
Work & Class
A cozy spot in Denver serving a soulful blend of Latin-American and Heartland American comfort foods, with creative cocktails and an unpretentious vib...

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Work & Class

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A cozy spot in Denver serving a soulful blend of Latin-American and Heartland American comfort foods, with creative cocktails and an unpretentious vibe.
"Everything we ate and I mean everything was solid. Very, very good."
Reservations are key
Book in advance to guarantee a table, especially on busy Friday nights and weekends.
Sample multiple dishes
Portion sizes can be smaller; trying a variety is highly recommended for the full experience.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
American, Latin American
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Latin-American & Heartland American Fusion
Experience a unique blend of soulful comfort foods with hearty American influences, a true culinary journey.

Chef's Counter Experience
Watch culinary magic unfold at the chef's counter, with impeccable cleanliness and interactive dining.

Signature Meat Dishes
Indulge in perfectly prepared meats like Colorado lamb, hickory smoked picanha, and rotisserie chicken.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reservations are key
Book in advance to guarantee a table, especially on busy Friday nights and weekends.
Sample multiple dishes
Portion sizes can be smaller; trying a variety is highly recommended for the full experience.
Chef's Counter
Sit at the chef's counter for an up-close view of the kitchen's impeccable food safety practices.
Happy Hour Deals
Enjoy great prices during happy hour, known as 'Early Work Release Program,' for drinks and small plates.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reservations are key
Book in advance to guarantee a table, especially on busy Friday nights and weekends.
Sample multiple dishes
Portion sizes can be smaller; trying a variety is highly recommended for the full experience.
Chef's Counter
Sit at the chef's counter for an up-close view of the kitchen's impeccable food safety practices.
Happy Hour Deals
Enjoy great prices during happy hour, known as 'Early Work Release Program,' for drinks and small plates.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Diners rave about Work & Class for its exceptional fusion of Latin-American and American comfort foods, with many highlighting the flavorful meats and creative sides. The lively atmosphere and attentive service, particularly at the chef's counter, are frequently praised. Some guests note that the music can be loud, and occasional waits can be lengthy, but the overall consensus is overwhelmingly positive.
"Delicious! Highly recommend this restaurant.
Our server (Jonny?) was highly attentive and helpful.
We ordered the steak, lamb, trout, massive attack salad and sliced plantains. The meats were delicious, the salad was fresh and well dressed, and the plantains were perfectly done (I haven’t had plantains like these since traveling to Costa Rica)
They have options for vegetarian, gluten free and accommodated nut allergies easily.
We sat at the c kitchen counter and the cleanliness and food safety of the kitchen staff was impeccable. Recommend reservations as it was very busy on a Friday night.
I would definitely return."
Zoë Barlow
"Came for happy hour. The prices were great! We ordered the lamb burger and the pot pie. The pot pie was delicious, but the lamb burger was not for me. I was expecting a regular beef burger texture but it was more tough and not as crumbly. I'll have to try their main menu next time."
Madi
"Such a wonderful dinner – cannot wait to return. Our menu selections for a party of two were ALL next level. Beginning with a perfectly balanced Nitro Espresso Martini and a Paloma from the bar, our position at the Chef’s counter was like watching a perfect harmony. Chef Antonio and his team made a full house dinner service seem effortless. The chef slipped two chickpea croquettes over the counter, and they were incredible bites setting the scene for the ‘goodness’ to follow. ¼ Rotisserie chicken, Massive Attack Salad (Tempura Broccoli cooked perfectly), leeks and mashed side, caprese potato gnocchi and the chocolate lava cake - All 100% exceptional. The Lava Cake was delicious, however a slightly different take if you are expecting ‘Roy’s. Love the vibe of the restaurant, especially at peak dinner time – feels super alive and special (Recommend a reservation). From the moment the hostess handed us off to Spencer until our departure – we felt like VIPs. Spencer took exceptional care of us – thank you Spencer, Chef Antonio, and the entire Work & Class team for giving us a memorable experience during our stop in Denver."
