The 2015 Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Openings in Denver

2014 saw a record number of restaurant, bar, and brewery openings, and that momentum is propelling straight into the new year. From second locations of several concepts, to the continuing boom in RiNo and on Tennyson Street, there is still much to look forward to in 2015. To help you keep track of it all, here's a roundup of what's to come.

First, drumroll! These are Denver's Twelve Most Anticipated Openings, in chronological order.

CHOWDER ROOM
Where: Baker, 560 South Broadway
What: A casual seafood cafe serving daily varieties of chowder, oysters, crab cakes, thick-cut calamari, and more.
Who: Owned and operated by chef Matt Stein and his wife, Carrie.
Anticipated opening: January 13
· Chowder Room Will Open On South Broadway Next Month [EDEN]

CHO77
Where: Baker, 43 South Broadway
What: Dim sum, noodle bowls, and other Asian dishes in a casual, street food-focused setting.
Who: Chef Lon Symensma of ChoLon, along with Larimer Associates' Joe Vostrejs and Pat McHenry.
Anticipated opening: February
· Chef Lon Symensma Will Open Cho77, A Noodle Shop [EDEN]
· Upcoming Cho77 Gets Authentic Vietnamese Street Food Cart [EDEN]

YET-TO-BE-NAMED SEAFOOD CONCEPT
Where: Boulder, 1043 Pearl Street
What: Sustainable seafood with a large oyster and raw bar, plus a GMO-free menu and plenty of vegetarian options.
Who: Salt and Colterra chef and owner Chef Bradford Heap, with his wife, Carol Vilate.
Anticipated opening: Late February
· Sustainable Seafood House to Replace PastaVino [EDEN]

FINN'S MANOR
Where: RiNo, 2927 Larimer Street
What: More than 6,000 square feet of space will be designated for six or so rotating food trucks, and the bar—inside a weathered old home—will pay tribute to New Orleans classic cocktails with a "vagabond Americana" theme.
Who: Noah Price, co-owner of the Populist and Crema Coffeehouse, his business partner Thomas Taylor, and whisky brand ambassador Robert Sickler.
Anticipated opening: March
· Making Way for New Art at Finn's Manor in RiNo [EDEN]
· Construction Underway at Forthcoming Bar Finn's Manor [EDEN]

SOLITAIRE
Where: West Highland, 3927 West 32nd Avenue
What: A restaurant featuring diversified world cuisine and a comfortable bar in an updated space that formerly housed the Highland's Garden Cafe. 
Who: Mark Ferguson, formerly of Spago in Vail and Las Vegas.
Anticipated opening: March
· Solitaire, A New Eatery From Chef Mark Ferguson, Will Open in the Former Highland's Garden Cafe [EDEN]
· Solitaire Gears Up For Opening in the Highland [EDEN]

OSAKA RAMEN
Where: RiNo, 2611 Walnut Street
What: An authentic ramen-ya, serving traditional and non-traditional varieties, plus bento boxes and side dishes.
Who: Chef Jeff Osaka, who closed his restaurant Twelve last year.
Anticipated opening: March
· Jeff Osaka Will Close Twelve and Expand Osaka Ramen [EDEN]

IL PORCELLINO SALUMI
Where: Berkeley, 4334 West 41st Street
What: A cured meat shop and deli with selections like coppa, nduja, chorizo, and more.
Who: Head butcher Brian Albano and chef-owner Bill Miner, both of Relish Catering.
Anticipated opening: Spring
· Cured Meat Shop Il Porcellino Lands On Tennyson Street [EDEN]

BAR FAUSTO
Where: RiNo, 3126 Larimer Street 
What: Cocktails and charcuterie in a 2,000-square-foot space that can accommodate close to 100 guests. 
Who: Chef Jonathan Power of the Populist and Crema Coffee House, Koan Goedman of Huckleberry Roasters, and the team from design-built company FinArt. 
Anticipated opening: Spring

SOUK SHAWARMA
Where: LoHi, 3200 Pecos Street inside the Avanti complex
What: A build-your-own, Lebanese-inspired shawarma shop.
Who: Chef Jon Robbins of Bistro Barbès.
Anticipated opening: May
· Avanti Announces Five Eateries [5280]

THE OCCIDENTAL
Where: LoHi, 1950 West 32nd Avenue
What: A neighborhood tavern, serving as the more casual offshoot of adjacent sister establishment Williams & Graham.
Who: Award-winning barman Sean Kenyon and business partner Todd Colehour.
Anticipated opening: May
· Williams & Graham Remodels, the Occidental Is Coming [EDEN]

