Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Parker

"A talented chef, Alex Seidel, who in 2010 was appointed as Best New Chef by noted magazine Food&Wine, is the owner of acclaimed restaurant Fruition. The chef received the prestigious accolade on account of his exceptional skills in transforming farm-fresh ingredients into innovative recipes that pleasantly surprise those lucky enough to try his cuisine. A fan of quality cheese, Seidel is also a local producer of sheep’s milk cheeses, which he uses for many of the dishes offered at his restaurant."

"Fruition offers some of the best locally sourced ingredients to provide you with a meal that will make your date night in Denver one to remember. If you’re into seafood, try the poached black grouper with garden greens. You can also try the farm-to-table small plate with a variety of seasonal vegetables and a hearty broth for a light meal that is truly satisfying."

"Barolo Grill, a stellar Italian restaurant in Cherry Creek, is for beautiful bottles of wine, unassailable pastas and sultry braised duck; for exquisite service and fine-tuned tasting menus sketched with experimental flavors bereft of borders. For one of the loveliest dining rooms in the city, where tables are still sheeted with white tablecloths dressed with polished silver, the lighting is gentle and warm and the amorous table for two, snuggled against the glow of the fireplace, symbolizes classic romance. Put it on your bucket list."

"Offering Piemontese Italian food for three decades, Barolo Grill has long been a gold standard in fine Italian dining. Their creative dishes retain their appeal with the knowledgeable expertise of the staff who visit Italy yearly. On the menu you can find Tuscan flavors mixed with U.S. pairings and preparation, giving it a nice mix of home and the different, exotic regions of Italy."

"Every summer, Barolo Grill hangs up a closed sign and sends its staff on a two-week tour of Italy. That’s how seriously it takes its commitment to producing some the most authentic, exquisite Italian food you’ll find this side of the Atlantic. Although you can order a la carte, experience the full force of the restaurant’s capabilities with the five-course tasting menu."

"Hours: Monday – Friday 10:30am – 2am; Saturday & Sunday 10am – 2am. Vegetarian or Vegan: Offers Both but also Non-Vegetarian. Menu Highlights: Winter Rice Bowl, made with field roast vegan sausage, pan-fried with steamed broccoli, green beans, cauliflower and wild rice, served with a side of gravy, and Israeli Falafel made with garbanzo and Fava bean fritters, Sambal, cucumber salad, fries and pickles, Tzatziki sauce, wrapped in a tortilla and lightly pressed."

"The Lowdown: In the hip area that is South Broadway — home to Mutiny Information Cafe, NOOCH Vegan and a slew of bars, vintage shops and live music spots — is the equally hip restaurant Sputnik. It is a vegan and vegetarian-friendly watering hole with a full espresso bar, too. It’s a funky intimate space with string lights, cozy booths and rotating paintings and art for sale on the walls."

"Sputnik gives you the best of both worlds with both vegan and meat-based menus. So all can enjoy a meal here together!. Make sure to grab one of the signature cocktails while you’re at it."

"At Somebody People, the seasonal dinner menu tops out at about 12 dishes, but there’s not a weak link among them. A typical meal here might start with a handsomely plated snack of pesto-daubed almond skordalia served with crudités beneath a cap of shaved fennel; continue with charred broccolini atop roasted eggplant puree amid dollops of golden-raisin gremolata; and culminate in a handmade pasta. The flavor combinations are complex yet crystal-clear from beginning to end."

"This brightly colored, plant-filled, cute-and-cozy restaurant is one of the best vegan restaurants in Denver with its Mediterranean-leaning menu full of housemade pasta, risotto, and more. One thing we find really refreshing about Somebody People is the fact that you’ll never see fake meats on their menu. We strongly recommend their Carrot Bolognese, made with their funghetto pasta and paired with grilled-smoked oyster mushrooms and chimichurri sauce."

"Somebody People brings fresh, rustic Mediterranean flavors to Denver by celebrating local seasons and whole vegetables. The unique take on these classic veggies will have you second-guessing everything you thought you knew about vegetables."

"There’s nothing unique about cheap pizza—except when it’s brought to you by the team behind Frasca Food and Wine, consistently named one of Colorado’s best restaurants. Pizzeria Locale’s two Denver locations may be fast-casual (order at the counter) joints, but there’s no skimping on quality here. Go-to options include the prosciutto and arugula and the Mais, which is topped with ham, corn, and crème fraiche."

"If you can’t tell from this picture, this is the best darn pizza in the state of Colorado. Fresh, homemade dough and local, organic ingredients baked together in a traditional brick oven makes these pizzas taste like they’re right out of Naples, Italy. Simple ingredients and traditional methods make Pizzeria Locale a must."

