Reader: With Leo Goto's passing, the classy front-of-the-house guys are gone

Denver lost a piece of its dining history when Leo Goto recently passed away. His Leo's Place was one of the most popular places in town after it opened in 1970; Goto went on to turn the Wellshire Inn into a fine-dining restaurant. And his smiling presence was a constant...

By Patricia Calhoun

March 6, 2013

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Denver lost a piece of its dining history when Leo Goto recently passed away. His Leo's Place was one of the most popular places in town after it opened in 1970; Goto went on to turn the Wellshire Inn into a fine-dining restaurant. And his smiling presence was a constant.

Says Denver Dave:

Makes me very said because I knew Leo back all the way to Trader Vics. He was a consummate restauranteur and a pillar of the community. I think all the classy front of the house guys are gone (including Paul Attardi most recently). Not many gracious hosts these days IMO just a bunch of teenagers who don't have a clue.

Did you go to any of Leo Goto's restaurants? Who's the best front-of-the-house guy in Denver these days?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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