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A suburb west of Denver, Lakewood has a culinary scene that is multi-cultural, encompassing authentic Italian, traditional Cuban and Japan cuisine, as well as home-style American fare. Here are the area’s best restaurants.

Panna Cotta with Pineapple and Mint

Union

Restaurant, American

Steak
© dbreen/Pixabay
Providing delicious food and outstanding service since 1989, 240 Union specialises in American contemporary cuisine with an emphasis on the finest seasonal ingredients. Open for lunch and dinner plus Sunday brunch, this restaurant provides a beautiful showroom environment complete with a full bar and an open kitchen where diners can watch the talented culinary team. Highlights from the menu include the duck prosciutto pizza topped with goat’s cheese, shishito peppers, honey and walnut-arugula pesto; Canadian salmon with sweetcorn and smoked salmon farro; and the pistachio encrusted pork chop with a pinot noir plum wine sauce and scallion risotto. Luscious desserts are also on the menu with the maple brown sugar panna cotta served with cinnamon crème anglaise being one option.

Cafe Jordano

Cafe, Restaurant, Italian

Part of Lakewood’s culinary scene for over 18 years, Cafe Jordano is a family-style restaurant serving mouth-watering authentic Italian cuisine to hungry locals Monday through Saturday. Named after the owner’s son, this eatery took a bit of time to catch on with diners, but after a wonderful review from a well-respected food critic, customers realised what they were missing; today, guests return again and again to this gem. An impressive menu with a rich array of choices for both meat-lovers and vegetarians, highlights include homemade potato gnocchi in cream sauce; a chicken cutlet in a garlic and olive oil sauce served with spinach, feta, and white beans; and a buffalo cutlet topped with sauce and mozzarella.

The French Press

Cafe, Bakery, Dessert

The French Press is a delightful café and bakery featuring New American cuisine. Owned by Cisco and Bobbi Lopez, this eatery offers customers delicious coffee beverages — the coffee is locally sourced — made-to-order breakfast and lunch items that will appeal to many, plus tasty baked goods. Breakfast highlights include chocolate bourbon French toast with chocolate mascarpone and bourbon pecan syrup and five different eggs benedict, while lunch options include the bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato sandwich on toasted wheat bread with spicy mayo, and the caprese salad with mozzarella, tomato, and mixed greens tossed with a pistachio vinaigrette. Loved by locals, this popular spot will be re-locating sometime this fall to a larger place.

Frijoles Colorado Cuban Cafe

Cafe, Restaurant, Cuban

Established in 2011 by Sergio and Roxanne Negrin, Frijoles Colorado Cuban Cafe is a family-owned and operated eatery specialising in traditional Cuban cuisine. A fast-casual restaurant where diners order at the counter, Frijoles’ culinary team makes all their flavourful dishes, including the Cuban bread and desserts, from scratch. Within a cosy and friendly environment, guests can try delicious recipes, such as lechon, moro y yuca, which is their signature pork served with rice and black beans, plus yuca and caramelised onions, and the Cuban sandwich with ham, Swiss cheese, roast pork, mustard, and pickles on pressed Cuban bread.

Gregorio's

Restaurant, Mexican

A family-owned and operated restaurant, Gregorio’s serves up Mexican cuisine seven days a week to hungry locals. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this eatery’s flavourful dishes and casual and lively atmosphere complete with a mariachi band on Thursday nights will appeal to many people seeking hearty fare in a fun environment. Tasty options crafted for guests include the Mexican omelette stuffed with onions, jalapeños, and tomatoes then smothered with cheese and served with beans and rice; chorizo tacos; and chilli rellenos with shrimp served with rice and beans. Several beverages, including imported beer and fruity margaritas, plus desserts, such as fried ice cream, are also available.

Magill's House of Ice Cream

Providing tasty ice cream to Lakewood residents since 1981, Magill’s World of Ice Cream celebrates the luscious frozen treat in a variety of flavours. In order to produce the best quality ice cream, the team at Magill’s procures only the finest ingredients and makes everything in small batches. With over 40 flavours ready to be devoured, guests will have to return again and again to sample them all. Some notable choices include black cherry, huckleberry, red velvet cheesecake, caramel brownie, and the classic vanilla, which comes in three varieties: French, vanilla bean, and regular. For those customers seeking something on the lighter side, they also offer several frozen yogurts, sherbets, and sorbets.

Namaste

Restaurant, Indian

Serving a lunch buffet and à la carte dinner, Namaste is a family-owned restaurant specialising in Nepalese and Indian cuisine. Touted as being the first restaurant of its kind in Lakewood, Namaste has been serving guests its flavourful fare for over 15 years. Delectable highlights guests can savour include the chicken tandoori or chicken marinated in yogurt with herbs and spices then roasted in tandoor; saag paneer, which is spinach cooked with homemade cheese, herbs, plus spices; and meat momo — steamed meat dumplings served with tomato chutney. A friendly place with a calming atmosphere complete with subtle lighting and soft music, Namaste is a wonderful spot to unwind after a long day.

Stack Subs

A tasty fast-casual eatery founded by Rick and Ann Koerner, Stack Subs serves a variety of toasted subs alongside salads, soups, and creamy milkshakes. With two locations to choose from, diners can visit for lunch or dinner Monday through Saturday where they can sample delicious items made with the freshest ingredients, including top-quality meats plus a host of toppings. With four types of bread available — white, wheat, pretzel, plus gluten-free — many people will be able to sample the mouth-watering sandwiches, such as the pesto cream cheese melt with mushrooms, pesto, and spicy cream cheese and the signature Stack sandwich with roasted turkey, smoked ham, lean roast beef, salami, and Swiss cheese.

The Yabby Hut

Restaurant, Seafood

Voted as having the ‘Best Seafood’ by the Denver A-List and named after the Australian word for freshwater crayfish, The Yabby Hut is a laid-back eatery featuring seafood. Established in 2010 by Hung Le and Linh Tran, a Vietnamese couple from the Philippines, this restaurant specialises in crayfish. Served in a plastic bag, the shellfish are rubbed with a choice of seasoning, with Cajun being the most popular, and then they are dumped on the table where diners proceed to eat with their hands — the way it’s done in the Philippines. Other seafood options are available, including crab and lobster, alongside other entrées and side dishes, plus they offer a children’s menu, making this a fun spot for the entire family.
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