Izakaya Den joins the lunch bunch

In the Best of Denver 2008, Jason Sheehan proclaimed Izakaya Den, the Japanese restaurant at 1518 South Pearl Street, as the Best New Restaurant last year.

And now Izakaya's gone one better -- by adding weekend lunch, which could well be the most exotic brunch in town. The restaurant is now serving its regular sushi menu as well as a very varied lunch menu -- featuring such items as Tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet, with potato salad, miso soup and rice) for $15, a portabella nicoise salad for $12, and an Italian sandwich for $10 -- from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

For details, go to www.izakayaden.net.