By RMHP
It’s easy to find delicious, locally sourced food and drink in Colorado’s Grand Valley — we’re surrounded by orchards, farms, wineries, and breweries. There’s no shortage of inspiration for chefs and home cooks alike, and there’s always fresh flavors to enjoy as the changing seasons.
If you’re craving some local cuisine straight from your home on the Western Slope, you’re in luck. Here's our guide to local farm-to-table restaurants, farmer's markets, and other Grand Valley favorites.
This downtown Grand Junction gem is the perfect lunch or dinner spot for groups that don’t mind sharing. In fact, Bin 707 encourages eating together and trying every unique dish. The owners value the lasting relationships they’ve made with local farmers: Their philosophy is “local first, Colorado second, domestic third.” With those principles guiding the menu, nearly every satisfying dish is made from scratch.
You can’t miss the cafe’s bright and welcoming yellow awning. Stop in for some tasty, natural, and local ingredients. In true local fashion, the menu changes with the season’s bounty.
Cafe Sol doesn’t shy away from accommodating diners with food allergies or specialized diets, either.
Chef Brunella Gualerzi, the restaurant's founder, was born in a small Northern Italian town called Bibbiano. It’s the region of Italy that brought famous dishes like prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, lasagna, and Bolognese sauce to the world, and Brunella grew up cooking these dishes. The bistro combines traditional Italian flavors with some of the Grand Valley’s finest fresh ingredients. Reservations are highly recommended so don’t forget to plan ahead.
This lovely cafe in Palisade takes supporting the local economy seriously all the way down to the locally-crafted stoneware. Seasonal produce, locally raised beef and pork, roasted coffee from neighboring areas – it’s all here and waiting to be devoured.
When the restaurateurs come from cattle-raising families in Colorado and Texas, you know they take their beef (and other meat) seriously. Everything here is made from scratch, as you might expect. This dedication to high-quality ingredients and good old-fashioned home cooking is in every single bite. With an extensive breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch menu, there’s something new to enjoy here at every meal.