Best Rooftop Patio 2019 | American Bonded | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
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Best Rooftop Patio

American Bonded

Larimer Street's remarkable shift from warehouse district to pedestrian thoroughfare is perhaps best observed on weekend nights, when groups of revelers throng the sidewalks from Broadway to Downing. And there's no better place to people-watch than American Bonded, where a breezy, fairy-lit, muraled rooftop oasis presents views of the skyline as well as the street below. Grab one of the bar's frozen drinks — served only at the outdoor bar along with other cocktails and beers, which keeps you from having to run up and down the stairs — and look for a spot near the front railing for the best vantage point. Fair warning: The place gets packed on summer nights. If you can't find a seat up top, look for an outdoor streetside table below.

Readers' Choice: Avanti Food & Beverage

Best Patio for Pets

Recess Beer Garden

Danielle Lirette

Denver is a dog, beer and outdoor type of city, so what better way to whittle away the hours than by indulging in all of it? Luckily, you can do just that at Recess Beer Garden in LoHi (except after 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, when Fido has to stay home). Otherwise, the patio is prime for some al fresco bonding and drinking, especially during those first warm spring brunches. Sip a craft brew while chowing on chili fries and tater tots; just don't forget to share a bite or two with man's best friend.

Readers' Choice: Coal Mine Avenue Brewing Company

Best Restaurant Patio

Avanti Food & Beverage

Danielle Lirette

A great patio can either offer a stunning view or a perch for people-watching, but few typically provide both. Avanti Food & Beverage doesn't have a typical patio, though: With seven counter-service options and multiple outdoor decks, here you can build a patio adventure to suit your mood. Grab a poke bowl at Quickfish and join the beautiful people on the main rooftop deck overlooking downtown; score tacos at BorraCho or Venezuelan street food at Quiero Arepas, then head for the bleacher seats; or make it an elegant dinner from Bistro Georgette or the Rotary and choose a table on the covered, all-weather patio. Cocktails, wine, beer or cider from two separate bars can also be tailored to your needs. Avanti's patios are like LoHi's backyard party — and you'll never want to leave.

Readers' Choice: Linger

Best Seafood Restaurant

Stoic & Genuine

Danielle Lirette

Start with something from the raw bar, then progress through the gleaming offerings on the menu at chef/restaurateur Jennifer Jasinski's compact Union Station seafood house. Stoic & Genuine's slate reads as both serious and playful, from a rich and rewarding take on paella loaded with mussels, shrimp, squid and sausage, to an amusing tuna sandwich that robes a rare slab of fish in molten American cheese. Crudos, oysters, crab legs and caviar are presented with pride and care, whether you're looking for a quick lunch or celebrating big. You pick the adjectives: impressive and elegant; vivacious and bright; delicious and bountiful.

Readers' Choice: Jax Fish House

Best Seafood Restaurant on a Budget

Mario's Ocean Club

Mark Antonation

Your boss isn't footing the bill and it's not your birthday, but, damn it, you want a well-made bowl of chowder and a meal reminiscent of last summer's New England vacation. Last year, Mario's Ocean Club took over where the Chowder Room left off in the same space, serving inexpensive but satisfying shrimp, oysters, calamari and fish fillets, as well as a long roster of "Sea-wiches." Mario's offers all American-catch seafood, so you know that everything came from the nearest waters possible. That and a bill that won't send you into shock make for a pretty good deal in a landlocked state.

Best Oysters

Jax Fish House

Jax Fish House

Jax Fish House has been dealing in volume since founder Dave Query shucked his first oyster at his Boulder original in 1994. Under executive chef Sheila Lucero, the oyster program has continued to exceed expectations of freshness and quality by bringing in responsibly harvested bivalves from the coasts' top producers. At any of Jax's locations (which stretch from Fort Collins to Glendale, with one slated for Denver International Airport), you can suck down oysters by the dozen knowing that they come from the cleanest waters and best oyster farms in British Columbia, Washington, Prince Edward Islands, Maine and other maritime locales. Jax's dedication to the homely but delicious mollusk can also be seen in the restaurant's oyster club and annual Hi-West Oyster Fest. And that's no shell game.

jaxfishhouse.com

Readers' Choice: Angelo's Taverna

Best Poke

Ohana Island Kitchen

Molly Martin

Louie and Regan Colburn launched a Hawaiian lunch stop serving poke from a window on the side of the Truffle Table in 2016. Before long, word got out, and the Colburns moved to a bigger spot around the corner to accommodate their new fans. Louie is from Hawaii, and the pride he takes in serving top-notch poke is evident. Rather than a few random bits of fish smothered in sticky sauces and toppings, Ohana's poke is a generous mound of ruby tuna dressed just right to let the flavor of the fish shine. Ginger, sesame and soy come through in the original recipe, or you can go kick it up with a spicy-mayo dressing bejeweled with masago (bright-orange fish roe). "Ohana" is Hawaiian for family, and you'll want to join the Colburns' family of poke customers.

Readers' Choice: Turtle Boat

Best Sushi Bar

Sushi Sasa

Sushi Sasa/Instagram

Amid the many new Japanese joints in town, it's easy to forget an old favorite. Wayne Conwell opened Sushi Sasa in 2005, catching the attention of every sushi lover in the city. Fourteen years later, his attention to detail — the things that turn simplicity into elegance in Japanese cuisine — is still evident, in sushi rice that's just the right amount of sticky while maintaining the integrity of each grain; in delicate cuts of fish carved from fillets to bring out the best texture of each; and in preparations that let the seafood speak for itself rather than drowning out the subtle flavors. Explore the full menu or order omakase (chef's choice) to discover pickled and fermented elements, off-menu seafood and artful presentations.

Readers' Choice: Sushi Den

Best Ramen

Osaka Ramen

Katie Knoch

What makes a great bowl of ramen? At chef Jeff Osaka's underground noodle lair, you'll find out. Bouncy noodles, complex and steamy broth, properly cooked meats and a good balance of toppings that don't clash or overtake your tastebuds — that's what Osaka brings to Denver's ramen game. Spicy miso and tonkotsu pack a punch, while the more delicate chicken and shoyu work well when you don't want something quite as rich. There's even a vegetarian ramen made with Thai green-coconut curry broth. And lest you forget, every bowl comes with a soft egg cooked to just the right yolky texture. Slurp away: There's always another big pot simmering on the stove.

Readers' Choice: Uncle

Best Japanese Restaurant

Ototo

For top-notch service, dedication to excellence and continuous innovation, the Kizaki brothers still set the standard for Denver restaurants, Japanese or otherwise. Where else can you nibble on a charcoal-grilled fish head, eat a skewer-full of chicken oysters (the plump little cutlets from the chicken's back) in pungent kizami wasabi sauce, or sample a bowl of burdock root batons, all while pouring cups of some of Japan's most revered sakes? If you let it sweep you away, Ototo is as much of an experience as a restaurant, one of those rare places where removing yourself from the clamor of the full dining room and immersing yourself in food and drink turns dining out into pure magic.

Readers' Choice: Domo

Best Of Denver®

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