wine cellar is well stocked and they are helpful and unpretentious in helping you make a selection. The atmosphere is elegant yet comfortable so you can have the pleasure of a fine dining experience without feeling uptight or constrained. They definitely don't rush you out the door. In fact, some may find it is a bit too long for a meal. I think if you let them know that you wanted to move more quickly through the courses that they would accommodate you. Lastly, the desserts are superb, so don't fill up on the decadent bread before. My favorites are the molten cake (order early), and the assorted chocolate. The best part was a mint chocolate ice cream cookie -- the ice cream is flavored with actual mint and is something you should try! Enjoy!
(4)
Janna G.

Service, food, ambiance -- everything was amazing. I cannot wait to go back! I loved the waiter and his knowledge of not only the menu but food in general. He made our evening truly memorable. Food was really amazing....the bison prime rib was out of this world. The tilapia was perfectly cooked. It might be a longer night than you anticipate, but don't you want to enjoy your evening and make it last? I know I do. Go--you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Monty B.

Have you been to Niwot lately? If you are looking for a gastronomic surprise I highly recommend you visit the COLTERRA in Niwot. Recently, on a wet and cold night that only a firewalker could appreciate, my sweetheart and I wondered into this Niwot establishment in search of a crust of bread and a glass of something slightly fermented. It was late; we were without a reservation and could have used a couple of warm blankets. But as the adage goes, sometimes life comes to meet you! We were taken in like long lost relatives, treated to food offerings as appealing to look at as they were to eat. A bottle of great wine, a myriad of tasty deserts and a very cozy atmosphere. Don't fool yourself into thinking this is a cheap place because it is located in Niwot, You are going to pay for the pleasure within but you are also going get the quality culinary experience you want for your money. So unless you plan on using your money for bail, then it could not be better spent! I recommend you evacuate Boulder and Denver and check this great restaurant out before you spend another dime on advertised specials, or the next zillion dollar meal or on food you grandmother couldn't eat with or without her teeth. Don't wait for a storm to check out this culinary celebration!
(5)
minal s.

I want to move to CO! This place was fantastic. We stopped here for lunch in between work meetings. What a neat little place. It has cottage setting with beautiful hardwood floors, white napkins and silver at your table. The ambiance is very intimate yet very inviting for work related lunches. I was very impressed even before i sat down. Our serve immediately brought us our iced teas and lemonades and began to reel off the menu for the day. I had already settled on my dish of pan roasted tilapia but with every dish he mentioned my resolve changed. I stuck to my choice but my coworkers crumbled under the pressure of new choices. Started with the garbanzo soup for the day and all i can say is beans have never tasted so good. Dip the crusty bread and its pure explosion. Next my tilapia with mussels, in a shrimp broth, ohhhhh! What a delightful meal! Each one of us had a wonderful meal. Oh did i mention its inexpensive as well. For such fresh flavors and service its worth much more! When it was time to go, i resolved to definitely yelp this place, so i dont forget the next time i am in this neighborhood!
(4)
Jill C.

Went for Denver Restaurant Week 2012. Between arriving at the restaurant and our drink order being taken was nearly 45 minutes, I understand they may have been busier then normal but it started the meal off on the wrong foot. The food was acceptable but not overly impressive and the service was the same. I wont be going back.
(2)
David P.

What a great place. The food is great, fresh, and sold by quality, not quantity. The wine list is vast, and from what I have sampled, you don't have to spend money to get tasty grape juice. The buffalo is melt in your mouth great. The deserts to die for. I have been several times and intend to keep coming back as long and as frequently as my wallet allows
(5)
Joe C.

Give me a good glass of wine and good company, and I could care less if the service is slow. My duck confit was positively one of the best things that I've tasted in my life. Grilled baby bok choy, cheesy polenta ... the meal was a dream! Garden patio seating, feet away from the veggie and herb garden that informs their menu. The perfect place for a lazy summer supper. I must return as soon as possible.
(5)
Nik F.

