13 Best Restaurants in Grand Junction, Colorado
The Western Slope of Colorado is home to Grand Junction. It is surrounded by red rock mountains, rivers, and wineries. In the past few years, this lively small city has become a place to go for food, with chef-driven restaurants, farm-to-table ideas, new food trucks, and casual cafes. Grand Junction has a wide range of creative and unique restaurants, from BBQ places to bistros that serve seasonal food.
Las Colonias
With neon trim lighting up its adobe-style exterior, Las Colonias brings lively Mexican food to Grand Junction’s eating scene. In addition to the usual combo plates and tacos, this friendly place serves traditional dishes from Puebla and other central Mexican states that aren’t as common.
Try their famous sizzling fajitas dish brought right to your table on a hot iron plate, or try their three-times-cooked carnitas or mole sauces that cover tender meats. One of their fruit-topped cocktails is a great way to end a meal. Las Colonias is a popular place for dinner and happy hour because the prices are fair.
Cafe Sol
Cafe Sol is a great place to go for a casual lunch or dinner if you want California-style Mexican food made with good ingredients. On top of the usual burritos and enchiladas, they have tequila-lime shrimp fajitas, tangy ceviche toss with fresh fish, and tender carne asada steak on their menu.
There are also many choices for vegetarians, from veggie tacos to hearty bean and cheese burritos. Their unique green chile sauce, zesty mole, and fresh salsas add bright flavors. You can enjoy your meal with a prickly pear margarita or a Mexican craft beer while taking in the lively atmosphere and helpful service at Cafe Sol.
Il Bistro Italiano
Il Bistro Italiano is a great place for special events or date nights because it serves delicious high-end Italian food in a beautiful room lit by candles. Start with tomato bruschetta on garlic bread that is nice and crispy or a Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes.
On the menu, you can find homemade pastas like fettuccine Alfredo or linguine with pesto cream sauce, as well as many other pastas, risottos, and traditional Italian meat and seafood dishes. Leave room for their classic tiramisu or chocolate torte without flour. A long wine list with more than 150 Italian bottles.
Rockslide Restaurant and Brewpub
Rockslide Restaurant and Brewpub has a big patio with views of the Colorado River, craft beer that is made in-house, and good food. The atmosphere is nice, and the food is hearty American pub food.
Their selection of juicy burgers, including the well-known bison burger with aged cheese, makes it a top choice whenever you want a good hand-pressed patty and fries. You can choose from a variety of wood-fired pizzas, slow-roasted baby back ribs, or lodgepole salmon with lemon dill sauce. Save room for one of their huge cheesecake slices that spins. Also, don’t forget to try one of their well-balanced IPAs, porters, or amber beers.
Main Street Bagels
Main Street Bagels is the best place for locals to start their day because they serve piping hot New York-style bagels and full breakfast sandwiches. Pick out a bagel and then make your own sandwich with high-quality items like applewood bacon, fresh spinach, tomato, onions, avocado, Swiss, and cheddar cheeses.
With more than 20 sandwich choices, they have everything from basic combos to unique ones like the Western, which has ham, onion, green pepper, and cheese. Along with bagels, you can expect to bake fresh muffins, cookies, croissants, and cinnamon rolls every day. Their small bakery-style shop doesn’t have many seats, but service is still quick and easy.
Zupas
And Zupas is the place to go for lunch when you want tasty soups to go with hearty sandwich halves or fresh salads. From chicken enchilada to broccoli cheddar to New England clam chowder, their changing soup menu lets you try a lot of different cooking styles.
You can get a cup of soup and one of their famous sandwiches on freshly baked bread. The grilled cheese with sliced pear and balsamic glaze tastes great without any meat. At Zupas, you can also get tasty salads with main dishes like pot roast, lemon herb salmon, or mahi mahi. It’s bright, clean, and cheap, so it’s a great place for a casual lunch meeting.
Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery
Enjoy one of Grand Junction’s best happy hours in Colorado Boy’s large beer garden or one of their casual wooden tables. Every day from 3 to 6 p.m., you can eat their filled nachos, wings, or hummus plate and drink $3 draft pints of their own beer.
There is a huge range of beers, including IPAs, porters, Belgian whites, and fun seasonals like strawberry wheat. Colorado Boy offers hearty food all day, not just during happy hour. They have wood-fired pizzas, burgers, fish and chips, steaks, and comfort food sides to go with their well-crafted ales and lagers.
The Winery
Wine lovers go to The Winery’s industrial-chic downtown site to try some of Mesa County’s best wines with small plates that go well with the vine-to-glass experience. Their friendly servers will be happy to show you around and let you try flights of smooth reds and crisp whites made just a few steps away at their own winery.
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Have a glass of wine with their famous flatbread topped with chicken, vegetables, and balsamic glaze, or try their fluffy beignets dipped in chocolate. Every day during happy hour, all glasses of wine are only $5, which makes you want to stay longer. The cozy bistro decor inside or on the patio makes you want to do just that.
630 on Rood
In an elegantly renovated Victorian home, 630 on Rood makes sophisticated yet comforting food with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Their menu changes all the time and focuses on modern American food with foreign influences.
The pumpkin seed-crusted rainbow fish and the caramelized sea scallops with risotto are two of the best dishes. People in the area love the chocolate ganache torte for dessert. The wine list is well-thought-out and includes many Colorado-made options. It’s a great place for a special night out because it has white tables, candles that flicker, and cute old-fashioned features.
Dos Hermanos
This simple taco stand that only takes cash and has camping tables might not have the nicest atmosphere, but Dos Hermanos has some of the best Mexican food in town. Their homemade salsas, which are made from dried peppers that are ground up every day on the spot, add an extra layer of real spice.
Carnitas tacos, which have smoky shredded meat on top of two stacks of corn tortillas, are the best. You can get them by the taco, on a plate, or in a huge burrito. A glass of ice-cold Mexican Coke will help you cool down. Even though there aren’t many extras, lines often go out the door. If you want to escape long lines, get there early or late. Only cash.
Bin 707 Foodbar
Bin 707 Foodbar started the trend of eating in gastropubs in Grand Junction by being right on the busy Main Street. Their seasonal small and share plates are inspired by food from around the world and focus on using high-quality ingredients in unique ways.
Some of the best new dishes are rack of lamb from Colorado with a huckleberry sauce, banh mi sliders with Vietnamese pork belly, and Thai beef salad with a spicy dressing. The name comes from the fact that there is a long, value-driven list of more than 700 foreign wines to go with the food. It’s a great place for a special event or a quiet night out with friends because it’s stylish and classy.
Dream Café
Dream Café is right off of Main Street and is always busy. They serve breakfast and lunch all day. On their menu, you can find American classics like fluffy pancakes, eggs Benedict, and crispy hash, as well as Southwest favorites like huevos rancheros, green chilaquiles, and even breakfast tacos and enchiladas.
On daily offers, eggs and home fries are made in different ways. Don’t forget to save room for the amazing baked goods, like the huge cinnamon roll covered in cream cheese frosting. It’s a great place for families to go any time because the service is quick and friendly, and the inside is bright and welcome.
Conclusion
Grand Junction has a wide range of restaurants, from high-end comfort food spots to places that champion Colorado and New Mexican flavors. There are restaurants for every taste and event. Both casual cafes and special night spots use high-quality foods and cook them with skill.
Grand Junction’s food scene is growing, and there are lots of reasons for visitors and locals alike to try it. Start your own tasty food tour of the city with this list of the 12 best places to eat in the area.