The food was excellent. We had warm olives as an appetizer, seafood gumbo and shrimp po boy with fries. The gumbo was amazing and packed full of shrimp, crab, crawfish with just the right amount of spice. The po' boy was quite possibly the best I've had with very nice breading in the shrimp. The fries were disappointing, very plain. Service was great. We were greeted by Eric, the owner who was very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this. read more

Mama was craving steak and bacon-wrapped dates. We aren't sure how the kids would do but the server assured us the mac n cheese was fancy yet didn't have breadcrumbs (my youngest kid's concerns.). As you can tell by the photo, they nailed it. He stole 4 pieces of my steak too (the plainer ones.) The jalapeño marg was awesome. I was bummed that the bacon-wrapped dates had blue cheese (not in description, and I have a dairy intolerance) and the steak was served with Hollandaise on top (even though I requested on side, due to same allergy but was sharing.) Brussels we're a tad soggy for my taste (we love them extra crispy.). 12yo loves the Asian salad and husband enjoyed the potstickers (though I notice a little inconsistency as table next to us got them too and there were well-done/dark brown while ours were much lighter). read more

The Fritz - Kid-approved "fancy" mac n cheese. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Salida, Colorado

My husband and I ate here a few months ago and had such a wonderful evening. We weren't super hungry so we ordered a bunch of small plates and it was perfect. I can't remember everything we got but I do remember one for sure was the potstickers and they were incredible. The atmosphere was very laid back yet cool - it made for a beautiful date night spot! My husband travels to Salida for work so we were excited to be back and eat at this restaurant again but unfortunately it looks like they're temporarily closed. We're hoping it's open the next time we're in town. read more

WHOA - every course had us floored!! The meatball cabbage soup was so savory, the Korean chicken and waffles was uniquely delicious, and the berry tart and ice cream was heavenly! I also got a violet vodka lemonade which was excellent!! My husband and I HIGHLY recommend this place, especially after a long walk along the Arkansas river! :) read more

Super bummed I had to use my phone to see menu. Requested a paper copy, but was told they are obsolete. I think it's more important to NOT be on phones at dinner with friends, so super off putting. Also didn't understand why we couldn't see our bill. The waitress only told us what we owed, and of course wanted no cash payment . Not sold on this and probably won't go back unless it changes. Bummed because we have been customers since it opened. It's just not customer friendly now. read more

Great place, great service! We ordered small plates from their menu. Everything was great. Special tapa for the day was sautéed mushrooms, I would prefer if mushrooms would be served with a crostini, not by itself. But overall - we liked the place, their interior, servers. Will come again if we will be in the neighborhood read more

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Super fresh food, and quick! Spent our 4 year anniversary here and it was great! If we lived here we would probably hit this place up every Wednesday! read more

A charming little gastropub! This is my fourth trip to Salida but first time making it to The Fritz, and I can definitely see why people love it here. They're open for lunch and dinner and the menus are fairly similar between the two, with a few added options at dinner. Fun small plates, burgers, and salads are the thing here--it's all really fresh and pretty healthy, which feels good when you're dining next to a mountain. I came here for lunch with a friend and we both ordered the organic bibb salad with chicken. This thing is portioned well for its $14 price tag--it's HUGE. Although the salad was really simple, it was even more delicious than I was expecting. If you're dining in the summer, try to sit on their pretty patio!I'd love to come back for their mussels and fries and a glass of wine on that very patio very soon--what a real life dream. read more

The Fritz - Yummy flatbread of the day! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Salida, Colorado

Overrated. Seating is extremely limited and tables are literally stacked right next to each other. The service was awful. We had two different servers visit our table multiple times, and they clearly were not communicating because they asked us the same question multiple times. We had the ahi tuna wonton, and it was not worth the $14 for the two that came on the plate. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts and they were underwhelming. The wine selection was extraordinarily limited and I was would recommend getting a bottle versus a glass for the price. There were no vegetarian options for the large plates, just salads, which I could probably make. Also, the site says no reservations, yet when we entered the largest table in the restaurant had a "reserved" sign. Made no sense! Will likely not go back to this restaurant. read more

Excellent, excellent, excellent!!! The owner Eric, (Rick) is so attentive and gave our part of five a fantastic evening. All of the food we ordered was excellent. Super tasty and well presented. I highly recommend this place. They make excellent cocktails too. read more