Everything at Colterra is fresh and perfectly prepared. The chef shows incredible respect for his ingredients, showcasing their best qualities, rather than covering them up with spices or other unnecessary additions. A fantastic restaurant for people who really love food.
(5)
Jeanne M.

The entrees were delicious! Great service on beautiful outside patio. Highly recommend this garden to table restaurant.
(5)
Anita Y.

A perfect place for a lady who lunches. It's cozy and relaxing, bright and spacious, and the food is really wonderful. Minus one star for continuously calling me and my friends "madam" It's not a "madam" type place, I'm not a "madam" type woman. Call me "miss' it's much more flattering. Even if you're 84 (i"m not, but please address me like that when I am.) I ordered the Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables. It was heavenly. The gnocchi were a bit "loose", but I've never had home made gnocchi before, only store bought, so I have no idea on what to expect on texture for home-made. The vegetables were slightly sweet from the roasting, and the cream sauce was perfect in amount and flavor. My plate was clean enough to put back in the cupboard when I was finished with lunch. $10 well spent. My "ladies who lunch" had the house made garden burger w/ fries ($9) and special of the day "steak salad" that we all thought was over-priced at $15. As good as it was, it WAS half greens. The server announces the specials of the day without mentioning the prices, so if you ask the price, you seem like you are watching your pennies, and even though there is no shame in that, maybe you just don't want to spend $20 (after a beverage) on lunch. Why do they do that? We skipped dessert, as tempting as it was. And I'm drooling over the brunch menu. I'm sure it changes with the chef's whims, (it's that kind of place) so I won't go into the details here. All I can say is, I'll be there.
(4)
James W.

Dined in Niwot for the second time ever. First time, had lots of small and large plates, sharing good food at Colterra with good friends. Second time, quiet Sunday dinner for two, ordering off their 2009 First Bite Boulder menu. Colterra's environs is upscale country comfort decor, with a maze of dining rooms in what may used to be a house, with at least a few additions. This is a well-run Bradford Heap establishment, though I do not have any idea if he's in this kitchen much, with the new Pearl St. Salt packing in patrons. In any case, the chef here seems to be running the kitchen just fine, with Colterra's local and organic focused food satisfying, as expected. The local squash soup and beet salad were nice first courses on the prix fixe menu. Grilled Long Family Farm pork tenderloin and Ahi tuna steak were our tasty and filling main courses. The pork was cooked to tender perfection and the tuna fresh and robust. Risotto with mushroom, spinach, and butternut squash, served with the pork, was really good too. Desserts were more basic, with the apple cobbler hitting the spot, while the pumpkin spice cake was just ok, being a bit dense. The service, along with preparation and presentation of the food, at Colterra is really well-done, and is reflected by their continued popularity off the beaten path. Excellent wines and drinks round out the experience. I think of Colterra as more a place to bring friends or a group and really enjoy a relaxed evening meal. But that doesn't mean I won't head over there for brunch sometime...
(4)
Morgan W.

I've been here about 6 times in the past 2 1/2 years. Honestly, that is about as much as I can afford, and 2 of those times were mercifully on the company dollar (woo!). This is where I bring my city-folk friends who don't think there are any good restaurants up this way. They always leave singing praises to the likes of which I've never heard before. Everything here is top notch, 110%. I've been for both lunch and dinner and it's always amazing. Everything is delicious. Everything is cooked correctly. The portion sizes are just right. The waitstaff is friendly, dignified, and even fun at times (my office convinced our waitress to put on a paper hat when she served us in our private room for the office Christmas dinner there and she did it like a champion). I honestly cannot say ANYthing bad about this place. Because of Colterra I am now a fan of Long Farm pork, Never Never Farms beef, venison, risotto, butternut squash soup, and many other fantastic things. The execution of the dishes is perfect. The ambiance is perfect. Everything is perfect. I never say this, but it's true. Absolutely perfect. And it kills me. I cannot ever leave Boulder County because every other New American/comfort food type restaurant where I dine is just not of the same caliber.
(5)
G D.

