Izzio Bakery is a family-owned Colorado bakery that has been baking traditional organic sourdough breads since 1994.



At the Denver Central Market location, the bakery also features breakfast and lunch items in addition to an enticing dessert display.



A fresh fruit tart caught my eye. A cookie disc layered with a frosting and topped with a colorful bounty of summer berries. What's not to love? It was absolutely lovely.



Next time, I may opt for a sandwich and try that fresh-baked bread.



Grade: A

I have found the best bagels outside of NYC. That's because Rosenberg's Bagels in Denver does just about everything it can to replicate the NYC classic right in Denver.



"We only use the highest quality ingredients. Our bacon is heritage-breed pork, processed by Denver’s premier bacon company. We use cage-free eggs that were farmed locally no more than a week before being served. We ‘recreate’ NYC’s water with a machine that we had custom-fabricated, in order to make our bagels as authentic and delicious as possible. And being in a landlocked state, it can be pricey to fly in fresh (never frozen) fish, of which we only use the highest quality and is sustainably sourced and every slice, masterfully hand sliced," reads their website regarding pricing.



I visited their Stanley Marketplace location, which is technically in Aurora, and the first thing I noticed was the smell. There are few things better than fresh baked bread.



I ordered The High Class: Specialty Smoked Fish, Caviar Cream Cheese, Tomato, Red Onion, Choice of Bagel (garlic). Plus a half sour pickle.



It's a little fancier than my standard lox bagel, so that made it a bit more fun. Slightly brinier and with some more interesting texture. Silky, smokey salmon, cream cheese, chewy bagel = it's a beautiful flavor combo.



Grade: A

Great Harvest Bakery is a franchise bakery & cafe that has recently expanded to The Mountain State - in Bridgeport and Elkins.



"For over 30 years we have been using long, traditional methods of baking to create breads that are truly one-of-a-kind, simple, wholesome, and delicious. Bread. The way it ought to be ... We still fresh mill our 100% whole grain flour every day. Baking from scratch was the norm for our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so forth. Bread. The way it ought to be ... Our wholesome sandwiches are layered with premium, nutritious ingredients between fresh baked bread. Sandwiches where the outside is as good as the inside! Bread. The way it ought to be."



The fast-casual cafe features sandwiches and salads, as well as breads, muffins, rolls, scones and the like. It reminds me of a more country-style Panera Bread with the agriculture-focused decor and menu items.



I visited around lunchtime, so I perused items like the Cubano, Roasted Pepper Chipotle Cheesesteak and the Spicy Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese before ultimately deciding on the Italian with genoa salami, smoked ham, roasted red pepper, black olive tapenade, provolone cheese, red wine vinaigrette, lettuce, tomato and onion on Farmhouse White Bread.



I gotta say - I was pretty happy with this sandwich. It was piled high with those classic Italian deli meats that when paired with fresh veggies and a nice, acidic vinaigrette, it is *chef's kiss*. Fresh, but flavorful.



I also snuck a butterscotch and coconut blondie type situation that was dang good. Sweet, but not too sweet. A little crunch, a little bitter. I appreciated the well-roundedness.



Grade: A

Samurai Hibachi & Sushi in Ripley is a Japanese and Asian fusion restaurant that runs the gamut of offerings - from teriyaki and bento boxes to ramen and poke.



The space is one that has seen many restaurants come and go. But it's easy to find with plenty of parking. Inside, it is not unlike other similar restaurants in the area. Bar seating, high-tops and red/black hues dominate:



I ordered Cheese Wonton (5), Lava Drops, Chicken Teriyaki and Strawbery Thai Boba.



These lava drops were pretty tasty bites of deep-fried sushi with spicy mayo and eel sauce on top. A nice combo of salty/sweet.



The teriyaki left a bit to be desired. I think the sauce could be more viscous so it could adhere to the chicken. Plus, a few gristley pieces turned me off.



Wontons were decent (but could have used more filling), as was the strawberry boba. The ginger salad is always a no for me. What's your favorite item?



Grade: B

Captain Richard's, also known as Captain's Quarters, is a bar & grill in New Martinsville with a firefighter theme that extends from its logo to its decor.



The restaurant features specials frequently, but standard menu items include burgers, steaks and a number of other comfort food clasics.



I ordered the meatloaf, which was so dry that it seemed like it sat under a heat lamp for far too long. The potatoes were nice with the piped filling. They could have used more seasoning, though. The mac & cheese was OK. Overall, I think the offerings were fairly middle-of-the-road.

Grade: C