As Denver’s great chefs go, so goes the city’s fine-dining scene—at least in the case of Sapore Prime Italian, which debuted in Littleton this past March. The kitchen is helmed by Brent Turnipseede, who honed his chops (and filets and strips) at downtown’s Guard & Grace and West Highland’s American Elm before moving from the Mile High City to Littleton this spring.

Since restaurateurs Terrence Gibbons and Daphnee Heiberg opened the upscale steak house—a rarity in the area—it has become a mainstay for fresh-made pastas and locally sourced meats prepared with elevated touches. Start with the beef carpaccio: Paper-thin slices of raw house cuts are drizzled with black garlic aïoli and watercress vinaigrette and accompanied by lacy Parmesan crisps.