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 dishes: White pie, Margherita, Hot honey pizza
Must 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.
Address: 1702 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80218
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.
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.
