Foodie Friday
There's a good reason Bon Appétit called Boulder, America's Foodiest Town. This weekly blog will help you understand why! Every Friday, check out downtown's food scene and all the incredible opportunities available to tantalize your taste buds! Check out this list of restaurant specials and promotions compiled weekly - just for YOU!
Food-Related Events and Announcements: October 2, 2026
Happy Friday, Foodies! Happy October and happy Homecoming weekend to Buffs past and present! There’s something special about coming back to Boulder in the fall, whether you’re returning to campus or meeting up with friends downtown before the game. Between revisiting your favorite spots and seeing what’s new since your last visit, we hope you make time for something delicious along the way. Go Buffs!
Barchetta has a new fall pizza worth adding to your order. The Luna brings together salami, mozzarella and provolone with caramelized onions, fresh jalapeños, eggplant and garlic purée, finished with Parmesan and orange zest. If your usual pizza order could use a change, this is a good place to start.
Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant is leaning into the season with grilled lion’s mane mushrooms glazed with raspberry vinegar. Served with wild rice and fall vegetable pilaf, kale and green apple slaw and walnut crema, it sounds like a lovely dinner for an October evening.
Craving steak? Head to Flatiron, Rosetta Hall's American kitchen, for a grilled Denver steak. Make an evening of it with friends, especially if Homecoming has brought a few familiar faces back to town.
Over at OAK At Fourteenth, the hamachi crudo is a fresh, flavorful option for your next downtown dinner. Pair it with a glass of wine and take your time catching up across the table.
If your weekend plans leave little time to sit down, Lindsay's Boulder Deli @ Häagen Dazs has you covered. Stop in for grab-and-go sandwiches or soup before heading to your next Homecoming stop. A busy day still deserves a good lunch.
At bartaco, you can stick with a favorite like the Red Chorizo Taco or try the roasted cauliflower taco for something different. Add a Passionfruit Oaxacan Marg if you’re in the mood to linger a little longer.
A little reminder for your next dessert stop: Gelato Boy has gluten-free and dairy-free options, including flavors like Dark Chocolate, Mint Chip and Island Coconut. There’s still plenty of reason to stop for a scoop as the weather cools down.
For the days when you want something warm and comforting, Zoe Ma Ma has a bowl of noodles calling your name. Paired with crisp greens and tender dumplings, it’s an inviting way to settle into fall.
And if you’re already looking ahead to next week, spend some time at VINCA on Pearl. Every Monday and Wednesday, select bottles start at just $25. Pick a night and invite someone you’ve been meaning to catch up with.
Creature Comforts is getting into the fall spirit with seasonal drinks like the Kyoto Fog, Sesame Gone ‘Nanas, Pumpkin Patch and Malabar Cloud. If you’re ready to trade your usual order for something new, stop in and find your October favorite.
A burger from C Burger sounds like a good addition to your Homecoming weekend plans. Round out your order with onion rings or a Kale Caesar salad and settle in for a bite before heading back to the festivities.
Ways to Help
Emergency Family Assistance Fund (EFAA) helps those in our community whose immediate needs for food, shelter and other basic necessities cannot be adequately met by other means, and supports their efforts toward financial stability or self-sufficiency. You can help them with a financial contribution, volunteering, or donating non-perishable food and cleaning supplies.
Emergency family assistance fund
Harvest of Hope Pantry's sole mission is food assistance. They offer clients a choice shopping experience where individuals select preferred foods within their shopping allowances. You can help them with financial assistance, volunteering or by hosting food drives.
Boulder Food Rescue aims to create a more just and less wasteful food system by facilitating the sustainable redistribution of healthy food that would otherwise be wasted to low-income communities, by bicycle. The best way to help them currently is to donate or volunteer.
Meals on Wheels Boulder provides nutritious meals and a daily well-being check to Boulder residents, regardless of age or income. The number one way to support them during this time is to contribute financially.