Tacos Al Molcajete

Where: 926 Main St
Hours: 7am-11pm (closed Tuesday)

There are plenty of good places to get your taco fix in Longmont, but our current favorite is Tacos Al Molcajete, located on Main Street just above 9th Ave. This unassuming spot has seen several Mexican restaurants come and go in the past decade or so, but we are hoping Al Molcajete is in it for the long haul -- we're not sure if we could live without their absolutely delicious Tacos al Pastor. Something about the sweet-n-savory flavors here adds up to absolute perfection. Those have been highlights each time we've visited, but truth be told, we haven't had a bad dish yet, whether it's crispy flautas or whipped-cream-topped churros. The fresh salsa bar is a treat too -- though be forewarned: those neon orange varieties are positively nuclear. With an extremely friendly staff, low prices and food that's always on point, Tacos Al Molcajete is a very welcome addition to Longmont's culinary scene.

CyclHOPS Bike Cantina

Where: 600 S. Airport Rd 

Web: http://eat.oskarblues.com/cyclhops/

Hours: 11am-midnight, seven days a week

The geniuses at Oskar Blues Brewing continue their takeover of Longmont with this inspired blend of a taco joint and bike shop. And I for one, welcome our new craft beer overlords. After all, they haven't let us down yet, from CHUBurger to the Tasty Weasel, from Homemade Liquids and Solids to the Bonewagon. CyclHOPS, located in the western part of town, doesn't break OB's streak. The tacos are extremely fresh and flavorful (the carnitas option with pickled onions was the clear winner the first time around), there's a wide array of tequilas to choose from and the Dia de los Muertos-inspired decor is fun and unique. And perhaps it goes without saying, but there are great beers on tap, too (both from Oskar Blues' arsenal and elsewhere).

The interior is spacious and family friendly with plenty of natural light pouring in. And it'll be even more appealing in the warmer months, thanks to its very inviting patio. Then you've got the bike part of the equation -- CyclHOPS is the official retail location for Oskar Blues' line of very cool, very customized REEB mountain bikes and offers a full-service bike shop to boot. Tacos, tequila, craft beer, and bikes? It's about as Colorado as it gets. 

What Is Open in Longmont on Sunday?

If you have lived in Longmont for any amount of time, you may find yourself asking, "What is open in Longmont on Sunday?" Downtown, in particular, seems to become a ghost town, and if you are looking for a meal out, some of your weekday favorites will not be available to receive you.

For my own reference, as well as yours, I am compiling a list of options that keep their doors open on Sunday. This is not everything, of course, just the L100 top picks. So if you are looking for a bite to eat out on Sunday, here is what we recommend.

Breakfast/Brunch

Lucile's Creole Cafe 
518 Kimbark Street (8 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Java Stop
301 Main St. (6 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

 Two Dog Diner

Two Dog Diner
645 Tenacity Drive (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

ModMarket
700 Ken Pratt Blvd, next to Lucky's Market (8 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

The Roost
526 Main Street (10 a.m. -10 p.m.)

Lunch

Cheese Importers
103 Main St. (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Georgia Boys BBQ
237 Collyer St. (11 a.m. - 4 p.m. or until sold out)

Comida 
721 Confidence Dr. (11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

Urban Thai 
2030 Ionosphere St. (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

Longs Peak Pub & Tap House
600 Longs Peak Ave. (11 a.m. - 12 a.m.)

Proto's Pizzeria
600 South Airport Road (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

The Roost
526 Main Street (10 a.m. -10 p.m.)

 Cheese Importers

Dinner

Longs Peak Pub & Tap House
600 Longs Peak Ave. (11 a.m. - 12 a.m.)

Comida 
721 Confidence Dr. (11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

Urban Thai 2030 Ionosphere St. (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

Proto's Pizzeria
600 South Airport Road (11 a.m. - 9 p.m.)

The Roost
526 Main Street (10 a.m. -10 p.m.)

