For the first time in the thirty-year history of Westword's Best of Denver, we've split the Best of Denver Readers' Poll into two rounds, giving you the chance to look at the vote-getters and then voting again for your favorite bars, restaurants and foods in Denver and Boulder. And the results of the first round are in! Keep reading to uncover the five finalists you, the readers, have selected for the Food & Drink categories on this year's Readers' Poll. And know this: You still have the chance to change the results.
See also:
- Best of Denver 2013 Readers' Poll: The first round of Shopping & Services finalists
- Denver's ten best sushi restaurants
- Denver's five best expense-account restaurants
The finalists listed below are by no means shoe-ins -- meaning that in the next (and final) round of voting, you can either vote for your favorite finalist or start over with a completely different entry. The final deadline for both print and online voting is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, at which point we'll close the poll and calculate the results one last time. You'll be able to read both Westword and Readers' Poll winners when our annual Best of Denver issue hits stands on March 28.
In the meantime, let us know what you think of the first-round finalists in the comments section below. And don't forget to vote! Note: If a category is "new" (Best New Restaurant, for example), limit your answers to restaurants that opened in 2012.
The standings as of Monday, February 24:
Best bakery:
Denver Bread Company
Buffalo Doughboy
The Shoppe
Wooden Spoon Cafe & Bakery
Happy Cakes
Best pancakes:
Snooze
The Original Pancake House
DJ's Berkley Cafe
Jelly
IHOP
Best chicken and waffles:
Pink Tank
Euclid Hall
Steuben's
Vegan Van
Lola
Best brunch buffet:
Dazzle
Brown Palace Hotel
The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs)
Washington Park Grille
NoNo's Cafe
Best burrito:
Diego Zhang's
DJ's Berkeley Cafe
Breakfast King
Santiago's Mexican Restaurant
Sam's No. 3
Best breakfast burrito -- to go:
Santiago's
Tacos Rapidos
Jalapeno's
Bubba Chinos
Gomez
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best ice cream:
Sweet Action
Little Man Ice Cream
Sweet Cow
Scrumptious
Bonnie Brae
Best food truck:
Pink Tank
Eighty Ate
Slyderman
Vegan Van
Uncle Fred's Franks
Best food cart:
Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs
Taste of the Philippines
Slyderman
Hey PB&J
Caveman Cafeteria
Best restaurant patio:
Linger
Lola
My Brother's Bar
Ace
Denver Beer Co.
Best rooftop patio:
The Tavern Downtown
Linger
The Fainting Goat
LoDo's Bar & Grill
The Irish Rover
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best chef:
Alex Seidel (Fruition)
Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja and Bistro Vendome)
Frank Bonanno (Osteria Marco, Bones, Luca)
Troy Guard (TAG)
Matt Selby (Corner House)
Best bartender:
Tim Harris (Jax Fish House)
Kyle Knox
Josh Burbank (Jax Fish House)
Cody Floyd (Arvada Beer)
Gerald Collier (Corner House)
Best new bar:
Punch Bowl - Social Food & Drink
Sidewinder
TRVE Brewing
Corner House
Arvada Beer Company
Best new brewery-tap room:
River North Brewery
Our Mutual Friend Malt & Brew
TRVE Brewing
Arvada Beer Company
Renegade Brewing
Best new brewery-tap room -- beer:
TRVE Brewing
Denver Beer Co.
Black Shirt Brewing
River North Brewery
Our Mutual Friend Malt & Brew
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best new brewery-tap room -- ambience:
TRVE Brewing
Denver Beer Co.
Renegade Brewing
Arvada Beer Company
Black Shirt Brewing
Best draft beer list:
Falling Rock Tap House
Denver Beer Co.
