In 2011, when Laura Shunk, Westword’s former restaurant critic, reviewed Spanky’s Roadhouse, a long-standing fixture in the DU neighborhood, she described it as dark, even during daylight, and, she continued, the “shadows masked the bar-room grit that seems to be etched into every surface at Spanky’s.” It took a few…
The lights were on but no one was home last night at the Wahoo’s Fish Taco at 1521 Blake Street, the first Colorado location opened by the California-based chain. “After 18 plus years, Wahoo’s on Blake Street will be serving its last guest on Saturday, October 26,” reads a sign…
Pete Marczyk and Barbara Macfarlane do not leave their work behind when they leave Marczyk Fine Foods and head for their great old Denver house with a spacious kitchen. They often bring some of their market’s best ingredients home with them and cook up a feast, and when they’re not…
Ben Davison Bistro Vendôme 1420 Larimer Street 303-825-3232 bistrovendome.com This is part one of my interview with Ben Davison, chef de cuisine at Bistro Vendôme; part two of our chat will run tomorrow. It’s good — really good — to be back home again,” says Ben Davison, pausing after a…
In A Federal Case, I’ll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard – south to north – within Denver city limits. I’ll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I’ll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here’s the…
Denver has New Haven-style pizza, New York-style pizza, Chicago-style pizza, California-style pizza and now St. Louis-style pizza. And if you’re willing to go to Telluride, you can even get Detroit-style pizza. But isn’t there more to this dining scene than pizza? And imported pizza at that? See also: Denver almost…
Head to Ondo’s Spanish Tapas Bar in Cherry Creek tonight to celebrate the last night of October flamenco month, with the Maria Vazquez Trio performing sets at 6:30 and 7:45 p.m., and $15 wine flights for three half-pours all evening. Although Dia de los Muertos doesn’t officially start until November…
The five sensations — salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami — that titillate and tempt our taste buds have been the focus of Taste, a pop-up culinary arts series this fall hosted by Bulthaup, a kitchen distribution company, at its studios in the Golden Triangle. And from 5:30 to 8…
“Can I see your ID?” asked Ramon Garcia. “What, you mean my driver’s license?” I responded. “Yes, your driver’s license. Someone was in here last week asking questions and wasting my time,” he shot back. I flipped open my wallet, showed him my Colorado driver’s license and then had to…
After Arch Pizza brought its St. Louis-style pizza to Denver, we tracked down some of the other regional variations of pie in town. But we couldn’t find anyone serving Detroit-style pie here in Denver. Turns out, we nearly had it. See Also: Denver now has St. Louis-style pizza, but what…
The Frito pie at this Mexican joint decked out in Denver Bronco memorabilia was worthy of a field goal, but the guacamole tostada, paved with the fake stuff that tastes like nothing you ever want to put in your mouth, was an absolutely inexcusable fumble. Can you guess where I’m…
Clearly, any place called Shish Kabob Grill is going to specialize in grilled meats — and Shish Kabob does those very well. But if you’re looking for a plate of falafel, hummus and baba ghanouj near the Capitol, sans meat, this is the spot for you. We named it Best…
St. Louis-style pizza isn’t the only foreign flavor invading this city. Denver is also being infiltrated by businesses from Oregon, most recently Thump Coffee, a mini-coffeehouse chain that just opened its first location outside of Oregon on East 13th Avenue, in the heart of Colorado’s Capitol Hill. See also: First…
Arriving at Colterra Food and Wine feels like you’ve just pulled up to grandma’s house for Sunday dinner. As you enter, you almost expect to be greeted by family members. And in a way, you are: The staff is warm and inviting, and quickly make you feel at home, like…
I headed out of town over the weekend to get away from the rat race, but on my way to a cabin on the creek, I took a detour to this tap room, which was anything but quiet — and it’s easy to see why: The beers, all brewed on-site,…
Friday night’s opening-night festivities at the Curtis Club were hot — so hot the fire department showed up when the smoke alarm went off. But once the smoke cleared, the party continued. The space looks very different from how it did in its Old Curtis Street Tavern incarnation, but the…
Last week, Cafe Society dished out five Guess Where? contest posts, including a smoked salmon-and-latke plate from Latke Love, a restaurant that knows its way around a proper potato pancake. We also served up a wonderful bowl of seafood soup from Land of Sushi and a meat-and-shrimp alambre from a…
Butternut squash soup may seem ubiquitous at this time of year, but this recipe is something special, with Granny Smith apples and a taste of curry adding a tart sweetness and hint of heat. It’s easy to make, with just a few ingredients — but there is a lot of…
In February, brothers Hanzel and Eder Yáñez shuttered Chili Verde, their Mexican restaurant in LoHi that celebrated the cuisine of Puebla. The weather-beaten building, with its chipped white paint, had also suffered a fire, rendering the restaurant inhabitable for weeks. But on Saturday, the brothers, along with manager Custo Avalos,…
Last week Mutiny Information Cafe unveiled its new mural highlighting the characters of Broadway. But this is far from the only tasty mural on the side of a local watering hole. At Highland Tavern, an outside wall boasts Rosie the Riveter urging you to drink Pabst. But is that co-opting…
Nine out of ten vegans can tell you exactly who Isa Chandra Moskowitz is. VegNews named her “favorite cookbook author” for seven years in a row; she’s been creating recipes for zines, bestselling cookbooks and her beloved website, Post Punk Kitchen, for more than two decades. And she’s just released…
In this week’s restaurant review, Gretchen Kurtz visits Devil’s Food Bakery & Cookery, which has grown from a bakery to a breakfast and lunch spot to a dinner destination, too, particularly if you crave Southern-style chicken and waffles. Mark Antonation continues his journey up Federal Boulevard to El Rancherito, which…
