Newcomers

The BoCo food scene is ever evolving and changing, it can be hard to keep up. Here’s some of the new and noteworthy.

Bramble and Hare

1970 13th St., Boulder

All the food is sourced from their 500-acre farm, so everything is fresh and made in house and changes seasonally. They have a deal where you can do a three course farm dinner for $36. Think pistachio tarator sauce with farm fresh summer squash, forged apples, fresh herbs, and edible flowers; sea bass, crisped potatoes, capers, heirloom tomatoes, and lemon or poached salmon with broccoli, squash, potatoes; vanilla panna cotta with blueberry compote topped with a crumbled coconut macaroon.

Wonderpress

946 Pearl St., Boulder

They have toast, smoothies, and specialty juices. You can’t go wrong with any of it. The tumeric latte can be prepared with or without coffee in it. There are plenty of milk and milk alternatives and they make all nut milks in-house. I tried the Golden Citrus juice, which was nice and tart without being overwhelming.

River & Woods

2328 Pearl St., Boulder

The ambiance is relaxed. Almost all spirits and beer are local – we enjoyed their elaborate cocktails and presentation. This would be a great spot for Happy Hour on the patio, a special date night, or dessert and coffee. You can submit recipes via their website for a community sourced feel. For dessert, you have to get staff favorite: dulce de leche stuffed churros. It was the best part of the meal and would be a great reason to come back time and again. It paired perfectly with the personal french press of coffee.

Very Nice Brewing

20 Lakeview Dr., Suite 112, Nederland

These guys are awesome and so is their beer. I got to spend time with them during Attack of the Beers in Copper Mountain. I was there as a judge for the Copper Mountain Film Festival. I love all their beers, the Royal We is my favorite.

Vision Quest Brewery

2510 47th St., Suite A2, Boulder

Weekly events keep us coming back. Wednesday is StarWater Wednesday, Thursday Stand Up comedy, Friday open mic night. Gluten reduced beers. We tried the Jalapeno Vanilla, Gose, Coffee Porter, and the Wet Wet Chinook. All had solid and subtle flavor profiles. The jalapeno was my favorite, and I can’t wait to cook with it. The coffee porter was Kat’s favorite. Great place to chill outside and write. There are some old school pinball machines, you have to play some Harlem Globetrotters.

12 Degree Brewing

820 Main St., Louisville

Opened in 2013 in Louisville, Jon was a homebrewer first. Grab some fries and a beer and enjoy some time. If the beer ends in fog you’re going to love it. Go monday for one of the bluegrass jam sessions.

2020 Food & Wine

2020 Lonosphere St., Longmont

This is located in Longmont. You can’t go wrong with Happy Hour. The Ginger Orange Creme brulee is a favorite.

24 Carrot Bistro

578 Briggs St., Erie

A new American farm-to-table restaurant. You have to try their beignets and a drink called Han Shot First.

4 Noses Brewing

8855 W. 116th Cir #4, Broomfield

This brewery opened in Broomfield in 2014. Live dangerously and try a beer off their experimental list.

Altitude Spirits

2805 Wilderness Pl #200, Boulder

This operation is owned and operated by a Father/Son team. They were the first to produce organic spirits in boulder county. They produce Vodka 14 and import others. It has a smooth finish not too shocking.

Aperitivo

5530 Spine Rd., Boulder

This place does some really interesting things with melon. Stop by and give them a try either for Happy Hour or a faun date night.

Bacco Trattoria & Mozzarella Bar

1200 Yarmouth Ave., Boulder

Not just another Italian place, go for Happy Hour.

Big Mac & Little Lu’s Seafood Market & Grill

2851 W 120th Ave. #300, Westminster

Grab a fuzzy fish bowl and conch fritters.

Black Diamond Restaurant and Tap House

103 N. Public Rd C, Lafayette

They serve up historical Colorado food. Check out the pocket pies or hot cakes.

Blackbelly Restaurant & Catering

1606 Conestoga St. #3,

A restaurant of former Top Chef contestant Hosea Rosenberg. You cannot go wrong with a single thing on this menu. They also have a butcher that can give you some beautiful cuts of meat. If you want to impress at your next backyard BBQ check this place out.

Blooming Beets Kitchen

3303 30th St., Boulder

This is a safe place for those of us with insane food allergies. Also great for people that need something diet friendly. The restaurant is celiac safe.

Bohemian Biergarten

2017 13th St., Boulder

They have some fun events and  great beers on tap. Some I’ve never seen here in the states. My favorite is Czechvar.

Boulder T/aco

1048 Pearl St., Boulder

Stop by Happy Hour with your friends after work. Grab some street tacos and a house margarita.

