Food BEST OF BOULDER

Early in 2023, Pizzeria Locale became Pizzeria Alberico, but the new incarnation continues the eatery’s reputation for first-class food. Since it is located next door to its sister restaurant, Frasca Food and Wine, Pizzeria Alberico boasts an impressive list of wines available by the glass and bottle. The authentic Neapolitan pizza options remain the same: rosse (red sauce), bianche (white sauce) and verde (green, pesto-based sauce). The toppings are always fresh and never overloaded or deep dish. The wood-fired menu favorite, Mais pizza, is topped with crème fraiche, fresh corn and crispy pancetta. The menu also features Italian small plates, salads and classic desserts such as butterscotch budino.

Place To Eat Outdoors

Acreage By Stem Ciders

1380 Horizon Ave., Lafayette, 303-227-3243

Silver: Rayback Collective

Bronze: Chautauqua Dining Hall

Write-in: Barchetta

Once you visit Acreage at its twoacre, hilltop site, you understand why this Lafayette destination has taken over the outdoor dining category. With a majestic view facing west toward the Front Range, the cidery’s front yard provides a shaded deck, a patio with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs to experience the chill vibe. Acreage remains the place to enjoy sunset over the Rockies while sipping a flight of dry to sweet Stem Ciders including one-off small-batch and experimental barrels. The comfort-oriented menu satisfies regulars, whether it’s a burger with aged cheddar cheese and smoked bacon jam, bratwurst with sauerkraut or the eatery’s famous freshly fried glazed cake cider donuts.

Place To Go On A First Date

Rayback Collective

2775 Valmont Road, Boulder, 303-214-2127

Silver: Boulder Dushanbe

Tea House

Bronze: Jax Fish House

Write-in: Gemini

First dates are awkward enough from the initial meeting to the big hug-orkiss question at the end. The right location can make all the difference in relaxing both of you. Our readers, who have some experience in these matters, once again recommend starting a romance (or friendship) at the Rayback Collective. Between the various indoor and outdoor spots to hang out, live music and games, taps pouring beer, kombucha and cold brew and food trucks easing the munchies, Rayback provides a collection of distracting experiences in one destination. Best of all, the busy place has a background buzz that eases those awkward conversation pauses.

Restaurant Dessert Flagstaff House Restaurant

1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder, 303-442-4640

Silver: The Huckleberry

Bronze: Melting Pot

Write-in: Gemini

Lots of places offer the expected mealending treats, but it’s not often an epic experience you remember forever.

Those are the kind of showstopping sweet finales that earn Boulder’s Flagstaff House Restaurant kudos from our readers year after year. You start with an almost cinematic setting at the white-tablecloth, fine dining destination on the side of Flagstaff Mountain. The eye-candy, Instagram-ready dessert plates range from a simply perfect wine-poached pear with star aniseinfused ice cream to a visual knockout: The Golden Sesame Egg in a dark chocolate nest. No wonder so many major birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated at the Flagstaff House.

Restaurant Service Flagstaff House Restaurant

1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder, 303-442-4640

Silver: Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery

Bronze: Frasca Food & Wine

For Boulder Weekly readers and diners, the Flagstaff House owns the Restaurant Service category. The fine dining destination overlooking Boulder wins every year but it wasn’t a likely outcome when the eatery opened in 1971. The Flagstaff House owes its single-minded devotion to top-notch service to one man, owner Don Monette who passed away recently at the age of 85. Monette believed in providing truly personable service. He insisted that his professional servers be thoroughly knowledgeable about food and the fine wines in the now 6,000-plus-bottle wine cellar.

SANDWICH SNARF’S SANDWICHES

Multiple Locations

Silver: Organic Sandwich Co.

Bronze: Moxie Bread Co.

Snarf’s has always understood how the true sandwich lover’s mind work because it was founded in Boulder in 1995 by a singular sandwich fanatic. Jimmy Seidel still obsesses about