The new Best of Boulder is out! Click here to see the 2013 winners.
American Restaurant
1047 Pearl St., 303-444-SALT
Second Place: Old Chicago
Third Place: Ted’s Montana Grill
Fourth Place: The Kitchen
Fifth Place: Murphy’s
American food encompasses everything from burgers and pizza to pulled
pork sandwiches and more elevated fare such as grilled Florida shrimp. The
offerings from this year’s winners reflect the diversity of the national
cuisine, and Chef Bradford Heap’s downtown Boulder venue, SALT, pays
tribute to both the old and the new. Heap, who held his first restaurant job as
a Boulder dishwasher in his teens, serves an updated grass-fed version of the
legendary Tom’s Tavern burger. But there’s also more sophisticated regional
specialties on tap such as a tasting plate of local organic veggies and
pan-roasted Long Farm pork tenderloin.
Appetizers/Tapas
1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335
Second Place: Boulder Cafe
Third Place: The Kitchen
Fourth Place: Brasserie Ten Ten
Fifth Place: SALT the Bistro
Spaniards were really onto something when they decided it was a good
idea to have small snacks, or tapas, alongside your drinks. Helps absorb the
alcohol, for one thing. And at The Mediterranean, there is a wide
variety of these tasty, reasonably priced small plates, both hot and cold.
Plus, you’re not just limited to Spanish cuisine. You can take culinary
sojourns to Greece, Egypt and Italy, sampling something as simple as almonds
all the way up to filet mignon. We’re talking Mediterranean staples like olives,
prosciutto, mushrooms, cheeses, artichokes, lamb, baba ghanouj, bacon-wrapped
dates and tomatoes. Each dish is prepared with a distinctive yet complementary
combination of ingredients and spices. Oh, and the drinks that accompany them
aren’t too bad, either. We’re also kind of partial to the patio tables at
second-place winner the Boulder Café, where you can enjoy fantastic appetizers
while Pearl Street people-watching.
Brunch
3073 Walnut St., 303-447-2315
673 S. Broadway, 720-304-8118
Second Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Third Place: Brasserie Ten Ten
Fourth Place: The Kitchen
Fifth Place: Tangerine
Brunch is a sacred meal set aside for those in-between hours on a few
precious days when you got to sleep late (or you ran out early for some
exercise) then realized you were ready for the kind of quiche and burritos it
takes a smashingly good restaurant to plate up. Enter the Walnut Café and
southern sister South Side Walnut Café. A scan down the menu will leave
you craving any number of tasty tidbits and wishing, for once in your life, for
it to be morning. Big dill eggs — a twist on a benedict with eggs atop an
English muffin smothered in Swiss cheese and creamy dill sauce … Make it
morning, already! Rumor has it, the way to go if you’re short on calories is
the breakfast burrito, a mass that puts those other foil-wrapped bundles to
shame. If it’s time you’re short on, get the Sunrise Sandwich to go, and take
your egg and sausage away on rosemary-infused bread.
Asian Fusion Restaurant
2655 28th St., 303-442-1700
Second Place: Hapa Sushi
Third Place: Khow Thai Cafe
Fourth Place: Japango
Fifth Place: Moongate Asian Bistro
This year’s fusion picks touch on most of the cuisines of the Asian
continent.
Leading the pack is longtime fave Chez Thuy, a spot that’s hard
to beat on value, selection and quality. Lunch specials like the Vietnamese
salad-style noodle bowls are on the top 10 list of just about every Asian
aficionado, and the grilled lamb chops rival rack of lamb preparations. Wash
any of these dishes down with a refreshing Thai iced tea or Vietnamese coffee
sweetened with condensed milk. Hapa provides tasty sushi with a Hawaiian twist,
while Khow Thai dishes out some of the most flavorful Southeast Asian curries
around. All-you-can eat sushi is a specialty at Japango, but they also provide
a terrific lunchtime bento box. Last but not least, Moongate offers up one of
the most diverse Asian menus in town, with special recognition for the
fresh-tasting Chinese specialties.
