*****Advice Wanted on Restaurants in Denver/Colorado Springs Area

Jon N. wrote:
>I'm going to be visiting the Denver/Colorado Springs area in early August and
>would like to get feedback on excellent restaurants in both of those cities.
>I define excellence based on the quality of the food, and not on the ambience.
>
>I am not interested in anything expensive or formal.  Holes-in-the-wall are
>acceptable as long as the food is outstanding.  I'm not interested in places
>that are loud or have a party-type atmosphere.  My tastes in food include
>Mexican, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Indian, some European (German, Belgian), as
>well as great steaks, great hamburgers, and other American fare.

My favorite Mexican restaurants (in order) are:

Las Brisas (New Mexican)      SE corner of I-25 & Arapahoe Rd. (off Dayton) Rio Grande (New Mexican)      Pearl St. (Boulder) Juanita's               E. 17th Ave. (Denver), Pearl St. Mall (Boulder) Benny's                       E. 7th Ave. (Denver) Blue Bonnet             S. Broadway (Denver) Las Delicias                  E. 19th? Ave. (Denver)

Since you don't like fun places :-), you might want to skip the Rio Grande, Juanita's, and the Blue Bonnet.  Las Brisas has a great interior, but it's casual; Benny's is probably the closest to a hole-in- the-wall; Las Delicias is a family-run place.

Also check out El Chapultepec in LoDo Denver --it hops with local jazz
-- and La Loma, Speer Blvd. & I-25 (?).

Italian: A Capella's          Market St. (Denver)
World cuisine: Transalpin     E. 7th Ave. (Denver) Greek: Central I        Alameda & Pennsylvania (Denver)

These places all have great food, and they're reasonably priced. Central I and Transalpin are neighborhood restaurants, but Transalpin and A Capella's are nicer places.

Some of the most hearty fare can be found in the local brewpubs, especially the Wyncoop in LoDo Denver and the Walnut just off the Mall in Boulder, but people also like to have fun there.  The Oasis (two blocks from the Walnut) is quieter, and has a more sophisticated menu than you might expect for a brewpub (although I guess you could say the same for the others, too).

Burgers: (E.) 17th Avenue Grill (Denver)!

I hope that helps.  Enjoy your visit,

South of 6th on Federal (in Denver) there are several great Thai/VietNamese/etc restaurantts. Js Noodles is great for Thai. The Jungle curry will take the back of your head off.
  For Mexican, try La Taqueria Patzcuaro on 32nd (I think)
or some of the places on the 2000-2200 blocks of Larimer. Great chile verde. For ceviche try El Chalan...