La Cueva for Cinco De Mayo

May 5, 12:25 PMDenver Travel Industry ExaminerJoseph Sobin

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Living in central Denver I enjoy exploring the metropolitan area and exploring neighborhoods. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I would like to mention a charming Mexican restaurant in “Downtown/Original Aurora”.

La Cueva is located at 9742 East Colfax (cross-street Dayton/Emporia). What started out in 1974 as the proverbial “hole in the wall” with six booths, 13 stools and a unisex bathroom now seats 80-100 yet the charm and authentic Mexican food remains as do the hand-on owners, husband cooks, wife is hostess.

I have enjoyed the restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, always satisfying. Dinner can be a gastronomic affair, bring friends and order multiple dishes and share. Start with the chips and guacamole, $7.95 for a large portion which easily rivals Rosa Mexicano in New York City with their $27 guacamole. Be forewarned, the complementary salsa is on the hot-side.

There are daily specials (except Sunday when the restaurant is closed). The menu is diverse with options which will satisfy all tastes. 

Concerning Downtown/Original Aurora, once the center of retail and commerce for Aurora, the area has witnessed better days yet it is far from “down and out”. The Aurora Fox Arts Center is one of the major attractions; with its art-moderne entry, marquee and neon sign, the theater is a gem from the era (built in 1946) when Colfax Avenue/US 40 was the major east-west thoroughfare for Denver and the gateway to the Rockies.

Take a few minutes and walk around the area, you will see architecture from the turn of the century to the 1980’s however, of most interest is the art-deco and art-moderne structures. Check out the motel signs, the advertisement of choice for the “automotive era”. While this portion of Colfax Avenue will never rival South Beach for art-deco splendor, you can still see how this section of Colfax Avenue once attracted visitors from the Rocky Mountain West when stores including Joslin's and Sears dominated the retail corridor.