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Adam Larkey

14 Spots for Wood-Fire Cooking in Denver and Boulder

Whether the kitchen uses a grill, oven, or both, these restaurants feature great dishes with the help of burning wood.

by Ashley Hughes
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Leña
| Adam Larkey
by Ashley Hughes

Call it a trend or a mainstay in the culinary world: Wood-fire cooking is hot and plenty of eateries in Denver and Boulder have built kitchens around ovens and grills that burn bright. And with the weather changing for cooler temperatures, this rustic cooking method provides a warm and comforting element to everything from side dishes to pizza and mains. Here are 14 places for a wood-fired meal around the area.

· Glaze by Sasa, Gozo Receive Good Reviews [EDen]
· The Team Behind Acorn Chats About The Restaurant's First Year [EDen]
· Leña Adds Latin Flavor to Broadway [EDen]

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Locanda Del Borgo

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In addition to the pizza and hand-rolled pasta at this contemporary Italian restaurant on the east side of town, look for wood-grilled entrees like whole striped bass or lamb chops with mustard sauce.
5575 East 3rd Avenue, Denver, CO 80220
(303) 388-0282
(303) 388-0282

Gozo

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The food of this South Broadway spot is rooted in Italy, making use of a wood-fire oven seen from the dining room to turn out pizzas and dishes like porchetta or roasted clams.
30 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
(720) 638-1462
(720) 638-1462

Leña

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Leña translates to firewood in Spanish, and at this Latin-influenced eatery you'll find plenty of dishes centered around the wood-fire grill, particularly the asado selection that includes Argentinean-style chorizo, ribeyes, and bison skirt steak.
24 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
(720) 550-7267
(720) 550-7267

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The Nickel

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Chef Chris Thompson changes out the wood for the grill seasonally at the Nickel, imparting different flavors to entrees like rotisserie chicken and leg of lamb.
1100 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 889-2128
(720) 889-2128

Edge Restaurant

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You'll of course find an assortment of grilled steaks at this modern steakhouse, but other choices like sea scallops and vegetable side items also get the pecan-wood fire treatment.
1111 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 389-3343
(303) 389-3343

range

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The culinary inspiration at Range is from the new American West, with a focus on ranch-style cooking that lends itself to wood-oven roasting.
918 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 726-4800
(720) 726-4800

Guard and Grace

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Chef Troy Guard opened his modern steakhouse concept back in March. Here the oak-fired grill facilitates starters and sides like wood-charred octopus and grilled carrots, in addition to oak-grilled chicken enchiladas for an entree.
1801 California Street, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 293-8500
(303) 293-8500

Also featured in:

Marco's Coal-Fired Pizzeria

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Though the name is misleading, the pizzas here are fired in a wood-burning oven and are even certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. However, a coal oven is used for dishes like lemoncello chicken wings.
2129 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-7000
(303) 296-7000

Cart-Driver

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Housed inside a 700-square-foot space made from shipping containers, Cart-Driver's abbreviated menu—anchored by wood-fired pizza and oysters—matches the tight quarters.
2500 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205
(303) 292-3553
(303) 292-3553

Also featured in:

Acorn

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This popular spot centers its menu of mostly small plates around the oak-fired oven and grill. Though the menu changes often, right now look for the oak-grilled bone marrow or the large-format 38-ounce ribeye that serves three to four people.
3350 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO 80216
(720) 542-3721
(720) 542-3721

Also featured in:

BRU Handbuilt Ales & Eats

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To go along with 14 rotating ales on tap, the wood-fired food served here includes charred cauliflower, roasted prawns, and sourdough pizzas.
5290 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
(720) 638-5193
(720) 638-5193

Basta

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Without any stoves or fryers at Basta, chef Kelly Whitaker uses his 1,000-degree wood-fire oven to cook everything, from pizza to whole fish and roasted chicken.
3601 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 997-8775
(303) 997-8775

Also featured in:

OAK at fourteenth

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Appropriately named, this popular Boulder eatery revolves its rustic yet contemporary menu around an oak-fired oven and grill, showcasing plenty of locally sourced ingredients.
1400 Pearl Street, Pearl Street Mall, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 444-3622
(303) 444-3622

