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 dishes: Cubano sandwich, Fried chicken, Mac and cheese
Must 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.
Address: 523 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
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.
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.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Denver is the Austin original's South Broadway burger counter since 2014, with house-ground beef, hand-cut fries and a Colorado craft beer list.
Signature: Goodnight burger, Bison burger, Hand-cut fries
Order: The Goodnight Burger and a Colorado craft beer; bison patties available as a swap.
Tip: Walk-in only; ordering at the counter avoids the table wait at peak hours.
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: Bison burger, Cricket Burger, Cheese curds
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.
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.
