Indian
SHERPA’S RESTAURANT
825 Walnut St., 303-440-7151
Second Place: Tandoori Grill Indian Restaurant & Bar
Third Place: The Taj
Fourth Place: Curry n Kabob
Fifth Place: Kathmandu Restaurant
If you want fresh
Indian, Nepalese and Tibetan fare crafted from authentic recipes in a
friendly atmosphere where you can grab a seat, then Sherpa’s Restaurant fits
the bill. Those, and other reasons, like the food, are why our readers
voted it best Indian restaurant. It’s an unusual place. For instance,
if you plan to climb Mt. Everest, you may want to stop in as the
restaurant’s staff is full of actual sherpas, including Chef Jangbu
Sherba, who has ascended the peak 10 times without supplemental oxygen.
The staff can actually help you plan to climb Everest yourself, but
most people just go for the food, often charcoal-fired in a Tandoor
clay oven. Everything seems to stand out on the menu, from an array of
appetizers (try the veggie samosas) to favorites like lamb vindaloo and
kulfi Indian-style ice for dessert.
Food Truck
COMIDA TACO TRUCK
Second Place: Oskar Blues Bonewagon
Third Place: RollinGreens
Fourth Place: Cheese Louise
Fifth Place: Verde
It’s always a pleasure to see the pink Comida Taco Truck, known
for its quirkymodern tacos. They’re almost gourmet, self-described
“street food,” and priced such that if you can dig into your pockets and
find three bucks, you’re set. From time to time, you’ll find the truck
serving its popular tacos and gorditas in Boulder, or in any number of
neighborhoods along the Front Range. While the menu is small (hey,
they’ve got to fit a kitchen in a truck!), it is packed with flavor.
Among the favorites are braised pork carnitas tacos, filled with sweet
potato mash and topped with pineapple salsa. Or try the roasted poblano
and white onion gordita with crema. One way to be certain to spot the
truck when it’s in your ’hood is to follow its tweets: @eatcomida,
meaning they’ve got the smart marketing part down, too.
Frozen Yogurt
RIPPLE PURE FROZEN YOGURT
1682 30th St., 303-444-0690
Second Place: Spooners Frozen Yogurt
Third Place: Boulder Chill
Fourth Place: Aspen Leaf Yogurt
Fifth Place: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
Boulder is frozen
yogurt country. ’Round these parts, frozen yogurt is how you win
friends and influence people in your climbing gym/wiccan
circle/alternative free school class on the hidden post-modern slam
poetry of Javascript. And according to the all-knowing readers of BW, there’s no yogurt more frozen and yogurty than that spilling forth from Ripple Pure Frozen Yogurt. They
keep it fresh, local and pure as the Flatirons’ snow, and dish it up
in compostable containers that will satisfy your eco-consciousness as
much as what’s in them will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Pizzeria
PIZZERIA LOCALE
1730 Pearl St., 303-442-3003
Second Place: Beau Jo’s
Third Place: Backcountry Pizza & Tap House
Fourth Place: Lucky Pie Pizza and Tap House
Fifth Place: Proto’s Pizzeria Napoletana
Fresh ingredients. A
killer wine list. A mega-fancy oven. If you think pizza comes from
huts, then you couldn’t be further from the truth. And Boulder’s Pizzeria Locale is
such a hit that its owners inked a deal with the burrito tycoons
Chipotle to take Pizzeria Locale’s style national as a rapid-service
restaurant. The first expansion storefront opened in Denver last year
and has been going like gangbusters since day one. Look out Best of
America, here’s one Best of Boulder winner that’s a-gunning for youse.
And anyone who has had a slice of their pie will tell you, you better
be scared. It’s just that good.
Italian
PASTA JAY’S
1001 Pearl St., 303-444-5800
Second Place: Carelli’s Restaurant
Third Place: Il Pastaio
Fourth Place: Arugula Bar e Ristorante
Fifth Place: Gondolier Italian Eatery
There’s no shortage
of Italian restaurants in downtown Boulder. But there’s even less
shortage of love for one Italian restaurant in particular: Pasta Jay’s. The
affordably priced, family-friendly and checkered table-clothed
noodle-peddler has been a cornerstone of Pearl Street for more than 20
years, and lays claim to one of the most delightful summer dining
experiences in the city thanks to large open windows. Pasta Jay’s is so
popular that it just started bottling its signature marinara for sale
at its Boulder, Lone Tree and Moab locations. Also, it’s won Best of
Boulder, like, around a bazillion times. Mama mia, thatsa spicy tomato!
