Approachable yet elevated cuisine is what this spot tucked in a strip mall is about. On sunny days, happy hour on the patio is a hit. The same patio turns into a cozy drinking spot around the fireplace at night. Bonus: There's a great late-night dining menu.

This reboot of a Berkeley cult favorite is now right on Tennyson Street, with a killer bar program to match its next-level dinner plates. More casual drinkers and diners can hang out by the front bar, but the dining room in back is perfect for a special occasion or date night.

Cozy is precisely the right word for this breakfast-lunch bungalow with a homey menu of signature fruit and nut pancakes, eggs Benedict, French toast, chilaquiles, salmon Benedict, salmon and lox, and other morning staples.

Located directly across Tennyson from the Oriental Theater, this Italian eatery has two components: The Parisi fast-casual, quick-serve option, and the Firenze, a Tavola sit-down dining experience, with Tuscan cuisine in a romantic setting.

Next to Block & Larder, the Royal dishes out a menu heavy on a variety of burgers — beef, turkey, lamb, tilapia, veggie — with delightful toppings from fig jam to goat cheese and Manchego.

This family-owned and operated restaurant serves authentic Mexico City-style cuisine alongside modern cocktails in a laid-back bungalow setting. The two front porch tables are coveted seats, and the birria, aguachile, and tortas are all favorites.

The crowds pack in at Hops & Pie, where diners can customize a pizza and wash it down with a selection from the ever-changing beer list. While the place is known for pizza, it dishes out a great selection of sandwiches as well.

A brainchild of the team behind Freshcraft, Block & Larder is a new-generation chophouse without the fuss. In-house butchery drives much of the menu, especially the evening board's chops, grinds, and braises section. Lunch is also available, and the fried chicken is among the best around.

This meat emporium offers great sandwiches, soups, and salads for lunch and dinner and a chance to bring home some house-cured meats after.

Just on the other side of 38th Avenue, close enough to the edge of the neighborhood, is breakfast, lunch, and brunch eatery Revelry. Don't miss the churro doughnuts with dulce de leche.

Located in a nondescript parking lot shared with Safeway, Ragin’ Hog is open Tuesday through Saturday, dishing up a variety of barbecued meats and classic side dishes. The sauces are delicious and represent different barbecue regions like Georgia, Memphis, and Carolina.

This family-owned classic remains a staple of the Denver dining scene. The menu spans South American cuisine, highlighting meat and seafood dishes such as prawns served in a black bean sauce. In the Rum Room, diners can also enjoy complimentary tapas with the purchase of drinks. Lunch service has been added Wednesday through Friday.

Tocabe stands apart as the only Native American restaurant in metro Denver. American Indian tacos are the specialty here, served up on fry bread with protein choices like shredded bison or grilled chicken. If you can’t get enough of the fry bread, try it in nugget form coated in powdered sugar.