About 50 miles north of Denver, in Northern Colorado, sits the lovely city of Loveland. With the Rocky Mountains serving as its backdrop, Loveland provides an abundance of outdoor activities and breathtaking natural landscapes. Loveland is a destination worth visiting for more reasons than just its wonderful outdoor environment. The city is home to a vibrant gastronomic scene with a wide variety of excellent eateries.
Loveland has a variety of dining options to suit every taste, including hip, contemporary restaurants, family-run diners, and classy, fine dining businesses. The best ingredients Colorado has to offer are highlighted in the local cuisine, including fresh-caught trout from the rivers, expertly grilled Wagyu steak, and produce from local farms. Additionally, the city’s gifted chefs add their own inventive touches to traditional meals.
13 Best Restaurants in Loveland, Colorado
The Best Splurge Restaurant: 5th Street Steakhouse
5th Street Steakhouse is the ideal place to treat yourself when the time comes. Prepare yourself, carnivores, for expert chefs’ handcrafted prime steaks and chops roasted over an open wood grill. Savor mouthwatering speciality cuts such as the bone-in ribeye, the filet of beef tenderloin wrapped in bacon, and the melt-in-your-mouth juicy lamb chops served with a flavorful au jus dipping sauce. Seared scallops and lobster tails are examples of fresh seafood that adds luxurious but lighter options.
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In addition to amazing cuts of meat, sides like lobster mac & cheese, creamed corn with bacon, and truffle parmesan fries elevate your dinner to a whole new level of luxury. Try their dry-aged Tomahawk ribeye for two for the ultimate indulgence; this enormous, bone-in cut is a stunning centerpiece that is sure to wow your guests. 5th Street Steakhouse provides a unique eating experience that is well worth the price, from the beginning to the end.
The Best Coffee: Brewing Market Coffee House
There’s nothing better than a well brewed cup of coffee from Brewing Market Coffee House to start the day. This quaint coffee business uses Direct Trade beans from leading growers worldwide to craft quality lattes. Drink it black or indulge in speciality beverages such as their well-known London Fog tea latte, cold brew infused with housemade vanilla or chocolate syrup, nitro coffee straight from the faucet, or golden milk lattes cooked with turmeric and spices.
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In addition to serving delicious coffee, Brewing Market also has freshly baked goods to satiate any sweet craving, including cakes, croissants, scones, and tarts. A neighborhood mainstay, this coffee-fueled cafe offers free wifi and a laid-back vibe.
The Best Barbecue: Georgia Boys BBQ
The best true southern barbecue in Loveland can be found at Georgia Boys Barbecue, where you can receive smoked meat that melts in your mouth and falls off the bone. Their expertise is slow-cooking succulent meats over a smoldering wood fire for hours on end until they are perfectly delicate. The meat at Georgia Boys is the stuff that barbecue fantasies are made of, from Texas-style beef brisket burned to a gorgeous crispy bark to smoky baby back ribs drenched in a spicy BBQ sauce.
Your Southern feast is completed with hearty sides like coleslaw, cornbread, and mac & cheese. Not a fan of smoked meat? In addition, Georgia Boys serves up fried fish, shrimp, chicken, and other dishes, satisfying everyone’s appetite. Georgia Boys are the best when it comes to succulent BBQ.
The Best Vegetarian/Vegan: Door 222 Food & Drink
Vegetarians and vegans, rejoice! Door 222 Food & Drink demonstrates that eating a plant-based diet can be tasty and entertaining. This downtown restaurant serves delicious meatless meals cooked with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Separate menus catering to vegans and vegetarians are also available.
The crispy cauliflower tacos filled with tangy slaw, avocado crema, and sriracha, the roasted beet salad with goat cheese and pistachios over arugula, and the chickpea curry bowl with coconut milk and brown rice are some of the standout dishes. Vegetarians and vegans will feel perfectly at home at Door 222 because to its unique cuisine and cozy atmosphere.
The Best Outdoor Dining: City Star Brewing
There’s no better way to enjoy the lovely Colorado weather in Loveland than to eat outside at City Star Brewing. Known for its large patio with views of Lake Loveland, this beloved restaurant and brewery in the area is a great place to enjoy outdoor dining and drinking.
Naturally, their locally created artisan beers are ideal for enjoying outside in the sun. When it comes to food, City Star dazzles with gourmet pub fare like their legendary Star Wings, marinated in tastes like spicy buffalo or tart dry rub, and their City Star burger, which is loaded with applewood smoked bacon and blue cheese. The best spot to be when the weather is nice is on the patio at City Star, which offers delicious food, excellent drinks, and breathtaking views.
The Most Romantic: Take a Bao Bistro
Take a Bao Bistro is the best option for an unforgettable culinary excursion on a date night in Loveland. The highlight of their menu is their fluffy steamed bao buns, which are loaded buns with an Asian flair that are turned into flavorful bowls, tacos, and sandwiches. Crispy Korean chicken, five-spice pulled pork, and gingery BBQ tofu are just a few of the fillings that are combined with refreshing slaws, flavorful sauces, and fresh vegetables.
