Smashburger Restaurant NADC Debuts in Larimer Square

Denver has a strong burger scene, but now there's a new option from two big names in Larimer Square.

"I think it's gonna be cool to bring extremely delicious burgers to Denver with high-quality beef, our Texas-raised wagyu, and see what everybody thinks," says pro skater Neen Williams, who co-founded NADC (Not a Damn Chance) Burger with Michelin-star chef Phillip Frankland Lee.

There are currently five NADC locations in Texas and one in Chicago. The Denver outpost, which debuts December 13 in the former TAG space at 1441 Larimer Street, marks the company's first move west.

The space is infused with the fast-paced energy of skateboarding culture, highlighted by a mind-bending ceiling-high mural from local artist Sam Pierson. The multi-colored explosion of expression is reminiscent of the ’90s skate scene that Williams came up in and will have some important finishing touches added before the Friday opening. "Me and Phillip are going to be getting abducted by a UFO," shares Williams with a laugh.

The restaurant is also outfitted with a full skate bar that displays intricately designed NADC brand boards, branded T-shirts, a selection of Williams's spice blend line, and a collection of Tech Decks all available for purchase. "It's a burger restaurant, but it's also a lifestyle, it's a vibe," notes Williams.

The menu is satisfyingly simple: a signature smashburger and fries. The NADC double smashburger is made with 100 percent RC Ranch wagyu beef plus American cheese, secret sauce, onions, pickles and "slightly tamed jalapeños." The golden fries are the perfect mix of crispy and fluffy and can be ordered Beast Mode, which includes cheese, diced pickles, jalapeños, special sauce and seasoning.
"We just wanted to bring our burger and our vibe to the city and do something cool with the community," shares Williams. NADC places a huge emphasis on cultural involvement, and the team is already collaborating with local businesses such as the Family Jones, Laws Whiskey House and Rocky Mountain Soda Co. NADC will offer six rotating cocktails on tap as well as two local draft beers.

Williams also aims to get involved with local artists. "We're gonna work with a lot of artists and put on some art shows and maybe have them showcase their art here," he says. As much as NADC is a burger restaurant, it also advertises itself as a social hub that is actively looking for ways to be involved and form connections. "I've been coming to Denver for years. I'm excited to do pop-ups and collaborations and stuff. It's just a dope city, and I'm very stoked to be here."

The concept originally found its legs when Williams began working on his spice blend line in 2018, which he introduced to his buddy Lee. The pair whipped up some burgers too good to be kept to themselves and started doing pop-ups at comedy shows and various events around L.A. "We'd put our money together, prep fifty burgers, fifty double burgers, and make them live and give them away and see what people thought. And they loved it," Williams recalls.
The endeavor amassed enough attention that a friend invited them to cook out of his open kitchen. Soon, NADC became a smash hit and opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Austin in 2022. "This all started as a passion project between me and Phillip," says Williams. "We're both, like, skate rats and love cooking. He's obviously a pro chef and I'm a pro skateboarder. We're both just fun-loving dudes."

NADC also comes with a surprise addition from Scratch Restaurants, the L.A.-born group from Lee and his wife, Margarita Kallas-Lee. Sushi by Scratch is an intimate speakeasy-style omakase bar set to open in the basement level of the one-hundred-plus-year-old building on December 31. The double-pronged concept is the second of its kind, with the Chicago location also boasting the underground sushi hideaway.

"It's all about good music, good vibes and a cool place to chill," concludes Williams.

NADC is located at 1441 Larimer Street and is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. For more information or to book the restaurant for an event, visit nadcburger.com.