Little Man Ice Cream is the most beloved ice cream shop in Denver. This is not just an ice cream shop. This ice cream shop attracts people of all ages and brings the community together with its inviting initiatives and events. From live music, dances and entertainment, this ice creamery is an attraction itself. The flavors are funky, the portions are generous, the quality is good, and the waffle cones are made fresh on the spot, but smell better than they taste. The Salted Oreo is actually quite salty, so it’s best enjoyed in limited amounts. The Banana Pudding with pieces of pie crust is fantastic and a great pairing with the Salted Oreo. Be prepared for long lines.

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Anyone in Denver who appreciates good food and wine will likely recommend Rioja, for good reason. Rioja is the flagship upscale restaurant for chef and owner Jen Jasinski, a well-known chef who was a contestant on “Top Chef Masters.” The signature dish is the James Beard award-winning Artichoke Tortelloni filled with artichoke mousse, white truffle brodo (broth), queso de mano and chervil. The other must-try is the Fresh Bacon – pork belly, cardamom and curried garbanzo bean purée, which has been on the menu since day one. I recommend getting the tortelloni and bacon as a duo, which is a smaller portion of both served together (save stomach space to try more things). It’s not advertised, but is available to all guests.

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This Thai fusion restaurant was named one of the 50 best new restaurants in the country in Bon Appetit magazine’s 2016 list for good reason. The food Chef P.J. Stoops serves is not your average Thai. He pushes the flavors to the max to bring his unique perspective to Northern Thai dishes, while adding some Texas flair to fresh and locally sourced meats and produce. Most ingredients are being grown by Cambodian farmers in nearby Rosharon, who cultivate more than 60 of the crops and unique ingredients implemented in the menu. Farmer Sameth Nget grows primarily water spinach but also other Asian fruits, vegetables, and herbs, many not available commercially anywhere else in the U.S. Nget raises ducks for the restaurant, with duck eggs being an important star on the menu.

Marcus Davis opened the Breakfast Klub in September 2001 featuring two signature dishes:  Katfish & Grits and Wings & Waffles. Today, the Breakfast Klub in Houston is a cornerstone of breakfast in a sea of “me too” options.  Recognized as one of the “best breakfast restaurants in the nation” by “Good Morning America,” USA Today, Esquire and Forbes, the catfish, grits, biscuit and eggs are spectacular. A Southern plate of wonder served in a unique venue bursting with personality.

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A gem in the jungle of restaurants on Södermalm, Nook dishes well-executed, nicely presented and ambitious food in a casual, uncluttered setting. Claes Grännsjö’s ambition was to offer great food for an affordable price. He brought along his old colleague and sommelier from Kock & Vin in Gothenburg, Alexander Bäckman, and together they opened the doors at Nook in February 2014. The food is international, with influences from Asia and the Mediterranean combined with a lot of Scandinavian flavors. Every night, there are two three-course set menus, two of the best value options in the city, for SEK350 or 400. Scallops, rain deer, duck and monkfish frequent the menu. Even if the dining area is full, you can always go to the bar next door and eat from the snack menu. Try the steamed buns. You’ll love them.

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While Cielito Lindo is credited with inventing the modern taquito, El Indio in Mission Hills is credited with naming it to earn its place in history. Founded as a tortilla factory in 1940, El Indio’s founder, Ralph Pesqueira Sr., popularized the word “taquito” or “little taco” in the San Diego area. The spot morphed into a restaurant after World War II. The taquito is still the restaurant’s most popular item. Sold individually, tortillas are made fresh every day, then, depending on the order, stuffed and rolled with shredded beef, shredded chicken, potato, salsa, lettuce, cheese and guacamole. Want more? The salsa bar has an outstanding variety of tasty to spicy sauces. The salsa bar has an outstanding variety of tasty to spicy sauces.

Pro tip: The counter-service space is nothing fancy. Eat outdoors on the patio.

This charming neighborhood restaurant, named from the Latin phrase for “American Peace,” serves some of the tastiest modern American cuisine in the city, and arguably in the state. Chef Adam Dorris, skilled at combining the freshest local ingredients with his extensive culinary skills in butchering, pickling, smoking, brining and fermenting, offers a small, rotating menu that is big on flavors. Think quality over quantity with a focus on bringing in the best local meat, fish and produce. Additionally, the plates are small to medium sized, making it easy to enjoy several dishes at one meal. A few menu items that you must try: whipped goat ricotta, pictured, with white beauty eggplant caponata, pine nuts, white anchovy and arugula; nine-spiced smoked brisket and, if available, the 40-day, dry-aged Texas Wagyu ribeye. 

Established in 1922 by Tia Monica Flin, El Charro Café in Tucson, Arizona, is the nation’s oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Monica, a burgeoning chef, came to Tucson via France in the 1800’s when her father, Jules, a famous stone-mason, was commissioned to build the city’s St. Augustine Cathedral. Jules, whose work can be seen throughout Tucson’s Historic District, also built the family’s residence in 1896, now home to the Original Downtown El Charro Café location on Court Avenue. At first, the café was a one-woman operation, with Monica acting as hostess, waitress and chef. The café creator is also well-known as “The Inventor of The Chimichanga.” While frying her now-famous El Charro ground beef tacos, Monica accidentally dropped a burro into the frying pan and when the oil splashed up, she started to utter a common Spanish cuss word starting with “Chi.” But, because she was among her young nieces and nephews, she changed it to “Chimichanga,” the equivalent of “thingamajig.” A Tex-Mex classic was born. Today, El Charro is among the most critically acclaimed restaurant brands in the U.S. Featuring Sonoran and innovative Tucson-style Mexican food, in 2010 El Charro was named one of America’s Top 50 Restaurant Icons by Nation’s Restaurant News.

Open since 1982, this popular diner is billed as “The Home of the Denver Omelette.” Named after the Mile High City, the diner’s Denver Omelet is an extra-fluffy omelette whipped with three, local farm-fresh eggs. Filled with ham, green peppers and onions, it is topped with thinly sliced ham, melted Cheddar, scallions and a green pepper ring. Diners can pair it with the restaurant’s roasted specialty potatoes or hash browns and toast or an English muffin. Not enough choices? You also can order a spicy variation or a Western Omelette Sandwich.

Looking for a romantic dinner in Nice? Opened by Nicole Rubi more than two decades ago, this vibrant eatery is the place to see and be seen while in town. While celebrities frequent the dining room, the Niçois cuisine, seafood offerings and truffled dishes are the real stars. The Foie Gras Stuffed Chicken is so good you will fall in love all over again, and the outdoor terrace is so beautiful it will spark marriage proposals right there on the spot. Pro tip: Book days or even weeks ahead, and order a salad Niçoise while you are at it.