Lechuga’s is for sale for $3 million — there goes the neighborhood!

A river of red sauce used to run through northwest Denver, where many first-generation Italian Americans settled and opened their own restaurants — which were later taken over by second- and third-generation Italian Americans. But those red-sauce joints have been disappearing; Pagliacci’s, Longo’s Subway Tavern and Carbone’s Italian Sausage Deli…

Plans to open Cold Crush this weekend get crushed

Anyone who’s created a restaurant can tell you that there are many obstacles along the way to the actual opening. And that’s something the folks behind Cold Crush — a new spot going into 2700 Larimer Street in the hot, hot Ballpark neighborhood — are rapidly learning. Their plans to…

Cooking with Pete and Barb Marczyk: lemon pound cake

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 the big, new kitchen. They often bring some of their market’s choicest ingredients home with them and cook up a feast. It’s a good…

Guess where I’m eating pretzel rolls and queso?

Food is — and always has been — secondary to the beer at this watering hole, but the housemade pretzel rolls, sided with a cup of (average) queso, are a necessity when all that beer gets the best of you. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who…

Tommy Lee, exec chef of Uncle, on yakitori, Yelp and stinky tofu

Tommy Lee Uncle 2215 West 32nd Avenue 303-433-3263 uncledenver.tumblr.com This is part one of my interview with Tommy Lee, exec chef of Uncle; part two of our chat will run tomorrow. At 4:45 on a Saturday afternoon, a swarm of restless ramen geeks congregates around the door of Uncle, Tommy…

Hong Kong Barbecue: Finding comfort in unfamiliar flavors

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…

100 Favorite Dishes: Lobster macaroni and cheese from Mizuna

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 French macarons?

From the labor-intensive Japanese cakes to the fashionable French macarons, everything at this gorgeous bake shop makes me swoon. Can you guess where I’m eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct answer to a Guess Where post is entered into a pool — and every Monday, we select…

The chopped salads at Choppers are a bite of fresh goodness

Even though there’s snow on the ground, spring is now three weeks old — and that means shaping up for summer weather. Our favorite lighter fare? A chopped-up salad atChoppers Custom Salads — either the downtown or DTC location. It’s kind of like Illegal Pete’s mixed-up-burrito, but in salad form…

Photos: Purple Door Coffee now brewing in Five Points

Purple Door Coffee opened yesterday at 2962 Welton Street in Five Points. In addition to serving beverages with locally-roasted beans, the nonprofit coffee shop also serves as an employment opportunity for troubled and homeless youth. Owners Madison Chandler and Mark Smesrud started the venture in order to provide faith-based guidance…

Reader: Praise the lard! Shortening ruined Oreos

The Oreo turned 100 last year, which means that the cookie has had its lovers and haters for a century. Count Jenn Wohletz among the latter; she included Oreos on her list of five terrible foods. Although many readers love the cookie, one says it’s even worse than it used…

Red Claw on South Federal is now Vietnam Bay

Red Claw Seafood & Wings was part of a small wave of seafood-cum-Cajun-cum-Asian joints that washed up in Denver a few years ago. Now the spot at 472 South Federal Boulevard has changed hands — and names. Although the new owners say they’ve kept the same concept, the name has…

Guess where I’m eating drunken noodles?

My teenager is currently on a Thai food kick, which couldn’t make me happier, because next week, when we’re in California on vacation, it’s going to be all In-N-Out, all the time, at least if he has his way. In the meantime, we Thai-d one on at this iconic Denver…

100 Favorite Dishes: Fried rice from Benihana

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…

Reader: Snooze has seen that camping ban doesn’t work

It’s early Monday morning, so you can count on two things: People are already lining up to eat breakfast at the original Snooze in the Ballpark neighborhood, and outside the restaurant, the homeless are already lining up to wait until the shelters open their doors again tonight. It’s a scene…

A second helping of this week’s Cafe Society

Here’s a second helping of some of what we served on Cafe Society this past week: Gretchen Kurtz reviewed Punch Bowl – Social Food & Drink, and found a lot to like…even if she’s not in love with the place. Mark Antonat continued his travels up Federal Boulevard, and stopped…

100 Favorite Dishes: French fries from Jonesy’s EatBar

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…

Pho Nam is open for business in Aurora

Hungry for new dining options this weekend? Pho Nam recently opened at 13736 East Quincy Avenue in Aurora, and Westword’s Danielle Lirette stopped by for a look at the space. Keep reading for her photos. See also: – China Jade reopens in Aurora after a remodel and expansion – From…