Peach season continues to influence summer menu news, though a special cowboy-themed one is at play too. A popular flour brand is popping up, and a local sports drink company is expanding its healthy cafe in Boulder to serve dinner. We’re also excited to try a new happy hour burger, but bummed that one of our favorite doughnut shops is folding.
Read on for more top news stories and send us any tips via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
The 411
Bakers rejoice, King Arthur Flour announced a pop-up in Denver starting on August 30. The plan is to offer a wide range of baking essentials from ingredients to tools to accessories. Head out for opening day starting at 10 a.m., and the first 50 shoppers will receive a free King Arthur Colorado Tote Bag. Find the pop-up in RiNo at 2800 Walnut St., Suite #100.
Founded by sports physiologist Dr. Allen Lim, Skratch Labs in Boulder announced it’s expanding to dinner service at its cafe and creating a flagship store. The first iteration was Skratch Labs Cafe, which opened in January, 2023 as an arm of the company’s signature sports nutrition company, Skratch Labs. Now that cafe will offer dinner Friday through Sunday, and plans are in the works to create more community events.
Chicken Fight! 2025 was a great success last week. We have all the details on the winners, both by the panel of esteemed judges, and the people. Did you go? What was your favorite dish and cocktail?
Chipotle continues to add new and fun additions to its iconic menu. Now, guests can check out the Build-Your-Own Chipotle, a digital-exclusive family meal built to feed groups of four-to-six people. The goal is to have the customizable spread ready for pickup in as few as 15 minutes, making it easy to feed a group fast.
The family-style portions allow diners to create any bowl, salad, or soft taco to their liking and dietary preferences. The kit includes one protein (chicken ($59), steak ($70), braised beef barbacoa ($70), carnitas ($65), or sofritas ($59), one rice, one bean, one premium side of guacamole or queso, and three salsas. It also comes with shredded lettuce, cheese, two bags of chips, eight soft taco tortillas, and all the bowls, napkins, and utensils you need.
As the new offering rolls out, save $10 off any Build-Your-Own Chipotle order with the code TRYBYOC, to be used through the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com from Tuesday, August 26 through Tuesday, October 21, or until 500,000 total redemptions, whichever comes first.
Starting on Saturday, September 6, Local Jones, inside Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek, will launch a brand-new brunch offering dubbed Swingin’ Shells Brunch. Available every Saturday through the end of the year, Local Jones will serve a special shellfish spread featuring raw, roasted, and dressed oysters, complemented by crisp bubbles and bold cocktails, and soundtracked by live jazz.
The new brunch offering juxtaposes the restaurant’s Vinyl Brunch, which takes place each Sunday and features classic bistro fare including massive cinnamon rolls, pork green chile burritos, short rib hash, blueberry pancakes, and more, all to a live DJ spinning. Both bunches go on from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., more information and reservations can be found at localjones.com.
Openings and Closings
Longtime La Loma owners Renée Brinkerhoff and son William Brinkerhoff Jr. opened the brand’s newest location in the Denver Tech Center (DTC) just yesterday. Located at 8000 E. Belleview Ave., Suite G-10 in Greenwood Village, La Loma DTC joins the duo’s other locations in Parker, Colo., and downtown Denver’s McGregor Square. Under the direction of culinary director Paco Romeo, the DTC location will offer all the beloved La Loma favorites.
Westword reported that Jin Yoong Wu just closed his 25-year-old Wu’s Garden in Littleton, and he didn’t want to. The casual Chinese restaurant weathered both the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic, but there was nothing the chef could do when the landlord refused to renew his lease.
Pandemic Donuts, which aptly opened during the pandemic, has decided to close. The bakery launched after owners Gabrielle Henning and Michael Milton lost their restaurants jobs in 2020. For five years the concept has been a favorite, but the two decided to shutter after a year of rising costs, not being able to sustain employees, and the overall burnout of struggling to maintain a food business in this restaurant climate.
On the Menu
The newly-opened BearLeek in RiNo now has a burger, which is part of the new happy hour menu. Check out the full lineup all day every Monday; from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and all night at the bar. Guests can enjoy light bites such as brisket and eggplant skewers, along with the aforementioned happy-hour-exclusive burger topped with caramelized onions, cheese, pickles, and the restaurant’s signature BearSauze, all on the housemade milk bread.
Riot BBQ debuted a new Friday special, the Papasada. Basically the Papasada is a twice-baked potato piled high with tender brisket, drizzled with chimichurri, and finished with salsa de árbol.
Sweet Action is celebrating Colorado’s peach season with a very special Palisade Peach Cheesecake ice cream using fresh and local 8 Ball and Rising Sun varieties from Morton’s Organic Orchards. The family-owned and operated ice cream company has taken this juicy stone fruit and combined it with a house-baked cobbler and cheesecake to craft the newest small batch flavor.
Enjoy Colorado summer specials at The Fort in Morrison now, through September 30. The menu garners inspiration from mountain man cuisine and Native American traditions with barbeque pork ribs with rattlesnake and rabbit bratwurst and cherry pie a la mode.
Events
The national Dirty Drinks movement has hit Denver, and you can drink in the fuss while supporting regenerative agriculture and healthy soil. Stop by Little Wolf and Barquentine to grab a “Dirty Drink” made with Root Shoot Whiskey now and until September 1. Bonus, $1 from every drink goes to the national nonprofit Zero Foodprint, which in turn goes directly to farmers like Root Shoot who are working to restore the climate by building healthier soil.
Pita Mafia is popping up again, this time with “Biker” Jim Pettinger at Recess Beer Garden (1900 W. 32nd Ave., Denver). The $45 tickets includes three specialty sausages made by Biker Jim, fresh pita, charred Hatch chili, crispy potato frites, green tomato matbucha, pickles, and sauce. Join the fun on Wednesday, August 27 from 6 to 9 p.m., tickets here.
Explore American single malt with Ryan Negley, founder of the Denver Whiskey Club and an American Single Malt Whiskey Commission member, this Thursday, August 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The tasting and talk will take place at Little Wolf (4408 Lowell Blvd., Denver) in Highland, and tickets run $55, find them here. Expect at least six expressions, plus more info than you ever knew you wanted.
Chef Zorba’s August Wine Down event takes place this week on Friday, August 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. The theme centers around Argentina and Chile, and for $30, guests will have pours of wine from both countries and complimentary bites including tacos and empanadas.
Head to the Tulum Pool Party with GNAT Jewelry Atelier on Sunday, September 7 at Rare Bird, located atop Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek. The sparkling event runs from 12 to 8 p.m., and you can expect live DJs spinning house, Afro, and techno while you sip tropical inspired drinks and nibble on tacos, ceviche, shrimp specials, and more. Plus, there’s a real pool to dip into. The $55 ticket includes all the entertainment and access to the pool, which you can purchase here. Cabanas can also be reserved for up to six people for the day here ($400).
Spirit of Japan is coming back on September 12 through the 14 at Sakura Square. It’s the second iteration of the annual event, and the goal is to highlight Japanese food, spirits, and culture. Sample Japanese spirits, including sake, sochu, whiskey and more while learning from experts about their origin, craftsmanship and tasting notes. On the food side, try authentic Japanese dishes such as yakitori, osakana zangi, and takoyaki. Tickets are on sale now.