Barbecue
2675 13th St., 303-442-3717
7464 Arapahoe Road, 303-786-7608
799 Highway
287, Broomfield, 303-410-7333
Second Place: Daddy Bruce’s Bar-B-Que
Third Place: The Rib House
Fourth Place: Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ & Taphouse
Fifth Place: Wild Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery
There’s no better way to tap into your inner redneck than to hit a
barbecue joint and plunge elbow deep into a rack of ribs. Wash it down with a
cold beer and it’s like you never left the one-horse town from which you came.
Boulder County might not have the barbecue cachet of Memphis, St. Louis or just
about any truck stop in Texas, but this year’s winner, KT’s Real Good BBQ, would
fit in quite nicely in any of those places. Second place, Daddy Bruce’s Bar-B-
Que, was a decades-long staple in Boulder but is now no longer with us. So grab
a Pig Pile from KT’s and have a moment of silence for the Granddaddy of Boulder
BBQ before you dive into the delicious ménage à trois of meat, sauce and bread
in your hands.
Bakery
2644 Broadway, 303-444-5667
Second Place: Great Harvest Bread Company
Third Place: Spruce Confections
Fourth Place: Boulder Baked
Fifth Place: Tee & Cakes
It’s morning. You need coffee, and — given the sad state of your pantry
— a muffin or something would be nice, too. So you head to Bob’s Coffee, sugar
up your caffeine vehicle, and choke down their special, the Ultra-Dry No-Flavor
Scone. Ah, breakfast. Coffee first, food later, if at all.
This year’s winner, Breadworks, turns that whole formula on its
head. Offering shelves upon shelves of baked delights ranging from muesli bread
and English muffin bread to fruit tarts, cupcakes and cookies, the North
Broadway bakery won out despite a notable breakfast deficiency: a long-broken
espresso machine. The baked goods are just that good. Breadworks goes well
beyond breakfast, too, offering extensive, cafeteria-style dining for lunch
with specials like salmon cakes and chicken yakitori — but its sweet and savory
breads are still Boulder’s best.
Breakfast
2124 14th St., 303-442-4743 518 Kimbark St., Longmont, 303-774-9814
Second Place: Walnut Cafe/South Side Walnut Cafe
Third Place: The Buff Restaurant
Fourth Place: Dot’s Diner
Fifth Place: Tangerine
When you talk about breakfast foods, bacon is the pop star with the No.
1 hit on iTunes, the glitzy live show and the legions of adoring teenage fans
tweeting “I LUV UR SONGZ OMG LOL!!!” Sausage is the indie band that always put
out good albums but that never really made it onto the radio. Lucile’s
Creole Café is the hipster record store that rolls its eyes and says, “I
was into bacon before it was cool.” While you can order bacon at Lucile’s, the
specialty is sausage — all varieties of Creole, Cajun and everything in
between. Get the Pain Perdu, for example, and you’ll get a wonderful spicy
sausage to nibble on as you make your way through your meal. Then you can have
the satisfaction of calling your friends’ breakfast tastes mainstream as you
take them to Lucile’s to show them how to eat with true hipster condescension.
Burger
2525 Arapahoe Ave., 303-444-1487
Second Place: Mountain Sun/Southern Sun
Third Place: Smashburger
Fourth Place: Dark Horse Bar and Grill
Fifth Place: Rueben’s Burger Bistro
Truffle oil doesn’t just make things better. It makes them the best.
Larkburger has once again seduced Best of
Boulder voters by doubling up the truffle oil on both the truffle burger and
the parmesan and truffle oil fries. There’s a simple pleasure in the brusquely
short menu and the Ikea-toned, well lit, cafeteria-style restaurant, as if to
say, “Why yes, we can put our burgers in the full light of day and you’ll still
be comfortable putting them in your mouth.” Runner-up Mountain Sun/Southern Sun
gets points for flair for plating up specialty burgers with unlikely strings of
ingredients, like the Date Night burger with dates and goat cheese.
