MiniBar to open next week

When I ran into Bill Ward at Houston’s in early April, he said that his MiniBar, a new watering hole that will be tucked into space under the old Village Inn in Cherry Creek, was moving slowly but steadily along. Now comes news that Ward has set a date fora…

Veggie Girl: Sputnik

Sputnik is one of the hippest hipster spots in town, and while you might think of it as a late-night hang-out, good for grabbing a cold PBR while playing trivia or bingo, Sputnik also happens to serve some of the best sweet potato fries in Denver. The few other menu…

Our Weekly Bread: Deluxe Club Sub at Lenny’s

The sandwich: Deluxe Club Sub What’s on it: Turkey, roast beef, bacon, mayo and a choice of numerous veggies, etc. Where to get it: Lenny’s Sub Shop (726 Lincoln Street, 303-861-1693) How much: $6.25 for a 7.5-inch sub, $10.50 for a 15-incher There’s nothing like a warm hello and a…

Update: Eat the pig!

Earlier this morning I posted some musings on swine flu and eating as many hogs as I could hold.  Mostly, I talked about how business was at The Berkshire — Denver’s most porkerific restaurant — and what the restaurant’s chef, Woodie Thomas, thought about pigs getting a bad rap. Soon…

Argyll opens today

Just got word that Argyll is opening today in the former home of the Squealing Pig, 2700 East Third Avenue. It’s brought to us by Robert Thompson, best known for Brasserie Rouge, our Best New Restaurant of 2004. Sadly, Brasserie Rouge didn’t last (its space in the Icehouse will soon…

Seeds of Change brings chocolate to Boulder

Boulderites are being praised for being green…wait, what? Boulder? Green? That’s right, folks, the people at Seeds of Change have selected Boulder as the first spot for their Change Tastes Good contest, which is promoting a newly introduced line of organic chocolate by promising to give away a year’s supply…

Eat the pig! Particularly at the Berkshire!

Seriously, people?  You’re getting weird about eating pork now? I understand that all this talk about the swine flu is freaky. I realize that we’re kinda on the edge of a panic now, and that the Centers for Disease Control have just announced that a worldwide pandemic is imminent. I…

When in doubt, head to Bistro Vendome

When people ask me where they ought to go on a first date, I often say Bistro Vendôme. When they ask where they ought to go with a big party, I often say Vendôme — and ask for the private room to the left of the bar, an intimate spot…

Vesta giving away twenty happy hours

Vesta Dipping Grill, at 1822 Blake Street, is launching its own “Colorado Stimulus Plan,” and giving away a month of happy hours — a total of twenty in June (one every Monday through Friday through the month). According to Vesta’s announcement, the owners (who are also responsible for Steuben’s) “feel…

Senor Rita’s is no mas

Senor Rita’s, the “Cantina and Mexican Grill’ at  5007 East Colfax, is on permanent siesta.  The restaurant was closed last Sunday by the Little Pub Company because it failed to meet expectations, according to the only person I could reach at company headquarters. And that’s uncommon for a Little Pub…

Delicious Designs: Eat this restaurant, part four

To celebrate Colorado Architecture Month, the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects has paired up with local chefs for the Delicious Design program, creating desserts inspired by specific buildings in Colorado. Thursday’s dessert was from Steuben’s, Friday’s featured design from Carelli’s in Boulder, yesterday’s was at Root Down,…

Jet’s Pizza Republica ready for takeoff

After a few delays, Jet Entertainment Group is slated to open Pizza Republica, its restaurant in the Landmark project in Greenwood Village, on May 8. According to the optimistically present-tense description on Jet’s website, “Pizza Republica focuses on homemade cooking using local and organic produce whenever possible.  The marinara, mozzarella,…

Olivea opening May 4

Restaurants will be popping up like May flowers all over town next month. First of the big blooms: Olivea, at 719 East 17th Avenue (the former home of Aix), is slated to open May 4. It’s coming from Keith Arnold and Stephanie Bonin (owners of Duo), and John Broening and…

Dreaming of Tuscan meatloaf at Farro

I met Matt Franklin through his cuisine — screwjack Californian with a heavy dose of Colorado pride and a squirrelly streak of fusion that should’ve made me want to throw something at his head but, instead, kept his style fresh and surprising. Under the neon, tile and blue Miami Vice…

Master, by the glass

The Master clan was back in town yesterday to do a little family-brand wine pimping at Sketch.  And guess who was there to taste the offerings? That’s right, yours truly.  And while I generally avoid things like opening-night parties, wine tastings, benefit dinners and “celebrity chef” parties like the plagues that…

Noca is no go

Back in December, Robert Thompson (formerly of Brasserie Rouge, the Atomic Cowboy and B-52 Billiards) announced that his Chicago company, Seasoned Development, would open its first Noca Kitchen at 1433 17th Street in Denver. “Noca Kitchen is going to be a substantial growth vehicle for us in Denver, as well…

Delicious Designs: Eat this restaurant, part three

To celebrate Colorado Architecture Month, the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects has paired up with local chefs for the Delicious Design program, creating desserts inspired by specific buildings in Colorado. Thursday’s dessert was from Steuben’s, Friday’s featured design from Carelli’s in Boulder, and today? Root Down, located…

Casselman’s opens in NoDo

Casselman’s Bar & Venue opened this past weekend at 2620 Walnut Street, in the space where Shakespeare’s Pub, once an institution in the Platte Valley, lasted less than a year. Maybe that’s why owner Matt Casselman wants to refer to the neighborhood as “NoDo.” But he could soon rake in…

Ask the Critic: Where to go for a break-up date?

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that I haven’t been on a lot of dates. Thus far, my personal history of socio-sexual relations has been divided into two very distinct categories.  Depending on the year, the place and my condition, I have either gotten by as some kind of…

Otto’s Grill opening in former downtown Brix

While Charlie Master is now ensconced at Sketch, his former restaurant, Brix, is slowly settling into history. Although the original Brix space at 3000 East Fillmore Street is again empty (Barron’s died within weeks), the second Brix location, downtown at 2200 Market Street, should reopen on Friday, May 1, as…