The Ultimate Guide to Fall Restaurant Openings in Denver

Fall is high time for restaurant and bar openings, ready to get in front of diners before the holiday season strikes. Denver is heating up with projects from chef Alex Figura and restaurateur Kevin Morrison, reopenings of cultish spots like Rosenberg's, and expansions of spots like Highland Tap & Burger and Charcoal. Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order.

AVELINA

Address: 1550 17th Street, LoDo
Major Players: Power culinary couple John Broening and Yasmin Lozada-Hissom in collaboration with Stacey and Kevin Jennings of Urban Food Group, a multi concept, multi unit restaurant ownership company based in North Carolina.
What to Expect: A 4,900 square foot New-American restaurant focused on wood-fired cuisine, rustic preparations, and seasonal ingredients. Creative cocktails and a curated list of wines and beers will complement the food.
Projected Opening: Early September

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

CARBONE'S AT MONKEY BARREL

Address: 4401 Tejon Street, Sunnyside (rendering above)
Major Players: Tony Lonardo, part of the original Lonardo Family that owned
What to Expect: The return of Carbone's after a four year hiatus inside the new version of Monkey Barrel. This will be a full-fledged restaurant that will start with a limited menu including two hot sandwiches, ten cold sandwiches, plus three apps and three salads. The hot sandwiches are the Italian Sausage and the Italian Meatball.
Anticipated Opening: Labor Day weekend

CARBOY WINERY/ANGELO'S TAVERNA

Address: 6885 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton
Major Players: Restaurateurs (and now winemakers) Craig Jones, Gabriel Aragon and Eric Hyatt
What to Expect: A 10,000 square foot urban winery that offers a signature collection of wines, both bottled and on tap, alongside a menu of small plates, curated by chef Scott Hybbeneth. Bonus: There will be pizza, chargrilled oysters, and Italian specialties at new location of Angelo's Taverna at Alamo Placita.
Anticipated Opening: Early September

CENTRAL MARKET

Address: 2669 Larimer Street, RiNo
Major Players: Projects from chefs Sean Kelly of Desmond's, Andrea Frizzi of Il Posto, Justin Brunson of Old Major, and Jesus Silva from Sushi Rama, among others. Etai's will move its pastry operations here and chef Jon Robbins of Bistro Barbès will open Temper Chocolates and Confections, a chocolate-forward business.
What to Expect: A food hall featuring 13 vendors including multiple restaurants, a bar, an ice cream shop, a bakery, a fish counter, and a coffee element, all curated by chef Jeff Osaka and developer Ken Wolf.
Anticipated Opening: Late September

CHARCOAL BISTRO

Address: 1028 South Gaylord Street, Wash Park
Major Players: Executive chef, Patrik Landberg and chef de cuisine, Josh Leiby who has worked along side Landberg at Charcoal Restaurant for several years.
What to Expect: New American cuisine served in a casual, bistro-style setting. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner and brunch on the weekends. The interior will feature white quartz, lots of copper finishes, white washed brick, and indoor greenery. Bonus: There will be a raw bar.
Anticipated Opening: Fall

CLYDE

Address: 112 8th Avenue, Capitol Hill/Golden Triangle, former Le Central space
Major Players: Christopher Fehlinger, a New York transplant and hospitality veteran whose resume includes Union Square Cafe and Babbo, along with his husband Jon Lipshutz.
What to Expect: A social cafe, restaurant, and design store that will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant part will focus on bringing a wide and affordable selection of wines, as well as small and large plates for sharing.
Anticipated Opening: October

DIO MIO PASTA

Address: 3264 Larimer Street, RiNo
Major Players: Chefs Alex Figura and Spencer White, both formerly of Lower48, where Figura was one of the owners.
What to Expect: A 40 seat casual pasta-centric eatery that will also have a small grocer component and will serve lunch and dinner. The chefs plan to share classic Italian dishes but also modern twists on them.
Anticipated Opening: October

FISH 'N BEER

Address: 3510 Larimer Street, RiNo
Major Players: Restaurateur Kevin Morrison who owns Tacos Tequila Whiskey, formerly known as Pinche Tacos, and chef-partner Aniedra Nichols, formerly of Elway's.
What to Expect: An approachable restaurant where, you guessed, seafood and beer rule. There will be some 16 beers on tap, but also a selection of cocktails and wines, alongside a food menu that presents a variety of flavors and preparations for fish. Bonus: There will be oysters.
Anticipated Opening: Late October

HIGHLAND TAP & BURGER

Address: 1565 Raleigh Street, Sloan's Lake/Sunnyside
Major Players: Restaurateur Juan Padro and partners, whose portfolio includes the original LoHi Highland Tap and its neighbor Bar Dough
What to Expect: A 4,600-square-foot second location of the popular burger and beer emporium.
Anticipated Opening: Early September

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: Fall

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 fall

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: October

LA LOMA DOWNTOWN

Address: 1801 Broadway, Downtown, former Trinity Grille space
Major Players: The Brinkerhoff family, who has owned La Loma since 1981
What to Expect: A new shiny but reminiscent of the original Jefferson Park outpost where La Loma can dish out its iconic Mexican-American fare.
Anticipated Opening: October

