This on-target French Provencal menu is on the 17th Ave. restaurant row, near downtown. The chef and owner, Rachel Woolcott, serves traditional cuisine in a relaxed, country-ish setting. Yellow and lime walls, abstract paintings and a small, careful menu enhance the quaint atmosphere. You might try the escargot and mushroom tart, or a bistro hangar steak with an anchovy-truffle crust. Patio seats are delightful in warm weather.

Elegant, beautiful and oh-so-romantique, Bistro Vendome’s locale in a tucked away courtyard in Larimer Square is a delight. When the weather permits, nothing is as splendid as the flower and plant-filled patio, but when it’s cold, venture into the warm intimacy inside and sit by the French patio doors. This little oasis in busy downtown is THE place to savor some Foie Gras, followed by Duck Confit and finished off with orange-scented chocolate fondue – what could be more sensuous than sharing THAT?

Here’s the place for Argentine (that means Spanish- and Italian-tinged) cuisine, in a casual, yet fancy bistro in lower downtown. That Argentine beef you’ve heard so much about? It’ll be carved right at your table! Start out with some provoleta, grilled provolone cheese with oregano and olive oil, and follow with risotto al pescador, or Lomo al Malbec. A glass or two of Argentine wine and you’ll be dancing the tango…

Filled with sunlight and right in the heart of tony Cherry Creek North, Cucina Colore has been delighting its patrons for 13 years. Serving mostly couples, this sophisticated, bistro-like restaurant serves authentic Italian cuisine with a twist. Sitting on the flower-bedecked patio on a warm spring evening is as close as you’ll get to Europe without an airline ticket. Feel like sharing with your date? Try some Pan-seared Black Mussels, followed by a luscious veal or fish plate. Don’t forget to top it off with the rightfully renowned Peach Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce – ahhh…

A long-time Denver favorite since 1985, Imperial Chinese serves up Cantonese, Mandarin and Szechuan plates. Just south of downtown, the décor is spiffed-up quite a bit from the usual, nice enough for that special occasion. The Imperial Chinese Restaurant is famous for its spicy Szechwan dishes. Favorites include the Chilean sea bass in black bean sauce, stir fried Dungeness crab and steamed whole striped bass.

Little India consistently rates high marks from dining critics for its heady aromas and flavors of traditional Indian specialties. The extensive dinner menu includes all the popular favorites from tandoori breads and entrees to biryanis, vindaloos and curries. If you like variety, visit the sprawling lunch buffet.

Mexican coastal cuisine translates to: pescado a la veracruzana, camarones al mojo de ajo, and more upscale translations of Mexican food. This is NOT the place for those seeking plates drenched with melted yellow cheese – this is for true aficionados of gourmet Mexican cuisine. Try the Sunday afternoons with live music, or the daily happy hours attracting the young and hip in this happening neighborhood just northwest of downtown.

Styled after a New York Little Italy neighborhood café, Maggiano’s serves up hearty traditional southern Italian fare – lasagna, eggplant parmesan, ravioli and manicotti – you know, the stuff Grandma made, done family-style. Maggiano’s is lively, well-lit and perfect for a festive evening, complete with Sinatra and Dino’s singing piped in.

One hundred frozen vodkas and a long list of exotic vodka “infusions” complement a wide Russian and Eastern European-flavored menu, offering such as pelemeni dumplings and beef stroganoff. This cozy spot features a pleasant patio and warm, inviting interior.

Another of the famed Richard Sandoval’s signature restaurants, Tamayo has been embraced by Denver’s connoisseurs for its creative, yet authentic, adaptations of fine Mexican fare. You might start with chile ancho fried calamari in a chipotle chile and blood orange reduction sauce, followed by tequila-flambéed shrimp, and finishing with a creamy tres leches made with Frangelico liqueur.