Restaurants in Denver
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SAME Café
- Denver, USA
- Restaurants › Café
This nonprofit cafe was founded by two former food-bank workers, who wanted to provide healthy, by-donation lunches for those who were struggling to make ends meet. The standard American cafeteria fare is delicious. Walk-in volunteers are welcome, though you can reserve a spot in advance online.
Volunteering here or dropping in for lunch is one of the most unique and heart-warming dining options in Denver, and demonstrates the most progressive thinking in the city's sustainable, local, community-oriented food movement.
reviewed
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Rocky Mountain Diner
If you're into things 'old-fashioned' and 'chicken-fried', then yee-haw yourself to this comfy-boothed, family-friendly restaurant. It serves sandwiches, salads and hearty American fare, and for the curious (and very hungry), more exotic dishes such as venison soup or buffalo meatloaf.
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Steuben's Food Service
Although styled as a midcentury drive-in, the upscale treatment of comfort food (mac and cheese, fried chicken, lobster rolls) and the solar-powered kitchen demonstrate Stuben's contemporary smarts. In summer, open garage doors lining the street create a breezy atmosphere and after 10pm they have the most unbeatable deal around: a burger, hand-cut fries and beer for $5.
Look around town for Stuben's mobile truck, powered by recycled veggie oil and often seen dishing out portable versions of the restaurant's staples to thankful politicos at Civic Park. Follow the restaurant on Facebook or Twitter to get details about where the mobile unit will park.
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Root Down
In a converted gas station, chef Justin Cucci has undertaken one of the city's most ambitious culinary concepts, marrying sustainable 'field-to-fork' practices, high-concept culinary fusions and a low-impact, energy efficient ethos. The menu changes seasonally, but consider yourself lucky if it includes the sweet potato falafel or hoisin duck confit sliders.
Unlike the troupe of restaurants jumping on the sustainable bandwagon, Root Down is largely wind powered, decorated with reused and reclaimed materials, and recycles everything. It's conceptually brilliant and one of Denver's most thrilling dining experiences.
reviewed
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Biker Jim's Dogs
Biker Jim's passion for Harleys is only outpaced by his visionary zeal for encased meat. No kidding: the man is a revolutionary. The standard hits are an Elk Jalapeno Cheddar Brat and the Alaska Reindeer Sausage, but on What the ... Wednesdays the experimental menu seems designed by Willie Wonka with a John Wayne complex.
Some Wednesday highlights include rattle snake, Guinness beer brat and pheasant.
Don't be fooled by the tough-guy Easy Rider routine either; Jim is fully tapped into the social networking sites, which are a great place to find menus and his occasional after-hours locations.
reviewed
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Wolfe's Barbeque
Owner Louis Wolfe sunk his life savings into building a custom smoker near Capitol Hill and his hickory-smoked platters of ribs have stained the oxfords of Denver's power brokers for two decades. After ordering at the counter (likely from the curmudgeonly Wolfe himself) find a red-checkered table and begin the lunchtime entertainment: eavesdropping on the Colorado's wheelers and dealers.
Also, vegetarians take note: Wolfe's is far more accommodating to the meatless than most; while your carnivorous friends pig out, you can enjoy BBQ tofu and vegetarian baked beans.
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Cooks Fresh Market
- Denver, USA
- Restaurants › Deli
Far and away the best deli Downtown, the attention to quality is obvious in their take-away salads and sandwiches, selection of cheeses and expert pastries. Some gourmet cooking staples and bulk selection complete the picture, making an ideal stop for supplies if you‘re picnicking in the park or heading out of town.
Though mostly for take out, there are a few tables to eat inside and a small sidewalk patio. The partner team running the place, Ed and Kristi Janos, are some of Denver's most highly credentialed chefs.
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El Taco De Mexico
Forget about ambiance – it's a big yellow counter, florescent lights and a couple of slouching figures shoveling down tacos – but it's all too easy to forgive when you rip into the chilli relleno burrito – a glorious disaster of peppers, cheese, refried pinto beans and salsa verde.
Remember, when the nice lady asks: yes, you want it smothered and yes, you want salsa and onions. This is the best place to get cheap eats in the Santa Fe Arts district, to the west of Capitol Hill.
reviewed
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H BurgerCo
Sure, the formidable burgers at this futuristic diner get raves – especially the Angus beef, chili-infused, cheddar-crowned H Burger – but the visionary milkshake menu might be worthy of skipping the main course altogether. The Nutella Marshmallow variety, topped with roasted marshmallows and infused with liquid nitrogen(!) is an icy, creamy wonder. If you're into something with a bit more kick than a milkshake, fear not; there's a full bar.
reviewed
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Rosa Linda's Mexican Cafe
For more than 20 years the Aguirre family has been serving reasonably priced authentic Mexican comfort fare with a side of old-fashioned hospitality. Winner of numerous awards – including Top 15 nachos in the nation by the Wall Street Journal – Rosa Linda's also does excellent chiles rellenos and mole, and plenty of vegetarian and health-conscious choices (check out the wholewheat grilled-cactus burrito).
reviewed
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Palace Arms
The patriotic pioneer decor inside the award-winning restaurant of the Brown Palace Hotel dates back to the 1700s – check out the silver centerpiece the British royal family commissioned. The food is as impressive as the old-world ambiance, and the wine list features 900 bottles. Signature dishes include Kobe rib-eye steak and seared bison tenderloin.
