CoraFaye's Cafe Will Close on Colorado Boulevard, Move to East Colfax This Summer

Soul food restaurants have a way of seeming timeless, or out of time, with service, decor and humble plates that could hold up in any decade over the last half-century. CoraFaye's Cafe at 2861 Colorado Boulevard is no exception; the quaint dining room feels lived-in and historical, even if the restaurant...

By Mark Antonation

May 20, 2016

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Soul-food restaurants have a way of seeming timeless, or out of time, with service, decor and humble plates that could hold up in any decade over the past half-century. CoraFaye's Cafe, at 2861 Colorado Boulevard, is no exception; The quaint dining room feels lived-in and historic, even if the restaurant is not yet ten years old. Priscilla Smith opened the place in November 2006, and even then, lunch or dinner seemed like a trip to Grandma's house, complete with lace, floral prints and layer cake under a glass dome. But CoraFaye's won't celebrate its ten-year anniversary at its original home: Smith is moving the restaurant next month, to a new location at 16251 East Colfax Avenue in Aurora.
The exact dates for the closing of CoraFaye's and its reopening ten miles east have not been set, but the restaurant promises the same homey atmosphere and "the taste memories are made of," plus more seating, two balconies for outdoor dining, and additional space for private meetings and functions. The new CoraFaye's will be located under the copper domes and arches of the International Plaza shopping center just east of I-225.

Over the years, the Southern and soul-food dishes at CoraFaye's have been lauded both in Denver and nationally. We gave the juicy, peppery fried chicken our Best Fried Chicken award this year, and in 2013 the eatery was featured on an episode of the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Mark Antonation is the former Westword Food & Drink Editor. In 2018, he was named Outstanding Media Professional by the Colorado Restaurant Association; he's now with the Colorado Restaurant Foundation.

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