Japanese
SUSHI ZANMAI
1221 Spruce St., 303-440-0733
Second Place: Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar
Third Place: Japango
Fourth Place: Sushi Tora
Fifth Place: Tokyo Joe’s
Though we’re short on
ocean front property in Boulder, we’re not short on options for sushi
and Japanese food — many of them very, very good. But Sushi Zanmai is
once again taking top honors as the best of the bunch. That’s no
surprise given the charming, authentic feel of the restaurant and a
menu that ranges from classic to more adventurous takes on Japanese
cuisine. And if a guy jumps up on the bar and starts playing a
saxophone, just roll with it. Get it?
Roll…
Kid Friendly
NOODLES & COMPANY
Various locations around Boulder County
Second Place: Mountain Sun/ Southern Sun
Third Place: Lucky Pie Pizza & Taphouse
Fourth Place: Red Robin’s Burger Works
Fifth Place: Turley’s Kitchen
It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world, and it gets a little crazier when you have kids.
Sometimes juggling
work, school, sports practice, sleepovers and the million other things
parenthood throws at you means having someone else make dinner for the
family.
So when many Boulder parents need something fast, healthy and tasty, they look to Noodles & Company to
provide all of that in a casual environment with affordable prices.
With plenty of sophisticated entrees such as the Thai Hot Pot or Pork
Adobo Flatbread that will tickle the adult taste buds, dishes like the
Wisconsin Mac & Cheese and Buttered Noodles provide options to
satisfy even the pickiest youngster. Noodles & Company understands
that there are lots of different food strokes for different folks, so
they provide nutrition and allergen guides to help kids and grown-ups
alike find a meal that meets their dietary needs.
Late Night
COSMO’S PIZZA
1325 Broadway, 303-447-1133 659 30th St., 303-447-3278
Second Place: World Famous Dark Horse Bar and Grill
Third Place: Abo’s Pizza
Fourth Place: Boulder Baked
Fifth Place: Pizza Colore
It’s late, maybe
you’ve knocked back a few beers, and the night is clearly winding down.
When our readers got the munchies as the moon skulked behind dark
clouds, they found themselves craving Cosmo’s Pizza, which is
open everyday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sure, the restaurant has salads,
but it’s a safe bet that the feature in the wee hours is the pizza (or,
maybe, on an odd night, a calzone). Cosmo’s offers traditional toppings
like pepperoni and sausage, and more adventurous accoutrements like
feta cheese and artichoke hearts. And that’s why Cosmo’s won in this
category. When you’re looking for something to soak up the, shall we
say, “disquiet,” in your stomach at midnight, Cosmo’s has just the combo
of toppings to sate and soothe.
Nederland Restaurant
KATHMANDU RESTAURANT
110 N. Jefferson St., 303-258-1169
Second Place: Backcountry Pizza & Tap House
Third Place: Wild Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery
Fourth Place: Black Forest Restaurant
Fifth Place: Whistler’s Cafe
Enjoy cuisine from the Nepali mountains right here in the Rockies at Kathmandu Restaurant in
Nederland. The buffet (served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and
Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.) offers uninitiated diners a chance to
sample from 20 different dishes such as tandoori chicken curry or chana
masala — and it’s all you can eat for just under $10. The full menu
offers traditional Nepali and Indian food made from scratch using
family recipes. Start your meal with a warm samosa pastry filled with
herbs, potatoes and peas or try a little bit of everything with the
combination appetizer. Chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetarian entrees
abound, with American entrees and a kid’s menu for the inexperienced
and less adventurous palates.
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Organic Restaurant
THE KITCHEN
1039 Pearl St., 303-544-5973
Second Place: Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant
Third Place: Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place / Modmarket (tie)
Fifth Place: Black Cat Farm-Table-Bistro
How do you know The Kitchen is
all its cracked up to be? ’Cause winning “Best Organic Restaurant” in
Boulder is like winning “Best Irish Pub” in Dublin. This isn’t some
pushover category like “Best Darning Class” or “Best Local Alt Weekly.”
The philosophy of this amazing restaurant is to create a dining
experience that, as much as possible, matches a gathering of friends and
family in the kitchen of a home — a place of laughter and conversation
where all feel relaxed and welcome. Add this atmosphere to the
Kitchen’s commitment to serving the area’s best locally sourced organic
foods and you can understand our readers’ choice. And did we mention
that everything tastes fantastic? It does.
Lyons Restaurant
OSKAR BLUES GRILL & BREW
303 Main St., Lyons, 303-823-6685
Second Place: Lyons Fork
Third Place: Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ & Taphouse
Fourth Place: Barking Dog Cafe
Fifth Place: The Black Bear Inn
Nowadays, Oskar Blues
and its many award-winning beers are everywhere, collecting accolades
and fans as they go. But once upon a time, there was one location only:
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, a staple of downtown Lyons since
1997, and the resilient community’s best locale for Southern-style
food, as well as tasty, tasty beers. Add in regular live music and it’s
a recipe to win the hearts and minds of the community as well as Best
of Boulder. Done, done and done.
