Denver
Local Tastes
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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LODO. For an original, locally-brewed beer, head over to Breckenridge Brewery. While the brewery was started in Breckenridge, Colorado, the company brews and bottles beer in Denver as well. Just a block from Coors Field, the brewery is a popular stop before or after baseball games. Customary meals consist of typical pub fare washed down with one of their seasonal ales.
GOLDEN TRIANGLE. Buckhorn Exchange is Denver's oldest restaurant, offering up a menu and atmosphere still in step with life 100 years ago. No matter where you're seated in the small two-story building, you're likely to have a view of a mounted animal head whose descendant may be your entree. Choose from elk, buffalo, beef, lamb, or even alligator tail or Rocky Mountain oysters.
HIGHLANDS. While several area restaurants feature breads from The Denver Bread Company, it's best to go straight to the source for the good stuff. Stop by in the morning for a heavenly scone or cinnamon twist before they run out. Then, suitably sustained, wander up to the shops of historic Highlands Square to browse what's on offer.
NORTH DENVER. Everything for your sweet tooth can be found at Hammond's Candies, where visitors are also invited to take free factory tours to watch as candy canes, lollipops, brittles and many more confections are deliciously handmade.
UPTOWN. Marczyk Fine Foods is more than just a place to stock the pantry. It's a neighborhood grocery store, deli, and wine shop with an emphasis on Colorado growers and producers. Carry-out is standard, and depending on the time of year, you can try a Maverick Ranch chicken or turkey, or sample Ela Family Farms pears, peaches, and apples. Stop in for a sandwich or salad any day of the week, come by for a freshly grilled burger on Friday nights in the summer, or check out the annual urban pig roast. You'll eat well and get great service to boot.
CAPITOL HILL. Set in the heart of Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood, Potager restaurant and wine bar is a satisfying venue for seasonal, locally-grown fare, including fresh herbs and vegetables grown on the outdoor patio. Organic and grass-fed poultry and meats also appear on the menu, which changes every four weeks to adjust to seasonal availability.
LODO. An award-winning chef/owner makes Rioja one of the best restaurants in Denver, consistently. Set in the heart of LoDo's Larimer Square, Rioja offers an unexpected take on seasonal local ingredients, fashioning them into dishes with Mediterranean flavor. Grab a seat on the patio if the weather is nice, and enjoy people-watching as you sip a glass of wine. Their impressive list features selections from Rioja, the Spanish wine region.
HIGHLANDS. The newly remodeled Tamales by La Casita is considered the best place to grab your breakfast tamale in Denver, if not in all of Colorado. La Casita is in northwest Denver, a neighborhood commonly called Highlands that's home to a large Mexican community with deep roots here. The tamales come vegetarian – green chile and cheese – or red chile with pork.
UPTOWN. Denver's finest vegetarian fare can be found at WaterCourse Foods, including treats from their own bakery and a few organic wines. Main course options include country-fried seitan with mashed potatoes and vegetables, zesty Andalusian pasta, a tamale plate, and a Thai peanut stir-fry. The Uptown neighborhood restaurant includes an outdoor patio and room for large parties.
HIGHLANDS. Pushing the envelope for what's considered local food is Z Cuisine Bistrot & Cręperie in the historic Highlands neighborhood. This surprising find of a restaurant offers a seasonal menu of traditional French food using imported ingredients, along with locally grown specialties from Colorado lamb to beets. As a further boost to its popularity, the tiny eatery is adding on a wine bar two doors down. Maybe you stumbled upon it during your travels. Perhaps a friend told you to go. Maybe you live in the city, and it's your special place. However you've come to know it, it's that one special restaurant that just defines the city. You know the ones you love; now, we'll tell you the treasures in other cities. Discover established eateries with distinct character, hole-in-the-wall diners, or high-end, chef-run establishments. We'll let you know what locals like and give you a leg up on what's best and brightest.
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Maybe you stumbled upon it during your travels. Perhaps a friend told you to go. Maybe you live in the city, and it's your special place. However you've come to know it, it's that one special restaurant that just defines the city. You know the ones you love; now, we'll tell you the treasures in other cities. Discover established eateries with distinct character, hole-in-the-wall diners, or high-end, chef-run establishments. We'll let you know what locals like and give you a leg up on what's best and brightest.
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