Both the food and service were good. Charming place.
(5)
Lauren K.

Amazing! This is the second time we've eaten here. The food, atmosphere, and service are phenomenal! I had the risotto special with New Zealand white fish which was really good, but the wild Alaskan salmon with corn and squash fritters that my husband had was to die for! The patio is a beautiful place to dine, surrounded by their garden and lots of huge maple and ash trees providing ample shade.
(5)
Harry S.

I had a great meal here during First Bite Boulder. The service is great, and the food was spot on. The highlight for me was the braised short rib.
(5)
Alan F.

I had heard great things about this restaurant and liked the fact that they had their own garden outside but was terribly disappointed with the service and food. I'm giving it one star instead of zero stars because I'm holding out hope that one day I'll try it again and it will be better. Our service was terrible. The waiter seated us and left until we sought him out. Then it took forever to get our drinks and then it took forever to get our food which was not even that great for the price. To top it all off, it took forever to get our freakin' check. Maybe we just hit a bad night but none of us (party of 6) were impressed at anything at Colterra.
(1)
al g.

This is a review for a recent dinner, I had lunch there which was much better. The setting was very nice, and so was the service. The food just was not very good and quite expensive. I was hoping that going in the spring we would have lovely fresh veggies, but they had the life cooked out of them. My bean soup was so boring and bland, the pates were greasy, not wonderfully creamy and rich. My Mom's small plate muscles were good, and the wine was nice. All in all, next time I'm going somewhere else. We did eat on a Sunday, maybe the head chef was gone?
(2)
Kristin D.

We had brunch there after my husband's triathlon at the Boulder Reservoir. Living in Denver, we don't get up to Niwot often (or never), but my mom was in town visiting so we thought it we would check it out. Wow! Breakfast was delicious, and the service was perfect (especially after our dinner experience the night before which left a lot to be desired). The ambiance there is adorable, a real homey place where people seem to care about their jobs and the experience of their guests. My mom and I both had the ham omelet which was delicious, and my husband had the prawn omelet special which he loved. We also tried the tomato bean soup and a desert and cheese plate. Everything was amazing! I would recommend this place for brunch to anyone, and we will definitely come back after the next tri.
(5)
Dan W.

I ate here a little while back and I was not impressed. First off, my server Angie was very disgustingly snotty, probably because my girlfriend knew more about food than her and was 100 times better looking. Second, the food was average.
(1)
Terry C.

