Gerard Strong Central Bistro & Bar 1691 Central Street 303-477-4582 centralbistrobar.com This is part one of my interview with Gerard Strong, exec chef of Central Bistro & Bar; part two of our chat will run in this space tomorrow. I'm a Scorpio, and I'm pretty proud of that," volunteers Gerard St ... More >>
Evergreen as a town has a lot to recommend it, from the beautiful lake (ice skating! paddleboats!) to the shopping. Vegetarians might not immediately know where to turn, though, when they're seeking out sustenance in the downtown area -- but there are plenty of options for the non-meat-minded, inclu ... More >>
Izakaya Den and Sushi Den aren't the only sibling restaurants on Old South Pearl Street -- or the only family-owned enterprise that's growing along that stretch. Patrick Mangold-White is slated to open Uno Mas, a taqueria, in the former home of Budapest Bistro, on Sunday -- so it seemed like a good ... More >>
We recently shared a list of the ten worst travel cities -- a roster on which Denver finished first -- as judged by inexpensive flights, short travel times to popular destinations and accessibility. But what if you're more interested in another type of accessibility -- such as the ease of finding ve ... More >>
Cafe Society dished our four Guess Where? contests last week, ranging from a shrimp stir-fry from Makan Mayalsian Cafe, to a still-unidentified frozen strawberry margarita poured in a cactus glass, to a Greek frappé from a restaurant-bar that just began serving brunch.
The folks at PETA know a little something about avoiding meat, and they recently came up with a list of the top ten vegan-friendly cities in America. And while Denver has its share of vegan-friendly options, Boulder was the only Colorado city that made the list. Turn the page to see how PETA descri ... More >>
Dana Rodriguez, who's spearheaded the kitchen at Bistro Vendome for just over two years, may be one of the most unheralded chefs in Denver, but that's about to change: In late July, she'll leave that kitchen behind to become the executive chef-partner of Work & Class, a new restaurant that will open ... More >>
Father's Day is this Sunday, and Edge Restaurant & Bar, 1111 14th Street, is celebrating by partnering with Rickenbaugh Cadillac of Denver for a three-course brunch menu on June 16 paired with a test drive in one of the Cadillac's new ATS, CTS, SRX and Escalade models. The deal costs $55; call Edge ... More >>
As if summertime bar crawls weren't refreshing enough, there is now a way to get two-for-one drink specials at 56 different bars and restaurants around Denver. The Denver Passport "aims to help people find new, independent, local places to hang out, and to provide participating venues with a new ba ... More >>
This week Gretchen Kurtz tasted the tortas at Ay Caramba!, Mark Antonation continued his quest on Federal Boulevard with a stop at Dalat Vietnamese, and Lori Midson spoke with David Lindberg of Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria about his focus "on being the best pizzeria in Park Meadows." And there was lot ... More >>
Sean Yontz's job effectively ended at the end of service on May 3, when El Diablo and Sketch closed for good and he parted ways with Jesse Morreale, owner of the red-tagged First Avenue Hotel, after eight years in business together. After that, Yontz traveled some, and he's now on his way to Aspen f ... More >>
David Lindberg Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria 8439 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree 303-799-8900 bonannobrotherspizzeria.com This is part two of my interview with Dave Lindberg, exec chef of Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria; part one of our conversation ran yesterday. Most memorable meal in Denver that y ... More >>
Award-winning chef and restaurant owner Kelly Liken is kicking off the summer season with weekly Harvest Sunday Suppers at Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail. The series, which pairs with the with Vail Farmers' Market, starts Sunday, June 16; the suppers will continue through September 22. See also: - ... More >>
In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>
David Lindberg Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria 8439 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree 303-799-8900 bonannobrotherspizzeria.com This is part one of my interview with Dave Lindberg, exec chef of Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria; part two of our chat will run tomorrow. Imagine -- no sugar, so salt, no butter. ... More >>
