Here are some of our favorite eateries to try during Longmont Restaurant Week

We’re foodies. And we’re native New Yorkers who grew up in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. So we got to experience some of the best dining opportunities imaginable. Face it, we’re spoiled.

When we decided to move to Longmont, Colorado, I jumped on one of the social media pages and put the question out there – “Is there any place to get a knish?” I was inundated with a lot of responses, most of them quite comical, but quickly realized that there would be no knish to be found in Longmont, and there appear to be quite a few other “Brooklyn” transplants who would love a good knish. We also quickly realized that getting real Italian food, good Chinese take out, actual “New York” pizza, and, geez, a legitimate bagel, would turn us into Lewis and Clark searching in the wilderness.

As transplants, it’s been a wonderful experience exploring the culture, and the dining options. We’ve enjoyed eating our way around Longmont and found some places that have become our favorites. So with Longmont Restaurant Week underway, we are presenting our “go to” eateries around the City of Longmont.

Bagels

Big Daddy Bagels, 1940 Ionosphere Street in Prospect Village

Once you get out of the New York area, there seems to be a problem getting a bagel. We’ve tried bagels everywhere, and most of the time it is some sort of bread that they simply poke a hole in it and call it a bagel. Just because you poke a hole in a piece of cake, that doesn’t make it a doughnut, right? It’s really about the water when it comes to the texture and consistency of a good bagel.  And while the Rocky Mountain water is great for beer, it may not work the same for a great bagel. We did have some trouble finding a good bagel, until we found Big Daddy Bagels in Prospect Village. We may be prejudiced in saying that nothing can match a good New York bagel, but Big Daddy Bagels comes the closest since we headed west. Big Daddy Bagels has a true bagel texture and consistency, and they are good enough that you don’t even need to get any of the many accoutrements available, you can just eat them plain. That’s the test of a good bagel.

Brunch

Tangerine, 379 Main Street

Breakfast, brunch, or lunch – any of the three – you can’t go wrong. The place has a great eclectic menu with many healthy offerings with something for everyone. There is plenty to choose from, but know that everything on the menu has a special twist to it that make it a Tangerine special. Everything we have tried has been great, and the biggest problem has become what to choose to eat when we go. They also have some of the best coffee we have had and their specialty drinks are an added bonus. Tangerine has quickly become one of our all-time favorite eateries.

Diner

Aunt Alice’s Kitchen, 1805 Main Street

We grew up most of our lives in the New Jersey suburbs. New Jersey is the Diner Capital of the World.  Anyone who has ever lived in New Jersey, or who has even visited the State, knows that a real diner is something that really doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. But we have been pleasantly surprised at the menu, the food quality, and the uber-friendly service that we found at what is very close to a traditional diner atmosphere that you just might find back in New Jersey. Of course there is the good old counter that is right there for you, just pick a stool. Alice’s has an extremely diverse and affordable menu. But what makes the place so special is the attentiveness that everyone gives to the patrons, and they seem to know a lot of people on a first-name basis. They have a great selection of cakes and pies, and two nights a week slices of pie are free! And they always offer you a coffee to go, yet, they always offer you to stay as long as you like. It really is a down home place.

Pizza

Rosalee’s Pizzeria, 461 Main Street

There’s all kinds of talk that goes around about the best pizza in Longmont. Let two Native New Yorkers tell you that, much like a bagel, anything away from the New York metropolitan area is not real pizza. The arguments supporting some of the places that are said to have good pizza, some that claim to have “New York” pizza…let’s put it all to rest. Don’t listen to all of that nonsense. Because we can tell you from our own experience, the pizza in Longmont can leave a lot to be desired. But we can also tell you is that Rosalee’s Pizzeria serves up one of the best pizzas we have ever had. Pizza is only as good as its sauce, and Rosalee’s sauce is amazingly good, as are the cheeses that they use. The crust is thin but thick enough that it doesn’t flop and has a great texture to it. So while it’s not exactly a place to go in and get a slice, we don’t care, we’ll take the whole pie…and even feature it in one of our Hike and Slice™ stories.

