Does Pizza Republica rise to the occasion?

Like many of you, I found myself downtown a lot over the holidays. But instead of grabbing a bite at the usual suspects on Larimer Street, I ventured farther afield and ended up at Pizza Republica, the restaurant that was built onto the Colorado Convention Center and opened last May. See also: Chef and Tell with George Eder, executive chef of Pizza Republica

George Eder opened the original Pizza Republica in Greenwood Village; this downtown room is much, much bigger. But aside from the Muppets Christmas music playing a little too loudly for the half-full dining room, my first impressions were good.

Find out how things went after that when my review is posted on westword.com later today.