Vesta is consistently named one of Denver's top restaurants by 5280 magazine, called one of "America's Best" by the venerable Zagat survey and has been lauded by Travel & Leisure and the Wall Street Journal. It's easy to see why Vesta garners such accolades: Blending sophistication with funky cool, the dining room is a mix of wood and wrought iron with accents of sultry red and brown. And though many bill it as a fondue restaurant, the ultra-modern spot wouldn't be caught dead serving up the gloppy cheeses of the fondue past. Rather, Vesta allows diners to pair skewers of meats and vegetables with a choice of 30 dipping sauces, each prepared with a light hand and lots of flavor. Signature dishes include ginger chile-seared tuna, roasted grilled half chicken and Moroccan grilled lamb loin, each served with three dipping sauces.

Serving dinner nightly, Vesta draws an attractive downtown crowd to perch at the bar. The decor may be sensual but the busy restaurant's noise level often matches the food quality: high. For those needing a less bustling atmosphere, saunter outdoors for a sidewalk seat. -- Drew Myron (Photo: Laura Finney)