Lucile's Creole Cafe will take over Leo Goto's Riverfront space

A week ago, we bid adieu to Leo Goto's Riverfront restaurant, 2852 West Bowles. The spot had been open just six months, closing without ceremony despite the formidable restaurateur's insistence -- back when it first opened -- that "it's a great location, and there's potential to do a lot of...

By Laura Shunk

December 2, 2010

Audio By Carbonatix

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A week ago, we bid adieu to Leo Goto's Riverfront restaurant, 2852 West Bowles. The spot had been open just six months, closing without ceremony despite the formidable restaurateur's insistence -- back when it first opened -- that "it's a great location, and there's potential to do a lot of business here."

Not enough, apparently.

Still, the spot won't sit empty for long. A group of longtime Front Range restaurateurs will give the location a shot: Brian Heilman, Norman Crandell and Fletcher Richards have picked up the address, and in it, they'll install another outpost of Lucile's Creole Cafe.

Richards is Lucile's son, and the generational duo erected the original Boulder cafe in 1980. In 1996, Tony Hanks opened the Fort Collins location, and Richards expanded into Longmont. After that, Lucile's moved into Denver, when Richards partnered up with Heilman and Crandell.

Every Lucile's has its own personality, menu and loyal following -- regulars who pack the quirky spots for fluffy buttermilk biscuits and Cajun breakfasts. Richards, Heilman and Crandell will try to replicate that in Littleton, serving up hefty morning meals to the neighborhood.

As for when those hearty breakfasts will be available, plans are still vague. "Sometime in 2011," is all Heilman will divulge.

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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.

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