Serendipitous: Mekenzie's Colorado Picks!

I'm a foodie. I'm just going to go ahead and admit it now. I LOVE to eat out. After moving to Denver, I have developed quite the list of delicious hot spots. Let me share with you some non-negotiables when picking a spot for date night or dinner with the girls...

High quality food is pretty important to me. My daily diet is fairly clean so I generally choose places that serve high quality organically & locally bought foods as much as possible. So many restaurants are cooking with nutritious oils and preparing their dishes clean as well so you don't have to compromise your healthy eating habits when you want to splurge on a night out.

Eating out isn't just about the food. I have a patio, roof top, and outdoor seating obsession. Atmosphere is just as important as the taste and quality of the food.

Although my list is VERY VERY long. I thought I would get the ball rolling and share some of my favorite Denver spots so you can start checking them off your list.

1) Root Down:(Lower Highlands)

Root Down Favorites-

-"Field to Fork" mentality. They serve foods that are local, organic, and natural.

- The patio you never want to leave

- Affordable happy hour that doesn't end until 7:00 p.m.!

- Delicious drink menu

- Gluten free and vegan options
- Upbeat and trendy atmosphere

My Menu Suggestions-

- Sweet Potato Fries with curry lime yogurt dipping sauce

- Tequila Daisy

- Roasted Beet Risotto

- Edamame Hummus *sub veggies
- Veggie burger sliders

Lovin us a patio sesh!

Beet Risotto

2) Shine:(Boulder)

Shine favorites-

- Clean, simple, and satisfying: Thats their mantra. They not only use local organic ingredients but they also bring nourishment to their foods by way of soaking their grains, making home made healing broths, and use the highest quality oils and salts.
- Open garages for summer time
- Best service I have ever had. I'm not kidding you! Erin and I wrote our waiter a note thanking him for the most quality service we've experienced.
- They offer cooking and nutrition classes, live music, yoga, support groups, and local speakers. Calendars are available on their website.
- Dairy free, vegan, and gluten free options

My Menu Suggestions-

- Beet Hummus
- Shine Housemade Coconut Curry with Tempeh
- Crispy Chicken Confit

Coconut Curry with Tempeh and Crispy Chicken Confit

Beet Hummus

3) True Food Kitchen:(Cherry Creek)

TFK Favorites-

- Beautiful atmosphere. Full of energy and elements of nature. The restaurant is "green certified." Every part of the space reflects this through the use of environmentally friendly elements.
- Upon arrival. Your parties name is entered into their ipads reservations system with guests' phone number. This way you can feel free to shop around while you wait and they will send you a text when your table is ready. No sticking close because of a buzzer or hanging out in the restaurant while you wait.
- They offer fresh juice
- Local and organic foods
- Community seating areas
- Delicious cocktail menu
- Seasonal menu: Their dishes change based on seasonal vegetables and produce to give you the best and most quality nourishment.
- The kitchen is open with prep tables being placed almost inside of the dining space to provide the diners the ability to look and see whats being put into their food and onto their plates.

My Menu Suggestions-

- Panang Curry with Chicken
- Grilled Steelhead Salmon
- Kale - Aid Juice

Panang curry with chicken

Grilled steelhead salmon

Clean eats with the girls!

4) Jelly: (South Pearl)

Jelly Favorites-

- Ample offerings of both savory and sweet
- Hipster atmosphere and staff is very engaging and nice
- Full coffee bar with unique drinks
- Delish. Jelly DUH. They make different types of Jelly depending on the fresh produce they have for the day.
- Simple staples like
a bowl of cereal or unique dishes can be found at Jelly making it a great spot to please different palettes

My Menu Suggestions-

- The Farm Scramble
- Sweet Potato Hash
- *Their gluten free toast is great for those who have a gluten intolerance

5) Linger: (Lower Highlands)

Linger Favorites-

- Awesome rooftop patio
- Beautiful view of the Denver skyline in the bar area
- Delicious cocktails
- Unique atmosphere
- $52.80 dinners every Tuesday
- Approx. 75% of linger was built with reclaimed, reused, and recycled materials
- They use local, organic, and sustainable products
- They recycle and compost whenever possible
- They use the worlds healthiest oil to do all their cooking

My Menu Suggestions-

- Crispy Lentil Salad
- Roasted Beet Salad
- Wagyu Burger Sliders
- Sesame BBQ Tacos