Bagel
3075 Arapahoe Ave., 303-442-4427
2650 Broadway, 303-444-3252
3267 28th
St., 720-406-9000
Second Place: Einstein Bros. Bagels
Third Place: Big Daddy Bagels
Fourth Place: Mickey C’s Bagels
Fifth Place: Panera Bread
All hail the almighty bagel. It is the Cadillac of breakfast foods (or
in this town, the Prius), and all other breakfast foods tremble before the
bready circle’s dominance at the day’s first meal. If there is one Boulder
County business that understands the gravity and importance of the bagel in
today’s gastronomic culture, it would be Moe’s Broadway Bagel, winner of
this category for the bazillionth year in a row. They serve bagels as the bagel
gods intended them: fresh, delicious and with several inches of cream cheese
layered on to raise the top half closer to the heavens. And don’t forget Big
Daddy Bagels, the third place winner: Their Santa Fe breakfast bagel is the
perfect starter for a day on the slopes or deep in the mountains. Oh, daddy.
Burrito/Wrap
1320 College Ave., 303-444-3055
1447 Pearl St., 303-440-3955
Second Place: Chipotle
Third Place: Efrain’s
Fourth Place: Big City Burrito
Fifth Place: Santiago’s
Illegal Pete’s wraps up another year as 2012’s best burrito — get it,
wraps? Like in tin foil? Serving burritos in Boulder since 1995, Illegal Pete’s
has now expanded to five locations across Colorado. For its full menu,
including quesadillas, salads and tacos, Illegal Pete’s complements its
selection of fresh ingredients with sustainable and preservative-free sources.
It’s a growing trend among burrito joints, but we’ll give Pete credit for being
a trendsetter. Beyond the food, Illegal Pete’s sports a taco cantina atmosphere
for relaxed, casual meals and drinks should you stumble — we mean, steer —
yourself in off Pearl Street some evening.
Business Lunch
1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335
Second Place: The Kitchen
Third Place: Brasserie Ten Ten
Fourth Place: Boulder Cork
Fifth Place: Boulder Cafe
If there’s such a thing as corporate jujitsu, one of the most vital
skills is selecting an appropriate venue for that mystical ritual known as the
business lunch. The ideal locale cannot be too extravagant, lest your
colleagues mistake you for a free-spending Bernie Madoff sort, nor can it sink
to the level of Mickey D’s. Of course, in Boulder, most business types aren’t
opting for a buttoned-down experience, either. Located in the center of
downtown’s nexus of law firms and financial houses, The Mediterranean is
the perfect place to take colleagues, whether they are jaded big-city foodies
or they want to expand their culinary horizons. While the menu here may lack
the brute force of a karate chop, it can accommodate the vegetarian with
spanokopita as well as the ravenous carnivore who couldn’t be happier with a
hanger steak.
Catering
5706 Arapahoe Ave., 303-443-4049
Second Place: Dish Gourmet
Third Place: Laudisio
Fourth Place: Il Pastaio
Fifth Place: Big Bang
A Spice of Life has been churning out culinary masterpieces and stealing the hearts of
Boulderites since 1987. Since then, the company has grown to be the largest
catering company in the county. While its philanthropic efforts are abundant
(the local and organic company contributes to more than 60 organizations via
charity and fundraising events each year), it’s the overall experience that A
Spice of Life creates for each individual that truly sets them apart.
East County Restaurant
101 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, 303-666- 7544
451 S. Pratt Pkwy., Longmont, 720-494- 0777
1630 N. 63rd St., Boulder, 303-440-4045
Second Place: Empire Lounge & Restaurant
Third Place: 95a Bistro & Sushi
Fourth Place: Lucky Pie Pizza
Fifth Place: The Huckleberry
Some of you who live in the heart of Boulder may be frowning over this
category and wondering, “What do they mean by East County?” Well folks,
contrary to popular belief, there is life beyond the eastern city limits of
Boulder. Granted, the land may not be overrun with restaurants that will leave
you with a $200 tab at the end of your dinner for two, and there may be fewer
grungy college students roaming around, but other than that, the “easterners”
and the food offerings yonder are quite familiar. In that spirit, we’d like to
congratulate Efrain’s on winning the best restaurant in the mysterious
East by sporting authentic Mexican cuisine and having a location inside the
city of Boulder bubble, enabling the less adventurous Boulderites to recognize
the name of at least one of the restaurants on this list of venues, which are
all well worth the visit.
