128 |^5280 |^ MAY 2018
These listings are in no way related to advertising in 5280. If you find that a restaurant differs significantly
from the information in its listing or your favorite restaurant is missing from the Dining Guide, please let us
know. Write us at 5280 , 1515 Wazee St., Suite 400, Denver, CO 80202 or [email protected].A
25 BEST 12 at Madison $$
Congress Park / American With a menu offering 18
small plates meant for sharing (plus one large format
dish meant to feed two to four people), Jeff Osaka’s
cozy restaurant is ideal for dining with a small group.
Don’t miss the lamb shoulder. Reservations accepted.
1160 Madison St., 720-216-0190. Dinner, BrunchAce Eat Serve $$
Uptown Area / Asian This Uptown restaurant and
ping-pong hall features Asian-inspired cuisine, 10 ping-
pong tables, and house-made sodas. Reservations
accepted. 501 E. 17th Ave., 303-800-7705. Dinner
25 BEST Acorn $$
RiNo / American First-class Boulder eatery Oak at
Fourteenth dials it down a bit with this Denver iteration,
located in the urban environment of the Source.
Contemporary American cuisine is served from an oak-
fired grill and you’ll notice some familiar dishes, like the
kale salad. Reservations accepted. The Source, 3350
Brighton Blvd., 720-542-3721. Lunch, Dinner25 BEST Annette $$
Aurora / American Acorn’s former sous chef, Caroline
Glover, brings a warm dining experience to Stanley
Marketplace with Annette. Enjoy a family-style menu
featuring seasonal toasts and wood-grilled fare. Reser-
vations recommended. Stanley Marketplace, 2501
Dallas St., Ste. 108, 720-710-9975. Dinner, BrunchAvanti Food & Beverage $$
Highland / Global Visit this collective eatery to sample
new restaurant ideas. Current tenants include Kaya
Kitchen, American Grind, Brava! Pizzeria, QuickFish
Poke Bar, Quiero Arepas, Chow Morso, and the
Regional. Reservations accepted for 10 or more. 3200
Pecos St., 720-269-4778. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
Avelina $$$
Downtown / American This upscale LoDo restaurant
offers a sleek atmosphere and beautifully composed
plates with worldly flavors. Sample everything from
charred Octopus to tuna tartar to short ribs with a yuzu
glaze. Reservations accepted. 1550 17th St., Ste. 120,
720-904-6711. Lunch, Dinner, BrunchB
Bacon Social House $$
Sunnyside / Contemporary Chef Brian
Crow brings the restaurant’s beloved name-
sake ingredient, bacon, to the forefront of
many of his dishes. You’ll find bold flavors
and plates crafted with fresh and local
ingredients on the innovative menu. Reser-
vations accepted. 2434 W. 44th Ave.,
720-550-7065. BrunchBamboo Sushi $$$
LoHi / Sushi This Portland-born sustain-
able sushi spot will let you feel good about
each bite of sashimi you take. To start, we
recommend the Japanese blanched spin-
ach salad with sesame-soy dressing. Reservations
accepted. 715 17th St., 303-284-6600. Dinner25 BEST Bar Dough $$$
Highland / Italian Tuck into wood-fired pizzas and
comforting pastas from chef-owner Max Mackissock
and executive chef Carrie Baird at this casual gathering
spot. Reservations accepted. 2227 W. 32nd Ave.,
720-668-8506. Dinner, BrunchBar Fausto $$
RiNo / Contemporary This hip, industrial, neighbor-
hood hangout serves seasonal craft cocktails and
shareable plates, both cooked and raw, like their rotat-
ing selection of oysters. Reservations not accepted.
3126 Larimer St., 720-445-9691. DinnerBar Helix $$
RiNo / Contemporary Guilty pleasures abound at this
sexy RiNo bar. Try the Negroni doughnut holes. Reser-
vations accepted for parties of eight or more. 3440
Larimer St., 720-449-8587. DinnerBar Max $$
Congress Park / Contemporary Formerly
known as Cafe Max, this European bistro
offers a simple, curated menu. Pair the
prosciutto, Brie, and fig spread sandwich with
a glass of Prosecco. Reservations accepted.
2412 E. Colfax Ave., 303-333-0003. DinnerBarolo Grill $$$$
Cherry Creek / Italian Barolo Grill’s waitstaff
takes an annual trip to Italy to learn about the
cuisine. That dedication to authenticity trans-
lates to the food and wine menus, too. Try
the agnolotti del plin, or opt for the chef’s
tasting menu with optional wine pairings for
the full experience. Reservations accepted. 3030 E.
Sixth Ave., 303-393-1040. Dinner25 BEST Basta $$$
Boulder / Italian This wood-fired eatery offers straight-
forward flavors and good wine. Try the tuna panna
cotta if it’s on the menu. Save room for the house-made
donuts. Reservations accepted. 3601 Arapahoe Ave.,
303-997-8775. DinnerOur directory of where to eat in Denver and beyond.
Dining Guide
Sarah BoyumFRENCH CONNECTION
There’s a new spot in
Boulder that has a
certain je ne sais quoi:
seven-month-old Le
French Café. Perhaps
it’s the smiling staff or
the classic fare, but
something always lifts
our spirits. In fact, the
only thing that gets
us down is having to
choose between the
almond croissant and
the Bayonne baguette
sandwich with butter,
prosciutto, and pick-
les. 2525 Arapahoe
Ave., Unit C1, Boul-
der, 303-284-2265LOOKING FOR
MORE DINING
OPTIONS?
Visit our online
listings at
5280.com/
restaurants.NEW
Indicates a restaurant featured in 5280 for the
first time (though not necessarily a restaurant
that has just opened).
25 BESTIndicates inclusion in our annual list of Denver’s
best restaurants, released each October. These
selections are at the discretion of 5280 editors
and are subject to change.
SYMBOL KEY
PRICE KEY (Average Entrée)
$ under $10
$$ $11 to $15
$$$ $16 to $25
$$$$ $26 and higher