Colorado is known as an outdoor destination, but over the past few years, it has quickly become one of the top dining destinations in the country. And you don’t even have to drive up to Denver or Boulder to find award-winning chefs and restauranteurs anymore. (Or good pastries!) The culinary scene is thriving around Stepping Stone and Parker, so put on your nicest duds, pile the family (or your date) into the car, and check out all of these fine dining establishments.

Parker Garage

This chef-driven, culinary-inspired restaurant is located right in the heart of downtown Parker. The building has been designated as a Parker landmark and was restored back to its original state in 2014. Executive Chef, Duy Pham, has been an innovator in Denver’s dining scene for over 25 years. His intention-based menu unites refined dining and local seasonal ingredients.

Trattoria Dionisia

This is a lovely hidden gem tucked away in an unassuming strip mall. This romantic restaurant strives to capture the charm of traditional Italian home cooking. Chef Natalia Fragapane is dedicated to bringing out the best in scents, colors, and flavors and offers up a wide variety of pizzas, traditional pasta, cannoli, tiramisu, homemade gelato, and fruit tart sabayon.

Dancing Noodle

This family-owned restaurant features home-style Thai cuisine. The chefs here cook the food the same way they would for their families – with very little pre-packaged ingredients. This is the secret why the food is so amazing here – every meal takes hours of preparation! The dining room is small and intimate, so if you don’t want to wait for a table, you can easily order your meal to go.

2 Penguins Tap & Grill

When the temperatures are warm, there’s no better place to be than this restaurant with its biergarten and patio. There are plenty of outdoor games like Giant Jenga and Cornhole, so bring the kids! Well-behaved and leashed dogs are welcome on the patio as well. Inside you’ll find a full menu and a constantly-rotating selection of Colorado craft beers.

Junz

Sushi lovers will fall in love with this casually elegant Japanese eatery that also serves French food. The sushi bar extends the length of the restaurant space and the fully-stocked bar will help pair your meal with the perfect beverage. Rumor has it that the owner keeps a stash of fresh wasabi on hand for those who request it.