Every Opening and Closing This Week: Michelin-Starred Alma Debuts Mezcaleria and More

This week, there were a trio of new additions to report...and a trio of closures.

On Saturday, November 16, Mezcaleria Alma officially opens to the public; it's the third new concept for chef Johnny Curiel and his wife and business partner, Kasie, in less than a year. The duo opened their first eatery, Alma Fonda Fina, in LoHi last December and added Cozobi Fonda Fina in Boulder in July. Two months ago, Alma Fonda Fina was the sole Colorado restaurant to earn a new star when the latest edition of the state's Michelin Guide was announced.

Mezcaleria Alma is located next door to Alma Fonda Fina, and aims to "bring the dynamic spirit of Mexico City to Denver’s LoHi neighborhood with CDMX-inspired small plates and an expansive Mexican spirits menu," according to a press release announcing the news.

“While Alma Fonda Fina is a love letter to the home-cooked traditions of my childhood — the comfort food found at traditional fondas across Mexico — Mezcaleria Alma embodies the unbridled innovation that defines CDMX,” says Johnny. “Mexico City constantly fuels my creativity; it’s celebratory, elegant and boundary-pushing. It’s an incredible melting pot of cultures.” The new addition is open from 4 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Monday.
Magna Kainan is the newest restaurant in RiNo, and one of the few places to dig into Filipino fare in the metro area. It comes from chef Carlo Lamagna, who was born in the Philippines and is the owner of the Filipino restaurant Magna Kusinan in Portland, Oregon. In 2022, he was named a James Beard finalist for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific, and was one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2021. He partnered with local restaurant group Culinary Creative on this project, which was originally announced in March 2023. It's located inside the Novel RiNo building and joins rooftop bar Sorry Gorgeous, another Culinary Creative concept, and the upcoming second location of Odie B's.

Matt Quinlisk, former pastry chef for Moxie Bread Co., opened his bakery Hearth in RiNo in 2022. This week, he introduced a second location in the Uptown space that was formerly home to the Denver Bicycle Cafe and, briefly, Alpine Dog Brewing.
Saturday, November 16, is the last day for Isla Verde in Parker. The Puerto Rican restaurant was a longtime dream for husband-and-wife owners Jose Rivera and Karen Reyes, who tell Westword, "Our lease was up and the landlord was overcharging us $75 per square foot. He wouldn’t come down on that amount." The good news: "We are looking to move to downtown, and we have a couple locations we are deciding between."

After first closing its Boulder location, Maine Shack just shuttered its Denver outpost in LoHi. The team is currently focused on opening a location in Naples, Florida, but hopes to find a new home back in the Mile High next year.

Also gone is the Mono Mono location in Lafayette. The Korean fried chicken chain from local restaurateur J.W. Lee expanded quickly after debuting on Blake Street in 2021, but has been shrinking rapidly in 2024, shuttering its stores in Littleton, Highlands Ranch and Centennial. The only remaining locations are the original on Blake Street and a Lakewood outpost. Lee did not respond to a request for comment on the closures.

In other openings-and-closings news:

• December 23 is the last day for longtime Baker staple Señor Burritos, which is making a move to Westminster.
• Get the scoop on the newest addition to Golden, an Old West-style tavern from the family behind the Golden Hayride.
• Cerebral Pizza announced that it's teaming up with Outside Pizza for a new West Highland taproom.
• Chicago chain Portillo's is in the planning stages for a possible Littleton location, which would be its first in Colorado.

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

Openings

Hearth, 1300 East 17th Avenue
Magna Kainan, 1350 40th Street
Mezcaleria Alma, 2550 15th Street

Closures

Isla Verde, 19757 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker
Maine Shack, 1535 Central Street
Mono Mono Lafayette, 599 Crossing Dr, Lafayette

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

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