Bar Dough in Denver is Max MacKissock's wood-fired pizza and pasta room in Highland since 2015, with a Neapolitan-trained oven and house-made pastas.
Signature dishes: Wood-fired pizza, Cacio e pepe, Burrata
Must order: The cacio e pepe and a Margherita pizza; the kitchen runs daily seasonal pasta specials.
Tip: Walk-in at the bar usually works; the patio is busy on summer weekends. Brunch on Sunday with carbonara is a draw.
Address: 2227 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
Root Down in Denver is Justin Cucci's vegetable-forward dining room in a former 1950s service station in Highland since 2008, with a patio that runs to the edge of the Platte.
Signature: Veggie burger, Hummus plate, Sweet potato falafel
Order: The sweet potato falafel and the veggie burger; the bar runs an inventive cocktail menu with house syrups.
Tip: Brunch on weekends is the room's busiest service; the patio side runs walk-in until 5 pm.
Ace Eat Serve in Denver is Justin Cucci's pan-Asian dining room on 17th Avenue since 2012, set in a former 1880s carriage house with ping-pong tables on the patio.
Signature: Pad see ew, Pork bao, Ping-pong patio
Order: The pad see ew and pork bao; the kitchen runs late on weekends until 11 pm.
Tip: The patio takes walk-ins and the ping-pong tables are first-come; bar in the dining room takes reservations.
Root Down in Denver is Justin Cucci's vegetable-forward dining room in a former 1950s service station in Highland since 2008, with a patio that runs to the edge of the Platte.
Signature: Veggie burger, Hummus plate, Sweet potato falafel
Order: The sweet potato falafel and the veggie burger; the bar runs an inventive cocktail menu with house syrups.
Tip: Brunch on weekends is the room's busiest service; the patio side runs walk-in until 5 pm.
OTOTO in Denver is the Kizaki brothers' South Pearl third room beside Sushi Den and Izakaya Den, a casual ramen and rice-bowl counter since 2018.
Signature: Ramen, Okonomiyaki, Bao buns
Order: The tonkotsu ramen and the chicken karaage; the bao buns are the easiest snack with a beer.
Tip: Walk-in only at lunch; the dinner counter takes reservations on Resy. Tap room next door pours sake by the glass.
Osteria Marco in Denver is Frank Bonanno's basement-set Italian room on Larimer Square since 2007, with house-pulled mozzarella and a wood-fired pizza counter.
Signature: Mozzarella plate, Pizza, Mussels
Order: The house mozzarella plate (pulled to order) and a pizza; the cocktail bar runs a strong negroni list.
Tip: Larimer Square is a 5-minute walk from Union Station. The mozzarella class runs Sunday afternoons in 2026.
Snooze A.M. Eatery in Denver is Jon Schlegel's mod-flagship breakfast room on Larimer since 2006, the Front Range chain start before it grew nationally.
Signature: Pancake flight, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Breakfast Pot Pie
Order: A pancake flight (sample four cakes) and the Bella! Bella! Benedict; the breakfast pot pie is a Denver original.
Tip: The 90-minute weekend wait is normal at the original; new locations across LoDo and South Broadway absorb the overflow.
Denver Biscuit Company in Denver is Drew Shader's Southern-biscuit counter on Colfax since 2010, with house-baked buttermilk biscuits and a giant cinnamon-roll biscuit.
Signature: Cinnamon roll biscuit, Franklin sandwich, Biscuits and gravy
Order: The Franklin sandwich (fried chicken, bacon, cheddar, apple butter on a biscuit) and a cinnamon roll to share.
Tip: Walk-in only; weekend mornings hit a 60-minute wait. The Atomic Cowboy bar shares the space and pours bloody marys.
