Restaurants are listed alphabetically.
AMERICAN
Berkshire
7352 E. 29th Ave., 303-321-4010,
(Very Good) Appetizers $7-$12, sandwiches $8-$12, mains $16-$27. Crowd-pleasing pork is the staple of this Stapleton eatery, with bacon accents on dishes from salads to cream puffs, but there’s more to the menu: seafood and burgers and beer. Last reviewed September 2009.
Masterpiece Deli
1575 Central St., 303 561-3354,
(Very Good) Sandwiches $8-$10.50; breakfast sandwiches $4.75 and up. Top-shelf ingredients and preparation make the common- sounding sandwiches (Reuben, egg salad) uncommon. Last reviewed April 2009.
Root Down
1600 W. 33rd Ave., 303-993-4200,
(Very Good/Great) Plates $7-$22, with most around $9-$11. An eclectic menu of innovative, flavorful small dishes (many of which are vegetarian) drives this forward-thinking eatery. Last reviewed March 2009.
Shazz
4262 Lowell Blvd., 303-477-1407,
(Very Good/Great) Appetizers $7-$11; mains $24-$35. Don’t miss the braised oxtail appetizer, served over asiago grits, and don’t miss a few minutes at the bar for a signature cocktail mixed with house-made ingredients. Last reviewed April 2009.
Steakhouse Ten
3517 S. Elati St., Englewood, 303-789-0911,
(Very Good) Entrees $22-34. Cozy, clubby little steakhouse gets the heat right every time: Rare is rare and medium is medium. Greek specialties round out the menu. Open for lunch, too. Last reviewed May 2009.
Twelve
2233 Larimer St., 303-293-0287,twelverestaurant.com
(Great/Exceptional) Entrees $22-$28. Twelve changes its menu monthly. So don’t get attached to a favorite dish. Instead, have your socks knocked off by chef Jeff Osaka’s brilliant technical skills. Last reviewed February 2009.
EUROPEAN
Brasserie Felix
3901 Tennyson St., 303-953-2401,
(Very good) Appetizers $5.95-$12.95, mains $14.95-$20.95. A very good example of the Americanized French Brasserie, with accessible and relevant fare like steak frites, mussels and croque monsieurs. Last reviewed April 2009.
Farro
8230 S. Holly St., 303-694-5432,
(Very Good) Almost nothing over $15. The southern suburbs are awash in restaurants, but precious few of them are any good. Enter Farro, at the corner of Holly Street and County Line Road, which serves homey, substantial fare with a casual-elegant twist. Last reviewed February 2009.
ASIAN
Taste of Thailand
504 E. Hampden Ave., Englewood, 303-762-9112
(Very Good) Nothing over $15. Every neighborhood has at least one Thai restaurant, but not every neighborhood has one as good as Englewood’s Taste of Thailand. Fresh, tasty dishes are assembled with a light hand, and spice is applied with precision. Last reviewed March 2008.
PIZZA
McKinners Pizza Bar
2389 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-798-8500,
(Very Good) Pizzas $9.25 and up; salads $6.25-$9. Downtown Littleton is one of the area’s most pleasant town strips, studded with boutiques and wine shops and, happily, McKinners, a favorite watering hole, pizza joint and gathering place. Last reviewed March 2009.
