Emerald Isle Restaurant

This place is a landmark in Aurora. The patio and view are to die for! The new owner is working on some much needed upgrades.
We had some serious issues with our last visit, but Mel took care of us once she was aware of the problems!

Have passed this place for years and always noticed the parking lot is packed. Should be a good sign right? Talked hubby into going last Friday night to check it out. Walking in from the back parking lot we noticed several empty tables on the patio. Perfect! Except when we approached the hostess, she told us there were no tables open on the patio. When I told her we saw several, she said «yeah, but the servers are overwhelmed and you’ll have to wait at least 25 minutes.» So we kind of looked around at the bar and the table area around the bar and said, «do you mind if we wait over here?» She kind of huffed and said «okay.» I asked her, «would you like our name to add to your wait list?» Got the huff again. We sat at our «table» for about 15 minutes, and since no one showed up to ask if we wanted a drink, my hubby went to the bar and ordered. I use the term «table» loosely because it was literally falling apart and you could not set your drink on it without it being in danger of falling off. The «table» top was coming unbolted from the legs and the legs were not in any better shape. After 25 minutes of seeing people leave from the patio and no one else being seated out there, the hubby went back and asked if we could now be seated and we were. Our waiter (can’t remember his name, but super nice) was great! We ordered the queso which was very good. The biggest problem with this place is the attitude of the «hostess», cleanliness, blaring loud music inside when it’s not full, falling apart furniture etc. The view is awesome and this could be a great place to hang. Will not be going back.

Waited a long long … time for any service at all. Tracked someone down and continued to wait a long long time… It’s a shame. It could be a great place with the view and music and all. Probably need a staff overhaul. I’m still waiting for food… If it ever comes I will review that as well.
Update: Food was very good when it came out.
A manager contacted me right away with her apologies. I really appreciate that.

Such a disappointment. This could have been such a good time but not today. We seem to be a little short staffed although it wasn’t busy. Maybe that should have been a clue. Glad we only wasted an hour and $ 20. Blaring Billy Joel over the loud speakers and not the «good ones!» Apparently it is impossible to turn down. Ugh. Remarkably awful service, rude, I don’t like to spend my money for that. Two stars for the patio that could have been phenomenal.

Holy Dive Bar!!!
This is IT!!! Love the vibe! Love the drinks… having one of the «worst Margaritas ever» as claimed by some Gomer on Unilocal.Great views of the Cherry Creek Reservoir. Walked over fr I mean our campsite at the reservoir. Both of us ordered the Taco Trio. The Barkeep was also our server. Happy music playing. What’s not to love?
If you don’t love Funky Cool Dive Bars, just stay the hell away!!!
Traveling Socal-​ifornians loving this joint!

This place is famous for their chile rellenos. It has a great view of Cherry Creek Reservoir and the Rocky Mountains from an out door deck. Great place to spend a weekend afternoon sipping margaritas.

I love this place!
What brought us in was a handwritten sign in front of the bar that read, «Taste our 1 star Unilocal Margarita!»
Everybody at the bar was drinking Margaritas!
Bitchin good those Margs, for sure!
We will be back!
I love this!

Love the atmosphere here, laid back feel. Fun employees, heavy pours (you get your money’s worth) and a fantastic view! Great neighborhood bar.

I have to agree with David on the margaritas. Still not better and horribly watered down. Actually I’ve never had a more watered down margarita in a bar! If you prefer juice with a lime wedge this is the margarita for you. My biggest issue today was not the margarita but the sign by the door about their horrible margaritas. Please add my name to the sign! What a rude business. How about instead of disrespecting your customers you fix the damn margarita and take the advise your customers are giving you to improve your business. Food still bar food, service still poor bathroom still gross. Patio and music outside fantastic! I really just can’t get over why this business would post a sign like this, do they want business!!!

Best «Dive» bar with a view! Try the Mel’s Margarita, you will not be disappointed. We go there so often I don’t even report how many times. The last few times they were out of Crown and Jamison. Really?

WOW! Super bummed! I live around the corner and usually get amazing service even when it’s busy. I flew a friend in from cali for this weekends RAIDER-​BRONCO game and I took him to emerald first thing. There were 20 total people in the restaurant and we got put on the back burner right off the bat. I’m a Chef and have been for years. I am not a picky patron when hanging with friends at a bar. However, an hour for food to get out with very lil business is just bad! It was to say the least, a bad choice on my part taking my friends there last night. Guess they do well enough not to concern themselves with winter business expectations!

