Arada: If you’ve been asking where to get good Ethiopian food in downtown Denver, the search ends in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District, where Haime Asfaw has relocated her restaurant, Arada (which means “downtown”). Judging from the hour-long wait at a recent First Friday gallery opening, she did the right thing to leave Colfax for new digs. The menu includes lamb, chicken, beef and vegetarian options. If fiery food with a nicely spiced difference is your thing, this is pepper heaven, although milder
choices abound. Arada’s injera, spongy bread that subs for a fork, is heavenly, and her meat sambusas, crispy, flavorful flash-fried meat pies, are a meal in themselves. Don’t fret if eating with your hands is not your thing forks are available. | 750 Santa Fe Drive, 303-329-3344 | Ellen Sweets
Simply Sloppy Joes: You can down only so many burgers and hot dogs in the course of a summer before your tongue aches for a little variety. Enter Simply Sloppy Joes, located in the Curve Shoppette on West Mississippi Avenue. Other than a few flavors of milkshakes (including mint and root beer) and some choice sides (like sweet cole slaw and “Mom’s” white beans with bacon), all you’ll find on the menu at SSJ’s is sloppy Joes. Regular, spicy, BBQ and a few special varieties. A single Joe costs $3.75 including chips and a soda, or scarf down two for $5.25.|6761 W. Mississippi Ave., Lakewood, 303-934-JOES (5637)|Tucker Shaw
The Wayside Inn:
“The Wayside Inn I haven’t eaten there since I was in high school,” said a dad on my son’s baseball team in Berthoud last
week. “They had great fried chicken.” Still do, along with bottomless mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. The homey
menu and service make this 84-year-old restaurant a great place to take Grandma or a tired 10- year-old the waitress
made him an extra-large clown sundae for dessert. | 505 Mountain Ave., Berthoud, 970-532-2013 | Kristen Browning-Blas
