Sloan's Lake Tap & Burger

Sloan's Lake Tap & Burger, which opened in the West Colfax neighborhood in summer 2016, is the sister restaurant to the ridiculously popular Highland version. This Tap is bigger in almost every respect. Higher ceilings, an enormous bar, more TVs, massive windows — even the menu has been beefed up with the addition of barbecue. What hasn't changed is the measured approach to the burgers. Neither re-creating the classic nor redesigning it until it's no longer recognizable, Sloan's Lake offers burgers that fall somewhere in the middle, rethinking the American icon while still celebrating it. Also intact is the casual, seat-yourself attitude of the staffers, who are friendly and prompt but behave more like sports-bar employees than restaurant servers. The tap handles represent an interesting and well-rounded run of mostly Colorado beers. But the partners behind Sloan's Lake recognize the importance of food at their place, too, and applied a fine-dining sensibility to a pub-like menu. The result is a board that focuses on burgers and other typical bar-food items — but burgers and bar-food items that taste much better than those at your typical bar.