Denver, CO
One of Colorado’s least-visited canyonlands could become a national monument — but would that lead to overcrowding?
Those who love the Dolores River canyonlands agree — the swath of rugged land along Colorado’s western border is one of the state’s last, best wild places.
The tract encompasses staggering red rock cliffs, broad valleys and rolling hills that burst into green in the spring. Cutting through it all is the beloved river, which sometimes dwindles to a trickle.
Nobody wants to see it overrun with tourists and trash, like so many of the West’s wild places.
But disagreements about whether to designate some of the river and its canyonlands as a national monument have driven a caustic rift between the people who love the area. What those protections look like, and who gets to shape them, are at the center of a fiery debate that, in some instances, has sunk to name-calling and declarations of evil doing.
Recreation and conservation organizations want to designate nearly 400,000 acres, or 625 square miles, of the federal lands along the river as a national monument, allowing for more robust management and protection of the land. If approved, the monument would be the largest in the state and would nearly double the total acreage of monuments in Colorado.
The Dolores River canyonlands are one of the largest, most biodiverse swaths of lands without federal protections, advocates for the monument say. They worry that without further federal regulations, increased recreation, mining and development could threaten the integrity of the landscape.
“It’s a pretty incredible, intact landscape,” said Mike Fiebig with American Rivers, a nonprofit group that supports the monument designation. “We don’t have a lot of that anymore.”
Sean Pond, organizer of the Halt the Dolores Monument campaign, agrees. He can drive and hike for dozens of miles in the area outside of his home in Nucla without seeing anyone.
But Pond and thousands of other campaign opponents worry that a monument designation eventually would impact livestock grazing and limit a decades-dormant mining industry that could be revived with the recent rise in the price of uranium.
Or, worse, that creating a monument would draw the hordes of tourists that the landscape needs protection from.
“They come with a noble cause — they want to protect the Dolores River canyon,” Pond said of monument supporters. “So do we. We live here.”
Two efforts to protect river corridor
The monument proposal is one of two efforts to offer greater protection to the lands around the Dolores River.
The Dolores springs from headwaters in the San Juan Mountains near Telluride and flows southwest until it reaches the town of Dolores. From the small town, it turns north and meanders, eventually nearing Colorado’s western border, before crossing into Utah and joining the Colorado River northeast of Moab.
Colorado’s two U.S. senators last year introduced legislation nearly two decades in the making. It would designate a smaller swath of 68,000 acres along the southern Dolores River as a national conservation area and special management area. The area includes the river and its surrounding lands in Montezuma, San Miguel and Dolores counties.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in December approved the widely supported bill and recommended the full Senate pass it.
Two counties — Mesa and Montrose — dropped out of conversations about the national conservation area years before the bill was introduced, however.
In response, a coalition of recreation and conservation nonprofit organizations crafted the monument proposal for the lands around the northern sections of the river in those two counties. In 2022, the coalition began organizing support for the monument designation in Mesa and Montrose counties, home to about 202,000 people.
Unlike conservation areas, the designation of a new national monument on federal land doesn’t need congressional approval and can be created unilaterally by the president. Presidents have designated 163 monuments across the country, including nine in Colorado.
The Dolores River monument designation is necessary to protect wildlife, ecosystems and tribal connections and resources, monument supporters said.
“This landscape is one Instagram influencer away from being overrun, so let’s get the conservation right before it a problem,” said Scott Braden, director of Colorado Wildlands Project and one of the monument campaign’s organizers.
According to the proposal, the lands would be managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service — as they are now — and subject to a management plan created by the entities with an opportunity for public comment. The monument would not charge entrance fees, according to the Protect the Dolores website. Livestock grazing would still be permitted, as would biking and use of motorized vehicle routes.
The government would honor existing and valid mining claims, though it would not allow new mining claims. The draft map of the proposed monument was crafted to exclude the majority of the existing mining claims, Braden said.
“We think there are places that shouldn’t be mined in this landscape … but we’re also leaving (out) a ton of areas that we think are most likely to see future mining,” he said.
So far, the coalition has collected more than 85,000 signatures and letters of support from 150 businesses, as well as some state and local politicians. Both of Colorado’s senators this year have traveled to the Western Slope to hear about the plan and talk with locals.
The Native American tribes with land in Colorado support the monument, too. Both the Ute Mountain Ute and the Southern Ute lived in the area of the proposed monument, said Regina Whiteskunk, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute and a former tribal councilmember.
