The Santiago’s at 571 Santa Fe Drive sees a steady influx of breakfast seekers even at mid-morning — well after the main rush-hour crush of Denverites grabbing their daily breakfast burritos. But few customers, fixated as they are on their foil-wrapped repast, realize that the woman who started it all…
We recently talked to five new restaurant owners on the pitfalls and lessons-learned of opening their own eateries. Here they — and a few other chefs who’ve piloted kitchens in their opening days — give advice for others who are thinking about going it solo. 1. “Get everything in writing…
With rising real estate prices, a labor shortage and plenty of competition for diners, new restaurants face tough challenges in Denver. And those challenges become even tougher for optimistic entrepreneurs who’ve never owned a restaurant. Still, this city’s restaurant scene continues to explode, with no end in sight. We caught…
When Geraldine Kim and Josh Gertzen opened Frozen Matter in Uptown in the spring of 2016, they built their ice cream shop with expansion in mind. Frozen Matter is the only retail ice cream shop in Colorado that is also a licensed dairy plant with an on-site pasteurizer, according to the owners,…
While there are still a few gaps in the market-hall plan at the upcoming Zeppelin Station development at 3501 Wazee Street, at least two gaps will be filled by Duc Huynh, who currently runs Vinh Xuong Bakery at 2370 West Alameda Avenue. Earlier this summer, Huynh inked a deal to bring…
Two coffee shops, a sexy new RiNo bar, an Aurora steakhouse and an escape-room concept are among the bar and restaurant openings this week. Joe Maxx Coffee Co. adds another artistic element to the Art District on Santa Fe, while Congress Park favorite Under the Umbrella doubles down on its…
If you’re a chef known for creative interpretations of Asian and Mexican classics and fusing Hawaiian, Japanese, American and Mexican cuisine into a new style of dining across several successful restaurants, where do you turn to for inspiration for a new dish? To the customers, of course! That’s exactly what…
At first mention, the name “Salvage” didn’t exactly evoke images of tasty steak dinners, historic Denver eateries or any kind of culinary experience, for that matter. In fact, it sounded like a second-hand store where I could take my old toaster and ’90s grunge-era button-up shirts. So it raised my…
Folks from Wisconsin (and Eastconsin, too) have been showing up in droves since Denver’s building boom began a few years ago. They’re a friendly lot, and they love the Packers, the Wisconsin Badgers and fried cheese curds. Other than the sports team, they’re not so different from the rest of…
We know, we know. Your GABF dance card is already full of events, and by Saturday night, you’re more likely to be nursing your injured liver than seeking out another party. But for those of you who can make the room — or for those of you who are avoiding…
Today marks the final Civic Center Eats of the season. The Westword Street Team will be there, to serve up info on another food event coming to the McNichols Building in Civic Center in ten days: Feast.
There’s a new apartment complex at the corner of 18th and Central streets in LoHi (which will surprise absolutely no one) where many years ago a book binding company once stood. The only remaining evidence is in the name of the Bindery (1817 Central Street), a new restaurant that’s aiming…
The first question people ask about the Campus Lounge, a classic watering hole in Bonnie Brae: When will it reopen? Now we have the answer: October 18.
The aroma of fresh-baked cookies is once again wafting above Republic Plaza on the 16th Street Mall. Alexis McLean, niece of the original Santa Fe Cookie Co. owner Debbie Kuehn, reopened the shop on October 2 after the bakery closed earlier this summer. Kuehn, known to her faithful customers as “the Cookie…
Details about restaurants and retail in the Dairy Block development downtown keep rolling out, but a Denver restaurant family is ready to introduce something on a grand scale that will change the cityscape in a big way. Restaurateurs Frank and Jacqueline Bonanno have confirmed that they’ll join the party with…
Before moving to Boulder to open Emmerson, Michael Gibney and Jeb Breakell amassed star-studded New York résumés. Here they discuss their goals for the restaurant, what’s challenged them in their relocation to Boulder, and why you should always order dessert when you’re dining at Emmerson.
Blueberry pop-tarts smothered in a foie gras-enriched sauce; popcorn served with jet-black huitlacoche-and-squid-ink butter; deviled eggs stuffed with steak tartare: does this sound like just another RiNo bar? Kendra Anderson’s Bar Helix opens tonight at 3440 Larimer Street with all this and more. Anderson, a sommelier and former caterer better…
Juicy Burgers & Dogs has been attracting burger lovers from the Denver Tech Center and surrounding areas for the past seven years — so much so that the place was running out of room, especially on its tiny patio. But another longtime favorite, Karl’s Deli, closed up shop earlier this…
When Rob and Karin Lawler, owners of Truffle Cheese Shop, decided to open a wine and cheese bar, they discovered that Denver diners “didn’t want to treat it like an educational experience,” Rob remembers. So instead they created a winsome neighborhood spot.
Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas have all been hit hard by hurricanes this fall, and the latest relief efforts are focusing on Puerto Rico. Here are two ways to help out our fellow citizen on the Caribbean island, along with a pizza fundraiser for the American Lung Association. Pizzeria Locale…
What kid doesn’t want a fresh, warm cookie after a long day at school? Under the Umbrella Cafe and Bakery will soon be serving up treats along with a breakfast and coffee menu at its second location in the heart of the Baker neighborhood beginning mid-October. The building at 300…
Denver’s Dive Bar Beer just unveiled Nice Dart American Lager, which is modeled after PBR and the rest of the cheap, easy-drinking lager brands that are found in dive bars. But craft-beer lovers may not buy the concept behind the new brew.
