Carve Barbecue, a fast-casual concept intended to reinvent barbecue – opens today in Glendale from the Colorado Springs-based Southern Concepts Restaurant Group, the team behind Southern Hospitality. The new restaurant at 1000 S. Colorado Boulevard features wood-smoked meats, classic barbecue sides, and craft beer in a modern but relaxed environment.
Upon arrival to the 2,500-square-foot space, neighboring Modmarket and Barnes & Noble, guests enter the queue, partitioned by chopped hickory wood and framed by the open kitchen. Customers have a choice of style – salad, sandwich, street taco, or "naked" – with meat carved to order. The menu reflects authentic BBQ influences from around the country. Proteins ranging from pork, chicken, brisket, Memphis-style ribs, and Kansas City burnt ends are smoked to perfection and if desired, sauce-smothered. Chef Jeff Gebott, previously with Ted's Montana Grill and Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, brings his award-winning sweet Kansas City cherry barbecue sauce, along with a hot Texas variety and more. Sides are made from scratch and include Caesar coleslaw, savory sweet potato, and pickled garnishes.
In celebratory fashion, the first 25 guests to arrive at the 11 a.m. opening will receive CARVE cards guaranteeing one year's worth of free barbecue. The new eatery will also donate 10 percent of today's sales to the Denver Rescue Mission.
The Glendale location – which sees more than 80,000 passing cars daily, according to the Carve team – is anticipated to be the first of many. According to Southern Concepts' CEO Mitchell Roth, the team is hoping to open at least four more in 2016. Carve has committed to a location at 601 Broadway, which Roth expects to open in 2017 on the ground floor of the new Denver Health facility currently under construction.