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Lively Restaurants in Boulder

There's a time and place for fine-dining, and this isn't it. When you're ready to kick back, let loose and maybe go a little wild, the fun restaurants of Boulder are ready to provide the venue, the vibe and the fuel to get the good times rolling.

The Mountain Sun has little sculptures of monsters hanging from the ceiling, along with a Jerry Garcia doll sitting in a hammock, and the people who work there – and eat there – are real characters. The Dark Horse's décor, on the other hand, is basically a bunch of crazy stuff on the walls, which makes it look like an Applebee's gone insane.

The low ceilings of The Sink gives it a dungeon-like feeling that is exacerbated by the stuff people have written and drawn all over the walls and ceiling. Plus, Robert Redford is rumored to have worked there at one time, which is fun.

Sushi Zanmai is a fairly typical sushi restaurant except that the sushi chefs yell excitedly every time someone walks in the door.

Cheba Hut and Half Fast Subs are two sub shops on the University Hill that definitely cater to the college crowd. Cheba Hut's "toasted" sandwiches – which come in nugs (4"), pinners (8"), and blunts (12") – are great for people with the munchies. Their slogan says it all: "Cheba Hut: Where the only thing fried is the occasional customer!" Half Fast Subs (pronounced half assed) really do take a while to make, but they have the longest menu ever, a cool Yellow Submarine mural on the wall, and amazing Long Island Iced Teas that are perfect for sipping on the patio.