Two stars means "Meh. I've experience better." Honestly, I want to give this place one star, but you'd just call it sour grapes. It's just that on top of a completely "meh" experience (for which we paid handily), my stomach is still upset. The only caveat I'll place up front is that I hear the summertime experience, with fresh vegetables and fresh air, is outstanding. I'll find out in a few months. Today was disappointing on almost all fronts. AMBIENCE The location is lovely. The building, while it seems a bit piecemeal in its construction, is well appointed and comfortable. The lighting was absolutely too dim to comfortably read the menu. Expect at least a little eye strain - a lot if you're far sighted. SERVICE The server was polite and accommodating. When we needed half a minute to decide on drinks, he gave us several minutes... and then a couple more minutes for good measure. Perhaps we interrupted his rhythm? I don't know, but it was silly to have waited that long. Aside from that, he was terrific. Water refills and the food runner were prompt, polite, and unobtrusive. Just as it should be. WINE We both ordered wine. Both were exactly as described on the menu, and in the best way. This was easily the highlight of the meal. FOOD The basket of bread on the table was fine. Just fine. Am I alone in thinking that a place like this should have amazing bread? I'm also perturbed that there was olive oil at the table, but nothing else for the bread. We weren't the only table that asked for a couple turns of the pepper mill to liven it up. We are probably the table that had to wait the longest for that pepper, though. We ordered from the Denver Restaurant Week menu, which offered us one of three choices each for appetizer, entree, and dessert. The dishes were at least mostly from their standard menu. For the appetizer, we each ordered a beet salad. The greens and beets were terrific. The cheese, while delicious was a bit excessive; I would've been happy trading a couple pinches of that for another walnut. It was quite a rich cheese, too, which seem to be a theme that followed through the rest of the meal. We ordered entirely different entrees. Colterra describes the Brasato di Manzo as "crispy polenta, garlic seared escarole, oven dried tomatoes, natural braising jus, parmigiano reggiano". I would modify that description a bit. The brasato itself was pull-apart tender, as our server said it would be. The beef itself was moist and flavorful. The greens on which it sat were an oily mess, too heavy to seem like the nutrient-dense vegetables they were supposed to be. This went well beyond a mere searing. The crispy polenta had none of the grit or texture that good polenta should. The triangles were overcooked mush in the center, and over-fried crisp on the outside. The worst part is the heavy, unpleasant quality of the oil in which they were cooked (and much of which they still retained). I'm pretty sure the polenta and greens are why my stomach is still twisting knotted cramps. Quality beef does not come cheap, but the portion of beef on my plate was generous. I appreciate that. The Roasted Local Pumpkin Cannelloni that my wife ordered was described on the menu as "garlic seared chard, parmigiano, sage brown butter". Here, too, the greens came in oil-saturated lumps. The chard, which we generally love, had the life cooked out of it. The portion of this comparatively inexpensive dish, was insulting, but perhaps with reason. While there were only two medium cannelloni on the plate, they were stuffed with such a heavily cream-laden filling (too richly creamy, in fact, to really enjoy the pumpkin) that more would have been grossly excessive. Nothing was really bad enough to send back. It just wasn't really good enough to justify the bill that followed. Fortunately, we had fantastic wines to help the food find home. We looked to the desserts to rescue the experience. They didn't, but they were better than the other offerings. I had an apple turnover, which came in a deliciously flaky crust, done just to perfection. The apple wasn't too sweet. Surprisingly, neither was the caramel glaze that traced a broad wave across the plate. Unfortunately, the whole thing was dusted with powdered sugar, like a carnival funnel cake. What the ... ?? My wife's chocolate truffle tart was also tasty, garnished with fresh berries and a small scoop of ice cream laden with vanilla bean specks. To her surprise, the ice cream barely tasted of vanilla, however. And again with the dusting of powdered sugar. Sweet mercy! Why?? CONCLUSION The wine was the second best part of the evening. The company was the best, of course. I won't take any points from Colterra for the table of monied snobbery we were seated next to, but I fear their lot frequents the place. Still, we will return for their well-touted brunch this spring, when we can enjoy it outdoors. I would also like to try the escargot that they have on the menu...
(2)
Amanda W.

I came to Colterra with my family for my birthday. We arrived promptly for our reservation in good spirits and dressed nicely, and were "greeted" (eventually) by a host who appeared to think we weren't good enough clientele. We were seated and (eventually) served by our waiter. After an extremely small taster of two terrible wines, my father asked to hear the selection of beers again. Our waiter incredulously replied, "All of them?" Really? What kind of question is that? If he knew which one he wanted he would just order it, and if you have a problem repeating a beer list on request a) you shouldn't be a waiter, or b) you should have the beer list on your drinks menu. The service was positively glacial. The excuse was that all their busboys went back to college. That seems like a foreseeable event though and they ought to have been prepared. From the other reviews I've read, bad/slow service here doesn't seem to be the exception. The waiter's outfits (heavy blue-grey cotton button-up shirts) make them look like convicts. They only lack the stenciled inmate numbers. The food was good, though not as good as the hype and the prices might lead you to believe; I would not call anything here a good value. The small plates were VERY small, especially for the price; not really a "half dinner" as our waiter kept insisting (even as she insisted that 2 small plates would make a scanty dinner). My buffalo was cooked nicely and was very tender, though the preparation and sides were not very creative. It was definitely not cuisine that leaves a niggling memory drawing me back to Colterra. On the up-side, the cottage is really cute and nicely decorated. The garden patio is very nice with large shade trees and white twinkle lights (but they forgot to turn them on). PS: We went to Frasca for dessert where the contrast in service and cuisine was immediately recognizable. The waitstaff at Frasca is extremely prompt, professional, and knowledgeable while remaining very personable.
(2)
Kristaleigh S.

