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 dishes: Wood-fired vegetables, Pasta, Cocktails
Must 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.
Address: 2540 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205
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.
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.
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.
