Lakewood is a vibrant suburb of Denver, Colorado with a growing foodie scene. Over the past decade, many new restaurants have opened serving innovative cuisine made with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
From gourmet farm-to-table restaurants to funky diners with character, there is an excellent restaurant to suit every taste and budget.
This article features 12 of the best restaurants in Lakewood, highlighting what makes each one special. For foodies and visitors looking for a memorable meal, be sure to add these Lakewood gems to your must-try list!
Best High-End Restaurants
The first section features Lakewood’s best upscale, fine dining options for a special night out.
Annette
550 West Jewell Avenue
If you’re looking for a romantic night out with fine dining and lovely ambiance, Annette is the perfect choice. As soon as you walk through the door of this contemporary American restaurant, you’ll be wowed by the gorgeous interior featuring wall-length wine displays and fresh floral arrangements.
The menu changes seasonally to highlight the best Colorado ingredients, with tempting selections like seared scallops with truffle cauliflower puree, roasted rack of venison with a blackberry glaze, and house-made pasta primavera overflowing with vegetables.
Every dish exhibits the kitchen’s creativity and skill, combining textures and flavors in unexpected yet delightful ways. Add excellent service styled after great European restaurants, and your night at Annette promises to be extraordinarily delightful. This fine dining hot spot is quickly becoming one of Denver’s top destinations for special occasions, so reservations are a must.
The Breakfast Club
3441 S. Wadsworth Boulevard
If breakfast is the most important meal of your day, you’ll adore Lakewood’s top choice for the first meal of the day – The Breakfast Club. As popular with locals as it is with visitors, this casual restaurant dishes out high-quality breakfast and brunch options that taste like mom used to make (if mom was an exceptionally talented cook!).
Generous portions are the name of the game here. Indulge yourself with their signature Farm Girl breakfast accompanied by a fluffy biscuit smothered in mouthwatering sausage gravy with perfectly crispy hashbrowns on the side.
Or opt for lighter fare like a veggie omelette bursting with bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and jack cheese. And don’t skip the cinnamon roll pancakes – these towering treats are deliciously decadent! From classic breakfast entrees to unique specialties, you’ll find yourself planning return trips to try all the delights on the menu.
Appaloosa Grill
535 S. Mason Street
With an upscale yet casual Rocky Mountain ambiance, Appaloosa Grill has been wowing guests with its contemporary American cuisine highlighting regional flavors since 1998. Chef Kevin Taylor sources top-quality local ingredients to create artistic presentations that dazzle the eyes and the tastebuds.
Start your meal with a refreshing watermelon and arugula salad with feta and mint, then continue delighting your senses with the restaurant’s famed elk chop served with a huckleberry glaze. The menu offers diverse options from mouthwatering ribs and steaks cooked over a wood-fire grill to seafood flown in fresh daily.
Extensive vegan and gluten-free menus allow all guests to partake in Appaloosa’s excellence. With scrumptious food, stellar service, and live music in the bar on weekends, it’s no wonder Appaloosa Grill has been a go-to fine dining destination in Lakewood for over two decades. Make your reservations today for a guaranteed fabulous meal.
Best Casual Restaurants
When you want excellent food in a laidback setting, check out these local favorites for a delicious and memorable meal.
The Urban Farmhouse
2209 Kipling Street
Tucked away on a residential stretch of Kipling Street, the Urban Farmhouse is part cozy cafe, part chic restaurant merging urban and rural sensibilities. Exposed brick walls, repurposed wood accents, and fresh flowers on every table give off inviting farmhouse vibes.
Meanwhile, the contemporary American menu draws from global influences to create anything but expected flavors. Belgian waffles arrive topped with fried chicken, syrup, fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a sweet and savory delight.
Their avocado toast comes loaded with beets, goat cheese, and balsamic for an extra veggie punch. And specialties like Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches served with crisp fries keep things exciting. No matter what you order, it will be artfully presented and full of flavor. Enjoy a laidback brunch, lunch or dinner on the charming patio for one of Lakewood’s most memorable meals.
