American$$old-townSun-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00
Austin's American Grill roasts and grills over an open flame on Mountain Avenue in Fort Collins, bison plates and cast-iron cornbread with honey butter.
Signature: Rotisserie chicken, Cast-iron cornbread
Order: Open-flame rotisserie chicken with the skillet cornbread
Tip: The cast-iron skillet cornbread with honey butter is the non-negotiable side; a second branch sits out on Harmony Road.
English pub$$midtownDaily 11:00-21:00
The Moot House has run its Tudor-style English pub room at Drake and College in Fort Collins since 1972, with prime rib on Fridays and Saturdays only.
Signature: Prime rib, Pub burgers
Order: Friday or Saturday prime rib, medium rare
Tip: Prime rib carves Friday and Saturday nights until it runs out; the scratch kitchen means slow-food patience at peak times.
Southern$$midtownDaily 11:00-22:00
Music City Hot Chicken fries Nashville-style birds on Prospect Road in Fort Collins across a ladder of heat levels, from Southern to the Flammable Solid dare.
Signature: Nashville hot chicken, Chicken and waffles
Order: Half chicken at Nashville Hot with white bread and pickles
Tip: Vegans get crispy fried tempeh in any heat level; weekend brunch adds chicken and waffles plus a Monte Cristo.
Vietnamese$$midtownMon-Thu 11:00-21:30; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-21:30
Young's Cafe has long been Fort Collins' Vietnamese standard-bearer on South College Avenue, from crab cheese wontons to the house fried rice.
Signature: House fried rice, Crab cheese wontons
Order: House fried rice and the crab cheese wontons
Tip: Portions run generous and lunch is the value window; the dining room fills with regulars who have come for years.
Thai$$campus-westMon, Wed-Sun 11:00-14:30, 16:30-21:00; closed Tue
Cafe de Bangkok cooks khao soi, drunken noodles and Massaman curry on West Elizabeth Street in Fort Collins, with a deep vegetarian and vegan list.
Signature: Khao soi, Drunken noodles
Order: Khao soi, medium heat, with a Thai iced tea
Tip: Closed Tuesdays and the kitchen breaks between lunch and dinner; parking sits right out front in the Campus West strip.
Japanese$$south-fort-collinsSun-Thu 11:30-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:30-22:00
Suehiro Japanese Restaurant, a longtime Fort Collins sushi room, now rolls its nigiri, tempura teriyaki combos and katsu at Front Range Village.
Signature: Sushi rolls, Chicken katsu
Order: A roll selection with the tempura teriyaki combo
Tip: The Old Town branch closed; Front Range Village on Corbett Drive is the one operating address. Happy hour keeps rolls affordable.