Also featured in:

Salt

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This seasonal bistro uses a wood-fire oven for the creation of dishes like apple flatbread with brie fondue, Manila clams with chorizo, and oak-fired ribeye.
1047 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 444-7258
(303) 444-7258

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Locanda Del Borgo

5575 East 3rd Avenue, Denver, CO 80220
In addition to the pizza and hand-rolled pasta at this contemporary Italian restaurant on the east side of town, look for wood-grilled entrees like whole striped bass or lamb chops with mustard sauce.
5575 East 3rd Avenue, Denver, CO 80220
(303) 388-0282
(303) 388-0282

Gozo

30 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
The food of this South Broadway spot is rooted in Italy, making use of a wood-fire oven seen from the dining room to turn out pizzas and dishes like porchetta or roasted clams.
30 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
(720) 638-1462
(720) 638-1462

Leña

24 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Leña translates to firewood in Spanish, and at this Latin-influenced eatery you'll find plenty of dishes centered around the wood-fire grill, particularly the asado selection that includes Argentinean-style chorizo, ribeyes, and bison skirt steak.
24 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
(720) 550-7267
(720) 550-7267

The Nickel

1100 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202
Chef Chris Thompson changes out the wood for the grill seasonally at the Nickel, imparting different flavors to entrees like rotisserie chicken and leg of lamb.
1100 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 889-2128
(720) 889-2128

Edge Restaurant

1111 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202
You'll of course find an assortment of grilled steaks at this modern steakhouse, but other choices like sea scallops and vegetable side items also get the pecan-wood fire treatment.
1111 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 389-3343
(303) 389-3343

range

918 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202
The culinary inspiration at Range is from the new American West, with a focus on ranch-style cooking that lends itself to wood-oven roasting.
918 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 726-4800
(720) 726-4800

Guard and Grace

1801 California Street, Denver, CO 80202
Chef Troy Guard opened his modern steakhouse concept back in March. Here the oak-fired grill facilitates starters and sides like wood-charred octopus and grilled carrots, in addition to oak-grilled chicken enchiladas for an entree.
1801 California Street, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 293-8500
(303) 293-8500

Marco's Coal-Fired Pizzeria

2129 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205
Though the name is misleading, the pizzas here are fired in a wood-burning oven and are even certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. However, a coal oven is used for dishes like lemoncello chicken wings.
2129 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-7000
(303) 296-7000

Cart-Driver

2500 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205
Housed inside a 700-square-foot space made from shipping containers, Cart-Driver's abbreviated menu—anchored by wood-fired pizza and oysters—matches the tight quarters.
2500 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205
(303) 292-3553
(303) 292-3553

Acorn

3350 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO 80216
This popular spot centers its menu of mostly small plates around the oak-fired oven and grill. Though the menu changes often, right now look for the oak-grilled bone marrow or the large-format 38-ounce ribeye that serves three to four people.
3350 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO 80216
(720) 542-3721
(720) 542-3721

BRU Handbuilt Ales & Eats

5290 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
To go along with 14 rotating ales on tap, the wood-fired food served here includes charred cauliflower, roasted prawns, and sourdough pizzas.
5290 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
(720) 638-5193
(720) 638-5193

Basta

3601 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
Without any stoves or fryers at Basta, chef Kelly Whitaker uses his 1,000-degree wood-fire oven to cook everything, from pizza to whole fish and roasted chicken.
3601 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 997-8775
(303) 997-8775

OAK at fourteenth

1400 Pearl Street, Pearl Street Mall, Boulder, CO 80302
Appropriately named, this popular Boulder eatery revolves its rustic yet contemporary menu around an oak-fired oven and grill, showcasing plenty of locally sourced ingredients.
1400 Pearl Street, Pearl Street Mall, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 444-3622
(303) 444-3622

Salt

1047 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
This seasonal bistro uses a wood-fire oven for the creation of dishes like apple flatbread with brie fondue, Manila clams with chorizo, and oak-fired ribeye.
1047 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 444-7258
(303) 444-7258

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