Ristorante L, formerly Laudisio, closed on Saturday after almost 25 years in Boulder. Was the restaurant killed off by nearby chains? Or by independent restaurants that had raised the bar on what people now expect in Boulder? See also: - Laudisio, aka Ristorante L, closes in Boulder - Trader Joe's ... More >>
What is the future of pizza? Will it be rehydrated from tiny pucks, as in Back to the Future? Made available in pill form, like little pepperoni-flavored aspirin capsules, or delivered via pizza drone? These post-space-age pie ponderings are certainly amusing to consider, because here in the present ... More >>
Steuben's has become a go-to Denver staple, thanks to its streamlined approach to classic American diner food and spot-on bar program -- and the two (very different) patios don't hurt, either. Whether you plan on doing some prime people-watching on the front patio along East 17th Avenue, or would ra ... More >>
Steuben's, 523 East 17th Avenue, has started its third annual Picnics on the Patio series. The monthly, family-style parties take place on the patio through September, and each meal is inspired by a different regional cuisine. The picnic tonight, June 10, begins at 6 p.m. and will feature a Tex-Mex ... More >>
"We're moving Phat Thai -- we just don't have a forwarding address yet," quips Mark Fischer, the owner-executive chef of Phat Thai in Cheery Creek, a restaurant that Fischer describes as "a curious new breed of southeast Asian eatery, offering imaginative food and tasty drinks inspired by travels to ... More >>
Cafe Society served up three Guess Where? contests last week, zigzagging from a steak streaked with pesto from the Archive Room, to a pudgy burger with Parmesan-dusted fries from Crave, to a bowl of edamame beans from a restaurant that prepares them in a refreshingly different way.
"I swore I'd never get in the restaurant business," John Elway told the crowd gathered for a private party last Thursday at the Elway's at DIA. Today, of course, the Hall of Famer has four restaurants: the original Elway's, which he opened with partner Tim Schmidt in Cherry Creek in 2004; Elway's at ... More >>
Uno mas. The Spanish verbiage translates to "one more," and for Patrick Mangold-White, that's "one more tequila, one more taco, one more for the neighborhood and one more 'What the hell are you thinking?'" Years ago, when I first met Mangold-White, who also owns Kaos Pizzeria (he co-owns Gaia Bistr ... More >>
After a year of construction that carved out the original home of the Pearl Street Grill and replaced it with a modern, multi-level structure, the new Izakaya Den will officially open tomorrow right next to Sushi Den, a mainstay on South Pearl Street for close to three decades. Created by Hiro & Com ... More >>
It's no secret that in Colorado, we're graced with a ton of sunshine -- so much, in fact, that we brag about it (300 whole days of sunshine a year, if you just moved here last week and haven't heard). In honor of our great weather and equally boast-worthy bar-and-restaurant scene -- as well as a the ... More >>
This week Mark Antonation served up round three in his loo at Denver's finest stretch of noodle bars, with a meal at Pho Duy. Gretchen Kurtz returned to Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder, a restaurant she reviewed two years ago before a disastrous fire, and found it bigger -- and better -- than ever. And ... More >>
Last year, on Top Chef Seattle, Jorel Pierce, chef de cuisine at Euclid Hall, was the first contestant booted by judge Tom Colicchio, who had dubious issues with Pierce's chicken butchery skills. And that could have signaled the end of Pierce's presence on the national screen. But it didn't. On Top ... More >>
Makan Malaysian, 1859 South Pearl Street, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this evening with an all-night happy hour (yes, the restaurant got its liquor license), and free snacks. See also: - Inside Makan Malaysian Cafe - Makan celebrates the food of Malaysia...and the coffee of Australia - ... More >>
In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>
Duy Pham Epernay 1080 14th Street 303-573-5000 This is part one of my interview with Duy Pham, exec chef of Epernay; part two of our chat will run tomorrow. epernaylounge.com We're boat people," chuckles Duy Pham -- but he's dead serious. Born in Saigon, Pham snuck out of Vietnam with his father, ... More >>
How far does she go? You'll have to tune into Bravo beginning on Wednesday, July 24 to see whether or not Jennifer Jasinski, executive chef of Rioja, makes it all the way on Top Chef Masters. Jasinski, who just won the Best Chef Southwest James Beard Foundation award -- and also owns Bistro Vendome ... More >>