SPANISH CONCEPT YET-TO-BE-NAMED FROM JUSTIN CUCCI
Where: LoHi, 2930 Umatilla Street
What: Small, Spanish-style tapas in a unique location—the fifth floor of a mixed-use building that's home to offices, another restaurant space, and excellent views.
Who: Chef and restaurateur Justin Cucci, who operates neighboring Linger.
Anticipated opening: Late summer
· Justin Cucci Will Open Another Restaurant in LoHi [EDEN]
· Mizu Out of New LoHi Building, Space Is Up For Grabs [EDEN]

AMERICAN BONDED
Where: RiNo, 2706 Larimer Street
What: A classic neighborhood bar and kitchen with a focus on American food, whiskey, wine, and beer.
Who: Acclaimed bartender Sean Kenyon in partnership with Matchbox owners Justin Anthony and Lisa Vedovelli.
Anticipated opening: Late summer
· Sean Kenyon Plans To Open American Bonded in RiNo [EDEN]

But there are so many more to look forward to. These upcoming 27 concepts range from music venues to bars, breweries, doughnut shops, and bacon-centric eateries.

MILK & HONEY
Where: LoDo, 1414 Larimer Street
What: This swanky restaurant and bar aims to serve pure and simple food in a lounge-like, subterranean setting on Larimer Square.
Who: Chef Michael Shiell.
Anticipated opening: Late January
· Cocktails, Champagne, and Wine Will Flow at Milk & Honey [EDEN]
· Milk & Honey Soon Flowing in Larimer Square [EDEN]

SCHOOL HOUSE KITCHEN & LIBATIONS
Where: Arvada, 5660 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard
What: A casual bar and eatery with an emphasis on whiskeys of the world, located in an 1882 old schoolhouse. There are 35-foot ceilings, atrium skylights, a "teacher's lounge," and a couple of patios. 
Who: Manager Seth Murty, formerly of Central Bistro, and Steven Baker, formerly with the Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Group.  
Anticipated opening: Late January

NOCTURNE
Where: RiNo, 1330 27th Street
What: A modern take on the jazz and supper clubs of the mid-20th century.
Who: Scott and Nicole Mattson, in partnership with chef Dustin Beckner.
Anticipated opening: February
· Nocturne, a Jazz And Supper Club, Will Open in RiNo [EDEN]

DECLARATION BREWING
Where: 2030 South Cherokee Street
What: A brew house boasting a nearly 2,000-square-foot tap room, plus a large outdoor beer garden with room for food trucks and lawn games.
Who: A team of four primary partners: Paul Ogg, Michael Blandford, Greg Schlichting, and David Stroope.
Anticipated opening: Late winter
· Declaration Brewing Finds a New Use for Old Kegs [EDEN]
· Declaration Brewing Will Open in October [EDEN]

SUSHI RAMA
Where: RiNo, 2601 Larimer Street
What: Utilizing Japanese technology called kaiten, sushi will be up for grabs via a mechanized conveyor belt.
Who: Chef Jeff Osaka and developer Ken Wolf.
Anticipated opening: March
· Chef Jeff Osaka Will Launch a Sushi Eatery in RiNo [EDEN]
· Conveyer Belt Sushi Coming Up at Jeff Osaka's Sushi Rama [EDEN]

OPHELIA'S
Where: Ballpark, 1215 20th Street
What: It's been a couple years in the making, but this project will see a former brothel transformed into a restaurant, bar and lounge, and live music venue.
Who: Chef and restaurateur Justin Cucci, with help from beverage director Mike Henderson and executive chef Jeremy Kittelson.
Anticipated opening: March
· Justin Cucci's New Restaurant/Music Venue Revealed [EDEN]

MYRTLE HILL
Where: Wash Park, 1004 South Gaylord Street
What: This will serve as the retail bakery and coffee counter of Devil's Food, as that restaurant grows.
Who: The team behind Devil's Food, just down the street.
Anticipated opening: March
· Devil's Food Plans A Coffee Shop On the Same Block [EDEN]

RECESS
Where: LoHi, 2715 17th Street
What: Look for a bar and eatery with indoor and outdoor spaces, a menu of shareable plates, charcuterie, soups, curry, 15 beers on tap, and cocktails.
Who: Industry professionals William Frankland and Owen Olson.
Anticipated opening: March
· Recess, a New Bar and Eatery, Headed to LoHi [EDEN]

