Fruition Restaurant: Sophisticated Comfort Food

With a welcoming atmosphere and comfort food brimming with sophistication, Denver's Fruition is a restaurant that will dazzle your taste buds while making you feel right at home. This incredible restaurant has garnered national attention and numerous accolades since opening, and Chef Alex Seidel's food continues to impress. Starters include incredible dishes like rabbit loin porchetta and pan roasted halibut cheek piccata. Main courses range from lamb loin with lamb meatballs to a pan roasted grouper with butter poached lobster tagliatelle, and there are vegetarian options available, as well! Desserts are equally impressive, as is a deep wine and beer list that you're sure to find something that you'll enjoy. With classy food in a comfortable setting, Fruition is a restaurant that you should definitely check out for yourself.

Fruition Restaurant
1313 E. 6th Avenue
Denver, CO 80238
(303) 831-1962
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fruition-restaurant-denver


 

Kobe An: Delicious Japanese Cuisine

The word on the street is to hurry over to Kobe An, but don’t be in a hurry once you get there. Locals have been visiting this fine Japanese restaurant for years and rave about the high-quality cuisine. Kobe An has traditional private dining rooms and super simple Japanese decor in the main room that is bound to make anyone comfortable. The wait staff is welcoming and a few have become fixtures in the place. Some favorites include the jalapeno tobiko, melt in your mouth unagi, and the succulent dynamite roll, which have all won raves from Denver’s sushi eaters. Kobe An is excellent for groups, and they even have a double happy hour starting back up at 9 p.m. if you miss the early evening rush. Kobe An is great for family, great for friends and casual dates. 

Kobe An
85 S Union Boulevard
Lakewood, CO 80228
(303) 989-5907
www.kobean.com

Steuben’s: The Classic Diner, Recreated

Named after the famous restaurant and nightlife hotspot in Boston, Steuben's commands a presence on the other side of the country in Denver. Exuding a classic diner vibe, the restaurant sports a retro decor revamped with sleek leather seating and modern lighting. Steuben’s serves American cuisine, and the menu is packed with comfort food classics like macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, Memphis ribs, and a to-die-for Maine lobster roll with fries. There are also nightly specials, which vary with each night of the week. Kids 12 and under can order from their very own menu, which lists all meals for only $7 and comes with a beverage and cupcake or ice cream.

If you’d rather have your meal to go, feel free to order from Steuben’s retro-cool, diner-like takeout area, or if the weather is nice, request a seat on one of the eatery’s two outdoor patios. Steuben's also hosts a lively bar, which serves classic drinks to accompany any classic dish.

Steuben's
523 East 17th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 830-1001
www.steubens.com

Boney’s Smokehouse Pit Barbeque: Cook It Slow

Colorado isn’t a statepeople typically associate with good barbecue. But after a meal at Boney’s Smokehouse Pit Barbeque they might change their minds. Boney's has old-school Southern-style slow-cooked meat. The instant you walk in the door your nose will notice the amazing smell of great cuts, covered in an aromatic dry rub, being cooked low and long before serving. Patience is the key to great barbecue and the crew at Boney’s doesn’t rush anything out the door. Regulars rave about the incredibly succulent ribs, which virtually fall off the bone, as well as the crispy, fatty brisket. The portions here are gigantic: you might balk at the prices when you first visit, but you’ll soon realize that an entrée is enough to serve two people easily and still have leftovers to bring home. Sides are decent enough, with the greens standing out from the crowd. And Boney's the ambience is great!

Boney’s Smokehouse Pit Barbeque
1555 Champa Street # C
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 825-9900
www.boneysbbq.com

Basic Kneads Pizza: Pie In The Sky

The food truck craze continues to flourish in Denver and some unlikely offerings are doing very well. A pizza oven isn’t the kind of thing that you’d peg for portability, but the folks at Basic Kneads have assembled a high-tech way of cooking their artisanal pizzas on the street, providing fresh, hot slices all over town. The Bakken brothers designed and built Baisc Kneads's oven from scratch, and it’s proven very popular among Mile High City gourmands. Using primarily locally sourced ingredients, Basic Kneads's pies take a daring step of incorporating whole wheat flour for a little more density in the dough, perfect for some unique topping combinations. Their fresh red sauce is great but they also offer pesto, high-quality olive oil and more. You can even customize your pie from the range of ingredients they have available. Basic Kneads's website lists where the truck can be found throughout the day, so make sure to check there before you hit the road looking for it!