The land needs to be kept as close to its natural state as possible, she said.
“This landscape provided everything for us and we survived that way for hundreds of years,” she said. “And now we’re trying to do right by the land.”
Advocates are hoping President Joe Biden will turn his attention to the idea before the November election. While Biden has designated five new national monuments — including the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument north of Leadville — former President Donald Trump, who’s the likely Republican nominee again this year, created a single monument and reduced the size of another while in office.
The coalition believes the monument would help local communities by boosting outdoor recreation economies, while continuing the mining and ranching industries.
Distrust and name calling
But some in the small towns along the proposed monument’s boundary don’t buy those claims.
Pond is not sure the land needs more protections. The area’s minimal tourists need little management now, he said, but he fears that designating a monument would act as a siren call to the hundreds of thousands of RVers, bikers, motocrossers and hikers that descend on nearby Moab every year.
Visitation to the area increased in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many people to seek wilderness solitude, Pond said. People were camped “every-freakin’-where” that year, Pond said, but the fervor has since calmed. There is no true tourism industry in the area, he said.
Pond and others with Halt the Dolores fear that despite promises from the monument advocates, access and use regulations will change in the future. Nearly 8,000 people have signed Pond’s petition to halt the designation. County commissioners from Mesa County and Montrose County passed resolutions opposing the monument, though the mayor of Grand Junction — the largest population center in the area — supports the monument and traveled to Washington, D.C., in April to lobby for its creation.
Even if grazing is still allowed on the land, changes to motorized access could affect the feasibility of reaching cattle or maintaining ranching equipment, Pond said. Or, if the monument designation grandfathers a mining claim, blocked access could make it useless.
“They’ve said we’re spreading misinformation,” Pond said. “But I’m just spreading the other side of the truth.”
Pond also opposes a ban on new mining activity. With the price of uranium rising, the towns along the uranium belt could see a mining boom. Minimum-wage tourism jobs are not the same as the potential six-figure mining jobs such a boom could bring.
In a post on social media, Pond alleged that a monument designation would lead to entrance fees and closed-off lands, roads and trails.
Colorado’s nine national monuments cover a combined 490,000 acres and vary widely in size and management. The five created before the turn of the century are managed by the National Parks Service and the four created since are managed by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. Five of the nine charge an entrance fee.
Braden, from the Colorado Wildlands Project, said the monument, as proposed, would not be operated similarly to the Colorado National Monument, which is heavily developed and sits just outside Grand Junction. A better comparison would be to the Camp Hale or Canyons of the Ancients national monuments.
The debate over the monument has resulted in name calling and harassment, both sides said.
On Facebook, Pond has called supporters of the monument “eco-terrorists” and called Braden a “parasite” and “the embodiment of evil.” Others opposing the monument have called local businesses that support the monument a “cancer on the community.”
When asked about the posts, Pond said his emotions have sometimes gotten away from him and that he’s trying to be more politically correct.
He did not apologize and said that if his language brings attention to his cause, “then so be it.”
Pond said he also has faced harassment, including a death threat he said he reported to law enforcement. He also cited a woman who screamed at him from across the room at a community meeting last Sunday in Nucla.
The inaccurate talking points and name-calling from those who oppose the monument have been disheartening, Braden said. But he believes compromise is possible.
“We’re ready to come to the table and meet people where their concerns lie and try to figure something out that’s workable for everybody,” said Braden, who lives in Grand Junction. “But at the end of the day, we’re committed to permanent protection of this landscape.”
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our Mile High Roundup email newsletter.
Posted:
Updated:
DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.
The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday,” the airport’s official X account wrote.
Neither the airport nor the airline has disclosed the pedestrian’s condition.
“We’re stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”
The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that and “individual was walking across the runway.”
The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now” before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”
Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.
“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”
Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal.
Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted.
There is much to love about the American South. It’s home to some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, boasts a rich musical history, offers spectacular natural wonders, and just so happens to be the birthplace of some of the most distinctive, storied, and utterly delicious food in the world. It’s so much more than fried chicken, pecan pie, and barbecue — Southern cooking blends together multicultural ingredients, tried-and-true techniques, and recipes passed down through generations, and transforms them into hearty, comforting, heavenly dishes that not only fill the belly, but touch the soul.
