Mendocino Farms Now Serving Upscale Fast-Casual Sandwiches in Cherry Creek

Mendocino Farms, a fast-casual chain named after the northern California town where a co-founder's family was from, has now arrived in booming Cherry Creek North, its first stop on an expansion into the state. There will be more locations popping up in the near future, including in downtown, Highland, Centennial and Boulder.

The original location in El Segundo, California, was opened in 2005 by husband-and-wife duo Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen. Its locations were originally concentrated in California, but have since spread to Washington,Texas and now Colorado, fertile ground for fast-casual concepts.

The first Mendocino Farms was purposefully community-based and connected to farmers' markets, explained Kevin Miles, CEO of the chain, at a preview of the Cherry Creek spot. "When you came to the restaurant, you felt connected. It was this idea of a third space, so you have your home, you have your work, and where can you go to connect with the community as a neighborhood. So we really pride ourselves on being a chef-driven neighborhood sandwich shop, but one of our key missions is really to just wow with unexpected flavors and friendliness. It's all packed with those in terms of friendliness; we pride ourselves on our hospitality. We look to build relationships."
The chain, which regulars who are part of that relationship and staffers simply call "Mendo," serves upscale versions of the three S's: soups, salads and sandwiches.

The menu takes classic staples and upgrades them with fresh, locally-grown ingredients and some taste-tempting combinations. Sure, there's a club sandwich called the Farm Club that features the expected roasted turkey and applewood smoked bacon, but it's topped with smashed avocado, tomatoes, pickled red onion, mixed greens and herb aioli on a slice of seeded honey whole wheat. Other sandwiches include show stoppers like Peruvian Steak with spicy aji amarillo sauce and Oaxacan cheese, Chimichurri Steak & Bacon, and a fascinating "Not So Fried" Chicken that spotlights chicken that isn't fried, but the sandwich is crunchy with Mendo's Krispies, flash-fried quinoa and millet coated with nutritional yeast and a spice blend that's exclusive to the chain.

Like tiny croutons, the Krispies keep their crunch after being cooked and included in recipes. They'd make a terrific snack on their own, by the spoonful.
The salads run the gamut from typical with a twist — such as the Modern Caesar with kale added to the romaine and a Baja Green Goddess with chicken adobado and Hatch green chiles) — to Thai Mango Salad and Mama Chen's Chinese Chicken Salad. The soups are Thai Sweet Potato and Lemon Chicken & Farro; sides include Kale & Apple Rainbow Salad and Spicy Curried Couscous — a very diverse presentation of palate pleasers. Limited time specials are Chicken & Hummus Crunch Wrap and Winter Citrus & Goat Cheese Salad.

The restaurant emphasizes its healthy fare and can switch out bread for gluten-sensitive diners; it offers options for  vegetarians and vegans, including a Vegan Banh Mi.

At a lunch preview on the roof of the nearby Halcyon Hotel just three blocks up the street, the Cherry Creek Mendo's served samples off the menu along with such special bar drinks as Farm reFresher (Empress 1908 gin, soda water, cucumber, and fresh basil and mint) and the non-alcoholic "Not So Boozy" (lemon juice, orange juice, soda water and fresh rosemary).

We got a sneak peek of the space at 320 Fillmore Street, which is open and bright, with a colorful mural and decor featuring the company's blue cow symbol. But it still evokes the "eat-and-run" feel of a fast-casual joint, with its concrete floors and long tables, with just a few booths for sit-down dining.

Mendocino Farms officially opens today, but the big celebration will be Wednesday, May 7, with the Longhorn Parade through Cherry Creek North that brings the Mendocino Farms signature cow logo to life and offers Coloradans a rare chance to see the beloved animals up close. (Remember, the longhorns weren't included in the National Western Parade in January because of the cold, city weather.) The parade begins at 10:45 a.m.

Mendocino Farms is now open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 320 Fillmore Street; get more information at mendocinofarms.com.