A String of Pearls: Black Pearl

The Black Pearl marked its third anniversary last week with a big bash that proved this polished place hasn’t lost any of its luster. In fact, the restaurant has come into its own over the past few years, losing some of the self-consciousness that marked its early days and settling…

A String of Pearls: Pearl Street Grill

South Pearl Street is suddenly full of new restaurants — India’s Pearl, Izakaya Den, Gaia — but for patio dining it’s tough to beat Pearl Street Grill, the oldest surviving restaurant on the block, and a classic neighborhood joint, complete with a Bloody Mary bar on the weekends that you…

Pissed Off Japanese Minnow Farmer

When I heard that the owners of the Candlelight Tavern had taken over the Kentucky Inn, it reminded me of The Parent Trap, the movie about identical twins who are separated shortly after birth when their parents divorce, meet as teens at summer camp, and begin plotting to reunite their…

Jonesy’s EatBar

No sooner does the level of my Great Divide Samurai bottle dip below the top of the label than Carol, the bartendress at the shiny-new Jonesy’s EatBar (400 East 20th Avenue), asks if I’d like another. It’s been less than five minutes since she served it to me. “Oh, I…

You’re Darn Teuton: Cafe Berlin

The Fourth of July is past, but Cafe Berlin will be waving the flag for the next week. In honor of the sixtieth anniversary of the Berlin Airlift of 1948 – the Luftbruske — Cafe Berlin will serve a free beer to anyone in the military — whether he or…

Make Some History: My Brother’s Bar

My Brother’s Bar is the oldest bar in Denver — city directories show that this spot at the corner of 15th and Platte streets was an operating tavern before the 1880s — but there’s plenty of life left in the joint. For starters, it keeps late hours for such an…

Midsummer Night’s Dream

The block of Broadway just below Ellsworth is suddenly my favorite block in town. Last month, Delite opened next door to Deluxe, quenching my thirst for a wonderful, comfortable bar where I could continue the evening after a great dinner. And then Beatrice & Woodsley sprouted next to Delite. From…

Las Margaritas Uptown

I typically pack a just-in-case deck of cards as a preventive measure when I’m trying out a new bar or restaurant — just in case the service is slow, or just in case the music/crowd/vibe sucks but we’re in no hurry to go home. Tonight, however, I pack my blue…

What’s All the Buzz on Agwa?

Last Friday, my friend Greg got an e-mail from a buddy in L.A. who was all excited about a new liquor he was planning to try that weekend that’s made with cocaine — sort of. Greg and his girlfriend got online to research this European concoction that’s been compared to…

Broadway Melody: Delite

Technically, Delite does not have a patio — but the front of this brand-new, storefront bar consists of garage-style doors that open wide on these beautiful nights. And thanks to alert management, smokers are kept far away from the front door, guaranteeing that the night air coming through that open…

Meat and Greet: Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Grab a seat on Sullivan’s sidewalk patio and prepare to meat and greet. On weeknights, this stretch of LoDo can be relatively quiet, if you want a more intimate summer evening. But on weekends, both the bar inside and the neighborhood surrounding Sullivan’s are really jumping. Adding to the action…

Life’s a Beach: Emerald Isle Restaurant

Driving back up Parker Road after a long, hot day on the southestern plains Saturday, the temptation to brake for the Emerald Isle was almost overwhelming. Not just because the bar itself is such a classic roadhouse — but because the patio behind it may just be the closest Denver…

East Angels Drink for a Cause on Colfax

They spent their high school years taking classes off Colfax Avenue, watching its endless parade of people and eating at its restaurants, and on Saturday, about 125 East High School alumni gathered at 5 p.m. at Senger’s on the Fax for the second annual Angels on Colfax pub crawl. And…

French twist: Aix Restaurant & Wine Bar

What? You’re still at your desk? Get up and get over to Aix, the charming French bistro on 17th Avenue, which has a lovely patio and an even lovelier happy hour. From 5-7 p.m., you can order from a list of five different small plates and five different speciality drinks,…

A Pizza the Action: Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria

When Mark and Kristy Dym set out to turn a decrepit 1883 building into the very sleek, very modern Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizzeria, they didn’t stop at just completely rehabbing the interior. They also tucked a brand-new patio onto the back of the building, a hide-out that could be the perfect…

La Vie en Rose

I was in France a few months ago, and just about choked when I discovered the cocktail I’d ordered cost $40. At that moment, I decided that I would not go back to Europe until the dollar is significantly stronger against the euro. Fortunately, we’re lucky to have a little…

Pasquini’s Pizzeria Uptown

“Dude’s having trouble keeping up,” I tell Greg when he joins me at Pasquini’s Pizzeria Uptown (1336 East 17th Avenue) and sits beer-less for five minutes. I’m referring to Josh, the lone bartender responsible for the bar, restaurant and fifty-plus-person staff party just starting on the back patio. Dude’s working…

A Shore Bet: McCormick’s Fish House & Bar

People in Denver set their watches by McCormick’s Fish House & Bar. At 3 p.m., seven days a week, the bar portion of McCormick’s starts its happy hour — offering the best $1.95 cheeseburger you’ll ever find, as well as an assortment of other discount treats. The deal ends at…

Pleased to Meat You: Fleming’s Steakhouse

It’s a long drive down I-25 to Inverness — but suburb-dwellers deserve good patios, too. In fact, they may need them more, because their front porches don’t afford nearly the see-and-be-scene opportunity of your average Wash Park or Highland bungalow. And there’s plenty to see from the out-front patio at…

Thank God It’s Friday: La Fiesta

Summertime, and the living is breezy. Denver diners and drinkers are obsessed with patios — and restaurateurs are obsessed with giving them what they want. Whether it’s just a couple of chairs stuck out on the sidewalk or acres of elaborate decks, almost every joint in town has an outdoor…

Mall in the Family: Earls

Summertime, and the living is breezy. Denver diners and drinkers are obsessed with patios — and restaurateurs are obsessed with giving them what they want. Whether it’s just a couple of chairs stuck out on the sidewalk or acres of elaborate decks, almost every joint in town has an outdoor…

The Remy Sidecar

Several of my friends are known for their favorite cocktail. There’s Matt, who drinks Ketel One and still water — and drinks it so often that we’ve named it the Keeney-tini. There’s Ellen, who drinks Cosmos made with Stoli Ohranj, no lime and no lime juice. And then there’s Deb,…