Uptown
Establishment
neighborhood
Marczyk’s Fine Foods
770 E. 17th Ave., Uptown
Pete Marczyk is something of a hero to Denver foodies. His tiny, long-standing, homegrown grocery store stocks locally grown produce, imports the very best cheeses (plus a selection of great local options), and bakes their own breads, but Marczyk is probably best known for being one of the area's finest butchers, as he does everything in-house and flies in gorgeous cuts of fish. The deli section has excellent sandwiches and delicious pre-made foods, and on weeknights in the summer (check the calendar) they grill hamburgers on the sidewalk outside. There's a second location up the street, too.
Steuben’s
523 E. 17th Ave., Uptown
This Denver institution is known primarily for brunch, in part because of their signature bacon Bloody Marys (served with bacon-infused vodka), and their big, open patio, which always seems to be buzzing and full. That said, their comfort-food menu, which is subtly southern, is great all day long, as the breakfast dishes bleed into dinner: We recommend the traffic jam, an egg dish that comes with green chili cheese fries, sausage gravy, and bacon (and removes all traces of any hangover); the chicken and waffles; and the nightly blue-plate specials. Make sure to get an order of the sinfully good Steubie snacks, their special version of puppy chow (for the uninitiated: Chex Mix coated in peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar).