Steakhouse$$$river-districtTue-Sat 16:00-21:00
The Cache at Ginger and Baker is the steak room in Fort Collins' restored Feed and Grain building on Linden Street, above the pie counter and market.
Signature: Steaks, Seasonal Colorado plates
Order: A steak, then pie from the bakery counter downstairs
Tip: Wine-pairing dinners land on the events calendar most months; the Revana Estate dinner is typical of the programme.
Steakhouse$$$old-townSun-Thu 16:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 16:00-22:00
Sonny Lubick Steakhouse serves certified Angus prime rib and filet under the name of a CSU coaching legend on College Avenue in Fort Collins.
Signature: Prime rib, Filet mignon
Order: Certified Angus prime rib with sea scallops to start
Tip: It is CSU-alumni owned; game-day Saturdays book out well ahead, so reserve early in football season.
Tapas$$midtownTue-Thu 11:30-20:00; Fri-Sat 11:30-21:00; closed Sun-Mon
Cafe Vino pairs bacon-wrapped dates, burrata and a wagyu burger with a walk-in cellar of over 200 wines on South College Avenue in midtown Fort Collins.
Signature: Bacon-wrapped dates, Wagyu burger
Order: Bacon-wrapped dates with a glass picked from the cellar
Tip: A Best of NoCo Style 2025 winner; wine dinners like the Kermit Lynch importer night sell through, so book those early.
Mexican$$old-townMon-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
Blue Agave Grill cooks Southwestern Mexican on College Avenue in Fort Collins: shrimp and lobster enchiladas, coconut shrimp tacos and margarita flights.
Signature: Shrimp and lobster enchiladas, Coconut shrimp tacos
Order: Shrimp and lobster enchiladas with a margarita flight
Tip: Complimentary chips and salsa land at the table; the margarita list is the draw, so come at happy hour.
Tex-Mex$$old-townMon-Tue, Thu, Sun 11:00-22:00; Wed, Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant is the original of the Colorado cantina group, pouring its famous margaritas on Mountain Avenue in Fort Collins since the 1980s.
Signature: The Rio margarita, Chile rellenos
Order: A Rio margarita with chile rellenos
Tip: The Rio margarita carries a house limit for good reason; chile rellenos and the crispy sopapilla are the food orders.
Vietnamese$$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.