Incredibly weird experience. 10% full (if that). Went at 12:30pm, stood for 10 minutes at the «Whoa Whoa, wait to be seated signs.» Asked the bartender, can we sit on the patio? «I prefer if you wait until I seat you». 5 minutes later, ask another person, «can we go sit on the patio?» She responds «10 minute wait to be seated.»
Thought we were on a hidden camera show, have to wait 15 min to be seated in an empty bar.
We walk out and she yells «I was going to seat you outside in 10 minutes!»

The Platte Bar and Grill holds a place in my heart for numerous reasons. I love that bar and I love being on that patio. To my surprise, Emerald Isle is a weird replica of The Platte. The décor is similar and the patio almost mirrors it as well, with a great view of the mountains. I have stopped by for drinks a few times, but this time, I thought I should try their food. I was in the mood for tacos. Well, when I am not in the mood for tacos? I got the crunchy ground beef tacos and Brian got the Philly sandwich. Overlooking Cherry Creek reservoir, this patio is perfect. There was a guy playing some jams in the sun while everyone sweats under umbrellas enjoying the summer. The food arrived quickly and was piping hot. The tacos were really good, but seemed to lack something. I can’t put my finger on it, but it was just lacking something. Brian really liked his sandwich, and seemed content with the flavors. The server was great and always attentive and ready to get more drinks for us. I will be back to try other menu items and of course, to enjoy the awesome patio.

A decent bar/​restaurant. Lots of Mexican food on the menu. I ordered the southwest salad and my boyfriend a burrito. The margaritas are tasty and they have a killer happy hour. Friday nights are pumping on the outside deck. A live band performs and lots of seating and tables outside. Not a good idea if the weather is not in your favor as there isn’t much overhead cover on the deck. The service can be a bit slow when it gets busy, but the servers are all very nice and accommodating so it didn’t bother us too much. The Entertainment Book offers 25% off the entire check, so if your looking for a good deal check it out.

Place is pretty awesome, there is no reason they should not be busy with a patio like that in the summer. I can how ever tell that the staff walks around with a I don’t care attitude and from little details it looks like they follow the lead of their manager or owner. Lights are broken paint chipped showing wear and tear. No patio umbrellas up unless you ask. As for the food and drink we had some house margaritas and they where actually pretty tasty. We had the nachos supreme and that was very good too. All the food I observed leaving the kitchen seemed to look very good. Maybe they just need to put forth a little more effort and this place has the potential to be Plate River East. Get with the program.

I’ve been coming here for a long time and only once was I disappointed with the service. The beer is good; the atmosphere is just right, and the Green Chili is some of the best in town. The view is great and the staff is on top of things.

It was fun here! Karaōke at night. Drinks and catching up in the back. I wouldn’t recommend going out there during the winter. Super super cold. They should have a heater back there for those nights. But other than that it was enjoyable.

I’ve tried this place off and on for a decade. It is complete S*@t. Food, Drinks, And service are horrific. The view can’t save this place. Our server said she had been there six years… And was one of the worst serves I’ve ever had. I love dive bars… But this is a bad restaurant and bar. Don’t go here. Please… I’ve been a Unilocal user for years and this was my first review… I guess chips and salsa, to assure the safety of patrons, needs to take 20 minutes…

I stumbled upon this bar one Friday afternoon, when I met some friends from Aurora for a drink. I felt like I just stepped out of a hot tub-​time machine, and just missed the 80’s party. The place is run-​down and the staff seem tired. Beer selection was meh, and prices were a bit high for happy hour. We were told that they, «don’t split checks,» but they begrudgingly worked with us to pay our bill separately. I didn’t try the food on this visit.
Views from the back patio are nice, and a friend told me that you can park behind the restaurant and walk in to Cherry Creek State Park, from that location. This place is an Aurora relic I never knew existed.

Emerald Isle is a dive bar with a beautiful view of the mountains and Cherry Creek Reservoir. On my lunch visit the patio featured a nice mix of tables both in the sun and tucked into the shade of their covered awning. The view is somewhat hindered by the unsightly paved driveway/​rear parking lot that creeps into frame, but focus on the mountains and lake, and it’s very beautiful. I can only imagine how nice this place must be during sunset.
It wasn’t very busy on my visit, and the one waitress was very friendly and did a good enough job balancing the tables.
The nachos caught my eye on their website, and as a bit of a connoisseur I can never say no. They arrive as an appealing mound of ground beef, melted shredded cheese, pico, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, very mild jalapenos, and a side of salsa. My biggest criticism would have to be that I was craving some freshly made tortilla chips, and these nachos are only made with store-​bought chips straight from the tostitos bag. That felt a little cheap.
Overall, I left relaxed from the view with a pretty satisfied nacho craving.