'Comment of the Day' Archives

Reader: Can't see the forest of health-code violations for the tree?

By Patricia Calhoun Thu., May 23 2013 at 6:47 AM

Eww. Just eww. A reader alerted us to the notice from the Denver Department of Environmental Health ordering the closure of Pho on 6th for "imminent health risks" -- which the restaurant had posted behind a tree. A tree that wasn't there when the notice was issued by the city.

And as turns out, there was good reason for that notice, which closed the restaurant from May 9 through May 16 for a thorough cleaning. Although Pho on 6th was allowed to reopen after that, the notice is supposed to stay up through May 24 -- in a prominent location.

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Reader: We lost the Rocky Mountain Diner for this?

By Patricia Calhoun Wed., May 22 2013 at 7:06 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

Ghost Plate & Tap opened in June 2011 in the historic Ghost Building. It had a great location (the former home of the Rocky Mountain Diner) and savvy owners: the Wynkoop/Breckenridge crew. But Ghost won't be around to celebrate its second birthday; it's closing on Friday. Initially, the restaurant was envisioned as sort of a "greatest hits" concept, but it wasn't a big enough hit with diners.

See also:
- Ghost Plate & Tap will shutter on Friday
- Chef and Tell with TJ Hobbs, chef of Ghost Plate & Tap
- Chef Christopher Cina lands in the kitchen of Ghost Plate & Tap

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Reader: Voodoo Doughnuts make me uber-happy

By Patricia Calhoun Tue., May 21 2013 at 6:58 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

Interesting new restaurants are popping up all over metro Denver, but yesterday all the talk was about Voodoo Doughnuts -- a chain out of Portland, Oregon, that's finally coming to Denver after almost two years of rumors, and landing on East Colfax Avenue.

See also:
- Voodoo Doughnuts is coming to East Colfax -- where else?
- Rumors are swirling that Denver is getting a Voodoo Doughnuts
- Reader: Voodoo Doughnuts is x-rated, and x-cellent

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Reader: Talking on a cell phone in a restaurant is as dirty as a diaper change

By Patricia Calhoun Mon., May 20 2013 at 6:54 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

Stapleton Starbucks: Would you rather witness a cell phone conversation or a diaper change?

Alex and Ruth Burgos made big news after they changed their one-year-old's dirty diaper on a table at the Starbucks in Stapleton, as a (very) public complaint over the lack of changing tables in the bathroom. They didn't get much sympathy. Some readers wondered why they just didn't take it outside; after all, it's unlikely they walked to this location, so they could have done the diaper-change in their car. The brewhaha inspired Jenn Wohletz to come up with a list of four more things that people shouldn't have to be told were very bad (and unappetizing) restaurant behaviors. And perhaps that list was too short...

See also:
- Five things you should not have to be told NOT to do in restaurants
- Video: Alex and Ruth Burgos face cops after diaper change at Starbucks
- Five reasons you should buy your coffee at Starbucks

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Reader: Can't we come up with something other than pizza and beer bars?

By Patricia Calhoun Fri., May 17 2013 at 6:59 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

Lori Midson

Pie from Pizza Republica, opening today on 14th Street.

Although downtown just lost another pizza spot, Toppings, today Pizza Republica will make its debut on 14th Street, right in front of the Colorado Convention Center -- and this downtown version of a restaurant that got its start in Greenwood Village looks like more than a fair trade.

And more pizza places are coming, including a Denver version of Pizzeria Locale, which will open soon along a very pizza-heavy strip of Broadway.

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Reader: Twelve offers a good dining value -- and a great amuse bouche

By Patricia Calhoun Thu., May 16 2013 at 6:56 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

When Lori Midson went to twelve this week for a birthday celebration, she feasted on everything from beet carpaccio to sweetbreads. But the real star was the amuse bouche, a grilled scallop in a pool of squid ink. It was a generous offering from a generous chef, Jeff Osaka, named Best Chef Ambassador in the Best of Denver 2013 for his work on behalf of the Denver dining scene.

But he also does very good work in his restaurant.

See also:
- Best Chef Ambassador 2013: Jeff Osaka
- Jeff Osaka's twelve wins the numbers game on 12/12/12
- Chef and Tell with Jeff Osaka of twelve

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Reader: Green "chile" is disgusting gruel

By Patricia Calhoun Wed., May 15 2013 at 7:01 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

Tamale with red chile at Little Anita's.

When Jenn Wohletz moved from the Midwest to New Mexico, she discovered Mexican food -- make that New Mexican food -- at Little Anita's, and she got hooked on both red and green chile. During a stint in Utah, she almost had to go cold turkey -- but here in Denver, there are plenty of places to feed the chile habit. Including four locations of Little Anita's.

But while green chile fans continue to debate the merits of the Colorado version versus that of New Mexico, at least one reader sees red when thinking of green.

See also:
- Little Anita's Mexican Cafe is firmly entrenched in red and green
- Little Anita's chile no longer vegetarian -- for now?
- Now you can take a seat at Little Anita's

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Reader: It's getting harder for me to justify the consumption of meat

By Patricia Calhoun Tue., May 14 2013 at 6:55 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

Lori Midson

Last week several Denver chefs traveled to Kansas to visit the Callicrate Ranch, a cattle ranch and slaughterhouse owned by fiercely opinionated, radically passionate Mike Callicrate, to witness the slaughter of a steer. Lori Midson went along, and offered up her account of the trip last Friday.

It was eye-opening -- and also heart-wrenching.

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Reader: First Avenue Hotel renovation should continue -- Broadway deserves a hip hotel

By Patricia Calhoun Mon., May 13 2013 at 6:00 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

Danielle Lisette

The former home of El Diablo.

The latest chapter in the First Avenue Hotel saga -- the closing of both El Diablo and Sketch at the end of service on May 2, right before the city's latest notice to vacate was issued for May 3 -- got some punctuation on Friday, when the building's windows were boarded over. Whatever the back story, it's a sad sight on Broadway, which has become an incredibly vibrant neighborhood.

For better or worse, according to some readers.

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Reader: Federal Bar & Grill opened in a spot thirsty for a new bar

By Patricia Calhoun Fri., May 10 2013 at 6:59 AM

Categories: Comment of the Day

Federal Bar & Grill is now open in the former home of Micky Manor, right across a parking lot -- the bar's own parking lot! -- from Jack-n-Grill. There's not much grill yet to the bar, which occupies a circa 1904 fire station, but there are enough craft beers to put out any fire. And Mark Antonat, who's been eating his way up Federal Boulevard, isn't the only one who's happy to see this building back in business.

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