Winner
816 Main St., Louisville, 303.665.2521
www.theempirerestaurant.com
It’s like that place where everyone knows your name: friendly and comfy yet incredibly fresh and inspired at the same time. In addition to Julia Child naming owner/chef Jim Cohen one of “eleven best chefs in America,” Empire Lounge and Restaurant boasts another accolade: a Zagat rating as one of the top 10 restaurants in Colorado. But these lofty accomplishments have yet to change this always-welcoming establishment, where regulars come together for consistently good, locally sourced and reasonably priced grill-based foods. “Our key to success has been to offer amazing food at a very approachable price,” says general manager Lexi Cohen. To extend its community reach beyond neighborhood diners, Empire has trimmed down its regular menu to add a fresh “farm menu,” featuring the best produce from area farms that week. But don’t worry, the savory burgers, coal miner’s mac and cheese and Chef Connie’s famed rustic apple tart with vanilla ice cream are still around. So tell all your friends: A newly refurbished back room is ready for parties of up to 50.
Runner Up
The Huckleberry
700 Main St., Louisville, 303.666.8020
www.thehuckleberry.com
