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November 6-12, 2008
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Crêpes À La Cart
2018 Broadway, Boulder,
303-444-4191
Although Boulder isn’t Paris or Brittany, one can still get a decent crêpe at downtown’s Crêpes À La Cart. Taking some design cues from Parisian bistros, this eatery has something for nearly everyone with dozens of savory crêpes with fillings including vegetarian mixes, rib-eye steak and smoked salmon. Save room for a dessert crêpe as well, and chocolate lovers will be especially appreciative of the options which range from Nutella spread to white chocolate.
Yaki Maki
1175 Walnut St., Boulder,
720-974-0388
If you’re expecting the ultimate expression of Japanese cuisine at a premium price, Yaki Maki probably isn’t the place for you. But if you’re looking for a spot to enjoy a down-to-earth meal with good friends after work, it’s definitely worth seeking out. The all-you-can-eat sushi special is an exceptional value and some selections, such as the raw-fish wrapped rainbow rolls, compare favorably to offerings at much more expensive establishments.
Buddha Café
2719 Iris Ave., Boulder
720-565-0506
If the proverbial cheap and cheerful Thai meal is what you seek, North Boulder’s Buddha Café is the place for you. It’s not a high-end or expensive place. Instead, it’s a welcoming neighborhood joint dishing out decent $6.95 lunch specials and reasonably priced dinners of such traditional Thai favorites as spicy stir-fries, Pad Thai noodles and robust curries. The especially hungry would be well served to sample the super combo appetizer platter of crispy egg rolls, chicken satay, cheese and crab wontons, and potato wrapped in wonton skins.
Cantina Laredo
1680 29th St., Boulder
303-444-2260
A sleekly modern establishment in Boulder’s 29th Street Mall, Cantina Laredo is much more upscale than its name implies. While traditional combination plates of tacos and enchiladas are available, the menu’s strengths are found in the daily fish specials as well as the camaron poblano asada. This ambitious dish is a chile relleno on steroids, substituting carne asada steak instead of the batter traditionally found on a relleno. The typical cheese filling is also augmented by mushrooms, onion and jumbo shrimp.
Dot’s Diner
2716 28th St., Boulder
303-449-1323
Another candidate for the Boulder Breakfast Hall of Fame, Dot’s Diner has been keeping early risers happy for years. Basic sausage and egg breakfasts are available, in addition to well-executed omelets. Favorites include corned-beef hash, grits and the rough-hewn biscuits. Dot’s also features some of the best diner java in town.
Himalayas Restaurant
2010 14th St., Boulder
303-442-3230
Okay, it’s ironic that you have to go downstairs to get to Boulder’s Himalayas, an Indian restaurant named for the world’s tallest mountain range. The lunch buffet is a decent value with some intriguing twists on old favorites. For example, saag, the classic creamed spinach dish isn’t accompanied by paneer cheese, but more flavorful mushroom. The aloo dum, or spiced potatoes, is a hearty choice as well, and makes a fine meatless course.
Hapa
1117 Pearl St., Boulder
303-473-4730
Distinct from other Japanese restaurants, Hapa is where new-style Asian and old-school Hawaiian fare meet. Of course, there’s the expected offerings of sushi, miso soup and rice bowls. But there’s also hipper fare like a rich miso-glazed Black Cod appetizer and unique-to-Hapa sushi rolls. A prime Pearl Street Mall location also makes this a fine spot for people-watching as you tuck into your soft-shell crab spider roll.
Meadow Lark Farm Dinners
www.farmdinners.com
Meadow Lark Farm Dinners isn’t like any other dining experience you’ve had. The Meadow Lark crew travels from farm to farm in Boulder County, serving up dinners featuring freshly harvested ingredients and fine wine. A typical menu might include a stellar chilled cucumber soup, followed by a main course of locally raised flank steak sided with a ratatouille-style vegetable casserole with goat cheese. Sound good? It’s one of the best dining experiences in the county.
