Ay Caramba! Closes in Cherry Creek North

When restaurateur Alex Gurevich opened Ay Caramba! in Cherry Creek North in early 2013, it was a bit of surprise, considering that most of Denver's tortas joints are of the hole-in-the-wall variety in lower-rent neighborhoods. There was much speculation as to whether Creekers would even know what a torta was,...

By Mark Antonation

November 5, 2014

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When restaurateur Alex Gurevich opened Ay Caramba! in Cherry Creek North in early 2013, it was a bit of surprise, considering that most of Denver's tortas joints are of the hole-in-the-wall variety in lower-rent neighborhoods. There was much speculation as to whether Creekers would even know what a torta was, much less get on board with a refined version of Mexican street food. And now we might have the answer: The restaurant's website is down and the phone goes unanswered during posted hours. Whether due to a lack of interest in south-of-the-border sandwiches or just a general dearth of customers in Cherry Creek, Ay Caramba! has closed.

When Gretchen Kurtz reviewed Ay Caramba! last year, she mentioned that the address had previously been occupied by Bisque, and that the tortas restaurant was opened "almost on a whim," rather than selling the space.

Ethnic diversity isn't exactly the hallmark of Cherry Creek North, so in the end, the eatery's closing is far less surprising than its opening.

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Mark Antonation is the former Westword Food & Drink Editor. In 2018, he was named Outstanding Media Professional by the Colorado Restaurant Association; he's now with the Colorado Restaurant Foundation.

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