Denver's Most Anticipated Winter Openings

Dynamic is the word that best defines the current state of the Denver dining scene. Restaurant groups are growing, small passion projects are born every week, and diners keep on searching and exploring the ever-growing number of restaurants and bars. We considered coming attractions that plan to open from now until the official beginning of spring, March 20. They are listed in alphabetical order.

AMERICAN GRIND

Address: 3200 Pecos, inside Avanti F&B
Major Players: Co-owners Chad George, Kade Gianinetti, and Jared Schwartz, who also own and operate The Way Back
What to Expect: American Grind describes itself as a 1950s drive-in inspired burger restaurant with a modern, locavore twist. Ingredients are sourced from Colorado and everything is made from scratch—from the pickles and ketchup to the buns and ice cream. Purveyors include Sun Prairie Beef, The Rolling Pin Bakeshop, and Western Daughters.
Projected Opening: Early in 2017

BIRDCALL

Address: 800 East 26th Avenue, Five Points, former Tom's Home Cookin' space
Major Players: Restaurateur Jean-Phillipe Failyau, along with his team that includes Peter Newlin and Rachel Sanford. Failyau built his small restaurant empire in Denver around the popular Park Burger (and Park & Co.) and the charming Homegrown Tap & Dough. 
What to Expect: A temple to fried chicken with a nod to the former tenant of the space, the iconic Tom's Home Cookin.
Anticipated Opening: November

BREMEN'S WINE & TAP

Address: 2005 W 33rd Avenue
Major Players: The team has connections to the crew from Stoney's
What to Expect: A casual eatery in Denver's LoHi neighborhood featuring, rotisserie, craft sandwiches, wine, beer and cocktails on tap.
Projected Opening: Early 2017

BRODO

Address: Belmar Shopping Center
Major Players: Chef Brett Shaheen and the team behind The Wooden Table in Greenwood Village
What to Expect: A fast casual eatery that aims to offer elevated yet accessible Italian cuisine in an inviting, modern atmosphere.
Projected Opening: December 16, grand opening

CHOP SHOP LOWRY

Address: 200 Quebec Street
Major Players: Chef and restaurateur Clint Wangsnes
What to Expect: The same homey yet thoughtful menu from the two year old original location on Colfax, but also some fun twists that will fit the Lowry area better.
Projected Opening: Early 2017

DEVIL'S FOOD BAKERY

Address: 1004 South Gaylord
Major Players: The team behind the popular bakery and eatery 
What to Expect: The popular casual eatery on Old South Gaylord, Devil's Food, will open a new attraction just a few of doors down from its current space. Myrtle Hill, a coffee shop and bakery, will live on the same block in a space that previously housed an eye-framing and gallery business.
Projected Opening: Late December-early January

EL FIVE

Address: 2930 Umatilla 
Major Players: Justin Cucci of Edible Beats, the group that owns RootDown, Linger, Ophelia's, and Vital Root. 
What to Expect: A stunning tapas-inspired restaurant located at the top of a five story building in LoHi. Cucci drew inspiration from European and Middle Eastern Mediterranean cuisines. A top notch cocktail and wine program will be an integral part of the restaurant experience. 
Projected Opening: Mid-March

GATEAUX STAPLETON

Address: Martin Luther King Boulevard and Havana Street
Major Players: Kathleen Davia, the bakery's founder and owner
What to Expect: A second location of the classic bakery that opened in the Golden Triangle in 1999, offering a variety of pastries and some of the most exquisite cakes around.
Projected Opening: March 1

HEARTH & DRAM

Address: 1801 Wewatta Street
Major Players: Chef Jeffrey Wall, most recently of Atlanta's young but acclaimed Kimball House and manager Chris Straka
What to Expect: A modern restaurant focused on rustic American fare, paired with the largest whiskey selection in Downtown Denver.
Projected Opening: January

HICKORY & ASH

Address: Arista Development in Westminster
Major Players: Accomplished chef and restaurateur Kevin Taylor and his son Ryan who will be a partner and the head chef.
What to Expect: A 5,000 square foot wood-fired centric restaurant with rustic décor and seating for some 120 guests plus some private rooms and patio dining.
Projected Opening: early March

IL POSTO RINO

Address: 26th & Larimer Street, RiNo (rendering above)
Major Players: Chef Andrea Frizzi 
What to Expect: A new home for the Italian restaurant that Frizzi opened in Uptown in 2007. The upcoming 3,500 square foot space neighbors spots like Sushi Rama and First Draft. There will be a 1,200 square foot mezzanine, a patio, an open kitchen, and a large bar that will give the venture the intimate feel that Frizzi aims to retain for his flagship eatery.
Anticipated Opening: January

KACHINA LODO

Address: 19th and Wazee
Major Players: Sage Restaurant Group and SRG co-founder Peter Karpinski
What to Expect: A second location of Kachina Southwestern Grill at the Dairy Block in Lower Downtown.The restaurant will be adjacent to The Maven, a hotel from Sage Hospitality, SRG's parent company.
Projected Opening: March

KINDRED

Address: Sunnyside, 4058 Tejon Street
Major Players: Restaurateur Chris Sargent who is also behind neighborhood spots Brazen and Telegraph
What to Expect: A neighborhood restaurant stretching over 2,000 square feet with an additional 1,200 square feet of patio that will be guided in its menu by a wood-fired grill.
Anticipated Opening: Late winter

