There’s a lot of drama going down in the pizza world as three places shutter, one opens with a lot of controversy, and another holds a sweepstakes for a year of free pizza. Also in the news, some beloved restaurants are expanding, there’s a great lineup of events this week, and tasty dishes are popping up.
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
Fans of tango, swing dancing, poetry slams, and alternative theater may have to find a new home if, or when, the Mercury Cafe gets a new owner. The Merc, as it’s known to many, has been operating downtown on California Street for decades, and in 2021 owner Marilyn Megenity finally decided to sell her beloved sustainable restaurant and event space. Now the buyer, Danny Newman who also owns My Brother’s Bar in LoHi, is offering the revered space for sale or lease. The hope, as it was when Megenity sold it, is to keep the integrity, history, and uniqueness of the space.
In chef news, Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder announced the appointment of Rob Monahan as executive chef. Monahan formerly worked as chef de cuisine at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, as well as a sous chef at Corrida, which is owned by the same team as OAK.
Chef Penelope Wong’s Yuan Wonton now offers take out for dinner on Friday night between 3 and 6 p.m. Order ahead to secure the meal, the dumplings and wontons here sell out. Call 303-320-5642 to place an order.
Also on the new order side, The Block Distilling Co. will release its 4-year Bottled-in-Bond (BIB) Four Grain Straight Whiskey on Sunday, August 25. The debut of the whiskey comes after four years of waiting, more than half the time the RiNo distillery has been in business. During the release day expect The Block’s Housemade Market and Sansara food truck at the distillery from 12 to 5 p.m. The Bottled-in-Bond Straight Four Grain Whiskey comes in 750ml bottles for $68, available to buy in the tasting room.
Want to win a year of free Roman-style pizza? EatYa Pizza announced a sweepstakes now through August 31, giving fans a chance to win a pizza a day for the entire year. Entry is $75, which not only gets your name in the hat, but helps support the small business as it expands its patio seating and waits for the official grand opening of the 16th Street Mall on August 29. There’s also a 16th Street Mall opening party at the pizzeria on August 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with DJ’s, a photo booth, drink specials, and games. Enter the sweepstakes here.
Texas transplant Torchy’s Tacos celebrates 18 years in business with its first-ever change to the Taco of the Month program. Harkening back to the days when the taco chain was just a food truck in Austin, Torchy’s will reintroduce the Make-Your-Own-Damn-Tacos Plate. The DIY dish includes choices such as chicken, beef, rice, beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, fajita veggies, mixed cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream, salsa and choice of three flour or corn tortillas. A portion of the proceeds from the Taco of the Month program goes to select local charities.
Openings and Closings in the News
Champagne Tiger officially opens on Thursday, August 22. The drag-focused event group has made a permanent home at the former Tom’s Starlight, located in Denver’s iconic Googie-style building right on Colfax Avenue. Leading the charge is owner Chris Donato, a Frasca Hospitality Group veteran, who tapped Michelin-starred duo Duncan Holmes and Allison Anderson, both from Beckon, to consult on all things culinary. Leading the kitchen is another Frasca alumni, chef de cuisine Anna Alspaugh.
The Whittier neighborhood just got Luchador (2030 E. 28th Ave., Denver), the first restaurant by Chopped champion Zuri Resendiz. If the name sounds familiar, it should. Resendiz is known for his Luchador Food Truck and excellent tacos. With the brick and mortar space expect upscale, creative takes on Mexican fare.
After 11 years in business, Olive & Finch announced its next location, Denver’s Union Station. The third outpost of the fast-casual, eclectic eatery will open in early 2025, bringing chef and owner Mary Nguyen’s thoughtful fare to downtown. It’s near her other spot, Little Finch, the coffee bar branch of the company. Nguyen will take over the space that holds Snooze, and A.M. Eatery inside the station, while the breakfast joint will move into the former Kitchen Next Door space.
Mecha Noodle Bar opened its 10th, and furthest west location in Denver this past week. The Connecticut-based eatery features a large bao menu, as well as pho and ramen. Noisette announced its plans to open The Wine Bar at Noisette inside its bakery space. It’s open Wednesday through Saturday during regular dinner hours, first come first served.
Breckenridge Brewery’s newest taproom will open in Fort Collins come September. Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta also has Fort Collins plans. The 40-year-old, New York style pizza chain will open its 19th shop soon at 2550 E. Harmony Rd. in Fort Collins, the first one in the area. Also in the news, further south in the Denver Tech Center, Cheba Hut launches another location. The brand has over 65 eateries across the country, and the newest one will be at 7795 E. Belleview Rd. Denver.
Ballmer Peak Distillery expanded as well, and the five-year-old craft spirits maker has a new location at 275 S. Sheridan Blvd. in Lakewood. The space offers more room for both the distillers and visitors, with 75 indoor and outdoor seats available as well as picnic tables. Owned by head distiller Austin Adamson and Eric Strom, the original Green Mountain location remains open.
There’s been a lot of news about pizza too. On the positive side, Little Arthur’s is now operating out of Out of the Barrel Taproom. While slinging the sandwiches the eatery is known for, it’s also selling 20-inch pizzas for around $40 each. There’s been a lot of talk about the price of the pies, which according to Westword isn’t as expensive as you think.