THE GOOD SON
Where: City Park, 2550 East Colfax Avenue
What: A bar-focused restaurant utilizing a wood-fire oven for pizzas, vegetables, meats, and breads. This concept will replace the recently closed Silvi's Kitchen, formerly known as Udi's Pizza Cafe.
Who: The U Baron Group, helmed by owner Etai Bar-On.
Anticipated opening: March
· The Good Son Will Open in the Former Lowenstein Theater [EDEN]
· Silvi's Kitchen, Former Udi's Cafe, Closes on Colfax [EDEN]

CALL TO ARMS BREWING
Where: Berkeley, 4526 Tennyson Street
What: The craft brews will pair old-world tradition with a modern approach.
Who: A trio of three Avery Brewing alums: Chris Bell, Jesse Brookstein, and Jon Cross.
Anticipated opening: Early spring
· Call to Arms, a Forthcoming Brewery, Signs on Location [EDEN]

HABIT DOUGHNUTS AND CARBON COFFEE
Where: LoHi, 1553 Platte Street
What: Two separate concepts under the same ownership. Habit is a pastry chef-operated premium doughnut and coffee shop, while Carbon is a hybrid coffee, wine, and cocktail bar with a menu of brunch, sandwiches, salads, and small plates.
Who: Owner Lisa Ruskaup, a Denver native who has served as a restaurant and real estate consultant, designer, and concept director.
Anticipated opening: Early spring

DOS SANTOS
Where: Uptown, 1475 East 17th Avenue
What: A taqueria and tequila bar housed in the former D Bar space.
Who: Brothers Jason and Kristopher Wallenta, who own Kondesa in Cozumel, Mexico.
Anticipated opening: Late March or early April
· Dos Santos Will Open in the Former D Bar Space in Uptown [EDEN]

MAX'S WINE DIVE
Where: Capitol Hill, 696 Sherman Street
What: An outpost of the Texas-based "gourmet comfort food" concept, with a wine-and-dive theme.
Who: Owners Jerry and Laura Lasco.
Anticipated opening: April 1
· Construction Watch: Max's Wine Dive [EDEN]

BAUR'S
Where: Downtown, 1512 Curtis Street
What: A 200-seat, modern American restaurant focused on nose-to-tail cookery, cocktails, wine, and live music. 
Who: Dory Ford, chef and CEO of Aqua Terra Culinary
Anticipated opening: May

AVANTI FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Where: LoHi, 3200 Pecos Street
What: A collective eatery that will house seven self-contained tenants within shipping containers, as well as a communal dining space. Serving as an incubator for new restaurant concepts, the businesses will rotate in and out.
Who: Patrick O'Neill, founder of Choppers Custom Salads, Uber Sausage co-founder Brad Arguello, and Rob Hahn, head of real estate investment and development group GRT.
Anticipated opening: May
· New Age Food Court in LoHi: Avanti Food & Beverage [EDEN]

POCO TORTARIA
Where: LoHi, 3200 Pecos Street
What: Differentiating from the existing Pinche Tacos locations and food truck, this concept will focus on Mexican sandwiches called tortas, with bolillo bread baked from scratch daily.
Who: Pinche Tacos' Kevin Morrison.
Anticipated opening: May
· Avanti Announces Five Eateries [5280]

QUIERO AREPAS
Where: LoHi, 3200 Pecos Street
What: An extension of the popular food truck of the same name, with the addition of sides and possibly dessert.
Who: Igor and Beckie Panasewicz.
Anticipated opening: May
· Avanti Announces Five Eateries [5280]
· Quiero Arepas [Official website]

BRAVA!
Where: LoHi, 3200 Pecos Street
What: Wood-fired pizzas and small plates.
Who: David Bravdica, who has operated the Brava! cart at the base of Lannie's Clocktower Caberet for five years.
Anticipated opening: May
· Avanti Announces Five Eateries [5280]
· Brava! [Official website]

BIXO, MEDITERRANEAN BITES
Where: LoHi, 3200 Pecos Street
What: Modernized Mediterranean- and western Europe-style tapas with a Mexican influence.
Who: Chef Marco Gonzales, who has spent time in award-winning restaurants in Spain, France, Italy, and Mexico.
Anticipated opening: May
· Avanti Announces Five Eateries [5280]
· Bixo [Official website]

THE FARMHOUSE
Where: Littleton, 6775 South Santa Fe Drive
What: Part of Breckenridge's new beer campus, the Farmhouse will be a large restaurant with a stage for live music and two open-air beer gardens.
Who: Breckenridge Brewery.
Anticipated opening: Early summer
· From Plans to Progress - New Brewery Update [Official website]