Brian
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations are highly recommended, especially on busy nights like Fridays and weekends, to avoid long waits.
This is the restaurant's term for happy hour, offering deals on cocktails and small plates.
Signature dishes include Colorado lamb, hickory smoked picanha, rotisserie chicken, and the Massive Attack Salad.
Yes, they offer options for vegetarian, gluten-free diners and can accommodate nut allergies.
The restaurant has a lively, vibrant, and casual atmosphere, often described as cozy and energetic.
While not strictly family-style, the smaller plates are great for sampling and sharing.
Mentioned in
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A square meal and a stiff drink at a fair price.” That’s been the tagline of Work & Class since day one, and chef-owner Dana Rodriguez (along with her now-retired partner, Tony Maciag) has been living up to it with gusto ever since. The "square meal" part takes shape in the vibrant Mexican-meets–heartland American menu, which is centered on meats by the pound; the "stiff drink" part manifests in a creative-yet-unfussy beverage list. As for the "fair price" part: Even heavy eaters and drinkers might struggle to drop much more than $50 apiece.
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A small restaurant with a big punch, Work & Class serves up a marriage of Latin and American cuisines: flaky empanadas, melt-in-your-mouth roasted lamb,…
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Comfort foods of the Latin-American culinary canon is the calling card of Work & Class, a refreshingly free-spirited restaurant in the River North Art District (RiNo) from multi-time James Beard Foundation Best Chef nominee Dana Rodriguez, whose soulful cooking more than lives up to its ballyhooed billing. Driven by the motto, "a square meal, a stiff drink, and a fair price," the diminutive restaurant, which commands waits from the moment the doors open, proffers gratifying plates of red wine-braised short ribs, green coriander-roasted Colorado lamb and rotisserie chicken, all of which should be paired with a side dish: chickpea croquettes, fried sweet plantains or the smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese. There’s nothing particularly fancy about Rodriguez’s cooking, but sitting at the chef’s counter and indulging in the vanilla bean panna cotta or the caramel-glazed and ice cream-topped chocolate brownie is all the luxury you need.
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This 52-seat restaurant in the street art-filled area of RiNo is housed in recycled shipping containers, though it’s hard to tell by aesthetics unless you look at the corrugated walls on the patio. Otherwise, you’ll find lots of wood paneling, windows letting in natural light and two bars crafting the “stiff drinks” the eatery prides itself on (you’ll always get a 2-ounce pour). A reasonably-priced seasonal menu features a fusion of American and Latin cuisine, reflective of the backgrounds of the three owners, Tony Maciag from Detroit, Delores Tronco, a second-generation Italian immigrant raised on a Nebraska farm; and Dana Rodriguez, who grew up on a farm in Chihuahua, Mexico.
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RiNo At Work & Class, Dana Rodriguez’s essential meat-and-three concept located in a shipping container in RiNo, the term “Early Work Release Program” is preferred to “happy hour,” but the 60-minute deal window offers indulgences that are easy on the wallet all the same. Cocktails on tap—like plum spritzes, mules, and espresso martinis—and house mixers with a choose-your-own liquor policy are all $12 or less, along with a lineup of four creative plates to share (or not). 2500 Larimer St.The Deals: Pick a spirit to pair with the likes of cucumber-mint lemonade or a grapefruit-habanero-rosemary mixer for just $11, or enjoy $2 off wine and $5 suds.
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Housed in a shipping container, Work & Class is an expression of James Beard nominee Dana Rodriguez, who co-owns and serves as head chef of this down-to-earth concept that describes its output as a “square meal, stiff drink and fair price.” With a heavy belief in familiar, quality ingredients and unpretentious, irreverent service, the menus at Work & Class expertly fuse American with Latin, true to Rodriguez's Mexican roots. Rodriguez owns another top restaurant in town called Super Mega Bien and assisted South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone on a commissioned reopening of local favorite Casa Bonita.
