While January felt like 150 days long, we just hit the tip of the iceberg when it comes to dining out in 2025. With frigid temperatures and gloomy skies, we craved comforting bowls of curry, warm and hearty salads, and cheesy delights. Some of these places are new to the scene, while others have been around a while. But one thing they all have in common is really good food worth bundling up for.
Caviar Pizza at Salt Water Social
There’s a lot going on at the newly-opened Salt Water Social in Cherry Creek, which is owned by the same group behind STK and Kona Grill. Consider this your memo to hone in on the shareable plates, especially the Caviar Pizza ($MP). It looks more like a flatbread and comes topped with tangy lemon cream, caviar, and freshly chopped chives. Pro move, pick whichever caviar you like, or let the server surprise you. 201 Columbine St., Denver, saltwatersocial.com
Roasted Brussels With Cotija at Tessa Delicatessen
The excellent sandwiches at this East Colfax eatery tend to get all the hype, and rightfully so. However, the salads also slap in the same fresh, balanced, and crave-worthy way. The Roasted Brussels With Cotija ($14) stands out as a new way to enjoy the tiny, cabbage-shaped vegetable.
First, the Brussels sprouts get roasted to the point of pliability, but not mushyness. Those get sliced and tossed with raw kale and capers in a Caesar dressing. Then the top gets a thick sprinkling of cotija cheese, which slightly melts to add a unique creaminess to the whole thing. The portion proves huge, and if you can’t finish it rest assured, it’s even better the next day. 5724 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, tessadenver.com
Chu-Toro at Sushi By Scratch
We’re thrilled lauded chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee brought their intimate omakase experience to Denver, and it’s just as good as it sounds. The speakeasy-stye space hosts 10 (three times a night), with three sushi chefs at the center of the action. As they created and presented the meal it felt almost like sushi theater, with each piece as the star.
While the 20-plus course wowed with every bite, if we picked just one to eat again and again it would be the chu-toro. Topped with pickled lemon hearts, it was a bite to remember, though you have to partake in the $195 (service included) omakase to try it. 1441 Larimer St., Denver, sushibyscratchrestaurants.com
Grilled Delicata Squash at Cart-Driver LoHi
The nuances of the squash family, or Cucurbitaceae family, often gets regulated to simple roasts, mashes, and soups. But at the recently re-opened Cart-Driver LoHi, chef Louie Betrus grills delicata into memorable perfection. The tender squash can be eaten skin and all, and comes enhanced with charred radicchio, and a savory miso vinaigrette.
Tossed inside, one finds toasted Marcona almonds with a salty pecorino twist. Sold for $17, the share plate easily feeds four people who are also indulging in the pizzas and pastas, or two looking for a lighter meal. 2239 W. 30th Ave., Denver, cart-driver.com
Mortadella Melt at Champagne Tiger
If you’ve ever had mortadella you know it’s the upscale version of supermarket bologna, in the best way. The meat sourced at Champagne Tiger is no exception, and it’s the best quality mortadella around. When paired with melty gruyere, the pistachio-studded slices reach another level. The $15 sandwich comes on thick sourdough bread with mayo, Dijon mustard, and a side of pickles, which really work to cut the richness of the proteins. Get it for dinner, Friday lunch, and brunch, and don’t be shy if you want to pair it with a glass of sparkling wine. 601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, champagnetiger.com
Guava Pastry at Viva! Mexi Coffee Shop
If the bright colors and welcoming atmosphere of this East Colfax spot doesn’t pull you in, the fresh-baked pastries and solid coffee will. On a recent visit it was the delectable guava and cream danish ($5) that grabbed our eye, and it’s been circling in memory ever since.
Viva! Mexi Coffee Shop opened last August, run by husband and wife team Elisa Garcia and Leonardo Munoz-Corona. Art adorns the walls, and Garcia hand-painted the murals. Order a Mexican hot chocolate to go with the pastry, and try the others while you’re at it. 4900 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, no website
Cari Tom at Le Colonial
Silky and luscious would be the best words to describe the Cari Tom ($32) at this new Vietnamese restaurant in Cherry Creek. Also known as green curry with shrimp, the elegant dish mirrors the beauty of the space, but stands out thanks to the beautiful blend of bamboo shoots, lime leaf, snap peas, and local zucchini inside the rich broth.
Large, firm and fresh shrimp nestled on top of the curry, giving the dish the final layer it needed for perfection. While so many things hit at Le Colonial, the Cari Tom should be on everyone’s must-order list. 255 Fillmore St., Denver, lecolonial.com
Lemon Bar at Parlor Doughnuts
Truthfully, it was a toss up between the Lemon Bar doughnut ($3.95) and the Churro option on the menu, but the creamy citrus curd solidified the lemon as the favorite. The treats stand out as a cross between a doughnut and a croissant, though it’s not quite like the viral Cronut by New York chef Dominique Ansel, circa 2013.
Parlor Doughnuts isn’t unique to Denver, it was started by Darrick Hayden and Josh Tudela, in February, 2019 in Indiana. Over the years the concept spread, and in 2021 the first Denver location opened. There’s nothing quite like it around, and totally worth a visit for the Lemon Bar doughnut alone. 95 Lincoln St., Denver, parlordoughnuts.com
Mozzarella Sticks by Leven Supply
When Leven Supply opened last month ,that meant fans of Leven Deli Co. in the Golden Triangle now have a southern spot to get the company’s outstanding aged-pastrami sandwiches. It also meant the team could start playing with pizza and add giant mozzarella sticks ($10) to the menu. Aside from the size, these finger foods stand out due to the herbed-sourdough breadcrumbs, made with Leven’s own bread. The mozzarella inside is fresh, the pomodoro sauce warm, and a drizzle of charred lemon adds a unique brightness to the baked appetizer. 300 E. Alameda Ave., Denver, eatleven.com
Lemon Mint Bread With White Chocolate by Spruce House Bread
We were first hipped to Spruce House Bread after interviewing owner Jeff Nixon about his win at the 2023 Denver Bake Fest. While talking about the 30-or-so items he makes ($5 to $12), he mentioned he experiments a lot, which is where the lemon mint bread with white chocolate came in. While it sounded bizarre, we were intrigued.
The only problem, Spruce House Bread is a cottage bakery in Centennial. Nixon kindly offered to bring by a loaf the next time he was on the north side of town. He did and it was a weird revelation in the world of bread. Somehow all those flavors worked with the toasty grains, and when warm and slathered with Irish butter, it was a treat indeed. Now we just have to figure out how to get it all the time. sprucehousebread.com