Dannick’s Gunbarrel Corner Bar

6525 Gunpark Dr. #380, Boulder

Cool blues venue. Dan and Nick wanted to create a community gathering spot in their neighborhood. Awesome cocktail menu, great apps. You have to go when they have live music.

Delvickio

1100 US Hwy 287, Broomfield

Old school Italian and Pizzeria. They have six locations in the county.You can find the one nearest you for really good pizza.

Deviant Spirits

2480 49th St. E., Boulder

Three friends with a dream they opened on October 31, 2015. The Deviant Russian is their cocktail of the month. This is another fun and happening Happy Hour hot spot.

Doug’s Day Diner

2400 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder

This will make you feel like you’re sitting in grandma’s kitchen. They are a homemade/scratch diner and feature good home cooking. Huevos Rancheros and Grandma’s hotcakes are popular items.

Dry Land Distillers

471 Main St., Longmont

Downtown Longmont located in a historic building on main street. The Dry Land Cactus is the 2018 bronze medal winner from the acclaimed International London Spirits Competition. It is smooth and worthy of the title. This place is definitely worth a taste.

Dugout Bar & Grill

149 S Briggs St. #105, Erie,

This is one of those places you get together with your buddies to watch the game. They do traditional bar food well. Come down, grab a beer, and watch the game.

E’s Just Good Eats

Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, 11705 Airport Way #200, Broomfield

Waiting for a flight? Stop at E’s. Everyone suggests the cinnamon roll or biscuits and gravy. Not a bad way to spend a layover.

Eat at Community

206 S Public Rd., Lafayette

Community is important and this place is perfect for the hipster/millennial crowd. Their focus is Colorado libations/sharing food with your friends. Grab the gang and head down for Happy Hour.

Element Bistro

6315 Lookout Rd., Boulder

Great for date night. Reasonable prices, amazing food. Try the wild game sausage sampler and the tots.

Endo Brewing Company

2755 Dagny Way #101, Lafayette

It’s a brewery and a bike shop. This place was made for people like my brother-in-law. Located in Lafayette. The Progression makes a great marinade and tastes good.

FATE Brewing Company

1600 38th St., Boulder

Boulder and Lafayette. I tried the Uror gose. It is a fantastic sour. You can get it in cans, I highly recommend it as a base for a chicken marinade.

Fresh Thymes

2500 30th St. #101, Boulder

Everything is gluten free and peanut free. Take Celiac people here, it’s safe. Everyone loves everything, the menu doesn’t have anything on it that’s just “okay”.

Geek Spirits

6880 Winchester Cir, Boulder

PhD smarts and delish. This is a really cool place to end your week. Stop by and enjoy a relaxed time in the tasting room on a Friday.

Good Eats Grill

1114 Francis St., Longmont

This place is no frills and perfect if you need a relaxed bite. They have a great breakfast menu.

Gunbarrel Brewing

3506, 7088 Winchester Cir, Boulder

Owned/operated by a husband and wife team. They have food trucks and beer. They do live music sometimes. Definitely worth the drive to check out. I like the Begbie.

Kalita Grill

2426 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder

Nana’s recipes, great greek food. You can’t go wrong with a single item on the menu.

Liquid Mechanics Brewing Company

297 US-287 #100, Lafayette

Like most breweries they have food trucks and music. They have a gluten free beer. If you can get it, try the Beasts of Bourbon.

Longtucky Spirits

350 Terry St., Suite #120, Longmont,

A good place to stop after work and Happy Hour with friends.

Lunada Eatery & Cantina

2770 Arapahoe Rd. #124, Lafayette

They have good Mexican food you can’t go wrong with their tacos and margs. A nice place to sit, chill, and eat with friends.

Moxie Bread Co.  

641 Main St., Louisville

Awesome sandwiches and plenty of gluten free options.

Pizza Rev

520 W South Boulder Rd., Lafayette

Pizza place, they have gluten free and vegan options. The BBQ pulled pork pizza is popular. They also have a location in Boulder.

Rayback Collective

2775 Valmont Rd., Boulder

Awesome place to relax whether you’re alone or with friends, great ambiance, relaxed menu.

Rincon Argentino

2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder

Amazing views that pair with the fantastic food. They serve up authentic Argentinian food, it feels like you’re sitting in Buenos Aires. Not only are they a great place to grab a quick affordable bite. The menu is one you can throw a dart at and you’re going to get something good.