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Finally opened in early 2014, Work & Class is, as its name suggests, down to earth and deliberately reflective of the owners' own working-class roots. But that doesn't mean the food is lacking in creativity or interest. Stout-braised short ribs and coriander-roasted Colorado lamb are among the meat offerings, while blue corn empanadas and salmon fritters served with sweet plantains appear in the appetizers, soups and salad section--along with red-chile braised goat stew.
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If you order the $5 petite side of mac and cheese chef Dana Rodriguez whips up at this hot spot, you may wish you had gotten the $10 larger size. After all, this pale yellow-orange version gets a distinct tang thanks to six-year-aged Wisconsin cheddar, a flavor that causes the mouth to water and brain to crave another bite. The pasta dish also contains a sauce of butter, onion, fresh thyme, cream and Parmesan, a combination that helps lighten an otherwise heavy order.
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Priding itself on its no-fuss quality food, Work & Class in Five Points/River North Art District (known as RiNo to Denverites) is a local favorite for comfort food delivery, with hearty dinners that are the perfect blend of Latin and American flavors. Try their lemon pepper brown butter rotisserie chicken or spiced fried sweet plantains, and don’t forget to order dessert (their vanilla bean panna cotta with seasonal berry compote is out of this world).
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Chef Dana Rodriguez now has a pair of electric Denver restaurants worth visiting: Work & Class (which is housed inside a shipping container) and Super Mega Bien just across the street. But her flagship is still the local favorite with its cozy quarters and Sunday fried chicken dinners, among other delights. She specializes in “Latin (and) American food,” so watch for dishes like mezcal lamb chorizo sausage, roasted goat and “dirty” rice.
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Located on Larimer Street, Work & Class is the best option for indulging Latin American and Southern dishes in a relaxing setting. Executive Chef Dana Rodriguez uses her seasoned skills to create iconic dishes every day. Additionally, Work & Class offers catering services for specific events because they know sometimes you’ve got something special coming up and you need to leave a great first impression.
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The menu at Work & Class seamlessly blends flavors from Mexico and the American South, and many dishes happen to be gluten-free. Start your meal with Colorado lamb and pork meatballs or blue corn empanadas stuffed with mushrooms and melty cheese. All of the meat entrees are also gluten-free, including the Cajun deep-fried trout, and the same applies to almost every flavorful fixin’.
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Work & Class lives by a motto: “Square meal, stiff drink, and fair price.” The kind of meal you get will be up to you, though there’s a fusion of southern and Latin cuisine happening here. Enjoy everything from lamb fritters to chipotle chicken pot pies. The cocktails are flavorful, and we highly recommend exploring one of their barrel-aged ones as that is what they are known for.
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Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. OPEN FOR TAKE-OUT + DELIVERY Full food and drink menu available via @toasttab #workandclass... Featuring a relax and cozy ambiance and beautiful rustic furnishings, Work and Class is a casual dining restaurant in Denver that serves quality and flavorful Southern and Latin American dishes.
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For a dynamic change from the Denver food scene, Work and Class fuses American and Latin American cuisine to approachable yet creative dishes that everyone will love. Most of the dishes were small and shareable with the table, so as usual, my wife and I ordered way too much but enjoyed everything we ate. The Chickpea Croquettes stood out with a creative approach.
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Get ready for some seriously good, no-nonsense food in a uniquely cool setting at Work & Class in Denver’s RiNo district!. Housed in a cleverly converted shipping container, this spot serves up a delicious fusion of Latin American and American comfort food. A meal here requires you to try their amazing Rotisserie Chicken or perhaps some flavorful braised lamb.
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A square meal and a stiff drink at a fair price,” has been the tagline of Work & Class since opening under chef-owner Dana Rodriguez and her partner Tony Maciag. The “square meal” part takes shape in the vibrant Mexican-meets–heartland American menu, centred around meat. The “stiff drink” manifests in a creative-but-simple beverage list.
