Denver+Restaurants+2018

= = =//Women Chefs and Woman-owned Restaurants //= //**You Have to Eat!**// media type="custom" key="29574941" align="right" width="52" height="52" by Emily Schechter

**LUNCH AND DINNER**

Maria Empanada 1298 South Broadway Avenue, Denver, CO 80210, (303) 934-2221; $ - empanadas and Argentinean pastries; breakfast, lunch, and dinner
//Owned by Lorena Cantarovici shows what can happen when someone works hard. Raised by a single mother and frequently on the verge of homelessness, Lorena Cantarovici powered through working a full-time job while getting a degree in accounting to becoming the youngest branch manager worldwide while working at Argentina's largest private bank to opening her own home kitchen that later moved to a commercial, public space. Lorena Cantarovici was named the 2017 Colorado Small Business Person of the Year.// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor] Aloy Modern Thai 2134 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205, (303) 379-9759; $$ - Thai food and bar //Owned by Arisa Chanchokpong and Bo Bean; “Featuring artfully presented Thai cuisine in sophisticated surrounds…boasts a robust roster of innovative dishes alongside a carefully curated beverage list that favors food-friendly wines, Colorado craft beers and clever cocktails.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|Bombay Clay Oven] 165 Steele St, Denver, CO 80206, (303) 377-4454; $$ - Indian food and bar, Gluten Free, vegetarian, and vegan options //Co-owned by Rohini Miranda says, “We’ve been around for a while and our menu has evolved into a collection of our favorite dishes. From north Indian comfort food to spicy south Indian, from the street food of Bombay to unique small plates, we feature a diverse menu featuring regional cuisines of India in a hospitable environment with great service.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|Cattivella Wood Fired Italian] 10195 E 29th Dr #110, Denver, CO 80238, (303) 645-3779; $$ - upscale Italian eatery //Chef and owned by Elise Wiggins; “Cattivella is inspired by Italian cuisine without confining that inspiration to a certain region. Each dish has a story with some being personal to the way the chef learned it or fell in love with it and others having fascinating historic backstories. Highlights of the menu include the focaccia di recco, the fagioli di fiasco, and the stunning dry aged certified Angus steaks.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|Comida at the Source] 3350 Brighton Blvd #105, Denver, CO 80216, (303) 296-2747; $$ - Mexican //Owned by Rayme Rossello;// //When Rossello would return from visiting her mother in Mexico and saw that there were no high quality, fresh Mexican food, she decided to open Comida. She is especially proud of the fact that the entire menu is from scratch, with the exception of tortillas. From the shredded cheese, beans, and citrus juice, it’s made from whole ingredients that are hand-treated with no exceptions.// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|Fish ‘N Beer] 3510 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205, (303) 248-3497; $$ - fish, oysters, craft beer //Executive Chef Aniedra Nichols says, “We’re value-driven, and we wanted to have a grazing menu. You can come have oysters and a bear and leave, or throw down with a full meal and a bottle of wine…And we feature underutilized fish…Every product is as fresh as can be, and we try to relay our relationship [with Seattle Fish] to those concerned about eating fish in a landlocked state.”// [|Yelp] [|Trip Advisor]

