Every Opening and Closing This Week: Michelin-Starred Pastry Chef Debuts Dessert Bar and More

While many established spots have recently announced closure, new places keep joining the dining scene, and the suburbs continue to be an appealing market.

Golden's restaurant scene already had tempting options such as Xicamiti, the seven-year-old taquería we profiled this week. Now there's another option for Mexican fare nearby, with La Huacha making its brick-and-mortar debut. Owned by a former employee of Palenque Cocina Y Agaveria in Littleton, it started as a salsa business and has operated as a food truck in Golden since 2021. Now it's moved into the former home of short-lived Panco & Jane, and fans have been flocking in, particularly on Tuesdays when La Huacha offers tacos for $2.

Highlands Ranch also has a new spot, Uni Sushi. But this week's other five openings are all within Denver city limits.

They include two coffee spots: the new Congress Park outpost of Novo Coffee, which closed its longtime Highland location at the end of 2024; and a Green Bus Cafe kiosk inside 17th Street Plaza.

Sacred Society in the West Highland neighborhood is a holistic wellness center from Barbie Beltran and chef Jose Guerrero that's home to an entirely organic cafe.

Changes continue to roll out at Union Station with the addition of Baumé, a dessert bar from Michelin-starred executive pastry chef Kevin McCormick, whose resume includes Per Se in New York City and Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder. It's serving European-inspired patisseries and a curated Champagne list, and offers treats to go from a retail kiosk in the Great Hall as well as a sit-down experience starting at 4 p.m. daily.
On East Colfax Avenue, Mama Jo's Biscuits & BBQ, which started as a food truck, is now open in the former Steve's Snappin' Dogs space.

Four spots said goodbye this week, including Lao Wang Noodle House, which will serve its last dumpings on Saturday, February 15. It's drawn long lines since announcing the news last month.

Comal Heritage Food Incubator also gave fans a month to say goodbye before shuttering on February 14, while Eat'Ya Pizza announced its closure on the 16th Street Mall just a couple of days before its last service on February 13.

The week ended with another sudden farewell as Sloan's Lake Tap & Burger shut its doors after more than eight years in business. Owner Juan Padró tells Westword that Stoney's owner Stoney Jesseph will be taking over the space.

In other openings and closings news:

• Osaka Ramen in RiNo is closing on February 23.
• Maria Empanada will debut its fourth location on East Colfax on February 19.
• The former Blake Street Tavern is set to become Tavern on Blake Street, an outpost of Tavern Snowmass.

Here's the complete list of restaurants that opened and closed this week*:

Openings

Baumé at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop Street
Green Bus Cafe, 1225 17th Street
La Huacha, 16500 South Golden Road, Golden
Mama Jo's Biscuits & BBQ, 3525 East Colfax Avenue
Novo Coffee, 1200 Clayton Street
Sacred Society, 3410 West 38th Avenue
Uni Sushi, 3982 Red Cedar Drive, Highlands Ranch

Closures

Comal Heritage Food Incubator, 1950 35th Street
Eat'Ya Pizza, 1530 16th Street
Lao Wang Noodle House, 945 South Federal Boulevard
Sloan's Lake Tap & Burger, 1565 Raleigh Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

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