50 Best American Restaurants in Boulder

“Conversation friendly; unique farm to table entrees; creative combinations always delicious.“

“extremely good food, not just resting on their fancy ingredients, every dish does something interesting to make itself stand out
update mid march 2025: unsure if variation or a sign of decline, the lamb chops were mediocre and undercooked for what was asked for (substantial red left when asked for medium). very disappointing, but they were happy to correct the doneness. Hopefully just a fluke.“

“We only had time for drinks and a snack. The staff were more than helpful and accommodating. We will definitely be back! The flavors of natural herbs coming through the desserts were superb!e“

“We visited The Sink in Boulder a while ago, and we’ll definitely be back! Great food, and we love the unique interior dining experience. Highly recommend!“

“Amazing ribs, brisket, and innovative locavore veggie dishes-- a must for a Pearl Street lunch or dinner. Relaxed and fun environment, careful service and exceptionally delicious American cuisine!“

“We were seated in a booth too close to the front door and it was cold even though the restaurant was full of people. The food was good and came quickly but it was not very hot. The service was good but not very personal. I know they were very busy, so maybe that's the reason. Prices were typical for the area and portions were large.“

“Visited Boulder Cork for our anniversary and had the most wonderful experience! All of the staff were so friendly and kind, our food was delicious, and drinks were tasty. Their dinner happy hour menu has great prices and really good options. The prime rib was delectable and the fish & chips were fried to perfection. Mud pie for dessert was incredible as well! Thank you for making our night special! Can’t wait to go back. ❤️“

“Absolutely incredible flavors and excellent variety! I wanted more but was so full! I’m ready to come back and try other things… for dinner 🤣🤣! Had the chicken enchilada and forbidden rice with tofu! For desert… the gluten free lemon cake was Devine! HIGHLY recommend!!! ♥️“

“Excellent service and friendly staff.“

“Called here and was told it could be about an hour of a wait . After going on a walk we later returned and as it was really cold staff let us stand under the heaters which was very good of them . Shortly after we were seated and what followed had to one of the best Dinners we ever had . Real Italian Food served in generous portions by top class staff . A great night out in a great Restaurant“

“Probably the cheapest full meal you can buy in boulder! You don't have to be a student to get a bowl full of protein rich food and veggies of your choice for $5 here. It is however only open when school's in session. There's a small parking fee or you can park a 10-minute walk away. Limited hours, best for breakfast.“

“I love GHI. I have played here many times. The pay is fair and there’s always people wanting to listen to the live music. I love the owners. The food is also really good. 10/10 would recommend.“

“Best quick meal in Boulder! Hope to visit again soon it’s been far too long“

“We had a delightful dinner at Salt! The food was so delicious. I had the lamb chops from Buckner Family Ranch - a CO ranch. Wow! Was I so happy with my choice (I typically order fish when I eat out)! My husband had a wonderful burger and we shared a Caesar Salad that was the classic with an excellent dressing and house-made croutons. The Tiramisu for dessert was the crowning jewel. Manuel, our server, was delightful and attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend trying this restaurant! Enjoy!“

“Been here several times. It’s become a go-to when in the area. Never have to wait for a table, even on a Saturday. Large beer selection and haven’t had a bad one yet. We prefer to sit on the patio, which is heated in winter, open during warm weather. I’m a sucker for a good pretzel. Service has been great. Check it out!“

“Great people, great atmosphere!“

“A friend and I enjoyed "A Board and a Bottle" plus an order of Fried Polenta. We arrived just before happy hour was ending, so it was a bargain. We ended with a shared Chocolate Mousse.
Our waiter was Domenic, who was a good part of why we enjoyed ourselves so much. We were seated in the Forest Room, which was heated and brightly decorated with soft lighting. They provided sheepskins for the metal folding chairs. Very comfy. Just a word to confirm any Open Table reservation. Mine didn't make it to the restaurant directly.“

“This was such a great find! I wanted something low key to take my son in a stroller and this place hit the jackpot. There is a ton of room and the bartender is one of the friendliest guys I’ve ever been served by!I got a glass of wine and a charcuterie board while waiting for my husband and the charcuterie came of fast and was delicious.“

“delicious sandwiches! Loved the fried Oreos. 😋“

“Delicious food! Friendly crew. Try the corn ribs. The Peach Bourbon Smash cocktail was mighty fine!“

“Visited in May 2025, everything was well done chips seem to be handmade in house. TVs were not all on an active channel. Food was great, but fans circulation of air cooled it too fast. Restrooms downstairs may not be best for handicap access.“

“Great service and good food!“

“Отличное уютное место со свежими устрицами с обоих побережий“

“One of my favorite long-standing Boulder traditions...the weekend ALWAYS begins with a Father/Daughter breakfast at the Village. The staff is INCREDIBLE...true legacy Boulder.“

