Celebrations and openings abound this week, with favorites like Los Dos Potrillos and BeauJo’s announcing new Denver-based locations. We’re excited for the upcoming Heritage Fire Snowmass event in the mountains, which compliments DiningOut Events’ own culinary extravaganzas in the Mile High. Also in tasty news, Olathe sweet corn and peaches are on the menu.
Read on for more of this week’s top news stories and send us any tips via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
The 411
The Clayton Hotel & Members Club for the third time will introduce a new concept in both bar spaces. This time it’s Juan Padró, founder of The Culinary Creative Group, taking the reins. The hospitality group, which runs restaurants including the Michelin-recommended A5 Steakhouse, Ash’Kara, Bar Dough, and Fox and the Hen, will take over the former Cretans and Chez Roc spaces. In it, the plans are to open an Italian cocktail bar called Amorina and a lounge dubbed Sterling Denver.
Last week The Family Jones Distillery launched a direct-to-consumer ordering service to bring its craft spirits and bottled cocktails across the country. Top Taco champions Los Dos Potrillos announced plans to open in Denver at I-25 and Colorado Boulevard, in the old Hacienda Colorado spot. This will be the sixth location for Daniel Ramirez’s small restaurant chain.
In other positive news, Maine Lobster Shack celebrates five years at the end of the month. Details on the celebration below. And, after closing in the beginning of May, Renegade Brewing Company makes a comeback. With new owners Dan Colbourne and Aaron Uhl running the Lincoln Park brewery, the pair plan to relaunch the hot spot come August.
On the downside, after more than 40 years, a Fort Collins fixture is closing its doors, and the neighborhood isn’t happy about it. Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon (2716 E. Mulberry St., Fort Collins) will cease service come midnight on July 26. The iconic spot is known for its Wild West style, thanks to covered wagons, a mechanical bull, and for a time, 25-cent drink specials.
Its closing story has the same ring to it as many long-lived, independent restaurants; the owners couldn’t come to an agreement on a lease renewal. Currently a petition is going around to try and save the building, which can be viewed and signed here.
Gossip around social media has been saying the convenience store chain 7-Eleven, which is mostly owned by a Japanese company, could be putting out new foods and replacing the ever-roll hot dogs and dripping beverage machines. Buzz on the internet claims the United States locations may soon see the same high-quality, Japanese eats and drinks that have made the 7-Elevens in Japan so popular. We are still waiting for confirmation, but fingers crossed it’s really happening.
On the Menu
Steuben’s is scooping a seasonally sensational Peach Pie Ice Cream, complete with pie crust, graham cracker, and fresh peaches churned within. Dio Mio also gets into the current produce game with a special dish consisting of a polenta cake with Olathe sweet corn, poblano sauce, pickled onions, and corn nuts.
Side Pony, the little sister to Downtown’s Pony Up, has the Icebreaker Combo. It’s made for dates who need a little liquid courage and conversation starters. Order it for $4 and get two cocktail shots and a card with a talking prompt.
Over at Coperta a new spitz hour has launched from 5 to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Each runs $9 and includes the classic Aperol Spritz, as well as innovative tipples such as the Creamsicle, made with Aperol, orange juice, vanilla, and sparkling wine. A list of bar snacks also joins the line up, with Roman street fritters ($4), fried zucchini ($5), and broiled chili-part oysters ($4) leading the charge.
Openings and Closings in the News
Head to restaurant group Big Red F’s the “Window of Happiness,” a takeout window at The Post Chicken & Beer’s LoHi location. Why? Butter Punk Cookies are now being served thanks to executive chef Corina Johnson, as well as to-go cocktails.
This concept inside a concept is the latest in the group’s repertoire, and eaters can expect freshly-baked, warm cookies in flavors such as Slam Dance with butterscotch and toasted coconut; or Crowd Surfer, a soft chocolate and peanut butter chip cookie. Order one cookie for $5, six for $24, or 12 for $48.
Chef Christian Graves leads the kitchen team at the newly opened Saverina and Halo in the new Kimpton Claret Hotel at Belleview Station. With Saverina the focus is on naturally-fermented sourdough to make pizzas, and fresh, house-made pastas. Halo is the hotel’s bar, and resides on the view-perfect roof.
Denver can now claim it has a legit eclair patisserie thanks to the recent opening of Le Clair’s. Located at 2260 E, Colfax Ave., the stylish shop also serves gluten-free and vegan macarons.
Brooklyn’s Finest has moved into its new home on South Broadway. It celebrated the third location last weekend and officially is open for business. Also in pizza opening news, BeauJo’s has launched a new Denver location at 2110 S. University Blvd, which is already slinging the famous mountain-style pies.
Cretans and Chez Roc in the Clayton Hotel & Members Club officially shutter.
Events
Uchi Denver has announced the date for its next Garden Series dinner. We went to the first one, and this time the restaurant teams up with Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails on July 25. Tickets are $195 per person, and the whole meal is served omakase style. The dinner runs from 7 to 10 p.m. and takes place in Altius Farms garden outside. Buy tickets here, seating is limited.
Head to the mountains for the ultimate grill festival and tasting event. Heritage Fire Snowmass is back on July 27, right at the Snowmass Base Village. Tickets are $125 each, or $175 for VIP, which includes unlimited tastings and drinks, for three hours of tasty fun.
On July 30 and 31 the Maine Lobster Shack in Denver celebrates five years with a weekend party. The fun runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and includes a lobster bake, all day happy hour pricing, free food for kids, raffles, giveaways, and more.
At the Stanley Marketplace, Traveling Mercies teams up with award-winning food writer Adrian Miller for a night of presidential cocktails on Thursday, August 1. It’s not just about drinking though, Miller, who wrote the book The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas, will also regale patrons with historic tales surrounding the drinks.
Each drink will be paired with a bite from Chef Caroline Glover tying the story and cocktail together on a plate. Further, in celebration of Barack Obama’s birthday week, a portion of revenue from ticket sales will be donated to the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Investment Fund for Black and Indigenous Americans. Each ticket costs $50, and the event starts at 5 p.m.