We went to Colterra on a Friday night. we had the whole place booked for a private party. We started outside with cocktails and h'ordeuvres. Then we went in for service. There was a pre-set menu with good selections. I started with the Warm Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Salad. It had local organic greens, local stone fruit, and minted champagne vinaigrette with an almond crusted goat cheese. It was delicious. The dressing was amazing! My dinner selection was the Ahi Tuna Steak with local organic spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and a balsamic brown butter. It came with garlic & olive oil crushed potatoes, but i asked not to get them. I had my tuna rare. it was delicious. The spinach was bright and flavorful. The sun-dried tomatoes added a nice pop of flavor. The balsamic brown butter was to die for. It also had some crispy vegetables on top. this was so delicious. I did not need to add seasoning as it was perfectly seasoned. I don't eat dessert, but they did serve a selection of three bites. One looked like a shortbread with a chocolate shortbread and a strawberry with fresh whipped cream, they also has a meringue with candied ginger atop a chocolate wafer with a fruit drizzle, and a puff pastry with mint & fruit on top. Everyone loved the desserts. I had a black coffee. The entire dinner they offered a selection of red & white wine that was constantly being poured. the service was timely and efficient. The bus boy cleared plates quickly and quietly. Amazing service. it was like our food just appeared and you hardly noticed the servers and bussers moving around you. everyone had a wonderful time & I will definitely go back.
(5)
suzan f.

Colterra is simply my favorite restaurant on the front range. As a recent transplant from San Francisco, I mourned the loss of the artful and impeccable restaurants that abound there. Fortunately for me, I discovered Colterra. Consistently delicious food, thoughtful service and great ambience keep me coming back. I've never been disappointed.
(5)
Jessica I.

My husband, parents, and I just returned from a really lovely dinner at Colterra. The ambience is very nice there - simple decor, nicely lit, not too noisy. It's definitely a leisurely pace; we were not neglected, but the space between appetizers and entrees was surprisingly long. You should like the people you go with! Despite the timeline, I really liked our waiter - he was knowledgable, competent, and friendly, and he recommended a wine that we all enjoyed, and seemed to go very well with food. Admittedly, we would like to have had more of it left when our entrees arrived. But - all was forgiven when they did arrive. First of all - if food is late and has obviously been sitting under a heat lamp, I get annoyed with the service. But these were clearly just out of the kitchen, not a bit over- or under-heated. So, there's a delay somewhere, but it doesn't seem like utter chaos or ineptitude. All the dishes were excellent. I had one of the night's specials - mahi mahi on a butternut squash-and-some-kinda-cheese risotto; the risotto provided a salty-creamy base, and the chunks of sweet squash and bits of piquant greens balanced it out nicely. The fish was cooked just right, not at all fishy. I have honestly never tasted a better pork tenderloin than my husband got tonight. It was perfectly, perfectly cooked, and the reduction had a touch of basil, a touch of char, just the right amount of seasoning... amazing. Dad's duck breast was tasty, also nicely medium rare; and my mom had a small plate (duck gnocchi) which was rich and filling enough that none of us left at all hungry. We had started with two portions of the beet/goatcheese/walnut salad among four of us; nothing too original, but well done anyway. Niwot is the cutest little town; I think this place would be good for lunch and then you could walk around downtown (all 2 blocks of it). All the above (no dessert, we were just-right full) plus a $50 bottle of wine and we got out for under $200, including tip. Not a great bargain, but a decent value for some very good food.
(4)
Edward F.

Was there with friends on a Saturday night. The food was excellent and somewhat creative-Prosciutto and Colorado peaches for an appitizer. The risotto and scallops were perfect though the duck breast was very good. The service was perfect- attentative without being obtrusive. Our waiter also had a delightful sense of humor. I will be back there soon!
(4)
Melanie P.

