Patio of the Day: Black Crow

Black Crow is the Rio Grande’s answer to the food truck — and its central location in LoDo makes it a distinctively urban, yet hidden, oasis in the heart of the city. The sprawling multi-tier patio is directly next to the Rio, but provides a decidedly different, deeply casual setting…

Five best soul-food restaurants in Denver

Growing up in the suburbs of Denver, Adrian Miller didn’t see a lot of soul food at nearby restaurants — but he did see it on his family’s table every holiday. His culinary obsession, though, was barbecue (he’s a certified judge) until he stumbled across John Egerton’s book Southern Food:…

100 Favorite Dishes: Philly Phanatic from Large Marge’s

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…

Guess where I’m eating a Quesorito?

Recently hounded by a reader to try the “Quesorito” from this Mexican/American stalwart, I finally gave in. The brick of beef, cheese and (weak) green chile wasn’t remotely worth the heartburn aftermath, but at least the eclectic crowd of regulars, most of whom seemed to know the always-present owner by…

Endless Summer, Cultivate, brew fests and more on the weekend calendar

Denver’s plate is full of culinary events this weekend, including Chipotle’s Cultivate Festival, Heroes Against Hunger and multiple beer fests. Tonight, the Endless Summer Beer & Spirits Festival will flow into the McNichols Building, 144 West Colfax Avenue. The event is a benefit for Water for People, which is focused…

Patzcuaro’s gets a facelift to match its changing neighborhood

Yes, the front of Patzcuaro’s is boarded-up, but the 35-year-old institution in Highland is still open. This stretch of West 32nd Avenue is changing, and changing fast, and the old-time Mexican restaurant has been making some upgrades. See also: – Does Patzcuaro’s make Denver’s best white trash margarita? – Patzcuaro’s…

Adrian Miller wrote the book on soul food — one plate at a time

The Lincoln Hills exhibit at History Colorado features a display of artifacts from the heyday of Five Points as the hub of African-American life in the Rocky Mountain West. A directory of black-owned businesses includes a mouth-watering number of soul-food restaurants; you won’t find nearly as many in this city…

Guess where I’m eating chicken lettuce wraps?

Once a year, on New Year’s Day, I meet a squadron of friends and colleagues at P.F. Chang’s for a hangover lunch, and one of the dishes that we always order is the joint’s chicken lettuce wraps, which, if I’m being honest, are one of my guilty pleasures. The lettuce…

Muneca’s/Dolly’s development is now a Bubba Chinos

The new sign outside 4500 Washington Street caused more than a few drivers to slam on the brakes — not just because they suddenly realized they needed some fiery Bubba Chinos green chile, but they wondered what had happened to the longtime tenants of the building, Muneca’s Mexican Restaurant and…

A cantaloupe cook-off will go down on 16th Mall today

The Rocky Ford Growers Association is holding its second annual Cantaloupe Creations Cook-Off, featuring dishes by four local chefs. The challenge will take place at noon today between Champa and Stout streets on the 16th Street Mall. See also: – Rocky Ford cantaloupes are sweeter and safer than ever this…

Tonight: Learn about Indonesian cuisine at Edge Restaurant & Bar

Chef Simon Purvis of EDGE Restaurant & Bar, 1111 14th Street, is hosting his monthly summer grilling cooking class series this evening. Every Thursday through September, Purvis will host an instructional grill-out for $40 per person. See also: – Hogshead Brewery turns one; beer fests abound this weekend – EDGE…

Squire Lounge to close for renovations — will the classic dive go upscale?

The Squire Lounge, the legendary Colfax dive bar will be closing its doors for about a month. The owners have extensive renovations planned, and the bar will likely never be the same. For some patrons, these renovations mean cleaner, more private bathrooms, classier cocktail options and a friendlier ambience. For die-hard Loungers, however, this remodel represents the end of an era. Westword caught up with Squire bartender Cam Omlid, on the final tuesday night open mic before the revamp to get a sense of how people feel about the Squire Lounge getting all respectable.