Four Friends Kitchen 2893 Roslyn St, Denver, CO 80238, (303) 388-8299; $$ - Southern inspired, contemporary American comfort foods //Co-owned by Sarah Pletcher and Genefer Thornton; Four Friends Kitchen supports the Stapleton Community Food Drive, “Being a part of our local community, and giving back to it, is very important to us. Knowing that there are people, families, children, who don’t know where their next meal will come from, and the role that The Food Bank of the Rockies plays in fighting hunger in our region, to support the Food Drive is just a great way to help, and have an immediate positive impact for someone in need.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|La Merise] 2700 E 3rd Ave, Denver, CO 80206, (720) 596-4360; $$ - upscale French cuisine //Co-owned and partners Elena Zasytiene and Baiba Sisco say, “We love French food, and we’re obsess with French culture. And whenever we’d come to Denver, we’d always hang out in Cherry Creek, and we said if we ever opened a restaurant, that we’d do it here, mainly because it feels like a little town in a big down – it’s cozy.” Michael Garnish, the chef, adds that it’s “very straightforward, classic, recognizable and unpretentious French fair…that’s really affordable” and that 95% of what he makes is made from scratch.// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|LOW Country Chicken] 1575 Boulder St A, Denver, CO 80211, (720) 512-4168; $$ - fried chicken, catfish, brisket, jambalaya, and bourbon cocktails //Designed and co-owned by Katy Vaughn; “It should come as no surprise that the menu’s a compilation of the region’s greatest hits, from mac ‘n’ cheese to fried chicken to shrimp and grits.” Likewise, the "cool and comfortable decor and clever use of space, complete with aprons hanging on a rack by the bar, the tiny place feels more like a home kitchen than a restaurant."// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|The Preservery] 3040 Blake St #101, Denver, CO 80205, (303) 298-6821; $$ - farm inspired New American eatery and bar //Co-owned by Whitney Ariss; “Breakfast is more of a continental affair, with pastries and bowls of Anson Mills oatmeal or grits. Lunch treads on familiar fast-casual territory with a selection of salads, soups, and sandwiches, but the amped up creations are anything but pedestrian…And at dinner, you’ll find the sort of ambitious cooking that most fast-casual spots wouldn’t dare attempt, from baked clams with escargot butter and baguette to braised rabbit in vinegar sauce with cornichons and parsley.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|The Queen of Sheba Restaurant] 7225 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220, (303) 399-9442; $$ - Ethiopian //Owned by Zewditu Aboye; “None [of Denver’s Ethiopian Resturants] stand out quite as much as Zewditu Aboye’s Queen of Sheba, a one-woman show. Meals here start with tart, springy injera and progress through stewed legumes and vegetables into an array of tender meats in rich sauces. A shared platter loaded with miser wot, kitfo, doro wot and gomen at Queen of Sheba is as integral a part of Denver’s diverse dining tableau as pho, ramen, enchiladas, and red sauce.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|Racines Restaurant] 650 Sherman St, Denver, CO 80203, (303) 595-0418; $$ - Sandwiches, Pastas, Burgers, Southwestern foods //Co-owned by Lee Goodfriend; “This longtime people-pleaser off Speer has been welcoming a diverse crowd of regulars into its casual, lively dining room…morning, noon and night since 1983. Wide-ranging menus cover every craving from breakfast enchiladas to fish ‘n’ chips to brownie sundaes.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

Welton Street Café 2736 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205, (303) 296-6602; $$ - Soul food, Caribbean, and southern foods //Owned by Mona Dickerson; "Five Points has long been the focal point of African-American culture and community in Denver...The one with the most staying power is the Welton Street Cafe, where the Dickerson family has kept the catfish, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, and other soul-food specialties coming for customers for more than two decades."// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

Work & Class 2500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205, (303) 292-0700; $$ - Southern and Latin American //Co-owner and Chef Dana Rodriguez; “The empanadas on the menu are the one’s Rodriguez’s family cooked all the time at home. The meatballs are made using Dolores’ Italian father’s recipe-spiced up with chipotles. The Cochinita Pibil…is Vinny’s family’s recipe. And the Banana Cake of stacked Mexican cookies, bananas, and peanut butter was a traditional birthday dessert where Victor grew up.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|Bistro Barbes] 5021 E 28th Ave, Denver, CO 80207, (720) 398-8085; $$$ - European with North African influences – salads, fish, and meat //Partnered with Megan Silvertooth; “Inspired by the cuisines of France, Spain, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, this little treasure off the beaten path in Park Hill pairs its imaginative, delicious bistro plates with a limited but intelligent wine list at reasonable prices; since the narrow space has limited tables too, fans say it’s ‘well worth the advance effort required to get a reservation.’”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|Jax Fish House LoDo] 1539 17th St, Denver, CO 80202, (303) 292-5767; $$$ - gourmet seafood and cocktails //Executive Chef and owner Sheila Lucero says, “I get such an adrenalin rush when I'm in the kitchen and there's great satisfaction in making it all happen in a very small and hot environment and having people leave happy about their decision to eat here."// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

[|Potager] 1109 N Ogden St, Denver, CO 80218, (303) 832-5788; $$$ - New American, soufflé, ravioli, risotto, lamb, steak, lobster, and pizza //Owned by Teri Rippeto; “Teri Rippeto ‘was doing seasonal farm-to-table menus far before they were cool’ and ‘continues the tradition’ at this upscale Capitol Hill dinner spot, turning out ‘quirky, lovely’ and ‘delicious’ New American food in an ‘airy’, ‘busy’ dining room leading to a ‘romantic’ garden patio; the staff makes ‘excellent recommendations’, which means that ‘you can never go wrong’ here – so long as you ‘come early to nab a table.’// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

