Tony Pasquini, a longtime restaurateur who packed it in and turned over his namesake pizza places to franchisees, is trying to take them back.

He left the original South Broadway store in 2004 and signed franchise agreements for the restaurants in Lone Tree, Highland and Uptown on 17th Avenue. His sister continued to operate the South Broadway branch.

Pasquini built his business on New York-style pizza and warm garlic rolls that were served according to his exacting standards. When some of the restaurants strayed from those standards, he swooped in to salvage the brand.

“I thought I could run a franchise system and people would care like I do,” he said. “I learned my lesson.”

So far, he has taken the stores in Highland (West 32nd Avenue and Zuni Street) and Lone Tree (South Quebec Street and C-470) back into the fold, with plans to open more Pasquini’s in the old Panera Bread space at 240 Detroit St. in December and in a new development at East Colfax Avenue and Poplar Street next spring.

“I had an epiphany that I don’t want a Pasquini’s out there unless I’m running it,” he said.

National nods.

Denver as a destination vacation earned two notable mentions this week in Forbes magazine and The New York Times.

Forbes included the Mile High City in its list of 10 best weekend vacation cities, along with more obvious cities such as New Orleans, Boston and San Diego.

In the Forbes story, the “Denver musts” include a tour of the U.S. Mint; tickets to a Rockies, Nuggets or Broncos game; bike rental; and a visit to old or new art museums.

The only partially true factoid? The “under-construction light-rail system.”

The New York Times focused on Denver’s primarily locally owned retail-therapy outlets along Larimer Square. “The stores stand out thanks to their personable feel — chances are that the salesperson helping customers is also the owner,” the story says.

Foodie fodder.

Little H Burger, the younger sibling to Lower Downtown’s H Burger, opened Thursday at East Eighth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, across Colorado from Snooze.

It has the same burger menu and full bar as the 1555 Blake St. location but with counter service where you place an order and it is delivered to the table.

• Cafe Bisque is leaving its nine-year location in Lakewood and moving into 2817 E. Third Ave. in Cherry Creek North, the former home of Q Blues & Jazz Lounge and Eco Burger, in mid-November.

• Ling & Louie’s on the 16th Street Mall near Larimer Street is closing that location and reopening as Ambria, a Mediterranean eatery.

• Same Cafe, the pay-what-you- can lunch spot at 2023 E. Colfax Ave., celebrated its fifth year in biz Thursday.

Chinese-food chat.

Singer Jimmy Buffett, who knows a thing or two about owning restaurant chains (Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise), chit-chatted with P.F. Chang’s operating partner Bob Sweeney while the parrothead king lunched Tuesday in the LoDo spot before his Pepsi Center concert.

“He’s a big fan of P.F. Chang’s,” Sweeney said.

Eavesdropping

on a woman visiting from southern Utah: “I was coloring my hair last night when the water ran out in the RV.

“I had to use the water in the dog’s bowl to rinse my hair.”

Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.