Overall Restaurant
THE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335
Second Place: The Kitchen
Third Place: Oak at fourteenth
Fourth Place: Brasserie Ten Ten
Fifth Place: Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
We l l , t h e y d i d i t a g a i n . The Mediterranean Restaurant has won our readers’ hearts and votes as the best resaurant in the foodiest city in America.
That is an amazing
feat in a county where world-class restaurants are abundant. What makes
it best? pretty much everything about it. The Med has a fantastic
atmosphere that includes a bar with a brick oven, an amazing courtyard
patio and a maze of dining areas decorated in Mediterranean style. The
service is great and the food is to be remembered. It has the best
tapas in town and entrees ranging from lamb to pasta to seafood to
individually handcrafted pizzas.
Congrats to the Med and thanks for all the good times and great food.
Pancake/Waffle
SNOOZE, AN A.M. EATERY
1617 Pearl St., 303-225-7344
Second Place: The Buff Restaurant
Third Place: The Huckleberry
Fourth Place: Tangerine
Fifth Place: Turley’s Kitchen
Snooze wants to
“re-energize the way you think, feel and ultimately eat breakfast,” and
they do just that by offering pancakes, that tried and true breakfast
staple, in new and unexpected ways. This is the Bubba Gump Shrimp
Company of Pancakes: pineapple upside down pancakes, sweet potato
pancakes, caramel apple pie pancakes, molton chocolate lava pancakes
and plain ol’ buttermilk, blueberry, chocolate chip or chocolate/peanut
butter pancakes. Can’t choose just one? No worries. You can get a
pancake flight with three flavors. They ain’t exaggerating when they
call it “Pancake Bliss.”
Place to Go on a First Date
THE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
1002 Walnut St., 303-444-5335
Second Place: The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Third Place: The Kitchen
Fourth Place: Brasserie Ten Ten
Fifth Place: Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Ah, the first date —
all that excitement, that anticipation, the possibility that the entire
thing will be really awkward, if even for just a bit. There’s no
better way to push through the awkward than with great food and drink
and charming ambience. The Mediterranean Restaurant is Boulder’s
favorite place to take that potential soulmate as they navigate their
way through the murky waters of The First Date. Enjoy an adult beverage
on the patio — if the weather’s dandy — and wow your date with your
ability to create an awesome meal based solely on appetizers with The
Med’s selection of more than two dozen hot and cold tapas.
Restaurant Ambiance
THE BOULDER DUSHANBE TEAHOUSE
1770 13th St., 303-442-4993
Second Place: Flagstaff House
Third Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant
Fourth Place: The Kitchen
Fifth Place: Brasserie Ten Ten
The
best restaurant decorators for Boulder County, it turns out, are
roughly 7,000 miles away in Tajikistan. That’s where the 40 artisans
from several towns carved and painted
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse’s ceiling,
tables, stools and columns. It was all done with sisterly love, as in a
gift from one sister city to another. It took years to find just the
right location and reassemble the teahouse in Boulder, but with features
like life-sized sculptures and a fountain to tell “The Seven
Beauties,” a 12th century poem, it was worth the wait. The Teahouse is a
beautiful setting for any daytime meal or a fabulous dinner. The
afternoon tea is also amazing as are the rose gardens that surround the
patio dining.
Place to Eat Outdoors
CHAUTAUQUA DINING HALL
900 Baseline Road, 303-442-3282
Second Place: Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
Third Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant
Fourth Place: The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Fifth Place: Boulder County Farmers’ Market
Did you know Boulder
is a town full of outdoors enthusiasts? If you didn’t, you probably
haven’t been further outside than your own front door in a while. Allow
us to educate you: here in Boulder, we’re big fans of the outdoors. We
play outside, hiking, biking, climbing and skiing, and we’ll even shop
outdoors at the Boulder Farmers’ Market.
The good news is you
can wrap up an outdoors experience hiking or climbing at Chautauqua
Park with a stop in at the irresistibly charming and historic Chautauqua Dining Hall and
keep the trend going by eating outdoors. Take a table on the
wraparound porch and have a helping of fresh, organic, seasonal dining
selections by Three Leaf Concepts, of The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse,
Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant, Aji, The Huckleberry and Zucca. Three Leaf
Concepts is so committed to fresh, local ingredients they’ve made their
own farm in Lafayette where they, you’ll never guess, grow produce
outdoors.
