72 APRIL 6-12, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best Cheese Shop The Truffl e Cheese Shop 2906 East 6th Avenue 303-322-7363 denvertruffl e.com Denver’s longest-running cheese shop, Truffl e Cheese originally opened in 2001 and is now run by Lisa Morris, who started working at the store part-time when she needed a break from the nine-to-fi ve of her accounting career. Now she’s all in on the cheese game. With a knowledgeable and energetic team that includes her son, Samuel Farber, Truffl e Cheese turns a visit into way more than a shopping trip; it’s also a chance to learn more about the rotating selection of cheeses from around the world, all of which are cut to order. That makes it a must-stop for anyone putting together a board for a picnic, party or simple at-home snacking. Best Diner Hits the Spot Diner 5637 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood 303-284-6278 hitsthespotdiner.com Denver’s diner scene has dwindled in re- cent years, but it’s certainly not dead, as evi- denced by this eatery that claims to make “the fastest egg in the West.” Founded by Manuel and Trish Gatsiopoulos in 2011, the aptly named Hits the Spot is more than just a speedy fix. The rotating pie cases are fi lled with tempting options, and the counter seats offer a view of the tasty plates coming through the kitchen window, from pancakes and cinnamon-roll French toast to pork chops and breakfast burritos smothered in the diner’s excellent (and gluten-free) green chile. Best Late-Night Diner Pete’s Kitchen 1962 East Colfax Avenue 303-321-3139 petesrestaurants.com/petes-kitchen Late-night food is hard to come by in the Mile High these days, and 24-hour joints are even rarer, but the pancake-fl ipping neon chef above Pete’s Kitchen remains a beacon on East Colfax for those who need to sate their hunger in the darkest hours of the night — on weekends, at least, when the eatery keeps the grill hot all day and over- night on Fridays and Saturdays. Owned by the Contos family since 1988 — and bearing the name of patriarch Pete Contos, who passed away in 2019 — Pete’s satisfi es like no other, whether you’re there for a gyros omelet, a burrito smothered in green chile, or just a burger and fries. Best Addition to the 16th Street Mall Little Finch 1490 16th Street 303-728-9746 oliveandfi nch.com The 16th Street Mall has long gotten a bad rap — and sometimes for good reason — but that’s (fi nally) beginning to shift as more local business owners opt to open new concepts along the stretch that runs from Union Station to Civic Center Sta- tion. In 2023, chef Mary Nguyen, the owner of Olive & Finch, introduced its sister concept, Little Finch, a welcoming all-day cafe that’s the perfect place to post up with a laptop while enjoying a pastry and espresso, meet with friends for happy hour or take down a healthy lunch — and everything in between. Best Food Hall Edgewater Public Market 5505 West 20th Avenue, Edgewater 720-749-2239 edgewaterpublicmarket.com Entering its fourth year in business, Edge- water Public Market offers a variety of food, drink and retail vendors to satisfy a wide range of visitors. The convenient and easy layout allows patrons to grab a refreshing drink at Roger’s Liquid Oa- sis (which offers all-day happy hour on Mondays) before deciding which food stall to hit. From tacos and empanadas to Ethiopian and Greek fare, the market hosts an appealing assortment, includ- ing its newest addition, Black Box Bak- ery, which offers truly out-of-this-world pastries. Beyond the eats, you can check other to-dos off your list, too, like getting a haircut at True Grit Grooming or a new tattoo at Ink Den. Best Food Truck/Cart Maíz Denver 720-295-1338 maizdenver.com Maria Rangel offi cially launched her food truck, Maíz, in May of 2021. Rangel’s love of gorditas inspired her to make a big life change, transitioning from her work as an EMT to the food business to share her passion with the community. Even more inspiring is that Rangel had to overcome a fraudulent food truck fabricator before she could embark on her new career. With her struggles now in the past, she’s focused on her food, using fresh corn masa to make a variety of deep-fried gorditas inspired by her mother-in-law’s recipe, with fi llings like chorizo and potato, corn and squash, and eggs and cheese. Rangel also delivers a big punch with her stel- lar green chile, and all of her dishes are gluten-free. Find out where to get in on this goodness through Instagram or on the truck’s website. Food and Drink continued from page 70 continued on page 76
