Something New at Panzano: A Second Helping of Food & Drink, January 25-29

This week, Mark Antonation took a tour of the Denver Tech Center, where three new restaurants — Pollo Lima, Bawarchi Biryani Point and Burnt End BBQ — are dishing out tasty international and regional cookery. Pollo Lima moved in where Chicago Mike's Beef & Dogs had moved out, but we neglected to mention that the Windy City lunch spot didn't close for good. Chicago Mike's owner Giles Everist was quick to point out that his eatery had moved just a mile east to 11405 East Briarwood Avenue (in the shopping center that also houses Firebowl Cafe), where you can still fill up on Italian beef sandwiches and other Chicago specialties.

Downtown, Panzano just revamped its seventeen-year-old bar with a new look as well as a new bar menu and happy hour that includes molto delizioso offerings from chef Elise Wiggins, like rabbit porchetta perched on a bed of polenta, pancetta-swaddled shrimp and osso buco ravioli. Bar manager Derek Lovell offers an Italian twist on a margarita that he calls the Incontrare, as well as a signature barrel-aged Manhattan stirred with Tin Cup whiskey, orange bitters and vermouth by Carpano Antica and Punt e Mes. Lovell is also concocting his own bitters and shrubs to give his mixed drinks Panzano-made appeal.
When Cafe Marmotte originally opened at the corner Alameda Avenue and South Downing Street, it took Wednesdays off — but business has been so good that it's now open for dinner seven days a week. Chef/co-owner Mark Reggiannini says brunch could soon be added, too — something that will no doubt be a big hit with the Wash Park neighborhood.

In other news: 

RESTAURANTS/BARS OPENING THIS WEEK*
The Melt, 1232 South Hover Road, Longmont
Temple Bakery, 2400 Curtis Street
Vitality Bowls, 2702 East Third Avenue

RESTAURANTS/BARS TEMPORARILY CLOSING THIS WEEK*
DADA Art Bar (management change), 2470 Broadway

RESTAURANTS/BARS CLOSING THIS WEEK*
Brendan's Pub, 404 Broadway
Park House (Sunday), 1515 Madison Street
Twisted Cream, 835 Colorado Boulevard