Restaurants

Nearly 300 new spots debuted last year – more than in the boom times before the pandemic.

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 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.

Owners Toan Le and Nhan Tran were able to purchase the restaurant’s building in 2020 and decided to revamp the space and menu earlier this year.

“This is my ‘What do I have to prove?’ menu. We wanted to make an Italian menu that was very much me, very much Denver, very much what the neighborhood wanted, but is very fresh.”

It started pretty predictably, with green chiles on nachos and bison sliders. Then we asked it to make it more delicious.

Barry’s on Broadway has been replaced with a new bar, Blue Pan debuted its third location, a new banh mi spot opened near City Park, and more.

The menu includes items like a Kerala fried chicken sandwich, vindaloo chicken birria tacos and a lamb kebab smashburger.

Now you can find it at the newly opened Full Tank Food Truck Park on West Colfax.