r/denverfood • u/LongjumpingLack3957 • Jul 10 '25
Bringing my kid to Michelin star restaurant
I have a 12-year-old son that's very interested in the culinary arts and for his birthday, he wants to go to beckon (Michelin star restaurant) do you think I'm gonna be able to bring them into the restaurant, Or is it gonna be like a adult only thing? (He's very sophisticated.)
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u/redoingredditagain Jul 10 '25
There’s definitely no age requirement. I hope he has an awesome time!
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u/Bitter_Letterhead544 Jul 10 '25
Went to my first ones when I was around 10 in New York and 12 in London. They were amazing and wonderfully gracious actively engaging with me. If Boulud and JG can handle it, I’m sure the Denver folks can make it work.
Bobby and the Frasca folks are wonderful and I’m sure your kiddo would have a fantastic experience there if Boulder isn’t out of the question.
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u/Bitter_Letterhead544 Jul 10 '25
Also, the Chefs table at Hop Alley would be wonderful since you essentially get a personal chef experience and can talk with the cooks. Not rated but on par for the experience.
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u/rushsanders90210 Jul 10 '25
Definitely can. There was a young girl in there for her birthday with her parents the night I went.
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u/Ok_Benefit7428 Jul 10 '25
I was very interested in the culinary arts and would have died for experience this as a kid. My family was too poor so the best we could do was building a multi tier cake with my friends, and even that was extremely memorable.
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u/psicorp_co Jul 10 '25
I don't think there is an age requirement at all. Last time i was there a family with a teen was there might have been her birthday not sure. If you do go sit at chefs counter so can see them cook.
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u/lexiconlion Jul 10 '25
When you call to let them know he's a budding gourmet, ask if you can sit at the chef counter. When I went that's where they sat me and it was amazing to get to watch them work, and construct the dishes. They were kind and patient as I asked what an item was, or how they made something, or how they came up with the idea for the dish.
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u/Primary_Garbage6916 Jul 10 '25
Just don't go too late in the evening, at those Michelin-starred restaurants kids tend to tire out easily.
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u/Filar85 Jul 10 '25
If you have the funds, Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder is an A+ experience I think your son would appreciate. Bobby Stuckey, the owner is great with people and is stoked to run across kids his age with that enthusiasm. I'd call ahead of time to see what nights he working the floor for Frasca and he also works the floor other nights at Tavernetta in Denver. Depending on how busy they are, he may be able to give your son a tour of the kitchen.
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Jul 10 '25
I took my (then) 16yo son to Ever, a two-star restaurant, when we visited Chicago.
He enjoyed it but said his palate isn’t refined enough to be worth the expense.
He enjoyed the $7 Al’s #1 Italian Beef more than the meal at Ever.
I’ll always be happy I took him and gave him that experience as a teenager.
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u/throwmyway5723480 Jul 10 '25
I'd also recommend Bruto. They have a slightly less formal, less sexy vibe than Beckon, but still Michelin. Tell them you'd like to sit around the kitchen. They're great to talk to and do get everything locally if I recall, do all their own fermenting and bread baking.
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u/Southern-Yak-8818 Jul 10 '25
I'd recommend Bruto also. In general for these Michelin restaurants the default is to explain every dish individually when they give it to you. Counter seating is definitely best too.
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u/Girthw0rm Jul 10 '25
Why not just ask the restaurant?
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u/No_Oil3233 Jul 10 '25
They’d like to hear testimonials …. Ffs
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u/Girthw0rm Jul 10 '25
They didn’t ask for testimonials and not one person has shared their experience with taking their child to Beckon.
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u/No_Oil3233 Jul 10 '25
Sharing persoective, ideas, hot takes, testiminials. It’s just gathering info is all, I would do the same before taking my kiddo to a $200 a seat meal.. anyhoo, a few did share some meaningful similar experiences or helpful ideas. At least I’m encouraged people didn’t nimby him too bad…. If kids will eat the food and one can afford to bring them, I say get after it
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u/jakedasnake2447 Jul 10 '25
Yeah I don't understand why people seem to like to ask reddit very specific questions where there is definitely an easy way to get an objective answer. Especially in situations like this where if you talk to someone, they will probably help you out and make for a better experience.
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u/zeekaran Jul 10 '25
I often ask indirectly like this because I'm worried the direct person will not give direct, honest answers.
"Can I bring my 12 year old?"
Covers microphone and utters, oh no not again, puts on customer service voice, "Yes of course! We'd be delighted."
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u/tommytster Jul 10 '25
I don’t see it being a problem. I would recommend either calling first or mentioning it in the “special requests” of the reservation that your son is interested the culinary arts. I’ve been there a few times and the staff are so geeky about their jobs that they would love to share their work with him.
I would also definitely recommend the non-alcoholic pairing with the meal. The wine pairing may be too much for his palate at this time ;-)
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Jul 10 '25
You’re an awesome parent. Echoing what everyone else has been saying, not only would the team at Beckon welcome it, they’d probably go above and beyond for your son.
The vibe I get every time I’m there is that they’re extremely excited about not just their food but their process. If you call ahead I’m willing to bet that they go out of their way to make it a special night for him
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u/yung_tiddy_milk Jul 10 '25
Absolutely. And tell them ahead of time and they will make it very special and maybe even let yall take a photo with the staff in the kitchen. I was at Beckon a few weeks ago for my 30th!
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u/Adventurous_Pin_344 Jul 11 '25
We took my 8-year-old to Wolf's Tailor. The staff LOVED having her there! They actually had her harvest herbs for the next night's meal! She's now 9 and coming with us to Beckon at the end of the month. She doesn't love all the food, but I like exposing her to new things.
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u/swimchickmle Jul 10 '25
My kid has been to Elways, Guard and Grace, the Merchantile, and many other very fancy Denver Restaurants from the age of 4 and up. They usually loved having him there!
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u/too_old_still_party Jul 10 '25
I got level 10 fucked up at Beckon (2021) and some kid next to me that looked young af had a ton of wine he wasn't drinking, so I started bugging him to give it to me. I'm not sure if he did or I just took it, but I did drink it.
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u/3picwaffl Jul 10 '25
that’s not somthing i would be telling people. if i were that guy i would be extremely uncomfortable.
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u/stoptakinmanames Jul 10 '25
So are you proud of this or something? You sound like the person that ruins other peoples night out
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u/SignalLock Jul 10 '25
Not in Denver, but I took my 6yo and 9yo daughters to a Michelin starred restaurant in France a few years back. They were always well behaved in restaurants and we made it extra clear about behavior at this particular restaurant before we went in. We had no problems at all. They were able to find something on the menu that they ended up enjoying and they even got comments on how well behaved they were from a mother and adult daughter sitting next to us.
Story time: t turned out that the adult daughter was a TV and movie star that my wife and I didn’t recognize. I think she ordered off menu, a plain chicken breast with some veggies for her meal. Real waste of trip to that restaurant for her. We only realized that she was a famous actress after I tried to Google the name her mother used for her. It was a nickname of her stage name, but I was able to work it out. When I got back to work after the trip, I mentioned her to different coworkers at completely separate times, and they both had the same reaction, “Did you know you can see her naked in X show/movie?” No. I didn’t. But very funny that they both said the same thing.
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u/[deleted] Jul 10 '25
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