Restaurant Dessert
THE KITCHEN
1039 Pearl St., 303-544-5973
Second Place: SALT
Third Place: The Greenbriar Inn
Fourth Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant
Fifth Place: Frasca Food and Wine
While we could use this space to gush culinary about the background and practices of The Kitchen that
helped earn it the top dessert spot in this year’s Best of Boulder
reader survey, instead, we’re just going to list items on the dessert
menu. Potato doughnuts with spiced hot chocolate. Sticky toffee pudding
with house made vanilla gelato. That same gelato served with a shot of
espresso or a shot of blackberry liqueur. Cherry and cobbler tart.
Apple cobbler. And there’s more. If you’re not hungry yet, then you
just might be dead inside. Get thee to The Kitchen and dessert,
hardcore.
Pizza Slice
ABO’S PIZZA
Various locations around Boulder County
Second Place: Cosmo’s Pizza
Third Place: Pizza Colore
Fourth Place: Backcountry Pizza & Tap House
Fifth Place: Beau Jo’s
It’s tough to beat the slices at Abo’s. After
all, they’re legendary. With many locations across Boulder County,
this restaurant has been putting out old school New York-style pies
since 1977. Over the years, people like singer/songwriter Carole King
and Led Zep frontman Robert Plant have popped in. But what makes the
place legendary is its pizza. And to know the pizza is to know a little
about the story of founder Steve Abo, the former University of
Colorado student who rejected a stuffed-shirt career path for the ’za.
His journey led him to an apprenticeship with boxer-turned-pizza guy,
Rocky Graziano, and that’s where he discovered the secrets of the
sauce, namely a family recipe. Abo’s boasts fresh ingredients but we’ll
bet they won this category, in part, for size. The slices are both big
and good.
New Restaurant
ZEAL
1710 Pearl St., 720-708-6309
Second Place: The Post Brewing Co.
Third Place: Fresh Thymes
Fourth Place: FATE Brewing Company
Fifth Place: Volta
With Boulder repeatedly getting kudos in national rankings for being so health-conscious and fit, it’s no surprise that Zeal has
quickly become a favorite. The restaurant caters to the city’s passion
for eating the right foods, whether diners are in a rush or just want
to kick back and relax. The menu brings simple dishes to breakfast,
lunch or dinner filled with fresh ingredients. One fun thing to do is
build your own healthy bowl. Start with a base like rice or quinoa, add
a protein, like beef or tempeh or a farm egg, and top it with
delicious sauce, like mushroom dashi or burnt-orange tamarind. Securing
this top honor in Best of Boulder shows that the city expects Zeal to be around for years to come.
Seafood
JAX FISH HOUSE
928 Pearl St., 303-444-1811
Second Place: Tortuga’s
Third Place: Flagstaff House / Boulder Cork (tie)
Fifth Place: Boulder Café
It could be the $5 infusions and $1.25 oysters for happy hour that make Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar the top seafood pick in Best of Boulder. Or
it could be the clams at the restaurant’s raw bar. Maybe it is the fun
of mingling with the crowds that spill out onto Pearl Street. Whatever
it is, Jax, a mainstay in Boulder (and in Denver) is a “Best of”
champ, the place for many readers to get their fix for lobster and
crab and whatever other delectable bounties are pulled from the depths
of the sea. It’s the kind of place where you can find comfort food,
like a bit of old school gumbo, Louisiana style, or go for a plate of
Washington steelhead, with snap peas, asparagus, saffron broth and
almond piccada.
Sushi
SUSHI ZANMAI
1221 Spruce St., 303-440-0733
Second Place: Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar
Third Place: Japango
Fourth Place: Sushi Tora
Fifth Place: Sushi Hana
Why is Sushi Zanmai owner Naoto Kanda wearing such a huge smile? Cause that’s how good it feels to triumph in the “Best Sushi” category of Best of Boulder this
year. Winning best sushi is no easy task in a place renowned for its
amazing sushi restaurants. At Sushi Zanmai, Kanda has created an
atmosphere that is nothing short of electric. The place is fun and
alive, the sushi is magnificent and the staff is informed and knows how
to put a smile on your face. There’s even karaoke on Saturday nights.
The restaurant also has several private rooms that are perfect for small
gatherings or even a sizable private party. There’s nothing better
than the combination of traditional sushi and fun — and no place better to enjoy that pairing than Sushi Zanmai.
