Longmont’s Tortugas closes as 3 new eateries come to town

Wave of closures hits Boulder, Gunbarrel and Lafayette

By John Lehndorff - November 6, 2024
Tortugas
Courtesy: Tortugas

Longmont’s Tortugas Restaurant closes Nov. 8 after 30 years in business serving Caribbean and Cajun seafood. 

Mono Mono Korean Fried Chicken has closed at 599 Crossing Drive in Lafayette. Opening soon at that location: Saigon District One Vietnamese Restaurant.

Maine Shack has closed at 2010 16th St. in Boulder. The restaurant announced on social media: “With the rising cost of labor and goods, along with current economic challenges facing small businesses, closing Boulder was best for the health of our company.” 

The Rusty Melon has closed at 6525 Gunpark Drive in Boulder. 

Wapos Cantina has reopened at 4929 Broadway. The North Boulder Mexican eatery had been closed more than two years after a fire. 

As of Nov. 6, Luminous Tea, a teahouse and café, is serving at 624 Main St., Longmont.  

Juniper Goods, a coffee shop, store and zero-proof bar, is open at 659 4th Ave., Longmont.

Coming soon: Hot Pot City, 800 S. Hover St. Longmont and a new tasting room for award-winning Boulder Spirits opens Nov. 30 at 1428 Pearl St.

Culinary Calendar: Master artisan loaves

How old is that flour on your shelf? As the holiday baking season begins, Niwot’s Farow restaurant hosts a Nov. 16 class on using fresh, locally milled Colorado heritage grain flour with baking experts from Moxie Bread and Dry Storage. farowrestaurant.com

Detroit-style Hawaiian pie at Ghost Box Pizza in Lafayette. Credit: John Lehndorff

 Taste of the Week: Hot Hawaiian pie

For some Boulder County pizza snobs, the very idea of putting pineapple on a pizza is an abomination of the worst sort. They will publicly shame anyone who dares to eat one in their presence.  

That’s why Hawaiian pizza fans like me order this treat for their private enjoyment as I did recently at Ghost Box Pizza. The sister eatery to Acreage by Stem Ciders (also in Lafayette) offers good wood-fired round pizzas and calzones, but I gravitate toward the square Detroit-style pan pies. It’s hard not to rave about the twice-baked cheesy crust – chewy outside, pillow-soft in the middle, topped with quality Canadian bacon, pineapple, red onion and mozzarella. A simple tomato sauce is added when it is served.

Words to Chew On: Time to carouse

“Conviviality reigns — carousing and feasting, abundance and generosity, friendship and reunion, sighs and laughter, all around a pot upon a fire.” 

— Jeffrey Steingarten  

John Lehndorff produces Radio Nibbles and Kitchen Table Talk on KGNU. Listen to podcasts: kgnu.org/category/radio-nibbles

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