Caroline Glover, chef-owner of two-year-old Annette, shares the vision behind her award-winning, wood-fire-fueled restaurant inside Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace.

“I wanted to create a cozy spot that felt like eating at a friend’s house, with good, simple, seasonal food and good conversation. I hoped our guests would feel like they were part of our family, which I think has happened, what with the open kitchen and our regulars. My favorite part is when people come in for the first time and tell us that they feel that way too.

We only use responsibly sourced product because it’s important to buy food from people whose values align with ours. Delaney Community Farms, Ela Family Farms, Esoterra Culinary Garden…we don’t have to manipulate the ingredients too much because they’re excellent to begin with, and we honor the food even more because we know what it took for those farmers to get that product to our kitchen.

Annette wouldn’t be Annette without the team. Everyone does everything, and everyone shares; all hourly employees earn the same rate and share tips. It’s not just about a paycheck, and in fact, I’ve had servers leave to make more money on tips and come back. Annette is a labor of love. We’re all on that boat together, and I think our guests can feel it.”

$$$, Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-710-9975

(MORE: Read our 2017 restaurant review of Annette)

Denise Mickelsen
Denise Mickelsen
Denise Mickelsen is 5280’s former food editor. She oversaw all of 5280’s food-related coverage from October 2016 to March 2021.