Despite fierce restaurant competition downtown, 5280 Burger Bar at Denver Pavillions has carved out some meaty territory since opening in 2014, drawing full houses from the surrounding offices, businesses and convention halls. But a new outpost, which opens on Thursday, August 17, at 4301 Main Street in Westminster, will rely on an entirely new customer base.
The stretch of West 120th Avenue at Sheridan Boulevard has matured into a magnet for shopping and dining, with a Whole Foods, GQue Championship Barbecue and other locally owned eateries bolstering the usual array of chain restaurants. The new burger bar gives the area something safe and comfortable while still offering a chef-driven menu and fresh ingredients. In addition to the restaurant side with its sports-bar vibe, 5280 also adds an attached ice cream shop with its own entrance, just like at the original location.
Executive chef Derek Baril was hired earlier this year and continues to add his own touches to the menu. A new item for the Westminster branch is an elk patty — available on any of the house burgers — that takes the place of the original's bison burger. Baril says close proximity to nearby farms means he'll be able to add seasonal specials to the roster. "I live about five blocks away," he adds, "so I consider this kind of my test kitchen."
So while the downtown burger bar keeps its offerings fairly constant, version 2.0 will give customers something new to look forward to on a regular basis. This month, it's a peach-marmalade burger oozing with brie and topped with Tender Belly bacon. Other new items include a lamb burger with harissa, lightly pickled cucumbers, feta cheese and Calabrian chile aioli. And as always, all of the burgers come on housemade buns.
The restaurant seats well over 100 guests, with an outdoor bar and patio that will hold an addional 36. Partner Don Redlinger says that he has also just purchased a food truck that will soon be hitting recreational sports fields and craft breweries to serve burgers and ice cream around Denver and the northwest suburbs.
5280 Burger Bar will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Redlinger notes that a "football brunch" will be added in time for the beginning of Broncos season and will include a new slate of more breakfast-oriented surprises.
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