Restaurants in Denver
Denver’s cowboy culture has influenced generations since Denver evolved from a stopover for wagon trains into a genuine metropolis. High end dining has married the traditional fare in the American west to create gustatory greatness.
At Big Papa’s BBQ, you will find that marriage comes with a strong dose of cowboy greatness. The best ribs in Colorado, they boast, and in a culture so heavily invested in barbecue, that’s not a claim to be taken lightly. If the ribs don’t tempt you, catfish is another specialty, or try one of their salads – which also come with meat. Four flavors of bbq sauce round out Big Papa’s offerings, and if you can’t make it to either of their locations, they cater as well.
If your commitment to Denver as a vacation destination is unwavering, swing by SALT, a bistro with a philosophy as devoted to Denver as the Broncos. They believe that “the best food travels the shortest distance from farm to table,” and thus all of their ingredients are locally sourced and prepared to highlight their most irresistible flavor. Due to this commitment to locally-produced fare, their menu changes from season to season.
Who doesn’t like dipping things in other things? I’ll tell you who. The joyless. Perhaps it’s this understanding of joy and looking just a little bit ridiculous that earned the Mona Lisa Fondue Restaurant the title of Colorado Springs’ Most Romantic Restaurant. They provide the oil, melted cheese and chocolate and fruit/bread/vegetables. You do the grillin’ and earn yourself some points for a unique time out and a fun shared experience to break the ice. It’s the most fun you can have with tiny forks sporting primary-colored handles.
For quality food without all the accouterments of fine dining, make time in your schedule to visit Biker Jim’s Gourmet Hot Dog Stand. We’ve all been to hot dog stands before, and some of them are legendary, but as the only lunch cart that has made the pages of Food & Wine magazine, Biker Jim has a claim to fame that expands beyond his wieners. Buffalo meat, boar, reindeer, veal, and elk-jalapeno-cheddar are among the unusual flavors his cart offers. And do yourself a favor. Order one of the varieties that tastes good with cream cheese, because if you’ve never had food prepared with a caulking gun, now’s your chance. Loaded up with cream cheese and all the fixins, Biker Jim’s brats are worth a special trip. You can still grab one and go, but don’t need to miss out on a unique Denver experience.
Travelers often eat fancy sit down meals on vacation, and a lunch on the run between tourist attractions is worth planning for, but what’s for breakfast? Hotels offer continental fare, or maybe some eggs and sausage. But if you’re in Denver and are looking for fun from the first, check out the spread at Jelly. Yes, Jelly is open for lunch, too. But breakfast is their raison d'être. The lunch menu features classics such as the Reuben, Cobb Salad, and Bacon Cheeseburger, but puts their own twist on the offerings with Salmon Salads, wide vegetarian options, and something heavenly called the Jelly Burger. On their breakfast menu, six different varieties of Benedict and five hashes complement pancakes and French toast, along with donut bites made to order and the Haco, a Mexican twist on Buscuits & Gravy.
With so many delicious options in Denver, it’s important to pace yourself. That shortness of breath you are experiencing might not be simply due to the altitude.