When I moved to New Orleans for college after growing up in Northern Minnesota, I became enamored with the tapestry of culture, history, identity, and tradition surrounding Cajun and Creole cuisine, a passion that blossomed into a love for Southern food as a whole. Since moving to Denver in 2018, Southern food has been one of the things I miss the most, and I’m not alone — former residents of Texas, Florida, and Virginia make up a large slice of the Colorado transplant pie, and everybody’s hungry for a taste of home.
Fortunately, there are some stellar down-home restaurants in the greater Denver area if you know where to look. When visions of jambalaya and sweet tea start dancing in your head, and Denver’s sky-high cost of living prohibits you from booking a plane ticket, turn to these eateries for Southern staples right here in the Mile High City.
Rougarou
Once upon a time, the Rougarou — a chupacabra-esque creature born of Louisiana’s sprawling, ethereal swamplands — was a ghost story used to spook children. Today, the mythical beast shares a name with one of Denver’s hottest new Southern restaurants: Rougarou is an upscale eatery helmed by Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges, the power couple behind the James Beard award-winning Yacht Club. Rougarou executes its “shapeshifting Southern” tagline through innovative, upscale takes on classic Southern cooking. It’s like eating at meemaw’s house with your “Top Chef”-obsessed cousin helping in the kitchen.
Think boiled peanuts dolled up with fermented collards, lime leaf, and chile; collard salad with sorghum mustard, apple, cheddar, and fried shallot; and Granddad’s chicken with herbs and white barbecue sauce. The pork shoulder entree is a champion: glazed in sorghum-tamarind sauce, finished with chow chow, and served on a bed of fluffy Missimati rice, it falls apart at the slightest touch.
The bar menu is a testament to the Wright-Hedges crew’s mixology prowess. It features avant-garde drinks, such as the pleasantly briny muffaletta martini (gin, fino sherry, olives, and benne seed), the fruity mai tai supreme (rum, curaçao, and madeira wine blend with lime juice and almonds), and the classic vieux tomate (tequila, vin jaune, bitter citrus, and sun-dried tomato).
lerougarou.com
2844 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ
Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ was inspired by a wedding in North Carolina with a glorious pig roast and BBQ reception banquet that Ben and Jodi Polson just couldn’t forget. That fond memory spurred the Polsons to build a pig roast spit in their backyard, which spiraled into hosting Southern food pop-ups under the name Mama Jo’s, launching a food truck in 2021, and finally, opening a brick-and-mortar location in 2025.
Wholesome family recipes made from scratch led Mama Jo’s to quickly become one of Denver’s best BBQ restaurants, with pulled pork, smoked sausages, and pork ribs (or jackfruit for the veggie gourmand) fit for a king — but the party doesn’t stop at barbecue. As the moniker promises, chicken and biscuits also play starring roles on the menu. The pièce de résistance is arguably the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, which won Westword’s best fried chicken biscuit on wheels award in 2024. The celebrated sammy involves breaded chicken fried in a special Nashville hot oil, slapped on a decadent, flaky biscuit, and dressed with creamy coleslaw, crunchy house-made pickles, and drizzled with Alabama white sauce.
Choose from sides like pimento mac and cheese, BBQ-loaded tot-chos, or zesty collard greens with bacon to round out the meal, and don’t forget to snag a banana pudding pie for dessert.
mamajobiscuits.com
(303) 333-7627
3525 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Sassafras American Eatery
Sassafras American Eatery has been slinging some of the Mile High City’s best Southern food for nearly 15 years, a title cemented with a best Southern restaurant award from Westword in 2020. Primarily known for stellar breakfast and brunch, Sassafras’s sizable menu kicks off with tantalizing appetizers: beignets (classic or churro-style), fried green tomatoes, and deviled eggs with smoked tomato jam are the way to go. Brunch options range from a lighter fresh fruit, granola, and yogurt parfait to shrimp and grits with andouille sausage to vanilla berry Belgium waffles. Take your pick of four versions of eggs Benedict (the roasted toasted mushroom Benny is *chef’s kiss*). And the star of the “Sassafras Signatures” menu section has to be the chicken pimento biscuit, with house-made pimento cheese, pickles, poached eggs, duck fat country gravy, and barbecue sauce.
If you’re a brunch cocktail aficionado, this is the place to be. There’s a fantastic hodgepodge of innovative takes on mimosas, as well as an assortment of signature bloody marys crafted with Sassafras’ from-scratch mix.
