Norma’s Crab Cakes come with
a generous house salad. (Post / Craig F. Walker ) |
THE DARLING
Highland’s Garden Café
3927 W. 32nd Ave., 303-458-5920
Three meals daily
AMERICAN, $$$
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Date night in the Highland neighborhood calls for a window table at Highland’s
Garden Café, a romantic, old-school
restaurant located in a pair of restored
Victorian homes. Choose the French
Country dining room for dates
or the Original dining room
for a group of four.
WHAT TO GET:
Seafood.
THE VACATION
Café Brazil
4408 Lowell Blvd., 303-480-1877
Dinner Tuesday-Saturday
BRAZILIAN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s not
exactly showing off your new wax job on the beaches of Ipanema, but dinner at Café Brazil is about as close as it comes. Have a caipirinha and listen to
the samba beats.
WHAT TO GET: Feijoada
THE OFFSPRING
Cafe Mondo
3301 Tejon St., 303-433-4626
Breakfast and lunch daily
AMERICAN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Mondo Vino was already one of Denver’s best wine shops. So it’s no surprise that Cafe Mondo is one of Denver’s best cafes. Good coffee and frequently changing entrees like bouillabaise.
WHAT TO GET: Soup
THE THROWDOWN
Los Carboncitos
722 Sheridan Blvd., 303-573-1617
(also at 3757 Pecos St., 303-458-0880)
Three meals daily
MEXICAN, $
WHY WE LOVE IT: Shuffle in unshowered, order a Mexican-bottled Coke (made with cane sugar, so much tastier than the U.S. corn- syrup version), and tuck into the four chip-ready
salsas while the kitchen prepares your soul-satisfying carnitas gordita.
WHAT TO GET: Mar y tierra huarache
THE CHARMER
Duo
2413 W. 32nd Ave., 303-477-4141
Dinner daily, brunch Saturday- Sunday
AMERICAN, $$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Expert cooking and a romantic room make this one of Denver’s best date spots. Seasonal menu changes frequently. Unskippable: dessert.
WHAT TO GET: Roasted chicken and apple tart for two.
THE PICNIC
Gelman’s
Gourmet Market
2911 W. 38th Ave., 303-458-1163
Lunch, dinner Tuesday-Saturday
AMERICAN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: With a straightforward menu leaning heavily on sandwiches, this casual north Denver spot is best enjoyed at lunch, when light pours in the windows and bakers bustle behind the counter.
WHAT TO GET: Lemonade
THE COAST
Highland Pacific
3934 W. 32nd Ave., 303-477-6644
Dinner six days, closed Monday
AMERICAN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Every neighborhood needs a good place to hang out over beers and seafood. Casual, relaxing and predictable – perfect for weeknight regulars. Live music on Thursdays and Saturdays.
WHAT TO GET: Fresh oysters
THE BREAKFAST NOOK
Kyle’s Kitchen
4018 Tennyson St., 303-477-5625
Breakfast and lunch daily
DINER, $
WHY WE LOVE IT: Nothing says “good morning” like a hot cup of coffee and a laminated menu. Eggs and pancakes rule the a.m. hours, burgers and BLTs take over at lunch. Cheerful
service reigns all day.
WHAT TO GET: Two over easy
THE TRANSPLANT
Lola
1575 Boulder St. 720-570-8686
Dinner Monday-Saturday, brunch Sunday
MEXICAN, $$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: It wasn’t a given that Lola would survive its location change to the Highland neighborhood, but it did. Still on the menu: Veracruz-style Mexican seafood dishes.
WHAT TO GET: Molasses-
glazed marlin
THE DON
Pagliacci’s
1440 W. 33rd Ave., 303-458-0530
Dinner Tuesday-Sunday
ITALIAN, $$-$$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: North Denver is dotted with old- school Italian eateries, from Carl’s to Lechugas. Pagliacci’s, decked with spumoni-colored uplighting and basket-weave
chianti bottles, is one of the most evocative.
WHAT TO GET: Baked ravioli
THE SURVIVOR
Patsy’s Inn
3651 Navajo St., 303-477-8910
Lunch Monday-Friday, dinner six days (closed Sunday)
ITALIAN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Patsy’s has been serving red-sauce pasta to its grateful neighborhood for over 60 years, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
WHAT TO GET: Chicken parmesan sandwich
THE FAMILY TABLE
Rosa Linda
2005 W. 33rd Ave., 303-455-0608
Three meals daily; closed
Sunday
MEXICAN, $-$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Look up “neighborhood restaurant” and you’ll find a picture of Rosa Linda’s, one of our most relaxed Mexican restaurants. Kids love this inexpensive place.
WHAT TO GET: Posole
THE PASSION
Sabor Latino
4340 W. 35th Ave., 303-455-8664
Lunch and dinner, six days (closed Sunday)
LATIN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: The menu spans not only Latin America – Chile (bride’s soup), Peru (ceviche), Brazil (caipirinha) – but Spain, too, with a tasty paella.
WHAT TO GET: Empanadas
THE PIT STOP
Taquería Patzcuaro
2616 W. 32nd Ave., 303-455-4389
Lunch and dinner seven days
MEXICAN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: Throwdown Mexican favorites like huevos con chorizo make the margaritas taste even better.
WHAT TO GET: Carnitas
THE MEETING PLACE
Three Sons
2915 W. 44th Ave., 303-455-4366
Lunch Tuesday-Friday, dinner Tuesday-Sunday; closed
Monday
ITALIAN, $$
WHY WE LOVE IT: There’s no such thing as too many family-friendly Italian restaurants. Regulars come weekly for a garlic fix.
WHAT TO GET: Lasagna
THE HEARTH
Udi’s on Broadway
Cafe and Bakery
7000A Broadway, 303-657-1616
Breakfast, lunch; closed
Saturday, Sunday
BAKERY, $
WHY WE LOVE IT: Udi Baron is saving us from bad bread, one loaf at a time.
WHAT TO GET: Ciabatta, levain, multigrain – so many good carbs. And
get the granola too.
THE NEW KID
Vita
1575 Boulder St., 303-477-4600
Dinner daily
ITALIAN, $$$
WHY WE LOVE IT: This glitz- and-sparkle spot is located in a ex-mortuary. Dishes that shine: roast lamb and pork-stuffed polenta sandwich.
WHAT TO GET: Salumi plate
