DRIVEN
5720 McWhinney Blvd., Loveland
$$$$
Parked in the center of an auto club, Driven features luxury finishes, lots of bourbon and a focus on beef, but don’t discount their other offerings, says Executive Chef Thomas Newsted.
“We have steaks ranging from eight to 40 ounces,” says Newsted, who calls the restaurant “a modern steakhouse with a twist.” The menu also features seafood dishes such as Spanish octopus and sea bass.
Driven opened in May 2023 and shares a space with Endless Garage, which hosts an auto club (think networking for auto enthusiasts), performance vehicle maintenance and storage and high-end auto sales. Diners can gaze upon the showroom from the bar, with decor that mirrors the shiny surfaces and sleek lines of the cars.
Their dishes have a higher price tag, with entrees ranging from $40-240, Newsted says. The 85-seat restaurant features a rotating menu that allows his team to take advantage of in-season, local produce as much as possible.
The restaurant also features a 20-seat private dining room for special events, exclusive house bourbons aged seven-to-nine years and an in-house dry aging program that produces some of the best steaks in the restaurant.
“The meat melts like butter,” Newsted says.
Driven. Photo by Dustin Lee.
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MADRE COCINA Y LOUNGE
214 Linden St., Fort Collins
$$$
Madre Cocina y Lounge took over the former Blind Pig spot in downtown Fort Collins in late 2024, bringing authentic Mexican cuisine—from ceviche and empanadas to more exotic fare such as oysters and grilled octopus—to Linden Street. The family-run restaurant offers fresh ingredients and friendly service in a bright, modern space.
Madre also has the only Josper grill—a Spanish oven that is a hybrid between a standard oven and a charcoal grill—in Northern Colorado.
Madre’s cocktails, much like those at their sister restaurant, Taqueria Los Comales in midtown Fort Collins, are just as impressive as the menu, featuring fresh juices and inventive takes on classics such as the Cafe Manhattan made with bourbon, barrel-aged tequila and a hint of absinthe. Hit their happy hour from 2-5 p.m. Sunday through Friday to taste several of their menu items and cocktails at a discounted price.
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ELVIRA’S CUBAN CUISINE
220 SW 12th St. #125, Loveland
$$
Melissa Daniels, owner and chef at Elvira’s Cuban Cuisine, juggles three young children (including a 21-month-old) and a growing business, where she does everything from the cooking to delivery. She describes her food as “Cuban with a Puerto Rican flair.”
Daniels began offering her food to the public last February, operating out of a kitchen she shared with a bakery until they closed. In September, she moved into a commissary kitchen in Loveland and does all her cooking from scratch, making her breakfast and lunch dishes available for pickup and delivery on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The name comes from her Cuban grandmother, who is the inspiration for many of her dishes. Popular plates include the classic Ropa Vieja, a stewed beef dish, and Cuban Empanadillas, but “hands down the most popular are my Cubano or Medianoche sandwiches,” she says. The two sandwiches are the same, with layers of pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and a tangy mustard, but are served on different breads. The Medianoche is our recommendation (and order the Ham Croquetas if they are available).
Daniels rotates her menu throughout the week but will take special orders with some notice. She can be reached via the Elvira’s Cuban Cuisine’s Facebook page, by phone or text or through the contact form at elvirascubancuisine.com. She plans to expand to a full-service restaurant in the future, but for now she is content to grow her business slowly as she raises her kids and waits for the right circumstance.
Elvira’s Cuban Cuisine
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CALL YOUR MOTHER DELI
315 N. College Ave., Fort Collins
$
When this Washington, D.C., chain expanded to Colorado with locations in Boulder and Denver, East Coast transplants would travel to get their bagel fix until Fort Collins’ location opened last October.
Call Your Mother is known for a softer bagel and the way many of the flavors, such as their everything bagel, have the seasonings baked inside, according to Roxy Watters, general manager of the Fort Collins location.
The Royal Palm, a smoked salmon bagel, and Sun City, a loaded up breakfast bagel, are crowd favorites. Watters says her personal favorite is a newer option, the Meatball, on a cheesy garlic bagel.
The deli’s decor is drenched in its signature palette of bright pastels, and their friendly staff is ready to serve a variety of coffee and hot drinks as well as many sweet treats.
Call Your Mother Deli. Photo by Kelsey Orcutt.
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BOOZEE TREATS
281 E. 29th St., Unit C, Loveland
$
Alcohol-infused ice cream and other sweets are now available in Loveland’s Orchards Shopping Center, thanks to Boozee Treats opening a brick and mortar in October. From apple fritters to cupcakes, the shop offers a variety of treats that are available with or without alcohol (and dairy or gluten). They also have fresh baked, booze-free sourdough loaves that are well worth the hype.
Boozee Treats
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SLICE HOUSE
1385 Sculptor Drive, Loveland
$
San Francisco-born Slice House was started by award-winning pizza slinger and restauranteur Tony Gemignani in 2010, with additional locations popping up from California to Tennessee. As of October, you can now enjoy the 13-time world pizza champion’s pie in east Loveland.
Slice House offers fast-grab slices of pizza with toppings ranging from traditional to specialty as well as four different crust types: New York style, Detroit style, Grandma style and Sicilian. They offer salads, pastas and other dishes as well as whole pies. A fan told us the cannolis are a do-not-miss.
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PEDRO’S COFFEE SHOP
2100 S. Colorado Blvd., Timnath
$
Timnath and Severance residents have a new community hangout with the addition of Pedro’s Coffee. The cozy spot opened early last year in a renovated historic barn with a rescue donkey, Pedro, as their mascot.
Pedro’s Coffee Shop offers a range of coffee and hot drinks as well as an assortment of seasonal specialties, like the Mules Matcha made with chai and the Salted Cin Bun latte. Breakfast burritos, sandwiches and pastries round out the menu.
Pedro’s Coffee Shop. Photo by Brooke Schimmels.
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Google’s Restaurant Price Guidelines
$: Inexpensive and budget friendly
$$: Moderately priced
$$$: Expensive or higher end
$$$$: Premium or very expensive
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New Spots Opening Soon
Twin Staves Cocktail Lounge
Be on the lookout for Twin Staves Cocktail Lounge underneath Hearth Restaurant and Pub in downtown Windsor, which will be opened by the owners of Larado Whiskey and Ridge River Whiskey.
The Milkshake Factory
The Milkshake Factory will open soon at 150 N. College Ave. in Old Town Fort Collins. The Pittsburgh, Penn., franchise is known for its handspun milkshakes, house-made ice cream and gourmet chocolates.
Gaia Masala & Burger
Gaia Masala & Burger is set to open at 649 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins this year. The chain is known for its Indian, American and Mediterranean flavors with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. They also stay open until 3 a.m. for those who need to refuel after a night of fun.
Yellow Crunch
Yellow Crunch, the tiny, almost 2-year-old spot in The Exchange in downtown Fort Collins, is moving and expanding into the former Crooked Stave Brewing Co. location, also in The Exchange. Yellow Crunch’s Colombian specialties are arepas and traditional plates, along with Colombian coffee and desserts. Try an assortment of items on your first visit with their three-meat plates and empanada flights.