Las Tortugas
7260 W. Alaska Drive
In a standalone building on Alaska Drive, Las Tortugas brings vibrant Mexican flavors to Lakewood courtesy of two sisters from Guadalajara. Splashes of bright colors and traditional decor transport you south of the border as soon as you walk through the door.
While the ambiance charms, it’s the authentic family recipes that make this casual taqueria a local favorite. Their tender carne asada and al pastor tacos arrive stuffed with meat that’s been slow-roasted for hours until fork-tender.
House-made tamales, enchiladas suizas, chili verde and more make choosing just one dish a challenge! Fresh tortilla chips still warm from the fryer kick up the flavor factor even more. Wash it all down with a tangy margarita, Mexican soda or beer while you enjoy the friendly vibes and reasonable prices. Craving excellent Mexican food without pretension? Las Tortugas satisfies.
Momo Sushi
7287 W. Alaska Drive
Tucked into a small shopping center on Alaska Drive, Momo Sushi is the best spot in Lakewood for outrageously fresh and affordable sushi. This humble restaurant has built up a loyal local following thanks to their commitment to quality and service.
The sushi menu offers all your favorite nigiri, sashimi, maki, hand rolls, and more showcasing flavors from mild yellowtail to sweet shrimp to smoky salmon roe. Platters are artfully presented with lively hot pink pickled ginger, wasabi and soy sauce for dipping.
Beyond sushi, belly up to the bar to watch the skilled chefs preparing succulent teriyaki meats that rival the quality of high-end Japanese steakhouses at a fraction of the price. Whether you opt for the five course omakase chef’s choice or a la carte options, Momo Sushi steals the show in Lakewood’s blossoming sushi scene.
Best Diners & Family Restaurants
When you’re craving comfort cuisine in casual surroundings, Lakewood offers plenty of low-key local favorites perfect for the whole family.
The Fainting Goat
846 N. Broadway
You can’t visit Lakewood without stopping into the iconic Fainting Goat gastropub, housed in a converted 1930s mansion near the historic Lakewood downtown district. The rambling floorplan reveals room after quirky room filled with locals chatting over elevated comfort food and 16 craft beers on tap.
While the ambiance amazes, the creative takes on classic bar bites steal the show. Their hot chicken arrives as crunchy nuggets in a basket with bread & butter pickles and ranch for dipping. Meanwhile, the Prime Dip sandwich stars slow-roasted prime rib with melty horseradish havarti cheese on a hoagie roll with au jus for, you know, dunking!
Wash it all down with one of their cheekily named house cocktails like “The Fainting Mule” made with cold brew coffee liqueur. At this Lakewood legend, the atmosphere and eats make every visit distinct.
The Noshery
14745 W. Colfax Avenue
On West Colfax in the historic Edgewater district sits The Noshery, a cozy bakery and cafe that truly feels like the heart of the community. Since 2012, owner Deb Smith has been welcoming guests with a smile, serving made-from-scratch soups, sandwiches, salads and sweets.
Her chicken noodle soup made the old-fashioned way with pull-apart tender meat and slippery egg noodles sells out almost daily. Giant cinnamon rolls still warm from the oven pair perfectly with a steaming cup of fresh coffee or tea.
And hearty sandwiches like the Pilgrim (stuffed with roasted turkey, applewood bacon, Havarti cheese and cranberry aioli) or Italian panini loaded with capicola and pepperoni make ideal midday meals. With reasonable prices and bottomless cups of coffee, it’s no wonder locals make this their go-to gathering place morning, noon and night. Swing by anytime for tasty eats in a neighborhood cafe atmosphere.
Eat and Drink RiNo
3470 W 38th Avenue
For family-friendly dining with an artistic twist in the hot River North Art District (aka RiNo), look no further than Eat and Drink. This airy restaurant dazzles with colorful splatter-painted ceilings and walls showcasing works by local artists.
Playful decor like levitating picnic tables make kids feel like they’ve stepped into a funhouse or art installation. While parents appreciate the full bar slinging crafty cocktails, kids flock to the self-serve boozy slushie machines!
