Wine Bar
POR WINE HOUSE
836 1/2 Main St., Louisville, 720-666-1386 Lafayette Winner: Apeizza e Vino Longmont Winner: Bin 46 Wine Bar & Restaurant (formerly Modena Food & Wine) Honorable Mention: 2020 Food Wine Bar (Longmont); Espresso Vino (Lafayette)
Downtown Louisville is always a great option for something to do. But if you haven’t made it over to Por Wine House, our readers would like to encourage you to make the pilgrimage. This place is unique. It has a fabulous wine selection served under a roof-covered patio with a gorgeous outdoor fireplace. Por has a casual community feel that can still make you imagine you’re sipping your favorite vintage somewhere in the Alps. And if wine isn’t at the top of your list, you can also enjoy the fire and a conversation over a great whiskey or beer. Plus, no need to do any of it on an empty stomach because Por has a nice selection of tapas to accompany that glass of Langhe Rosso Nebbiolo/Barbera.
Coffee Roaster
BREWING MARKET COFFEE
1520 S. Hover St., Suite A, Longmont, 303-651-7716 Lafayette Winner: Proper Grounds Coffee Roasters Louisville Winner: Paul’s Coffee & Tea Honorable Mention: The Unseen Bean (Lafayette); Flatirons Coffee Roasters (Louisville)
Brewing Market Coffee has been family-owned since 1977, and they put the kind of love into their business that only a family can. Brewing Market selects coffees from small farms and then hand roasts the beans in small batches to achieve the best flavor. To further ensure the freshest bean for your dollar, they sell off their beans within one week of roasting. Brewing Market carries more than 40 varieties of specialty coffee, from varietals to blends, dark roasts to decaf. So drop by and get your fix.
Cocktails
EMPIRE LOUNGE & RESTAURANT
816 Main St., Louisville, 303-665-2521 Longmont Winner: Martini’s Bistro Honorable Mention: The Roost (Longmont); Sugarbeet (Longmont); 2020 Food Wine Bar (Longmont)
Crafting the perfect cocktail is like painting a masterpiece. Instead of a palette full of colors, the bartender uses the stocked bar of bottles. With a shake, a twist, a spritz of lime, an olive or a cherry, all the ingredients mingle together to create the perfect cocktail. And the folks over at Empire Lounge & Restaurant know a thing or two about that, which is why they won best cocktail in East County. You can choose to go with a simple gin and tonic or a classic martini, or take a chance and order the Smokin’ Negroni or Shot to the Heart. Really, you can’t go wrong if you close your eyes and point to anything on the drink menu.
Teahouse
THE HUCKLEBERRY
700 Main St., Louisville, 303-666-8020 Runner Up, East County: Celestial Seasonings (Gunbarrel) Lafayette Winner: Proper Grounds Coffee Roasters Honorable Mention: Paul’s Coffee & Tea (Louisville); Eclectic Café & Gallery (Louisville)
If you fancy a cup of Rosey Lee, make a reservation at The Huckleberry and take part in an afternoon tea fit for any proper Brit. Afternoon tea at The Huckleberry is served on a table dressed with white linens and all the tea-time accoutrements — a glistening tiered tower of pastries and savory tea sandwiches, and of course, a pot of tea of your choice (in fact, an individual pot of tea for everyone in your party). Reservations are required because pastries are baked fresh the morning of your tea. Scones and cucumber sandwiches, mini éclairs and tiny tarts make a perfect pair with a warm cuppa. Cheers, mate.
Margarita
EFRAIN’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT & CANTINA
101 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, 303-666- 7544 451 S. Pratt Parkway, Longmont, 720-494- 0777 Louisville Winner: La Revolución Taqueria y Cantina Honorable Mention: 3 Margaritas (Longmont, Superior); CyclHOPS Mexican Bike CANtina (Longmont); LuLu’s BBQ (Louisville)
Margaritas make life better. Whether it’s been a terrible day or a wonderful day, margaritas are like a thank you card to yourself. They’re a pat on the back and a friend who’s always there. And Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina serves up our readers’ favorite margarita. The amount of different margarita choices almost takes up a full page on their menu, and they’re all prime choices for any occasion. Of course, one too many might not be a cause for celebration in the morning. But that’s tomorrow’s problem. For now, bottoms up!
Beer Selection
OSKAR BLUES HOME MADE LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS
1555 S. Hover Road, Longmont, 303-485- 9400 Lafayette Winner: The Post Brewing Co. Louisville Winner: Lucky Pie Pizza & Taphouse Honorable Mention: Odd13 Brewing (Lafayette); Pumphouse Brewery & Restaurant (Longmont)
We in Boulder County regard our beer with the utmost respect. It is necessary, then, that local restaurants have the capacity and variety of beer to meet the county’s insatiable need. Our readers say that Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids and Solids in Longmont has the best selection of beer around. Oskar Blues has a robust selection of home-made and “imported” beer on tap and in cans. The beers are an excellent companion to the conversation, live music and dancing you’ll get to partake in at this reader favorite.