** BRUNCH ** [|Revelry Kitchen] 4140 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80212, (303) 455-3132; $$ - Traditional American breakfast and brunch with a Latin touch, Gluten Free options //Owned by Sarah and Vanessa Harris; “Serves an eclectic American breakfast and lunch menu with Latin flourishes…the bright and airy West Highland hangout is don up in light, distressed woods with stained-glass accents.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

**DESSERTS** [|High Point Creamery] 215 S Holly St, Denver, CO 80246, (720) 420-9137; $ - ice cream and coffee; Vegan options //Co-founded by Erika Thomas; “High Point Creamery continues to showcase their world-class ice creams, sorbets, and vegan options in this new venue, served via their popular ice cream flights, Bombes (layered ice cream cakes), and to-go pints. Not ones to rest on their laurels, the duo continues to innovate by introducing a modern day soda fountain as an additional feature of RiNo’s first ice cream shop.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

Humble Pie Store 3550 East Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206, (720) 479-8690; $ - pies, coffee, and cocktails //Co-founded by Jessica Dolgan & Tamara Brink; “Sure, the pies are delicious, but the heart and the stories behind the recipes make them even more special. Many of the pies are based off of recipes from both Brink and Dolgan’s grandmothers, and the decor is reminiscent of the good ol’ days…‘It’s a dessert that brings families together and is the ultimate labor of love and comfort food. Families keep recipes for generations and the pies are the highlight of gatherings and special moments,’ said Dolgan.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

Sugar Bake Shop 277 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203, (720) 458-5432; $ - coffee, muffins, pastries, cakes, and more; Gluten Free and Vegan options //Owned by Natalie Slevin; “Every latte-slinger here seems eternally happy to see you, as does Slevin herself, who can usually be found rolling dough in the open-fantasy kitchen, serving Novo coffee or chatting with tables. Post up at the Broadway-facing window stools or sit down at one of the tables for a full eat-in experience -- but if you have to run, takeout is quick and convenient. Sugar Bakeshop has a great daily selection of homemade baked goods, breakfast items and options for finicky foodies, all served with a smile.”// [|Yelp][|Zomato][|Trip Advisor]

[|The Long i Pie Shop] 321 E 45th Ave, Denver, CO 80216; $$ - pies, cakes, and other desserts //Owned by Shauna Lott; “Sugar rushes come in many forms, but the high quality of the goods popping out of Shauna Lott's oven push this bakery over the top. Lott has been making pies since she was five years old, and you can taste that experience in all of the creations peddled under the moniker Long I Pie.”// [|Yelp]

[|Gateaux Bakery] 1160 Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80204, (303) 376-0070; $$$ - custom cakes, cookies, tortes, and breakfast pastries //Pastry Chef and Owned by Kathleen Kenny Davia; “What you will find is croissants, scones, muffins, cakes, petit fours, shortbread tea cookies, tarts and more. Everything is scratch-baked, made by hand (including all decorating) by a crew of pastry chefs. We took our box of goodies and shared them with a group of eager people. All you could hear were sounds and words of utter pleasure. We all needed a moment afterword.” Kathleen Kenny Davia won Denver’s Women and Minority Small Business of the Year award in 2016.// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

**MISCELLANEOUS**

Black Eye Coffee Shop 3408 Navajo St, Denver, CO 80211, (303) 955-1205; $ - coffee, tea, café //Designed and owned by Alexandra Elman; “Rotating single-origin coffees that are roasted in-house are the draw at these third-wave coffeehouses that specialize in the pour-over method. The brick-walled, vintage-inspired LoHi original boasts communal tables and roll-up garage doors while its Capitol Hill sequel showcases an art deco look, plus an expanded food menu backed by craft cocktails when it becomes White Lies at night” Black Eye Coffee Shop won Colorado’s Homes and Lifestyle Best Restaurant Design Award in 2016.// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]

Teatulia Tea and Coffee Bar 2900 Zuni St, Denver, CO 80211, (303) 573-0710; $ - organic and iced teas, coffee, sandwiches, and pastries; gluten free options //Co-founder and CEO Linda Appel Lipsius; “exquisite, organic teas unlike any you've experienced before. Fresh. Clean. Smooth.”// [|Yelp] [|Zomato] [|Trip Advisor]