Squeaky Bean won't turn one until later this month, but already the restaurant has given LoDo a couple of presents: an outdoor patio with seating for sixteen, and a new happy hour that starts at 4 p.m. (an hour earlier than the restaurant used to open) and runs until 6 p.m. Owner Johnny Ballen was p ... More >>
The Hawt Dog & Sausage Eatery originally opened in Cherry Creek North in January 2012. Its claim to fame was an elaborate take on a traditionally uninteresting tubular food (hot dogs and sausages), but that wasn't enough to keep the place open. It closed last November. But last month there were s ... More >>
Despite a disappointing cocktail list that shoves little more than vodka down the throats of imbibers, the recently revamped menu at this suburban watering hole and restaurant is far better than than it's been in the past, and the kitchen doesn't balk when you want your meat on the crimson side. Ca ... More >>
The Fire Bowl Cafe franchise is based in Austin -- and you can make whatever jokes you like about Texas producing an Asian fast-casual eatery, but the only location in the metro area is packed every lunch hour. Fire Bowl seems to be the go-to place for Denver Tech Center types who want to snag lunch ... More >>
It's funny, in a way, how much stock diners put in servers' recommendations, given how little both parties know about each other and how finicky people's tastes tend to be. I've been told by servers that they liked a certain dish because it was really filling (not exactly tops on my list of criteria ... More >>
Cafe Max, 2412 East Colfax Avenue, has introduced a wine-tasting and education program that takes place at 6 p.m. every other Monday -- including tonight. The course is led by certified sommelier Chade Pare and costs $20; call the cafe at 303-333-0003 for more details. It's Colorado Wine Week, whic ... More >>
When Lori Midson dropped by a red-sauce place for a disappointing plate of spaghetti and meatballs last week, her server confided that while the pasta was billed as handmade, it wasn't -- making pasta was so tricky that few restaurants serve homemade spaghetti these days, he told her. See also: - ... More >>
Cafe Society served up four Guess Where? contests last week, ranging from a plate of meatballs and "homemade" spaghetti that isn't, from Mama Louise, to a beautifully charred and blistered sausage pizza from Bonanno Brothers Pizzeria, to a perfect beer poured in a new taproom.
This week, Mark Antonat's travels up Federal Boulevard finally reached Lao Wang Noodle House, a spot already beloved for its soup dumplings -- but he found plenty of other crave-worthy dishes there. For Chef and Tell, Lori Midson interviewed Jimmy Bernat, who just opened Jimmy's Urban Bar & Grill in ... More >>
I love the Ethiopian stews here, and whether your tastes bend toward vegetarian, or intensely aromatic meat dishes, this is a place to find an excellent Ethiopian feast...even if you'll likely eat it in a dining room bereft of light. Can you guess where I'm eating? Special bonus: Anyone who give ... More >>
Suffice it to say that I eat out more than the general population, unless, of course, the general population can catalogue more than 450 restaurant meals in a year -- which is about the number of breakfasts, lunches and dinners that I stomached in 2012. Pathetic, isn't it? But all those food dates a ... More >>
Later today we'll post our Restaurant Roll Call for May, a compendium of all the openings and closings in town over the past month -- and there have been plenty. But already, June is shaping up to be a very busy time for restaurants. Two new places have dates with the Department of Excise and Lice ... More >>
Although more than a dozen restaurants opened in the metro area this month, pizza carved the biggest slice out of the market. Pizza Locale, which got its start in Boulder, opened a restaurant in Denver. Pizza Republica, which got its start in Greenwood Village, opened a restaurant in Denver. And Liv ... More >>
Budapest BistroThe Budapest Bistro has closed after more than twenty years on South Pearl Street; the space will become a Mexican restaurant that will share ownership with nearby Gaia Bistro and Kaos. This is just one of the many changes on this strip of South Pearl; Izakaya Den left its home last S ... More >>
What's in a name? Plenty, if you're trying to plan a new bar -- and find that another bar project has claimed the same name. Cliff and Zachary Young, the father/son team opening a new watering hole at 437 West Colfax Avenue, right around the corner from CY Steak, which Cliff has run since October 20 ... More >>
