Scotts on Alpine is now open in Boulder, housed in the space previously occupied by Radda and most recently Ella at 1264 Alpine Avenue. Owned by Doug Scott, the neighborhood eatery has been a longtime dream of the previous Whole Foods chef who has been in the restaurant and food business for over thirty years.
The space is special to Scott. Back when his daughter was born across the street at Boulder Community Hospital, it was a cold winter night and he ventured across the street by himself to celebrate with a glass of champagne. At the time, it was Market Grille and ever since, he's been inquiring about the space with each owner, always with a vision to own it. Now years later, it has come to fruition.
Aesthetically, Scott left the bar in the center of the restaurant as a focal point but changed the see-through shelving bar back flanked by translucent light, to showcase the liquor. They repainted the walls a steel grey, reupholstered the booths, added new flooring, improved the acoustics in the space with acoustic panels made of shredded trees, and added new retro lighting fixtures and hanging chandeliers. Two large paintings from Scott's treasured personal collection line the Western wall from a Santa Fe, New Mexico artist, Scott Anderson, and each table features fresh flowers.
The kitchen is led by executive chef, Kodi Kassel, a Denver native who is a graduate of Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. Kassel has worked for Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group, Flagstaff House, and most recently, at the Whole Foods Pearl Street store, where she met Scott.
Kassel and Scott plan to rotate the menu four times throughout the year, to focus on seasonality. Although local isn't their only influence, they plan to serve the best food that's organic when possible, with inventive recipes with the likes of housemade French onion soup, sea scallops with lemon risotto, pork tenderloin with huckleberry ancho, ciopinno Italian seafood stew, and more. The food is described as "contemporary melting-pot American," and the menu is organized by appetizers, house-made pizzas in their wood fired oven, soups, greens, entrees, pastas, and desserts.
The daily happy hour boasts dishes for $10 or less, 20% off bottles of wine, and beer, wine, and cocktail specials.
The beverage program, led by Tabatha Klocke, brings a throwback reference they described as "your father's liquor cabinet" with classic cocktails featured like Sazeracs or Manhattans. Klocke has been in the industry for 19 years and has worked at 4580 and Centro Latin Kitchen and Restaurant, among others.
Scotts on Alpine is open 3:30 to 10 p.m., every day but Sunday, for happy hour and dinner. Brunch will follow in the spring.