Renegade Brewing
Yard House
Hops & Pie
Best bottle beer list:
Freshcraft
Falling Rock Tap House
Old Chicago
The Kitchen Denver
The Cheeky Monk
Best wine bar:
Indulge
The Village Cork
Cru
Caveau
Silver Vines Winery
Best contemporary cocktail bar:
Williams & Graham
The Cruise Room
Green Russell
Corner House
Forest Room 5
Best barrel-aged cocktail:
Vesta Dipping Grill
Bittersweet
Williams & Graham
Wazee Supper Club
Root Down
Best martini:
The Cruise Room
Martini's Bistro
The Robusto Room
The Capital Grille
Green Russell
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best Bloody Mary bar:
Max's
Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar
The Hornet
Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge
The Tavern Uptown
Best margarita:
Lola
Pinche Taqueria
Rio Grande
Wahoo's
El Noa Noa
Best sandwich shop:
Cheba Hut
Snarf's
Fat Jack's Supersubs
Masterpiece Delicatessen
Drew's Deli
Best vegetarian restaurant:
City, O' City
WaterCourse Foods
Vegan Van
Eden
The Garden
Best veggie burger:
Ted's Montana Grill
Root Down
Diego Zhang's
Vine Street Pub & Brewery
Highland Tap and Burger
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best burger:
Hamburger Mary's
Park Burger
Cherry Cricket
Elway's
My Brother's Bar
Best french fries:
Ted's Montana Grill
Park Burger
TAG Burger Bar
Smashburger
Manneken Frites
Best fried pickles:
Eighty Ate
City, O' City
Governor's Park
Fire on the Mountain
TAG
Best hot dog:
Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs
Steve's Snappin' Dogs
Mustard's Last Stand
Mile High Vienna Stand
Uncle Fred's Franks
Best barbecue:
Moe's Original BBQ
Brothers BBQ
Brickyard BBQ
Big Papa's BBQ
Yazoo Barbeque Company
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best fried chicken:
Carrie's Place
Steuben's
White Fence Farm
Popeye's
KFC
Best wings:
Fire on the Mountain
Wingman
Big Hoss Bar-B-Q
Piper Inn
Buffalo Wild Wings
Best macaroni and cheese:
Steuben's
The Hornet
Hops & Pie
Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge
Big Hoss Bar-B-Q
Best pizza:
Slice Works
Hops & Pie
Lucky Pie Pizza & Taphouse
Sexy Pizza
Beau Jo's
Best specialty pizza:
Slice Works
Hops & Pie
Basic Kneads
Mellow Mushroom
Fired Up
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best spaghetti and meatballs:
Gaetano's
Citygrille
Patsy's
Carmine's
Maggiano's
Best Italian restaurant:
Maggiano's
Gaetano's
Il Posto
Carmine's
Luca D'Italia
Best taqueria:
Pinche Taqueria
El Taco de Mexico
Tacos Jalisco
Tacos y Salsas
Baja Fresh
Best free chips and salsa:
Lola
Rio Grande
Benny's Restaurante y Cantina
Blue Bonnet
El Camino
Best green chile:
El Taco de Mexico
Pinche Taqueria
Tacos y Salsas
El Camino
Blue Bonnet
Best red chile:
Little Anita's
El Taco de Mexico
Lola
Santiago's
Rocky Mountain Chili Bowl
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best nachos:
Rio Grande
Governor's Park
Cap City Tavern
Illegal Pete's
Old Chicago
Best steak house:
The Keg
Elway's
Morton's
Ted's Montana Grill
Texas Roadhouse
Best seafood restaurant:
Jax Fish House
Ocean Prime
Oceanaire
Lola
McCormick's
Best sushi:
Sushi Den
Sushi Sasa
Sushi Hai
Izakaya Den
Blue Fin Sushi Den
Best Japanese restaurant:
Domo
Sushi Den
Izakaya Den
Amu Sake Bar & Restaurant
Sushi Sasa
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best Chinese restaurant:
Imperial
P.F. Chang's
Ming's Dynasty
Tea Garden
Star Kitchen
Best dim sum:
Star Kitchen
Ace
China Jade
Imperial
Empress Seafood
Best Vietnamese restaurant:
New Saigon
Parallel Seventeen
Pho on 6th
Saigon Bowl
Pho 95
Best Thai restaurant:
Phat Thai
Wild Ginger
Thai Basil
US Thai Cafe
Spicy Basil
Best Indian restaurant:
Little India
Yak and Yeti
Namaste
Masala
Jai Ho
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best Colorado snack
Goldfish and cheetos
Rocky Mountain Oysters
beer
Noosa Yoghurt
green chile
Best new coffee house
Weathervane Cafe
Happy Coffee
Roostercat Coffee House
Pablo's on Pennsylvania
Black Eye Coffee Shop
