Highlands Mommies: Their picks for best food, shops, yoga studios in northwest Denver

Much fuss has been made about the Highlands Mommies' relationships to local businesses, as is evident in the comments on our cover story, "The Mommies." Here's a juicy one:

The Highland Mommies are run by a self-possessed cadre of mean girls who finally have a voice after what surely were unfulfilled high school years. The comment about the Highland Mommies being bullies is true. ... Feeling big because you can 'ruin' a small business or individual trying to make a living is nothing to be proud of.

But are the Mommies trying to hurt local businesses, or help them?

The Mommies say it's the latter, though they admit that there was a time when their reputation wasn't stellar. "We had a bad rap," explains Mommies managing director Laverne Herrera-Hay. "They used to say, 'Oh, you don't want to make the Highlands Mommies mad because they'll make your business go under.'

"And that's not true. That's the last thing we want, is to see any business in our community go under. Because they're owned by people who live in this neighborhood. So we've worked on that, and I think it's gotten a lot better."

In fact, the Mommies held their own "Best Of" contest last year for Highlands businesses (not unlike the "Best Of" awards given out by a certain venerable local publication). They announced the winners last February. Here's the Mommies' blue-ribbon list:

Favorite Mexican Restaurant
Tacos Jalisco

Most Authentic Mexican Restaurant
Taqueria Patzcuaro

Favorite Italian Restaurant
Parisi

Favorite Asian Restaurant
Thai Basil

Favorite Delivery
Pasquini's

Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Pasquini's

Favorite Date-Night Restaurant
Duo

Favorite Dessert
Happy Cakes

Coolest Bar
Root Down

Best Patio
Cafe Caliente (renamed Highlands Cork and Coffee)

Favorite Cafe
Common Grounds

Favorite Breakfast
DJ's Berkeley Cafe

Favorite Ice Cream
Red Trolley

Favorite BBQ
Big Hoss

Favorite Burger
Billy's Inn

Most Addictive Pizza
Parisi

Favorite New Restaurant
Ernie's Bar & Pizza

Favorite Liquor Store
Mondo Vino

Favorite Grown-Up Clothing Store
Dragonfly

Favorite Kids Clothing Store
Real Baby

Favorite Consignment Shop
Clotheshorse

Favorite Book Shop
The Bookery Nook

Favorite Pet Supply Store
Mouthfuls

Favorite Spa
Indulgences Day Spa

Favorite Hair Salon
Rebelle by Tootsies

Favorite Nail/Wax
Tootsies

Favorite Exercise Class or Gym
SoulFire Fitness

Favorite Yoga
Spiral Yoga

Favorite Class to Take with Your Kids
Music Together

So, Mommy haters, do you agree with their picks? Tell us in the comments!

More from our Follow That Story archive: "Highlands Mommies: A list of the best quotes that didn't make it into the cover story."