Perhaps it's just me, but 2012 really snuck up. So instead of charging into this new year, I'm intent on easing into it. One of the best ways to do that is to enjoy a leisurely lunch at Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar.

At this casual French spot, the menu is comprised of classics: aromatic French onion soup, Niçoise salad with a wedge of seared tuna, or steak frites with Colorado's Best Beef. But for me, the ratatouille tart—a buttery pastry topped with caramelized tomato, zucchini, squash, eggplant, basil, onion, and arugula—is the star. If you can't make it in for lunch, the dish is also served at dinner (with the same $14 price tag). At either meal, it's the perfect foil for a glass of the earthy Bouchard Embossed.

1512 Curtis St., 303-534-1155