Frasca Food and Wine With outstanding tasting menus, steak dinners, trophy wines, and more, these spots were built for celebration Denver is a famously casual town, but it’s still got an abundance of options when a birthday, anniversary, reunion, or career milestone calls for celebration. Bring on the Champagne and shellfish towers, the magnums and the filet mignon, the white cloths and the pampering; these 25 places, listed in geographical order from north to south, aim to do it right. Needless to say, reservations — in some cases prepaid ones — are highly recommended or required ..read more

Tandoori lamb chops at Urban Village Grill. | Urban Village Grill Beyond the buffet are a dazzling range of regional specialties Indian food in Denver keeps getting better, with options representing a greater range of regions and styles. And while there are plenty of traditional menus to choose from, modern interpretations of the cuisine abound, from restaurants slinging masala French toast to “surf and turf” platters with lamb, tandoori salmon, and prawns. Here are nine places, all opened within the past few years, that are doing their part — and doing it well — to broaden Denver diners’ hori ..read more

Check out the full list https://www.eater.com/22947542/james-beard-awards-2022-semifinalists-chefs-restaurants-jbfa ..read more

Linger’s rooftop greenhouses. | Lucy Beaugard Where to go to soak up the city’s famous sunshine Denver’s not nearly as wintry as outsiders tend to assume — especially not this year, in which the city tied its 134-year record for consecutive days without snowfall — but it isn’t Miami either, so offering outdoor service year-round takes some effort. Granted, that effort was aided by pandemic-era restrictions on dining-room capacity, which forced many restaurant and bar operators to invest in alternative seating options. So while many patios are weather-dependent throughout the season, many are n ..read more

A Detroit-style pie from Blue Pan. | Ruth Tobias/Eater A go-to guide to the city’s top pies and slices Denver may not have its own signature pie, but it’s a thriving pizza town nonetheless, representing the full spectrum of regional American — not to mention traditional Italian — styles admirably. From Detroit and New York to Naples and Sicily, there’s something here for every homegrown local or transplant. In fact, there are so many primo parlors in metro Denver alone that there’s no room for their Boulder counterparts below; to offer a quick rundown of the most notable up northwest, then, co ..read more

Tocabe’s Indian taco loaded with shredded bison, cheese, hominy, and other toppings. | Rachel Greiman Filling fare for under $15 Though a few of Denver’s most beloved spots for budget grub are temporarily closed due to the pandemic — looking at you, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs — these 16 are holding down the fort as reliably as ever. (It helps that the majority did bang-up takeout business to begin with.) From gut-busting breakfasts to burgers and bánh mì, they’re all about giving diners their money’s worth. And if we somehow missed your favorite dine-on-a-dime spot, show it some love in the comm ..read more

Avocado-radish toast at Wonder Press. | Courtesy of Big Red F Salads, soups, smoothies, sushi, and so on Organic produce and sustainable proteins. Meat-, dairy-, and allergen-free alternatives. Superfoods and adaptogenic herbs. Ancient grains and heirloom crops. The criteria for healthy eating these days go far beyond the rigid wheat germ–and–bean sprout regimens of old — and these 17 places all meet their fair share in style. Speaking of good health, of course, these restaurants all offer to-go and/or delivery service as well. Though Denver’s dining rooms are currently open at 25 percent capa ..read more

Classic steak tartare from Bistro Vendôme. | Marc Piscotty As the city works to combat the coronavirus, chefs continue to do what they do best Since March, the dining scene in Denver (as everywhere) has been rocked and rolled by the ever-changing restrictions on businesses wrought by the pandemic. Yet local restaurateurs continue to pivot with extraordinary courage and ingenuity. Thanks to takeout and delivery service in particular, they’re keeping their livelihoods intact as best they can while offering frazzled home cooks a breather. The following 15 venues are great examples, though this ma ..read more

The scene in the normally bustling Highlands neighborhood in Denver. | Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images They must adhere to certain guidelines Government officials are allowing Colorado restaurants to resume dine-in services, which have been shut down since March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, starting Wednesday — if they adhere to certain guidelines such as operating at half capacity. The governor’s office has released a number of additional guidelines that restaurants must follow, such as allowing no more than 50 maximum occupants, keeping tables at least six feet a part at all ..read more

James Beard award | James Beard Foundation Winners won’t be announced until September https://www.eater.com/2020/5/4/21244021/james-beard-awards-2020-finalists-chefs-restaurants-media-cookbooks-journalism-jbfa ..read more