Take a Bao dazzles with Asian small meals like delicate shumai dumplings, supple potstickers, or crunchy Vietnamese egg rolls, in addition to its inventive bao choices. Try one of their creative cocktail selections, such as the entertaining Dragon Fruit Mojito, to pair with your dinner. Take a Bao’s exceptional cuisine and cozy, contemporary atmosphere create the ideal setting for a romantic evening out.
The Best Sushi: Umami Asian Bistro
Want some very fresh sushi and Asian food? Exotic cuisines from across Asia are stylishly brought to Loveland by Umami Asian Bistro. As their name implies, they specialize in producing umami, the fifth taste, to create Asian soul food that is bursting with flavor. Specialty rolls like the Cherokee Roll, which is encased in soy paper and filled with salmon, yellowtail, avocado, cucumber, and sweet chili sauce, are a stunning display of the large sushi menu.
In addition to sushi, don’t miss the Vietnamese pho bowls, which are substantial portions of rice noodles, flavorful broth, and your choice of beef or tofu. Umami elevates Asian cuisine to new culinary heights with pan-Asian small plates, tart, refreshing cocktails like the lychee martini, and modern vibes.
The Best Italian: Paesano Ristorante Italiano
Paesano Ristorante Italiano is the go-to place in Loveland for real Italian cuisine, including wood-fired pizzas and fresh pastas. Their lasagna al forno, which is cooked to bubbly perfection, the creamy fettuccine alfredo topped with grilled chicken, and the vitello alla parmigiana, which consists of breaded veal cutlets baked with tomato sauce and mozzarella, are just a few examples of the delectable dishes that are sure to please.
Not to be forgotten is pizza. Dreams of fluffy crusts and flavorful toppings, such as salsiccia piccante, which combines spicy sausage, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and chile oil, are realized in these pies. When you combine delicious Italian wines, friendly service, and a rustic atmosphere, Paesano provides a lovely dinnertime vacation to Italy.
The Best Lunch: Black and Blues Bistro
In downtown Loveland, visit Black & Blues Bistro when you’re feeling peckish at midday. This laid-back restaurant creates dishes that are full of taste and comfort by combining modern flair with southern inspiration. The pulled pork sandwich with citrus slaw and kettle chips, as well as the buffalo chicken salad with fried chicken, bleu cheese crumbles, tomatoes, carrots, and ranch dressing, are two of the restaurant’s best dishes for lunch.
For a quick snack, try their au jus-drenched hot roast beef sandwich or their crunchy fried pickle spears served in a basket with ranch dressing. Black and Blues is a great place to have lunch because of its affordable costs and nice staff.
The Best Breakfast: The Denver Omelet
Getting fuel at The Denver Omelet is the best way to begin the morning in Loveland. All of your favorite dishes, including fluffy pancakes, breakfast burritos covered in green chili sauce, and their famous mile-high biscuits and gravy, are available at this quaint breakfast and brunch diner.
But as the name suggests, the actual star of the show is their enormous omelets. These omelets are a great way to start the day since they are filled with mouthwatering ingredients including smoked ham, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, spinach, mushrooms, and several types of cheese. Enjoy a robust coffee and breathtaking views of the Rockies as you dine to complete your meal.
The Best Brewpub: Rock Coast Brewery
Beer lovers, rejoice: Loveland’s best brewpub, Rock Coast Brewery, serves a full menu of pub-style fare and has over a dozen specialty house-brewed beers on tap. Their selection offers something for everyone, including fruity sours, strong stouts, and crisp lagers.
Enjoy your pint with mouthwatering appetizers like the popular Rockin’ Mac n Cheese, which is topped with pulled pork, bacon, and jalapeños, or the Rock Coast pretzel with beer cheese sauce. This vibrant location is a great place to enjoy terrific pub fare and excellent beers any day of the week, plus it has an outdoor patio for pleasant weather.
The Best Fine Dining: 14er Bistro
14er Bistro is the place to go if you’re searching for a special night out with outstanding food and service. The modern eatery, which located downtown, pairs its seasonal New American fare with an extensive wine selection and creatively created cocktails.
The soft bison short ribs cooked in house beer, the Rocky Mountain fish with quinoa tabbouleh, and the rotating flatbreads baked in their wood-fired oven are among of the restaurant’s best offerings. Rich desserts like crème brûlée with vanilla beans or chocolate pot de crème are delicious. One of Loveland’s best fine dining establishments is 14er Bistro, with its sophisticated yet casual atmosphere, thoughtful attention to ingredients and presentation.
Conclusion
Loveland’s eating scene offers delectable cuisine for every palate, including savory international meals, inventive comfort foods, and succulent steaks. Places like Paesano Ristorante Italiano, 5th Street Steakhouse, and 14er Bistro are suitable options for sophisticated dining in sophisticated surroundings.
No-frills yet excellent neighborhood favorites like Georgia Boys BBQ, Black & Blues Bistro, and Rock Coast Brewery serve you great food without pretense. Additionally, restaurants like Door 222, Take a Bao Bistro, and City Star Brewing appeal to specialized palates with their veg-focused menus, excellent craft beer, and pan-Asian cuisines.
Take a hearty appetite with you on your Loveland culinary experiences, as this northern city offers cuisine that is almost as beautiful as its vistas of the Rocky Mountains. The city’s outstanding chefs highlight Colorado’s abundance of fresh ingredients. Salutations!