Pizza$campus-westSun-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-02:30
Pizza Casbah has hand-tossed New York slices a block from CSU in Fort Collins since 1999, stone-baked, with a 30-inch challenge pie for the brave.
Try: New York-style slices
Tip: Friday and Saturday it serves until 02:30, the definitive post-bar slice; happy hour pours 3-dollar Odell and New Belgium drafts.
Japanese$$campus-westTue-Sun 11:00-20:45; closed Mon
JAWS Sushi rolls student-friendly maki and pours hot sake on West Elizabeth Street in Fort Collins, with an 11:00-13:00 happy hour on rolls.
Try: Happy-hour sushi rolls
Tip: Closed Mondays. The 11:00-13:00 happy hour is one of the cheapest sushi lunches in the city.
Diner$$old-townDaily 07:00-14:00
Silver Grill Cafe has fried breakfast on Walnut Street in Fort Collins since 1933, and its giant cinnamon roll is the single most famous dish in the city.
Tip: Order the giant cinnamon roll grilled with butter; the Roll of the Month (August is Peaches and Cream) rewards repeat visits.
Café$old-townDaily 06:00-18:00
Mugs Coffee Lounge has poured fair-trade espresso and blended breakfast burritos on College Avenue in Fort Collins since 2002, doors open at 06:00.
Tip: Open at 06:00, the earliest sit-down coffee downtown; the second Mugs on West Laurel Street serves the campus side.
Burgers$old-townDaily 11:00-21:00
Big Al's Burgers and Dogs grinds its 60/40 bacon burger on Mountain Avenue in Fort Collins, with Chicago dogs, truffle fries and hand-scooped shakes.
Try: 60/40 bacon burger
Tip: Happy hour 14:00-17:00 daily puts burgers, Chicago dogs and milkshakes at 5 dollars each; the art on the walls rotates.
Southern$$midtownDaily 11:00-22:00
Music City Hot Chicken fries Nashville-style birds on Prospect Road in Fort Collins across a ladder of heat levels, from Southern to the Flammable Solid dare.
Tip: Vegans get crispy fried tempeh in any heat level; weekend brunch adds chicken and waffles plus a Monte Cristo.