Colorado Eats
I have a friend who's getting married here in a month and she and her new hubby are going to be honeymooning in Colorado. They're planning on traveling around a bit from the Pike's Peak area to Denver to Colorado Springs and knowing her could definitely use some food ideas. Anything with websites/phone numbers/types of food - what's good would be appreciated. She's a Doritos with pizza sorta girl so nothing over the top, please. ;P
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14 Comments:
"Nothing over the top, please" Isn't this site called "Serious Eats"? If you want a great meal and one of the best views ever you've got to try Flagstaff House. It's located just up the mountains west of Boulder and serves up some of the best lamb I've ever had. In addition to the food you can see out over the plains for a good 60 miles... incredible. So good I'm flying out there with reservations for next week.
steveTV at 8:05PM on 06/17/08
For the Pike's Peak area- I lived there for 5 years- Mr. Oddcouple is a chef and we made the rounds!
http://www.restauranteur.com/co/cs/showcase.htm
On this list...
The Famous- awesome steak house
Briarhurst- Classics, with a twist
Craftwood- specializes in wild game
Phantom Canyon- more casual, GREAT brewpub right in old downtown Co Springs
Marigold Cafe is not on this list, but is a must if you are in the neighborhood. Lots of reviews if you google it.
Amanda's Fonda between Co Springs and Pike's Peak access road in Manitou is WONDERFUL Mexican with a great outdoor patio, butch watch those margaritas- they are strong!
oddcouple1 at 9:37PM on 06/17/08
Frasca in Boulder is one of the most famous restaurants around and is totally recommended for a special night...perfect for a honeymoon. Other than that in Denver she might like having margaritas and mexican at the Rio Grande in LODO (that's downtown Denver), it's a great starting off point for a night on the town but watch out, the margs will get you!!!
For Colorado style pizza (and there is such a thing) she should go to Beau Jo's which is right there on I-70 on her way to Denver from the mountains in an old historical mining town called Idaho Springs. For her information, Coloradoans usually save their crusts and put honey on them to eat for dessert.
If she is into beer, there are tons of breweries with brew pubs around...Breckenridge Brewery, Dillon Dam Brewery, Tommyknocker Brewery and tons (seriously, hundreds) more. Most of these have pretty good food and the beer cannot be beat!
I lived in Colorado for 25 years and am very jealous of your friend. Hope she has a wonderful trip!
orinky at 9:04AM on 06/18/08
Just moved from Denver and cannot wait to go home for the following, none too expensive just good (or great!) food...
Illegal Petes (Burritos)
http://www.illegalpetes.com/ (while Denver is the original home of Chipotle Illegal Pete's is my vote hands down.)
Parisi (Italian for locals, inexpensive and fabulous - we eat upstairs)
http://www.parisidenver.com/
Bang
http://www.bangdenver.com/ (must have the toasted sweet potato bread)
Stella's (great patio, great food, great neighborhood & people watching in the cool evening air..)
no real website but can be found at Trattoria Stella
- www.cafestardenver.com
3470 W 32nd Ave, Denver - (303) 458-1128
katarina_santiago at 11:01AM on 06/18/08
One more try and I give up...doesn't seem to work to post
Just moved to Orlando from Denver and am sorely missing my day in and day out favorites.
Illegal Pete's (www.illegalpetes.com) in the home city of Chipotle I would rather have a burrito at Illegal Pete's.
Parisi (www.parisidenver.com) I have a friend from Rome who is notoriously picky about his Italian and he loves it. It is a neighborhood restaurant. Sit upstairs for some great eats.
Bang (www.bangdenver.com) In a great old neighborhood and has the kitchen streetside. Must try to toasted sweet potato bread and butter.
katarina_santiago at 11:12AM on 06/18/08
Drat! I was in Co. Springs last week and could have used some of these suggestions.
I second Marigold (I ate at the one on Centennial in Co. Springs, not sure if there are other locations). We ate breakfast there one morning and the prices were a bit steep- over $30 for the 4 of us and my parents only got fruit. BUT the food was good, the place was clean and welcoming and the staff was friendly.
I also liked the Bean Bandit (I have no clue what street is on but it is near my uncle's house. LOL!) for Mexican. Not earthshattering, but tasty. Chips and salsa were REALLY good IMHO.
If you are big on breakfast like me, consider the Village Inn. We stayed on Garden of the Gods Road and there were very few establishments, aside from fast food joints, that served breakfast. My dad said the original Village Inn downtown was swanky back in the day, but the one I went to was pretty laid back- like Bob Evans minus the farm shtick. There are a couple Village Inns around Co. Springs from what I could tell.
I was disappointed in the waffle I had at the Waffle House on Fillmore. It needed to cook a bit longer. Waffle is in their name- shouldn't they be able to get that right??
I must say that the two best meals I had while visiting Colorado were at pretty exclusive places and I'm not sure anyone can get a reservation without knowing someone in the kitchen...my cousins Carolyn and Sherry both served us wonderful meals in their homes. Despite the wonders of nature to be found in CO, the warmth and graciousness of my family were the most memorable part of my trip.