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Rioja
This is one of Denver’s best restaurants, lauded in foodie media and patronized by the city’s glitterati. Smart, busy and upscale, yet relaxed and casual, Rioja features select regional wines and an interesting menu of cocktails. Starters include a superb fresh bacon and a flight of artisan goats cheese. For mains, try the plump, juicy, seared nori-wrapped scallops or the sublime handmade artichoke tortellini.
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Mizuna
Mizuna is exclusive, expensive and exquisite. The small dining room only adds to the rarefied atmosphere and there's a certain pride knowing you're eating at one of the country's most renowned dining rooms. The menu is eclectic and ever-changing, with an emphasis of fresh seafood and locally sourced seasonal produce. Try the pan-roasted ostrich loin with glazed beets or the signature soft-shell crab.
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Hornet
At first glance it might seem uninspiring – standard sandwiches, grilled meats and pasta plates dominate – but this elegant corner diner punches things up with wide-ranging Southern, Latin American and Asian influences (the shells and cheddar includes lobster and bacon). It’s atmospheric too, with tall windows, classic black-and-white tiles and fans that spin lazily overhead the brunch crowd.
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Wholefoods Market
Part of a national chain, Wholefoods sells organic and natural foods, products and ingredients. There's juices, organic produce and meats, vitamins and all manner of healthy edibles. It's a perfect picnic pick-up stop, plus there's a cafe and a good deli counter. The commitment to sustainability on a large corporate scale is laudable. Local and independent suppliers are supported.
reviewed
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Gypsy House Café
- Denver, USA
- Restaurants › Café
This is an unusual place. A family-run operation that dishes up fine Middle-Eastern mains, deserts and snacks, Turkish coffee as well as espresso, and house-blended loose-leaf tea. The chaotic decor is true to theme, and there's live music, poetry, belly dancing and dub-reggae DJs performing on an erratic schedule. Internet terminals and free wi-fi make it popular with locals.
reviewed
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Hard Rock Café
The food isn't the focus at these ubiquitous rock pubs; Denver‘s branch stands out for the caliber of memorabilia cluttering the place. Hanging the walls is a blouse worn by Jimi, a voided check of young Linda Ronstadt (for $10!) and guitars from Willie, Clapton and the Clash. The real treasure is upstairs: a pair of patent leather shoes Johnny Cash wore at the venue in 1965.
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Bistro Vendôme
When you discover Vendôme, tucked behind the storefronts of Larimer, it feels like your own little secret. Brunch is more casual than dinner, but both are done with scrupulous French technique: mussels in white wine and herb-roasted chicken are well-executed standards, while things get a more adventurous with the avocado and scallion omelets and blackberry glazed pork loin.
reviewed
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Snooze
- Denver, USA
- Restaurants › Cafe
This bright, cheery cafe is a specialty breakfast-and-brunch spot dishing up eggs, breakfast burritos and even a smokin' salmon benedict. The coffee's always good, but you have the option of an early-morning bloody mary. Snooze has a strong sustainability focus, buying carbon offsets for its energy consumption, recycling and composting, and sourcing local organic produce.
reviewed
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Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
For reprieve from the avant guard ice-cream trend, find the red-and-white awning of Bonnie Brae. Their extensive list of homemade ice cream includes time-tested favorites such as butter pecan and spumoni and a short list of gentle experiments, such as Grand Mariner chocolate chip. The waffle cones (also homemade), dipped in chocolate and sprinkles, are simply delightful.
reviewed
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Snooze
In Denver's brunch wars, Snooze is a super power. Apple and pear pancakes top the sweet list and savory recommendations include the pot pie topped with a sunny side egg. Regardless, just smother whatever you order with the smoked cheddar hollandaise sauce. You can thank us later. The home store is in LoDo.
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Señor Burrito
If you need a quick bite to fortify you before drinking down the South Broadway strip, Señor Burrito is adequately quick and cheap. Authentic? Not so much. Morning options include an egg- and ham-loaded, Denver-style breakfast burrito, while the crunchy tacos – filled with ground beef, cheddar, lettuce and tomato – are just like mom used to make...back in Michigan.
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Fruition Restaurant
Alex Seidel and Blake Edmunds are heavy hitters in Denver's fine dining scene, pulling off their contemporary American plates (potato-wrapped oysters Rockefeller, duck with red onion marmalade) with understated panache. The food is simply conceived, carefully executed and elegantly presented. Many of the greens, the chickens and the eggs come from Seidel's farm.
reviewed
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Squeaky Bean
Shake N Bake Veal Sweatbreads gives you a sense of the bipolar approach to high dining here – this is contemporary American cuisine with good humor and technique. Somehow, the drink list is even better. Try the 'Drinkable Molly Brown' – Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, Rothman Orchard Apricot Liqueur, Tawny Port, cinnamon extract, and a Drunken Apricot.
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Elway's
One candid Denver sports fan explained John Elway's significance this way: 'It's like everyone goes to bed hoping to wake up and find him miraculously 22 years old and winning Super Bowls again.' Since that's unlikely, our consolation prize is to carve into a pricey medium rare porterhouse at Denver's top steakhouse, located inside the Ritz Carlton.
reviewed