2016 Family Favorites Food & Drink
Whether you need takeout pronto or a night away from your kitchen, weve got you covered with one-of-a-kind grub dished up in some seriously kid-friendly establishments.
Birthday Cake
Top Five
Cake Crumbs
Cakes by Karen
Costco
King Soopers
Nothing Bundt Cakes
The Winner
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Five metro locations
Fresh eggs, real butter and cream cheese — when it’s time to celebrate a special birthday, you’re ready to pull out all of the stops. With more than 25 birthday designs, sizes from 10-inch bundt to bundtini and 10 flavors to choose from, it’s no wonder our readers rely on this cute cake shop to deliver the perfect cake for their parties.
Breakfast or Brunch
Top Five
The Egg and I
Four Friends Kitchen
International House of Pancakes
Snooze an AM Eatery
Village Inn
The Winner
Snooze an AM Eatery
Five metro locations
It’s no wonder families line up outside the doors of Snooze for Sunday brunch. Founded in Colorado, this morning mainstay features an expansive menu filled with omelets, breakfast tacos and burritos, six benedicts and some of the finest pancakes in the region. The syrups are legendary, and between the pancake of the day, sweet potato pancakes, pineapple upside down pancakes and classic flavors like blueberry and chocolate chip, it’s worth considering a pancake flight — or two.
Frozen Yogurt
Top Five
Froyo Zone
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
Smart Cow Yogurt Bar
TCBY
Yogurtland
The Winner
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
Six metro locations
Anyone can hawk frozen yogurt, but Menchie’s yogurt shops make the consumer experience personal by giving off a neighborhood vibe that draws in repeat guests. Everyone who walks through the doors gets a greeting, a guide, a gift, a genuine connection and a goodbye; visitors also get great tasting frozen yogurt accompanied by fresh fruit and toppings galore.
Grilled Cheese
Top Five
Kneaders Bakery & Cafe
The Melt
Modern Market
Panera Bread
Sonic Drive-In
The Winner
The Melt
Three metro locations
This all-natural eatery was founded with the simple goal of making better food for kids, and there’s no denying that wholesome ingredients everyone can pronounce contribute to a better tasting product. The Melt’s four varieties of grilled cheese pair perfectly with naked or sweet potato fries, soft served desserts and soft drinks free from high-fructose corn syrup.
Healthy Family Restaurant
Top Five
Garbanzo Fresh Mediterranean
MAD Greens
Modern Market
Native Foods Cafe
True Food Kitchen
The Winner
Modern Market
Twelve metro locations
Who says health food has to be boring? At Modern Market simple, all-natural ingredients are packed into wholesome sandwiches, salads, soups and pizzas. Most offerings – including the salad dressings and pizza dough – are made from scratch, and the expansive menu accommodates just about every dietary requirement, from vegan or vegetarian to celiac, Paleo and raw. Seasonal items draw families back to this Colorado-born eatery year-round.
Kid’s Meal Menu
Top Five
Chick-fil-A
Chili’s
International House of Pancakes
Noodles & Company
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews
The Winners*
Chick-fil-A
Thirty metro locations
1-866-CFA-2040 | chick-fil-a.com
Convenience and health coincide at this popular chain. Whether it’s an on-the-go or sit-down meal, our readers keep returning for nutritious food their kids are always eager to scarf down. Try grilled chicken nuggets paired with Buddy
Fruits pure blended applesauce and Honest Kids apple juice; other crowd-pleasing sides include fresh fruit cups and waffle fries.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews
Thirteen metro locations | redrobin.com
From grilled cheese bites and mac and cheese to cod crunchers, chicken strips and meatball lollipops, Red Robin does kid food right, with variety, high quality ingredients and an ongoing corporate focus on sustainable farming and animal welfare. Add a healthy bottomless side to your kid’s meal – steamed broccoli, mandarin oranges or carrots with ranch, for example, and try a specialty kid’s beverage, too.
*Tie occurred in this category
Local Burger Joint
Top Five
Big Daddy’s in Brighton
Crave Real Burgers
Larkburger
Park Burger
Smashburger
The Winner
Smashburger
Twenty metro locations
303-633-1500 | smashburger.com
Since opening in 2007, the folks at this fast casual burger chain have delivered one of the best made-to-order burgers in town, using 100 percent Certified Angus Beef. The menu has healthier options — sub sweet potato fries for regular, or add a fresh salad to your order – and vegetarian-friendly, too. It caters to kids, with tyke-sized burgers on egg buns, gilled cheese, chicken strips and dogs.
Local Family-Friendly Restaurant
Top Five*
Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza
Four Friends Kitchen
Georgia Boys BBQ Company
Merle’s Restaurant
Mici Handcrafted Italian
White Fence Farm
*Tie occurred in this category
The Winner
White Fence Farm
6263 W. Jewel Ave., Lakewood
303-935-5945 | whitefencefarm-co.com
The family-style corn fritters, pickled beets, creamy slaw, chicken and fried fish at this beloved dinner spot are darn good — and, the food’s only the beginning. White Fence Farm is always crowded, but you won’t be bored waiting for your table, with playgrounds, arcades, live music and a petting zoo, among other farm amenities. Don’t forget to grab a pie at Granny’s on your way out!
Local Ice Cream Shop
Top Five
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
Liks Ice Cream
Little Man Ice Cream
Magill’s World of Ice Cream
Sweet Cow Ice Cream
The Winner
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
799 S. University Blvd., Denver
303-777-0808 | bonniebraeicecream.com
Since 1986, this adorable neighborhood spot – you”ll know it by the red-and-white awning and retro red vinyl chairs – has been serving up dozens of varieties of creamy, homemade ice cream in cones, shakes, sundaes and banana splits. Cakes and pies are also on the rotating and imaginative hand-written menu.
Local Pizza
Top Five
Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta
Audrey Jane’s Pizza Garage
Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza
Fat Sully’s New York Pizza
The Garlic Knot
The Winner
The Garlic Knot
Twelve metro locations
When our readers are craving Big Apple pies, they head to The Garlic Knot for fresh, hand-stretched dough slathered with old world sauces and loaded with cheesy goodness. Pastas and made-to-order subs are also available, but it’s the restaurant’s namesake garlic knots – don’t ask, just order! – that have earned this spot its cult-like following. After dinner, send kiddos through the BYO ice cream bar.
Online Grocery or Meal Delivery Service
Top Five
Door to Door Organics
HelloFresh
Jet.com
King Soopers
Walmart
The Winner
Walmart
Few frustrations in life rival weeknight grocery shopping with hungry kids in tow. Our savviest readers stock their virtual carts at Walmart’s online grocery store before heading to a brick-and-mortar for free same-day pick-up, where the folks at Walmart will even load up your car for you.