AuntJone at 12:25PM on 06/18/08
I had the best Huevos Rancheros in my memory at a little place in Gold Hill - maybe called the Prospector Cafe? It was many years ago and my appreciation could have been influenced by many factors (youthful inexperience among them) but it still stands out as one of my most sublime breakfast experiences of all time. It was late winter... snow on the ground... but the sun at that altitude allowed us to sit outdoors on the rustic back deck.
phaelon56 at 4:12PM on 06/18/08
I know I'm repeating some previous recommendations, but oh well :)
(These are all Colorado Springs area)
El Tesoro (http://www.el-tesoro.com/) They have the best pork burritos and enchiladas. Very Santa Fe style food. SO good!
Amanda's Fonda: Another great Mexican place, but my favorite thing there is, by far, their blackberry margarita.
The Golden Bee: Not really known for their food, but great drinks, and a really fun atmosphere (located at the Broadmoor)
Sophia's is my favorite coffeeshop in Colorado Springs. They're located in Old Colorado City.
Front Range Barbecue is a great hole in the wall barbecue joint, also in Old Colorado City.
Plate World Cuisine is really good too. Their lunch menu is reasonable. Dinner is a bit pricey.
I don't usually recommend chain restaurants, but there are a few that I love here in Colorado Springs: Pita Pit, Ted's Montana Grill, Wahoo's Fish Tacos and Rumbi's are my favorites.
bncampbell at 6:13PM on 06/18/08
Bean Bandit is on Union, I think. We used to live nearby. That was the best hole in the wall Mexican. So is Taco Express, for cheap, huge, greasy hangover breakfast burritos. There is only one Marigold. That is where Mr. OC worked when we first moved there as Sous Chef. Prices are a little steep but IMO worth it, especially at dinner.
oddcouple1 at 7:20PM on 06/18/08
It's a honeymoon, you must go over the top! For that, I have heard great things about Frasca in Boulder. Also check out Rioja in Denver- they will customize a tasting menu for you, and it is much more affordable than Frasca. I had a 5 course tasting menu there in April for $60/pp that was amazing. They also have wine by the half-glass, and a lot of interesting and nice Spanish wines.
On the cheap side, Tacos Jalisco has the best Mexican food. Denver has a large Ethiopian community, and the best food is at "Ethiopian Restaurant" at 2816 E. Colfax. Reeeally tasty.
On the really lowbrow side, try Smashburger or Good Times (great frozen custard, and ok local fast food)
bialy at 9:23PM on 06/18/08
The Rocky Mountain Diner is delicious and has a good variety of food for a crowd. It's more upscale than a traditional diner. Buffalo meatloaf - YUM.
I second the calls for Illegal Pete's, too.
anninva at 10:46AM on 06/19/08
My husband and I love going to Mizuna for special occasions and I think this is one!
http://www.mizunadenver.com/
rockymountainmarta at 7:03PM on 06/19/08
When visiting Colorado Springs (which essentially is the Pikes Peak region), there are good number of great places to eat that offer excellent food, good atmosphere and still won't break the bank.
Breakfast: Adam's Mountain Cafe in Manitou Springs is a local institution. Any of the several locations of La Baguette offer a nice continental alternative, with some outdoor tables for our gorgeous summer mornings. The Omelette Parlor on Fillmore is another institution and the Olive Branch downtown is worth a stop.
Lunch/Dinner: for more local flavor, try La'au's taco shop (hidden away behind a building near Colorado College on North Tejon) the atmosphere is negligible but the tacos (Mahi mahi with mango-jalapeno salsa!) are outstanding. Have a salad, sandwich, NY-style pizza and, of course, a glass of wine at Rico's wine bar (or Poor Richard's, to which it is connected). Jack Quinn's an Irish pub with good food and Celtic music several nights a week (NOT Friday or Sat nights, however, when it tends to rock out, as do many places on Tejon--if you want to shake off some calories after dinner, downtown Tejon is your destination. Hit Jake and Telly's in Old Colorado City for Greek food--eat outside on the balcony and watch the street scene. Or, go a few blocks further west on Colorado Avenue and eat Italian food at Paravicini--if you're lucky (or unlucky, as the case may be) chef Franco will tell you one of his bad jokes.
If you're venturing up highway 24 into the mountains (or even up Pikes Peak) stop at Wines of Colorado for a wine burger. Like many locals, I'd dismissed it as a tourist gimmick for years, but these burgers are amazing.
I know I'm missing lots of spots--no doubt some other locals will spin off this!
laney at 11:00AM on 06/23/08
I'm making a list for my next visit! I was only there for 3 full days and had my son and parents in tow so I couldn't be as adventurous foodwise as I would have liked.
I saw Good Times and considered stopping for custard but didn't- now I regret it! I saw Jake and Telly's in Old Colorado City but didn't see Adam's in Manitou- is that in what my cousin called the old bathhouse?? I'm also sorry I missed the Omelette Parlor. I definitely need to make another trip!
@oddcouple- my uncle lives on San Miguel (blvd, I think) and Union sounds familiar. My dad had us all over town. He grew up there and every time he goes back he can't believe how much the place changes. I was there 16 years ago but don't remember a blasted thing from my first trip! I love the area and would probably live there if given a chance.
AuntJone at 8:16PM on 06/23/08