Fort Collins Restaurants

Yes, I have several pizza tips on my Ft. Collins page (What did you eat when you were in college?) Old Chicago is a chain that is most prevalent throughout the central US. There are two locations in Ft. Collins, I've only been to the one in Old Town. There's a livelier crowd here, and you're right around the corner from Walrus Ice Cream (see my other restauant tips.) The pizza at Old Chicago is pretty good - you'll have your standard choices of toppings and crusts. The unique feature of Old Chicago is their beer list - they have over 110 different beers to choose from. They call this the World Beer Tour, and you can get a card to mark off the beers as you try them. Try them all, get your name on the wall :) They also have your standard selection of appetizers and other Italian salads and dishes. Service is good, and you don't have to worry about bringing the kids - definitely a family atmosphere.

Favorite Dish: The pizza of course! It's "Old Chicago", so try the deep dish. You can't go wrong with "The Classic" (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and garlic) or the Chicago 7 (sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, green peppers, red onions and Mozzarella).

The Alley Cat Cafe I'm listing in the Off the Beaten Path section due to its location. Often over looked by the average tourist, the Alley Cat provides a wonderful place to relax and enjoy a cup of joe. Located to the south of the Old Town Fort Collins area, the coffee house provides 24 hours of food and coffee with free wireless and internet stations for customers.

Additionally, located below the store is the Animus bookstore.

Avogadro's is a rather large place near downtown. It has three main places to sit: in the front, in front of the indoor stage, or outdoors, which also has a stage. The fare of Avogadro's is down-home American, with burgers, salads, and pizza. There is often local music out back, especially in the summertime, like bluegrass and rock. The whole place has a very family-oriented atmosphere, even a jungle gym out back! Stop in, and relax for an evening.

Washington's has been around Fort Collins since the late 70s, and is still an eclectic place to eat or enjoy an evening on the town. The whole place is filled with various pieces tacked to the wall, and there are many nooks filled with tables and booths, giving it an intimate feel. Near the bar there are multiple large screen TVs to watch major sports that take place either in the area (CSU football) or nationally (baseball, the World Cup, and more). It has a nice vibe, though it can get loud as people stream in.

The food is a standard fare of American offerings, running the gamut from burgers to salads. They do have some mean BBQ, a rack of ribs with sides of beans and slaw and fries is very tasty. The bar also has a wide range, serving local beers (New Belgium, Fort Collins Brewery, and O'Dells) as well as standby favorites, plus a good selection of stronger liquors if the night calls for it.

Enjoy the funky ambiance of Washington's while chomping on some ribs and soaking in the sports life. Oh, and take in some pinball while you're there.. a great way to cap a night off!

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Wild Boar Coffee is a charming little coffeehouse just off of campus. It appears to be a converted home, lovely bungalow style building. It has a lot of charm, and the folks behind the counter can make some mean cups of coffee, as well as an eclectic selection of soups and sandwiches. For those not in a coffee mood, the place also offers local brews.

It is a great little place to relax away from downtown, enjoy the afternoon over a hot cup of coffee.

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This restaurant is a quaint little place situated in the downtown area, which doubles as a butcher shop as well. They specialize in breakfast, though, and has been lauded by locals as the best in town. Many of the dishes feature meats which are created right in the butchery, including buffalo hash, pork sausage, and thick-cut smoked bacon. High rooftops, inlaid tabletops, and a friendly staff all make this a relaxing place to eat. It gets crowded though; at 9am it was ok, but by 10:30 everything was packed.

Favorite Dish: Try one of their more special breakfasts; anyone can do eggs and toast. Their French toast is great, which was my breakfast of choice. The buffalo hash looked great, and their homemade sausage (had by my co-eater) was good. Orange juice was fresh, tasted like it was pulped on the spot.

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The pizza here is quite amazing. Beaujo's (pronounced "Bo-Jos) is located in Fort Collins in the historic downtown area. In fact, it is within an old bank building dating back to the 19th century. The staff are friendly, and the place attracts a diverse crowd, including locals and students.

Favorite Dish: You go here for the deep dish pizza. Thick honey wheat crust, generous toppings, good sauce, it is absolutely fabulous. The crust is so good they encourage you to save it for the dessert, and eat it with honey (provided at every table). You won't be disappointed, it's the best pizza I've had in a long time.

For the very hungry, try the challenge. The challenge is 2 people, 1 hour, and this huge pizza. It is a 12-14lb pizza loaded with multiple toppings. Only one sitting allowed (no ins and outs). If you do it, you get $100, 2 t-shirts, and fame. The waitress said that she's never seen anyone finish the challenge.

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This large bistro has a high degree of decor. High ceilings, multiple color palettes running through the place, along the walls, and lots of details which give it a very modern air. High-backed booths, interesting plates and dishware. The food is a pan-Asian approach, including Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and some Korean, with everything from sushi to sweet and sour pork. It is kind of a mish-mash, but they execute well, so you don't feel as if you're eating sweet and sour from a cheap Chinese place.

Favorite Dish: I had the sushi to start off, a plate of tuna nigiri, which was fresh and clean. The cut was a little loose, but otherwise a good starter. I finished with a Chinese chicken dish, the name of which escapes me. But the chicken was tossed with chilis, peas, and other veg. It was tasty, I wish it had more heat.