Had to try the mussels and fries. They were interesting, the white wine sauce was light with lots of garlic. The mussels tasted fresh and all were open. The fries made a very tasty addition, plus they soaked up the sauce really well. They drizzled some kind of light spiced mayonnaise sauce over the fries which blended well with the wine sauce. My only complaint about the bacon wrapped dates was that they didn't have enough cheese and there are only three to a plate. I could have eaten ten. Staff was friendly and helpful. read more

The Fritz - Tapas Bars Near Me - Salida, Colorado

I was super excited to visit the Fritz as it was recommended to me by a number of friends. When I went to try it myself, we were turned away at the door. No joke literally at the door, wouldn't even let our party into the restaurant. The restaurant was busy but not packed and the excuse was "they were completely out of food". While they may have been out of some food it seemed highly suspicious while people were eating all around. What if we wanted to grab a drink? They just seemed like they wanted none of our business which is completely disappointing and put a horrible taste in my mouth. They maybe a great restaurant in Salida but I'll never know, I'm not returning. read more

They are open Thursdays, yelp needs to be updated. Everything we ate was amazing! We tried the steak meal with truffle fries, bacon wraps dates and pot stickers, every ounce was delicious. read more

My partner selected this restaurant for our dinner last night...and I just didn't want to micromanage every choice. But I should have! Seemed like a decent place to have a drink. The bar and bar area were pleasant enough and fairly busy. The outside patio area, covered by overlapping shade sails, was really a great space. The food was mediocre to simply bad. We ordered pot stickers, seaweed salad,spicy tuna ceviche, and shrimp lettuce wraps. The 6 pot stickers, filled with a chicken paste and served with a soy sauce dip, were ok, as was the seaweed salad, but nothing better than you would get at the dozen good case at Sam's Club or Trader Joe's. The spicy tuna ceviche was bland and soggy. The shrimp lettuce wraps were presented as an unrecognizable gooey chilled ooze in a bowl next to the lettuce leaves...this got sent back by my partner who never complains or makes waves. Have a drink at The Fritz while you wait for a table elsewhere read more

Year after year, the Fritz is a must stop when I visit this charming down in Jan/Feb. I was so looking forward to what their new menu had to offer! This time, the owner served our table of 4 for dinner. He couldn't be more helpful and friendly! The Ahi tuna wonton with seaweed was prepared to perfection with perfectly seared tuna, crispy wonton chips and that fresh seaweed salad! Even though it's an appetizer, it was very filling! We also had the burger of the day with whipped cheese, potstickers and beet gorgonzola salad. The burger was so tender, juicy and the toppings were the bomb! They always create a genius combo for the burger toppings. Out friends visiting from WI just raved about the food this entire trip! To all the hardworking kitchen staff, keep up the stellar work and unique offerings! read more

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OMG! Great vibe inside and out. Fabulous patio, beautiful interior - copper ceiling, rustic, art on the walls. Fabulous bar and bar staff! Nikki (guess at sp) and Atticus are knowledgeable and attentive. Eclectic and surprisingly diverse menu that serves everyone, no matter your dietary needs. We had a bottle of Bouza that Nikki poured a taste of. Delicious, balanced, complex. A Uruguayan grape: tennat. Vivino says its a tempranillo. Had the Spanish sardine appetizer that reminded me of Spanish boquerones, kinda. read more

I've been coming here for years. The menu has changed dramatically in the last 10 years but for the better. They never disappoint. Today for lunch we had the ahi wonton, pork pot stickers, Asian salad with ahi and the prosciutto sandwich. Everything was delicious and fresh. If you are in Salida this is the place to eat. You won't be disappointed. read more

Fritz? Delicious! First time in Salida and we picked this place at random. Couldn't have had better luck. From the appetizers to the dessert this place was fantastic. While a little 90's seattle in employee dress-code, service was a dream. We sat outside and not only got to enjoy the delicious food, the refreshing beers from elevation brewing but also got to overhear the amazing musical renditions by local kids taking place at the nearby Riverside Park. Would return here in a hearbeat! Buffalo cauliflower? Yum! Spicy Sausage on a bed of crushed apples? Totes! Apple Pie with salty caramel ice cream? Why, don't mind if I do! The only thing I found odd, yet enjoyed all the same was the cryptic note written on the back of my coaster. "Bryan. Horsey Mr. Horsey on side." Now i'm not sure if i was mistaken for a german agent or some such and this was some sort of clandestine communication but I enjoyed it all the same. Although I don't think I can help with your political coup or assasination or whatever you have planned. Unless of course that is the assassination of the delicious food. Keep up the great work!! read more

