Denver, Colorado
We got a walk-in table on a Saturday night (!) and I am so thankful that they squeezed us in -- food was incredibly good (scallops and red mullet starters,followed by perfect lamb and perfectly cooked beef filet), imaginative without being foo-foo, and served with unobtrusive and friendly service. Wine list is quite good, with many affordable options. Dinner is set price for two or three courses.
Halfway through my meal, I realized that the dish I was eating was so good that I had actually forgotten what I had eaten at the Witchery (one of Edinburgh's top-rated restaurants) only two days before. I made a point to tell the owner, and we had a lovely conversation about five-star restaurants and food near Edinburgh. Part of our vacation has been to enjoy very good food and wine, and this was definitely a highlight.
The restaurant is small and quite crowded, but manages to avoid being cramped. We almost missed it in town - it's off a small close on the main street through Linlithgow which opens to a lovely garden behind the restaurant. There did no seem to be a dress code, and we saw people dressed up, and in jeans (as we were). Lovely!