Margot spent three years hopping around the city, popping up in other restaurants and headlining special dinners. Now, chef Justin Fulton’s new American concept is home for good, located right inside the Denchu building in the Platt Park neighborhood.
“Margot was always envisioned as a neighborhood restaurant,” said Fulton. “While the pop-up allowed us to introduce our concept, this permanent location reveals Margot in its full capacity.”
To share his food, Fulton has split Margot into two distinct dining experiences. For diners who may be celebrating a special occasion or just want a great night centered on food, the eight-seat chef’s counter is the way to go. This experience includes a curated 12-course tasting menu highlighting the bounty of Colorado. On a recent visit that included dry-aged duck breast with cherries and truffle jus, Parisian gnocchi with mascarpone and caviar, and heirloom tomatoes with preserved coriander.
The menu changes a little each day, and centers around hyper-seasonal ingredients. Chances are Fulton will still serve his olive oil brioche, which he displays on the counter for guests to see as the bread rose. Later in the meal, the individual pans were baked, giving each person the freshest rolls possible.
The other side of Margot takes place in Denchu, the space Fulton shares with its owner, chef Toshi Kizaki, who opened his omakase den in the same building. The large, sunny room has a long bar flanking one wall, a community table in the center, and low tops serving food from Margot.
On the a la carte menu, which also changes frequently, you may find wagyu steak tartare with spicy miso and grilled bread, crushed pea toast with ricotta, and crispy Manchester Farm quail with grilled chicory, cherries, and pickled onion. Unlike the dark den of honey-colored wood housing the chef’s counter, the choose-your-own-adventure side is light, airy, and perfect for taking photos of the beautiful dishes.
Both spaces offer cocktails and wine, and with the tasting menu you can opt in for a wine pairing. Plenty of zero-proof options also grace the menu, so everyone can celebrate with a tasty drink.
As for the chef, he grew up in Keystone, Colorado, and started cooking when he was 14. Eventually he took his culinary skills to the East Coast to work at acclaimed restaurants such as The Fearrington House, Natalie’s at The Camden Harbor Inn, and Daniel in New York City. The chef came home to Colorado in 2020. In 2022 he launched Margot as a pop-up. At first it resided at Coperta in Uptown, then Noisette (now closed) in LoHi. If you book the chef’s counter you will see Fulton working hard, happily sharing his intricate food and information about each ingredient, if the guest so desires.
Visit Margot Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The tasting menu is $165 and served twice a night with two staggered seatings each, starting at 5 or 5:15 p.m., and 7:30 or 7:45 p.m. The a la carte side serves tables of two to four. Space is limited, especially when it comes to the chef’s counter. Make sure to reserve your spot through Tock, and get ready for a food-focused night to remember. 1551 S. Pearl St., Denver, margotdenver.com
