Reader: Makes me sad to lose an East European-centric restaurant

Budapest BistroThe Budapest Bistro has closed after more than twenty years on South Pearl Street; the space will become a Mexican restaurant that will share ownership with nearby Gaia Bistro and Kaos. This is just one of the many changes on this strip of South Pearl; Izakaya Den left its...

By Patricia Calhoun

May 30, 2013

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Budapest BistroThe Budapest Bistro has closed after more than twenty years on South Pearl Street; the space will become a Mexican restaurant that will share ownership with nearby Gaia Bistro and Kaos. This is just one of the many changes on this strip of South Pearl; Izakaya Den left its home last Sunday, and is moving into a new building next door to Sushi Den, in the spot once occupied by the Pearl Street Grill. And that restaurant had been on South Pearl even longer than Budapest Bistro.. See also: - Budapest Bistro closes on South Pearl to make way for a Mexican restaurant - Izakaya Den will leave its original home - Pearl Street Grill closes

Says Denver Dave:

I'm sorry to hear about Budapest Bistro's demise. I was a long-time loyal customer back in the days when Anna (and her then husband Rudy) had an outpost on South Broadway (Czardas) -- truly great times with strolling gypsy violins and flaming desserts. Sadly, they lost their lease and moved to South Pearl and Rudy decamped about the same time. Since then the restaurant has felt terribly tired and really overpriced for what it was. Makes me sad to lose an East European-centric restaurant because there are so few here that do it well, but the last time we were there the $100+ for dinner just didn't seem worth it.

What do you think about the changes on South Pearl Street? What are you looking forward to? And what will you miss?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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