AMERICAN
Bittersweet
500 E. Alameda Ave., 303-942-0320,
(Very Good) Talented cook Olav Peterson brings his substantial skills to this reclaimed service station in central Denver. Great for a date night, the intimate space provides a smart framework for the elevated dishes; best bet is to go for seafood, which Peterson treats with care and precision. Last reviewed April 2011.
Lou’s Food Bar
1851 W. 38th Ave., 303-458-0336
(Very Good) Sort of American, sort of French, all kinds of easy: This sprawling dining room in north Denver features salads, house-made sausages, and straightforward plates like roast chicken and steak frites. Clever cocktails seal the deal. Last reviewed March 2011.
Masterpiece Deli
1575 Central St. (at 16th Street), 303-561-3354,
(Very Good) Sandwiches $8-$10.50; breakfast sandwiches $4.75 and up. Denver’s sandwich scene took a quantum leap with the opening of Masterpiece Deli, just a block down the hill from Lola in the Lower Highlands neighborhood. Top-shelf ingredients and preparation make the common- sounding sandwiches (Reuben, egg salad) uncommon. Last reviewed April 2009.The Pinyon
1710 Pearl St., Boulder, 720-306-8248,
(Very Good) Local ingredients take center stage on this American-centric menu, which marries a Rocky Mountain sensibility with a slightly Southern attitude. The result: Fine fare. Last reviewed July 2011.
Shazz
4262 Lowell Blvd., 303-477-1407,
(Very Good/Great) Appetizers $7-$11; mains $24-$35. Chef Benny Kaplan is one of Denver’s best, and his commitment to locally sourced, sustainable food is commendable. 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 such as grenadine and orgeat. Last reviewed April 2009.
Tortugas
218 Coffman St., Longmont, 303-772-6954
(Great) Most entrees are in the $12-$18 range. Cajun and Creole flavors inform the menu at Tortugas, where fresh ingredients and a light hand in the kitchen conspire to create some of the Front Range’s best dishes, and also one of its best-kept secrets. Last reviewed June 2011.
Twelve
2233 Larimer St., 303-293-0287,
(Great/Exceptional) Entrees $22-$28. Wedged into a tiny storefront in the northern reaches of LoDo, this downtown gem changes its menu monthly — 12 times a year. So don’t get attached to a favorite dish. Instead, have your socks knocked off by chef Jeff Osaka’s brilliant technical skills and instinctive flavor- play. Last reviewed February 2009.
EUROPEAN
British Bulldog
2052 Stout St., 303-295-7974,
(Good/Very Good) Most dishes under $10. English pub meets Pakistani street food on a downtown Denver corner. Come watch your favorite Premier League soccer matches over a dish of kabobs or curry; pub-grub fans can go for bangers or fish and chips. Last reviewed January 2011.
Euclid Hall
1317 14th St., 303-595-4255,
(Very Good/Great) Appetizers $4-$16, mains $9.50-$17.50. Old world meets new world in this historic downtown building. Schnitzels, house-made sausages, pickles and poutines (fries topped off with goodies like braised short rib and wild mushrooms). Very extensive beer list. Last reviewed January 2011.
Ondo’s Tapas Bar
250 Steele St., 303-975-6514,
(Very Good) Tapas $6-16. One flight down from street level, this cheery and comfortable tapas bar features smart takes on San Sebastian and Barcelona favorites. Come with a small group, or even better, on a date. And sit, if possible, at the bar. Last reviewed March 2010.
GLOBAL
ChoLon Bistro
1555 Blake St., 303-353-5223,
(Great) $7-$12; entrees $22-$30. Talk about a nonstop party: ChoLon, located just off Denver’s 16th Street Mall, has been jam-packed since its opening in 2010. Share-plates rule the menu, with standouts including soup dumplings and lobster shu mai. Last reviewed May 2011.
Ototo Food and Wine
1501 S. Pearl St., 303-733-2503,
(Very Good) Small plates, $9 and up. The crew behind Sushi Den and Izakaya Den expand their S. Pearl St. empire with Ototo Food and Wine, serving American-slash-Asian- slash-global small plates, including veal sweetbreads carbonara and bison short ribs. Last reviewed April 2011.
Eight Rivers Lodo
1550 Blake St., 303-623-3422,
(Very Good) Appetizers $7-$13; mains $15-$19. Denver’s very best rum list anchors this downtown homage to Jamaican cuisine. Think jerk chicken, jerk pork, jerk steak and a beautiful rich-spicy oxtail stew. Happy hour on weekdays. Last reviewed December 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 studded with boutiques and wine shops and restaurants and, happily, McKinners, a favorite watering hole, pizza joint and gathering place. Last reviewed March 2009.
Pizzeria Locale
1730 Pearl St., Boulder 303-442-3003
(Great) Pizzas about $12 and up; small plates $1.50 to $12. The next-door offspring of Frasca Food & Wine features a hand-built oven straight from Naples, and handcrafted pizzas to match. Sleek room and smart service rounds it all out. Last reviewed May 2011.
Our star system:
: Exceptional
: Great
: Very Good
: Good
