Best Food — Boulder

Overall
• CRITICS: Frasca, Downtown
What can you say about Frasca that hasn’t been said already? We’ll try this: Fantastic service (they have computer records of customers so waitstaff can greet regulars appropriately), exceptional food (chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson has been featured in every food and wine publication of note), and the best wine list in town (and perhaps the Rocky Mountains). Okay, so that’s all been said before. Taste it for yourself and come up with something other than “exceptional,” “outrageously good,” “food-coma inducing” and “fabulous” to sum up your experience and we’ll print it.

$10 Meal
• CRITICS: Bimbamboo, Downtown
This new Asian-inspired small plates restaurant has a menu that actually tops out at $10 a dish. For that “staggering” price, order a rice bowl such as Thai Green Curry Coconut Chicken or Bengali Grilled Salmon salad. But the real treats are in the small bites portion of the menu. Ed Schmidt has created a dynamic menu that packs a serious punch for about $5 or $6 a serving. You’ll love the Pan Seared Shrimp and Leek Potstickers, and Stick Trio From The BBQ.

Date Night
• CRITICS: John’s Restaurant, then Chautauqua Cottages
For those who don’t live near downtown Boulder, John’s may be a complete mystery. It’s a small cottage next to an auto store blocks east of the walking mall on Pearl. You’ve driven by it countless times and likely never noticed it—that’s too bad. Inside, you’ll find an intimate dining room in a historic home that exudes romance. The menu is a smattering of flavors that come from chef Corey Buck’s vivid imagination and near annual trips to taste and cook throughout Europe. You’ll have your date marveling at this out-of-the way eatery. If it’s not too presumptuous, book a Chautauqua Cottage. Not only are the accommodations quaint and historic, they back to the stunning Flatirons.

Sushi
• CRITICS: Sushi Zanmai, Downtown
There isn’t a more consistently hopping sushi establishment in Boulder. Zanmai mixes an uber trendy dining experience with creative rolls, an impressive saki list and plenty of other traditional Japanese favorites. The reality is, we come back because Zanmai understands the key to running a successful sushi restaurant—fresh fish. Whether toro, uni or a simple smoked salmon is your pleasure, it’ll taste like it was just pulled from the water.

Vegetarian
• CRITICS: Organic Orbit, North Boulder
Yes, there is in fact meat on the menu, but with so many tasty vegetarian options, there is no reason to order the Colorado Rack of Lamb. Executive Chef Greg Faircloth makes sure that the aforementioned dish is stellar, but we like entrées such as the Roasted Acorn Squash and Grilled Polenta. He makes a statement: Vegetarian can be the highlight of the menu.

Italian
• CRITICS: Radda, North Boulder
When this buzzy neighborhood spot opened in NoBo, it began offering the tastiest Italian food in the city and at a price that is as easy to swallow as your Tagliata di Manzo. Don’t miss the Panzanella appetizer that sends you into a leisurely daze, enjoying Italian the way it was meant to be—in a slow, relaxed environment. There’s a reason we lauded it shortly after its opening and virtually every other media source in the Front Range has jumped on
the bandwagon.

Brunch
• CRITICS: Brasserie 1010, Downtown
When you see locals flocking to a restaurant, you know it’s probably good. But those locals may not understand the intricacies of fine dining—perhaps they’re not the best food barometers. But when you see all the city’s restaurant workers eating beignets and eggs benedict and custom omelets and streak frites on a Sunday morning at one spot, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’re eating at an elite restaurant. Brunch at Brasserie 1010 is like sitting in on a who’s who of Boulder dining.

American
• CRITICS: The Kitchen, Downtown
In the last few years we’ve seen an increase in restaurants with an eye toward sustainable menus and locally grown, often organic, ingredients. It’s safe to say The Kitchen’s success since opening in 2004 is one of the reasons. The menu features (mostly) Colorado meats and produce that are free range and/or organic. That pays off in taste as well as peace of mind when eating such delights as the Cassoulet with abondanza farm beans, braised lamb, pork and housemade sausage. The brunch and wine lists are as impressive (they even recycle the corks).