It was a friend who first told me about the Garden Spot Cafe, a cheerful breakfast and lunch spot on the cusp of the RiNo neighborhood. Located on the corner of Larimer and 31st streets, this sunny restaurant bustles mid-day, with diners lining up for stacked sandwiches (the Garden Spot Grilled with garlic-herb cream cheese, cucumber, tomato, bacon, sprouts, and cheddar is especially good), soups, and salads.

My favorite lunch option is the Frutta Secca salad (pictured), a massive pile of greens tossed with walnuts, pecans, cashews, wheat kernels, sunflower seeds, cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan.

Bonus: The nine-month-old cafe also serves breakfast all day. I can’t wait to go back for the “Best Benedict,” a dish composed of house-cured dill salmon, hash browns, poached eggs, and hollandaise.

3163 Larimer St., 303-295-2440

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