"If you want to wake up to the warm, comforting smell of a delicious cinnamon roll, the Colorado grown, community-based Duffeyroll Cafe has you covered. What they have to say: "Duffeyroll Cafe has been a holiday tradition in Denver for over 34 years. As we approach our 35th anniversary(!) we are continually thankful for the support we have received from everyone who walks through our doors. Our Bake at Home pans are the perfect way to enjoy fresh from your oven, delicious Duffeyrolls in minutes. Order for take-out, have them delivered or ship them Nationwide for the gift of true Colorado taste adventure. This Christmas Eve we are delivering from Castle Rock to Boulder and everywhere in between.". Holiday dessert idea: Bake at Home pans are the perfect holiday morning tradition and they also make a great gift; buy three or more pans and get $1 off each one—from 3 to 300"

"These are freshly baked cinnamon rolls with cream and sprinkles on them – what can be better than that?. They are flaky on the outside, warm and gooey on the inside, and just small enough so you can justify having two….or five."

"Late last year, three Mizuna vets—chef Ty Leon, barman Austin Carson, and hospitality ace Heather Morrison—transformed Cafe Marmotte on South Downing Street into a charming yet modern trattoria inspired by Morrison’s eponymous (and equally charming) 10-year-old daughter, who loves Leon’s glorious handmade pastas almost as much as we do. His modern Italian offerings run the gamut from take-and-bake lasagna family meals to dine-in and takeout tasting menus, all designed to go with Carson’s wild grape French 75s or fig old fashioneds. With Morrison running the floor, Olivia is the full package—a neighborhood spot where every meal feels like a celebration."

"Austin Carson, Heather Morrison, and Ty Leon bought Cafe Marmotte near Wash Park in late 2019, and reopened to much well deserved buzz in January 2020 as Restaurant Olivia. While it’s normally tough to score a reservation, now you can get a taste of what they’re cooking up curbside. In addition to a to-go menu of prepared dishes, you can also grab to go kits featuring Leon’s impeccable handmade pastas and a choice of sauce."

"Combining old world flavors with classic French culinary techniques, Vert Kitchen is a French-inspired deli that serves gourmet sandwiches using sustainable meats, dairy and some of the finest pantry goods in Denver. Patrons squeeze into this tiny Washington Park West lunch-and-brunch counter for handmade sandwiches, garden-fresh salads, and delicious soups made from local and seasonal ingredients. It's the perfect stop when you get tired while exploring Denver attractions."

"Katherine’s French Bakery & Cafe is a family-owned local, European-style bakery and cafe that specializes in French pastries, quiche, cakes and cookies. Katherine’s also offers customized cakes and cupcakes, an extensive breakfast and lunch menu that is served all day, as well as catering. Katherine’s French Bakery & Cafe is located at 728 S University Blvd, Denver, CO 80209."

"Family-owned and operated, Chef Mario Arrua has spent more than two decades in hospitality, food, and beverage. Aiming for well-prepared and properly seasoned food, Katherine’s counter-service and European-style cafe specializes in French pastries, quiches, cakes, and cookies made from scratch."

"I love them just as much as an unadorned baguette or other pastry. That's what this Bonnie Brae neighborhood bakery is all about the visuals, with elaborately decorated cakes and other creations. But their bread is pretty darn good too, as is their French-themed menu."

"The Lowdown: Maggie & Molly’s Sweet Life also specializes in customized sugar cookies decorations from graduation celebrations and the Denver Broncos to Game of Thrones and pizza slices. These designs offer a homely touch to any at-home celebration. Aside from cookie decorations, the bakery also offers brownies, cake pops, pies and cupcakes."

"1.7 miles and over 3,400 steps per lap This park is for those of you in the South Denver area. Enjoy lots of grass and a play structure along with an almost 2 mile path."

"Ted Van Orman launches his bike off a ramp while doing a test run at the new Ruby Hill Bike Park in Denver, Colorado on May 31, 2016. The full extent of this hilltop gem’s improvements will not be visible for another year or two, but already a new $1 million mountain bike track and playground have joined what Denver parks officials have called one of the city’s most underused public spaces. Sitting next to the South Platte River Greenway, the 360-degree views and amenities (including a “Rail Yard” snowboard terrain park) make Ruby Hill Park one of Denver’s most versatile."

"Karen Zeldin, a horticulture worker for the Denver Parks Department., tends to the flower beds in Alamo Placita Park on Aug. 24, 2009. “If you accidentally glance over while you’re driving down Speer (Boulevard) you’ll see one of the most beautiful flower gardens in the city,” said Scott Gilmore, deputy executive director of Denver Parks & Recreation. Indeed, Alamo Placita’s compact but meticulously maintained gardens recall painterly European landscapes with their gently fanned geometric arrangements, which were designed by Saco Resnik DeBoer and opened to the public in 1927."

"Departure was a massively-hyped new Cherry Creek spot from the day it opened. We’re used to seeing that kind of hype fizzle, but Departure Kitchen, serving brunch dim sum, has the goods for a long run."

"In keeping with its snug, sleek design, the menu at Bradford Kim and Olivia Maeng’s Cherry Hills flagship (which now has Park Hill and Berkeley satellites) is a study in minimalism. It centers on about 10 types of temaki — spicy tuna, eel, and lobster, for instance — plus a small but handsomely presented selection of sashimi for pairing with Japanese beer, whisky, or sake. That’s pretty much it — but it’s more than enough for anyone who appreciates the elegant simplicity that is the essence of Japanese cuisine."