Feeling more lunch-forward? A roast beef po’boy, red beans and rice, or one of seven mac and cheese options should hit the spot. Sassafras serves dinner Thursday through Saturday only — worth checking out for classics like Southern poutine, pork belly with cornbread stuffing, and chicken and andouille gumbo.
sassafrasamericaneatery.com
(303) 327-9061
3927 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80212
Revival Denver Public House
Revival Denver Public House opened on buzzing 17th Street in 2021. It quickly became a neighborhood favorite with effortlessly cool, artsy vibes, frequent live music events, springtime crawfish boils, killer deals, and Colorado-driven takes on Southern cuisine. While not strictly a Southern restaurant, the influence of Southern cooking is undeniable on Revival’s bill of fare. Owner Dan Vizzard and his team infuse down-home classics with a teaspoon of Colorado pizzazz, resulting in mouthwatering dishes that feel comfortably familiar, yet sophisticated.
Buffalo gumbo is the perfect example. Louisiana gumbo that swaps out the traditional chicken or shrimp in favor of beer-braised bison, poblano peppers, and smoked sausage. Fried catfish and grits, red beans and rice, and sweet heat pickled shrimp are excellent, and we named the Flatliner sandwich (fried chicken thigh, sharp American cheese, bacon jam, fried pickles, and “Revival sauce”) one of the best restaurant dishes we ate in 2023.
Now, Revival is one of the pricier options on this list. But you can find deals such on wings and oysters (opt for the chorizo butter) on Mondays, burgers on Wednesdays, and happy hour specials, like the famous Old Fashioned for $5 as of this writing, every day but Sunday.
revival-denver.com
(720) 524-7867
630 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Lucile’s Creole Cafe
A restaurant that’s been in business for over 45 years is doing something right. Lucile’s Creole Cafe was established in Boulder in 1980 and now boasts seven restaurants around Colorado, including two in Denver proper (one on South Logan, the other on East Evans). Lucile’s first head chef trained at NOLA’s Commander’s Palace (which is worth visiting), and each location manages to capture the sights, sounds, and flavors of New Orleans. Mardi gras beads, masks, and gator heads line the walls, Zydeco and jazz music float through the dining rooms, and the menu is ripe with Creole and Cajun cuisine.
Set the vibe with a café au lait or chicory coffee, or dive into the deep end with mimosas, Bloody Marys, and Sazeracs. Lucile’s beignets are some of the best in town, fried fresh to order, and replete with Cafe du Monde-level powdered sugar quantities. Eggs Pontchartrain puts a Colorado spin on a NOLA classic by swapping out traditional fried oysters for fresh mountain trout. Appease both your sweet and savory tooth with pain perdu, NOLA-style French toast topped with hot sausage, egg, praline syrup, and fresh fruit.
Eggs New Orleans (eggs Benedict with fried eggplant in place of the typical Canadian bacon) is a stellar veggie offering, and if you’re in more of a lunch mood, the andouille po’boy and Zydeco salad are top-tier.
luciles.com
Multiple locations
NOLA Voodoo Tavern
Southern hospitality is a phrase for a reason. Southerners are some of the friendliest, most welcoming folks around, and that’s exactly what New Orleans-born-and-raised Henry Batiste strove to accomplish when opening NOLA Voodoo Tavern in Denver’s historic Cole neighborhood in 2015. Cajun and Creole bar food (made with recipes passed down from Batiste’s mother and grandmother) is the name of the game. Despite a rather rough exterior, the inside of the Tavern — decked out in New Orleans Saints gear, Abita flags, and wall art depicting the Crescent City — exudes warmth, comfort, and family.
NOLA Voodoo Tavern’s appetizer game is strong. Cajun cheese fries topped with crawfish etouffee are perfect for sharing, while adventurous eaters can try crispy alligator bites or chicken gizzards fried to perfection. Additionally, the sampler trio includes smaller portions of red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, and Batiste’s mother Vivian’s stupendous gumbo.