Fine Dining Restaurant
1738 Pearl St., 303-442-6966
Second Place: Flagstaff House
Third Place: The Kitchen
Fourth Place: Black Cat
Fifth Place: SALT
You
don’t have to be a modern-day Nostradamus to predict this town’s top two
choices in the fine dining category. Each is synonymous with sterling service
and topnotch culinary prowess. Frasca Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson
has garnered national accolades for his distinctive interpretation of Italy’s
Friuli-Venezia Giulian cuisine. Fellow French Laundry alum, co-owner and Master
Sommelier Bobby Stuckey possesses unparalleled wine knowledge, and wears a suit
better than anyone else in Boulder. Antipasti selections range from salt cod
with polenta to white asparagus, and the bold entree courses span from grilled
sturgeon to tender pork belly. The Flagstaff House, under the leadership of
Mark and Scott Monette, offers classics like filet mignon and rack of lamb.
Pair these selections with the stunning mountainside views to make for a fine
dining experience that remains in the memory long after the meal is finished.
Food on the Hill
1165 13th St., 303-444-7465
Second Place: Café Aion
Third Place: Half Fast Subs
Fourth Place: Illegal Pete’s
Fifth Place: Abo’s Pizza
If you examine the colorful painted walls at Boulder’s college-town institution The Sink, you’ll see an illustration of a dashing blond guy holding a broom. That’s because Robert Redford worked as a janitor at The Sink when he was attending CU. Indeed, this establishment is probably one of the first-mentioned favorite hangouts among CU alumni, even old-timers. When it opened in 1923, The Sink went by the name Summer’s Sunken Gardens, and was nicknamed The Sink due to a large, sunken fountain in the center of the dining room. Then, in 1955, the famous Sinkburger was introduced, and the rest is history. It still serves as the heart and soul of the Hill. Runner-up Café Aion across the street has emerged as another local favorite after being in existence for only two years.
Food Truck
eatcomida.com/the-truck, 720-204-6455
Second Place: Verde
Third Place: The Tasterie Truck
Fourth Place: RollinGreens
Fifth Place: Heirloom Food Truck
The act of pursuing a food truck is like living in your own Indiana Jones movie.
You never know where the treasure is going to be — or at least not more than a few hours before you leave for your adventure — and you never know what obstacles you will have to face to get there. And you will likely be fighting off other crazed Boulderites to arrive before the treasure drives off into the horizon. It is also a gratifying feeling once you arrive at the truck, because you had to be tech-savvy enough to access Twitter or Facebook and learn their location. Yet chasing down a taco truck may not be everyone’s favorite lunchtime activity. Luckily, for those of you who don’t enjoy hunting for your food but still enjoy the fast Mexican fare, Comida recently opened a cantina that stays in the same place, all the time, to complement their motorized meals.
Chinese Restaurant
1964 28th St., 303-442-6868
Second Place: China Gourmet
Third Place: Moongate Asian Bistro
Fourth Place: Five Spice
Fifth Place: Spice China
For a lot of folks, Chinese food is comfort food. Arguably, this is one cuisine where diners are more than happy with a meal that follows a set menu with little deviation. A cup of hot and sour soup, an egg roll or cream cheese wonton, some fried rice and kung pao chicken makes for a surefire recipe for contentment. Even the not-entirely Asian fortune cookie at the end constitutes a necessary coda. For years, diners have flocked to Golden Lotus for soul-satisfying fare in an upscale atmosphere that’s a cut above the rest. Additionally, ambitious dishes like twin lobster tails and Peking Duck with homemade pancakes, scallions and plum sauce are also on tap. More casual is North Boulder’s China Gourmet, a humble spot that also offers a traditional menu featuring such authentic items as cold salty duck and Chinese eggplant hotpot.
