Reader: Everybody Wins When a Chain Concept Closes

More people seem to be commenting on the disappearance of Wurstküche from 2036 Broadway than ever ate there. Many of the comments focus on the gall of a California concept coming to peddle sausages in Colorado — when so many other places do it well here, including Biker Jim’s and Uber…

Four Cleanses to Help You With Your Juicy New Year’s Resolution

Juice cleanses were once fad diets where practitioners sipped nothing but lemonade spiked with cayenne pepper  but have evolved into sophisticated blends of raw fruits and veggie juices designed to detox your overworked organs. Not to be mistaken for meal replacements or protein shakes, juice cleansing is a love-it-or-hate-it kind…

First Look: Cherry Hills Sushi Co. Opens Today

Cherry Hills Village will get a rare new restaurant when Cherry Hills Sushi Co. opens at 11 a.m. today in a shopping center at the corner of Hampden Avenue and South Lafayette Street. The minimalist eatery is the project of chef Bradford Kim and his wife, Olivia Maeng; they’re focusing…

Reader: Sputnik Is a Hipster Haven at Brunch in Denver

Brunch could be Denver’s favorite meal — for suburban families and urban hipsters alike. Lauren Monitz recently tried what could be Cherry Creek’s hippest brunch, at Harman’s Eat & Drink. But her description of that meal prompted a reader to point out that brunch does not have to be hip. Still,…

Buggin’ Out: A Second Helping of Westword Food & Drink, January 11-15

This week’s food adventures included a slippery, savory stew from Akwaba Restaurant in Aurora’s Afrikmall; cricket tacos at Linger; and Spanish Morcilla sausage, which can be found at a number of Denver-area restaurants and markets. But burgers and sausages were off the menu — at least temporarily — as sausage griller…

Linger Introduces Cricket Tacos to Dinner Menu

Use the phrase “alternative protein” and most people think turkey instead of chicken. But at Edible Beats, the group that operates Linger, Root Down, Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox and the soon-to-open Vital Root (on Tennyson Street), the culinary team has been introducing yak, ostrich, goat, tempeh and other sources outside the…

Reader: Never Thought a Brewery Would Close — We Need the Hydration!

Independent outfits, including craft-beer breweries, are popping up in the suburbs. Arvada will soon get its own Steuben’s — but it just lost the four-year-old Arvada Beer Company in Olde Town.  Why? Says Hallie:  Rent is at a premium in Olde Town…and there are too many similar restaurants and not much parking, which…

Handy Diner Brings Vegan Eats to Five Points

A new vegan eatery called Handy Diner opened last week in the former home of the D-Line Restaurant at 30th Avenue and Downing Street in Five Points. Owner Teri Font opened on a shoestring budget, so the new diner doesn’t look much different than its predecessor at the moment (the…

Reader: Soon Downtown Denver Will Just Be Another Big Chili’s

Over the past decade, many restaurants have come and gone on the 1500 block of Blake Street, which is overloaded with eateries. But the homegrown Jimmy’s Urban Bar & Grill stood out from the crowd from the minute it opened, winning fans and our Best of Denver 2015 burger award. With rents…

Reader Question: Where Can I Find Morcilla?

Tracking down specialty foods from underrepresented cultures can be tricky. The food of Spain, in particular, doesn’t get much attention in Denver, with very few restaurants devoted to Spanish cuisine or tapas done properly (especially since the wonderful Ondo’s in Cherry Creek closed two years ago). That’s why reader Roger…

Reader: Happy to Have the Rackhouse Mac and Cheese Back in My Life

The Rackhouse Pub has finally reopened in its new location in RiNo, much to the relief of loyal fans. But somehow our story about the Rackhouse reopening failed to mention its award-winning mac and cheese, focusing instead on the beer and other delights. Says Crissy:   I couldn’t be happier that The Rackhouse Pub…

Afrikmall’s Food Court Showcases the Cuisine of Five Countries

Food halls are all the buzz these days, as developers invest big dollars in the concept and invite boutique restaurants to join their lineups. Avanti Food & Beverage is the Denver archetype, an incubator model that allows startups to sign short-term leases and test culinary ideas in a relatively low-risk…