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Menu is the best in town. Amazing steak! Truffle fries in the mussels is my favorite menu adaptation. Daily specials always sound amazing but I always go with my usual favorites. Only suggestion is that customer service needs some polish. Had some weird encounters with staff members, (that are not servers) almost walked out once over a dispute decoding which table we were or were not allowed to sit at. Quite strange. Still My favorite place in town read more

The best food I've had in the state of Colorado is in Salida? Why yes indeed! Nice tight atmosphere, casual elegance. Hipster dudes, a little phony, serving a small plate modern tapas style. I had a Thai shrimp dish that was star studded with flavors of lemon grass and coconut milk ..but it was perfect! The steak with horseradish sauce was immaculate. literally everything we had was a 10 out of 10. Astonishing to find this culinary superstar in the once-bumpkin only town of Salida. read more

The Fritz - Tapas Bars Near Me - Salida, Colorado

A tremendous experience. The proprietor of this establishment is very passionate and dedicated to his craft and business. It's great to eat a meal which was not only uniquely delicious but obviously so, due to the love and consideration given each dish by its maker. This place is worth driving an hour to get dinner. He told us all the specials and we just said "ok. Sounds good" it was a great choice. Edit. I wrote this review a year ago. This place was so good I'm sitting in Vermont thinking about it with the lovely gal I dined there with and we are enjoying margaritas inspired by their drink special that evening. Artistry in platefuls. read more

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Small, but we didn't wait too long for a table on a Friday night. Tables are crammed in. One person sits on the booth side & one out in the middle of server traffic. It wasn't as intimate as I would have hoped for. Onto the food. I had a wonderful chicken & Brie sandwich turned into a salad since I didn't want bread...see the photo, this bad boy came out amazing & was totally worth the $11! My boyfriend had an ahi tuna special ($11) & the smoked trout, he was sadly disappointed in both. I tried both of his & I liked the trout better. When they say small plates, it's just that. The amount of tuna he had was way too expensive. They have a good selection of other fun drinks too. The big plates are worth the price, the small plates (tapas) are a little overpriced for the tiny portion. read more

The Fritz - Smoked trout - Tapas Bars Near Me - Salida, Colorado

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Sadly I have to give this place a two star rating. We called in and made a reservation about ten minutes before our party of 9 showed up. So for that, they get one star. Our waiter was the owner. He was...What some may call a bit "cool." He was a trendy under friendly guy who acted like he did not want to be there. After we stayed for awhile our table came to the conclusion it must just be his personality. Which is unfortunate since he is in the service industry as well as the face of the business. On to the food and drinks. We all ordered something different to drink including the lavender something or other and a Mexican mule. Neither one were anything to write home about. For food we ordered about 10 different small plates and shared them amongst our group. The truffle fries were great, as well as the aioli, for that they get their second star. Most everyone enjoyed their meal and the speed of the food was decent. Unfortunately the spicy chicken Quinoa dish was so overcooked it tasted like the chicken had been cooked twice. Such a bummer since the quinoa was so flavorful in itself. All in all the restaurant is a good idea for Salida. Something different, new and trendy. But, it just felt too pricey and pretentious for the area. While I work in the service industry myself friendly service is something I like to pride myself in. I wish other members in the industry took pride in their businesses as well. Seeing as it is our customers who ultimately pay the bills. read more

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This restaurant is a lot more than a tapas bar and I will try to edit the Yelp listing to reflect this. They do have a full restaurant menu, both small plates and entrees. We have taken to ordering a variety of small plates in these sorts of restaurants, especially when traveling. We get variety and an option to see the restaurant cuisine across a wider spectrum than otherwise might happen with just the two of us. The service was fantastic, right off the bat. On a summer evening, we got a nice table outdoors, covered for weather with a nice view of the Riverside Park, even though there were a lot of customers but no wait, on a Monday night. When taking our drink order, our waiter could see my indecision and was patient while I pondered. I finally asked for something not on the menu and he quite gladly said he would come up with something. He asked for preferences in style (sweet vs dry etc) and then showed up with a most fantastic version. I was thrilled and we talked some more about the ingredients. I asked if perhaps the bartender came up with it and he shyly smiled and said that he was also the bartender. Awesome! We then shared a delicious and fresh simple green salad plate, the duck taco plate, an absolute winner of flavors and freshness, with some mango and cotija cheese and a well made and comforting mac and cheese with bacon. We finished with a seasonal dessert. I would absolutely eat here again if ever in Salida. The old downtown area along the river is quite charming and was my favorite part of town. read more