Restaurant Dessert
1047 Pearl St., 303-444-7258
Second Place: The Kitchen
Third Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant
Fourth Place: Frasca
Fifth Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Colorado, as you may have heard, is the least obese state in the nation, and Boulder is the least obese city in the country. That’s great, that’s wonderful, that’s excellent. Lots of health benefits and all that, not to mention bragging rights. But you can’t help but wonder if Boulder is missing something. Can a runner’s high or an endorphin rush really compare to the joy of polishing off a massive piece of cake?
If you want to fight back against the fitness regime, our readers say SALT is the best place to indulge your darker side. SALT brings its customary attention to detail and quality to its final course, offering cakes, mousses and tarts that feature local ingredients as well as a roster of “shakers” that tack on a little alcohol to the end of a meal.
Frozen Yogurt
1682 30th St., 303-444-0690
Second Place: Boulder Chill
Third Place: BOOM Yogurt Bar
Fourth Place: Aspen Leaf
Fifth Place: Two Spoons Gelato and Soup
The do-it-yourself frozen yogurt craze may seem a little out of place for a town voted to the “Skinniest Place in America” pedestal, but apparently that’s not the case. Boulder loves its yogurt bars, and above all the others it loves Ripple. The yogurt craze can be pretty overwhelming to the uninitiated. First, you get to build your own bowl and pay by weight which can make for a few “eyes bigger than the stomach” experiences at the beginning. It also doesn’t help that there is a seemingly endless array of potential toppings which can cause the yogurt amateur to start scooping wildly at every available chocolate, caramel, fruit, candy or cereal in sight. Our readers apparently appreciate that Ripple offers all-natural and locally sourced yogurt and toppings, which helps support the eat-local sentiments of our food-smart town.
Gluten-Free Menu
4457 Broadway, 720-389-5578
Second Place: Laudisio Italian Restaurant
Third Place: Shine
Fourth Place: Ras Kassa’s Ethiopian Restaurant
Fifth Place: Restaurant 4580
The folks over at Julia’s Kitchen make gluten-free meals that mean not having to skip on flavor, or miss dessert, to avoid gluten. The menu includes hummus pizza with thick crust and black bean burgers smothered with barbeque sauce on a sprouted grain bun. If your mouth isn’t watering yet, then check out their long list of desserts, including apple spice coconut muffin tops and cherry fig banana millet bread pudding.
Their philosophy is that making a delicious meal only requires simple ingredients.
The food at Julia’s Kitchen is not only gluten-free, but 100 percent plant-based and organic — in other words, the ideal Boulder meal.
Ice Cream
GLACIER HOMEMADE ICE CREAM & GELATO
4760 Baseline Rd., 303-499-4760
3133 28th St., 303-440-6542
1387 S. Boulder Road, 720-890-5992
Second Place: Ben & Jerry’s
Third Place: Cold Stone Creamery
Fourth Place: Boulder Ice Cream Shoppe
Fifth Place: Lindsay’s Boulder Deli at Haagen-Dazs
Summertime is quickly approaching, and with the heat comes cravings for the long-adored frozen confection: ice cream. The results of this year’s vote show, once again, there’s no debate about Boulder County’s ice cream king: local franchise Glacier Homemade Ice Cream & Gelato. There are two locations in Boulder alone, each boasting a menu of more than 80 flavors, including Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, Apple Pie and Birthday Cake. You’re sure to find something here that you’ll love, whether it is the homemade hot fudge, sorbets, gelatos or frozen yogurts. Get your sample spoon ready for some action!
Indian/Nepali Restaurant
825 Walnut St., 303-440-7151
Second Place: Tandoori Grill
Third Place: The Taj
Fourth Place: Bombay Bistro
Fifth Place: Kathmandu
Going to an Indian restaurant should be an adventure. Even for jaded, seasoned foodies, dining subcontinent-style is a chance to venture into the unknown, try something new, and see your plate and your world in a different way. If you want to play it safe, make a sandwich.