Microbrewery
LEFT HAND BREWING COMPANY
1265 Boston Ave., Longmont, 303-772-0258 Lafayette Winner: Odd13 Brewing Louisville Winner: 12Degree Brewing Honorable Mention: Oskar Blues Brewery (Longmont, Lyons); The Post Brewing Co. (Lafayette)
The people have spoken. In the land of microbreweries, our readers voted Left Hand Brewing Company the best microbrewery in East County, and for good reason. Dedicated to sustainability, this local microbrewery offers a variety of beer from their famous Nitro beers (Milk Stout, Sawtooth, Wake Up Dead) to their IPA staples to their seasonal and limited selections. It’s worth a flight tasting or even a brewery tour, trust us. In addition to the plethora of beer choices, this brewery is entrenched in the local community. Although the company has always donated a portion of their profits, they established the Left Hand Brewing Foundation in 2013, “committed to brewing a stronger community where we live, work and play.” What’s better than great beer and big hearts?
Bar
THE POST BREWING CO.
105 W. Emma St., Lafayette, 303-593-2066 Longmont Winner: Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids & Solids Louisville Winner: Waterloo Honorable Mention: Pumphouse Brewery (Longmont); Odd13 Brewing (Lafayette)
There’s a lot you can say about The Post Brewing Co. that will get people in Boulder County to pay attention. For those in the know in these parts, just hearing that The Post is the brainchild of restaurateur extraordinaire Dave Query will get them excited. For those less foodie, knowing that The Post boasts about having the best fried chicken in the country should get you worked up, especially when you find out they searched the world over to find just the right hops to brew beer that matched their chicken perfectly. Take that Paula Dean, you amateur. But even with all that attention to detail, our readers picked The Post as best bar in East County because of its modern design and attentive bartenders. It had to be a great bar. It has “great bar” DNA. The Post Brewing Co. used to be a VFW Post. And VFWs have the best bars on the planet, provided you find human beings an interesting species to observe.
Coffee House
ZIGGI’S COFFEE
400 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-5120 1139 Francis St., Longmont, 303-834-9154 Lafayette Winner: Proper Grounds Coffee Roasters Louisville Winner: Bittersweet – Café & Confections Honorable Mention: Brewing Market Coffee (Longmont); Starbucks (Various Locations)
There’s nothing like snuggling up in a comfy chair, or on a coach next to friends, with a delicious cup of coffee. Whether your preference is black coffee, a creamy latte, a sweet turtle mocha or chai latte, there’s something comforting and familiar about Ziggi’s Coffee houses that feels oddly like a mixture of home and the Central Perk from Friends. It feels like you’re bound to run into somebody you know, even if you’re new to town — or maybe you’ll meet your next best friend.
Wine Selection
POR WINE HOUSE
836 1/2 Main St., Louisville, 720-666-1386 Longmont Winner: Bin 46 Wine Bar & Restaurant (formerly Modena Food & Wine) Niwot Winner: Colterra Honorable Mention: 2020 Food Wine Bar (Longmont); Via Toscana (Louisville)
Have you ever perused a wine list as if you know what you’re looking for, only to settle on a brand that has a word you recognize? No? Is that just us? Well, whether you’re flummoxed by wine lists or a vino aficionado, the folks at Por Wine House in Louisville can lead you to a wine that will tickle your fancy. With a bevy of options by the glass and the bottle, and a knowledgeable and friendly wait staff, Por Wine House serves up our readers’ favorite selection of wine in East County, all in an ultra cool setting.
Happy Hour
95A BISTRO & SUSHI
1381 Forest Park Circle, Lafayette, 303-665- 3080 Longmont Winner: Pumphouse Brewery Louisville Winner: La Revolución Taqueria y Cantina Honorable Mention: Waterloo (Louisville); CyclHOPS Mexican Bike Cantina (Longmont)
What could be better than the great happy hour offered by 95a Bistro & Sushi, with its fun, family friendly environment, tons of small plates and outstanding American cuisine with Latin, Mediterranean and Asian influences? Nothing, according to our readers. 95a Bistro touts itself as “affordable, approachable and attitude free,” which sounds pretty appealing to us. So whether it’s sushi or American fare with a twist that you’re craving, our readers say that hitting this bistro at happy hour will never disappoint. With amazing patio seating and more than 30 wines available by the glass, 95a Bistro’s got the happiest hour in East County.
Latte
ZIGGI’S COFFEE
400 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-5120 1139 Francis St., Longmont, 303-682-5120 1729 Hover St., Longmont (Drive-thru) 1221 S. Main St., Longmont (Drive-thru) Lafayette Winner: Proper Grounds Coffee Roasters Louisville Winner: Bittersweet – Café & Confections Honorable Mention: Brewing Market Coffee (Longmont); La Vita Bella Coffeehouse (Longmont)
Lattes are great because they have an aesthetically pleasing color and texture — and because they’re delicious. Whether you get it hot or iced, you’re going to get jacked up, and you’re going to be in Flavortown while you do it. Some people have even called lattes “pillows of luxury,” therefore, it’s important to get a good one. Our readers say the best are available at Ziggi’s Coffee. Just the fun name ‘Ziggi’ gives us a jolt of energy, but their lattes will surely put you over the edge. With multiple flavors and high quality beans and milks, Ziggi’s does lattes right, and they do them quickly and affordably.
