Ignite! strikes a match with the hot Ballpark neighborhood

Mark Manger

Two decades ago the Ballpark neighborhood was home to pawn shops, dive bars and empty buildings, an area of town that you didn't want to drive through late at night, much less wander through on foot, looking for a place to eat.

Today, though, the area is one of the hottest restaurant neighborhoods in town. Last year alone, three big restaurants opened in the 2100 block of Larimer Street. One of those was Ignite!, which debuted just days before the end of 2011 in a prime piece of real estate: The massive space also features the block's only rooftop deck, where I spent a lot of time one unseasonably warm recent afternoon.

Ignite!'s kitchen is dedicated to "fire-crafted food" like burgers, pizza and bacon jerky, which pairs to an extensive beer, cocktail and wine list. I started eating my way through the menu that day, then returned last week to observe the changes in the neighborhood, admire the patio and try more of Ignite!'s menu.

How was the food? Find out tomorrow when the review is posted here.