Best Restaurants for Foodies in Central

46 restaurants available nearby

1. Luca

4.9

Exceptional(2084)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Central

Booked 10 times today

Chef Frank Bonanno dug into his Sicilian heritage and east coast roots to create this authentic, rustic Italian eatery. Luca has amazing personal touches from the daily made breads and pastas to the meats and cheeses cured in house, to the charcoal drawing of Bonanno’s son (and the restaurant’s namesake) that hangs in the dining room. Luca is heartwarming and satisfying from the wood-fired pizzas to the hand-rolled pastas to the perfectly seared proteins. It’s not your ordinary pile-of-pasta-and-sauce Italian joint; it’s the real (and tasty) deal.

2. Xiquita

4.7

Exceptional(98)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Denver

Booked 13 times today

Xiquita is a highly anticipated restaurant that brings the vibrant flavors and rich culture of Mexico City to the Mile High City. Inspired by the diverse culinary traditions of Mexico, Xiquita offers a unique dining experience that celebrates the country's indigenous ingredients and cooking techniques. Led by Chef Erasmo Casiano, the restaurant's name, Xiquita, is a playful twist on "chiquita," a term of endearment for Casiano's mother, and a nod to the indigenous languages of Mexico.At Xiquita, diners can expect to find dishes that are both authentic and innovative. The menu features a variety of traditional Mexican dishes, such as tamales and tortillas, made with locally sourced ingredients. Guests can also enjoy unique creations like the Infladita de Carne Apache, a play on steak tartare, and the Tikin Xic, a Yucatan dish featuring fish grilled over charcoal in a banana leaf.Join us for a dining experience you won't soon forget!

3. Tavernetta

4.7

Exceptional(170)

Price: Very Expensive

• Italian • Downtown / LoDo

Booked 74 times today

Authentic Italian. Genuine Hospitality. Inspired by the food, wine, and culture of Italy, Tavernetta brings "la dolce vita" style to Denver's bustling Union Station neighborhood with fresh handmade pastas, an Italian directed wine & spirits list and world-class hospitality.Tavernetta's cuisine and wine have been heralded by the James Beard Foundation, the Michelin Guide, World's 50 Best Discovery List, Wine Spectator and more.

4. Ukiyo

4.8

Exceptional(91)

Price: Very Expensive

• Japanese Speciality • Whittier

Booked 8 times today

UKIYO is a 12-seat omakase (chef choice) restaurant located on Larimer Square of downtown Denver, curated by chef Phraseuth ‘Paul’ Sananikone. The UKIYO multi-course omakase experience uses Japanese techniques with worldly flavors transforming it into a unique tasting menu where his offerings change based on ingredient seasonality and availability.

5. Izakaya Den

4.8

Exceptional(1909)

Price: Expensive

• Japanese • Platt Park

Booked 62 times today

Izakaya Den is Denver’s popular Japanese gastropub, modeled after the lively after hours establishments found throughout Japan. The restaurant is located on South Pearl Street and is the second restaurant of the Kizaki brothers, founders and owners of Sushi Den. The menu is arranged in a tapas style, serving traditional Japanese small plates along with dishes infused with international flavors and textures. The more traditional Japanese offerings include sashimi and nigiri, sourced from daily fish shipments from around the globe, along with dumplings and noodle dishes. The global cuisine experiments with a bevy of different flavors including unique items such as Grilled Panzanella Salad (jumbo lump crab, toasted focaccia, local goat cheese, pistachios, plum wine vinaigrette), Kobe Beef Sliders (seared foie gras, pomme frittes). A gluten-free menu is also available along with a popular weekday happy hour from 5 to 6:30 pm.

6. El Five

4.7

Exceptional(4151)

Price: Very Expensive

• Mediterranean • Highlands

Booked 87 times today

Nestled high above LoHi on the fifth floor of 2930 Umatilla, El Five boasts spectacular, unobstructed views of the downtown Denver skyline. The menu is an homage to the Mediterranean and features small plates built on bold flavors found throughout the region: Spain, North Africa, the Middle East. Inside, the space is understated and sensual, flanked by a large, open-air patio for sun-kissed Colorado nights. As the newest restaurant in the Edible Beats family, El Five celebrates the confluence of flavors, ideas and geographies made possible by a subtle shift in perspective.

