Owlbear Barbecue Targeted by Possible Saboteurs

Karl Fallenius has been working on getting his Owlbear Barbecue open at 2826 Larimer Street since last summer; the main delays have been from receiving the proper permits from the city, since the overall project doesn’t exactly follow the standard out-of-box restaurant model. For one thing, Fallenius has two hand-built smokers…

All the Restaurant and Bar Openings and Closings This Week

These restaurant closings are getting personal. Since Tony’s Market closed at 950 Broadway last month folks in the Golden Triangle (Westword employees included) have been hard pressed to find cheap, quick and tasty breakfast and lunch options. Quijote’s was an easy choice for a filling breakfast burrito (our favorite was the chicken…

First Look: Julep Debuts on Larimer Street

Chef Kyle Foster and his wife, Katy (owner of Stir Cooking School), are ready to welcome Denverites to Julep, their new restaurant that exudes Southern charm and hospitality while retaining a modern, industrial component common in the RiNo neighborhood. Julep opens today (February 1) for lunch from 11 a.m. to…

Exploring Havana Street: Nopales and Gorditas at Taqueria Corona

According to the dictionary, a “taqueria” is a restaurant or stand specializing in Mexican dishes — especially tacos. Taqueria Corona covers both restaurant and stand, since the sit-down eatery at 2222 South Havana Street in Aurora was born from modest beginnings as a taco stand at the corner of Mississippi Avenue…

Restaurant Roll Call: All the Openings and Closings for January 2018

Can you believe the first month of 2018 is already in the books? The days have flown by, propelled by the energy of Denver’s restaurant scene. But even with continued growth, January saw more closings than openings. Causes include skyrocketing rents, neighborhood competition, a labor shortage that makes it tough…

Dish of the Week: The Pastrami Sandwich at Il Porcellino

Last week, the guys at Il Porcellino Salumi (4324 West 41st Avenue) shared the news that they’ll soon be cranking out dry-cured sausages for a larger audience at a new wholesale facility, but that doesn’t mean they’re not focused on constantly improving the offerings at the Berkeley deli. A new…

Culinary Quick Start Marks One Year of Free Food-Service Classes

As Denver’s dining scene continues to grow, finding good employees — or any employees at all — remains a major challenge. Last January, Emily Griffith Technical College launched its Culinary Quick Start program to give free training to those looking to enter food service as a profession. One year later…

Bremen’s Closes in LoHi After Less Than a Year in Business

Rosa Linda’s Mexican Restaurant kept the Highland neighborhood fed for more than thirty years at 2005 West 33rd Avenue, until owners Virgil and Rosa Linda Aguirre decided it was time to retire in 2015. The building stood vacant for a while before Bremen’s Wine & Tap took over in June…

Exploring Havana Street: Sip Before Saucing at Pho 99

“Tasting pho is very much like tasting wine,” explains Mickey Ha, owner of Pho 99 at 1090 South Havana Street in Aurora. “If you taste the broth first, you can enjoy its various flavors and aromas. This way, you can also better assess the amount of accompanying herbs and sauces you…

Bang Up to the Elephant Brings Caribbean Cuisine to Capitol Hill

Restaurateur Kevin Delk never does anything by the book. His first three creations, Two-Fisted Mario’s, Mario’s Double Daughters Salotto and Beatrice & Woodsley, all have a sense of whimsy in their names, back-stories and ambience — and they all have a touch of DIY ethic that hints at behind-the-scenes staple…

Three Denver Salumi Makers Are Growing Quickly

The cured meats business is growing quickly in Denver thanks to wholesale salumi and charcuterie operations from Bill Miner’s Il Porcellino, Justin Brunson’s Red Bear American Charcuterie and Chad Nelan and Alex Windes’s Elevation Charcuterie and Artisan Meats.

Every Restaurant Opening and Closing This Week

Last January, Yardbird opened as somewhat of a reincarnation of Gaia Bistro in the former home of Black Pearl on Old South Pearl. After a year in business, the breakfast, lunch and dinner eatery is dropping the first syllable in its name and become simply Bird. Here’s the explanation from…