The Kitchen

The Kitchen is quintessential Boulder: casual, farm-to-table, community-focused. It's a neighbourhood bistro where people gather for fresh, seasonal food that is simple, yet exceptionally prepared. Monday's Community Night dinner is about eating family-style with 20 other diners – easily the best deal in town – on pâtés, seared scallops, hand-cut pastas, and much more.
• 1039 Pearl Street, +1 303 544 5973, thekitchencommunity.com. Open Mon 11am-9pm, Tues-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 9am-2pm (brunch) and 5pm-10pm (dinner), Sun 9am-2pm (brunch) and 5pm-9pm (dinner). Mains from $15

Lucile's

One block north of Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall sits a quaint yellow Victorian building with a crowd waiting outside each morning. The reward of Lucile's Creole breakfast justifies the wait. From suits to sweatpants to diapers, everyone loves Lucile's. Step inside this bustling restaurant, packed to the hilt with tables, Mardi Gras beads, masks, and Creole posters for a trip to New Orleans. Start with chicory coffee and hot beignets piled with powdered sugar. Decide between the eggs Pontchartrain, or pain perdu. Scoring a mile-high buttermilk biscuit with homemade jam is a must.
• 2124 14th Street, +1 303 442 4743, luciles.com. Open Mon-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat-Sun 8am-2pm. Mains from $7.50

Snarf's

The lunchtime line out the door is testimony that Snarf's turns out Boulder's best sandwiches. A spare, dishevelled interior leaves no doubt that people come for the food. Large menu boards list hot, cold, and speciality sandwiches plus salads, soups, and sides. The magic of Snarf's sandwiches is the marriage of soft, crusty bread and the hot giardiniera (pickled peppers). Then you choose from pastrami, feta and artichoke, meatball and provolone, eggplant parmesan, and more. Pro tip: call in your order 15 minutes ahead of pick-up and bypass the long lines.
• 2128 Pearl Street, +1 303 444 7766 and 5340 Arapahoe Avenue +1 303 444 3404, eatsnarfs.com. Open Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm. Sandwiches from $5.50

Atlas Purveyors

Boulder has no shortage of excellent independent coffee shops; you can randomly pick one and be certain to have a great experience. What sets Atlas apart is its remarkably consistent high-quality espresso and an enormous selection of hand-picked teas. Get your drink hot or iced, try the chai, or maybe a custom tea slush with boba. Atlas offers a small breakfast and lunch menu and daily pastries. While there, you can admire the chalk mural on the east wall, hop on to the free Wi-Fi, or play board games.
• 1505 Pearl Street #104, +1 720 382 2930, atlaspurveyors.com. Open Mon-Fri 6am-9pm, Sat-Sun 7am-9pm. Coffee from $1, Lunch from $5

Shamane's Bake Shoppe

Boulderites love to support small local businesses, especially if it means relishing handmade pastries from scratch. Shamane's Bake Shoppe is situated far from busy Pearl Street in an East Boulder business park. The tiny, unassuming cafe displays sweet and savoury French pastries and confections at the counter. Lunch is busy for the sandwiches, salads, and the beef or chicken pies wrapped in buttery flaky pastry. Dine in if you can grab one of six small tables (three inside, three outside), or take out as most patrons do, and enjoy your meal in one of Boulder's many green spaces.
• 2825 Wilderness Place, Suite 800, +1 303 417 9338, shamanesbakeshoppe.com. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-2.30pm, Sat and Sun Closed

Frasca

Frasca, recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program, weaves culinary artistry, wine expertise, and flawless service into a consistently impeccable dining experience while maintaining a warm, unpretentious atmosphere. Serving food inspired by the region of Friuli, Italy, Frasca sources the finest seasonal ingredients, often from local producers. Exquisitely prepared, Frasca's homemade pastas, fresh seafood, Colorado lamb, irresistible pastries, and everything in between are delicious. Pair staff-recommended wines with each course for a perfect evening.
• 1738 Pearl Street, +1 303 442 6966, frascafoodandwine.com. Open Mon-Sat 5.30pm to close, closed Sun. Reservations for Fridays and Saturdays recommended. Four course meal $78, Monday tasting menu $50

Flagstaff House

Boulder's most elegant fine dining rests on a lofty mountain perch overlooking the city, granting diners sweeping vistas from forested mountains to the Great Plains. Whether dining, or enjoying cocktails and appetizers on the terrace, Flagstaff House provides an intimate experience – you will be pampered. There's an extensive world wine list and French-American cuisine highlighted with Asian influences. Generous portions, attention to detail, fine touches, and top-notch service round out what is guaranteed to be a special experience. Oh, and the tray of confections that accompanies it makes the after dinner coffee a must.
• 1138 Flagstaff Road, +1 303 442 4640, flagstaffhouse.com. Open Sun-Fri, 6pm-10pm, Sat 5pm-10pm. Mains from $32

Oak

On Pearl Street in the heart of downtown Boulder, wash down a juicy grilled double cheeseburger with a homemade passion fruit, lemongrass soda. Oak presents innovative New American cuisine centered around an oak-fired grill and oven in a laidback setting. It's a fun place to meet up with friends, and the menu moves with the seasons.
• 1400 Pearl Street, +1 303 444 3622, oakatfourteenth.com. Open Mon-Wed 11.30am-10pm, Thurs-Sat 11.30am-midnight, Sun 2.30pm-10.00pm. Mains from $22

Pizzeria Locale

A modern take on the traditional pizzerias of Naples, Pizzeria Locale bakes beautiful pizzas adorned with quality ingredients. Dine at a table or park yourself at one of three bars: one surrounding the pizza oven, one where cocktails are mixed, or the bar outside. Other dishes include fennel salad and pork meatballs with walnut pesto. End on a sweet note with the budino (butterscotch pudding) or finish your meal and slip next door to Il Caffè for the best chocolate croissants in town.
• 1730 Pearl Street, +1 303 442 3003, localeboulder.com. Mon-Thurs 11.30am-2.30pm (lunch) and 4.30pm-10.30pm (dinner) Fri-Sat 11.30am 10.30pm, Sun 11.30am-9.00pm. Pizza from $9

Jax Fish House

Expectations for great seafood in landlocked Colorado may be low, but Jax Fish House surprises with its raw bar for fresh oysters, shrimp, crab, and lobster. Sip on a homemade strawberry vodka lemonade. Jax is popular and tiny, which means standing room only along the bar or a wait for a coveted table. If offered, the seared ono is a must as are the sea scallops. Leave room for dessert! The crème brûlée trio and key lime pie are favourites.
• 928 Pearl Street, +1 303 444 1811, jaxboulder.com. Open Sun-Thurs 4pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-11pm. Mains from $13

Jennifer Yu is a food writer and blogger from Colorado. You can visit her blog at userealbutter.com or follow her on Twitter @userealbutter

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