Pop into Alto at lunchtime, and you’ll often find the downtown dining room deserted. It shouldn’t be: This modern spot with high ceilings sets the scene for a noteworthy lunch of salads, cracker-crust pizzas, and sandwiches.

Order the mountain goat for a pizza and salad all in one (at $12 it feeds two for a light meal). Thin crust arrives with smoked portobello mushrooms, oven-dried tomatoes, and Haystack goat cheese, with a tossed salad of mixed greens, candied walnuts, apples, and balsamic vinegar on top. It sounds like a lot for one dish, but chef Greg Faircloth does the combo justice by balancing the flavors and textures.

Do not be deterred by the empty restaurant. Rather, consider it a best-kept secret–or at least an ideal spot for a business meeting.

1320 15th St., 303-893-2586

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.