Restaurants

Sashimi in Cheyenne, good Southern-style fried catfish in the heart of downtown Fort Collins, even an all-American burger in a joint once praised by Buffalo Bill Cody--it has been another interesting year dining across the region.

Over the course of 2012, I visited everything from Thai restaurants to everyday mom and pops. Here is what stood out during my culinary travels over the past 12 months:

Best Dining Destination: Bridgeport

The little community--it is smaller than Kimball--supports several worthwile venues. Meadowlark, for instance, serves a respectable diner-style menu. Burgerwerx is a decent sandwich spot. Mi Puerto occupies the Tex-Mex/Mexican space reasonably well (if you order correctly). Of course, the Steel Grill is the town’s feature restaurant.

Soon new owners will reopen in the Wildman’s space, too.

Best Burger: Open Range Grill, Ogallala

The restaurant uses local, range fed beef in its patties, lists a number of creative burgers on their menu and fries up the best tater tots in western Nebraska.

Best Martini: Roxie’s, Laramie

Few panhandle bartenders understand the balance necessary in even the simplest cocktail. So one must travel to Fort Collins, Cheyenne or this corner spot in downtown Laramie.

Best Mexican Restaurant: El Molcajete, Scottsbluff

La Bonita serves savvier tacos, but just about everything else carries a more authentic savor at this timeworn mom and pop shack.

Best New Restaurant: Peyton’s Island Time, Kimball

With options like the bacon-avocado burger and gorgonzola fries, it’s a break from th Kimball norm.

Best Ethnic: Re-O-Na, Cheyenne.

The downtown restaurant has two faces, Thai and Japanese. It’s the smaller Thai menu that stands out.

Most Eclectic: Tea Garden, Gering

The curious spot rivals Wonderful House in the Chinese cooking department. But they also serve chicken fried steak and, accoring to some, the region’s best biscuits and gravy.

Most Fun: Peking Restaurant, Ogallala

Not a bad place to stop for dinner, and the wisecracking co-owner makes it feel like home.

Must Visit: Glur’s Tavern, Columbus

Set in an old frame building, Glur’s has served the town since the 1870s.

See you again in 2013.