cheap, greasy, awesome,  Friday, 06 June 2008 Tra-Ling's is quite possibly the cheapest, and best Chinese/Asian food in Boulder. Almost literally a hole in the wall in the Hill neighborhood, it features a number of exotic and tasty dishes. Their chicken curry is a rich and spicy dream. The Sesame Tofu has excellent flavor and texture. The Pepper Beef is enjoyably salty and greasy. wash it all down with a gigantic can of Arizona Green Tea, and you're good to go.

 The Sink is a Boulder classic,  Friday, 06 June 2008 This claustrophobic little joint is worth visiting just to experience the tacky chaos that is its interior. Frat boys and sorority girls pack in among the bright cartoon murals on the walls, the superlow ceiling (covered in patrons' handwriting), and the tables plastered in vintage newspaper. The kitchen serves up American standards like BLTs and pizza, and the bar does excellent business in getting the locals drunk on their nightly specials. However, for me the place's biggest selling points are its jukebox, and the slander written on the bathroom walls.

 awesome night spot, okay restaurant,  Friday, 06 June 2008 The Lazy Dog is pretty much a straightforward sports bar. The place is surrounded with sports televisions, frequented by beery twentysomethings, and serves up a menu of steak-n-salad standards. At night, the restaurant turns into a local watering hole featuring bands and DJs. I've been to the Lazy Dog for dinner a couple of times, but I enjoy it much more as a night spot. The menu is not very unique and the drinks are mediocre, but the music is awesome.

 great drinks but mediocre food,  Friday, 06 June 2008 Go to Juanita's for the drinks and the atmosphere, not for the food. the margaritas are amazing, the noisy Boulder crowd is fun to be around if that's your thing, and the decor is bright and cheerful...but the food is only okay. The ingredients are sub-par and the dishes conventional. if you want the real thing in terms of food, go to the Rio around the corner.

 fine dining downtown,  Friday, 06 June 2008 My grandfather and his wife took my family out to Jill's when they came to town for my graduation last winter. the place is located in the super-swanky, super-new St Julien's Hotel. the tables and chairs are a slick black wood, and lit onyx panels decorate the dining areas.

as an appetizer, I ate a salad made with baby spinach, strawberries, and locally-made goat cheese. for dinner, I had a plate of butternut squash ravioli. the mixture of salty and sweet flavors in the sauce and the ravioli was absolutely haunting. I sampled a bite of my uncle's steak, which was juicy and flavorful. I highly recommend this place for anyone seeking fine dining and posh atmosphere.