On the sadder closing side, Rolling Pin Pizza in City Park will cease service on August 24. The pizza joint just opened this past April, replacing Tacos Tequila Whiskey, both owned by Kevin Morison. Morison also runs Fish & Beer in RiNo and the Highland location of Tacos Tequila Whiskey.
Another pizza joint, Benny Blanco’s, is also closing at the end of the month. The hole-in-the-wall spot, which has been serving Capitol Hill since 2000, cited a rise in crime as the reason it’s shutting the doors. The owners Mike and Holly Martinez said the recently opened Arvada location of Benny Blanco’s will continue on.
Boulder’s Under the Sun, sister to Vine Street Pub in Denver, has also turned off the pizza ovens. We aren’t sure why so many pizza places are folding, but rest assured there’s plenty to still pick from.
AJ’s Steakhouse also shuttered. It was the fourth concept restaurateur Jarod Leonard put in the 81 S. Pennsylvania St. space, and an elevated spinoff of his Michelin Bib Gourmand eatery, AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q. The Evergreen-based chef officially closed that chapter and gave the lease up. He still runs the barbecue joint, as well as Campfire Evergreen and some concepts in Mexico.
On the Menu
Head to GQue BBQ for the new Belgium waffle topped with fried smoked chicken and hot honey. At Fruition, a new salad is on the menu featuring cherry tomatoes, cashew cream, and pickled shallots. Kura Sushi USA Inc. has peddled sushi in the states for 15 years, and now it’s debuting a new Snow Crab California Roll at all locations.
Right now North Italia has a limited-time brunch prix fixe menu, available on weekends throughout the end of August. The $35 meal includes items such as Banana Coffee Cake, Breakfast Carbonara Pasta with English peas, and Breakfast Rosa Pizza with eggs, crispy pancetta, Italian sausage, and spicy vodka sauce.
Sausage chain Dog Haus teams up with renowned Los Angeles chef and TV personality Eric Greenspan to launch the Big Belly Burger. The dish features two smashed beef patties topped with American cheese, caramelized and diced onions, dill pickles, and a special secret sauce on a grilled Big Marty’s sesame seed potato roll. For every Big Belly Burger sold in August, the restaurant will donate $1 to No Kid Hungry, a national charity dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America.
Now Pouring
Head to WeldWerks and order a pint of the Coconut PVW23 Medianoche, an imperial stout blend aged for 41 months in barrels that previously stored first-use, 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Bourbon. Think of it as an elevated pastry version of the brewery’s already popular Medianoche PVW23.
WeldWerks also tapped Sweet Disposition in collaboration with Mikerphone Brewing. This brew is also an imperial stout, which was aged in Weller 12-year Bourbon barrels for over 30 months. Post aging, Madagascan vanilla beans and pure Vermont maple syrup were added, making the brew the perfect pairing for pancakes and brunch overall.
Great Divide Brewing has released seasonal favorites Hoss Oktoberfest Lager and Pumpkin Ale. The beers come as the Great Divide celebrates 30 years of making craft brews in Denver.
Events in the News
Head to Uncle Washington Park for a pop-up series with Sushi Row out of Colorado Springs. In addition to the normal menu, diners can sample from the sushi a la carte list too on August 21 and 22 during normal business hours.
The picturesque Breckenridge Wine Classic celebrates 10 years this weekend from August 22 to 24. The three-day festival features a two-day grand tasting, seminars, activations and wine dinners, Buy tickets here.
On August 23 Cultura Chocolate will kick off its inaugural Noche de Lucha event in Denver. The event takes place inside the parking lot of El Tianguis (3950 Morrison Rd., Denver). Expect free Lucha Libre matches, make-your-own mask station, Mexican street food, and more.
Join the fun at the Lakewood Brewery Collective Party inside WestFax Brewing Co. on Saturday, August 24 starting at 11 a.m. The taps will be pouring a variety of great brews including Green Mountain Beer Company’s Pollenator Honey Bock Lager, Landlocked Ales’ Palicray Peach Ale, and WestFax’s own Urban Lumberjack Hazy IPA, among others. Custom event glassware is available for $3 with the purchase of a beer, and eats can be had from the Sokare food truck from 1 to 8 p.m.
Also on Saturday, Bonuts Doughnuts pops up in Pablo’s Coffee East Colfax (7701 E. Colfax Ave., Denver) starting at 8 a.m. Look or flavors such as brown butter, blackberry corn cake, and praline lime crullers. The pop up has been occurring almost weekley, so follow the baker on Instagram for updates.
Cart-Driver and Ratio Beerworks team up for a pizza and beer party at Ratio’s Overland taproom (2030 S. Cherokee St., Denver) on Sunday, August 25. Cart-Driver Catering will bring the new mobile pizza oven to cook up four of its pizzas from 12 to 7 p.m. Beers will flow and from 1 to 5 p.m. a live DJ will be spinning.
Join Corrida in Boulder on Sunday, August 25th for the Summer Bloom Bash with Pago on the Patio for an all-you-can-eat-and-drink feast of suckling pig, tapas, pintxos, cocktails, and wines from Pago de Carraovejas. There’s also live music featuring Hunter Roberts, Tanner Brown, Lily Fangz, and Borahm Lee. The feast starts at 5 p.m., and tickets run $125 per person, available via Eventbrite here.
