Chicken Rebel Is Closing on Tejon Street to Make Way for Brunch Spot Wilde

As of June 2, Lydie Lovett's Chicken Rebel location at 3618 Tejon Street will officially close to make way for Wilde, the chef's new, full-service brunch restaurant, which will be previewing its menu at Westword's Out to Brunch event on Saturday, June 10.

"I have been dreaming up a brunch concept for years now, but most recently decided upon the coastal influence," says Lovett, who grew up in San Diego and Baja California. "I wanted something different than the typical diner-type brunch options."

Come August 1, guests can see just what kind of brunch eats the fried chicken queen has come up with. So far, says Lovett, the menu includes eggs Benedict with crab and rosemary hash; citrus-stuffed French toast with lemon syrup; avocado toast with poached eggs; Baja-style beer-battered fish tacos; and a wild boar burger with hand-cut fries. Of course, fried chicken will be on the menu, too, but instead of the numerous options associated with Chicken Rebel, Lovett will simply serve a hearty plate of chicken and waffles.
"Brunch has always been my favorite part of day, and I love the social aspect as well as [it being] the perfect hangover cure," says Lovett. "I see a need in this area for more daytime spots for casual farm- and sea-to-table fare."

While Wilde is primarily a brunch spot, it will offer evening and late-night service as well, with a tapas-style menu and specialty cocktails.

And Lovett hasn't completely given up her original Chicken Rebel plan. Though the Tejon Street location is now the second outpost of the fast-casual chicken shop to close (another in Littleton shuttered in March), its Westminster eatery is still going strong.

Chicken Rebel is Lovett's first restaurant baby. In 2017, the chef came to Colorado from San Diego to buy a food truck for her California-based pop-up concept, and she never left. She began selling fried chicken sandwiches out of the truck at local breweries, with the idea that she would save enough money to travel back home. As it turned out, Denverites loved her food, so she decided to open a stall in Avanti Denver before moving into the Tejon Street space in 2019.
While Lovett still loves her original concept, where each piece of chicken gets hand-battered to order, she says she's happy to be cooking something other than fried chicken and tater tots after eight years in business. "I want to challenge myself in the kitchen and offer fresher and healthier options for the Highland community," she adds. "Also, I’m excited to be working with my life partner, who will be helping me run the bar program. And we plan on having fresh pressed juices, creative and organic cocktails and live music."

Lovett says that she is particularly proud of her focus on hiring "strong female leaders in the beverage and culinary world" to help run the brunch spot. Unlike the previous concept, Wilde will be a full-service, sit-down restaurant, with to-go and delivery ordering available as well — a place for the neighborhood to frequent for a solid meal and great service, she adds.

"We want diners to be able to enjoy the social aspect of dining without having to worry about the ordering process," says Lovett. "We want the service to be above and beyond so that diners can enjoy their meal and each other."