The muffaletta is divine, as well. It has ham, salami, and provolone in melty layers offset by a zesty scratch-made olive salad mix on a toasted bun, along with crawfish Monica, which pays homage to New Orleans’s prolific Italian population. Crack open an Abita beer (or go for the Hurricane), nosh on a surf and turf po’boy with a bag of Zapps, and laissez les bons temps rouler.
noladenver.com
(720) 389-9544
2222 Bruce Randolph Ave, Denver, CO 80205
Bourbon Grill
Bourbon Grill has been satisfying the taste buds and wallets of savvy Denverites since 2002. Bourbon Grill began as a quick-service restaurant with a walk-up window (and often a line around the corner) before graduating to its current brick-and-mortar location on East Colfax in 2017. It doesn’t look like much, but what this Colfax haunt lacks in aesthetics, it more than makes up for in flavor and affordability. Chef and owner Lien Vo keeps the menu simple.
Customers may order blackened, barbecue, or Vo’s signature bourbon chicken over a bed of rice, or as a combo with two sides for a slightly higher price. It’s a spectacular deal when the mammoth portion sizes are taken into consideration, as Bourbon Grill offers serious bang for your buck. The bourbon chicken has an outrageously juicy texture, gorgeous char, and beautifully balanced sweet and smoky flavor that’ll blow your mind. Timeless soul food sides like mac and cheese, mixed veggies, and sauteed Cajun potatoes transform a simple chicken and rice meal into a decadent Southern feast.
Additionally, Vo honors her Vietnamese heritage with sides of spicy noodles and egg rolls. It’s not necessarily the place to impress out-of-towners or conduct a business meeting, but Bourbon Grill is a fantastic spot for authentic Southern food in Denver without breaking the bank.
bourbongrilltogo.com
(303) 355-3821
571 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
NoNo’s Cafe
Nestled in the Denver suburb of Littleton is NoNo’s Cafe. This little restaurant serves up big, bold, Cajun and Creole flavors guaranteed to have you crying “YesYes.” Louisiana natives Brian and Sonda Brewster moved to Colorado and opened up NoNo’s in 1996, settling on NoNo — a Louisiana colloquialism meaning grandfather — as a nod to the beloved family patriarch (who was the source of many of the recipes that grace NoNo’s menu).
The owners keep things fresh with a features menu that changes every few weeks, highlighting specials like blackened crab-stuffed quesadillas, mango chicken on coconut rice pilaf, and chicken pot pie. The signature menu is substantial and showcases a mix of New Orleans-forward cuisine and cozy comfort foods. Cajun egg rolls, stuffed with Tasso ham, chicken, cabbage, and rice, are perfectly fried and served with Cajun island dressing. You can grab a cup of shrimp bisque to accompany a crispy chicken salad or hot sausage po’boy.
Dishes like Monica-smothered catfish, crab meat au gratin, and BBQ shrimp are an excellent way to hit the spot after a day of hiking. Not in the mood for soul food? NoNo’s has you covered with a wide selection of pasta, burgers, and sides; plus, the Big Easy breakfast burrito is grab-and-go perfection. NoNo’s is also a prime pick for springtime crawfish boils – slots fill up quickly, so be sure to make a reservation.
nonoscafe.com
(303) 738-8330
3005 W County Line Rd, Littleton, CO 80129
Nola Jane Restaurant & Bar
Whether you’re specifically on the hunt for Southern fare or simply looking for a satiating bite around downtown Denver’s Market Street, Nola Jane is the place to be on a Friday night. Nola Jane took over the space formerly occupied by Pour House in 2021, and despite its relatively new status, the restaurant was quick to win over Mile High City diners.
Considered one of Denver’s best-loved Southern hotspots, it was crowned as Westword’s Best Southern/Soul Restaurant in 2021, 2022, and 2023, in addition to accolades for its awesome rooftop and patio. Plus, since Denver isn’t the best place to be if you’re a late night diner, the fact that Nola Jane’s kitchen stays open until midnight on Sundays through Thursdays and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays is a major selling point. After all, a Abita Purple Haze draft, jalapeño hush puppies, and blackened gator tacos are heavenly after a late Nuggets game.
The debris po’boy — a gargantuan sandwich dripping with melt-in-your-mouth beef simmered in its own juices and homemade gravy — is to die for. The chicken and andouille jambalaya is perfectly balanced, and the eggplant Creole plate is a real treat (pro tip: sub dirty rice for the standard white rice). The space is small and tends to fill up quickly after 10 p.m., especially on weekends. But with Hurricanes and spicy margs on tap, the party never stops at Nola Jane.
nolajanedenver.com
(720) 592-1942
1435 Market St, Denver, CO 80202
Welton Street Cafe
Welton Street Cafe owners Floyd and Mona Dickerson immigrated to the United States from the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 1970s and operated multiple restaurants in the Five Points area before opening Welton Street Cafe in 1999. The original Welton Street Cafe was forced to shutter in 2022, but mercifully, reopened in a larger space just down the street in 2024. The restaurant is flourishing, and the community can’t get enough of the Black-owned family business’s country cooking with Caribbean flair.
