Denver

The small patio invites those walking through the LoDo neighborhood to stop for a Rioja “picnic” of artisan meats, cheeses, nuts and olives. — Travel + Leisure

Housed in an adobe replica of 5outheast Colorado's Bent's Fort, this Denver institution perches amid the area's famed red-rock terrain. — Michelin Guide

Chef Seidel has produced signature dishes like the Maple Leaf Farms duck breast served with carnaroli risotto as well as grilled arugula that was grown on the chef’s farm. — Travel + Leisure

You can watch the line cooks shred pork for the tender cochinita pibil (a savory slow-roasted Yucatán favorite) or cut off haunches of citrus-zesty short ribs—meat comes priced by weight. — Fodor's

By day, the “hip”, “high-energy” space functions as a European-style market offering “superb” sandwiches and “top-notch” coffees. — Zagat

The Alaskan reindeer or elk-jalapeño-cheddar dog transformed this place from a humble street cart into a brick-and-mortar institution. — Condé Nast Traveler

New American fine dining at a hotel. — Zagat

The soup dumplings, plump with sweet onions and melted Gruyère, are just plain brilliant. — Tasting Table

An upscale sanctuary of pristine seafood in Denver's Union Station. — Gayot

Chef-owner Frank Bonanno knows how to transform butter and cream into comforting masterpieces at this cozy eatery with warm colors and intimate seating. — Fodor's

If you’ve been waiting to try Rocky Mountain oysters, you’re in the right place. — Lonely Planet

Organic-inclined herbivores commune over buckwheat pancakes, tofu, tempeh and seitan at this campy Uptown health food hangout. — Gayot

Duo’s open kitchen plates up a variety of dishes that start with tradition but exude creativity in terms of both presentation and flavor. — Frommer's

Table 6 balances a hip but unpretentious sensibility, great food, and one of the best wine lists in town, offered on a tableside stand in an antique photo album. — Frommer's

Really yummy noodle bowls and a good vibe Really yummy noodle bowls and a good vibe Really yummy noodle bowls and a good vibe. — Afar Magazine

Across the street from sister eatery Rioja , Bistro Vendome serves splendid interpretations of Gallic standbys (dubbed “French soul food”) in an intimate space on Larimer Square. — Frommer's

Small plates—oysters on the half shell, chicken liver mousse and roasted bone marrow—emerge from the kitchen in elegantly presented fashion. — Tasting Table

Ritzy steakhouse with hopping bar scene. — Zagat

Denver's finest dive? This may be it. A 24/7 schedule and a short-order menu loaded with diner classics make it a legitimate greasy spoon for a wide-ranging clientele of foodniks. — Gayot