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The restaurant scene in Denver continues to grow despite several recent closings. Concepts are expanding, groups are multiplying locations and spreading their reach in and out of Colorado. Four Friends Kitchen and Blue Pan Pizza will launch second outposts and Coperta will be adding a doughnut and ice cream annex in the next couple of months. Tacos Tequila Whiskey opened an Arizona restaurant and is in the process of launching a third Denver location (set for January). And the recently launched Hedge Row, from the Kitchen group, will get a sibling in Indianapolis.
It isn’t all great news: A plan to revive Z Cuisine was abandoned and the building has been listed for sale. There will be little time for sadness for those eager to follow and try these 31 most anticipated openings of the fall set to happen from now through the winter solstice. The list is organized in alphabetical order. If you see a trend, leave a note in the comments.
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AMERICAN BONDED
Where: 2706 Larimer Street
Major Players: Seasoned and highly decorated barman Sean Kenyon (Williams & Graham and The Occidental) and partners Justin Anthony and Lisa Vedovelli, owners of Matchbox.
What to Expect: With American classics on both the food and drink sides, American Bonded will emphasize whiskey but also offer a full wine, beer, and cocktail menu.
Projected Opening: Late fall
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BAMBOO SUSHI
Where: LoHi, 2715 17th Street
Major Players: Kristofor Lofgren, owner of the Portland-based sushi business
What to Expect: A full-fledged 3,000 square foot sushi restaurant in a hot spot that already has Recess Beer Garden and Postino around and Mizu Izakaya and Sushi Ronin in the neighborhood. An extensive sake and Japanese whiskey list, on top of other booze offerings, will be a highlight.
Projected Opening: November
BANG UP TO THE ELEPHANT!
Where: Capitol Hill, 1310 Pearl Street
Major Players: Kevin Delk and the partners behind Beatrice & Woodsley and Mario’s Double Daughters Salotto, plus executive chef Travis Messervey
What to Expect: The venue will feature a grab-and-go cafe with a walk-up window plus a 6000-sq.-ft. tropical bar and lounge bringing about an influx of tiki drinks. The originally planned name for this spot was Mighty Sparrow & The Sea Maiden.
Projected Opening: September
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BAR HELIX
Where: RiNo, 3440 Larimer Street
Major Players: Wine pro Kendra Anderson
What to Expect: A concept that aims to be part bar, part restaurant, serving a mature audience of bar goers.
Projected Opening: September
BECKON CALL
Where: 2843 Larimer Street, RiNo
Major Players: Craig Lieberman, founder of the popular 34 Degree crackers, and chef Duncan Holmes, formerly of Frasca Food and Wine
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. Originally, this place was named Paired.
Anticipated Opening: Fall
THE BINDERY
Where: LoHi, 1817 Central
Major Players: Chef Linda Hampsten Fox
What to Expect: Four distinct concepts — eatery, market, bakery and catering — will find home under one roof. Breakfast, lunch and dinner for dining-in or taking-out. Like its European counterparts, the Bindery focuses on the craft of cooking by combining the market and bakery with an elevated fine.
Projected Opening: Early October
CHIMERA
Where: Boulder, 2014 10th Street
Major Players: Edwin Zoe of Zoe Ma Ma
What to Expect: A full service Pacific Rim restaurant that will offer a variety of dishes from a bowl of ramen with Zoe’s signature hand-made noodles to Korean barbecue and steamed Sichuan fish.
Projected Opening: November
CHUBBY CATTLE
Where: Baker, 2 Broadway
Major Players: David Zhao, who handles marketing through NXT Group
What to Expect: A Mongolian-inspired hot pot spot where tables are equipped with a heated pot and the bar sports a refrigerated conveyor belt. You start with a base broth then choose seasonings, spices and pick meats (beef, mutton, lamb, chicken, duck, fish, or shrimp) and vegetables (mushrooms, potatoes, cabbage, etc) off a rotating conveyor belt to mix into the stew. The variety of ingredients makes one thing of Korean barbecue restaurants or shabu shabu spots.
Projected Opening: October
CORRIDA
Where: Boulder, 1023 Walnut Street
Major Players: Restaurateur Bryan Dayton (Acorn, Oak at Fourteenth, Brider) and chef Amos Watts (Old Major, Acorn)
What to Expect: A menu largely inspired by northern Spain’s Basque Country with a main focus on steak restaurants found throughout the region. Seafood dishes that originate around the Mediterranean coast will also be a highlight.