Perhaps most notable on the menu is the miscellany of pates, a Caribbean dish you need to try consisting of meat and other fillings in a fried dough pocket. The jerk chicken entree served with cornbread will live in your head rent-free for months. There’s a wide range of burger and sandwich options (the catfish sammy is a classic), and enough sides to craft an entire meal, including Black-eyed peas, mac and cheese, sweet potato fries, and more. A daily rotating Kool-Aid is sure to be a hit for kids and anyone who prefers non-alcoholic beverages, though Welton Street Cafe’s bar menu also includes plenty of beer, wine, and classic cocktails.
weltonstreetcafe.com
(303) 296-6602
2883 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Four Friends Kitchen
Four Friends Kitchen came to be when (you guessed it) four friends and neighbors — Genefer and Tim Thornton, and Kurt and Sarah Pletcher — realized Stapleton was sorely lacking in kid-friendly early-morning eateries. The two families joined forces to build Four Friends Kitchen from the ground up, and have been serving delectable contemporary Southern breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch to the community since 2015.
Open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every single day, Four Friends is ideal for the early bird. The kid-friendly promise is maintained, too, by keeping plenty of vintage Etch-a-Sketches and coloring books on hand, as well as an amazing “Little Britches” (kids) menu. For adult patrons, small plates include quintessential country offerings like fried green tomatoes, Creole bread pudding, and beignets with creme anglaise and wild berry preserves. Overnight grits bowls are a standout; gluten-free heirloom grits are cooked overnight for silky-smooth texture, then loaded up with toppings like succulent Gulf shrimp, succotash, spinach, and cheese for a hearty, well-rounded breakfast bowl that explodes with flavor.
On the lunch side, grilled chicken cornbread salad is fantastic for a lighter option, while the Smokey Mountain BLT lends the classic sandwich a Lowcountry touch with crispy fried green tomatoes, smoked cheddar pimento cheese, maple bacon, and a Serrano buttermilk aioli. For solid, dependable Southern food in a family-friendly environment, Four Friends is a hidden gem in the burbs.
fourfriendskitchen.com
(303) 388-8299
2893 Roslyn St, Denver, CO 80238
Methodology
Despite a sizable population of Southern transplants, there aren’t a whole lot of Southern restaurants in Denver. The 11 on this list represent what I believe are the best Southern and soul food restaurants in the city. To make the list, restaurants had to have a Southern and/or soul food focus, justify the price tag (higher stakes for higher-priced restaurants), maintain consistent quality, and — of course — be delicious.
As for the taste factor, I’ve personally visited most of these eateries (I was a regular customer at Revival Denver Public House and Bourbon Grill when I lived in the Uptown neighborhood) and can vouch for the tastiness of the food. The three I have not visited in person — Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, & BBQ, NoNo’s Cafe, and Four Friends Kitchen — were included based on positive reviews and repeated word-of-mouth recommendations on foodie-dedicated Facebook groups and Reddit threads. Lastly, I wanted to include something for everyone, so this list encompasses a broad spectrum in terms of price points, ambience, and actual cuisine.
-
Utah3 minutes agoDiscover the deliciousness of New York-style pizza at Fini Pizza in Utah City
-
Vermont9 minutes agoVermont teen dies in crash with tree
-
Virginia15 minutes agoPHOTOS: Virginia Beach Police investigate firearm-related incident at Carriage House Apartments
-
Washington21 minutes ago18-year-old dies after shooting in Tenleytown
-
Wisconsin27 minutes agoWisconsin multi-county police chase, 2 people from Illinois arrested
-
West Virginia33 minutes agowvnews.com | WVNews | Trusted West Virginia News, Sports & Local Coverage
-
Wyoming39 minutes ago(LETTERS) Sun Bucks and Wyoming GOP endorsement
-
Crypto45 minutes agoLagarde Blocks Euro Stablecoin Push, Calls $300B Market a Stability Risk for ECB Policy