Best of the West 2014 – Food

BAGEL:

BIG DADDY BAGELS

Channel your inner (friendlier) New Yorker by feasting on boiled-then-baked bagels, deli sandwiches, soups, and even pizza. 1940 Ionosphere St, Longmont

MOE’S BROADWAY BAGEL

Moe’s hole-y baked goods incorporates that heavily sought east coast style, transplanting a bit of the Big Apple’s specialty right in our backyard. (The name “Moe’s Broadway Bagels” is a cute double entendre.) Many locations

BBQ:

LULU’S BBQ

Gluttony here is no sin, so bring your “go big or go home” appetite. Posters of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline pose as the overseers of all finger-licking. Go ahead. Pay tribute to the legends with sauce-stained mouths. 701 Main St, Louisville

RIB HOUSE

The Front Range sports a patchwork of imported tastes. The Rib House is a, er, prime example, with a Kansas City barbeque dry rub brought to Boulder County over a decade ago. Many locations

BREAKFAST & HEALTHY:

MORNING GLORY CAFE

If you suffer from Celiac disease, or you’re just plain gluten-free, you can count on plenty of delicious gluten-free breakfast options from this cute breakfast joint. We’re partial to the blueberry pancakes. 1377 Forest Park Cir, Lafayette

BREAKFAST:

SUPER MINI WALNUT CAFE

The café oozes character with walls as colorful as the servers’ tattoos. Whether it’s the blueberry cornbread or friendly staff, this is one incredibly hip breakfast club you want to be a part of. 2770 Arapahoe Rd, Lafayette

SNOOZE A.M. EATERY

The long line on weekends is a testament to the food. Our advice: Play hooky and pop in on a Wednesday. Snooze’s interior is a bright, contemporary take on retro, almost making you expect servers on roller skates. Six variations of benedicts will make aficionados salivate endlessly. Many locations

BREAKFAST BURRITO & GREEN CHILI:

SANTIAGO’S

A winner in two categories, Santiago’s is a culinary oasis where the kings of green chili reside, tucked away amidst the greasy grub of the hill. Did we mention the burrito is $2? (OK, meatavores need to shell out a whopping $3.50.) Many locations

BRUNCH:

THE HUCKLEBERRY

It starts by melting away busy, urban city life, and ends with mapping out what to eat on the next visit. From sweet breakfasts, to home-style lunch dishes, the farm-to-table creations epitomize what country cooking should be. 700 Main St, Louisville

TANGERINE RESTAURANT

In a county saturated with quality breakfast spots, Tangerine is the revered new kid on the block. Chef Alec Schuler pairs taste with nutrition flawlessly, sacrificing neither in the extensive brunch menu. Its success is more impressive given the less-than-perfect location. 2777 Iris Ave, Boulder

BURGER: 

WATERLOO

Just as Johnny Cash put artistic creativity behind his music, Waterloo does so with their burgers. Memorabilia of the Man In Black adorn the walls as you walk the line with toppings such as fried egg & peanut butter. Surely, Mr. Cash would approve. 809 S. Main St, Louisville 

LARKBURGER

No duh, Larkburger won best burger. But the best patty around is nothing without its trusty sidekick, truffle parmesan fries. It also helps that Larkburger is a social media master, so follow them on Twitter to catch deals and giveaways. Many locations