As an ex-Chicagoan, I have been sold on Jason McGovern’s Chicago-style pizza since he opened inside the Bar Car on Colorado Boulevard. Now at the stand-alone location of Denver Deep Dish on the northern edge of LoHi, his Windy City-inspired favorites include more than just pizza.

In fact, I might rank the smoky wings (pictured) even higher than the addictive pizza. McGovern’s plump, meaty wings are marinated, grilled over smoke, and finished with your choice of house-made barbecue, buffalo, or spicy buffalo sauces. Freshly cut strips of mild green pepper stand in for celery and add brightness and crunch. Without the usual carb-loading batter, the wings make a perfect starter.

Add a Bloody Mary (house-made mix, New Amsterdam vodka, and pepperoncini, pepperoni, sweet onion, and house-made pickle garnishes) and your meal is off to a great start.

Don’t Miss: Denver Deep Dish’s authentic Italian beef sandwich, Chicago-style hot dogs, and cold Italian combos help fill a niche left behind by the beloved Carbone’s Italian Sausage Market and Deli that once stood across the street.

1200 W. 38th Ave., 720-619-3337 and 819 Colorado Blvd., 720-515-9090, denverdeepdish.com