BOULDER COUNTY GOLD / Eats, Drinks & Entertainment
EATS, DRINKS & ENTERTAINMENT
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BEST CUISINE
Best Indian TAJ INDIAN CUISINE
Best American Food AND Best Wine Selection FLAGSTAFF HOUSE
The term American food is so limiting, as Flagstaff House’s alwaysmorphing menu draws on so many influences. Partner and General Manager Scott Monette says the cuisine, which evolves seasonally and changes daily, is filled with only the best: Japanese Kobe beef, black truffles from France and fresh fish flown in daily. The fine-dining mainstay is also a destination for wine lovers who appreciate an award-winning selection of some 4,000 worldwide varietals and pairing recommendations from an acclaimed staff. A “great facility in a perfect location with views, indoor and outdoor dining and valet parking” makes customers happy, too. In a town with no shortage of choices, Monette is humbled by the annual honors. “There are a lot of great restaurants in Boulder and we are happy that people think so highly of us.” 1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder, 303.442.4640; flagstaffhouse.com. Runner Up for Best American Food: Oak at Fourteenth, 1400 Pearl St., Boulder, 303.444.3622; oakatfourteenth.com. Runner Up for Best Wine Selection: Frasca Food and Wine, 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303.442.6966; frascafoodandwine.com. 6 DAILY CAMERA
Best Chinese CHINA GOURMET
Best French BRASSERIE TEN TEN
Sometimes variety is very inviting. When Boulderites want to tempt their taste buds with a vast selection of Asian flavors, China Gourmet – with locations in Boulder and Longmont – is the place to do it. The extensive menu is a veritable feast for the eyes – and belly – as you make your way from egg drop soup to crab cheese wontons, lo mein, chow mein, veggie and beef dishes (including some identified as healthy picks), Shanghai specials and beyond. Whew! Come hungry and sip on some sake or bottomless green tea while you find and devour your favorites. 3970 N. Broadway St., Boulder, 303.440.3500; 1345 Dry Creek Drive, Longmont, 303.776.6930; chinagourmetmenu.com.
Brasserie Ten Ten is a French twist. The restaurant serves up traditional dishes like chicken poulet and duck confit cassoulet, right down to the infamous chicken waffle brunch for the hangover bunch. And that is why we love it. In spite of such variety comes the 14-yearold operation’s real claim to fame: consistency. “In both food and service, we’re known for excellence and consistency,” says General Manager Debbie Bianchi. “We find that people don’t just remember a great meal, but they also remember our servers’ names.” It’s this restaurant’s vibe with a coveted downtown location and a hopping happy hour, that makes Brasserie Ten Ten the place to be – any time you go. 1011 Walnut St., Boulder, 303.998.1010; brasserietenten.com.
Runner Up: Zoe Ma Ma, 2010 10th St., Boulder, 303.545.6262; zoemama.com.
Runner Up: L’Atelier,1739 Pearl St., Boulder, 303.442.7233; latelierboulder.com.
“Fresh, fresh, fresh.” That’s the Taj in a word that bears repeating, says Kamala Ghimire Rai, who co-owns the locally embedded eatery with her husband. The reason this Indian restaurant has lasted (and many laurels) is storied: It continues to evolve with one family’s life – and an entire community’s desires. Bucking the trend of traditional, sometimesheavy Indian dishes, Ghimire Rai reinvented the all-day Indian buffet after exploring healthier, fresher yet still affordable options to feed her autistic son. Boulder County locals praised her inclusion of steamed vegetables, brown rice and popular spreads like chicken makhani made with hand-ground spices. Over time, customers have become family. 2630 Baseline Road, Boulder, 303.494.5216; tajcolorado.com. Runner Up: Tandoori Grill, 619 S. Broadway, Boulder, 303.543.7339; tandoorigrillboulder.com.