Four Denver restaurant dishes our food writer loved in June

Metro Denver’s food scene has never been as vibrant as it is today, something Denver Post restaurant writer Lily O’Neill and the rest of the staff of The Know understand. That’s why we’re out on the town as much as possible. Each month, we’ll provide you with recommendations about a few of the dishes we tried over the previous weeks. Want to hear about them early? Subscribe to the Stuffed newsletter, where we introduce one of these dishes every Wednesday.

King of Wings

Just because Sunday football is over, doesn’t mean Sunday wings have to disappear. I still love couching it up with a plate of grilled Buffalo wings from King of Wings after a long weekend. The restaurant has locations in Wheat Ridge and Golden.

The char on the wings gives them a whole new layer of flavor that’s missing from a typical deep-fried wing. If you want to mix it up, they have Thai BBQ, blueberry or tangy golden sauces for the adventurous. And I always order a side of onion rings. 7741 W. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge; 1100 Arapahoe St., Golden; kingofwingstaphouse.com.

Steuben’s Uptown

After a long day in the sun, my friends and I were looking for a hearty meal to replenish us over the weekend. We landed on Steuben’s since it was nearby, but it truly hit the spot.

Everyone got something different: A Nashville fried chicken sandwich, a pot roast dinner, a lobster roll, a smashburger and a patty melt. I’d also like to give a nod to the deviled eggs, some of my favorite in town. I told you we were hungry.

The upscale diner always welcomes you with open arms and leather booths to slide into. I love the nostalgia when you order a shake, and in addition to the old-school glass with a bendy straw, they bring you the leftover ice cream in a mixing cup. (The Fruit Loops milkshake, which tasted like cereal milk, had everyone’s eyes wide.) 523 E. 17th Ave., Denver; steubens.com.

Gusto

For my friend’s birthday over the weekend, we had a late-night meal on the patio of Gusto, across the street from Sloan’s Lake. Chef Lon Symensma, owner of ChoLon, opened the new Italian restaurant on the ground floor of Lakehouse, a luxury condo building in March.

We started with some Wagyu meatballs and a crisp Caesar salad. And we shared everything our eyes could handle on the menu, from spicy spaghetti to Margherita pizza, pesto-and-ricotta-stuffed caramelle, tiramisu and limoncello olive oil cake. My stomach is still rumbling for it. 1671 N. Raleigh St., Denver; cholonconcepts.com/locations/gusto.

Hillstone

When I’m craving a solid French dip, I always make a trip to Hillstone. The upscale chain eatery is known for its consistency and is perfect for regulars who want to order within their comfort zone, even though the menu is oddly half sushi and half new-American. I grew up going to Houston’s, a sister restaurant of Hillstone, in Kansas City. It was the fancy spot our dad would take us before a father-daughter dance for some upscale chicken tenders.