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Well the wife and I have packed up and headed west from Chicago to Denver. We've been here just a few weeks and my heart is getting heavier and heavier from the search of Chicago quality grub. I keep trying to remind myself that it's a different place with different taste... But I can only kid myself for so long. Denver Foodie Forums are also few and far between.

One of my most severe withdrawals has been from not eating a Starback Style Pizza in over a Month (Pequod's, Burt's & Gulliver's). Does anyone know of a parallel... or even close would be fine... please help... I beg you...

~GS

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Greasy Spoon

I think you'll find that the style of pizza you are looking for is a very localized product that you won't find anywhere else, unless you believe in parralel technological development (or whatever that theory is called). It's not even very widely available here, where it was invented.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

I am a recent transplant from Denver to Chicago, so I am unsure of "Starback" style pizza. I assume that it is of the thicker crust variety, though not a stuffed crust pizza?

There are a couple of good pizza places, though pizza is such a delicately handled item, that "good" and "bad" are arbitrary terms where differing opinions on pizza is concerned. Thank god only St. Louisans know about their dreaded "St. Louis" style pizza (uber-thin crust with a dabble of barely flavored sauce and topped with "provel" cheese -YUK!). I found a few great pizza joints in Denver, though the thicker crust specialities seem to be lost on Denverites.

A good (taken on a good friends' word) "outside-of-Chicago" Chicago style pizza in Denver can be found at Benjamino's at 1 Broadway. But, really, you ain't in Chicago anymore.

One of my favorite places of all time - and pretty good NY style pizza, too - is Pasquini's (one on W. 17th and one on So. Broadway - both are good). They do have a deep dish Sicilian that is terrific, though not exactly what you are looking for. They have great beer specials Sun and Thu and a great menu besides pizza, too (try their eggplant parmesan sub - mmmm...). And, cheap!

My favorite NY style pie is at New York Pizza at 4990 Leetsdale. What a dive - and cheap! - but awesome pies.

Another good, cheap and late night NY style in LODO is Two-Fisted Mario's at 1626 Market. Double Daughter's next door is always a good time, too.

I know those last few may not be of interest to you, but if you like pizza (and I LIKE pizza), then it can't hurt to try a new style since you're out of your element in Denver. Good luck in your Denver pizza hunt. I am sure you will find something that will sate your cravings.

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What's next?

Greasy Spoon...I grew up in Chicago, lived in Denver for a few years, and am now back in Chicago. I feel your pain on the pizza withdrawal. I used to go to the trouble of having Lou Malnati's FedEx pizzas out to me when the cravings got REALLY bad. However, I agree with mcthorp about Pasquini's. That is some really good pizza. While I have never tried Benjamino's, I just looked it up in Westword and based on their review I would definitely give tham a try.

Enjoy Denver!

I've felt your pain: moved to Denver and back to Chicago. I never found really good pizza (or Italian) when I lived there, but here are the places I went more than once for pizza:
Enzo's on Colfax
Cucina Colore in Cherry Creek
Wazee Supper Club on 15th and Wazee in LoDo
Though it's not what you're looking for, I did like Parisi's on 44th, almost to Sheridan Blvd in west Denver. When I worked in the Tech Center, lunch was often at Ge-jo's on Dry Creek and Quebec (not recommendin', just sayin').

Places my friends liked but I only went once:
Pasquini's
Amici's
Bonnie Brae

I'm also unsure about starback pizza. Never noticed the term here or anywhere else. What doe it mean, and what's it have to do with the Pequod's, Burt's, Gulliver's Chicago mutation?

Apparently Burt's Place is (or was) AKA Starback. How this piece of information managed to evade the very long Burt's place thread, I have no idea. Is Starback Burt's last name?

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

No, I believe the owner's name is Burt Katz. And as gleam mentioned the name Starback did come from the original name of Burt's Place... Why the change, I do not know... Perhaps, and don't quote me on this, it had to do with some copyright stuff with Starbucks or some other company..?

Hey mcthorp, Kwe730 & Choey thanks for the Denver Recomondations! I may do a Pizza crawl this weekend and sample them all. Have any of you had a calzone from a place called Andolini's... Not too bad. Also had a pie and calzone from a place called Mannie and Bo's in Golden. Also not bad. It may not be so bad out here after all. Thanks again for recommendations.

~GS

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Greasy Spoon

Since both "Pequod" and "Starbuck" come from Moby Dick (Pequod's the ship, Starbuck the first mate), maybe it was called Starbuck's at one time.

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Yeah, when I first saw Pequods in Chicago and the whale on the sign (is that underwear on his face?) I hoped that it was a New Haven/CT style place. Not. But pretty darn good in its own way. I'd like to understand the Moby Dick connection better.

did you have the cream cheese in your calzone? what did you think? i have not been able to find anything near peaquods out here! hmm i had peaquods when i was back in chicago in july! there seems to be a large new york style pizza thing here.

there is a little place in littleton called richards italian deli-i think. i was there two days in a row for lunch and really enjoyed it. the pizza my boss had looked awesome, i had the italian sub both days. its a thin crust pizza but looked above average and my boss raved about it. another neat thing is they have 40 something or more flavors of bottled root beer, all described by origin and taste on their menu. all of the midwest favorites and some real interesting other ones i had never heard of. they also have a selection of bottled pop made w cane sugar. i had a dr pepper called dublin's dr pepper that was made w cane sugar. its on pierce and ken caryl, the north east corner across from safeway.