Let’s leave 2025 on a good note with happy news. For starters, Edgewater made moves to help support restaurants. Recently local food halls literally raised tons of food to support the community. And new and tasty menus ring in 2026. Read on for more top news stories and send us any tips via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
The 411
Over the year there’s been a lot of talk and controversy over the set tip credit. While not much has changed since the original bill was put in motion, finally we see a shift in Edgewater. Earlier in the month, Edgewater City Council voted to increase the local tip credit to $4.67 per hour, becoming the first Colorado city to increase tip credit.
The second French dip showdown at Pony Up took place on Monday, December 15 between chefs John David Wright of Rougarou and Russ Maddux from Brasserie Brixton. The two sandwiches featured included a dip with pastrami beef tongue, gruyere, and caramelized onion on a Good Bread split-top brioche hoagie with horseradish jus; and “granddad’s chicken” with peperoncino, American cheese, and onion on a pistolette with a white barbecue jus.
Judges and diners voted, and somehow the chefs tied with 33 votes for each. Pony Up owner Angela Neri shared the news that since chefs around town are so excited to do the showdown, she is extending the previously three-time event to once a month for the foreseeable future. The next competition takes place January 12 with chef Johnny Curiel of Alma Fonda Fina, Mezcalaria Alma, Alteño, and Cozobi Fonda Fina, squaring off against chef Sheamus Feeley, who opened Pony Up with Neri but now runs Noche in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Last October, the large RiNo restaurant Yardbird seemingly shuttered suddenly. Turns out not only did the Southern food chain close without much warning, but the news reported it also missed a $50,000 rent payment. Now, the former Denver eatery is being sued by Lagniappe Capital Partners. Yardbird still has six United States locations, and one in Singapore.
The results of last month’s Food Hall Food Drive for Food Banks competition are in, and collectively, the six participating food halls collected around three tons of food total. The official winners of the event were Stanley Marketplace with around 3,000 pounds of food, and Edgewater Public Market, which got 1,527 pounds of food. While these two foodhalls took home the proverbial prize, really the community is the true winner.
The Colorado-founded burrito chain Chipotle announced the opening of its 4,000th restaurant, which is located in Manhattan, Kansas, As a result of the milestone, Chipotle is now over halfway to its long-term goal of operating 7,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada.
On the Menu
Florida Stone Crab Season at Water Grill
The seasonal delicacy returns to the menu at Water Grill. Florida stone crabs are renowned for their claws, which offer a richer, sweeter flavor than other types of crab. At Water Grill, guests can find wild stone crab claws served with mustard sauce as a platter of three jumbo claws for $120.
Opening of Nantucket Bay Scallop Season
Rounding out the year with another first-of-season seafood delicacy, Water Grill welcomes Nantucket Bay scallops back to its ever-changing menu. Sourced from the shallow waters around Nantucket, these mollusks are carefully dredged by hand using the traditional method Nantucket fishermen have been using for generations. Try the delicacy as a crudo made with extra virgin olive oil, orange zest, peppercorn, chives, and micro croutons for $28. For more information, visit watergrill.com.
New Menu at Leven Supply
Go for the pizza, and stay for new hot food items such as Charcuterie Nachos, made with warm kettle chips, sliced prosciutto and smoked Castelvetrano olives covered in fresh-shaved smoked ricotta salata, and chives. Also fresh to the menu, the Chicken Cutlet Sandwich with marinated red peppers, garlic aioli, and arugula on house-baked baguette; as well as orange-cranberry fritters, made to order with an orange glaze.
New Menu at Alteño
News is chef Johnny Curiel unveiled his Cherry Creek restaurant’s newest menu change. The list includes Guacamole A Las Brasas, Aguachile De Callo, Taco De Pancita, Enmolada De Queso, Lubina Rayada, and Chuleton De Res. There are also additions to the happy hour menu, such as Taco Campechano, Esquites de Huitlacoche, and Pollo Enchipotlado.
New Tasting Menu at Mawa’s Kitchen in Aspen
Headed to the mountains to ski? While there enjoy a fresh menu of Afro-Caribbean-French flavors from chef Mawa McQueen at her award-winning restaurant in Aspen. Think a unique plantain bread board, Oxtail au Bourguignon, Vegetable Maffé, and more.
