Restaurants in Wheat Ridge

Flavorsome ingredients and fresh, handmade dough marry in gourmet specialty pizzas such as Mr. C's Meat Lover's Stuffed Pizza Pie (pepperoni, salami, sausage, meatballs, beef, ham, and five cheeses, $18.49 for a 12-inch pie), the hot and spicy barbecue chicken ($12.49 for a 12-inch), and the vegetarian Pizza Bianca (Alfredo sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, romano, fresh basil, black pepper, and black olives, $11.49 for a 12-inch). Indulge in a plate of impeccably prepared pasta such as baked ziti ($10.99), or use this Groupon toward a family-sized portion of meat tortellini ($32.99 for four servings). Italian entree specialties include fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp ($9.99), spaghetti with clams tossed in either a light garlic-butter sauce or classic marinara ($10.99), and eggplant parmesan served with a side of spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad ($9.49). Subs, spicy wings, salads, and desserts round out the menu into a nicely round circle tastier than a traffic circle or rutabaga crop circle.

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.

Throughout the summer months, el Camino's rooftop garden blossoms with organic cilantro and mint leaves, providing ultra-fresh accouterments for the eatery's Mexican feasts. And though the small garden doesn’t cultivate all of el Camino’s ingredients, the rest of the bounty originates not too far from Highland. For example, the eatery's chefs stuff housemade tamales, tacos, and other lunch and dinner specialties with all-natural chicken, beef, and pork from local vendor Anderson Meats. They create guacamole, salsa, and each and every dessert completely from scratch, using produce supplied by two Colorado companies, Red Hat Foods and Arroyo Produce. Beyond supporting the local economy, el Camino tries to preserve the entire ecosystem by operating on 100% wind power and recycling all of its cans, bottles, and cardboard cutouts of Al Gore.

While satisfying hunger with decadent, locally sourced food, including a daily brunch, el Camino sates rippling thirsts for both beer and entertainment. The bar pours drafts from the likes of Del Norte, Avery, and Great Divide breweries, and mixes up potent bloody marys, mimosas, and sangria. Every night of the week brings a different treat, such as $1 street tacos on Tuesday and the Tito Del Barrio Malaga flamenco band every Saturday.

Hickory House Ribs is named for its signature racks of baby-back ribs, a combination of high-grade meat imported from Denmark and specialty sauce made in-house. The ribs have claimed numerous awards and accolades for their succulent flavor, which begins with pork ribs from hogs fed all-natural and lean diets. The ribs then spend hours slow-smoking in a combination of hickory and oak. Once they get to Hickory House Ribs, chefs coat them in thick housemade sauce, made from scratch. The restaurant also serves up other classic barbecue fare, from certified Angus steaks to smoked pork shoulder. Each kind of barbecued meat is seasoned and smoked daily, and served with baked beans and coleslaw each made fresh every day.