Food & Drink

There are five new spots to check out, but two favorites are on pause temporarily — Cart-Driver LoHi and Illegal Pete’s DU.

It’s part of the group of bars and restaurants founded by the late Pete Contos, but it has an identity all its own.

Buzzy openings, sad closures and Casa Bonita (of course) captured the attention of readers this year.

These culinary sisters have big plans for the new year.

It’s bringing cured meats, breakfast burritos and more to the former Il Porcellino Salumi retail shop off Tennyson Street.

It’s part of a new interactive art installation, but you don’t need tickets to imbibe.

From Casa Bonita to the state’s first Michelin Guide, there was a lot of buzz in the local dining scene this year.

No reservations needed.

More closures are coming before the end of the year…

“Plant-based meat does not mean that you have to stop eating all the meat you want. But just try it. Give us one shot and you’ll be sold.”

Last year, owners Hiroaki Takeda and Midori Fujishige purchased a bigger truck so they could keep up with demand.

It’s big enough to share and “dripping with hot oil and sex,” according to Stoned Appetit host Kip Wilson.

Dishes like chicken adobo, sisig, pancit and lechon kawali are hard to come by in Denver, and soon there will be one less option.

“It’s kind of sterile. Everything’s kind of shiny and new. Lots of lighting. Like a Hollywood version.”

“I came in to really try to represent Colorado.”

Sesame Sandwiches serves Asian-centric grab-and-go items like egg rolls, mapo tofu pies and made-to-order banh mi.