Basic Kneads Pizza
Denver, CO 80221
(720) 340-1066
basickneadspizza.com

Boba & Crepes: A Wonderful Partnership

If you feel like you’ve exhausted the typical snack selections, why not branch out a little bit? Denver's Boba & Crepes serves Taiwanese-style crepes. Never tried a Taiwanese-style crepe? Well, it’s a little bit different than the traditional French breakfast food. Served splayed open in a conical shape, these deliciously thin cakes are cooked fresh on a griddle and are filled with a wide variety of fillings, from fresh fruit topped with chocolate syrup and whipped cream to savory ham and cheese. They may seem a little unusual at first glance but they work really well. The “boba” in Boba & Crepes's name refers to the little pearls of tapioca that give bubble tea its unique texture. Added to milk or iced teas, these little balls are flavorful and fun to eat, providing a great counterpoint to the crepes. Boba & Crepes is a cute little spot that is very friendly to the first-timer while offering a menu that’s deep enough to encourage multiple visits.

Boba & Crepes
1154 South Colorado Boulevard
Denver, CO 80246
(303) 759-2737
www.bobaandcrepes.com

Cafe Bisque: French Cuisine for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Cafe Bisque has an open kitchen where you can see your perfect Bananas Foster or Smoked Trout Benedict being prepared lovingly by the chef. Enjoy an amazing cup of fresh French pressed coffee and lounge in the cozy interior (try and forget that the place is tucked away in an unattractive strip mall). Regulars rave that Café Bisque offers the best eggs Benedict in the Denver area, served atop fluffy, delicious homemade bread. Lunch and dinner is just as good—regulars rave about the shrimp bisque, one of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Keeping up with the latest social media trends, Café Bisque offers a free appetizer for every three times you check in there on Foursquare. They also offer monthly cooking classes for those who want a peek at what’s going on behind the curtain.

Café Bisque
224 Union Boulevard
Lakewood, CO 80228
(303) 985-4151
www.cafebisque.com

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery: Wake Up And Eat

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery is a breakfast-only spot has earned a reputation as one of the best places in Denver to start your day. If you can roll out of bed early enough to get a table, you’ll join the ranks of the converted. Obviously, you’ll want to start your day with coffee, and regulars rave that the java at Snooze is top-notch. Once you crack the menu open, you’ll find that Snooze sources their food from some of the best places in the country, putting a premium on fresh, organic ingredients. There’s almost too much to choose from, but some of the highlights include the amazing red velvet pancakes, the breakfast burritos stuffed to overflowing with ingredients and slathered in green chile, and the scrambles, which can be customized in hundreds of different ways. They also serve lunch, which is just as good. The wait for a table at Snooze can be a little long (stretching up to an hour on weekends) but it’s worth it.

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
2262 Larimer Street
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 297-0700
www.snoozeeatery.com

240 Union: Taste the Wonders Of The Sea

240 Union touts itself as upscale seafood, a brave title in a landlocked town. Set against the mountains with a number of intimate locations like the cozy wine room and the atmospheric deck, it’s easy to set the mood for your evening. If you are looking for a super romantic spot for a first date, try making a reservation on a weeknigh—the weekends can get noisy.  Sometimes the specials sell out a little too early, so get to dinner before the sun goes down. Calamari takes a creative turn with the addition of green beans and a sweet chili sauce. Regulars and first-timers agree that the chicken fried lobster tail is something to behold. With a perfect tarragon dipping sauce, this dish is not to be missed. 240 Union is upscale enough to impress picky diners but relaxed enough to bring your family. A great wine list just completes the package.

240 Union
240 Union Boulevard
Lakewood, CO 80228
(303) 989-3562
www.240union.com

Gaia Bistro: The Bread Of The Earth

The owners of Gaia Bistro, a quaint Pearl Street café, proudly describe their menu as “Earth-friendly.” But if that appellation brings images of unwashed hippies serving up tasteless slabs of spelt on recycled paper plates, think again. Gaia is an excellent little bistro that delivers a wide variety of excellent food. Located in a converted Victorian house that still retains its former charm, the owners have converted the space to include on-site greenhouses that produce much of the produce used at the restaurant. Freshness is paramount at Gaia and the dishes on its menu are great for bringing out the essential flavors of the foods. Breakfast is highlighted by the crepes. Available in regular and gluten-free varieties, they’re rich, flavorful and delicious. Their other baked goods are equally tasty, including amazing muffins and some of the most decadent sticky buns you’ll ever eat. Gaia Bistro recently introduced a dinner menu as well.

Gaia Bistro
1551 South Pearl Street
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-5699
www.gaiabistro.com