Author: By ROBIN INTEMANN features@gazettedev.gazette.com

Despite its name, Base Camp in Old Colorado City demonstrates that exceptional cuisine in a casual restaurant has nothing to do with roughing it. While the décor references aspects of camping and mountain expeditions, the place is all about comfort and creative, well-prepared food. Even though we experienced an early misstep, the overall dining experience…

When head chef Dev Mehta greeted us as we walked into Urban Tandoor, it seemed he just happened to be at the front of the house. Turns out he’s everywhere: He greets, he takes drink and food orders and, oh yeah, he’s in the kitchen. “It’s my menu” he said, “and I do a little…

The gray dismal day when we visited made the colorful interior of Chile Colorado more striking than it already was — and the food only enhanced the brilliance. This small, family-run restaurant is a good example that it’s possible to highlight Mexican culture through its food without an excess of gaudy cliche decorations. Yes, there…

The Boil Daddy isn’t just landlocked, it’s noncoastal in a strip mall; nonetheless, it’s all about seafood, primarily crustaceans. This small, casual restaurant features a shellfish-centric menu with some items boasting Creole or Hawaiian flavors. Despite the name The Boil Daddy, the majority of items are fried. The bill of fare is divided into two…

Food truck fare never ceases to amaze me with the various cuisines and quality preparations produced in the kitchen, often the size of a walk-in closet, which is about the breadth and width of Ricky’s Island Café. The island applies not only to Caribbean roots reflected in the menu, but also the way the truck…

Porkbutt, as a stand-alone word, might inspire guffaws among a certain age group, but add BBQ and there’s nothing to snicker at; instead, there’s plenty to appreciate about well-prepared smoked meats. Given the name, though, the menu was less pigcentric than one might expect. Sure, pulled pork, ribs and link sausages were available, but there…

The lesson learned at Fox and the Hen in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood was that no matter how hard it was deciding what to order, there was never anything to worry about. Unlike the similarly named fable, trust this popular breakfast place to dish up tasty, imaginative food. Consequently, it’s not unusual for crowds to form…

True to its name, Night Ramen is only open, well, at night. In winter it’s dark by 5 p.m., when the doors open and the absence of natural light gives way to a dimly lit, but inviting, colorful glow of Japanese lanterns adorning the ceiling. Despite, or perhaps because of, its limited hours (no noon…

It’s easy to be skeptical when the word “authentic” is associated with a restaurant, but there’s no cause for concern at Arelita Authentic Cuban Food; it’s the real deal. There are plenty of clues supporting the case for authenticity: the colorful exterior, the lively music inside, the artwork, the menu and, ultimately, the food. Arelita…