And if a single meal can’t get you in an adventurous mindset, Boulder’s best Indian and Nepali restaurant has something for that, too. Sherpa’s Restaurant can actually take you there. Like, actually, actually, really take you there. Alongside a menu littered with South Asian cuisine both slightly familiar (Chicken Korma) and not-at-all familiar (Tibetan Thupka), adventurers-in-training can plan their next trip with a travel library, guest speakers and a staff that appears to be fascinated with both dining and dashing about. Ask for owner Pemba Sherpa, who also runs Sherpa Ascent International, if you’re anxious to tackle Nepal’s heights. And if not, you can park it at Sherpa’s bar and settle for the best Indian/Nepali food in town.
Italian Restaurant
1001 Pearl St., 303-444-5800
Second Place: Laudisio
Third Place: Carelli’s Ristorante Italiano
Fourth Place: Il Pastaio
Fifth Place: Arugula Bar e Ristorante
There aren’t too many people who don’t enjoy Italian food. After all, there’s pizza, there’s pasta, there’s parmesan; what more could you want? The answer to that question is the Italian restaurants of Boulder.
The choices in our town are myriad. It’s like touring the old country without the cost of airline tickets. Northern cuisine one day, food from the southern provinces the next and a dose of Italian street food the day after that. Our readers picked Pasta Jay’s as their favorite Italian this year and we’re pretty sure that the early warm weather played a role. At Pasta Jay’s, you get great Italian food served up in an open air space that truly feels like your on a side street in Milan. As with most of the winners in this year’s food category, we suggest you try each of these fine establishments. After all, you saved all that money not buying a ticket.
Japanese Restaurant
1221 Spruce St., Boulder 303-440-0733
Second Place: Hapa Sushi
Third Place: Sushi Tora
Fourth Place: Japango
Fifth Place: Kasa
It comes as no surprise that Japanese fare is exceedingly popular amongst Boulderites, as evidenced by the high number of these restaurants in our town. Clean flavors, low-fat ingredients, and our love of out-of-tune karaoke contribute to our love affair with this healthy cuisine. Sushi Zanmai is the perfect spot for the raw fish connoisseur, featuring everything from entry-level salmon and tuna sashimi to such culinary double black diamonds as sea urchin. Those desiring something other than fish can also opt for selections such as beef sukiyaki and curry udon noodles. Hapa takes traditional Japanese selections as a starting point, and infuses it with a touch of Hawaiian culture and pop art decor. For example, you’ll find poke, Hawaiian-style raw fish, over a seared taro cake. For an entree, traditionalists can choose a teriyaki dinner, while the tropically minded might experiment with Kalua pork.
Late Night Food
1325 Broadway St., 303-447-1133
659 30th St., 303-447-3278
Second Place: Abo’s Pizza
Third Place: Boulder Baked
Fourth Place: Dark Horse Bar and Grill
Fifth Place: Hapa Sushi
For some reason, food just seems to taste better when you’re eating it after midnight. Whether you’ve been up all night cramming for that modern Chinese history final, stalking your ex-boyfriend (and planning revenge) on Facebook, or getting to the bottom of as many pint glasses as possible, chances are you’re hungry. And you want pizza. Now. The good news: Cosmo’s Pizza is available for you to stuff your face with gooey, warm slices of delicious pizza pie until 2 a.m. The bad news: Only the location on 30th Street delivers (Broadway is strictly walk-in). But hey, let’s face it. When you want pizza after midnight, you’ll get pizza after midnight, whether you have to use a phone or your legs to get it. Surely it won’t take much convincing to get your friends to hop on the savory Cosmo’s Pizza train, either. And if 1:59 a.m. is too late for you to make a decision on which toppings to choose, pick a Cosmo’s Specialty Pizza and they’ll decide for you. Still got room in your tummy after Cosmo’s? Drop by runner-up Abo’s Pizza to compare slices. Not enough? Boulder Baked, the Dark Horse and Hapa all stay open late. Pop into any of those joints. You’ll easily leave with the top button of your jeans undone.
