Highland Tap and Burger in Denver is Cory and Robbie Bonneau's Highland gastropub since 2011, a neighborhood beer bar with Colorado-bison burgers and 40 craft taps.
Signature dishes: Bison burger, Cricket Burger, Cheese curds
Must order: The bison burger with green chile, and the truffle fries; sister room Park Burger is two blocks west.
Tip: Walk-in; the patio is the room's draw, and the basement bar runs late.
Address: 2219 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
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: Wood-fired pizza, Cacio e pepe, Burrata
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.
Lucile's Creole Cafe in Denver is Frank and Mike Day's Cajun-Creole breakfast room on Logan since 1997, a Boulder-Denver chain serving New Orleans-style breakfast all day.
Signature: Beignets, Eggs Sardou, Cajun breakfast
Order: Eggs Sardou and a basket of beignets with cafe au lait; the Cajun breakfast plate runs at lunch.
Tip: Walk-in only; weekend morning wait runs 45 minutes. The Boulder and Fort Collins locations absorb the overflow.
White Pie in Denver is Tony Maciag's Uptown pizza room since 2017, named for its signature ricotta-and-garlic white pizza, with a tight Italian wine list.
Signature: White pie, Margherita, Hot honey pizza
Order: The signature White Pie and the hot honey pepperoni pie; the kitchen runs a daily pasta special at dinner.
Tip: Walk-in at the bar usually works; the patio takes reservations on Resy. Closed Mondays.
San Pedro Mexican in Denver is Edith Sanchez's South Pearl Mexican dining room with regional Oaxacan and Pueblan plates, a mezcal-focused bar and a Sunday brunch.
Signature: Mole poblano, Carnitas, Mezcal flights
Order: The mole poblano and a glass of pechuga mezcal; carnitas plate is the room's biggest serving.
Tip: Closed Mondays. South Pearl farmers' market on Sunday runs 9 am to 1 pm a block away.
Adelitas Cocina y Cantina in Denver is Adelita Diaz's South Broadway regional-Mexican dining room since 2011, with a mezcal-and-tequila bar and a Pueblan-leaning menu.
Signature: Chiles en nogada, Mezcal flights, Carnitas tacos
Order: The chiles en nogada in fall and the cochinita pibil; mezcal flight pours from rare Oaxacan agaves.
Tip: Walk-in at the bar; reservations for the dining room go on Resy. The cantina pours late on weekends.
La Loma in Denver is a Castro-family Mexican kitchen since 1973, moved from its longtime Osage Street Victorian to Broadway in 2018, the Denver template for the smothered burrito.
Signature: Smothered burritos, Chile rellenos, Sopapillas
Order: Smothered green chile burrito with sopapillas.
Tip: The bar pours classic margaritas; ask for the Pueblo green chile (hotter than the mild version).
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: Wood-fired pizza, Cacio e pepe, Burrata
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.
