What makes OAK at Fourteenth stand apart from other restaurants? It's the fact that restaurant uses an oak-fired oven and grill, giving the food that distinct, smoky taste. Ingredients used here are fresh and locally grown, and also organic. The pasta's are prepared in-house and the Kale salad is magnificent. Try the Fried Green Tomatoes with Tuna tartar and the Yuzu Guacamole is out of this world.
Ozo Coffee is the perfect place to unwind with a cup while visiting the busy Pearl Street Mall. There are three other Ozo locations in the city in addition to its 'Roastery' where you can also visit for wholesale purchases. As with most purveyors of fair-trade coffee beans, the proprietors here focus exclusively on how the beans come to market and how they are obtained. Nonetheless, to say they take their coffee seriously is an understatement, with glass beakers, sieves and other mad-scientist tools used to extract the perfect cup, Ozo definitely knows coffee.
This carefree place has a penchant for all things out of a bygone-hippie era which may seem a bit anachronistic, however the recognizable psychedelia and music make it comfortable. Even if you are not into that music or style, the menu is still worth checking out. Here the kitchen features healthy salads, sandwiches and a huge selection of burger options like the 'Black and Blue Burger', which is a pepper crusted blue cheese monster. On tap, visitors will find Mountain Sun's very own beers, don't forget to check out the 'Dark Side of the Sun' list which features tons and tons porter and stout.
Boulder's sister city Dushanbe, Tajikistan, donated this ornate building to the City of Boulder in the mid-1980's. Builders imported and erected more than 30 tons of material to build the structure, which was finished in 1988. It quickly assumed a prominent role in Boulder history and today it's a popular gathering place among locals. In addition to tea, this quirky little spot serves an array of exotic dishes, try the Burmese Coconut Curry and Tajik Plov or the Koresht Bodemjoon which is an Iranian eggplant and beef stew. Open for lunch and dinner, check website for full menus and other event information.
This funky pizza joint, The Sink, on University Hill is one of the best student budget spots in town. The fact that Robert Redford once worked as a janitor here during his short stint at CU is their claim to fame, yet celebrities and dignitaries continue to visit for the burgers, even President Obama once visited. The pizzeria stays open till late, making it popular with the college crowd. It offers three crust choices based on density. Food is made from scratch and they always feature the choice of 100 percent grass-fed beef. Sandwiches, pizzas, salads, calzones-oven baked pizza, you name it; you will find at the Sink.
Most people aren't really sure how owner Jimmy 'Snarf' Seidel acquired his nickname, yet his story is an all-American one. He opened this shop in 1996 and since then his delicious sandwiches have traversed the entire country, with locations in Illinois, Missouri and Texas. The sandwich selections on the menu are somewhat overwhelming, but this is the reason Snarf's is here, to find the perfect sandwich.Some of the options include roast beef, turkey, ham, etc. in addition to healthy salads. Check website for complete menu information.
Concertos in Chocolate may not be the most conveniently located chocolate and sweets shop in Boulder County, but it is indefinitely worth the effort of seeking out. Located just behind and next to the Gunbarrel Shopping Center, Concertos in Chocolate is a great place to get away from the city for a bit while indulging your sweet tooth. With a huge selection of freshly made truffles, caramels, toffees, confectionaries, and even marzipans and chocolate fruit, there's something for everyone at Concerts in Chocolate. The prices are affordable and packages of single, half-dozen, and dozens of chocolates are available, as well as special catering packages for events. Concertos in Chocolate truly is worth the extra drive for the best chocolate in Boulder. - Sabrina Zirakzadeh
Glacier Homemade Ice Cream has a huge variety of treats like juices, ice creams, sorbets, milkshakes and lots more. There is a funky look and attitude about the place, but in a congenial way. The fresh squeezed juice menu is large, and smoothies choices come in odd flavors or try the low fat yogurt delights. Glacier Homemade Ice Cream also offers catering service so you can make your next event sweeter.