No bones about it, Bones looks like it will open soon

Bones looks like it will win the battle to be the first of the town’s new noodle houses to open. Frank Bonanno’s place at 301 East Seventh Avenue already has its name — the restaurateur’s childhood nickname — etched on the windows, and the renovation of the space inside (the old…

Smashburger is a smash in Wichita

Today, Wichita. Tomorrow, the world. Smashburger — with its secret process that creates what Jason Sheehan called “meat candy” — has been a smash since the Colorado-based concept opened its first restaurant at 1120 South Colorado Boulevard two years ago.Since then, the owners have opened six more spots along the Front…

Is second Santa Fe Tequila Company drying up?

Last month, the Santa Fe Tequila Company at 901 West Tenth Avenue (shown above)abruptly closed its doors — shortly after opening a second outlet in Littleton. Although Jason Sheehan wasn’t a big fan of the original spot, which was close to empty when he visited it this summer, he’s no…

Happy fifth birthday to Mezcal, which will soon get a sibling

A few days ago, we noticed the sign on Jesse Morreale’s new hotel/retail/restaurant project at First and Broadway, which noted that a restaurant named Sketch would be going in. Sketch, of course, was the name of Morreale’s short-lived concept at 250 Steele, in the space now occupied by Tambien. But…

Still Wingin’ It…but smaller

Wingin’ It, a local wing joint boasting 26 different wing sauces made from scratch, recently closed two of its four locations: 6860 South Lincoln Court in Greenwood Village and 7541 South University Boulevard in Centennial. But you can still get Wingin’ It’s deep-fried Twinkies, candy bars and Oreos–winner of 2003…

E-Z Mop back on the market

It looked like the year’s coolest project: turning the old EZ Mop building at 1223-1227 East 17th Avenue into a bar, with a renovated interior but the original EZ Mop sign out front. The advertising possibilities were endless: “Come sop up some alcohol at EZ Mop”; “A few drinks here, and…

Hung Kee no more?

Hung Kee, the Chinese restaurant that served unbelievably cheap Cantonese cuisine, has vacated its longtime spot at 1015 South Federal Boulevard. That space is now occupied by an Asian drycleaner’s, and when I tried to find out if Hung Kee had moved somewhere, I didn’t understand the answer. So if anyone reading…

Geek in the Galley: Another spoonful of Urbanspoon on iPhone

  Okay, so I already wrote about the urbanspoon iPhone app, but just after I filed that blog, I went out back for a smoke (brrrr) with Sean, the IT guy who first introduced me to the gadget in question, and he showed me a couple other sweet (and marginally creepy/nerdy) things…

Milking It: Lucky Charms with the New Hourglass Marshmallow Charm

Lucky Charms with the New Hourglass Marshmallow Charm General Mills Rating: Three and a half spoons out of four Cereal description: Oat cereal pieces in a variety of shapes. Most of them call to mind pagan wall drawings: X’s, stemmed triangles that suggest puffy trees and three-leaf clovers (guess mascot…

Lancer Lounge kitchen is on the rocks…again

  The Lancer Lounge at 233 Seventh Avenue is one of this town’s great dives, a spot where you can always count on a collegial evening of drinking, as Drew Bixby recently reported in Drunk of the Week. What you can’t count on is finding food there. The most recent…

A saucy toy drive at Steuben’s

Steuben’s will host a toy drive to benefit the Denver Rescue Mission tonight, beginning at 9 p.m. and running until about 2 a.m. And if you donate a toy, not only does God give you a pat on the back, but you receive a free cocktail or Great Divide beer! The cocktails are creations…

The chile isn’t the only thing that’s green at Mi Cocina

Saul Sierra is no tree-hugger. “I wasn’t always green,” he says. “My brothers learned about all that stuff in school, but I never went over it.” He is now, though, and both of his Mi Cocina restaurants are feeling the effects.  This fall, Sierra installed a solar patio at the…

Candy Girls: Bahlsen Domino Lebkuchen

We found the Bahlsen Domino in the large and varied display of Lebkuchen and Stollen at the Cost Plus World Market in Cherry Creek. While many versions of Lebkuchen featured gingerbread covered in dark or white chocolate, we were drawn to the German-made Bahlsen Domino because it took the concept…

Sunday is fun day at Elway’s Downtown

In his review this week, Jason Sheehan lauds the food at Elway’s Downtown — but laments its lack of fun, such a critical component in the success of the original Elway’s. Still, the joint was jammed last night, with drinkers packing the lounge and diners digging into steaks. And they…

Project Angel Heart feeling the squeeze

In an economic meltdown, charitable organizations can find their coffers drying up — but the need for their services is greater than ever. So Project Angel Heart, which provides meals to people with HIV/AIDS, cancer or other life-threatening illness, has had to get creative to streamline its operation while still delivering the…

No proofreaders need apply at Blues on Blake

Let’s hope that the music and food at Blues on Blake Supper Club (at 1925 Blake Street, in a space formerly occupied by the Dugout) is better than the proofreading,since the new club recently posted an ad that it was IMMEDIANTELY HIRING FOR SERVERS/BARTENDERS. “We are an exciting new club,…

Veggie Girl: Spicy Pickle

If it seems like I’m obsessed with soup in the wintertime –maybe I am. One of my favorite soups comes from the Spicy Pickle just a block from the Westword offices at 988 Lincoln Street. On a cold day, nothing is more tempting than a cup of the Pickle’s Corn…

Reuse your bags!

Mayor John Hickenlooper yesterday announced a Greenprint Denver initiative to promote reusable bags at various city agencies and businesses. The Denver Public Library, for example, is eliminating the use of plastic bags at all of the branches. And such companies as Safeway, Vitamin Cottage, King Soopers and Wal-Mart have signed onto a five-point plan to help spread the…

Wanted: A new tenant for the old Drift Inn

For many, many years, this storefront at 6901 East Colfax Avenue was home to the Drift Inn. But eventually, that classic saloon drifted into history, and the space was turned into Joe’s West of Memphis, an BBQ joint with an Elvis-heavy vibe. But Joe’s went south, too. Next up: the Spinnin’ Chicken, a family-owned rotisserie chicken…

Another Noodle for Noodles & Company

Colorado — the state where it all began — will get its 35th Noodles & Company outpost today. The restaurant opening at 1601 Mayberry Drive in Highlands Ranch is the second in that town and the 203rd in the country. Noodles & Company has come a long way since founder Aaron…

An official opening date for Root Down

Word just came down that Root Down, the new field-to-fork, small plates restaurant that’s recycled an old service station at1600 West 33rd Avenue, has an official opening set for Friday, December 19. And owner Justin Cucci should have no problem making that date, because the restaurant had to secure its certificate of…