Kevin Taylor’s New Restaurant Is the Next Stop in Broomfield

Everyone needs a good muse, and for Kevin Taylor — once a dominant name on the Denver restaurant scene — it seems to be the suburban city of Broomfield.

In part because of its chain-heavy restaurants and lack of chef-driven places at which to eat, Taylor is all about this suburb and specifically its Arista development. His second restaurant there, Masa, will open Monday, January 21. Hickory & Ash, in partnership with his wife, Denise, and executive chef and son, Ryan, is the first.

Masa adds executive chef Frank Blea to the team to create contemporary Mexican fare, which includes mostly familiar options like tacos, queso fundido, red mole chicken, carne asada, and chiles rellenos.

“I grew up eating home-cooked Mexican food, so it’s always been a passion of mine,” Blea said in a statement.

Drinks are tequila and mezcal heavy, and the mezcal shots are served in small pottery bowls handmade by Blea’s wife. The house margarita is solid, and the Tarantula — a blend of hibiscus agua fresca, mezcal, and aloe liqueur — is rimmed with toasted grasshopper salt.

Rachel Adams/Masa

The 3,200-square-foot restaurant is bright and full of flashy touches like a vibrant skull painting, imported Mexican starlights, and a bar made from an old bowling lane (why not?). A 60-seat patio will open later this year.

Status: Starting Monday, Masa will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturdays. The restaurant will add lunch service on January 29. Find more information soon on the website.

• Kevin Taylor Bets on Broomfield Again With Masa [EDEN]
• Father-Son Duo Bring Hickory & Ash to Broomfield [EDEN]
• Kevin Taylor Opens Another Kevin Taylor Restaurant Downtown [EDEN]

Rachel Adams/Masa