For something a bit more casual (but equally delicious), get a table at one of chef Daniel Asher’s restaurants: Ash’kara for modern Israeli cuisine on Pearl Street or River and Woods for elevated comfort food in a historic miner’s cabin along Boulder Creek. A trip to Boulder also wouldn’t be complete without a trip to The Sink, a dive-y, landmark college bar on University Hill that serves up burgers and pizzas—President Obama even made a surprise appearance in 2012 before a speech at the university and ordered the Sinkza pizza (pepperoni, sausage, and pepper), which has since been renamed the POTUS pie.

More to the point, “Colorado comfort food,” as in, lamb-and-oat meatloaf, Rocky Mountain pan-fried trout ’n’ chips, and slow-braised Colorado short-rib with smoked cherry goat cheese smashed potatoes.Why go: These guys define creativity. To wit: They offer “community-sourced cuisine”—their interpretations of family-favorite recipes submitted online by the public. The team selects the most tantalizing, puts their own spin on it, and invites the original recipe’s owner to the kitchen for a private tasting and dish naming.

After four decades, Chef John retired, and the famed century-old miner’s cabin on the east end of downtown Pearl Street is under new management as River and Woods. Chef Daniel Asher (who Denverites know from Root Down, Linger and Ophelia’s) and Josh Dinar (co-owner of T/ACO, a co-founder of Boulder’s Restaurant Week and publisher of DiningOut Magazine) have created an atmosphere that is just as cozy as before, but with an outdoor backyard seating area in what used to be weeds and rubble, an outdoor grill and converted Airstream trailer-bar (tented and heated in the winter). The unique crowdsourced menu pays tribute to Chef John’s famous gnocchi verde, but the rest of the dishes were selected from the best family heirloom comfort-food recipes they could find, including Oysters Hickenlooper, Woodlands Montreal duck wings and a lamb and oat meatloaf.

River and Woods delivers a comforting embrace with its American and New American cuisine, offering dishes that transform the familiar into the extraordinary. Notably, its approach to frying the whole steak as if it were chicken creates a novel and deliciously indulgent dish that’s perfect for celebrating life’s special moments. The restaurant’s cozy, home-like setting enhances the dining experience, inviting patrons to savor moments of joy and culinary discovery in a warm and welcoming environment.

Feb. 29’s big CineCHEF tasting event during the Boulder International Film Festival at Rembrandt Yard will feature fare from the following chefs: Michael Bertozzi of The Kitchen, Rich Byers from Jill's, Gage Hascall-Dove of Blackbelly, Bradford Heap from Salt, Kevin Kidd of 24 Carrot Bistro, Sheila Lucero of Jax Fish House, Jeremy McGinty from River & Woods, and Bob Sargent with Savory Cuisines Catering. Tickets: biff1.com/cinechef

Situated in the heart of Boulder, River and Woods offers an unforgettable dining experience that is perfect for the whole family. From the moment you step foot into this charming establishment, you are greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that instantly puts you at ease. What sets River and Woods apart from the rest is their attention to detail and commitment to providing a truly memorable experience.

Lots of cities have great food, but when you come to Boulder, you’re looking not only for great food but also for a certain aesthetic. River and Woods is a truly classic Boulder restaurant with a beautiful location as well as a tasty farm-to-table menu. River and Woods offers locally sourced American favorites like burgers and steak but also unusual selections such as their Montreal Duck Wings.

Enter the cute old miner’s cabin on Pearl Street and get ready for an intimate brunch or dinner that speaks to old school dishes done in a modern, sustainable way. Think burrata meatloaf, shrimp and grits and campfire-style s’mores prepared table side. Thanks to chef and partner Daniel Asher, this restaurant is also a Zero Foodprint business, and 1% of sales goes back to restoring Colorado.

River and Woods is a charming neighborhood restaurant that offers a creative take on comfort food. The menu is a mix of family recipes and chef specialties, featuring dishes like Grandma’s meatballs and the Colorado bison burger. The cozy, rustic decor with its communal tables and outdoor seating area creates a welcoming atmosphere.

It’s a taste of modern whimsy wrapped in tradition as Daniel Asher—one of Colorado’s most beloved chefs—brings creative flair to a century-old miner’s cabin with a magical backyard. Asher spins versions of traditional comfort food from across the globe, served in the small, beautifully renovated dining room. Visit River and Woods

River & Woods probably wins the award for cutest date night spot on this list!. The restaurant is actually in this adorable cottage, with an even more charming back yard which is amazing during the summertime. The food is “colorado comfort cuisine”, and everything we’ve ever ordered here has been amazing.

You can sit inside, where you’ll find plenty of wood paneling and edison bulbs artistically hung from the ceiling, or outside in River and Woods' backyard at a picnic table or globe tent. But back to the food – you’ll find all the comfort-food classics with an emphasis on local and organic produce.

Located at 2328 Pearl St, River and Woods offers a delightful twist on classic comfort food. Their Smoked Bacon Mac N’ Cheese features radiatorre pasta, cheddar gruyere béchamel, Tenderbelly cherrywood bacon, and a potato onion crunch, making it a must-try for mac and cheese aficionados.

We took a long walk down Pearl Street and stumbled onto this cute and cozy restaurant in Boulder's Whittier neighborhood. Housed in an old miner’s cabin, it’s the kind of place you know you want to eat at even before you see the menu. But the menu will make you even more certain.

The service was sweet and the place is nice, but the food is just OK. Much of it is too salty, and the veggies were overcooked. Also, the "GF" items in the menu are not all safe for celiac, as they don't have a dedicated fryer and some things you wouldn't expect go into it.

Address: River and Woods,2328 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302. When only a cozy atmosphere and home-cooked food will do, River and Woods is the top place to go. Operating out of a quaint cottage, chef Daniel Asher whips up classic dishes of all kinds, including:

Spots like Blackbelly, Dushanbe Teahouse and River and Woods in Boulder, Decent Bagel and Knotted Root Brewery in Nederland, Huckleberry and Zucca in Louisville and Jefe’s, Swaylo’s Tiki and The Roost in Longmont, will join a roster of many others to raise funds.

Chef Daniel Asher cooks like he’s trying to win you over with every plate, which he probably is. The elk burger is a sleeper hit, the cocktails are thoughtful, and the back patio is where I’ve had some of the most satisfying dinners in town without spending $200.

A cozy house on Pearl Street holds a treasure called River and Woods. It’s where chefs Daniel Asher and Josh Diner turned an old favorite into a new hotspot. They kept the place warm and inviting, perfect for comfort food that feels like a hug.

Two new options that are on our list to try are River and Woods, offering “crowd sourced” cuisine (i.e. reworked family recipes, many submitted by patrons) and the Rayback Collective food truck park.

Located in a historic miner’s cabin that is over a hundred years old, River and Woods is an eclectic Boulder restaurant serving locally sourced Colorado comfort food.

River and Woods – This homestyle venue offers gourmet comfort food and is one of our favorite casual Boulder rehearsal dinner locations.