Mama Jo’s Biscuits and BBQ

A lot can happen in four years: Just ask husband-and-wife duo Ben and Jodi Polson, who launched their food truck, Mama Jo’s, in 2021. Recently, they took their business to the next level by opening a brick-and-mortar location in the former home of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs on Colfax. The inspiration for the original food truck […]

Som Dee Thai Kitchen

When Orrapan Botthaisong moved to Denver from Thailand a decade ago, she had just $300 to her name. Ten years later, she’s the owner of two Thai restaurants: the more casual La Mai Thai near Sloan’s Lake, which is named for her mother, and Som Dee, which opened in December and is named for her […]

Teocalli Cocina

In 2019, Grant Hopfenspirger, son of the restaurateurs who created the local retro-diner chain Gunther Toody’s, opened Teocalli Cocina in Lafayette. In 2022, he debuted a second location of the Mexican eatery in Olde Town Arvada, in a space that had not been occupied since the closing of Griff’s Hamburgers in 2015. The addition has […]

O Lien Kitchen

This Vietnamese spot got its start inside the Viet Hoa supermarket before moving to a brick-and-mortar space in late 2023. While it has standards like pho and rice and noodle bowls, O Lien is also dishing specialties from Huế, including bánh khoái, a fried crepe made of rice flour that has a yellow hue from […]

Luchador Taco & More

Chef Zuri Resendiz is a Chopped champion who trained under Elise Wiggins at Panzano and Cattivella before a brief stint heading up the kitchen at a high-end steakhouse. After realizing he wanted to focus on sharing the cuisine of Latin America, he struck out on his own, launching a food truck before debuting his first […]

Chopstix Fusion

The word ‘fusion’ can be a red flag for diners looking for pure flavors undiluted by American or European tastes, but in the case of Chopstix, which opened in May, it’s simply an indication that you’ll find a smattering of Thai dishes on a menu that otherwise offers a deep taste of Hong Kong – […]

Westbound & Down

Where else in Colorado can you drink beer in an alley? At Westbound & Down’s Free Market location in Denver, patrons can grab some of Colorado’s most award-winning beer and hang out in the well-kept Dairy Block alley. From IPAs to dark beers, spritzy lagers and Hefeweizen, Westbound manages to offer an array of top-notch […]

No Name Bar

Phil and Erika Zierke, the owners of Englewood Grand, know how to create a neighborhood staple – and that’s exactly what they did (again) in 2022, when they opened a welcoming watering hole near DU that has everything but a name. You’re likely to find Phil behind the bar at one of his two spots, […]

The Devil’s Drink

When Rock N Lobster Roll founder Andrew Harris and bar maven Alisha Taylor opened the Devil’s Drink in a small space below the 25-room Kasa Comma hotel in LoHi, they described it as an “underworld speakeasy” with dark, moody vibes, red lighting and devilish design touches. If you’re ready to dance with the devil in […]

Salita

After closing longtime Larimer Square speakeasy Green Russell in 2022, the Bonanno Concepts restaurant group debuted a new bar in Cap Hill where many of the former Green Russell staff continue to show off their cocktail expertise. In the mornings, Salita functions as a welcoming spot to get a caffeine buzz; at night, boozy creations […]

Emerald Eye

It could be easy to miss this subterranean cocktail lounge when visiting busy Larimer Square; its door decal gives away no secrets, but the words “cocktail lounge” can be seen in the transom window above, along with a neon sign shaped like a Monstera leaf. Upon entering, guests descend a stairwell decorated with globe pendant […]

The Scapegoat

In late 2023, the owners of a favorite Berkeley watering hole, Crow Bar, pulled off something that takes a certain type of expertise: They opened a new dive bar. The Scapegoat may be less than a year old, but the camaraderie among regulars who belly up for cheap drinks and friendly banter among the eclectic […]