7. Barolo Grill

4.8

Exceptional(3823)

Price: Very Expensive

• Italian • Cherry Creek

Booked 35 times today

Barolo Grill, an award winning Cherry Creek North restaurant, prides itself on serving authentic northern Italian food while maintaining a comfortable, elegant ambience. Known for hand crafted modern Northern Italian cuisine, a Wine Spectator Grand Award winning wine cellar, and knowledgeable, attentive staff, Barolo can be a perfect choice for a special occasion or just a fun night out. Chef Darrel Truett's cuisine focuses on the Northern Italian provinces of Piedmont and Tuscany. Seasonally changing menus feature locally sourced ingredients, proudly supporting regional farms and producers. Owner and wine director Ryan Fletter are proud to feature small family wineries that are dedicated to Earth-friendly farming and winemaking philosophies. Barolo Grill has one of the largest collections of Barolo wines outside of Italy.

A photo of Culinary Dropout - Denver restaurant

8. Culinary Dropout - Denver

4.5

Awesome(1222)

Price: Moderate

• American • Mayfair

Booked 31 times today

Culinary Dropout in Denver is a foodie's paradise. Its menu boasts classic meals done right, from pretzel bites to 36-hour pork ribs and famous fried chicken. The food is consistently praised in reviews, with phrases like 'thoughtfully prepared', 'amazing', and 'exceptional'. The atmosphere is fun and vibrant, with great service and a laid-back vibe.

9. Root Down

4.8

Exceptional(8120)

Price: Expensive

• American • Highlands

Booked 27 times today

Hello!Root Down and the Edible Beats Family (Root Down, Linger, Vital Root & El Five) are very grateful to welcome you to our restaurant.Our menu features eclectic, globally-influenced seasonal cuisine, with a focus on organic, natural and locally-sourced ingredients. Our interior dining space has the classic vibe of a neighborhood restaurant, while our large main patio offers picturesque views of the near neighborhood and downtown skyline.Reservations are available online at ediblebeats.com, as well as OpenTable. We happily accept walk-ins as availability allows.Our space is available for private events year round, please inquire with us directly for information.Please be aware we are located in a residential area, and parking is available in the near neighborhood, along with a small paid-lot located directly across the street from our location.We look forward to seeing you!

A photo of Corinne Restaurant restaurant

10. Corinne Restaurant

4.6

Exceptional(2494)

Price: Expensive

• Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service • Downtown / LoDo

Booked 36 times today

Voted one of the best restaurants in downtown Denver, CO, we cut through the complex to find honesty and effortless simplicity, serving you the food you want with the drinks you crave. Corinne Denver provides an inviting neighborhood environment with a modern design and honest food + drinks, from hearty to healthy. Drop in and stay awhile.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

R
Richardvip
Greater Boston •23 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Excellent food, excellent service but be aware Manhattan prices.
More info
TavernettaPrice: Very Expensive• Italian• Downtown / LoDo
•
4.7
C
Connor
Dallas - Fort Worth •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
We had a wonderful dinner at Xiquita. Food was outstanding from start to finish. Christian was our waiter and he was also great! He was quick and accurate and very kind. We will definitely be back. Our favorite dish was the ceviche, light, balanced, and full of flavor with a little kick of heat. Thank you Xiquita y’all knocked it out of the park.
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XiquitaPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Denver
•
4.7
C
Chad
Denver / Colorado •1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Incredible blends of service ambiance and story telling in delightful 20 coarse roller coaster ride
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UkiyoPrice: Very Expensive• Japanese Speciality• Whittier
•
4.8
D
Derek
Austin •1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
We were the last table on a Tuesday night and you would have thought we were the first table on a Saturday night. From the complementary Prosecco to the fantastic Charcuterie board to the even better pasta(I’m from the east coast and it’s great pasta) Cat our server was the best.
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LucaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Central
•
4.9
L
Lia
Denver / Colorado •51 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Again, as always, the food is the star here. There is truly no better (some as good) sushi in Denver or a many, even hundreds of miles mile radius. On this particular night, the crowd was bigger and louder than usual and the service perhaps struggled a bit to keep up with the volume. Usually the ambience is a little more peaceful and the design/decor elements are quite lovely. We go back again and again for the amazing foo, that while pricey, is Incredible. As strange as it sounds for a land-locked state, we have eaten all over the world and will always hold Sushi/Izakaya Den as the gold standard.
More info
Izakaya DenPrice: Expensive• Japanese• Platt Park
•
4.8

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Best Restaurants for Foodies in Central

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46 restaurants available nearby

1. Luca

2. Xiquita

3. Tavernetta

4. Ukiyo

5. Izakaya Den

6. El Five

7. Barolo Grill

8. Culinary Dropout - Denver

9. Root Down

10. Corinne Restaurant

See what locals rave about

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