Roadhouse Boulder Depot

2366 Junction Place, Boulder

The Depot honors the 126 -year history of the building, an old train depot,  while serving great contemporary food. Great Happy Hour menu, the Baked Brie is a favorite and pairs well with the peach mule. You can be vegetarian or gluten free and still go out with your friends.

Romero’s K-9 Club & Tap House

985 S. Public Rd., Lafayette

You can chill with your furry family and have a great night out. Bar snacks and a solid Happy Hour. Get the Shirtless Putin Nuzzling Dolphins, not just a great name for a Baltic Porter but a great beer. It’s only $4 during Happy Hour and tastes great with the On Tap Kitchen Pretzels. Try not to get distracted by all the adorable dogs.

The Roost

526 Main St., Longmont

Free live music, great venue to chill. Try the Bangin’ Cauliflower or the Roasted Portabello sandwich. The Insane Rush from Bootstrap is a pretty solid beer. They also support couples who are trying to adopt but can’t afford it. To learn more visit their website.

Rosalee’s Pizzeria

461 Main St., Longmont

They brought the neighborhood pizzeria’s of New York to Longmont. They hand grate their cheese, make their sauce from fresh tomatoes, and make their own pork sausage in house. Pizza, beer, and relaxed atmosphere. Stop by for their music Wednesdays.

Rosario’s Peruvian Restaurant

625 Ken Pratt Blvd, Longmont

Voted Best of Boulder, can’t go wrong with any of their Peruvian comfort food.  Build flavors that attack your taste buds with dishes like ceviche and pasta la huancaina.

Sanitas Brewing Company

3550 Frontier Ave., Boulder

Great beers, perfect place to chill with friends. If it’s available try the Aussie. We dug the Cherry Saison too.

Settembre Cellars

1501 Lee Hill Dr #16, Boulder

A fun thing they do that sets them apart from other places is their Adult coloring sundays. Chill with a glass of wine and art with friends. The tasting flight and glass is a great way to find a wine you like and then settle into it.

St. Vrain Cidery

350 Terry Street #130, Longmont

They do cool events nightly and give back to the community regularly.  Great place to hang with friends after work. We loved the Dry Ginger and Agave Peach. The Sour Cherry is also stellar.

Stem Ciders

1380 Horizon Ave, Lafayette

A venture of Chef David Asher of River & Woods and Eric Foster and Phil Kao, founders of STEM Ciders, Acreage at Stem is a ciderhouse and restaurant on acres of apple orchards. Try the Hibiscus session, light and refreshing. We also love their pear cider.

Still Cellars

1115 Colorado Ave., Longmont

Distillery and art house. The Whiskey Barley is smooth enough you can just sip it on the rocks. The Apple Ginger is a great addition to kick up your apple pie recipe. Definitely a cool place to sit and take in the ambiance.

Sweet Spot Cafe

585 W Dillon Rd., Louisville

At Coal Creek Golf Course. You can grab a bite before or after tee time. Friday’s feature is martinis and prime rib.

Udon Kaisha/My Ramen

191 W South Boulder Rd, Lafayette

They opened in 2012 and are Lafayette’s most acclaimed Asian restaurant. The lunch special is hard to beat. Try the sweet potato roll, it rocks.

Uturn BBQ

599 Crossing Dr., Lafayette

Nothing goes together quite like beer and BBQ, and this place does both on site. Grab a plate of their dry rub wings, a basket of fried pickles, and a Kolsch-style ale.

Wild Cider

11455 Co Rd 17, Boulder

They opened in 2012. They have an outdoor cider garden that is dog friendly. Grab a drink and relax with your furry family. Try the Lemon Basil it’s very refreshing.

Wild Standard

1043 Pearl St, Boulder

This is the newest establishment from Bradford Heap. Check out the taste of Pregon wine dinner on Sept. 20. Date Night Tuesdays and Wine down Wednesdays are some great events they do. Tuesday you and your date can enjoy a 3 course meal and bottle of wine for $45. Wednesday is 50% of select items on the wine list.

Wild Woods Brewery

5460 Conestoga Ct., Boulder

All day Happy Hour Tuesday, double stamps Wednesdays. All the beers are good, you can’t go wrong. The S’mores stout was interesting, we loved the campfire and Wildflower.

William Oliver’s Publick House

201 N. Public Rd #1C, Lafayette

Focus on bacon, whiskey, and Colorado spirits. Grab a snack pack and a hot dog.

Anvil Distillery

117 S Sunset St G1, Longmont

They have cleverly named spirits like Grumpy’s vodka, Ironfaced Gin. They have good (Swindler’s)  whiskey.

1914 House

121 2nd Ave., Niwot

Great food – think surf and turf and burgers – and drink menu with lots of classic cocktails.