Leenie’s Southern Café
625 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont
303-776-4195
Come hungry to Leenie’s Southern Café, and you’ll undoubtedly go home satisfied. Specializing in Cajun and Creole cuisine, this is the place for authentic gumbo, po’ boy sandwiches and blackened redfish. Other Southern specialties include Mississippi-fried catfish accompanied by hushpuppies and breakfasts goods like eggs Florentine topped with fried oysters. While the ambience is nothing fancy, it’s still a friendly place to enjoy a taste of Dixie.
Parkway Café
4700 Pearl Pkwy., Boulder
303-447-1833
If fancy and cutting edge cuisine are what you seek, the Parkway Café isn’t for you. It’s a breakfast and lunch joint that’s more Norman, Oklahoma than Boulder, Colorado, and that’s what gives this eatery its considerable charm. Breakfast spans the range from a Spartan meal of a single egg and toast to more extravagant eggs Benedict and complex omelets. Lunchtime brings an array of burgers and classic sandwiches such as hot roast beef and tuna melts. No matter what meal it is, you’ll get your money’s worth.
Laudisio
1710 29th St., Boulder
303-442-1300
Yet another spot with something for just about everyone, Laudisio continues to draw in local diners with its traditional Italian fare. While the restaurant has forsaken its humble strip mall setting for the tonier climes of 29th Street, the menu still offers up a crowd-pleasing mix of pastas, made-to-order risottos, wood-fired pizzas and entrées from land and sea. Can’t-miss items include the vegetarian pizza margherita and spaghettini puttanesca.
Sun Deli, Pizza & Liquor
2299 Pearl St., Boulder
303-938-1128
Like something out of a Kevin Smith movie, Sun Deli, Pizza & Liquor is a slacker’s paradise. Enjoy vintage footage of the Dead on the flatscreens while enjoying above-average pizza slices and satisfying cheesesteaks. Crisp entrée salads include spinach, antipasto and Greek variants, and the soup’s noting to sneeze at either.
Jax Fish House
928 Pearl St., Boulder
303-444-1811
Marrying a casual atmosphere with near-haute cuisine preparation, Jax Fish House is a premier spot for seafood. Raw bar afficianados will appreciate raw bar specialties such as small but sweet Kunamoto oysters. Those preferring cooked selections will enjoy such entrées as perfectly seared sea scallops atop an imaginative foundation of oyster mushrooms and sensual polenta. For those indifferent to the fruits of the sea, burgers and a buffalo steak are also available.
Sunflower Restaurant
1701 Pearl St., Boulder
303-440-0220
Sunflower’s been under new management for about a year, but fans of the old menu have nothing to fear from this organic pioneer’s current offerings. Owner and Chef Jef Forsberg has preserved the restaurant’s commitment to dishing out natural and tasty selections whether it’s at brunch or happy hour. The portabello burger’s a winner, and the salad buffet’s a winner for those who enjoy a hearty yet healthy lunch.
Juanita’s Mexican Food
1043 Pearl St., Boulder
303-449-5273
Step into Juanita’s Mexican Food, and it feels like you’ve taken a step 50 years into the past. The classic Mexican menu isn’t for culinary thrill-seekers looking for the latest in trendy south-of-the-border cuisine. Instead, this eatery is an oasis for those seeking out classic combination plates, crispy tortilla chips and other reasonably priced fare. The number two combo is truly classic, featuring a burrito, enchilada and a compelling chile relleno.
Bali to Bombay
1630 30th St., Boulder
303-444-1809
The exotically named from Bali to Bombay is a relative newcomer to the Boulder scene, offering everything from pad Thai to Persian kababs. Vegans and vegetarians will welcome the Indian entrées including curried chickpeas and the classic spinach dish of saag paneer. More off-the-beaten-track selections include halal-certified chicken and lamb and nasi goring, Indonesian fried rice.
Respond: letters@boulderweekly.com
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