The Fritz is one of my favorite restaurants I've been to in a while. We were in Salida for a weekend get-away and our meal here really topped our night off. The atmosphere is fresh and laid back and the patio, which we didn't opt for, is charming. The menu is made of a lot of small plates that are perfect for sharing, or for getting several to try yourself. Corey and I split the mac and cheese (yum!), brussel sprouts, which should've been crispier, and the steak with horseradish dijon which was out of this world. Next time I'm in Salida, I'll definitely be found here. read more

Our first night in Salida we came here and had a great meal! We enjoyed sitting in the garden area and the staff was friendly. We definitely recommend! read more

New owners 2022. Menu a bit eclectic from veggie pot stickers to Mac & cheese & salad, but food was tasty & timely & Lauren was a nice efficient server, so 4 stars for all that. Biggest turn off is being seated facing garbage pail by the kitchen. Asked manager (?owner/bartender) if could move it, and with a lot of attitude, he did so, but within 10 min, I was staring at a black ugly garbage pail again after they moved it back. No apologies or recognition. Even chain restaurants try to hide their garbage under a counter. So if you can't figure out how to hide your trash from where I eat, then maybe you don't care? If they could just figure out a better place to hide the garbage, it would be 4 stars. And bring back the "sackett salami sandwich". That was a great former Fritz item. Coming from a local. If I see the garbage pail next time, I'm not staying. read more

Every stop in Salida should include a stop at the Fritz. The small plates are a perfect tapas to explore a few different flavors. This trip we enjoyed the brussel sprouts, bacon wrapped dates, beet salad, and potstickers. All exceptional. The space is small, but a cozy mountain town restaurant near the Arkansas River. Hard to expect too much more. The patio is great (though a longer wait time and we were ready to eat). It's not cheap, but for the mountains it's a great value for what you get. Don't be afraid to order 2-3 plates per person if you're really hungry! read more

This place was awesome. We got there 30 min before close and they seemed very happy to "stay open until they stop coming in". I love a place like that. The food was amazing. How can you go wrong with anything in the menu. Will be back for sure. read more

Absolutely amazing food! Only 4 stars because of the service and one dish we ordered came cold - I think it was a mix up and never brought to the table. I'll blame COVID mandates for the poor service, like most places they are busy and understaffed. We would go again. read more

I don't usually write Yelp reviews... so begins the usual missive by a diner who inevitably feels slighted by the staff or the food or the universe at large and so feels it their obligation, as is their duty as a refined aficionado of all things culinary, to take the restaurant apart one nit-pick at a time. And I don't usually write Yelp reviews. But I feel it's my obligation to offer a corrective for some of the drivel that winds up here on yelp at the expense of the hard working folk at restaurants around the world. I've been in the culinary world for over 20 years. I opened a restaurant in a big city that is now enjoying over 20 years of continuous operation. I know what a legit review is. I can also spot a dilettante a mile away, that pseudo-influencer who thinks they're a gourmand because they binge-watch outdated episodes of Rachel Ray. All I can say is anyone perusing the reviews of the Fritz, disregard any of the one star reviews. Anyone who gives this place a one star review wouldn't know the difference between pate de campagne and liverwurst. The food here that I tried was phenomenal. Who'd a thunk you could get chicken Tikka in Salida Co., not to mention one that would make a Mughal grandma proud. Less surprising for a Colorado eatery is the Elk Sausage. But this little flavor bomb, in all its simplicity, knocks it out of the park: fresh elk meat stuffed casing, mustard, applesauce: holy trifecta. My time there was one of the funnest hang with a great collection of locals at the bar and Eric holding court with his great sense of humor. But I read a review here that the staff was being rude or disrespectful. I see this one all the time in yelp reviews and it's usually something about the waitstaff not licking a guests butt. People often forget when they ask for the impossible request, like can you fit a party of eight at your bar or can you completely disregard your restaurant policy and make an exception for my neurotic dietary restriction, that the staff is actually human and not automatons. If you speak to them like they're heartless, they'll respond heartlessly so get over yourselves and remember in the end, while you're the customer, you're also a guest. So fellow yelpers: go check out the Fritz. Be nice to those around you, eat some great food, drink some libations and share good will with your fellow humans. read more

