104 MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | SPORTS & RECREATION | CONTENTS | Best Chicken Caesar Sandwich Mead St. Provisions 3625 West 32nd Avenue meadstdenver.com Why did that retro country club staple, the chicken Caesar wrap, suddenly go viral in Denver in late 2025? We’re not exactly sure, but we do know we prefer this trend served on tasty bread rather than stuffed inside an often-sad tortilla. To fulfi ll your Caesar-as-a-meal dreams, head to the sandwich pros at Mead St. Provi- sions, which loads a cutlet, zippy dressing, shaved Parm, romaine and an acidic pop from blistered tomatoes onto a fl uffy yet sturdy City Bakery ciabatta roll. Best Tzatziki Wrap Lunchboxx 2669 Larimer Street lunchboxxdenver.com Located inside Denver Central Market, Lunchboxx lives up to its name, with quickly prepared, thoughtfully crafted meals perfect for your lunch break (don’t worry, they’re open for breakfast and din- ner, too). Our go-to order on their expan- sive menu is the chicken tzatziki wrap, which is overstuffed with marinated cu- cumbers, onions, tomatoes, feta and fries (which really send it over the top), all wrapped in pillowy pita and served with a side of tzatziki. This is the kind of sand- wich you might need to eat with a fork. Best New Deli Jordan’s Deli 1035 Lincoln Street jordansdelidenver. com In January, Jordan Spence debuted this East Coast-inspired deli in the former Melita’s space, just blocks from the Capi- tol, providing the kind of affordable break- fast and lunch eats the neighborhood hungered for. From a proper BEC on a fl uffy, buttered kaiser roll, to deli sand- wiches made with Boar’s Head meats and hot sandwiches made from family recipes (like the meatball parm), the options are plentiful and fully customizable. Throw in a friendly staff that works hard and fast, and you’ve got the recipe for a new downtown go-to. Best Bread and Butter BearLeek 2611 Walnut Street bearleek.com In July 2025, former Brasserie Brixton and Mercantile chefs Harrison Porter and Rema Maaliki teamed up on their fi rst solo venture, a subterranean RiNo escape that’s cool without being overly trendy, and play- ful with a side of serious culinary chops. Exhibit A: its bread and butter, which is a must to start any meal here. While most spots are serving sourdough or focaccia, BearLeek has perfected its buttery brioche rolls, which arrive piping hot and paired with rotating seasonal butter that’s shaped like a big gummy bear. Best Bacon Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse 2345 East 3rd Avenue b10chophouse. com It once seemed a bit gluttonous to make a meal entirely of bacon, but that was before Broadway 10 opened its second location in Cherry Creek late in 2025 (the origi- nal is in Oklahoma City), bringing with it B10’s signature Bacon, Elevated. Five per- fectly cooked strips — jalapeño, peppered, smoked, candied espresso and bourbon — arrive hanging from a metal frame; you snip off bites with special scissors and eat your way up. Since this pork-erifi c starter could also fi nish you, you might be tempted to just order the Butcher Burger with the bourbon bacon added. Which works, too, but we recommend you go hog wild. Best Mac and Cheese Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, BBQ 3525 East Colfax Avenue mamajobiscuits.com It’s been just over a year since this food- truck-turned-brick-and-mortar debuted on Colfax, and while its run has been chal- lenged by the Colfax construction, hus- band-and-wife owners Ben and Jodi Polson have given us a whole lot of reasons to brave the maze of street closures to gorge, including wing Wednesdays, bone-in fried chicken Fridays, and brisket Saturdays. But no matter what we order, we always pair it with a side of the pimento mac and cheese, which is uber-creamy, with noodles that are never mushy and a rich sauce that gives top-tier cheese-pull action. Best New Barbecue Joint Riot BBQ 2180 South Delaware Street riotbbqcompany.com After AJ’s went up in metaphorical smoke in early 2025 thanks to fraudulent behav- ior by its owner, pitmaster Patrick Klaiber teamed up with Top Chef alum Manny Barella to create a smokin’ spot all their own in the space, which is now fi lled with only good energy and even better barbe- cue. Texas traditions meet Mexican fl avors thanks to this duo’s combined skills, re- sulting in hits like al pastor ribs, smoked chicken pibil, brisket tacos and esquites cornbread. Food & Drink continued from page 102 continued on page 106
