Wolfe’s Barbeque

It is really unfortunate that this place is closing… almost as unfortunate as myself only being able to try it once.
There isn’t a lot new I can add that hasn’t already been said… this place is fantastic. The bbq tofu is the best I’ve ever had. The spicy sauce is perfect. The vegetarian beans are amazing. Best BBQ in Denver. If you haven’t been here, make sure to go this week.

I love barbeque, but not every barbeque joint. But I love Wolfe’s.
He’s closing forever Christmas Day. I’ve been eating there for 12 years.
If you’ve never been, I advise the sliced brisket, hot sauce, side of beans, and a large iced tea.
The tofu is good. I like it, but since I’m not a vegetarian, it’s not my staple.

Alright. I’m giving it four stars right now, with reservations. I’m hoping to up it to five, but it’ll take a couple more visit for me to do so.
For one thing, the owner is a really nice guy, who seems to make a really solid product. Problem is, when I came in, my companion and I each ordered a combination. He pretty much gave us an across-​the-​board sampler… and it was REALLY hit or miss. Some of the items had obviously been cooked earlier in the morning and merely reheated. However, the fresh stuff was absolutely delicious. So I’m sure that he makes phenomenal barbecue, but I’ll have to stop in earlier in the day for a sandwich or two before I give full props to the joint.

I love the fact that he’s a one man team but I think it clearly showed in his bbq. We had the brisket sandwich on I think honey oak wheat bread with a side of potato salad. Overall if we didn’t have Yazoo’s the week before, I’d probably give this place a half a star higher.

One of the best BBQ joints outside of the major BBQ regions.
1. Wolfe gets to be crabby, that’s part of the charm of the place. Put your money on the counter and when he returns your change, pick it up from the counter. Don’t touch anything on the walls.
2. The sauce is easily my favorite BBQ sauce that isn’t my grandmothers. I usually get a pork sandwich with the regular (sweeter) sauce.
3. The smoked tofu is a solid choice as well. And it’s VEGAN, so it’s not just vegetarian. And you can get vegetarian beans as a side.
4. Part of the thrill is the chase to get there in time.
Denver staple. I salute you, Mr. Wolfe.

Okay Wolfe, you’re a great man. You gave great customer service and as I’ve read in your reviews you have a one man shop that runs quickly and efficiently and serve some great grub.
We ordered a 8 ft brisket sandwich and (don’t just us) ate it in the car. I have to honestly say it was very sub par for me. The bread was good but didn’t marry with the bbq as it should for me. The brisket was kinda dry and a little tougher for me than I prefer.
I do want to say that for the price you cannot beat it. The experience as well is worth the visit. I would try the lunch rush though, maybe the bbq will be a bit better earlier in the day.

I’m giving Wolfe’s BBQ 5 Stars and I’m not even his cousin! (Wolfe jokingly said that the nice people on Unilocal who gave him 4 – 5 stars are all relatives of his).
Wolfe’s BBQ is such a charming place. I give it 5 stars because of my entire experience combined. The price is good, food was unique (I tried the smoked bbq tofu sandwich), place was super clean and cute and the owner was so nice. He has been at this location since 1985!
I am also impressed that this entire shop is a one-​man operation. Wolfe is the bbq man, the cashier and the server. He must prefer it this way but I almost wish he had some help.
Now, the hours of this place is kinda odd. Wolfe is opened for 4.5 hours for lunch (1130 – 3) and 3 hours for dinner (5 – 8). If you come at 830 for dinner, you’ll be out of luck ~ so make sure you come during the correct running hours. Oh! and the place is Monday to Friday only, closed on the weekends.
I wanted to try this place because of the tofu sandwich I’ve been reading about. Before coming here, I was kind of worried that I’d come out smelling like BBQ and that the restaurant in general would be dirty and sticky like most bbq joints are. NOPE! Not Wolfe’s place. I didnt come out smelling like walking-​human ribs and I left feeling healthy because of what I ordered.
I really like the idea that someone can eat their meat and hang out with their vegetarian friend as well. Both parties are happy! Great idea Wolfe!

Wolfe’s is a bonafide goddamn Denver treasure. If you’re vegetarian and long for a sloppy, tangy BBQ sandwich, look no further. Wolfe’s offers a BBQ tofu sandwich that is slightly inconsistent in texture (sometimes perfect, sometimes reeeeeeeeeeeal chewy), but the taste and experience are always top notch. I used to have a Friday tradition of visiting Highlander comics across the street (R.I.P) and then having lunch at Wolfe’s, reading over my comics.
In addition to great sandwiches, Wolfe makes his own perfect lemonade, which paired with the iced tea is a great Arnold Palmer. The sides are priced like it’s 1955, with most (if not all) items under $ 1.00. You really feel like you’re in a timeless hideout from the rest of the world in here. Hopefully there’s a Louis Wolfe Jr being secretly trained to carry on the biz, or at least a decent robot.

