Colorado Springs and Monument
The Airplane Restaurant — dine in a Boeing KC-97 tanker
Amy’s Donuts — huge variety in a less-than-favorable part of town
Bambino’s Urban Pizzaria — Neapolitan, create-your-own pizza
Bingo Burger — burgers with Colorado chilies ground in with the meat
Bird Dog BBQ — voted best BBQ in the Springs several times
BJ’s Velvet Freeze — dipped cone or malt
Boonzaaijer’s Dutch Bakery — tasty pastries
Briar Mart International Market and Cafe — Mediterranean market and cafe with tasty gyros
C.B. & Potts — local franchise with excellent food
Chuy’s — popular Tex-Mex diner
Dog Haus — gourmet hot dogs, sausages, and burgers
Duca’s Neapolitan Pizza —tasty brick-oven pizza
Edelweiss German Restaurant — authentic German food with the feel of a Wisconsin supper club
Fargo’s Pizza —mediocre pizza in a kid-friendly setting decorated like an old western dance hall
Front Range Barbeque — decent BBQ, amazing key lime pie – featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives
Garden of the Gods Market and Cafe —a little pricey, but the best food in town
Golden Bee at the Broadmoor —authentic English pub
Horseshoe Donuts —huge and tasty donuts (Monument)
Ivy’s Chinese Cafe —good Chinese food close to home
Jake and Telly’s Greek Taverna —great gyros and pleasant service
Juniper Valley Ranch —skillet baked ham and fried chicken served family-style (summer only)
King’s Chef Diner —all-day breakfast, green chili, and a classic diner atmosphere
Marigold Cafe and Bakery —upscale restaurant with baked goods and pizza
Mountain Shadows Restaurant —breakfast with green chili, great cinnamon rolls
Old World Bagel and Deli — tasty breakfast sandwiches on bagels on the south side of town
Oliver’s Deli — good sandwiches and salads
Omelette Parlor —voted “best breakfast” in town, formerly owned by singing star Ruth Etting.
Paravicini’s Italian Bistro — Small, old-fashioned place with a pleasant atmosphere and excellent Italian food.
Piglatin Cocina —Latin American cuisine featuring pork
Pizzeria Rustica —fancy brick oven pizza with weird ingredients
Rosie’s Diner —diner fare and good milkshakes
Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q —amazing smoked meat and sides
Skirted Heifer —tasty burgers surrounded by caramelized cheese
Ted’s Montana Grill —tasty bison burgers and fresh-cut fries
3.14 Sweet & Savory Pi Bar —tasty pot pies and dessert pies
Till Kitchen — locally-sourced, farm-to-table, tasty but expensive
Urban Egg — tasty breakfast place with looong waits
Bailey
Coney Island Hot Dog Stand — interesting building if you’re in the area, not worth the drive just for the hot dogs
North of Denver
Bob’s Atomic Burgers (Golden) —good burgers and fries in a diner with “character”
Georgia Boys BBQ Company (Frederick) — declared best in the state by Mental Floss
Mary’s Mountain Cookies (Fort Collins) —great, and great big, cookies
Totally 80’s Pizza (Fort Collins) — decent enough pizza in a museum of the 1980s
Buena Vista
K’s Old Fashioned Burgers —old-style drive-in with pretty good food
Castle Rock
Crave Real Burgers — awesome burgers and shakes (also in Colorado Springs)
Denver and South Suburbs
The Bagel Deli and Restaurant —Jewish deli featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza— Not amazing by Chicago standards, but good for Colorado, with thick crust that you’re supposed to dip in honey
Blue Pan Pizza — Detroit-style pan pizza with caramelized crust
Buckhorn Exchange — great steaks in a unique restaurant that’s been around since 1893
Casa Bonita — huge, kitschy, kid-friendly Mexican restaurant
Denver Biscuit Company — tasty (but pricey) biscuits and biscuit sandwiches with several locations in Denver
Duffeyroll Cafe — cinnamon rolls and amazing breakfast sandwiches
Enstrom’s Candy —great toffee
Granny Scott’s Pie Shop — great ham and cheese sandwich, very good pie
Little Man Ice Cream — good ice cream, but be prepared to stand in line
Mac Nation — specializing in mac and cheese
Patxi’s Pizza — a noble attempt at Chicago-style deep dish
Florissant
Costello Street Coffee House — breakfast, sandwiches and baked goods
Idaho Springs
Smokin’ Yards BBQ — Absolutely amazing barbecue
Manitou Springs and Woodland Park
The Cliff House at Pikes Peak — good food in a Victorian hotel in downtown Manitou Springs
The Donut Mill — huge donuts
Hungry Bear — good, but basic, pancakes and breakfast food
The Pantry in Green Mountain Falls — good food in a cozy joint in a cozy town
Pikes Peak Summit House — clove donuts
Savelli’s Pizza — tasty pizza with no frills
Swiss Chalet — casual upscale restaurant with tasty meals
Uncle Sam’s Pancake House — typical breakfast place with a fun atmosphere
Palmer Lake
Rock House Ice Cream — tasty ice cream in an interesting old building
Pueblo
Pass Key — Pass Key Special sausage and cheese sandwich