CEREBRAL BREWING
Where: East Colfax, 1477 Monroe Street
What: Taking a scientific approach to brewing, the product will center on English- and Belgian-inspired beers.
Who: Owners Sean Buchan, Chris Washenberger, and Dan McGuire.
Anticipated opening: Summer
· Cerebral Brewing Secures Colfax Space [EDEN]

HUMBLE PIE
Where: East Colfax Avenue and Monroe Street
What: Version 2.0 of the bakery and cafe that got its start in Baker, but closed that location in late 2014.
Who: Co-owners Jessica Dolgan and Tamara Brink.
Anticipated opening: June
· The Humble Pie Store Will Relocate by Early Next Year [EDEN]
· Humble Pie Signs Lease for New Location on Colfax [EDEN]

BLUEPLAINS TAVERN
Where: Sunnyside, 2400 West 44th Avenue
What: Fish and game served in a neighborhood-friendly atmosphere.
Who: Owner Neil Jorgensen, who has past front-of-house experience at Marlowe's, Stoney's, and Govnr's Park Tavern.
Anticipated opening: July

BACON
Where: Sunnyside, 2440 W. 44th Avenue
What: Locally-sourced bacon-centric eatery serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the soon-to-be-developed Cobbler's Corner. 
Who: Owner David Dill 
Anticipated opening: Summer
· Two Restaurants To Open in Sunnyside's Cobbler's Corner [EDEN]

BLUE ISLAND OYSTER BAR
Where: Cherry Creek, 2625 East 2nd Avenue
What: A "dock-to-dish" experience with an ever-changing oyster bar, plus additional seafood offerings and New England specialties.
Who: The team behind Humboldt, including chef/partner Sean Huggard.
Anticipated opening: Early fall
· Blue Island Oyster Bar Will Open in Cherry Creek [EDEN]

VITAL ROOT
Where: Berkeley, 3915 Tennyson Street
What: Vegan- and vegetarian-friendly fare and a strong juicing program in a quick-service environment.
Who: Chef and restaurateur Justin Cucci.
Anticipated opening: Fall
· Justin Cucci to Open Vegan-Friendly Spot in Berkeley [EDEN]

Stanley Marketplace

STANLEY BEER HALL
Where: Stapleton, 2501 Dallas Street
What: A casual, industrial spot with a dialed-down and approachable menu, anchoring the upcoming Stanley Marketplace.
Who: Chef and restaurateur Kevin Taylor.
Anticipated opening: Late fall or early winter
· Kevin Taylor To Open New Restaurant and Beer Hall [EDEN]
· A New Wave of Beer and Sausage Halls Is Hitting Denver [EDEN]

Here are the concepts are expanding with more locations, presented in chronological order:

PARK BURGER
Where: RiNo, 2615 Walnut Street
What: This will be the fourth location of the burger concept that features various burger styles, shakes, fries, and more.
Who: Chef-owner Jean-Philippe Failyau.
Anticipated opening: Mid-January
· Park Burger RiNo Is Gearing Up For a Mid-Month Opening [EDEN]

WURSTKÜCHE
Where: Downtown, 2036 Broadway
What: A large-scale sausage grill and beer hall based in L.A. The offerings will include classic to exotic sausages, Belgian-style fries, plenty of beer, patio spaces, and a separate bar.
Who: Cousins and co-owners Joseph Pitruzzelli and Tyler Wilson.
Anticipated opening: January
· Wurstküche Gears Up For Opening in Ballpark [EDEN]
· AA New Wave of Beer and Sausage Halls Is Hitting Denver [EDEN]

ZOE MA MA UNION STATION
Where: LoDo, 16th and Wynkoop streets in the One Union Station building
What: A second outpost of the Boulder-based quick-service Chinese restaurant. No MSG is used for the menu that includes dim sum and noodle dishes.
Who: Edwin Zoe. 
Anticipated opening: January
· Zoe Ma Ma, Protein Bar, and The Thirsty Lion Pub To Set Up Shop in the Union Station Neighborhood [EDEN]

BUBU
Where: Lowry, 7559 East Academy Boulevard
What: Bubu launched on Larimer Square last year as a fast-casual concept focused on healthy and fresh build-your-own bowls. This will be the second location.
Who: Chef and restaurateur Troy Guard, with Larimer Associates.
Anticipated opening: Early February
· Bubu Will Open Its Second Location in Lowry in Early February [EDEN]
· What You Need to Know About BuBu [EDEN]