Lyons Restaurant
303 Main St., Lyons, 303-823-6685
Second Place: Lyons Fork
Third Place: Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ & Taphouse
Fourth Place: La Mariposa
Fifth Place: Pizza Bar 66
Oskar Blues, Lyons Blues Grill & Brew is a joint (using this term in the most affectionate way possible) that lives up to its name with plenty of live blues, American regional eats like blackened redfish and jambalaya, and even a beer or two. Well, maybe more than one or two, as Oskar’s features several of its very own craft brews that have garnered international recognition. These include Dale’s Pale Ale, Mama’s Little Yella Pils and Ten Fidy Imperial Stout. While it hasn’t been around as long as Oskar’s, the Lyons Fork is handily gaining a reputation for sophisticated fare ranging from vegetarian almond and herb couscous to a duck confit tamale. Weekend
brunches here feature basic egg breakfasts as well as house omelets,
smoked salmon plates and sweet corn soup with basil pesto.
New Restaurant
1115 Pearl St., 303-440-6699
Second Place: Snooze
Third Place: Shine
Fourth Place: Tangerine
Fifth Place: 100% Mexicano/Kitchen [Next Door] (tie)
Ever notice that it’s getting harder and harder to find a new restaurant that isn’t a chain? We have, and that’s why we’re so excited by this category’s winner. Riffs Urban Fare is actually new and something truly different. We admit that we aren’t completely clear as to the definitions of “urban fare.” But what the heck. If Riffs says its food is urban, who are we to disagree? So with that in mind, urban fare is apparently served at a “foodbar” with a social environment. It is accompanied by an intriguing cocktail list and has no single theme surrounding the food. Really, you can get ravioli, hummus, chile rellenos and a burger, all under one roof. If this is urban, we like urban and our readers do, too.
Organic Restaurant
1039 Pearl St., 303-544-5973
Second Place: Leaf
Third Place: Black Cat
Fourth Place: SALT the Bistro
Fifth Place: Turley’s
Diners are increasingly concerned with where their food comes from, how it’s raised, and who is producing it. Environmental and personal health concerns, to say nothing of matters of taste, have led many eaters to demand fare that’s either local, certified organic, or both. The Kitchen, a self-described “world-class neighborhood restaurant” adroitly blends the worlds of ecological sustainability with downright tasty food. The wine list is exclusively composed of organic or sustainably produced vintages, and their purveyor list reads like a Who’s Who of local farmers. These suppliers include pork producer John Long, Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy and Cure Organic Farm. Preparations like fried artichokes and char-grilled Florida shrimp are relatively simple, which helps to better spotlight the wholesome qualities of the ingredients. Meatless main courses like roasted squash are also on tap, along with seared Alaskan Cod and strip steak — all presented in a lively yet hospitable setting.
Overall Restaurant
1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335
Second Place: The Kitchen
Third Place: Jax Fish House
Fourth Place: SALT the Bistro
Fifth Place: Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
If the Best of Boulder restaurant awards were the Oscars, The Mediterranean Restaurant would likely be Meryl Streep. Like the actress, who has top-lined everything from Sophie’s Choice to The River Wild (battling Kevin Bacon, at that!), this dining institution artfully plays many and diverse roles. Besides garnering best business lunch honors, The Med is highly regarded for its tapas-rich happy hour and wood-fired pizzas. But you don’t have to be a businessperson to make the most of this restaurant. It also provides a varied $5 kids menu. Like Streep, the versatile bill of fare here has something for just about everyone, whether it’s a platter of traditional spaghetti with Long Farm pork meatballs or a fresh take on the Cobb salad, highlighting peppered yellowfin tuna. An unquestionably lively atmosphere, patio space that’s a top spot for al fresco dining and dead solid reliability make this eatery a repeat winner.
Mexican Restaurant
1630 N. 63rd St., 303-440-4045
101 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, 303-666- 7544
451 S. Pratt Parkway, Longmont, 720-494- 0777
