location, location, location,
For many years Denver was (I believe still is) the test market for many of the national eatery chains. For that reason those Denver outlets are often the best of the same-named places across the country. Denver is the one place where you can often fare better at a chain rather than at
a unique establishment.
Bringing a cooler? Check the road ahead for smokehouses and cheese shops (creameries). (I guess you can include bakeries but I'm personally not a big bread guy). If you are in the right areas of the country you can make your cooler as good as any deli.
On a recent trip to the Tulsa Gun Show my brother and I decided we were going to hit as many OK bbq places as possible. Some were chains, some not, but most were only so-so. The biggest surprise was that the very best of them all was a caterer way out on the panhandle (Guymon) that is only open Friday and Saturday nights. Hunny's.