Best eggs benedict:
Snooze
DJ's Berkeley Cafe
Jelly
Wild Eggs
Corner House
Best lunch under $5:
Slyderman
Santiago's
Tacos Rapidos
Taste of the Philippines
Uncle Fred's Franks
Best dinner under $10:
Wahoo's Fish Taco
Pho-Natic
Masterpiece Delicatessen
Chipotle
Odelay Tacos
Best expense-account dinner:
Vesta Dipping Grill
Sushi Den
Zengo
Linger
Fruition
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best pie:
Humble Pie
The Shoppe
Village Inn
Wednesday's Pie
Mermaid's
Best milkshake:
Sweet Cow
Steuben's
Scrumptious
H Burger
Sweet Action
Best restaurant for a first date:
Steuben's
Z Cuisine
Linger
Root Down
Corner House
Best restaurant for a break-up:
Taco Bell
Lola
Ace
Tamayo
Racine's
Best after-midnight menu:
Pete's Kitchen
Fat Jack's Supersubs
Tom's Urban 24
Fat Sully's
Sputnik
Best 24/7 restaurant:
Tom's Urban 24
Pete's Kitchen
Denver Diner
McCoy's Restaurant
Waffle House
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best diner:
Tom's Diner
Pete's Kitchen
Denver Diner
Mama's Cafe
Tom's Urban 24
Best chef's counter:
TAG|RAW Bar
Ace
Bones
Uncle
Charcoal
Best late-afternoon happy hour:
Lou's Food Bar
Lola
Lucky Pie Pizza & Tap House
Corner House
Elway's Downtown
Best late-night happy hour:
Mezcal
The Fainting Goat
Irish Snug
Corner House
Sputnik
Best dive bar:
P.S. Lounge
hi-dive
Don's Club Tavern
Candlelight Tavern
Local 46
Best tap room glassware:
Black Shirt Brewing
River North Brewery
TRVE Brewing
Arvada Beer Company
Prost Brewing
Best brewpub:
Vine street Pub & Brewery
West Flanders Brewing
Wynkoop Brewing Company
Breckenridge Brewery
Dad & Dudes Breweria
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best wine by the glass:
Row 14
Solera
Cru
Rioja
Lala's
Best wine shop:
Silver Vines
Argonaut
Mondo Vino
Applejack
Divino
Best salad bar:
Mad Greens
Fourleaf Chopped Salads
Sweet Tomatoes
ModMarket
Souper Salad
Best vegetarian dish in a non-vegetarian restaurant:
Little India
Rioja
Jerusalem
Twelve
Euclid Hall
Best fried rice:
Benihana
Mt. Fuji
P.F. Chang's
Wokano
Swing Thai
Best neighborhood Italian restaurant:
Gaetano's
Undici Ristorante
Shells & Sauce
Carmine's
Cafe Jordano
Best salsa bar:
Tacos Y Salsas
Lola
Baja Fresh
Diego's
Rubio's
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best vegetarian green chile:
Diego's
Rocky Mountain Chili Bowl
Wynkoop Brewing Company
Little Anita's
Santiago's
Best cheap steak:
Texas Roadhouse
Columbine Steakhouse
LoHi SteakBar
Outback Steakhouse
Simms Steakhouse
Best noodle bar:
Uncle
Bones
Oshima Ramen of America
Pho on 6th
Lao Wang Noodle House
Best Korean restaurant:
Shin Sa Dong
Seoul BBQ
Uoki
Dae Gee
Han Kang
Best Central/South American restaurant:
Cafe Brazil
Limon
Empanada Express Grill
Buenos Aires
Cebiche
Continue reading for more Best of Denver 2013 finalists.
Best Ethiopian restaurant:
Mataam Fez
The Nile
Arada
Queen of Sheba
Ras Kassa's
Best Middle Eastern restaurant:
Jerusalem
Damascus
Ali Baba Grill
Marrakech Grill
Sahara
Best German restaurant:
Golden Europe
Cafe Berlin
Helga's
Karl's Deli
Uber Sausage
Best French restaurant:
Le Central
Bistro Vendome
Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar
Mizuna
Z Cuisine
Best neighborhood restaurant:
Steuben's
Corner House
Highland Tap and Burger
Ted's Montana Grill
Hops & Pie
Best sports bar for watching games:
Stoney's
Blake Street Tavern
Swinger's
Sports Column
Three Lions
Best sports bar for playing games:
1UP
Blake Street Tavern
Wynkoop
Three Dogs
Punch Bowl - Social Food & Drink
Best sports bar for food and drink:
Stoney's
Tailgate Tavern and Grill
Three Lions
Buffalo Wild Wings
Swinger's
Best new restaurant:
The Populist
Grillin' Wings & Things
Ace
Corner House
True Food Kitchen
Best restaurant neighborhood:
Highland
Cherry Creek
South Pearl
Uptown
LoDo
It's your turn to weigh in! Vote for one of these finalists -- or any other favorite -- in the second (and final) round of the Best of Denver 2013 Readers' Poll.
