Demolition begins on the iconic Gaetano’s

I grew up on the far west side of town, a culinary black hole — at least in the ’70s and ’80s — that forced me and my family to drive what I believed were impossibly long distances to dinner. We went out to eat — a lot — and…

Lil’s and Lou’s Wreck coming to LoDo…and hiring

LoDo will go a little bit country when Lil’s and Lou’s Wreck opens August 2, next to Maloney’s Tavern in the 1400 block of Market Street (actually, it looks like it will be carving out a piece of Maloney’s). But right now, this second outpost of a spot that got…

Guess where I’m eating a heap of head-on shrimp?

The secret to not making a mess isn’t a bib, but gloves, as the astute diners sitting next me obviously had learned from previous experience. Now I know better. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to the week’s Guess Where posts…

Red, White and Oskar Blues at West End Tavern tonight

If you feel it’s your patriotic duty to continue celebrating, head to West End Tavern, 926 Pearl Street in Boulder, which will continue its Fourth of July festivities with Red, White and Oskar Blues: a tap takeover showcasing rare and unique beers from Oskar Blues Brewing Co…

Cafe Society’s top ten posts of 2012…so far

Best burgers, best pizzas, best new restaurants (and best restaurant patios), plus a gallery of miniature football stadiums made of meat, a guide on how to survive Casa Bonita and a few ranty lists on what servers (or diners) do to piss off each other in restaurants. Yes, it’s our…

Giovanni’s Italian Cafe closes in Lakewood

Giovanni’s Italian Cafe — a family-owned combination Italian bakery, panani, pasta and pizza joint that had relocated to 3355 South Yarrow Street in Lakewood after a fire at its original location in 2008, then moved on to 9134 West Sixth Avenue — has closed that spot, too. The phone –…

Video: Ace Eat Serve adds recycled pallet wall

Construction of Ace — a new ping-pong hall, restaurant and bar that the Steuben’s and Vesta Dipping Grill partners hope to open by the end of summer — has been moving along steadily, thanks to Xan Creative, the design firm tasked with renovating the old Storz Garage space next door…

Top five chain-restaurant burgers — completely naked!

A great burger needs to stand on its own, a Westword reader noted last week in response to my review of Red Robin’s Burger Works, a new concept that the Colorado-based chain tried out at the Shops at Northfield Stapleton before rolling it outside Colorado state lines. That means the…