Bad Daddy's Burger Bar sits at 2151 East Briarwood Avenue in the Streets at SouthGlenn, about ten minutes from Centennial Airport. It's a craft burger concept with a rooftop patio, and it's the more energetic, younger-crowd option compared to the steakhouses down at Park Meadows, better for a casual night out than a business dinner.
What To Order
The burgers are the reason to come: thick, cooked to order, with combinations that go beyond the standard cheese-and-bacon setup. There's a solid rotating list of craft beers on tap to go with it, plus a full bar if beer's not the move. Portions run large enough that splitting an order of the loaded fries is a reasonable call.
Rooftop Patio
The rooftop is the actual draw at this location: open-air seating with decent sightlines over SouthGlenn, and it's a genuinely nice spot on a warm Colorado evening. It fills up fast on weekends, so getting there before 6 pm on a Friday or Saturday makes a real difference.
Neighborhood
The Streets at SouthGlenn is a walkable, open-air shopping district with a dozen other restaurants within a few blocks, so if Bad Daddy's has a wait, there's no shortage of backup options nearby. Parry's Pizzeria is a two-minute walk, and a handful of coffee shops and fast-casual spots fill in the gaps.
Dietary Options
The menu marks vegetarian and gluten-friendly options clearly, including a black bean burger that holds up on its own rather than feeling like an afterthought. Worth checking if someone in your group doesn't eat red meat, since that isn't always guaranteed at a burger-forward restaurant.
Getting There
From KAPA, it's a straightforward ten-minute drive north via University Boulevard, putting it closer to the airport than the Park Meadows restaurant cluster to the south.
Streets at SouthGlenn has a parking structure and street parking both, and neither is guaranteed on weekend evenings; plan a few extra minutes to park and walk if you're eating during peak dinner hours. Rooftop seating is first-come, not reservable, so arriving early is the only real strategy.
Who It Suits
This is the pick for a crew or family that wants something fast, loud, and casual rather than a formal sit-down: good for a group with kids, or anyone who wants patio time and a beer rather than a wine list and a tablecloth.
SouthGlenn's Two Big Draws, Compared
| Restaurant | Vibe | Seating | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Daddy's Burger Bar | Energetic, younger crowd | Rooftop patio, first-come | Moderate, sit-down |
| Parry's Pizzeria & Taphouse | Casual, flexible | Counter or table | Faster, counter option |
Both restaurants sit in the same shopping district and both do well with a casual crowd, but Bad Daddy's leans harder into being an evening destination, particularly for the rooftop, while Parry's is built to move faster if time is the priority.
The No-Reservations Rooftop Problem
The rooftop patio cannot be reserved, which means the only real strategy for getting a table on a warm Friday or Saturday evening is arriving before the rush starts, generally before 6 p.m. Groups that show up at 7:30 expecting rooftop seating on a nice evening are often looking at a wait or a table inside instead. If the rooftop is the reason you are coming, treat the early arrival as part of the plan rather than an afterthought.
If The Patio Is Full
If you cannot get rooftop seating and do not want to wait, the indoor dining room moves faster and still gets the same kitchen; the food does not change, only the view does. If the whole restaurant has a wait, Parry's Pizzeria is a two-minute walk and usually seats faster given its counter-service option.
Dietary Notes
The black bean burger and other vegetarian options are marked clearly on the menu rather than tucked away as an afterthought, worth checking if part of your group does not eat red meat and wants something more substantial than a side salad.
Bottom Line
Bad Daddy's is worth planning around rather than dropping into on a whim if the rooftop matters to you. Show up early on weekends, or go in accepting that indoor seating is just as good a burger with a less scenic backdrop.
Pricing & Happy Hour
Burgers run in the mid-teens to low-twenties, in line with the rest of the SouthGlenn cluster, and happy hour on weekday afternoons knocks a few dollars off select beers and appetizers. It is a solid way to try the rooftop without committing to a full dinner tab.