Less than 30 miles west of Denver, Evergreen, Colorado, is perfectly located between the metropolis and the mountains. The area is home to hiking trails, bike paths, scenic views — and more than a few restaurants to tempt your taste buds. So if you’re in town to stay or just passing through, set your sights on one of these fine eateries.
Saigon Landing — Vietnamese
28080 Douglas Park
Road Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-674-5421
www.saigonlanding.com
With fantastic food and elegant atmosphere, this powerhouse is one of the best Asian restaurants around. And that’s not just in the foothills, either: Saigon Landing made the Top 5 on 2010 Denver’s 7 A-List for “Best Vietnamese.” In short, this eatery tucked in the hills behind downtown Evergreen is not your average noodle shop.
The massive menu offers almost every Vietnamese specialty you can imagine, plus a few other Asian-inspired dishes. Vegetarian spring rolls, garlic pepper shrimp and lemongrass chicken are there, of course. But so are tamarind king crab, curried calamari, pineapple duck and frog leg tempura. Saigon Landing also has a full bar, a live piano player on occasion and an outdoor terrace in the warmer months.
Willow Creek — Contemporary American
29029 Upper Bear Creek Road
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-674-9463
www.willowcreekevergreen.com
Looking for fine dining in Evergreen? Willow Creek hits all the right notes. The sophisticated restaurant boasts a gorgeous location overlooking Evergreen Lake, a dynamic menu of upscale cuisine and two places to enjoy it all — the attractive glass-paned dining room or the lovely outdoor patio.
The dishes at Willow Creek vary periodically to ensure that the food is fresh, locally grown and wild-caught when available. Sample meals include Redbird chicken with truffle polenta mash, Angus rib eye with Colorado fingerling potatoes and Georges Banks scallops with chanterelles. Complement your food with a lychee martini, Stella Artois on tap or one of more than 60 wines.
Rio del Sol — Mexican
28215 Colorado Highway 74
Evergreen, Colorado 80439-7553
303-670-3000
Located in the heart of downtown, this Mexican restaurant serves up creative, contemporary cuisine in a creative, contemporary setting. The dining room is casual but classy, with red brick columns, a cozy central fireplace and artwork from a nearby gallery. The menu offers some traditional eats like nachos, quesadillas and chile rellenos. But more prominent are the plates with a twist, like skirt steak topped with poblano gratin and grilled zucchini or salmon served with bacon and chipotle creamed spinach.
Creekside Cellars — Italian/Mediterranean
28036 Colorado Highway 74
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-674-5460
www.creeksidecellars.net
The only eatery here that is also a winery, Creekside Cellars pairs fresh food with winning wines in a cute café located, yes, creekside. This downtown spot is a mostly lunch bistro (catering and special event dinners are also available) serving a simple but quality selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Try a Greek salad or a portobello Panini. Or spend your afternoon on the deck overlooking Bear Creek with an antipasto platter and wine from Creekside’s Colorado vineyard.
The Bistro at Marshdale — European
27376 Spruce Lane
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-674-7670
www.thebistroatmarshdale.com
While technically in Evergreen, this high-end restaurant is actually located about five winding miles south. But most of those who have dined at the Bistro would agree on one thing: It’s worth the drive. Housed in the century-old historic Marshdale Lodge, the rustic dining room has hardwood floors, a wood-burning fireplace and an enclosed porch with views of the mountains.
And then there’s the food. The quality French/Northern Italian menu is handcrafted daily with the freshest ingredients available. Try the filet mignon with béarnaise sauce, horseradish-encrusted halibut or melt-in-your-mouth homemade pasta. The Bistro also offers gluten-free dishes, plus special seafood and prime rib Fridays.
Cuisine of the Himalayas — Indian
1262 Bergen Parkway
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-670-3370
www.cuisineofthehimalayas.com
This family-owned restaurant brought something truly unique to the local community with its fusion of Indian, Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine. Located in Bergen Park on the north end of Evergreen, Cuisine of the Himalayas serves flavorful food in a pleasant atmosphere.
The extensive menu includes dozens of chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetarian entrees, including salmon curry, lamb tikka masala and tofu saag. And don’t pass on the bread —you will find 11 varieties here, from cheddar cheese naan to potato paratha. The restaurant offers a luncheon buffet, as well as a traditional lunch and dinner service.
Beau Thai — Thai
1262 Bergen Parkway
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-670-1977
www.beau-thai.com
The newest name on the list, this Bergen Park eatery was opened next to (and by the same owners as) Cuisine of the Himalayas. Beau Thai feels like a 1950s diner with an Asian twist — turquoise counters and checkerboard floors meet up with linen table settings and Oriental wall hangings. The menu is larger than the small space suggests, with more than a dozen types of Pad Thai, 40 curry combos and extras, like papaya salad and spicy chicken wings.
Black Hat Cattle Co. – Steakhouse
26295 Hilltop Drive
Kittredge, Colorado 80457
303-670-0941
www.blackhatcattleco.com
Located in Kittredge just down the road from Evergreen, the Black Hat Cattle Co. asks, “When was the last time you had a really great steak?” The dinner-only restaurant aims to answer that question in spades, with nearly a dozen cuts of quality beef, including prime rib, filet mignon and porterhouse. For those who want to soak up the warm Western elegance but skip the steak, the Black Hat also prepares a variety of chicken and seafood dishes.
Tuscany Tavern — Italian
32214 Ellingwood Trail
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-674-3739
www.tuscany-tavern.com
Tuscany Tavern is what casual Italian is all about: classic cuisine, solid wine list, cozy setting and friendly atmosphere. Situated downstairs in a north Evergreen shopping center, the restaurant has murals of Tuscan country landscapes inside and a patio with Colorado mountain landscapes outside. The large menu ranges from salads and seafood to pastas and pizzas. Popular items include chicken marsala, veal piccata, homemade lasagna and the special fish dishes.
Beau Jo’s — Pizza
28186 Colorado Highway 74
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-670-2744
www.beaujos.com
A Colorado tradition for nearly 40 years, Beau Jo’s now has seven locations in the state, including this one in downtown Evergreen. Appetizers, sandwiches and calzones are on the menu, but this place is really all about the pizza. Make your own creation, choosing from four crusts, 10 sauces, 10 cheeses and a mountain of toppings from meatballs to tofu. Be sure to check out the creekside patio, the all-you-can eat lunch buffet (including dessert pizza) and the many gluten-free menu options.
One World Café — International
28275 Colorado Highway 74
Evergreen, Colorado 80439
303-670-1114
This small Evergreen eatery has developed quite a following, thanks to its eclectic international menu and fun, funky vibe. Located upstairs in a downtown building, One World stays true to its name. Local artists decorate the walls, local musicians play on some evenings and the rest of the planet rounds out its cuisine: jerk chicken, coconut curry, linguini with clam sauce and hummus with pita all share space on this world’s menu.