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Following an Eater tradition, we asked a group of restaurant writers, journalists, bloggers, and friends of the site to weigh in on the year in food. Their answers to the annual “Year in Eater” survey will be revealed in several posts this week. Here, dining experts share their favorite new restaurants of 2018.
Allyson Reedy, contributor, The Denver Post: Safta, Safta, Safta. And Famous Original J’s white pie.
Ruth Tobias, freelance food and wine writer, multiple outlets: Man, it’s been quite the embarrassment of riches — just off the top of my head and in order of opening, gotta call out Julep, The Way Back, Corrida, Super Mega Bien, Q House, Safta, Uchi, the Wolf’s Tailor, Chow Morso, Morin, and Beckon — that’s 11! It’s not a restaurant per se, but Zeppelin Station obviously deserves applause too. So does Liberati — on the brewing front, Alex Liberati is doing something literally no one else in the world has tried that I know of, and I really hope Denverites support it. Of course my expectations are high for Ash’Kara and LeRoux too.
Brittany Werges, Editor-in-Chief, 303 Magazine: Safta, Beckon, Morin, Uchi.
Linnea Covington, freelance writer, Westword: Safta, it’s so needed and so appreciated.
Lucy Beaugard, photographer and writer, Eater: The Wolf’s Tailor, Call, Safta, Super Mega Bien.
Denise Mickelsen, Food Editor, 5280 Magazine: It was a big year! My long list: Zeppelin Station, Julep, the Way Back 2.0, Beckon, Corrida, Q House, Safta, Smok, Morin, the Wolf’s Tailor, Super Mega Bien, Liberati Osteria & Oenobeers, Uchi Denver, Chook, Jovanina’s Broken Italian, Tokyo Premium Bakery, Pony Up, Ash’Kara, and LeRoux.
Callie Sumlin, Associate Food Editor, 5280: Tokyo Premium Bakery!
Laura Young, Founder, New Denizen Blog: I’m a big fan of Super Mega Bien. I have never been disappointed by any of the dishes that comes out of Dana Rodriguez’ kitchen. The chicken pozole there is the chicken stew of my dreams.
Although it’s not unique to Denver, I really like Uchi, the newly opened Japanese restaurant in RiNo. Its top-notch food and cool and sexy interior design make it the perfect place to wow your significant other on date night. The sushi is every bit as good as what you’ll get in many restaurants in Japan. In addition, the appetizers and cooked hot plates coming out of the kitchen have some true standouts, in particular the Kinoko Nabe, which features a delicious mix of mushroom, egg, and crispy rice — a Japanese paella of sorts.