Big money was spent on restaurant openings in October. Morin took over the former home of the Wazee Supper Club with a complete remodel of the LoDo space at 15th and Wazee streets and a menu of modern French cuisine from chef Max MacKissock. Uchi came to town from Austin, Texas, bringing a new style of sushi and other Japanese-inspired dishes to the edge of RiNo at 25th and Lawrence streets. And Liberati Osteria & Oenobeers built an entire Italian restaurant and brewery specializing in wine-beer hybrids in the former Golden Bell Press building at 2403 Champa Street. All three are strong contenders for our year-end list of best new restaurants, if they can continue to impress diners as they did during their opening weeks.
Big money also changed hands as Phil's Place closed at 3464 Larimer Street. The Garcia family, which has run Phil's since 2002, sold the building so that they could retire. But the place didn't remain dark for long, as the Embassy Tavern, operated by Leigh Jones and the team that also owns the Horseshoe Lounge and several other bars around town, signed a short-term lease and began pouring later in the month.
Here's our complete list of restaurant and bar openings and closings for October 2018:
Restaurants and Bars Opening in October*
Bonchon (Korean fried chicken), 8340 Northfield Boulevard
BorraCho Tacos, 42 South Broadway
D Station, 1737 East Evans Avenue
DC Pie Co., 2223 East Colfax Avenue
Doppio Coffee, 1245 East Colfax Avenue
Dos Luces Brewery, 1236 South Broadway
Dry Land Distillers, 471 Main Street, Longmont
The Embassy Tavern (formerly Phil's Place), 3463 Larimer Street
Liberati Osteria & Oenobeers, 2403 Champa Street
Mici, 535 West South Boulder Road, Lafayette
Morin, 1600 15th Street
Narrative, 222 Milwaukee Street
NĂ©kter Juice Bar, 700 Colorado Boulevard
Nomasté, 3103 East Colfax Avenue
Offbeat Unique Cuisine, 2233 South Monaco Parkway
Seven Grand, 1855 Blake Street
Spur Coffee, 95 Broadway
Ishtar Grill (formerly Ali Baba Grill), 2060 South University Boulevard
Reunion Coffee House, 10601 Reunion Parkway, Commerce City
The Rotary (inside Avanti Food & Beverage), 3200 Pecos Street
Tenya Japanese Soul Food, 3901 Tennyson Street
Tokyo Premium Bakery, 1540 South Pearl Street
True West Kitchen (at American Bonded), 2706 Larimer Street
Uchi, 2500 Lawrence Street
Restaurants and Bars Changing Names in October*
Crush Pizza + Tap (from Denver Deep Dish), 1200 West 38th Avenue
Restaurants Temporarily Closing in October*
Fish N Beer (fire), 3510 Larimer Street
Restaurants and Bars Closing in October*
Bachir's Soul Food (possibly relocating in January), 10254 Ura Lane
Broadway Bar & Bites, 8 South Broadway
Fat Jack's Super Subs, all locations
Phil's Place, 3463 Larimer Street
*Or earlier, and not previously reported.
Have you spotted any openings or closings that aren't on our list? Let us know in the comments or send an email to [email protected].