Just stop looking and get in here! We're from out of town, but we make it a priority to stop here when we're in the area. They use locally-sourced, grass-fed beef that always tastes amazing. Because we're here so infrequently, we usually split the burger of the day and the truffle fries. This place never disappoints! read more

From reading reviews here, I was looking forward to a memorable dining experience here in historic Salida. It was memorable but for the wrong reasons. After opting to sit at the quarter-filled bar, I was given a menu and a glass of water by Rachel, who was very nice. But then I was ignored by the co-owner, Grant, working behind the bar who was clearly too busy to greet or make eye contact with a patron. Eventually, Rachel noticed that I had not been greeted or asked for a drink order came and asked me what I would like. I was later also asked for a food order. So, I wondered if the large private party outdoors was affecting his demeanor, but then more guests came in and sat next to me at the bar, and they were immediately greeting warmly by Grant. So that answered that. As a pre-dinner cocktail I ordered their rendition of the Paloma cocktail. I was expected more of a classic, fresh and crisp cocktail, but their version was heavier, sweeter and missing the grapefruit's refreshing acidity. For my dinner I ordered the roasted Brussels sprouts, which sounded appealing with a Parmesan and walnut garnish. The texture of the sprouts seemed more boiled than roasted and the flavor was on the bland side. I also order the small plate version of the steak with horseradish sauce. The steak was cooked medium rare as ordered, but had an off-putting chemical flavor, perhaps due to the over-abundance of fresh thyme leaves sprinkled over the dish. When I was finished my meal, Grant did take the cash for the bill and then dropped the change in front of me without a word. My visit here to the Fritz definitely left a bad taste in my mouth, hopefully other establishments in Salida are more welcoming. read more

This restaurant is the real deal. Soooo glad we stopped by. The owner, Eric, personally came to greet us and helped to make us feel very welcome. In doing doing so, he "twisted our arm" to try the chicken n waffle dish. Wow, best ever!!! We also loved the bacon wrapped dates and green fried tomatoes. And to top it off, the blueberry blueberry bread pudding paired with a 10 yr Madeira dessert wine was the perfect ending to this amazing culinary journey. read more

Came here with strong local recommendations. Fresh and well prepared soups , fish tacos and sandwiches. Helpful and attentive staff, both service and cook. Followup from both service and cook was more vigilant than usual without being obtrusive. In center of town off the main drag, and close to the riverfront park. Casual, bohemian atmosphere, catering to all ages. We got several local recommendations that got more enthusiastic the closer we got. The whole menu has been upgraded to a creative selection of small plates. Smoked trout, Porknpotstickers, fresh and creative salads are examples of taking it up a notch over the usual restaurant fare. I would travel to Salida to eat here! Family friendly. read more

I had the best grilled cheese sandwich and tomato bisque soup combo. The grilled cheese had bacon jam and tomato and was outstanding. The soup had just the right about of spice. My husband's sweet potato fries and burger were pretty great too. read more

Fast, friendly service from Hannah who was excellent. The Steak Fritz was right on point, as was the Sackett Sandwich, Mac 'n' Cheese, and potstickers. A very busy place with a lot of tourists, but handled very well by management and staff. read more

Five star service and food all day long. Danni, our server was a joy and made us laugh all night. They even had a Malbec wine foe us to enjoy. Thank you the Fritz and Danni for providing us great a great dinner and experience. read more

Great place. Came in a little late on a Monday and the bartender was super friendly. Turns out he is the owner and chef. Had the Pate and some steamed dumplings. Fantastic, fantastic food. Why are the pizza places so crowded. Fools! Go to the Fritz instead. read more

Upon arriving at the Fritz, I was surprised to see the sheer amount of people in the restaurant eating the Salida-famous chicken pot pie. After some time, I did realize that the locals are very well adapted to making chicken pot pie in great quantities for tourists and locals alike. Was it the flaky golden crust? Or the rustic cut locally sourced Colorado carrots?? Maybe it was the cube-cut chunks of white chicken breast... the wizards at the Fritz may be humble, but their CPP is to die for! Just another successful rendition of a classic Pot Pie Salida tradition! read more