gourmet chocolate — but this isn’t just a place for dining in. The vendors here also offer baked goods, meats, specialty foods and pantry items for home use so that you can pick up dinner essentials while grab- bing a lunch sandwich to go. Best New Food Hall Golden Mill 1012 Ford Street, Golden 720-405-6455 thegoldenmill.com Housed in a circa 1860 grain mill overlook- ing Clear Creek, the airy Golden Mill food hall also boasts a rooftop patio with views of Coors Brewery. But even without the ambience and ample seating, this would be a prime destination for food and drinks. On the ground fl oor, the self-pour tap system makes for easy access to a well-curated list of beverage selections, and there are several stalls with options like fried chicken sandwiches, barbecue and tacos. Upstairs you’ll fi nd a hidden gem: Sushi Sora, which serves some of the best sushi in metro Denver. Best Food Truck/Cart Yuan Wonton instagram.com/yuanwonton Since quitting her executive-chef job of twenty years, practicing her dump- ling skills for the better part of a year, building out a food truck and launching Yuan Wonton in late 2019, chef Penelope Wong has been serving some of the best food on wheels — and in Denver, period. Through the pandemic, she navigated ways to deliver her much sought-after dumplings and other specials safely, mov- ing to a pre-ordering system with pick-up times. Now she’s back to more regular services, with customers happily waiting in line for whatever Wong’s got on the menu that day. The pro move is to order one of everything so you don’t miss out on anything. Best Kids’ Menu Acova 3651 Navajo Street 303-736-2718 acovarestaurant.com While a lot of kids’ menus offer chicken fi ngers, cheeseburgers and grilled cheese, Acova — often lauded for the whimsical names on its roster — gives these staples real fl avor. Save for the pasta dishes, each freshly made meal comes with a side of homemade chips, cut veggies, fruit or regular or sweet-potato fries, as well as the knowledge that you’re not just feed- ing your little ones, but also giving back to the community: For every item ordered off the kids’ menu, Acova donates $2 to a local children’s charity, which changes each month. Best Sandwich Shop Carmine Lonardo’s 7585 West Florida Avenue, Lakewood 303-985-3555 carminelonardosmeatmarket.com Lonardo’s, a family-owned Italian mar- ket and deli, has been around since 1976, and it’s way more than a sandwich shop. The cozy shop’s shelves are lined with imported pasta of all shapes and sizes, olive oil, canned goods, frozen foods like housemade sausages and so much more. Still, the sandwiches — huge, messy mas- terpieces loaded onto freshly baked rolls, which you can custom-order with that Ital- ian sausage and a variety of other meats in hot and cold varieties — are unbeatable, and reason enough to visit. Best Sandwich of the Week Hops & Pie 3920 Tennyson Street 303-477-7000 hopsandpie.com We don’t mean to disrespect a pizza par- lor by giving it an award for sandwiches: This Berkeley neighborhood restaurant FACES OF 2022 founded by Drew and Leah Watson makes a mean slice, traditional and otherwise, and Thursday’s $5 Detroit pie special could be the best weekly pizza deal in town. But we can’t let you miss out on the sandwich of the week. Monstrous por- tions of pulled pork, chicken parm cutlets, smoked tri tip, Korean and Nashville fried chicken or turducken routinely fill the eatery’s homemade bread, and that’s just the start of the mouthwatering options; you might also be lucky enough to get an aged white cheddar grilled cheese with duck confi t, crispy prosciutto and cherry- habanero jam, or even a chicken pot pie calzone. The real star, though, remains Leah’s grandmother’s meatball sub, made with provolone, caramelized onions and a balsamic reduction. Best Pop-Up Little Arthur’s Hoagies littlearthurs.com AJ Shreffl er knows good hoagies. Growing up outside of Philadelphia, he was raised on old-school deli fare, and after mov- ing to Denver, he began hosting secret hoagie pop-ups while working as a chef at Bar Dough. During the indoor-dining shutdown, the restaurant started slinging Shreffl er’s hoagies as the Jabroni & Sons pop-up — but now Shreffler has struck out on his own and is working to open a Little Arthur’s Hoagies brick and mortar, one pop-up at a time. Pre-sales run out in minutes, and fans have been known to wait hours in line to get their hands on these massive creations. Whether it’s a classic cheesesteak or one of continued on page 58 INDIAN CUISINE THE FACE of Simeran Baidwan moved to Denver, CO at an early age with his family. Simeran has always had a passion for work. His dream was to bring the vibrant, exotic taste and culture of India to his community. He was able to fulfill those dreams and open Little India Restaurant in 1998… and the rest is history. Little India has been serving up authentic, fine Indian cuisine that has not only been showered with critical acclaim, but also by awards too numerous to count. From the minute you step inside and take in the wonderful décor and ambiance - which features genuine Indian art and music - you know you’re in for a special meal, as well as experience. From their signature curries to traditional dishes, to modern twists on classic favorites, there really is something for everyone to indulge and enjoy at this exotic eatery. There are currently four locations, one on South Downing St, the Original on 6th. Ave., third in the beautiful heart of the West Highlands & the fourth location is in the Central Park Neighborhood with a warming and comforting atmosphere. Over the years, Simeran has said his success is based on three main ingredients, and those are as follows. Fresh and quality ingredients: Our recipes utilize only the finest and freshest ingredients. Good ingredients are the heart and soul of every dish and we never compromise on quality. Experienced and good people: Our chefs began their careers in northern India and have mastered the art of cooking authentic Indian cuisine for our clients. Excellent and welcoming service: Our customers are our top priority, and we treat each one as if they are our only customer. Indian tradition is to treat each guest as if they are a living god, and we are committed to treating all of our guests to a heavenly experience. Simeran Baidwan, LITTLE INDIA 330 E. 6th Ave. | 2390 S. Downing St. | 3496 W. 32nd Ave. 7352 29th Ave. | littleindiaofdenver.com 57 westword.com | CONTENTS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | BACKBEAT | WESTWORD APRIL 7-13, 2022
