Smokin' Dave's BBQ - ESTES PARK

About

A mile and change out Moraine Avenue, next to Trout Haven Ranch, sits the original Smokin' Dave's, the first of what are now five locations across Northern Colorado. It's on the way to Beaver Meadows, so it works as dinner on the drive back from the Park.

Brisket is why most people stop, followed by the pulled pork, the cornbread and the sweet potato fries. The bison ribs are the order you won't find at most barbecue counters, and the jalapeño hush puppies are worth adding. Gyros turn up on more tables than you'd guess. The meat is hand-rubbed and slow-smoked, then finished with the house sauces, and the draft list rotates.

Bar seats are a popular choice, and it's a fine place to catch a game. Dogs can sit on the patio, kids get their own menu, and the kitchen closes at 8 every night, which is early by summer standards. Takeout is ordered online, and catering reaches cabins out toward Glen Haven and Allenspark.