What can I even say about this place? The atmosphere is cozy and charming, the wait staff are always knowledgeable and friendly, and the food is consistently fresh, creative, and truly delicious. Since moving to Longmont three years ago, Colterra in nearby Niwot has become my husband and my go-to restaurant for nice nights out. Outstanding.
(5)
Rachel E.

Colterra was a bit yin and a little bit yang... Food=5 stars Service=2 stars.. So, I'll give it a 4.. The Main Event, err.. Course: I first saw a pic of the vegetable gnocchi in a local magazine, and it looked top notch, so, I knew I had to try it. It really was delicious, but, I couldn't tell if the gnocchi was undercooked or not.. Every plate on our table was amazing; the lamb was cooked to perfection, and the roasted chicken was delectable... And yes.. I always sample each entree..:) The Service: Our server acted as if we were a complete inconvenience to her night... It was probably the rudest treatment I'd ever received, so, I was a bit put off at our $130 bill. However, I won't hold it against them.. But, I'll let it be known if it happens again on my next visit.. The old farmhouse interior is quite charming. It's worth a trip to Niwot at least.
(4)
Jayne J.

We've eaten at Colterra five times now, three times for lunch and twice for Restaurant Week ('10 and '11). We've been so pleased each time, and I decided it's about time to write a review. Unfortunately, it's been a few weeks now since our last visit, and my memory of the dishes of my fellow diners isn't so fresh, so bear with me. Our lunches at Colterra started last spring. I loved the Spring Vegetable Gnocchi so much on my first visit, that I wasn't able to order anything else after that. The weather cooperated for us enough for us to eat on the patio for one of those visits, and it was delightful, but we really like the casual elegance (and relative lack of clamor) of the interior as well. As we get older, the noise at a lot of fine dining restaurants is becoming more and more of a deal breaker for us; we just don't want to spend money to have to shout at our friends. There were four of us at our '11 Restaurant Week visit. Again, I had the gnocchi for a starter, this time with a duck fat sauce (?), and while I prefer the veg sauce, it was still wonderful. My husband, daughter and I enjoyed the Bracato di Manzo, although I thought that some of the beef bites were a bit dry and chewy, and my daughter thinks she makes better polenta (tasted great to me). Our friend had the halibut and loved it, although I don't remember the details of the dish. I'm afraid I also don't remember the nature of the chocolate dessert that my daughter and husband ordered, but she said it was the highlight of the meal for her (chocolate truffle cake maybe?). My friend and I were ecstatic about the apple turnover, light and just the right amount of sweetness. The service, which we've always thought was great, was a little strange and inconsistent for RW. We were bombarded with requests for our wine order as soon as we sat down. It took us a while to decide, and then when we were ready, the waiter wasn't. There weren't many reasonably priced wine choices, and I didn't personally care for the Chilean chardonnay we ended up with. We've had much better luck at lunch, with wine by the glass. We were all very hungry, and so the waits for food seemed long to us. Despite the critiques, Colterra is one of our favorites, and we plan to go back again and again. The main reasons for our devotion are the general high quality of their ingredients and preparation, and the charming relaxed setting.
(5)
Thayne D.

Went here for 1st bite and tried the butternut squash soup, beet salad, pork tenderloin, mushroom/veggie risotto, sweet potato pie, and cobbler. All were well made and quite tasty. The ambiance and service were also great. The building looks like a wealthy grandmother's house with a lot of separate rooms; it's definitely not normal, but in a good way. The only thing preventing a five star rating was lack of originality with the dishes. There was nothing we saw on either the 1st bite menu or the regular menu that you couldn't get at all the other standard Boulder places (The Kitchen, Salt, etc.). I will say, however, that the wine list almost makes up for the lack of originality on the food menu.
(4)

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Address : 210 Franklin St
Niwot, CO, 80544
Phone (303) 652-0777
Website https://www.colterra.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Colterra

210 Franklin St, Niwot, CO, 80544

Colterra Menu

Appetizers

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Appetizers

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