Zengo, the thirteen year old restaurant from chef Richard Sandoval, will officially reopen at 4 p.m. on Monday, October 10, following a large-scale renovation and menu change, which had the restaurant closed for over a month.
The new Zengo offers a design that blends Asian flavors, an effort led by Dubai's LW Design Group. A pivot door ushers guests inside where they arrive beneath an open timber slot ceiling, housing sculptural origami birds in flight. Hard and soft elements like concrete floors with metallic veining and walnut wood, antique cabinets and leather and cotton fabrics dominate the interior.
A new executive chef, Robert "BJ" Wojtowicz — formerly of Eleven Madison Park, The French Laundry and Denver's Restaurant Kevin Taylor — helms the kitchen. The menu ranges from sushi, sashimi, and omakase plus dim sum, including char siu pork buns and short rib dumplings to curry dishes, grilled entrees, and wok dishes. Hand-muddled cocktails, with a focus on Asian spirits, complement the offerings.
"When I opened Zengo in Denver in 2003, I was inspired by my travels, and passionate about bringing an entirely new style of cuisine to the city of Denver," said owner Richard Sandoval. "More than a decade later, following the recent re-opening of Zengo in Dubai, I'm excited to re-introduce a fresh new Zengo to my home city. The new Zengo will offer a blend of predominantly Asian flavors and design elements inspired by my more recent travels. I'm incredibly thankful for the support we've received throughout the years, and I look forward to the next 10 amazing years."
Zengo will serve dinner from 4 to 11 p.m. seven days a week, with happy hour offered from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Brunch service will resume in late October, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.