When you’re on the same street corner for 25+ years you MUST be doing a TON OF STUFF RIGHT.
Indeed, this one-​man band is… he smokes his meats (and his tofu goes through a similarly arduous smoking process) for hours and hours and hours until the output is achingly tender. I love the ribs especially.
The sides here are also fantastic! Tangy slaw and the beans (veg and non-​veg available) and the potato salad are my favorites.
Really vegetarian friendly, which is not typical at all for a BBQ joint. I bring vegetarian friends here all the time!
I wish he’d charge more, I really do. I feel GUILTY paying LESS THAN $ 5 for a full sandwich on wheat bread with homemade bbq sauce and a side of chips.

Three and a half, rounding up to four stars. .. and why? Because Louis Wolfe runs this place entirely on his own, and has been doing that for 25 years. He’s engaging, talented and committed to serving up some fine smoked meats, along with a homemade barbeque sauce that comes in 2 versions: He takes his regular tomato version, splits it in half and adds cayenne pepper, thus making his lip smackin’ good spicy sauce. I’m partial to his pork shoulder. When touched with his red spicy it fits the bill just fine. And he serves a vinegary slaw seasoned with poppy seeds that cuts through the sweetness and oil of the sauce. If you haven’t already found him, give him a try, he (and you) deserve it.

The BBQ tofu is excellent and very affordable!
Although Wolfe’s is known for traditional bbq, he does an excellent job of catering to his vegan customers.
Visit Wolfe’s during the week because he takes weekends off.

So, I had been craving barbecue for who knows how long but I had been waiting until my upcoming trip to Texas before I gave in. Sadly, sometimes I have little self-​control.
Hearing such good things about this place and considering that I had driven/​walked/​biked past this place so many times, I decided to give it a try.
Boy, did it satisfy my cravings.
The place is small. It’s cute. It’s what a barbecue place should be.
I got a chopped brisket sandwich and it was delicious. After asking how hot was hot and getting a good explanation, I decided to go with the hot. The sauce was perfect. Not overly spicy but just enough to make you happy. This is definitely a place that I will frequent more often. And the man who owns the place was really nice. I’m glad I finally stopped.
I do have one little complaint, the potato salad lacked… a lot. It was bland. I am a big fan of potato salad and this one left me disappointed.
Other than that, thumbs up, Wolfe’s Barbeque. That should hold me over for another week!

This awesome hole-​in-​the-​wall is easy to miss, and is easily one of my favorite places in Denver.
Fantastic authentic homemade barbecue, including vegetarian/​vegan bbq tofu! I hear meat eaters love the place as well, but the owner told me once that its the tofu that has kept him in business all these years. A group of friends will come in that consists of 9 carnivores and 1 veggie, so wolfe’s ends up a good choice to please them all — few (if any) bbq joints could do the same. If you’re a veggie in Denver and haven’t been to wolfe’s, you’re really missing out (and you heard that right — his delicious bbq is even vegan-​friendly). The bbq tofu sandwich is truly delicious (get the big one). I’m not a fan of baked beans but he has a vegetarian option for those as well. His prices are great, and he has some good simple side dishes and desserts.
Oh – do try to stop by an ATM on the way — Wolfe does take cards but he really prefers cash. I’m sure when you’re running a one-​man shop those pesky credit card fees really add up.
Some people find the owner a little brusque, but i’ve always found him to be quite lovely and a pleasure to talk to. I love supporting this one-​man business that he has poured his heart into. Definitely a one-​of-​a-​kind gem that makes Denver Denver. Places like this make me really happy.

God love Wolfe’s.
The chicken, brisket, and tofo sammiches are amazing. He is the one-​man-​band of kick ass bbchew.
This is a tomato based sauce place, vs. vinegar based, so get read to have some sticky hands, and the feel of the place is like a small town place in 1982. The magazines there, in fact, are all pre-​1985. Read about LIVE AID while you eat.
I do wish they were open on the weekends, but other than that it’s amazing. Just DON’T order medium. It’s hot or regular. Chow down!

Well, my girlfriend and I went here for dinner, and it was a treat. Louis Wolfe, the proprietor, does it all by himself. He’s one of the friendliest owners I’ve met, and knows the right balance of how friendly and engaging to be with his customers without getting too pushy.
The restaurant itself is small and cozy, with a welcoming décor. There was a decent sized group with some tables put together, which makes me think that as long as you go during non-​peak hours, you can bring groups, but we were there about 20 minutes before closing, so I can’t speak for early evening or lunch time.
The menu has your standard barbeque options – brisket, chicken, pulled pork, hot links, etc – with a twist – tofu! That’s good to know for when I bring my veggie friends around. He gives you a mild or hot option as far as the sauce, and a good amount of side order options.
I had a hot link/​sliced brisket combo plate with hot sauce, bbq beans and fruit salad. My girlfriend had the chicken plate with mild sauce, veggie bbq beans, and fruit salad. Both of us got a deli pickle slice, a buttered roll. The hot links are among the best I’ve ever had, and the brisket is well done. The chicken was delicious. The hot sauce wasn’t too hot, full of flavor. If I wanted to amp it up a bit, I could have used the bottle of Frank’s Red Hot each table has. Both types of beans were tasty. The vegetarian model had tofu and the regular type had nice chunks of ham. The fruit salad was great, with strawberries, pineapple, peaches, and I think pears. Very tasty. It almost seemed like it was more of a compote, something about it was very different from your typical fruit salad, but neither one of us could put our finger on it.
My Wolfe’s Barbeque experience was great. I’ll certainly bring friends out here when they come to visit.