Mexican

Josie’s Tacos, 347 Main Street

Mexican food is abundant in Longmont. And we have tried a bunch of them. Some of the local food trucks are pretty damn good. But Josie’s Tacos has proven to be the best of them all. It’s a small, colorful, family-owned establishment where you are treated like a family member who has just walked in the door. The service is extremely personable and accommodating. The menu has a lot to offer, the food is fresh and very, very good. Whether you get the tacos, the burritos, or a dinner plate, there’s no bad choices here. Other places seem to get more publicity, but Josie’s is a special place that definitely deserves to garner more attention.

Mediterranean

Red Cedar Bistro, 516 Main Street

We love Mediterranean and Red Cedar Bistro has a very unique menu. While there are a lot of Mediterranean offerings, there are also some menu options that you have to wonder if they actually belong. That being said, the dinner menu is one of the finest around. There is a wide variety and it is best to have company and order many dishes and share a little bit from each plate. If it’s only two of you, you will undoubtedly be taking some food home with you.

BBQ

Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ, 230 Main Street

Barbecue should not be all about meat. For some reason, just about every barbecue restaurant we have been to has nothing to offer but meat options. Where exactly does it say that barbecue sauce ONLY goes on beef, pork, or poultry? For those of us who are non-meat eaters, we like barbecue sauce too. Smokin’ Dave’s is the only place in the area that actually offers a non-meat option. The grilled salmon matches perfectly with the different bbq sauces awaiting you at Smokin’ Daves. Gotta love the opportunity to try all of the different sauces ahead of time with the potato chips put on the table, just like getting chips and salsa in a Mexican restaurant. The proving grounds for the sauces reinforces why Smokin’ Daves is the place to go for barbecue in Longmont.

Other Longmont Dinner Choices

These places are all owned and managed by the same family. They are each unique and you can’t go wrong with any of the places, it’s really just a matter of what you’re in the mood for. ALL of them have exceptionally good and attentive service. That is the one common theme with each place.

The Roost, 526 Main Street

American cuisine

Various and diverse menu with something for everyone. This is probably the one place that if you have some picky eaters, there is truly something for everyone on the menu. And it’s all good.

Jefe’s, 246 Main Street

Mexican cuisine

It’s not your typical Mexican cuisine. It’s more of an eclectic California style Mexican derivative. Great tacos and a nice range of beers.

Burgers

It has an old saloon atmosphere and really is a meat and burger joint, but on a more upscale level. The thing that REALLY IMPRESSED me is that when I expressed to the server that I was a vegetarian, they actually took the initiative to cook my veggie burger on a different surface so as not to contaminate my burger with the juices from the meat. Now THAT is something you don’t see anywhere else.

Swaylo’s Tiki Restaurant, 1315 Dry Creek Drive

Polynesian cuisine

Aye…this one is off the beaten path, away from the downtown area, but well worth the drive. It’s a Polynesian theme with the bar looking like it is set inside a pirate ship. Appearances aside, some really nice menu options. Their bowls are a favorite of ours. A unique menu, with many healthy options.

Potatoes – Specialty

Big Bear Baked Potatoes, 1640 Pace Street in Fox Creek Marketplace

A real specialty and one of our favorite places. Obviously you can tell by the name that the main dish is a baked potato. But if you have ever enjoyed potato toppers, then you will love this place. Because it’s what’s on top of the potato that makes each menu option special. And because they are so accommodating, each menu option can be made to order according to your preference and has multiple variations. The food is delicious and really hits the spot. And the service is great too!

Dessert – Ice Cream

There are a number of places to get ice cream in Longmont. But this place is probably the best kept secret in town. We tried so many places for just a simple scoop or two of ice cream at the end of the night, and each time we ended up coming back to La Marquesita. The ice cream is homemade and is the best taste, quality, and texture around. The menu has a lot of specialty items and combinations, but what they are really known for are their crepes. They are to die for! If you want to complete your day and have a great dessert, this is the place for a perfect ending.

ENJOY! And don’t forget to follow us on social media and let us know what you think.