Where are you getting your breakfast burrito this morning? For a big, bargain option, it’s been hard to beat the deal at the five locations of Los Dos Potrillos, a homegrown chain created by the Ramirez family. And now there’s a sixth as handy as those to-go burrito options: Los Dos Potrillos opened on April 15 in the former home of Hacienda Colorado off Colorado Boulevard.
While many major restaurateurs have complained that it’s impossible to open a restaurant within Denver city limits, the Los Dos move defies that. And several more big openings are coming right up: Both Schoolyard Beer Garden and Cracker Barrel (yes, Cracker Barrel) held a slew of soft-opening events this week in anticipation of opening on Monday, April 21. And Rolling Smoke BBQ, which has grown to four metro locations, just opened a new concept, Chubby Unicorn Cantina, by Mission Ballroom.
Downtown has two new bars, too, although one is a rebrand and another only temporary. Hotel Teatro has added a wine bar to The Study, the cozy area right by the Nickel. And two hours before tipoff on every game day, Denver’s Union Station will be opening the Nuggets Gold Mine Bar on the lower level, where it will offer special drinks and other deals.
Union Station has added a bar during the Nuggets playoffs.
Ace Eat Serve has expanded its concept, too, creating a coffee bar that’s open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends. It’s partnered with Huckleberry Roasters as its exclusive, local coffee roaster, and bringing in breakfast burritos from Steuben’s and pastries from an in-house pastry department, led by Chef Michael Kurowski.
Despite the renewed energy, operators big and small are finding it tough to weather these uncertain economic times. The satellite location of Rivers and Roads Coffee just shuttered on Champa Street – but that spot will soon become Cafe Tres, a Cuban bakery. “You put heart and money and energy into opening and running a restaurant. Changes like this are a bittersweet thing,” says Rivers and Roads co-owner Mike Keen, who notes that “the Champa Street location was only five minutes from our place on Bruce Randolph, so we hope that our regulars don’t really feel like they’re losing their spot.”
In other restaurant news:
Although Colorado has had a Cracker Barrel in 1995, Denver will finally get its first location on Monday; we got a sneak peek of the Cracker Barrel in Central Park.
We watched Mayor Mike Johnston in action when he served lunch at Bourbon Grill, the first of regular appearances along East Colfax Avenue.
Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened this week*:
Yes, a Cracker Barrel has come to Denver.
Catie Cheshire
Openings
C Burger, 921 Pearl Street, Boulder
Chubby Unicorn Cantina, 4180 Wynkoop Street
Clever Girl, 3501 Wazee Street (formerly Zeppelin Station)
Dave’s Hot Chicken, 725 Harvest Moon Dr., Suite F, Longmont Los Dos Potrillos, 4100 East Mexico Avenue
Nuggets Gold Mine Bar, Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12’s public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.
Food & Drink Editor Molly Martin
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