Restaurants in Arvada

A lively atmosphere punctuates the spacious two stories and patio of Braun's Bar and Grill, often populated by sports fans who stop by to nosh on gourmet pub grub before and after events at the neighboring Pepsi Center. Quality ingredients, including Colorado-aged beef, pepper the expansive menu. Commence inner cheek furnishing with a gargantuan salad such as the Cattleman's, which erects flank-skewer towers over field greens adorned with house blue-cheese balsamic dressing, walnuts, cheddar, and baby peas ($12.49 lunch, $12.99 dinner). Burger boosters will go ga-ga for the Cajun spices and blue-cheese crumbles of the Blackened Bleu ($10.99), while poultry patrons can cast a vote for the zesty Ha-Braun-ero Chicken Sandwich ($10.69), a succulent chicken breast that unites pepperjack cheese, habanero mayo, and bacon in a culinary harmony unseen since the California Raisins dominated the airwaves. Exemplifying the chefs' creativity is the shrimp rustica, a tantalizing sea-feast of shrimp, mushrooms, peas, and sun-dried tomatoes atop penne pasta and roasted tomato vinaigrette ($13.50 lunch, $17 dinner).

Ling and Louie’s menu is a happy mash of American staples (salads, sliders, steak) and Asian delights (pad Thai, honey-walnut chicken, miso soup). Even if you’re not gastronomically adventurous, you’ll find a dish to please your palate on the menu. Start with the ahi lettuce wraps: crispy cups filled with cilantro, garlic, ginger, tropical salsa, red onions, water chestnuts, and a sweet Asian dipping sauce ($8.99). The Evil Jungle Princess shrimp—spicy shrimp that's wok’d with green beans, fresh veggies, Thai basil, and mint and served with a signature peanut-red-curry glaze ($14.29)—will tempt seafood lovers. Vegetarians and omnivores alike can gorge on Louie's lo mein, a heap of yakisoba noodles stir-fried with your choice of vegetable, pork, or chicken ($9.99). You’ll also find both gluten-free and kids menus, as well as a kids-free gluten menu that contains all wheat and no children.

Bisque combines organic, free-range, and local ingredients wherever possible to create a fusion of American favorites with French and Italian classics. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner items, Bisque's menu provides sustenance for each of the four human stomachs. Pair mimosas ($8) with fluffy strawberry-vanilla pancakes ($8.50), or spike taste buds with silky cream-touched shrimp bisque ($7 for a cup). The tender Midwest Angus beef burger is topped with aged cheddar, smoked bacon, and roasted garlic mayo, and shares a cozy bungalow with pommes frites ($14). Many menu options are also gluten-free.

Sample varieties of cheese and salumi while sipping and studying selections from Sketch's well-curated wine library. The Mediterranean-styled café houses more than 40 wines available by the bottle from all over the world. The intro to wine course covers a wide range of topics including grape varietals, the production process, and correct food pairings. Each session is overseen by a certified wine specialist who is well versed in all aspects of wine from production to pairing. Sketch's interior features a hand-painted ceiling, wooden beams, and hand-troweled Venetian plaster walls, which collectively set the stage for suitable sipping of wine and knowledge. Reservations are required, so call ahead to reserve a spot.

At Little India Restaurant, authenticity permeates the food, art, and music. Owned by the Baidwan and Malhotra families and staffed with northern India–trained chefs, the restaurant is a multiyear winner of numerous prizes, including CityVoter's award for Best Indian cuisine. Chefs grill meats over mesquite charcoal in the tandoori oven, and season curries with onion, garlic, and ginger. Handcrafted mint-cilantro and tamarind chutneys create opportunities for 11 types of bread to sneak toward unsuspecting droplets of spice-filled sauce, whereas potatoes soften the heat quotient of fiery vindaloos. Within the dining room, calming sitar music fills the air and larger-than-life paintings of food-based revelry decorate the walls and come to life at tables.

Much like its siblings Thai Kitchens 1 and 2, Thai Kitchen 3 can be identified by the distinctive aroma of sizzling garlic and fresh basil that wafts out through its door. In the kitchen, chefs fold fresh seafood, meats, and vegetables into savory curries, nutty noodle dishes, and fiery stir-fries. All meals are made by adhering to time-honored traditional Thai recipes, which favor spicy chili peppers, creamy coconut milk, and tangy ginger root. Servers bring plates of noodles and bowls of soup into the dining room, where guests await their meals as they sip on Thai iced coffee in cushy booths amid warm red and yellow walls. Other diners sit perched on tall red bar stools as they order a cocktail or demonstrate how many times they can twirl around in a circle without even getting dizzy.