We moved to Fort Collins from Denver years ago because it was friendlier, slower-paced and a great place to raise a family. My husband grew up in a small town where everyone knew each other and kids went to school with each other from preschool all the way to high school graduation. I've always lived in bigger cities and longed for a tight-knit community, but not small enough to be Mayberry, just like Fort Collins.

When I think of restaurants that exude that small town feel, Silver Grill is the first to come to mind. Located on Walnut Street right there in Old Town Square, The Silver Grill Cafe has deep rooted history in this town going all the way back to 1912, although after a few years of management changes, it officially became the Silver Grill in 1933 resting in the hands of Flossie and Millie Widger (Flossie had been there for a while and left in 1918, coming back in 1933). In 1979 the grill was sold to John Arnolfo, who still owns the Silver Grill today, along with his sons and partner, Carrie Hartwell (check out the Silver Grill's website for a detailed history. I love that they have this on there).

The Silver Grill is a revitalized greasy spoon that is well-known for their cinnamon rolls. The recipe was perfected by a German hand baker and many people in Fort Collins bring their out-of-town visitors there for a must-have breakfast. Not only do they bake the cinnamon rolls in house, but dinner rolls and hamburger buns, too. Back in May of 2009, Rachel Ray's magazine (the Food Network cook) included the Silver Grill in a feature on best places to eat in Fort Collins mainly because of these cinnamon rolls...

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