NOVO COFFEE HIGHLAND
Where: West Highland, 3617 West 32nd Avenue
What: The third cafe and retail location of the family-owned concept, which uses coffee beans from around the world that are roasted locally with vintage Vittoria machines.
Who: Founders Jake, Herb, and Joseph Brodsky.
Anticipated opening: March
· Novo Coffee Is Coming to Highlands Square [EDEN]

RHEIN HAUS
Where: LoDo, 1415 Market Street
What: In addition to being a Bavarian beer hall, look for bocce ball courts, a rooftop patio, and made-in-house sausages.
Who: A Seattle-based restaurant group owned by Deming Maclise and James Weimann.
Anticipated opening: April
· Rhein Haus, A German Bier Hall, Is Coming to LoDo [EDEN]

ATOMIC COWBOY/FAT SULLY'S/DENVER BISCUIT COMPANY
Where: Berkeley, 4275 Tennyson Street
What: After this trifecta of a bar, pizza, and biscuits found success on East Colfax Avenue and South Broadway, it will open a third spot, this time with more options for kids.
Who: Owner Drew Shader.
Anticipated opening: Spring
· Atomic Cowboy & Denver Biscuit Company Will Open in Berkeley [EDEN]
· Is Tennyson Street Denver's Next Hot Dining Scene? [EDEN]

POSTINO
Where: LoHi, 2715 17th Street
What: An Arizona-based wine bar housed in the former Denver Bookbinding Company building.
Who: Upward Projects, owned by Craig and Kris DeMarco and Lauren and Wyatt Bailey.
Anticipated opening: Spring
· Coming Attractions [EDEN]
· Arizona Company Posts Liquor License Hearing Notice for Postino LoHi Wine Cafe[Cafe Society]

BLACK EYE COFFEE
Where: Golden Triangle/Capitol Hill, 8th Avenue and Sherman Street
What: A coffee house and casual eatery that will offer pastries, grab-and-go items, cold-pressed juices, but also a full dinner menu in the evenings. More details here. 
Who: Ali Elman, Steven Waters, and Dustin Audet.
Anticipated opening: May
· Black Eye Coffee Will Expand With Cap Hill Location [EDEN]

KAOS PIZZERIA/UNO MAS TAQUERIA Y CANTINA
Where: Berkeley, 4526 Tennyson Street
What: Housed inside the John's Garage development with Call to Arms Brewing, second locations of the Old South Pearl Street-born restaurants will serve as a symbiotic delivery and in-house dining option.
Who: Chef and restaurateur Patrick Mangold-White.
Anticipated opening: May
· Is Tennyson Street Denver's Next Hot Dining Scene? [EDEN]
· Patrick Mangold-White Expands His Restaurant Empire on South Pearl -- and Beyond [Cafe Society]

LOS CHINGONES
Where: Denver Tech Center, I-25 and Belleview Avenue
What: A second iteration of RiNo's modern taqueria, this time with more shared dishes and large-format offerings like a whole chicken or a pound of pork shoulder with which to make tacos.
Who: Chef and restaurateur Troy Guard. 
Anticipated opening: June
· Chef Troy Guard Will Bring a New Los Chingones to the Tech Center [EDEN]

DEL FRISCO'S GRILLE
Where: Cherry Creek, 1st Avenue and St. Paul Street
What: A more casual version of the steakhouse that has locations around the country, including Greenwood Village.
Who: Dallas-based Del Frisco's Restaurant Group.
Anticipated opening: Fall
· We Stand Corrected: Del Frisco's Grille Coming to Cherry Creek [EDEN]

PUNCH BOWL SOCIAL
Where: Yet to be announced. 
What: After launching the bowling, arcade, and diner "eatertainment" concept on South Broadway, and then opening locations in Portland, Austin, and Detroit, a second spot is coming to Denver.
Who: Restaurateur Robert Thompson, who's also behind Argyll Whisky Beer.
Anticipated opening: Late 2015
· Punch Bowl Social Partners With Leaf & Crumb on Desserts [EDEN]
· Denver Makes National Headlines as Outstanding Food City [EDEN]
· Punch Bowl Social Has Big Plans for Expansion, Starting With its Menu [Cafe Society]

STK REBEL
Where: LoDo, 16th and Market streets
What: An extension of the chic STK steakhouse brand, but offers a broader menu.
Who: The ONE Group, which is led by CEO Jonathan Segal.
Anticipated opening: TBD
· STK Rebel, a Chic Steakhouse, Is Coming to LoDo [EDEN]