No. 65 : Chicken Salad at Poppies Restaurant & Lounge The first time I had the chicken salad-stuffed avocado at Poppies in South Denver, I was about twelve years old and lunching with my mom and grandmother, something we did often. Little did I know at the time the dish…
Last week, hospitality veteran Jesse Morreale announced a return to the Denver restaurant scene with a new project in the Highland neighborhood in conjunction with Larimer Associates. We were correct in speculating that the eatery would go in at the former home of Longo’s Subway Tavern (as well as a…
Several years ago, Jeremy Kittelson found himself at a crossroads. After his departure from Ambria, the Iowa native realized that the best way to move up was, paradoxically, to go down. “I came in [to Root Down] with no title or role, took way less money than other offers I…
For twelve years, Mona’s would attract crowds of hungry weekend brunchers to its storefront home at 2364 15th Street, in a neighborhood that became increasingly hip during that time. And it started out pretty cool: The eatery was just down the street from My Brother’s Bar, and Mona’s took its name from…
Puerto Rican cuisine is nearly impossible to find in the metro area. Native Puerto Rican Alex Rivera made it just a little easier when he started serving pasteles, alcapurias, arroz con gandulez ,pernil, mofongo and other traditional dishes earlier this year from his food truck, El Coqui D Aqui, which…
Four years have passed since restaurateur Jesse Morreale exited Denver’s dining and club scene with the closure of Diablo in the summer of 2012 and Rockbar later that year. Disputes with the city over building safety and money distracted from the fact that we lost a great Mexican restaurant, just…
Quail has a reputation as a fussy dish that you only order at white-tablecloth restaurants or stuffy French eateries. But because more farms across the country are raising quality quail — much of it organic and free-range — the delicate bird has landed on a growing number of menus. And…
Squeaky Bean’s Johnny Ballen and his partners will open a new place today: Cochino Taco, a Mexican cantina that’s transformed a former gas station into what’s sure to become a hip, happening place in a quiet area of Englewood hungry for more eateries. But some readers didn’t wait for the…
No: 66: The Classic Burger from Skirted Heifer Occasionally we like to get out of town on the weekend and search for good eats in nearby locales. Colorado Springs may be better known for its military bases and right-wing politics than for its culinary scene, but there’s plenty happening of…
There’s a brewing controversy in the craft-beer industry over the consolidation of one-time independents. In an attempt to counter the backlash, three entrepreneurs who sold their breweries to Anheuser Busch InBev — Todd Usry of Breckenridge Brewery, Garrett Wales of 10 Barrel Brewing in Oregon and Meg Gill of California’s…
The news that Patsy’s had suddenly closed — after 95 years in Denver — was our biggest food story of the week. But this chapter is just part of an ongoing story in northwest Denver, what started out as the separate town of Highland soon after the founding of Denver, then…
There was plenty of action to chew over on Denver’s dining scene this week, with unexpected closings — including Patsy’s after 95 years, and the Cherry Creek Osaka Ramen after less then a year — and announcements of other restaurants growing, with White Fence Farm opening in Westminster and Denver…
Italian restaurants around town are holding fundraisers for earthquake relief after devastating damage occurred earlier this week in the regions of Umbria, Lazio and Marche in Italy. Here are a few: Spuntino, at 2639 West 32nd Avenue in the Highland neighborhood, will be offering a daily special of fettucine all’Amatriciana…
Longtime Platt Park neighborhood gem Black Pearl is now closed at 1529 South Pearl Street. The restaurant’s website displays this message: After 11 great years, we will be closed for a few weeks, while we revamp the restaurant for our new food & drink gathering spot. In partnership with friends,…
Chefs Kelly Whitaker (of Basta in Boulder) and Cody Taft rolled out their mobile kitchen and wood-burning oven, Ash, last Friday at the Infinite Monkey Theorem Urban Winery in the RiNo neighborhood — just in time for a heavy dose of rain. Tarps kept the food dry and fires safe,…
Restaurateur Robert Thompson’s Punch Bowl Social brand is growing quickly, with multiple new outposts planned to open around the country. To help maintain quality and give guests a fun dining experience to match the games and activities available at the restaurants, Thompson brought on chef Hugh Acheson as culinary partner…
Johnny Ballen, co-owner of the Squeaky Bean downtown, has made fine dining an entertaining prospect, with amusements like found-object decorations and a cocktail shrine to departed celebrities enhancing the dining room — all while maintaining a respect for seasonal ingredients, along with partner/farmer Josh Olsen and chef Chris MacGillivray. And…
Some addresses just seem cursed — at least until something comes along to create a little buzz and lure the neighbors. Such is the case at 2200 South Broadway, which has seen the South Broadway Grill, Hades Bar & Grill, Zocalo and El Olvido come and go in recent years…
The end of summer is a time of change — and that means new menu items based on seasonal produce. That’s the case as Spuntino, Zengo and Honor Society. But at the latter two, even bigger changes are afoot, including major remodels, a new chef and a new downtown brunch…
No 67: Spaghetti Alla Carbonara at Spatola In a city ripe with takes on spaghetti alla carbonara, it’s refreshing to find a simple execution of the classic Italian dish at the newly-opened Spatola in the Highlands. After all, what’s not to like about a plate of beautiful pasta intertwined with…
Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Que was a near-instant hit when it opened on South Downing in early 2015, earning our award for Best Barbecue this year, and selling out of smoked meats daily well before the dinner hour. Owners Coy and Rachael Webb are capitalizing on the success of their tiny eatery and…
Zoës Kitchen, a fast-casual Mediterran concept, keeps expanding its fleet in Colorado. A Union Station North neighborhood location opens today, August 24, at 1970 15th Street, suite 120; this will be the first Zoës in Denver proper and the fourth in the state following locations in Littleton, Fort Collins and Westminster that…
