Colfax Denver is recognised for diving pubs, gritty urban street life, and an active music scene. With almost as many eateries as there are restaurants on the street, it’s clear to see why this is such a popular destination for locals and tourists alike: it features a wide variety of cuisines from all over the world.
West Colfax Denver has some of the most sumptuous eateries in the city, from pupusas to Detroit-style pizza, so we’ve compiled our top restaurants below.
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Annie’s Cafe and Bar
Just because Annie’s Cafe may seem like any other retro-themed restaurant doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the effort. The reason for this is because there are no faux ’50s décor and fading film posters here; it’s all genuine.
After all these years, Annie’s has never lost its charm, even after moving from its original drugstore site at Eighth and Colorado to this enormous building (the former Good friend’s location), formerly home to the Good friend’s restaurant. Come in and experience authentic Mexican cuisine, and don’t forget to try the cafe’s famous green chile.
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Brik
Brik on York stands unique in this age of craft beer because of its emphasis on wine. Travis Gee, the chef/owner/sommelier, presents an eight-page wine list that includes both old and new world wines by the half-glass and bottle, as well as information on each region’s winemaking history. It’s not all about wine, however.
As well as salads and customisable meat and cheese platters, the menu features Neapolitan-style pizzas baked in an imported Italian wood-fired oven. Live music is performed in the dining area when it’s not raining, allowing for a vibrant, unpretentious way to sip on grape-based cocktails.
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Urban Eatery Casual Chop Shop
Fast-casual eateries like Chipotle aren’t what you’ll find at Chop Shop, which debuted in 2014 in an area of East Colfax that’s just been revitalised. Clint Wangsnes, a veteran chef who has worked in Hawaii, Napa Valley, and Miami Beach, is in charge of the restaurant, which has a brick wall, tables, and booths made of wide-plank barn wood happy-hour nibbles like sliders and hoisin-tamarind ribs served with cocktails.
A more informal approach was used by Wangsnes, which included an order line, illuminated electronic menu boards, and clip-on numbers to expedite the delivery of meals.
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Mezcal
Mezcal had been open for only 12 years on Colfax Avenue, which isn’t a long time, yet it already seemed like an old favourite after such a short period. But Chris Swank and Loris Venegas, the proprietors of Mezcal, decided to close the restaurant at the end of last spring and remodel the Kitchen since it was beginning to seem a little stale.
Additionally, the menu had an overhaul, with new street tacos, more giant and more flavorful tacos, and another hacienda cuisine. Mezcal is still a great place to grab a barstool and sample a wide variety of the restaurant’s signature spirit despite all the modifications.
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East Colfax Avenue
When Udi Baron’s restaurant firm took over the old Lowenstein Theater complex in 2012, they immediately started putting up a succession of eateries on the site. Udi’s Pizza Cafe was the first of its kind, serving up pizzas and other international fares. Silvi’s Kitchen, formerly known as Udi’s, reopened as a restaurant after being purchased by Smart Balance. During 2015, the company introduced a new concept: The Good Son, a watering establishment specializing in Detroit-style pizza and burgers.
With zebra-themed décor, red and white lighting, and an extensive beer selection, the Good Son is a departure from the rest of the group’s eateries, but it’s still a part of the same family. Wood-fired steel pan pizzas are the show’s main attraction, with thick crusts and gooey toppings. As tradition demands, the Buddy’s, named after the Michigan pizzeria that began it all, has tomato sauce spooned over the cheese.
If you’re looking for something a little less conventional but just as delicious, the Spartan and Tom Selleck pizzas are the way to go. The Spartan has a spinach-artichoke dip and smoked mozzarella, while Tom Selleck has jalapenos, fresh pineapple, bacon, and cheese on top.
Wrapping up
We’ve covered the most excellent restaurants in Colfax Denver in this post. I hope these will be of use to you.
