The Landmark development in Greenwood Village has had its ups and downs over the years, but has managed to attract a few long-term restaurant tenants like Pizza Republica, Yanni's, Ted's Montana Grill and Ali Baba Grill. East West Partners took over management of the project in 2013 and has slowly been filling the remaining vacancies. One of those was left when Espressole Caffe and the Kitchen Table Colorado Culinary Academy moved to a new location, but that vacancy is about to be filled by the Palate Food + Wine Bar, a new concept from wine experts and liquor store owners Vivek and Sanju Beri. The couple is aiming for a late April opening for the Palate, which will feature small plates and shareable dishes in addition to a vast selection of wines by the glass.
The Beris are installing a Napa Technology wine system that uses argon gas to eliminate oxidation and keep wines fresh long after the cork has been pulled. This will allow the Palate to offer 150 different wines by the glass, which Vivek says will be the largest number offered by any wine bar in Colorado. But the Beris want the Palate to be as much about food as it is about wine, which is why they put food first in the name. "Food and wine are an eternal pairing," explains Sanju. "You can't have one without the other."
The couple has already hired a chef (who they can't name yet) to put together a menu that Vivek describes as American-fusion, with spices and influences from all over the world. "With so many wines, we didn't want to limit the flavors of the food to one region or country," he notes. The menu will shift frequently with seasonal changes and the availability of local produce and meats.
To help guide guests through the long list of wines, tablet menus will be available that will offer wine suggestions based on food selections and vice versa. "The Palate will be inviting and casual," says Sanju, who has sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. "Wine can be intimidating, so we want to eliminate that." And for those who aren't fans of wine, the Palate will also offer a range of beer and whiskey — with many produced in Colorado — and a selection of cocktails.
The Beris own Fox Creek Liquors in Longmont and have been involved in the wine industry for 25 years, but this is their first foray into the restaurant business. They're hoping to draw a customer base from the surrounding offices and condos as well as Landmark Movie Theater visitors. The Palate will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and until 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.