Projected Opening: November
CORINNE and 54THIRTY
Where: Downtown, 1475 California Street
Major Players: The group behind Le Méridien and chef Tobias Burkhalter, who comes to the restaurant from a number of top restaurants and hotels across Colorado and Switzerland including St. Regis Aspen Resort.
What to Expect: When it opens on the 20th floor of Le Méridien Hotel, 54thirty will be the city's highest open-air rooftop bar and restaurant in Denver. Its neighbor and sibling spot Corinne will offer elevated comfort food with distinct European touches from a Michelin-star restaurant group.
Projected Opening: September
CULTURA
Where: Sloan’s Lake, 1565 Raleigh Street
Major Players: Lorenzo Nunez and David Lopez of El Chingon
What to Expect: A large 240 seat space that will offer small plates inspired by the many and diverse cuisines of Latin America but also from Spain.
Projected Opening: Fall
FNG
Where: Highland, 3940 West 32nd Avenue
Major Players: Chef and restaurateur Troy Guard
What to Expect: A neighborhood eatery with elevated comfort food ranging from sandwiches and burgers to steak and fish. The space used to be Highland Asian Grill and is next to Blue Pan Pizza.
Projected Opening: Fall
HANGAR 101 BAR & GRILL
Where: Lakewood, 7575 West Jewell Avenue
Major Players: Ami Benari of Zanzibar Billiards Club in Ballpark
What to Expect: The former home of a bank, the 15,000 square foot space will be home to tiki lounges, complemented by a custom-built bar that will feature 101 beers with 51 of those on tap. Twelve pool tables and six bowling lanes will provide extra reasons to visit.
Projected Opening: Late fall
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THE INVENTING ROOM DESSERT SHOP
Where: SloHi, 4433 West 29th Avenue
Major Players: Dessert scientist and magician Ian Kleinman
What to Expect: A playground for those with a serious sweet tooth who geek out on science. Kleinman is recreating his own version of Willy Wonka’s factory and will offer dessert in the SloHi ‘hood.
Projected Opening: September
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IZAKAYA RONIN
Where: RiNo, 3053 Brighton Boulevard
Major Players: Corey Bakey of Sushi Ronin
What to Expect: Yakitori, ramen, sushi rolls and more are on deck for this second project from chef Corey Bakey.
Projected Opening: October
JULEP
Where: RiNo, 3254 Larimer Street
Major Players: Chef Kyle Foster, formerly of Colt & Gray, and his wife and partner Katy Foster, owner of Stir Cooking School
What to Expect: A 2,750 square foot space where southern sophistication and "a return to the roots of food" are at home. The Fosters are deeply committed to the history and traditions of Southern hospitality and to sourcing local foods and produce, particularly vegetables.
Projected Opening: November
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MARCELLA’S
Where: LoHi, 1801 Central Street
Major Players: Restaurateur Cameron Mitchell who also operates Ocean Prime in Denver
What to Expect: An Italian cafe, Marcella's will seat approximately 165 guests inside and 42 on the patio. Signature dishes will include pizzas, pastas, lasagna alla Bolognese, chicken Marsala, veal limon, and more.
Projected Opening: Late September
OCEAN TO PLATE
Where: Uptown, 444 East 19th
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.
Projected Opening: Late fall (but delays have been plaguing this place)
OWLBEAR BARBECUE
Where: RiNo, 2826 Larimer Street
Major Players: Karl Fallenius, a disciple of the famous Franklin’s Barbecue in Austin, Texas.
What to Expect: After a successful stint as a mobile business in the outdoor space at RiNo’s Finn’s Manor, Fallenius is working on a brick-and-mortar. Old favorites and new creations will show up on the menu, including the pulled pork, spare ribs, pastrami special, double smoked barbecued bacon and Texas-style brisket, all made from sustainable raised meat with all the fixings.
Projected Opening: Fall
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PUNCH BOWL STAPLETON
Where: Stapleton, off Central Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Major Players: Restaurateur Robert Thompson
What to Expect: The 15,000 square foot mid-century building transformed to include access to the two lower levels, expanded for a total of nearly 22,000 square feet. he company's signature diner-craft cocktail concept-old school entertainment will include six lanes of bowling.
Projected Opening: Early October
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SANTO
Where: Boulder, 1265 Alpine Avenue
Major Players: Chef and restaurateur Hosea Rosenberg of Blackbelly and Blackbelly Butcher
What to Expect: Santo will be a full-service restaurant serving seasonal, modern, northern New Mexican fare. A native of the state, Rosenberg views the new venture as a return to his food roots.