THE KITCHEN CHERRY CREEK

Address: 100 Streele Street, Cherry Creek, Coda Building,
Major Players: Partners Kimbal Musk and Hugo Matheson
What to Expect: A 4,500 square foot second Denver outpost of the popular restaurant that got its start in Boulder. Highlights include a centralized wood-burning oven that will turn out flat breads and roasted meats and a trellis-covered patio surrounded by an outdoor urban garden.
Anticipated Opening: Late winter

LOW COUNTRY KITCHEN

Address: 1575 Boulder Street
Major Players: Katy and Brian Vaughn, native Southerners and longtime Steamboat residents who operate the first Low Country Kitchen restaurant in the mountain town.
What to Expect: A Southern-influenced restaurant that will include a bar, dining room, roof top, and porch front seating for dinner and weekend brunch. The menu could include items like the open faced green tomato B.L.T., a pimento cheese sandwich, the chicken biscuit, and the Jambalaya.
Projected Opening: Early 2017

OLIVE & FINCH

Address: 3390 E. 1st Avenue
Major Players: Chef Mary Nguyen
What to Expect: A second location of chef/restaurateur Mary Nguyen's all-day Uptown bakery, café and eatery. The coming attraction is larger in size and more expansive in offerings with everything from breakfast skillets, sandwiches and salads to larger plates as bistro-type fare for heartier appetites.
Projected Opening: January

PAIRED

Address: 2843 Larimer Street, RiNo
Major Players: Craig Lieberman, founder of the popular 34 Degree crackers
What to Expect: Two joined homes are the new evolution of a bar and eatery that will bring wine, cider, and sake paired with creative small plates. A large backyard patio will be stage two of this project, coming up in 2017.
Anticipated Opening: Late winter

POST CHICKEN & BEER

Address: 2222 South Broadway, Rosedale neighborhood
Major Players: Rock star restaurateur Dave Query of the Big Red F Group, who owns Jax Fish House, Lola, and the West End Tavern, among others.
What to Expect: The same Colorado-style fried and roasted bird and medal-winning beer as The Post Brewing Company in Lafayette and its younger sibling Good Bird Kitchen in Longmont.
Anticipated Opening: January

QUE BUENO SUERTE

Address: 1518 Old South Pearl Street, Wash Park
Major Players: Chef Vinny Sosa, formerly of Work and Class, and consulting chef Dana Rodriguez of Work & Class
What to Expect: An upscale and modern Mexican restaurant that will focus on authentic flavors and will serve lunch and dinner set in what was briefly Session Kitchen. 
Anticipated Opening: December 8

SWEET COOIE'S

Address: 3506 East 12th Avenue, Congress Park, former Daily Scoop location
Major Players: Developer and ice cream afficionaado Paul Tamburello of Little Man Ice Cream
What to Expect: A friendly retro ice cream parlor and chocolate shop named after Tamburello's mother's nickname, Coohie. The woman, who raised her family in Congress Park, had a serious sweet tooth. 
Anticipated Opening: Valentine's Day

STANLEY MARKETPLACE

Address: 2501 Dallas St., Aurora
Major Players: Developer Mark Shaker, along with his partners and team
What to Expect: A mammoth food hall in an old aviation-manufacturing plant that will bring together some of Denver's most favorite food and booze businesses and some new and promising ones as well. The current line-up includes, among others, Comida, Infinite Monkey Theorem. Rosenberg's Bagels & Delicatessen, Denver Biscuit Co., Glazed and Confuzed, as well as Annette Scratch to Table from Acorn-alum Caroline Glover.
Anticipated Opening: December and through early next year; Cheluna Brewing already launched among other business there; Comida will follow next week.

STK

Address: 16th & Market
Major Players: Parent company The ONE Group
What to Expect: A classic steakhouse with a modern twist, similar to those the group operates in other cities but with a local focus. A rep for STK shared with Eater Austin that each location will reflect the host city when it comes to the menu and design.
Projected Opening: January

TRES CHILES MEXICAN GRILL

Address: 3900 Tennyson Street
Major Players: Nicolas Medina
What to Expect: A casual Mexican eatery located by the south side of the Hops & Pie parking lot in the blossoming Berkeley neighborhood.
Projected Opening: Early 2017

WHITE PIE

Address: 1702 Humboldt Street
Major Players: Jason and Kris Wallenta, the brothers and business partners from Dos Santos
What to Expect: A 2,300 square foot classic neighborhood spot with an East Coast slant and a menu that will focus on Italian classics, pizzas, handmade mozzarella, charcuteries and some pastas.
Projected Opening: early March

12 @ MADISON

Address: 1160 Madison Street, Congress Park, former Glaze space
Major Players: Chef Jeff Osaka of Osaka Ramen, Sushi Rama, and the defunct Twelve
What to Expect: A new iteration of chef Osaka's focus on seasonal ingredients in a more relaxed and casual setting. The menu will feature a selection of small plates meant for grazing, plus a nightly plat du jour meant to be shared among several diners. Unlike the original Twelve, dishes here will change seasonally instead of monthly. A cocktail program and wine menu will complement the food.
Anticipated Opening: Week of December 12