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By Amanda M. Faison, Gretchen Kurtz, & Carol W. Maybach, photography by Laurie Smith

Issue: March 2008

Section: Feature

Best Restaurants

The definitive list for dining in Denver, including the top 40 restaurants, the sweetest places to brunch, and the swankiest spots to nosh at the bar. Plus, your most pressing dining questions answered.

Where Should I Dine If...

All year long we field phone calls and e-mails from readers seeking dining help. Here, a few of our favorites.

>> My wife and I got engaged in Paris and our first wedding anniversary is coming up. Where's a good place for dinner and reminiscing? Enjoy the rustic mushroom soup or the savory mussels at Uptown's romantic AIX (719 E. 17th Ave., 303-831-1296). Bonus: If you don't want a full meal, have a glass of bubbly at the intimate bar.

>> My friends and I are planning a dinner for 20; where should we go? We've never been disappointed with Panzano's (909 17th St., 303-296-3525) private wine cellar or the upstairs dining room (complete with fireplace and a bay window) at Highland's Garden Café (3927 W. 32nd Ave., 303-458-5920).

>> Many restaurants have dining deals on certain nights of the week—which do you recommend? It's hard to beat Sunday nights at Black Pearl (1529 S. Pearl St., 303-777-0500) in Platt Park, where your entire check—dinner, wine, and dessert—rings up at half price. (May we recommend the mussels with Pernod broth and frites?)

>> I'm new to town and looking for a great piece of pizza. For fold-in-half New York-style slices we turn to the downtown location of Anthony's Pizza & Pasta (1550 California St., 303-573-6236), but for a more gourmet take, the garlicky Pontiff pie at Proto's Pizzeria Napoletana (2401 15th St., 720-855-9400) tops our list.

>> I'm hosting a birthday party for a friend and I want a delicious and pretty, but reasonably priced, cake. Can you recommend a bakery? We regularly order cakes from eat dessert first (1179 S. Monroe St., 303-282-4954), and we've always been wowed by the creations and the prices. The strawberry shortcake flavor—vanilla white chocolate cake layered with whipped cream and strawberries—is one of our favorites.

>> We'd like to go out to a nice dinner and take our six-year-old along with us. Where can we go that'll oblige a young child and still feel like a night out? Not only does Strings (1700 Humboldt St., 303-831-7310) have an impressive kids' menu—think roasted red pepper and tomato bisque or capellini rustica—but owner Noel Cunningham brings children into the kitchen to help make dessert.

>> I crave breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles, but I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. Does anyplace serve alternative breakfast goods? WaterCourse Foods (837 E. 17th Ave., 303-832-7313) bakes up gluten-free sweet-potato cinnamon rolls, muffins, coffee cake, and scones, and the Original Pancake House (5900 S. University Blvd., Greenwood Village, 303-795-0573) recently added gluten-free pancakes to its menu.

>> I'd like to gather my friends for happy hour at a bar or restaurant that's off the beaten path. Limón (1618 E. 17th Ave., 303-322-0898), a sleek restaurant serving eclectic Peruvian cuisine, offers a terrific happy hour with drink specials and fresh ceviche and fried plantains. Bonus: There's ample street parking.

>> We love doing tasting menus, where's the best of the lot? At Black Cat Bistro (1964 13th St., Boulder, 303-444-5500), chef Eric Skokan's farm-to-table cuisine shines in his sumptuous tasting menus. His five- or seven-course dinners pair fine wines and often feature produce grown in Skokan's own garden.

>> Can you recommend a great Chinese restaurant? Run, don't walk, to Super Star Asian Cuisine (2200 W. Alameda Ave., 303-727- 9889) for the best dim sum in town. You'll be dazzled by every item on the menu—line up early and note the Asian crowd, the best endorsement of all.

>> We're looking for great Latin food that isn't Mexican. Make a reservation at Café Brazil (4408 Lowell Blvd., 303-480-1877) for South American eats that are rich in Brazilian and Argentinean influences. Order the pernambuco, a scallops dish with coconut curry sauce.

>> I love Japanese food but not necessarily sushi—where do you recommend? Escape to Domo Restaurant (1365 Osage St., 303-595-3666), where they offer traditional country-style dishes in a stunning environment. Don't miss a springtime visit to the restaurant's amazing Japanese garden.

>> I've got family coming to town, and it's their first time to Denver. I'd like to show them a slice of history. The magnificent setting and early American traditions of the Fort (19192 Highway 8, Morrison, 303-697-4771) make it a must-stop for out-of-towners. For more casual dining, try the Buckhorn Exchange (1000 Osage St., 303-534- 9505) for great prime rib and a room filled with Wild West nostalgia.

>> Where's the best spot to eat at Boulder's new Twenty Ninth Street Mall? The family-run Laudisio (1710 29th St., Boulder, 303-442-1300) Italian restaurant is tops. Try the fettuccine funghi with mushrooms, shallots, cream, and truffle butter.

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