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 dishes: Pancake flight, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Breakfast Pot Pie
Must 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.
Address: 2262 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
The Greenwich in Denver is Caleb Schiff and Lucas Whyland's RiNo dining room since 2019, with a wood-fire kitchen and an in-house cocktail bar that runs late.
Signature: Wood-fired vegetables, Pasta, Cocktails
Order: The wood-fired vegetables and a daily pasta; the cocktail program runs deep on agave spirits.
Tip: The bar takes walk-ins; reservations recommended for Friday and Saturday. Closed Mondays.
Work and Class in Denver is Tony Maciag and Tabatha Knop's family-style Latin American room on Larimer in RiNo since 2014, a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.
Signature: Roasted chicken, Steak frites, Cubano
Order: The roasted half chicken with chimichurri or the steak frites; meats are sold by the half- or whole-pound at the counter.
Tip: Walk-in only; weekend nights hit 60-minute waits by 7 pm. The bar pours one of the city's best mezcal lists.
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.
The Greenwich in Denver is Caleb Schiff and Lucas Whyland's RiNo dining room since 2019, with a wood-fire kitchen and an in-house cocktail bar that runs late.
Signature: Wood-fired vegetables, Pasta, Cocktails
Order: The wood-fired vegetables and a daily pasta; the cocktail program runs deep on agave spirits.
Tip: The bar takes walk-ins; reservations recommended for Friday and Saturday. Closed Mondays.
Steuben's Uptown in Denver is Josh and Brandon Wolkon's regional American diner on 17th Avenue since 2006, modeled on the Wolkon family's Steuben's of Boston.
Signature: Cubano sandwich, Fried chicken, Mac and cheese
Order: The Maine lobster roll on Friday and Saturday, the cubano sandwich the rest of the week.
Tip: Happy hour 3 to 6 pm at the bar runs $5 plates; sister room Vesta two blocks away takes the dressier crowd.
Work and Class in Denver is Tony Maciag and Tabatha Knop's family-style Latin American room on Larimer in RiNo since 2014, a James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.
Signature: Roasted chicken, Steak frites, Cubano
Order: The roasted half chicken with chimichurri or the steak frites; meats are sold by the half- or whole-pound at the counter.
Tip: Walk-in only; weekend nights hit 60-minute waits by 7 pm. The bar pours one of the city's best mezcal lists.
The Cherry Cricket in Denver is the Cherry Creek burger bar since 1945, a build-your-own burger room with 40 toppings and a long beer list.
Signature: Build-your-own burger, Cricket Burger, Cheese fries
Order: Build your own burger with green chile, fried egg and bacon; cheese fries on the side.
Tip: Walk-in only; weeknight wait is usually 20 minutes. Ballpark sister location is open near Coors Field for game nights.
Park Burger in Highland is Jean-Philippe Failyau's casual burger room with grass-fed Colorado beef, a Front Range mini-chain that began on Pearl Street in 2009.
Signature: Park Burger, Sweet potato fries, Truffle fries
Order: The Park Burger (classic with cheddar) and sweet potato fries; milkshakes are spiked with bourbon on weekends.
Tip: Walk-in; takeout via app. The Pearl Street original is two blocks from Sushi Den.
