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Hey foodies! The Talmud of Denver dining is out today.

The Gabby Gourmet 2009 Restaurant Guide tells it like it is about more than 500 area eateries — and it’s even bigger this year, a 1/4-inch bigger, the 23rd edition in 25 years.

So here are the best of the best, the joints Gabby calls “Heavenly”: Barolo Grill, The Capital Grille, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Elway’s Cherry Creek, Frasca Food & Wine, Fruition, L’Atelier, Mizuna and Rioja.

This year marks a move up for Cap Grille and Rioja and a move down for Restaurant Kevin Taylor.

“I could not find one thing wrong every time I went to Capital Grille,” says Pat Miller, a.k.a. Gabby. “The food, the service. They are so totally gracious. And it’s the same thing at Rioja. Everything is so great. You’re welcome there, they care, they give you perfect service. It’s just really heavenly.”

Not so heavenly, but still very good, is Restaurant Kevin Taylor, the swankiest place in town residing in Hotel Teatro. “It was just not up to par,” Miller says. “An over-priced wine list, really awful service and food that was just OK.”

Improving in the ratings this year are Il Posto, Lola, Tables and Venice. New restaurants to thrill you are Jing, D-Bar, Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza, Empire Lounge and Masterpiece Delicatessen.

Miller says the Denver dining scene is healthy, although she couldn’t stop two restaurants that shuttered after her deadline from being in the book : Ocean and French 250.

“You have to go out to eat!” urges Miller in these challenging economic times. “We have categories that list restaurants by price. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Just go out!”

Starting today, the guide is available at Tattered Covers and almost anywhere else you can think of. It’s $16.95. It’s a brick, a stocking stuffer, a doorstop, a tradition. Eat up!