12 AMAZING Restaurants In Cherry Creek For Food Lovers (2024)
Amazing Food In Denver’s Cherry Creek Neighborhood
I’ve lived in Denver for over thirteen years, and the best restaurants in Cherry Creek are some of my absolute favorites in Colorado. Ranging from fine dining to a quick lunch, I found every type of restaurant offering a variety of amazing cuisines.
The Cherry Creek North neighborhood holds a reputation for high-end shopping and luxury living, which is true, but the neighborhood is so much more, especially with the food.
I personally ate at every single one of these restaurants with my wife and these are the absolute winners.
1. La Merise – Casual French Bistro
If you want to relive those trips to France, then La Merise is the perfect restaurant with that classic bistro feel with fare to match.
My wife went for the Steak Frites, which came with a generous slab of compound butter. The steak tasted amazing with the compound butter adding more unctuousness and decadence.
I went for the Beef Bourguignon and loved the distinct red wine beefy goodness I come to expect from the dish. The interesting twist La Merise puts on their version is the addition of pappardelle noodles instead of mashed potatoes.
The wonderful sauce clung to the noodles and I slurped up every last bit of noodles while savoring that red wine sauce.
Le Merise 2700 E 3rd Ave North, Denver, CO 80206 Website : LeMeriseDenver.com
2. Elway’s – Best Steak In Cherry Creek
One of the best steaks I’ve ever eaten in Denver came from Elway’s. Yes, it’s named after THE John Elway, the famous football hall of famer who led the Broncos to two Super Bowls. He cooks up a pretty awesome steak too.
I’ve eaten at Elway’s more times than I can count and I ALWAYS eat the Lamb Chop Fondue. Lamb chops are generously seared to a perfect medium rare and served alongside a green chile fondue. Cheesy, savory, and extremely addictive, this appetizer made my trips totally worth it all on its own.
Don’t forget the steak! My wife and I shared their 24 oz Porterhouse which may just be the best steak in Denver. It’s hard to judge, but the seasoning became caramelized forming a delicious crust on the outside of the steak which transformed the slab of meat into an unforgettable experience.
Elway's 2500 E 1st Ave Unit 101, Denver, CO 80206 Website : Elways.com
3. North Italia – Casual Italian Fare
I LOVE North Italia and consider it a favorite place to eat in Denver. The casual dining atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a quick lunch or a fun date night.
Every time my wife and I visit, we always start off with the White Truffle Garlic Bread and today was no different. This wondrous treat tasted amazing with house-made ricotta, mozzarella, and grated granda padano cheese with a hint of white truffle oil.
The pasta is made fresh daily in-house so we needed at least one to try. The Spaghetti is classic with a light and fresh tomato sauce coating every noodle. I enjoyed the balance of sweet, tart, and savory all playing together in one pasta dish.
I also recommend the Chicken Parm, or any other pasta or pizza on the menu. Everything is delicious!
North Italia 190 Clayton Ln, Denver, CO 80206 Website : NorthItalia.com
4. Blue Island Oyster Bar – Fresh Oysters And Seafood
If you want to slurp down some amazing shellfish, then Blue Island Oyster Bar is the spot. We needed to start the meal with oysters, so we went for a dozen from both East and West coasts. Clean, refreshing, and everything a platter of oysters should be.
For the meal, we ordered a variety of different tacos and sliders, to properly assess the quality of fish and ingredients, of course.
My favorites were the Ahi Tuna Taco and the Knuckle Sandwich. I tasted a nice char on the Ahi Tuna Taco from the grilled tortilla. The Knuckle Sandwich was a mini lobster slider that came well dressed with a special mayo dressing. Both were delicious and completely unique.
Blue Island Oyster Bar 2625 E 2nd Ave, Denver, CO 80206 Website : BlueIslandOysterBar.com
5. Kini’s – Contemporary Mediterranean
For a more upscale Mediterranean feel, I recommend Kini’s, the sister restaurant to Quality Italian. We started off with their Dip Tower which came with all five of their dips served alongside crudités and flatbread.
Do not skip this. Every dip showed its own unique characteristics and profiles that highlighted the ingredients.
My favorite was the Whipped Goat Cheese with Saffron Apricots. The goat cheese was light like whipped cream cheese, and the cooked apricots added the right amount of tangy sweetness.
For the main, we went all in on the Moroccan Fried Chicken. The crust on this was UNBELIEVABLE. Super crunchy with a distinct spice blend, the fried chicken stood out with creativity that was made even more delicious with the slightly spicy harissa honey.
With a dip in the lemon yogurt and wrapped in the Moroccan pancakes, every bite was different and extremely enjoyable.
Kini's 249 Clayton St, Denver, CO 80206 Website : KinisDenver.com
6. Matsuhisa – Upscale Sushi and Omakase
For a Japanese omakase experience, look no further than Matsuhisa, a sushi restaurant run by the renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa. With his formal training in Tokyo Japan, Nobu traveled to South America to gain inspiration for his modern fusion that is clearly seen in his menu today.
If you can swing the price, I highly recommend the Omakase experience, which is a continually changing menu based on what is in season and what new dishes the restaurant has created.
If you want the normal sushi experience, you can order nigiri, sashimi, and sushi rolls like you would at any other restaurant. In my opinion, Matsuhisa makes the absolute best sushi in Denver.