Five stars for a little white-​haired old man who does everything behind the counter (with no one else in sight), who also serves BBQ TOFU. I thought it was a joke when I was first told. BBQ Tofu is like… an oxymoron in many circles. But sure enough, it is there, and it is yum.
I haven’t been here for a spell just because I don’t live or work near the area any longer, but I won’t ever forget. There isn’t anything fancy or special about Wolfe’s BBQ, but it’s nice to know it’s there. Based on opinions from old coworkers, his bbq meat is very good (and based on the people arriving promptly at 11 AM when he opens I believe them). The tofu is especially good as a sandwich; the only recommendation I would have is to use it as a base – take it home or back to work and add some lettuce, tomato, avocado, jalepenos… whatever. Wolfe doesn’t offer any of these «fixin’s» at his spot, but the sandwich is like a delicious canvas smeared with bbq sauce for you to add on to. He also offers vegetarian baked beans, which just have little bits of the tofu chopped up in them, but they make my little vegetarian heart sing with delight they are so good and thoughtful :)
Writing this review now… makes me realize I must return on a day off for that bbq tofu sandwich! And encourage anyone who reads this review who hasn’t been to go! Go with all your might and wetnaps!

I don’t understand how Wolfe’s only has three and a half stars. Wolfe himself is really nice to his customers. A women who locked herself out of the car came into the restaurant the other day and Wolfe gave her a hanger to use to unlock her car. She didn’t even buy anything.
Beyond Wolfe’s awesomeness, the food is delicious. The BBQ is typical Kansas City style, with great smoked meats (or Tofu) and delicious spicy tomato sauce with undertones of sweetness and interesting spices (I think he uses ginger or cloves or something).
The sides are great too, especially the perfect cole slaw. And the servings are exceptionally generous. For $ 5 and change you can get a huge six inch BBQ sandwich with chips and a side.
THe only slight downside is that because Wolfe is a religious jew, the restaurant is closed on Saturdays, but who is going to fault him for that.

While I am by no means a BBQ expert I do have a classification I use for myself when I think of BBQ. It can fall into one of three categories in my mind — Southern, Cajun, or Mid-​Western. While, non of these have direct boundaries I associate each with a certain taste in my mind. Wolfe’s falls into the Mid-​Western category for me. It tastes similar to BBQ that I’ve eaten in places like Kansas City or maybe Texas.
This little shop on Colfax has a lot of personality and I like that. I also admire the fact that vegetarians can easily eat here as Wolfe’s makes a tasty BBQ tofu and vegetarian baked beans. If you are a meat lover they’ve definitely got that covered, too though so don’t be scared by the meatless options.
For about 7 bucks I was served my choice of 2 meats (chopped brisket and tofu — what? I like to try all the options) and a side (baked beans). It was quite the deal as far as pricing goes. As a side note everything is served with really soft delicious bread and a pickle. But, in my mind BBQ should be accompanied by cornbread. You know, to each her own.
I happen to prefer Southern BBQ to Mid-​Western so Wolfe’s isn’t exactly my speed. But, it does taste good and it’s definitely a good value if you are interested in the milder, sweeter BBQ types.

I’m here to praise the BBQ tofu as well! I finally had the chance to try it. There’s also a vegetarian special you can get that has BBQ tofu and a curried tofu salad. There are also vegetarian baked beans. Kudos to Wolfe for acknowledging the vegetarian market.
I had the BBQ tofu sandwich with the spicy BBQ sauce and the vegetarian baked beans. The BBQ sauce and the beans were a little bit too sweet for my tastes. For $ 9.25 a pound you can buy any of the meats or the tofu a la carte so that’s what I plan to do next time I’m in the mood for some BBQ tofu.

There was a time when a few of my frequent co-​diners and I ended up dining at Wolfe’s often. Since I don’t live in Denver, and my work schedule has changed completely since last November, we don’t get to Wolfe’s as often. I have missed Wolfe. He seems to be a lone Wolfe, working solo in his little Colfax den.
As the other reviewer has said, the bbq tofu is a real plus here. I have yet to find anywhere in Boulder where I live that serves bbq tofu. You would think that if anywhere would have joints that served bbq tofu, it would be Boulder, CO! But, no, the best bbq tofu I’ve found is actually at Wolfe’s on Colfax and Logan in Denver! There’s more to it than meets the eye. Mr. Wolfe cooks the tofu just right, to get the perfect consistency, and also prepares the perfect sauce to accompany it. True mastery of tofu preparation here! His other bbq foods are good too. He has his own specific way of doing things, and one needs to observe and learn to order in rhythm with his preferences so that one’s dining experience here can be optimum. We’ve gotten used to this.
Good side dishes, all seem homemade, perfectly cooked meats and tofu, reasonable prices, and a bit of free parking in the back in the evenings, which is a real bonus. Please do ask about which spaces are free, and at what time, before attempting to use the free parking. Otherwise, use the metered parking on the street.
Bön appetit!