It’s no secret: Anyone in the industry will tell you that they aren’t in it for the money. Profit margins among full-service restaurants in Denver are slim, averaging just three- to five-percent, despite long hours and laborious work. When simply keeping the lights on is a victory, any means of giving back to the community hold extra weight.
From volunteer hours to monetary and food donations, several local eateries are supporting their neighbors in incredible ways. While enjoying a fantastic meal, feel good knowing your dollars are going to a good cause at these 10 Denver restaurants.
Annette’s Partnership with Project Worthmore
Aurora-based nonprofit Project Worthmore offers six programs that support the needs of Colorado’s large refugee community. Food access is among its efforts, championed through DeLaney Community Farm.
The organization’s five-acre plot fosters connection and the skills to grow healthy, organic food, which award-winning Annette sources for its stunning seasonal dishes. Every year, the restaurant also donates a percentage of sales to the admirable cause. 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, annettescratchtotable.com
Cart-Driver’s Cocktail for a Cause
Through its Cocktail for a Cause program, this local happy hour favorite has donated more than $265,000 to dozens of local organizations with missions spanning environmental protection and food equity to homelessness and immigrant rights.
Cart-Driver accomplishes this by creating a unique cocktail each month, then donating the entirety of its proceeds. Find out what’s on the menu by visiting the LoHi or RiNo socials. 2239 W. 30th Ave., Denver, and 2500 Larimer St. #100, Denver, cart-driver.com
Little Man’s Scoop for Scoop Program
When it first opened in the LoHi neighborhood in 2008, Little Man promised that for every scoop of ice cream sold, it would donate a scoop of rice, beans, or another essential to impoverished communities worldwide.
Now, 10 locations strong and one of the city’s best ice cream companies, it has since updated its charitable efforts, giving a monetary portion of every purchase to local and international organizations focused on education, childhood welfare, hunger relief, agriculture, and sustainability. Multiple locations, littlemanicecream.com
So All May Eat’s Participation-Based Café
SAME Café, also known as So All May Eat, is the country’s longest-running participation-based restaurant. What this means is that guests can donate money, volunteer 30 minutes of time, or give fresh produce in exchange for a healthy meal featuring local ingredients.
This model guarantees food access to all, regardless of the ability to pay. The menu changes daily based on contributed goods, but always features soup, salad, pizza, and fresh cookies, along with options for those with dietary restrictions. 2023 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, soallmayeat.org
Big Red F Restaurant Group’s Fundraising
Many local diners are familiar with Big Red F’s restaurants, which include Jax Fish House and The Post, plus several popular eateries along Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, such as West End Tavern and Centro Mexican Kitchen. The list of its charitable efforts is long, spanning from the family fund that provides employees with emergency financial assistance to support of local community partners.
Notably, the group has donated nearly $15,000 to Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, around $70,000 to Zero Foodprint, and more than $100,000 to Sophie’s Neighborhood, a Boulder-based medical research nonprofit from the founders of Blackbelly and Santo. It also helped to raise more than a million dollars each for Brent’s Place and There With Care, which both support families experiencing medical crises. Multiple locations, bigredf.com
Snooze’s Giving and Volunteer Work
Snooze first opened 20 years ago in the Ballpark district and today, the brunch favorite has more than 70 locations nationwide. Community service is a focus everywhere it operates. In the past year alone, Snooze contributed over $75,000 in cash and more than $275,000 in in-kind donations to nonprofit partners.
Additionally, employees logged nearly a thousand volunteer hours in support of local causes, including the company’s One Tree One Snoozer program. To date, this annual Earth Day initiative has resulted in the planting of 24,000 trees in neighborhoods across Denver and beyond. Multiple locations, snoozeeatery.com
Chook Chicken’s One Percent Pledge
Co-founders Adam Schlegel (who also helped to establish Snooze) and James Beard award-winning chef Alex Seidel have always emphasized community at Chook. Their three Aussie-style charcoal chicken joints donate one percent of sales to a wide range of local efforts.
Funds benefit metro area schools, as well as nonprofits like Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network and Colorado Restaurant Association, which provides emergency financial assistance to industry workers in need. Multiple locations, chookchicken.com
Guard and Grace’s Charitable Events
Chef Troy Guard always seeks out charitable partners for his frequent events and collaborations. For example, recent dinners have benefited Roundup River Ranch, which provides free camp programs to children with life-altering diagnoses, and Work Options’ mission to help individuals establish meaningful food service careers.
Meanwhile, summer’s annual Rosé Party at Guard and Grace supports the Women’s Wine Guild of Colorado, an industry nonprofit that fosters education and inclusivity. Partnerships with organizations like We Don’t Waste round out its philanthropic efforts. 1801 California St., Denver, guardandgrace.com
Nocturne’s Support of the Preservery Foundation
Those long familiar with the RiNo dining scene may remember the now-shuttered Preservery. During the pandemic era, co-owners Whitney and Obe Ariss launched the Giving Meals program with an aim to feed Denver’s growing homeless population. This dire need inspired them to entirely shift their focus to philanthropic work, and when they closed their restaurant, Nocturne offered its kitchen in support of the mission.
Guests to the jazz and supper club can opt to give $10 to the Preservery Foundation whenever booking a reservation, and can also purchase its Cocktail for a Cause which donates $1 per to rotating local nonprofits. 1330 27th St., Denver, nocturnejazz.com
Maria Empanada’s In-Kind Donations
Having personally experienced financial hardship and housing instability, Maria Empanada founder Lorena Cantarovici frames giving as being a good neighbor. Her business frequently provides in-kind support to local organizations.
For example, when SNAP benefits were suspended last fall, it contributed a $25,000 value of empanadas to various food banks across the city. Children’s causes are also of importance to the company, with regular percentage-of-sale nights and more than $8,000 worth of food having benefited metro area elementary schools. Multiple locations, mariaempanada.com
