Though chef Franco Ruiz doesn’t have a television pedigree or fancy awards hanging on his apron, he’s one of the most talented kitchen artists in Denver. For the past seven years he has run Woodie Fisher at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station. In June, 2025, the chef also took on the culinary program at Hotel Teatro and The Nickel, located in Denver’s historic Tramway Building.
“I’m still the executive chef at both and running both properties, creating menus, and putting recipes in place and all that,” said Ruiz, adding both hotel restaurants are managed by Sage Hospitality Group, though have different owners. “At Hotel Teatro the people want more creative and artsy food.”
It’s the creative side of cooking that really excites Ruiz, and during the Chef Takeover on Thursday, February 5, he will show us around his kitchen and what it takes to run a high-end restaurant known for serving theatergoers, luxury travelers, and neighborhood diners alike.
The Chef
Fransico Ruiz was born in Los Angeles, but raised in San Diego. His father was a chef, and worked at Spago in LA under Wolfgang Puck in the 1980s. It was through his dad that he first entered the kitchen to help wash dishes on the sly when he was just 13.
Ruiz never left the hospitality industry after that. Eventually he went to culinary school and started working in hotel kitchens. After a while the chef decided to expand his skills into the fine dining realm, and moved to Spain to train and cook there.
When his friends Drew and Leah Watson decided to open Hops & Pie in the Berkeley neighborhood in 2010, Ruiz moved to Denver to help. He stayed with the team until taking over the kitchen at Alex Siedel’s now-closed Fruition restaurant in Cherry Creek. It was there the chef got to really play with seasonal produce and local products, creating an upscale menu that fit the time and Colorado dining scene.
After Fruition, in spring of 2019, Ruiz went on to open Woodie Fisher in Denver’s historic Hose House No. 1. Today Woodie Fisher serves casual American fare such as burgers, hearty sandwiches, roast chicken, braised short rib, and an array of salads and small plates.
The Nickel
One of the reasons Ruiz started at The Nickel was to flex his creative cooking muscles. While the restaurant has operated since 2014, Sage Hospitality didn’t start working with Hotel Teatro until August, 2024. When the group took on the 110-room boutique property it revamped the restaurant too, and Ruiz helped transition the menu into the tasty iteration it is today.
In general, said the chef, The Nickel serves seasonal fare that changes as produce becomes available. For example, the current menu features Cauliflower Bisque with caviar and black garlic; Seared Duck Breast with a mushroom crepe, onion, and parsnip puree; and local Alamosa Striped Bass, served with potato risotto, creme fraiche, kale, and leeks. On a visit last fall, the restaurant served Airplane Chicken, which was one of our top dishes of the season.
It’s not just the food and Ruiz’s menu bringing people to The Nickel, it’s also a really nice place to dine. The setting feels refined without being snooty, and the high ceilings and tall windows of the historic building offer a classy European sensibility. Book a table or sidle up to the bar for happy hour or a pre-show glass of wine. Or simply head to the lobby and take in the history with a cocktail in hand.
The Takeover
Expect a busy day as the chef goes between his restaurants, working on menus and literally dishing out the goods. When he isn’t working, Ruiz spends a lot of time with his 9-year-old daughter, and the pair love taking landscape photos in the mountains. While we won’t get a glimpse into this delightful hobby, we will get to see how the chef creates seasonal spreads for The Nickel and all the lucky patrons who dine there.
As for the takeover, join the fun on Thursday, February 5 when Ruiz controls the DiningOut Denver Instagram stories for the day. Comment, like, follow, and share to be entered into the giveaway. This time you can win a $100 gift card to The Nickel and check out the chef’s dishes yourself.
Make sure you’re following DiningOut Denver and The Nickel on Instagram. Also check out the chef’s own page, as well as Hotel Teatro and Woodie Fisher. Don’t worry if you missed the live feed, you can catch all our takeovers on Instagram in the highlights section.