Projected Opening: Late September
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SOLUTIONS LOUNGE & RESTAURANT FEATURING ESCAPOLOGY
Where: Downtown, 22nd and California
Major Players: Co-founders Tina and Vic Ronder
What to Expect: A real escape room complex that also serves a full food and beverage menu. A 6,100 square foot area hopes to be a new kind of entertainment venue, where guests can venture into one of the seven themed escape rooms, dine and drink in the steampunk-inspired restaurant and bar, or enjoy any combination of activities back-to-back.
Projected Opening: October 6
TATARIAN
Where: Berkeley, 4024 North Tennyson Street
Major Players: Mike Huggins and Lenka Juchelkova of Arvada Tavern, Kline’s Beer Hall, and Union Lodge No.1
What to Expect: A modern cocktail lounge in a quaint 900 square foot space.
Projected Opening: Late September
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TAVERNETTA
Where: LoDo, 1889 16th Street
Major Players: Frasca's rock star team including master sommelier Bobby Stuckey and chef Lachlan Patterson and chef de cuisine Ian Wortham
What to Expect: A 125 seat modern yet rustic tavern where the all-italian wine list is an attraction and the pasta program travels through the various regions executed through the Frasca lens.
Projected Opening: September
ULTREIA
Where: LoDo, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Major Players: Jennifer Jasinski, Beth Gruitch and Jorel Pierce of Rioja, Bistro Vendome, Euclid Hall, and Stoic & Genuine, plus chef Adam Branz
What to Expect: A 1,900 square foot tapas bar inspired by the cuisines of Spain and Portugal, located inside the renovated Union Station where small flavorful plate will rule. Highlights could include ajo blanco, an Andalusian almond garlic soup with grapes, Cadiz-style sea bream with regional sherry, and octopus carpaccio.
Projected Opening: mid-Fall
WALLY’S WISCONSIN TAVERN
Where: LoDo, 1417 Market Street
Major Players: The crew behind Seattle-born Rhein Haus
What to Expect: Named for Wisconsinite Wally Weimann, partner James Weimann’s father, Wally’s will evoke the feel of a laid-back Wisconsin lake cottage, with 1970s retro wood-paneled walls; vintage pictures of the restaurant partners’ Midwestern parents and grandparents; antique Schlitz, Pabst, Leinenkugel and Blatz beer signs; multiple TVs, plus classic arcade games.
Projected Opening: Early September
THE WAYBACK 2.0
Where: Berkeley, on Tennyson, no confirmation on exact spot yet
Major Players: Chad Michael George, Kade Gianinetti and Jared Schwartz who also have their plates full with American Grind in Avanti Food & Beverage, and the brand new Wayward.
What to Expect: A more spacious dining room than the original location, and – perhaps the pièce de résistance – a real kitchen under the purview of chefs Marcus Eng and Samuel Charles.
Projected Opening: Late Fall
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WEWATTA POINT
Where: LoDo, 1607 Wewatta Street
Major Players: Grill Concepts and The Point Restaurants corporate chef Lee Velasco, same group that operated neighbor Public School 303
What to Expect: An approachable seafood-focused restaurant, bringing a menu that blends fresh, sustainable, organic ingredients with regional flavor — think Lobster Roll, Linguine & Clams, and Crab Benedict.
Projected Opening: Early Fall
WOLF’S TAILOR
Where: Sunnyside, 41st and Tejon
Major Players: Chef Kelly Whitaker of Basta
What to Expect: The 2,000 square foot space (plus 1,200 square feet of patio) that was once to be Kindred will become a second modern concept from Boulder chef Kelly Whitaker. Details will follow.
Projected Opening: Late 2017
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ZEPPELIN STATION
Where: RiNo, 38th & Blake
Major Players: Justin Anderson, formerly of Chicago’s Revival Food Hall, and the team that opened the Source on Brighton Boulevard
What to Expect: A multicultural food hall with a diverse collection of vendors including Aloha Poke, Vinh Xuong Bakery, and Fior Gelato. The 100,000-square-foot workplace and market hall will boast a ground level highlighted by a market hall featuring retail tenants focused in design goods and fashion-forward apparel, various street food vendors from around the country, two bars, and a full-service anchor restaurant.
Projected Opening: December
—Bethany Smith contributed to this report
Disclosure: The editor is married to one of the developers behind Zeppelin Station, where several food businesses will reside