Don’t miss out on any of the normal dishes as well. I love getting the King Crab Tempura and adding Tempura Avocado. A Sublime experience from beginning to end.
Matsuhisa 98 Steele St, Denver, CO 80206 Website : MatsuhisaRestaurants.com
7. Cherry Creek Grill – Wood Fire Rotisserie
I hate describing it this way, but Cherry Creek Grill is like a super upscale Applebee’s, but in the best possible ways.
You can see chickens spinning over a wood fire at the back of the restaurant, so of course I needed to try it. Topped with a concentrated au jus, the Wood Fire Rotisserie Chicken tasted amazing with hints of smoke in every bite.
The extremely juicy chicken practically fell off the bone and I enjoyed the morsels with the wild rice salad on the side.
The Lamb Sandwich took me by surprise with a strong lamby flavor that was subdued by the roasted red pepper, arugula, and whatever mayo-like spread they put on the bread.
Bright red and perfectly medium rare, the wood-roasted lamb was sensational on all fronts and perfect for those wanting a unique sandwich.
Cherry Creek Grill 184 Steele St, Denver, CO 80206 Website : CherryCreekGrill.com
8. Cherry Cricket – Creative And Eclectic Burgers
The legendary Cherry Cricket has won more awards than just about any other restaurant in Denver. This is more than your conventional burger joint. Cherry Cricket creates new burgers monthly with the best staying on their normal menu.
The 983 Big Cheesy caught my attention winning the People’s Choice 1st place award in the Denver Burger Battle of 2022.
Cheesy, spicy, and slightly sweet, the five toppings came together to win me over with the panko-crusted poblano pepper putting the deliciousness meter over the top. The cheestos were an awesome touch giving the whole burger an extra crunch.
Cherry Cricket 2641 E 2nd Ave, Denver, CO 80206 Website : CherryCricket.com
9. Poke Moke – Build Your Own Poke Bowls
I love a good poke bowl, and Poke Moke sets itself apart with complete customization. Think of it as a Chipotle but build your own poke bowl.
I went with a large Spicy Tuna Bowl and topped it off with bok choy, pickled radish, crunchy onion, and seaweed strips, all covered in a delicious yuzu sauce.
I’m proud of myself on this one with intense flavor building that all felt to build off each other. The spicy marinade on the tuna added the right amount of heat with the cucumbers and radishes adding a bright crunch to the mix.
Poke Moke 3003 E 3rd Ave suite c, Denver, CO 80206 Website : PokeMoke.Menufy.com
10. Satchel’s on 6th – Seasonal American Cuisine
A hidden gem on the edge of Cherry Creek is Satchel’s on 6th, a contemporary American restaurant serving up seasonal fare that utilizes locally sourced ingredients. I am in LOVE with this restaurant and everything they serve.
Filled with delicious ricotta cheese and piquillo pepper jam, the Stuffed Squash Blossoms might be my favorite appetizer I tried in the city. With a super light crunch and wonderfully creamy center, I fought my wife for the last few bites with her willpower ultimately prevailing.
I went for the signature Satchel’s Crab Cakes made from an eclectic seafood mix of scallops, crabs, and shrimp. These aren’t your conventional Maryland-style crab cakes so I don’t want to hear any flack.
These were delicious in their own way with plenty of character from the seafood amalgamation. I enjoyed the peppers on the side and tasted the complimentary flavors working well together.
Satchel's On 6th 1710 E 6th Ave, Denver, CO 80218 Website : SatchelsOn6th.com
11. Olive and Finch – Perfect Lunch In Cherry Creek
The ultimate spot for a quick lunch or brunch in Cherry Creek is Olive and Finch. I came for the sandwiches which take a creative approach to the conventional.
I ate the Nikka, a roasted turkey sandwich with caramelized onions, green chile, roasted mushroom, Swiss cheese, spinach, chimichurri, and ancho chile butter on a toasted baguette.
Biting into the sandwich felt like there was au jus mixed in with the rest of the ingredients, feeling moist and super savory.
The pastries and coffee are great too, making this an inexpensive spot to sit back and enjoy the afternoon.
Olive and Finch 3390 E 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80206 Website : OliveandFinch.com
12. Quality Italian – American Italian At It’s Finest
Listen to me here. If you have the time and money to visit Quality Italian, then it is an absolute must. From the freshly made pasta to expertly crafted cocktails everything tasted amazing.
I need to touch on one dish: the Truffle Honey Ricotta. An amazing starter that tasted just as great as it sounds.
A mixture of house made creamy ricotta and black truffle honey that plays with sweet and savory in the best possible ways.
I loved my meal so much I wrote a whole article about everything I ate at Quality Italian.
Quality Italian 241 Columbine St, Denver, CO 80206 Website : QualityItalianDenver.com
Final Thoughts On The Top Cherry Creek Restaurants
From what I reviewed, dining in Cherry Creek offers a wide range of options for all budgets and experiences.
For me, the best restaurants in Cherry Creek offered a menu that revolved around creative endeavors that translated to pure deliciousness.
When you visit Denver, make sure to eat at a few of these amazing spots.
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Chris Kretzer has traveled the world visiting over 35 countries and eating his way through every city. With his wife Tiarra, they explore different food cultures and create food guides, podcasts, and travel articles helping everyone experience the world through food.