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This restaurant in RiNo offers the cooking of chef Dana Rodriguez, who blends Latin American and American flavors in dishes like blue corn empanadas, cochinita pibil or fried chicken. 2 The happy hour is offered Tuesday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. and features $5 glasses of wine, $4 draft beers, $6 cocktails and discounted food items.
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Let me start by saying that the folks at Work & Class were incredibly friendly. From the moment I walked through the door, I felt welcomed and at ease. As a solo diner, I was pleasantly surprised by the communal seating arrangement, which instantly fostered a sense of community and made me feel like I was part of something special.
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Work & Class is a casual restaurant and bar with Latin and American food along with the motto, “Food and drink for people who can eat.” The menu includes rotisserie meats, specialty sides, and freshly baked breads and tortillas. Perfect for groups, share the blue corn empanadas stuffed with mushrooms, sofrito, and Oaxaca cheese.
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Work & Class is a great casual restaurant in Denver that specializes in Latin American cuisine. The atmosphere is laid-back and inviting, and the food is absolutely delicious. Popular dishes include the pork shoulder and the green chile mac and cheese, and they also have an extensive cocktail list that is worth checking out.
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Work & Class, in Denver, is a relaxed, unpretentious restaurant with plates of varying sizes, so you can pass them around and share. It serves up Latin and American cuisine and great cocktails. The menu is simple and delicious and the atmosphere is fun, friendly and down to earth, perfect for a family dinner.
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Work & Class is a simple, informal eatery that specializes in Latin American and American cuisine thanks to its chefs: Tony Maciag and Dana Rodriguez. Maciag hails from Detroit, Michigan, while Rodriguez grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico. The seasonal menu includes empanadas, grits, sweet plantains, and cornbread.
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Chef Dana Rodriguez has two amazing restaurants with gluten free offerings: Work & Class with 22 out of the 27 items are gluten free and Super Mega Bien. At Work & Class you must order the Coriander Braised Colorado Lamb and Blue Corn Empanadas. If the Green Chili is on the menu, you cannot pass up on it.
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🍽️ Southern & Latin American | ($$$) | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (303) 292-0700. Work & Class has simple, delicious food that’s not overly fancy, along with solid cocktails. The bartenders are friendly and chatty, and the atmosphere is relaxed so we felt like old friends the first time we visited.
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A no-nonsense bar for hungry customers, Work & Class, is where Denver goes for a strong drink and a filling meal. The food is classic Southern cuisine with a Latin flair. Crispy fried chicken, decadently cheesy mac and cheese, and juicy pulled pork are served alongside carnitas and empanadas.
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2500 Larimer St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Walk in Only │Price: $$$. Work and Class mexican restaurant in RiNo Denver CO. Best Table: Don’t try to escape the dim and loud interior of Work and Class, use it to your advantage by sitting in the main dining area at the shared tables.
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (241 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: American- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 2500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205-2274- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Here, you’ll find lamb fritters, lamb sausage, lamb chorizo, lamb meatballs, lamb steaks, and more!. This is the place if you are looking to experience Colorado lamb in a restaurant that gets Colorado culture and cuisine.
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Please contact the venue to check if this discount is still valid. - Enjoy a daily happy hour from 5-6 PM with discounted drinks and food specials!. - Take advantage of their daily specials for a unique dining experience.
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Jeremy and I visited Work and Class during our trip to Colorado last Summer, as well. My diet was a bit less restrictive then, but the menu changed up a bit within the last year and we actually loved our food even more!
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As one of the best RiNo Denver restaurants, Work & Class offers high-quality dinners and wonderful happy hours every night of the week except for Monday. Enjoy Latin American food and a memorable dining experience.
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Work & Class, a cocktail bar, New American and Latin American spot, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 1,233 Yelp reviews. Head over to 2500 Larimer Street, Suite 101, to see for yourself.
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2500 Larimer StreetDenver, CO 80205(303) 292-0700 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Work & Class is a cozy restaurant serving a combination of American and Latin American flavors.
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You can also visit Work & Class to enjoy coriander cooked lamb. It’s addictive; you will find yourself coming back again.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit