Arabian Bar

We almost take the scooter from my place to Highland. But then Sean has last-minute reservations about riding without a helmet, and regardless of how engaged-to-a-beautiful-girl he is and how comfortable and happy I am with my hetero relationship, there’s still a certain amount of awkwardness when two dudes share…

Peach Mojito

As I walked toward Sengers on the Fax, a homeless person who’d strategically placed himself near the entrance asked if I could “help out.” After living in New York for years and finally figuring out that “help out” means “give me money for drugs and booze,” I came up with…

My Brother’s Bar

As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one truly great cheeseburger in the area, and that’s the double served at Bud’s Bar in Sedalia. Bud’s has done everything possible to make me dislike the place — from overcharging me to refusing takeout orders to being too full for me to…

Hick Ousted from Wynkoop Group

Open since 1974, the Wazee Supper Club predates all the hipness, all the gentrification, all the retro this-and-that of LoDo. Founders Angelo and Jim Karagas actually opened their first spot, My Brother’s Bar, in 1969, nine blocks further down 15th, in a neighborhood known more for the rattle in the…

Get a Cue!

In the current issue, I published Matthew Brandon’s spirited defense of Texas barbecue, and elaborated on my own obsession. Here’s his reply: I didn’t expect little ol’ me to be quoted in your column. You acquitted yourself just fine, though. One thing I didn’t get a chance to cover in…

Cucina Colore

Stop giving him pork chops!” The woman is hissing, eyes flashing, using her mom voice on her husband, one arm thrown protectively over the top of the car seat set beside her on the banquette seat two tables down at Cucina Colore. “I’m not giving him pork chops. I’m giving…

Sandwich Time

Last week I took a run out to the Montecito at 5970 South Holly Street in Greenwood Village, which is right next to Annabel’s, the other new joint owned by Mel and Jane Master. Chef Adam Mali has handed over day-to-day ops at the original Montecito, at 1120 East Sixth…

Charlie Brown’s Bar & Grill

I’m pretty well sauced on Guinness by the time Sean and I get to Charlie Brown’s Bar & Grill (980 Grant Street). The eighty-odd-year-old bar tucked into the Colburn Hotel & Apartments — a famed ’40s hangout of Beat hipsters Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg — is packed,…

Cafe Jordano

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing simple, straightforward neighborhood Italian food. In fact, doing just that is a noble tradition that extends further back in this country’s history than does the impulse to slap down a bunch of white tablecloths, boot Dean and Louis Prima off the radio in favor…

The Conversation at Cucina Colore:

“Stop giving him pork chops!” The woman is hissing, eyes flashing, using her mom voice on her husband, one arm thrown protectively over the top of the car seat beside her on the banquette, two tables down from me. “I’m not giving him pork chops. I’m giving him pieces from…

From Black Hole to Pretty People

Despite the much vaunted pooch-walking service, there wasn’t a pet in sight at French 250, which hosted an opening party last night. But with plenty of pretty people pouring in and bottles of champagne pouring out, it doesn’t look like this restaurant will be going to the dogs anytime soon…

Addicted to Dunkin’ Donuts

I have good news for everyone who’s been bugging me since I mentioned back in March that Dunkin’ Donuts had signed a deal that would put its excellent coffee into retail locations across the country. Finally, Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is available at Colorado Rite Aid locations…

Fishing for Compliments

On September 5, assorted chefs from the Oceanaire Seafood Room restaurants will offer up the Ultimate Seafood Experience at the James Beard House in New York City – and Matt Mine, chef at Denver’s Oceanaire that opened just a month ago at 1400 Arapahoe Street, will be among them. On…

The Brunch Bunch

Rise and shine, hipsters! Two of Denver’s finest bar/pub hangouts are now serving brunch. Sputnik — located at 3 South Broadway next to the hi-dive — has been serving up brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays for about a month now, and offers a nice,…

Cebiche

Lomo saltado. Hot empanadas and a sweating bottle of Cristal or Quilmes beer. Chupes de this and chupes de that, a small plate of ceviche classico or ceviche mixto and then, of course, the ubiquitous papas a la huancaina that I love even more than the backyard, church picnic-style potato…

Sour Limon

Although Denver has several Peruvian restaurants, it has only one Limon — the recently expanded spot at 1618 East 17th Avenue where chef/owner Alex Gurevich’s menu runs more toward the hyper-modern than the traditional, with cuisine rooted in modern Andean- and urban Lima-style cooking. Still, it retains the soul of…

Welcome Inn

With the exception of especially festive nights, when I do shots, or sushi outings, when sake is just what’s happening, I pretty much drink beer. There are a number of reasons for this, a major one being that I’m lousy at pacing myself. What I mean is, if there’s an…

Especial Margarita

I hate working out, and I hate people who say how much they love working out. To me, working out is a necessary evil — like taxes, dating and menstrual cycles. So when I heard there was a gym called the Anti-Gym, I got excited: I thought working out there…

Arada

When I reviewed Arada last summer (“Stranger in a Strange Land,” June 29, 2006), Ethiopian food was still new to me. Somehow, I’d managed to miss this incredible, uncorrupted African mother cuisine for years — even here in Denver, where African cuisines in general have established a foothold far more…

Cedric the Vodka Drinker

I don’t know why seeing Cedric the Entertainer would make you want to drink vodka, but clearly the people who sell Ceren Vodka think it’s a great idea, because Cedric was at the Ceren launch party at the Mile High Station last week. When I asked Cedric for his favorite…

Art Bucks for Booze

While art galleries keep looking for loopholes in the state liquor laws that would allow them to serve alcohol during openings, one bar has already come up with a solution. The Highland Tavern, located at 3400 Navajo Street, is passing out Art Bucks good for a dollar off your tab…

Sound Bites: Udi’s Bread Café

The Stapleton neighborhood just got a new place where you can grab a quick bite for breakfast. Udi’s Bread Café (7357 East 29th Avenue, 303-329-8888) — already revered for dishing up some of the neighborhood’s best dinner and weekend brunch entrees — began serving up a pared-down weekday breakfast menu…