Arcana, Boulder

909 Walnut St., Boulder

Great Happy Hour menu, with rotating breweries.

bartaco

1048 Pearl St., Boulder

The chain finally came to Colorado in summer of 2017. great cheap food. Tacos you and your kids will love.

The Colorado Keg House

8001 Arista Pl. Suite 110, Broomfield

Watch your favorite sports team with a good beer. They have traditional pub food.

Cristos Coffee

89 S Briggs St., Erie

They have really great Ethiopian and Sumatran coffees. A must go if you’re in or around Erie.

Eat Taco Taco

656 Kattell St., Erie

You can rarely go wrong with tequila and tacos. This is a place you and the other parents can take the kids. The kids will love the tacos, you’ll love the tequila(and tacos).

Gaucho de Argentina

656 Kattell St., Erie

Empanadas. Grab a dozen put them on a platter and you can pretend you rocked the kitchen. Kidding, but seriously, grab some for your next party they’re sure to impress.

Grossen Bart Brewery

1025 Delaware Ave., Longmont

Lots of fun weekly activities. Could make a brewery crawl with some of the others in the area. Recommended for a fun Saturday afternoon with friends to enjoy the beer garden with friends.

Hickory & Ash

8001 Arista Pl #150, Broomfield

Kevin Taylor’s spot in Broomfield. Date night or after work Happy Hour, this place will impress.

Infinitus Pizza

Erie, Broomfield

They have a food truck that will come to you. PTO parents this would be perfect for a school event, like the fall festival. With multiple Colorado locations you’re sure to have one close by.

INJOY Restaurant

3120 Vista, Village Vista Dr., Erie

You have to sit on the patio at sunset for Happy Hour, the view is stunning.

Jai Thai & Sushi

2055 Ken Pratt Blvd. A, Longmont

The only Kaiten style sushi bar in Longmont. Not only do they have good sushi, they have excellent curries too.

La Casona del Mariachi

51 Erie Pkwy., Erie

You should stop by for the strolling mariachi on Thursdays. Solid Mexican place.

License No. 1

2115 13th St., Boulder

Craft cocktails in a speakeasy setting in the basement of Hotel Boulderado.

Motherlode Cafe

950 S Sherman St #100, Longmont

BBQ, Brunch, Burgers, this cafe covers all the bases.  Hearty portions and a friendly staff too.

Old Mine Cidery & Brew Pub

500 Briggs St, Erie

Great place, Terroir is their vibe/mission statement. Everything is Colorado, everything is tasty.

PMG Wine Bar

2018 10th St., Boulder

They offer $5 wine and snacks for Happy Hour with a great ambiance.

Rails End Brewing

11625 Reed Ct. Unit B, Broomfield

Live music, food trucks, it’s a great place to hang with friends. Try the English ESB or the White Peach wheat, they’re both great.

Rocky Mountain Ramen

3336 Arapahoe Rd. Unit D, Erie

Erie’s best ramen place, very authentic. Also offers a delicious vegan ramen.

Rusty Melon

615 Mitchell Way #100B, Erie

Rusty Melon opened just this year with a pub and mexican food menu. It’s a great place to bring the kids, and there’s karaoke 7 p.m. Saturdays.

Samples World Bistro

370 Main St., Longmont

Featured on Guy Fieri’s show, Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. They have an awesome Happy Hour menu.

Spruce Farm and Fish

2115 13th St., Boulder

Hotel Boulderado’s third place. Great food for dinner or brunch, which runs daily until 3 p.m. Have a bite here then grab a drink over at Corner Bar.

Twenty Brew Taphouse

11187 Sheridan Boulevard #10, Westminster

The rotating beer selections are always something interesting or experimental– often small batch brews or one-time creations.

Twisted Noodle

1335 W. Elizabeth St., Longmont

This family-owned pasta place has a great Happy Hour and is friendly for those with dietary restrictions with gluten and dairy free options.

Via Perla

901 Pearl St., Boulder

Homemade pasta and a large wine list. The focaccia is awesome and the mule is great. It’s worth checking out with friends on a weekend or at the end of a long work day.

Verde

3070 28th St., Boulder

Sonoran-style Mexican food that started as a food truck. Go for the burritos, it’s their signature.

Wibby Brewing

209 Emery St., Longmont

Open for three years, Wibby focuses mostly German style beers, adding their own twists and takes on classic brewing techniques. Try their Oktoberfest.

Wonderland Brewery

5450 W. 120th Ave.,  Broomfield

Beer Bingo is their thing, go check it out and try their small batch brews like the Gorilla Weiss or Lazy Dormouse.