First Look: The Venerable El Rancho Reopens as a Brewpub

The historic El Rancho restaurant is back open off of Interstate 70 and Highway 40 after being vacant for more than two years. Like the Buffalo Restaurant & Bar in Idaho Springs, El Rancho reopened in conjunction with a new craft brewery. El Rancho originally opened in 1947 but has...

By Westword Staff

January 7, 2016

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The historic El Rancho restaurant is back open off of Interstate 70 and Highway 40 after being vacant for more than two years. Like the Buffalo Restaurant & Bar in Idaho Springs, El Rancho reopened in conjunction with a new craft brewery.

El Rancho originally opened in 1947 but has changed hands many times over the decades. The newest owners, the Vincent family, purchased the spacious facility — which once included a gift shop and visitor center along with conference rooms and multiple dining areas — earlier this year and included a brewery in the renovations. Chef and master butcher Tom Vincent runs the kitchen while beer-making duties are the responsibility of head brewer Bard Nielsen.

El Rancho is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). For more photos, see our complete slideshow.

A message from Food & Drink Editor Molly Martin: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Denver’s evolving dining scene and the latest culinary innovations our community offers.

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