The ten best dive bars in metro Denver

Are Denver’s dives an endangered species? Over the past year, two of the dives featured on last year’s list of the dozen best dive bars have lost their divey status — one, the Hill-Top, closed and just reopened this past weekend as the Rocky Top Tavern, and the Squire, while…

Introduction to Greek wines at Axios tonight

Wine dinners usually focus on the more famed regions, such as France and Spain; however, there are many varietals to be had from around the world. And tonight Greek wine is making its debut in the Denver dinner scene at Axios Estiatorio. See also: Beer calendar: Caution, Cannonball Creek, cans…

Acorn: Oak’s founders branch out at the Source

When the Source opened last summer in a redeveloped nineteenth-century foundry not far from the National Western Complex, the space was electric, crackling with the unexpected juxtaposition of food, urban grittiness and vintage architectural bones. It was just the kind of place to throw down a few tacos or grab…

Colorado Cider Company grows, releases two new ciders

Colorado Cider Company, one of the state’s cider pioneers, was founded by Brad and Kathe Page in 2011. Now, they are celebrating their success with an expansion that has enabled the cidery to triple its annual production capacity from 25,000 gallons to 75,000 gallons, and includes four new 2,100-gallon tanks…

Rocky Top Tavern opens in former Hill-Top Bar

The Hill-Top Bar was tiny, but had a mighty reputation as one of this city’s best dive bars. It closed last year, and was transformed into Rocky Top Tavern, which opened this past weekend. Although there’s no way you’d call the very renovated Rocky Top a “dive,” it has all…

Guess where I’m eating lots of little Japanese side dishes?

The menu at this enduring Japanese restaurant boasts, among other marvels, huge bowls of unadulterated, delicious ramen, each of which comes with seven side dishes, all of the Japanese persuasion — and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to eat every last bite. Can you guess where I’m eating?…

At Santiago’s, even green is orange on Broncos Sunday

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 visit every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here’s the report…

Tour Denver taprooms and learn about Spanish cuisine tonight

With all the craft beers in Colorado, it can be difficult to know where to start sampling. Culinary Connecters will take you through two taprooms and one brewery in the LoDo and LoHi neighborhoods on a two-hour tour that begins at 6:30 p.m. tonight. At each stop, you’ll hear from…

Oak at Fourteenth planted Acorn — but has it grown into its own?

Considering that Acorn, which opened last summer in The Source, grew out of Oak at Fourteenth, Bryan Dayton and Steven Redzikowski’s smash neighborhood eatery in Boulder, the name seems apropros. Especially since “kitchen-wise, it’s a quarter of the size of Oak,” says Redzikwoski. See also: Steve Redzikowski, chef of Acorn…

The Westword 2014 Food and Drink Bucket List: #15-6

What are the hundred things everyone should do in Colorado before they die? We posed that question to our writers and editors, and this week we’ll be rolling out their answers across our blogs, with can’t miss events/activities in music, the great outdoors, the arts and, of course, food. Check…