Unfortunately there have been a lot of closings this week in the news, but worry not, some fun openings too. Brunch is on the menu at a Detroit pizza place, and we’re excited for some special summer dinners coming up. Hungry for more? Check out our best bites of May.
Read on for more top news stories and send us any tips via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
The 411
Despite waving a beautiful banner since opening in October 2018, a Denver zoning code officer has told Jovanina’s Broken Italian to remove it. Why now, they couldn’t say. The Italian spot remains at the same address, with the same great food, and a new sign coming soon.
The Boka Restaurant Group is coming to Denver with chef and Boulder native Brian Lockwood at the head of the project. Lockwood, who acted as chef de cuisine at Frasca Food and Wine in 2010 and consulted on the Emmy Award-winning TV show The Bear, hasn’t shared just what he wants to see, yet. We do know it will be located in a new, mixed-use building at East 2nd Avenue and Adams Street in the Cherry Creek neighborhood.
Garibaldi’s Mexican Bistro at 3298 S. Broadway in Englewood was seized for unpaid taxes. The family run restaurant is fighting to keep it going, and started a GoFundMe page to help raise money to save the 10-year-old family business.
Last month Wilding Brands (Stem Ciders, Denver Beer Co., and Funkwerks) bought Great Divide Brewing Co., and early in June closed both of Great Divide’s Denver tap rooms. Now the brand has taken over Station 26 Brewing, expanding the company’s craft beer empire in the state.
As the team from Yuan Wanton heads off to Chicago next week for the James Beard Awards in honor of chef-owner Penelope Wong’s Best Chef Mountain Region nomination, the restaurant will be closed while they’re gone. Last year, for the same event, Yuan Wanton closed for two days and some, or at least one vocal Yelper, got confused and left some choice words and a one star review. The chef posted to social media that the dumpling shop won’t open on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 17 and 18. You’ve been warned.
Openings and Closings in the News
Okinawa Japanese Cuisine has taken over the former Tacos Tequila Whiskey spot at 2301 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. It’s serving traditional Japanese fare such as sushi, katsu, teriyaki, and sunomono.
Dave’s Hot Chicken expands to Greenwood Village with a spicy opening on Friday, June 13. The new shop is at 8511 E. Arapahoe Rd., and will be open 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
The Broadway location of Etai’s Bakery Cafe closed. Situated in an industrial area right next to a large neighborhood, the spot opened in 1994. No reason was given for the closure, but fans can still get a fix at the two other spots at the airport and 7357 E. 29th Ave., in Denver.
After 30 years, the Giggling Grizzly bar is closing. In 2022 the landlord sold it to Montfort Companies, which also included the historic El Chapultepec. Now they are ready to begin renovations. The last day for the Giggling Grizzly is July 6, giving the neighborhood bar one last 4th of July bash.
In the City Park neighborhood the down-to-Earth bar Middleman will close at the end of the month. With that is chef Bo Porytko’s Misfit Snack Bar, which he recently took back after a hiatus when he was opening the nearby Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails. Porytko told Westword the business had been down by 50% of last year’s revenue, and he believes the current Colfax project is to blame.
Middleman co-owners Charlie Thomas and Jareb Parker, also told Westword two locals purchased the business and plan to reopen quickly under the same name and with any staff who want to stay on.
Over in the Ballpark area, the urban farm and eatery Farm & Market has closed. It opened in September 2023, showcasing 1,100 vertical hydroponic towers and the idea of serving super fresh and high quality food.
The restaurant posted on its Instagram feed, “Thank you for every visit, every meal shared, and every kind word. It’s been our joy and honor to serve this community — to grow, nourish, and connect with you through fresh, sustainable food. Though our doors are closed, our gratitude is wide open. You’ve made this journey unforgettable.”
On the Menu
Via 313, known for its Detroit-style pizza, is now offering an exclusive brunch menu. Try The Detroit Benny, a brunch item topped with ham, scrambled eggs, melted cheese, hollandaise sauce, and green onions. Or, The Breakfast Taco, layered with scrambled eggs, seasoned potatoes, cheese, green onions, and choice of bacon or sausage. The meal is available every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Events
Join La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal and Wagyu Den for a special dinner service on Tuesday, June 10 from 5 p.m. to close. No reservations are accepted, so get there early and try the wagyu trompo and other delights. The regular menu will also be available in a limited capacity.
Osteria Marco launches Battle of the Bottles: Beer vs. Wine on Wednesday, June 11. The Larimer Square Italian restaurant will team up with Great Divide Brewing Co. for a five-course dinner paired with beer and wine. You pick the winning combo. Tickets and details here.
Head to Coffee Sarap for a Kamayan Dinner featuring Filipino dishes in a celebration of community, culture, and culinary traditions. Tickets are $50 for Asian Chamber of Commerce Colorado members, and $60 for non-members. Reserve a spot at acccolorado.org.
On Saturday, June 21 at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Somdee Thai Kitchen will host the 3rd Annual Thai Street Food Pop-Up. No reservations needed, just come hungry.
The Denver Cherry Blossom Festival takes place at Sakura Square on Saturday and Sunday on June 21 and 22. Of course Japanese food and sweet treats are on the menu. Think teriyaki burgers, bento boxes, cucumber on a stick, SPAM musubi, mochi manju, and more. The main event is inside the Temple Gym and on Lawrence Street.
Starting June 14 the parking lot at The Goldfinch on South Broadway in Denver becomes the LOBO Block Party, which continues until October on every second Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $6 and you can expect a fun day of live DJs, craft cocktails, local food, and curated vendors.
On Wednesday, June 25, Chopped champion and current Top Chef finalist, Tristen Epps returns to Denver for a one-night-only dinner at Guard and Grace with chef Troy Guard. This four-course collaboration seats 50 and benefits local nonprofit Work Options, which helps adults build meaningful careers in the food service industry. Epps previously worked as executive chef at Guard’s now closed Mister Tuna.
Tickets are on sale for this year’s Midsummer Farm Dinner, a summer solstice celebration hosted by Somebody People in partnership with Esoterra Culinary Garden. The dinner party takes place on Sunday, June 29 and features a collective of culinary talent including Matt Vawter of Rootstalk, Miles Odell of Odell’s Bagel, Harrison Porter and Rema Maaliki of the soon-to-open Bear Leek, and Bo Porytko from Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails, and of course Somebody People’s Justin Freeman.
The dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. at Esoterra Culinary Garden, 8985 Valmont Rd., Boulder. Tickets run $220 to $250, which includes dinner and drinks. Round-trip transportation from downtown Denver is also available.
In celebration of the season, Call Me Pearl is hosting two oyster shucking and pig roast Sunday soirees on June 29 and July 27. The event takes place alfresco on the restaurant’s outdoor patio for $50 per person. The ticket price includes two-dozen freshly-shucked oysters and slow-roasted pork carnitas, perfect for the DIY taco station. Add in live music by Will Wilding Quintet and a tasty drink, and you’ve got an afternoon to remember! Reserve a table for June here and/or July here.
Urban Farmer Denver is hosting Market & Mixology on Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sage Room at The Oxford Hotel. This is the second event in the 2025 Tasting Menu Dinner Series, and guests can expect an immersive, six-course evening celebrating the flavors and faces of Colorado’s farming and distilling communities, including spirits from Leopold Bros. Distillery. The event runs $215 per person, which includes drinks, both zero-proof and alcoholic depending on your desire. Book a spot here.
