Restaurants in Colorado

Colorado is famous for its scenery, from the Garden of the Gods to the Red Rocks Amphitheater and, of course, the Rocky Mountains. Colorado means “colored red” in Spanish, but the beauties of the Centennial State are as diverse as a rainbow. And the food you’ll find here, from great steaks, barbecue, and buffalo sausage to blue-ribbon pies, makes traveling around an eating adventure. Breakfast is especially delicious, whether it’s an elegant Duffeyroll in Denver or a mountainous cinnamon roll up north at Johnson’s Corner truck stop. Carnivores will delight in the beef (and more) at the Buckhorn Exchange and in creative true-west fare at the one-of-a-kind eatery known as The Fort. If it’s BBQ you seek, Smokin Yards in Denver is the place to go, with its wide range of smoke-cooked specialties that include Texas-style brisket, Carolina pulled pork, St. Louis ribs, and Kansas City burnt ends. In Estes Park, dessert-seekers cannot resist the restaurant actually named You Need Pie. In fact, there’s a full menu, including breakfast, but, well … we DO need pie. From caramel-apple-pecan to strawberry rhubarb, the choices are daunting. One of the best is cherry peach pie, crowned with the bakery’s signature sweet crumb topping.