This Upper East Side French Restaurant Is Moving Into Cherry Creek

With recent restaurant openings such as Matsuhisa, Departure, and Quality Italian, the often described as “tony” neighborhood of Cherry Creek North has reached new moneyed levels as of late. Now BMC Investments, who brought those other brands to Denver, is delivering a transplant with a big reputation back in its home city.

Le Bilboquet has been described as “famously exclusive” by Eater New York, a “buzzy scene of 1 percenters” by The New York Times, and “the snobbiest restaurant in New York” by the Post. The restaurant lasted for 27 years in its original Manhattan spot, closed briefly, and then reopened in a bigger location in 2013. Back in October, a former dishwasher sued the restaurant, alleging that she endured repeated sexual harassment (Le Bilboquet has denied the allegations). Now the clubby French bistro will open in Denver by early 2019 in Cherry Creek North’s new luxury residences, the St. Paul Collection, at 210 St. Paul Street.

Le Bilboquet’s 6,700-square-foot location at 3rd and St. Paul will be divided into a fine-dining dinner bistro and a breakfast and lunch cafe. It will also feature a large patio along 3rd Avenue. The new bistro will be modeled after the Upper East Side original — a dining room dressed in white linens, with velvet seats, dark wood, and brass finishes. Its Denver menu will include traditional and modern French fare, as well as the house special: Cajun chicken.

“Le Bilboquet will bring the premier French restaurant to Denver and Cherry Creek North, something it has been missing,” Matt Joblon, CEO of BMC Investments said in a press release. In addition to the restaurant, BMC has already booked New York’s popular cycling gym, SoulCycle, and Crate and Barrel’s sister store, CB2, for its new residential towers.

Restaurant owners Philippe Delgrange and Rick Wahlstedt say they have existing clients in Cherry Creek from their New York and Atlanta restaurants. (Le Bilboquet is also in Dallas.) In addition to Delgrange and Wahlstedt, Ronald Perelman, Eric Clapton, and Steven Witkoff are investors. Elsewhere in Denver, more French options are on the way. Local restaurateur Lon Symensma will open his French-leaning LeRoux downtown this summer. And chef Max MacKissock will helm Morin, a new French restaurant opening in the former Wazee Supper Club.

• Le Bilboquet Accused of Repeated Sexual Harassment in New Lawsuit [ENY]
• A Clubby French Bistro Ruffles Uptown Social Feathers [NYT]
• Introducing the snobbiest restaurant in New York [NYP]