MACKINZIES

Address: 2240 Clay Street, Jefferson Park, former Amass space
Major Players: Owner Debbie Rens, a first time restaurateur
What to Expect: A neighborhood bar and eatery that will focus on wines from all over the world, but will also serve craft cocktails, beer, and a compatible food menu.
Anticipated Opening: September

MILE HIGH HAMBURGER MARY'S

Address: 1336 E 17th Avenue, Uptown, former BSide space
Major Players: Co-owners and restaurant veterans Mark Price, John Skogstad, Christopher Maluck, Adriana Parkinson, and David Zahradnik.
What to Expect: A new outpost of the gay-friendly Hamburger Mary's with a sports twist. There will be some 21 high-definition TVs, plus some vintage sports paraphernalia lining the interior bar. Quirky elements, picked up from thrift shops and antique store, will decorate the walls.
Anticipated Opening: September

MIZU IZAKAYA

Address: 1560 Boulder Street, LoHi
Major Players: Hong Jian Lee, who operates East Moon Asian Bistro & Sushi in Westminster.
What to Expect: A modern and casual Japanese sushi bar and eatery that will feature small plates and a large beverage selection with a focus on sake and Japanese whiskeys. This will be LoHi's third sushi spot after Sushi Ronin and Bamboo Sushi joined the scene earlier this year.
Anticipated Opening: Late October

OCEAN TO PLATE

Address: 444 East 19th, Uptown
Major Players: The owners of the Lobster Blissfood truck, Rich Manzo and Jeff Reebie
What to Expect: A seafood emporium, the 2,400 square foot eatery that will seat 80 seats inside and 36 seats outside, will highlight a great raw bar with oysters, clams, crudos, and ceviche, as well as an interactive cooking station with steam kettles to prepare mussels, cioppino, and other shellfish creations in front of diners.
Anticipated Opening: Late fall

PAIRED

Address: 2843 Larimer Street, RiNo
Major Players: Craig Lieberman, founder of the popular 34 Degree crackers
What to Expect: A quaint 1,000 square foot bar and eatery that will seat around 40-45 guests serving them wine, cider, and sake paired with creative small plates. A large backyard patio will be stage two of this project, coming up next summer.
Anticipated Opening: Late November-early December

POST CHICKEN AND 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: October

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: October

RIVER AND WOODS

Address: 2328 Pearl Street, Boulder, former John's Restaurant space
Major Players: Chef Daniel Asher, formerly of RootDown, Linger, Ophelia's along with husband and wife team Josh and Kate Dinar
What to Expect: A creative family-friendly restaurant that is all about Colorado comfort cuisine. The eclectic menu includes everything from a matzo ball ramen to table side smores. A large backyard patio that has its own kitchen and bar offers more seating options.
Anticipated Opening: September 6

THE ROLLING PIN

Address: 2716 Welton Street, Five Points
Major Players: Owner and executive chef Jay Thomas and partner Michael Martinez. Josh Pollack of Rosenberg's Bagels and Delicatessen will share the space with the new business.
What to Expect: A European pastry kitchen and bakeshop that will feature a variety of croissants, Danishes, breads, but also patisserie items like eclairs, tarts, and more.
Anticipated Opening: Late September

ROSENBERG'S BAGELS & DELICATESSEN

Address: 725 E 26th Avenue, Five Points
Major Players: Owner and bagel master Josh Pollack
What to Expect: The return of the popular modern Jewish deli that shuttered its doors after a fire in the apartment above it caused damage to the entire building.
Anticipated Opening: October

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

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: November

VOICEBOX

Address: 2601 Walnut Street, RiNo
Major Players: Founder Scott Simon and consulting chef Jensen Cummings.
What to Expect: A first out-of-state outpost of a Portland-based company offering private suite karaoke in a 4,500 square foot space. There will be a full bar with beer, cocktails, and wine and food created by chef Jensen Cummings.
Anticipated Opening: September

UNNAMED CONCEPT BY RESTAURATEUR JESSE MORREALE

Address: 3759 Lipan Street, Sunnyside, longtime home of Longo's Subway Tavern and shortage home of Sunnyside Burger Bar and TAG Burger Bar.

Major Players: Restaurateur Jesse Morreale (formerly of El Diablo and Rockbar) in partnership with Larimer Associates/City Street Investors and chef Goose Sorensen of Solera.
What to Expect: An approachable, neighborhood-friendly spot where dishes and drinks are fueled by quality, consistency, and nostalgia. Some of El Diablo and Rockbar's fan favorites will be on the menu. We were right on the location so our next bet is that this place will be called Subway Tavern.
Anticipated Opening: September

UNNAMED CONCEPT BY BLACK PEARL GROUP

Address: 1529 S Pearl Street, Wash Park
Major Players: Black Pearl's owner Steve Whited in partnership with a yet-to-be-revealed local restaurateur.
What to Expect: Whited describes this is as a "killer concept that is sorely missing in Denver right now." Stay tuned for more details. 
Anticipated Opening: Late September

10 BARREL BREWING

Address: RiNo, 2620 Walnut Street, RiNo
Major Players: Anheuser-Busch InBev, the mammoth brewery group that purchased the brewery founded in 2006 by brothers Chris and Jeremy Cox and Garrett Wales last year.
What to Expect: A brewery and pub centered around the creations of the popular Bend, Oregon-based brewery set in the former Casselman's space.
Anticipated Opening: Late Fall

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: September