9 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Denver, Colorado

Reached via chairlift during the day and gondola at night, this massive log-and-stone structure set at 10,700 feet above sea level is a real stunner, with views of the surrounding mountains, including the peaks marching along the Continental Divide. A prix-fixe menu includes game and fish, while Douglas-fir beams, Southwestern rugs on the walls, and a huge stone fireplace in the bar add to the rustic charm. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, the après-ski menu runs from 4 to 7 pm, and in the summer, dinner is served on Friday. Game meats, steak, and fish dominate the menu, and there's a pricey but well-rounded wine list.

Woody's has a full menu, with pastas, chicken, calzones, and burgers, but it's the pizza, with its smoky, wood-charred crust, that's the big draw. Woody's is so popular that the pies are always just out of the oven. Don't be surprised if you have to join the throng of families and college students waiting outside for a table on a busy night.

This always-hopping pizzeria is the area's original après-ski destination: be prepared for a wait on winter weekends, because Denverites often stop in Idaho Springs for dinner until the traffic thins. Topping choices for the famous olive-oil-and-honey pizza crust range from traditional to exotic—think andouille sausage, Hatch green chilies, and tofu—and they've added a decent version of a gluten-free crust, as well.

Long a local and Denverite favorite for breakfast, this casual joint makes Belgian waffles that are as delicious as the variety of Benedicts and scrambles with fresh orange or grapefruit juice (not to mention great coffee). Lunch is also served, along with a small but appealing roster of burgers, salads, and happy hour snacks for dinner.

Nearly everything at Dandelions is made from scratch, from the ginger-infused limeade and lemon-tarragon salad dressing to the honey oat bread and superb gluten-free brownies. The small dining area is inviting and open to the kitchen, where the owners cook as they chat with the customers.

Gracious service and exceptional Vietnamese food have made Saigon Landing an Evergreen favorite. The dining room, decorated with imported knickknacks, serves as a relaxing and romantic backdrop for live piano music on the weekends. This is the place to try exotic dishes such as frogs' legs, grilled quail, and stuffed squid; more traditional offerings like lemongrass beef and sesame chicken are exemplary as well.

This tiny but friendly café serves breakfasts so scrumptious that there's a line out the door most days. It's well worth the wait, especially for the elaborate skillets, including one with chicken-fried steak. The burgers are above average, as well, with a hefty roster of toppings from which to build your own. Kids are particularly well catered to with Mickey Mouse pancakes and yogurt with granola for less than $7.

Harking back to gold-rush days, this casual bar and restaurant is usually filled with skiers in winter and travelers or Denverites year-round who want to meet high-country friends halfway. The beers have a distinctly local flavor and straightforward names like Cream Ale and Nut Brown. In addition to fare such as buffalo burritos and "monster" wings, the brewery has plenty of vegetarian options.