Everyone digs into the comfort food menu starring juicy burgers, mile-high meatloaf sandwiches, spaghetti and meatballs, fish tacos and more American classics. Daily happy hour specials from 3-6 pm make visits extra budget-friendly. Come for the art, stay for the family bonding over satisfying eats in Denver’s coolest neighborhood.
Gunther Toody’s
3339 S. Wadsworth Boulevard
No visit to Lakewood would be complete without stopping by Gunther Toody’s drive-in diner, a rock n’ roll loving restaurant that transports you straight back to 1950s Americana. For over 35 years, this classic diner has been fueling the locals with stick-to-your ribs comfort cuisine and memories to last a lifetime.
Order a thick, creamy milkshake or malt crafted from real ice cream the old-school way, then settle in with patty melts sizzling on the flattop grill and biscuits smothered in gravy. Their fried chicken boasts some of the crispiest coating around with juices running clear at the first bite.
And over 20 varieties of rich, house-made pies tempt you from behind the counter. With jukeboxes playing tunes at every retro turquoise booth and vintage license plates decorating the walls, enjoy some nostalgia along with your hearty meal at this Lakewood legend.
Best Bakeries
When a sugar fix calls, Lakewood offers some of the best bakeries around to feed your cravings beautifully.
Amble Bakery & cafe
4251 W. Center Avenue
For European-inspired pastries and carb heaven in Lakewood, swing by the cozy Amble Bakery & Cafe. The adorable baby blue house contains a bakery and cafe speckled with vintage flea market finds that give off a feeling of being in your grandma’s kitchen – if she was an outstanding pastry chef!
Tarts overflow with shiny fruit glazes next to trays of cookies studded with chocolate chunks. Shelves overflow with loaves of freshly baked bread whose crust crackles as you squeeze it. And don’t get us started on their buttery, flaky croissants and danishes.
Savor your treats at one of the small cafe tables or grab a latte and pastry to go. Everything here tastes like it came straight out of a French or Italian countryside bakery, yet prices stay totally reasonable. Treat yourself to European sweet and savory treats without the long flight at Amble.
Best Late Night Eats
When late night hunger strikes, these local favorites will hook you up with craveable eats into the wee hours.
Stego’s Pub
10700 W. 38th Avenue
In the laidback Berkeley neighborhood, Stego’s Pub keeps the good times and good eats going all night long. Since 2012, the converted gas station has operated as a casual neighborhood pub complete with indoor bocce ball courts, pool tables, shuffleboard and jukeboxes playing tunes from the 80s till now.
While games entertain, Stego’s menu excels with bar bites like loaded tater tot nachos piled high with red and green chile, sour cream, pico de gallo and melted cheddar. Hand-battered onion rings deliver greaseless crunch followed by tender, sweet onions.
And their custom burger menu lets you build towering creations with favorites like green chilies, avocado, bacon and lots more that hit the spot after midnight. With friendly service, weekly events like trivia and karaoke, and homey vibes, Stego’s keeps the party rocking into the early morning hours.
Conclusion
Lakewood’s vibrant dining scene has something special for every taste from gourmet cuisine in upscale restaurants to craveable comfort foods in casual cafes and diners.
Foodies find fulfillment in the creativity displayed in fine dining hot spots like Annette, Appaloosa Grill and Next Door American Eatery. Families appreciate the warm welcome and reasonable prices at favorites like The Noshery, Eat and Drink RiNo, and Gunther Toody’s. And party-goers keep the fun going late into the night nibbling small plates at Bacaro or tacos and tequila at Tacos Tequila Whiskey.
Beyond excellent eats, many of these restaurants give back to the community supporting local farms, using seasonal ingredients, and fundraising for neighborhood charities. So when you dine out in Lakewood, your meal impacts the community in a meaningful way.
So next time hunger hits, instead of defaulting to downtown Denver, take a chance on venturing west to Lakewood for unexpected excellence.
Treat your tastebuds to this list of 12 delightful eateries delivering ambiance and crave-worthy plates that will have you eagerly planning return trips. When it comes to satiating sophistication or comfort cuisine, these Lakewood restaurants rank as tried and true local favorites ready to wow your palate.