Restaurant Service
MOUNTAIN SUN
1701 Pearl St., 303-440-0220 %u2028
SOUTHERN SUN
627 S. Broadway, 303-543-0886
Second Place: Flagstaff House Restaurant
Third Place: Frasca Food and Wine
Fourth Place: The Kitchen
Fifth Place: The Mediterranean Restaurant
Many things in life are uncertain — tomorrow’s weather, tomorrow’s stock market, tomorrow’s traffic (well, actually, if you’re on U.S. 36, that’s pretty much guaranteed to be terrible). So it’s nice to know that there are some things you can count on. For instance, that if you go to the Mountain Sun or Southern Sun establishments, you will be met with a smile and a rotating cast of waitstaff determined to keep a beer in your hand and food in your belly. The pooled approach to staff means you will not have one waiter steering you through your dining experience, you’ll have a chance to poll multiple waitstaff for their thoughts and advice on the menu — and with a long and rotating list of beers on tap and a server happy to pour you a few samples, that guidance can be something you’ll learn to look forward to.
Sandwich SNARF’S SUB SHOP
5340 Arapahoe Ave., 303-444-3404
2128 Pearl St., 303-444-7766
645 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont, 303-774-1441
2130 Mountain View Ave., Longmont, 303-702-1111
Second Place: Salvaggio’s Deli
Third Place: Half Fast Subs Fourth Place:
Great Harvest Bread Company
Fifth Place: Deli Zone
Wiktionary defines “snarf” as a verb that means “to eat or consume greedily,” which is exactly how you are expected to eat a sandwich from Snarf’s Sub Shop. OK, maybe you aren’t expected to snarf your sandwich, but we dare you to try not to woof down a delicious sammy from Snarf’s. The original Snarf’s Sub Shop opened its doors as “The Shack” on Pearl Street in Boulder in 1996, moving to more spacious digs across the street in 2008. Snarf’s now has 11 locations in Colorado, and shops in Chicago, St. Louis and Austin.
Take Out
SNARF’S SUB SHOP
5340
Arapahoe Ave., 303-444-3404
2128 Pearl St., 303-444-7766 645
Ken Pratt
Blvd., Longmont, 303-774-1441
2130 Mountain View Ave., Longmont,
303-702-1111
Second Place: Noodles & Company
Third Place: Chez Thuy Vietnamese Restaurant
Fourth Place: Curry n Kebob
Fifth Place: Khow Thai Cafe
Got to
grab a dinner on the go? Looking for some take-home for dining on the
comfort of your own couch? Venturing out of delivery range for this
favorite of Boulder sandwich shops? Just hoping no one catches you with
mayo on your nose? Snarf’s Sub Shop is the go-to place for to-go
dining. Grab a sandwich loaded up with some spicy peppers and hop back
into your busy or not-so-busy routine.
Thai
KHOW THAI CAFE
1600 Broadway St., 303-447-0273
Second Place: Buddha Thai Cuisine
Third Place: Thai Kitchen
Fourth Place: Aloy Thai Cuisine Fifth Place: Busaba
Khow Thai is no stranger to BW’s Best of Boulder, consecutively
winning “Best Thai Restaurant” since 2003, and that’s saying a lot in a
town that takes food as seriously as Boulder. So if you’re new to The
Republic and you’ve seen Khow Thai’s inconspicuous store front on
Broadway and thought little of it, think again. The menu is simple,
offering stir-fries, curries, noodles, salads and Thai desserts, as well
as appetizers and specialties. Dine-in, takeout or order delivery, and
maybe see how you handle a “Thai hot” curry dish. While most Thai
recipes aren’t traditionally vegetarian, Khow Thai knows its Boulder
audience and provides a tofu option with carrots, broccoli, zucchini and
cabbage for many dishes. Let the wait staff know if you have any
dietary restrictions and they’ll work to accommodate.
Vegetarian Friendly
LEAF VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
2010 16th St., 303-442-1485
Second Place: Modmarket
Third Place: Native Foods Cafe
Fourth Place: Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place
Fifth Place: Turley’s Kitchen
The idea behind Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant is
simple: Fresh food should be sustainable, local and organic. That’s
achieved at Leaf thought its Three Leaf Farm, in Lafayette, where the
harvest is fresh produce, herbs and free-range eggs. The restaurant,
which welcomes vegans and those going gluten-free, serves an intriguing
range of items. For dinner, for instance, you can start with beet
perogies with sauerkraut and vegan sour cream. Then you can move to a
raw kale salad with apples, dates and carrots, topped with an apple
cider vinaigrette. For the main course, there’s seitan kebabs,
grain-free fettuccini and Moroccan tofu, to name a few selections. And
for dessert, how about trying a vegan chocolate peanutbutter tart? You
get the idea. Leaf sets itself apart by being everything a
vegetarian-friendly restaurant aspires to be — and more.