Comida

Cheese Importers

Where: 103 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Web: www.cheeseimporters.com

We've been lavishing praise on Longmont's mighty Cheese Importers for years. "Magical," "unbelievable," "totally awesome" are words we've used when describing the place to out-of-towners. And that was all before this fromage emporium moved to its new, (totally awesome) location on Main Street. Previously, Cheese Importers had been tucked away in the warehouse/industrial section of town, a hidden gem if ever there was one. 

Now, it's no longer hidden, having taken over the city's former power station, right on the outskirts of downtown. It was perfect before, and now it's even more perfect: there's an expansive, walk-in cooler with 350 cheeses from all over the world available, not to mention olives, cured meats and more (lots of samples, too); there's a shop with cookbooks, gourmet candy, kids' toys, home furnishings, and art; and there's the Parisian-style cafe, Bistrot des Artistes, offering delectable sandwiches, pastries, coffee, desserts and (soon) wine, all in a sunny, very classy setting. As the French would say, "C'est si bon!" 

Comida

Where: 721 Confidence Drive

Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11am – 9pm; Friday and Saturday 11am – 10pm

Web: www.eatcomida.com

As you've probably noticed, gourmet food trucks are all the rage these days. With low overhead costs and easy mobility, more and more chefs are taking to to the streets. But one of the Front Range's best food trucks has made the leap back into the brick-and-mortar world -- with dazzling results. Comida, located in Longmont's Prospect neighborhood, opened last year and quickly became one of our favorite local spots to eat.

Putting an inspired spin on classic Mexican street food, pretty much every last thing we've tried has delivered incredible deliciousness, from tacos to gorditas and tostadas to quesadillas. The offerings can be out of the ordinary too -- there are some really out of this world, truly adventurous flavor combos here. Por ejemplo, the Sirloin Situation taco is made up of slow cooked sirloin in Negra Modelo over smoked gouda sweet potato mash with roasted onions and house crema. Even if you're not sure what that would end up tasting like, trust us, it's amazing. Comida's setting is perfect too: lively, friendly and very pink. Throw in a great bar, with local beers on tap and a magnificent margarita, and you've got one of Longmont's best restaurants.

Java Stop

Where: 301 Main St.
When: Tuesday-Saturday 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday 6 a.m. - 1 p.m. (closed Mondays)

Who needs Starbucks? There's no shortage of independently owned coffee shops in Longmont. Those in search of a caffeine fix can choose from the very popular Ziggy's, the excellent Luna Cafe (or up until recently known as Caffe Luna), the relatively new La Vita Bella and several others.

But our preferred coffee shop these days is the cozy Java Stop, located downtown in the historic Imperial Hotel building. The couches are comfy, the coffee is excellent, the pastries are fresh and the vibe is extremely low key and friendly. The prices are extremely reasonable too -- almost too reasonable. 

Owned and operated tirelessly by a husband-wife team, Java Stop has the feel of a community gathering spot, where conversation flows and new friends are made. Extra points go to this spot for being very kid-friendly -- there's a fully stocked closet with toys, games and children's books.

Sun Rose Café

Where: 379 Main Street

Hours: Monday: 7am - 5pm, Tuesday - Friday: 7am-9pm, Saturday: 7am - 5pm, closed Sunday

Web: www.sunrosecafe.com

Even though it’s located right in the heart of downtown on Main St., Sun Rose still has the feel of a hidden gem, a well-kept secret amongst Longmont-ians in the know. A breakfast/lunch/dinner spot that doubles as a gourmet food market, we end up here at least a few times a week, whether enjoying a killer breakfast panini, cooling off with their signature Lavender Lemonade, or picking up farm fresh (and free range!) eggs from Berthoud’s Long Shadow Farm. We’re also absolutely hooked on Sun Rose’s pesto – it’s pretty much ruined us for all other pestos. 

The setting is fantastic, with exposed brick, high ceilings and art from local artists adorning the walls. Oh and did we mention that they serve a nice selection of microbrews and mix a helluva cocktail? It’s a nice, family friendly place for a drink that’s not a sports bar setting – a rarity in Longmont. Can you tell we like this place? Now if we could only convince them to stay open on Sundays…