As the food and drink editor for Westword, I get a lot of feedback about the local dining scene. Sometimes that means hot tips about new places or great dishes. But I also hear complaints that Denver’s restaurants are somehow lacking.
Yes, the Mile High’s food scene is very different from that of, say, Chicago or New York. It’s a much younger city, with a different demographic, and smaller in population while sprawling in size, with our favorite places to eat often spread far apart. Is there room for improvement? Always. But as I scrolled through the hundreds of food photos I snapped in 2023, I had a very hard time narrowing down my favorite bites.
These ten picks tell a hopeful story. Independent chefs and owners are finding ways to bring their visions to life, despite a ton of challenges. For many, that means opting to operate outside of Denver city limits, or moving into spaces that are smaller than what they originally envisioned. But it rarely means cutting corners when it comes to culinary quality and creativity.
Here are the ten best bites I had last year in Denver (and beyond), in no particular order:
Point Easy
Since debuting in the summer of 2022, Point Easy in Whittier has quickly become a favorite. It’s got the vibes of a neighborhood joint, but instead of sticking to the expected, it throws in some culinary surprises that make it destination-worthy. The meal I had there last April was one of my best all year; my favorite dish of the night was the pappardelle with tender rabbit, walnuts and creamy mascarpone. Point Easy is closed for a holiday break through January 10, and this dish isn’t on the current lineup — but you really can’t go wrong with any pasta here. If you want to taste a similar dish with a different spin, head to the Bindery in LoHi for the rabbit cannelloni, which is filled with poblano chiles and sharp cheddar.
