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It’s been a long time coming — but Brian Laird, who’d hoped to open Sarto’s last fall, is finally nearing the finish line for his Italian restaurant and market. Back in early 2013, when Laird first talked to us about Sarto’s, he said he hoped to create “a Northern Italian restaurant that’s welcoming, friendly and affordable with a lightened, contemporary, localized and refined focus.” He planned for an 85-seat dining room centered around a wood-fired oven, an eight-seat bar and two patios on this prime corner space in Jefferson Park that had previously held a frame shop/gallery.
See also: Brian Laird opening Sarto’s in Jefferson Park
Laird, who’d been behind the burners at Barolo Grill for thirteen years (read Gretchen Kurtz’s review of Barolo today here), left in early 2011, hoping to take a break and pursue other options — including opening his own place. But first, he took gigs at a couple of of ill-fated restaurants, including the now-closed Russo’s Kitchen + Tavern as well as the also-defunct Sketch, where he turned out great housemade pastas and earned the eatery a Best Neighborhood Italian Restaurant award in the Best of Denver 2012.
But soon Laird will finally have a kitchen all his own. Look for Sarto’s to open within the month. For updates, keep an eye on the Sarto’s Facebook page.