El Olvido is a Mexican but "not Mexican" restaurant

In a town full of Mexican restaurants that serve enchiladas, tacos and green chile-smothered burritos, Jorge Pingarron was certain about one thing: He wanted to open something different...

By Laura Shunk

September 20, 2011

What happens on the ground matters — Your support makes it possible.

We’re aiming to raise $17,000 by August 10, so we can deepen our reporting on the critical stories unfolding right now: grassroots protests, immigration, politics and more.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$17,000

$3,700

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "23668565",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "23853568",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17242653",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "24956856",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25 
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17676724",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

In a town full of Mexican restaurants that serve enchiladas, tacos and green chile-smothered burritos, Jorge Pingarron was certain about one thing: He wanted to open something different.

So after decades of working in other Denver restaurants, he picked up the former Hades Bar & Grill space on South Broadway that he and his son, George, could turn into El Olvido. They started out with the idea of creating something new out of old family recipes. And as Pingarron worked on the concept, he began describing El Olvido as a "Mexican but not Mexican" restaurant, trying to define his niche.

For this week's review, I stopped by El Olvido to figure out exactly what he meant by that, eating my way through Pingarron family dishes and drinking my way through several micheladas in the process.

Find out what "Mexican but not Mexican" means -- and how the food was -- when the review is posted here tomorrow.

Follow @CafeWestword on Twitter and at facebook.com/denvercafesociety

Laura Shunk was Westword's restaurant critic from 2010 to 2012; she's also been food editor at the Village Voice and a dining columnist in Beijing. Her toughest assignment had her drinking ten martinis and eating ten Caesar salads over the course of 48 hours. She still drinks martinis, but remains lukewarm on Caesar salads.

A message from Food & Drink Editor Molly Martin: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Denver’s evolving dining scene and the latest culinary innovations our community offers.

Support Today