“Highly recommend !!!! Great place for food, drink and music!!“

“The first morning in Boulder we wanted to go here. The reviews was amazing good. Didn’t disappoint. The Latte I got was amazing. The cappuccino my wife got was amazing also. The home town look of inside was country looking. Loved it. I’m from Alabama. I would recommend this to anyone that loves coffee. I didn’t try any food but the treats looks delicious.“

“The Pork Belly Benny's were absolutely fire! I grew up in the south and not sure I've had a better side of grits! 11/10 will eat there again!“

“Avery was an awesome brewery stop on our way up to Fort Collins. There was plenty of parking and the space itself is quite large with indoor and outdoor seating. There's a full food menu and tons of beer options on tap. All of the beers we tried were fresh and tasty, and the chips we got were nice. I'd appreciate the instructions to be a little clearer when walking in (see the host stand vs head straight to a table etc) but otherwise no complaints. Nice spot!“

“Food, service and the view/atmosphere is great!“

“I have been a patron of Dot's for almost 40 years!! 'nuff said 😁❤️“

“Zeal is a place you want to eat if you love your body. This place seriously cares about what you eat. If I ate here everyday I'd probably live to be 120. The level of quality at Zeal is off the chain. The food consists of fresh ingredients, healthy, organic no bad things for your body. I had the goddess salad. And after I ate it I felt like a goddess. If you want to live a little longer Zeal is the place for you. The food is premium fuel for your body. The chefs have created a menu of food combinations that are 5 star. Way to shine Zeal!“

“An absolutely wonderful restaurant! Great food! And Great staff! ??❤️“

“Awesome food, great service, relaxed atmosphere“

“Sure needs a remodel clean up“

“Best burger I've ever had and the red chili poppers are amazing.“

“Love spruce for any occasion. Have always enjoyed every experience there.“

“Last Sunday a few friends and I went to Boulder for the first time. We were told this bar was great and decided to come in. It was truly one of the best experiences we have had. Andy made the experience such a blast, he is exceptional with his craft. Thanks Andy for the good time and laughs! (I think we are good on Tequila for a while) Thanks again. Alex Zach Hodan Jessica“

“I don’t have a negative thing to say about this restaurant/bar. It has been hands down the best food on our vacation and the servers have been amazing! The chef, Justin, even came out to talk to us and told us about some hidden gems to drive to see! Fantastic experience! When I come back to Boulder this will be my first stop.“

“Great food classic French style food“

“Great food and very friendly service. On Pearl Street so a kaleidoscope of people walking by.“

“Stumbled on this place while traveling through Denver - it has a nice feel to it and the service was good. Had the firecracker shrimp to start and the beef short rib stacked enchiladas - both were awesome! One of the best meals I've had - don't let the location dissuade you. Make sure to stop by while in Denver. Highly recommended!“

“It's the best bbq around and Alex Kuzel is so sexy..... the way he marinates his meats.....I'd like to bbq those buns!“

“SUCH an incredible date night!! The dinner was seamless in timing (we love longer dining experiences), and absolutely fresh and delicious. We felt incredibly safe having our own space. Our server was stellar, and we even got to share our meal with a couple of the farm pups! I can't recommend this enough!!“

“Beautiful space with 8 different restaurants/cuisines and 2 full service bars and plenty of seating and has 2 floors + a rooftop with views of the mountains and heaters all around so you won’t get too cold, it’s the perfect place to go with a group of friends when you can’t agree on one place to eat and everyone can just order whatever they want, we loved lounging on the rooftop at sunset time!“

“Loved the Truffle Fries and Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower tonight at License No. 1. Came for the comedy show that starts soon but wow! Such a cool place to explore! Drinks are good and staff is super friendly . Definitely a great place to go out.“

“Great brewery that has been around decades. Many awards on the wall to prove it. I recommend the Intercept IPA“

“Where do i start??? Okay, Shelly the gm was outstanding! She made us feel so welcome and when she visited our table, she was not in any rush and was super warm and friendly. She was super generous wanting us to try their different foods.
Evan the chef brought out gluten free cookies that were so good! They weren't even on the menu!
Claire, our waittress made us feel right at home and assured us how safe the kitchen is for celiac/gluten free. She was amazing!

Dietary restrictions: Safe for celiac!“

“Great food and wonderful service.“

“2 Utah fans came to drink and get ibuprofen. The chick.. you were short, you have fire red hair, you were very sexy, personal and I wish I could have been able to talk to you more! Thank you.for giving me an amazing view while you walked away 😂“

“Went in for lunch a couple days ago with a friend for a couple of burgers. There was one server, one cook, maybe a dishwasher. It was not busy but wanted to give a thumbs up to our waitress cheyenne. She was so polite thoughtfull kind. I felt bad that she was on her own as hostess server busses and we left her a 50% tip now I wish I would have left 100%. Next time I'm in there im sure I will. If the manager reads this, give her a raise, she deserves it!!“