Ending up the first month of the year with news of a new brunch spot, spirits club, and some award-winning beer. On a sadder note, the community saw the loss of a development icon who helped usher in the revitalization of LoDo. Still, the show and the dinner go on with a lot of openings, some awards, and revamps of even more classic spaces.
Read on for more of this week’s top news stories and send us any tips via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
The 411
Mercantile Dining & Provision joins the ranks of places closing for remodeling. Like Tamayo and Avanti Denver, the 10-year-old restaurant and cafe in Union Station announced a face lift. The plan so far is to open early this year, though the exact date is TBD.
The nominees for the James Beard Awards is out! Colorado has 14 semifinalists, read the list here. This includes MAKfam, which made the dumplings in the hero image above.
The Colorado Brewers Cup hosted its inaugural craft beer competition last week. The idea was to showcase the exceptional quality of craft beer in Colorado. The beer competition drew 650 entries from 134 craft breweries from across the state. Of those, 78 received medals.
The Denver community mourns Dana Crawford, the woman who helped save Larimer Street in downtown from bulldozers in the late 1960s. Crawford saw what others couldn’t in LoDo, and not only did she help build up Larimer Square into the hot spot it is, but lifted Union Station too. Yes, the Crawford Hotel was also her doing.
Local spirits fans can up the ante with The Block Distilling Co.’s 225 Club. The exclusive bottle club has been going on for seven years, and registration for 2025 is now open. For those who don’t know, the 225 Club offers a year of premium spirits, unique experiences, and exclusive perks from the RiNo distillery. Members receive eight specialty bottles, invites to quarterly release parties, discounts, and more.
Openings and Closings In the News
After two years of building and waiting, Phuong Tran, her husband Tuan Nguyen, and her brother Andy Tran (who owns Pho 777 in Castle Rock), are finally opening their Broadway restaurant, Pho Social at 333 Broadway. Though the official date hasn’t been announced, the couple said to check the restaurant’s social media for updates.
Another long awaited opening kicked off last week. After a year of being closed after an arson-induced fire, Sportsbook Bar & Grill in Greenwood Village has reopened. The shuttered Fox Run Cafe space has a new tenant coming in. The owners of the popular Bakery Four, in Berkeley, announced they are opening a second location this year at 3550 E. Colfax Ave.
Eggs Inc. officially opened its first U.S. location right here in Denver at 1750 Wewatta St., right by Union Station. Founded by Swedish entrepreneurs Elisabet and Glenn Eriksson, the idea of the restaurant is to offer fast dining with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients centered on pasture-raised chicken eggs. The concept is backed by chef Troy Guard (TAG Restaurant Group) and NHL Hall of Famer, Peter Forsberg. Signature dishes include the Salmon Eggs Benedict, Pepperoni Egg Pizza, Spicy Egg Bun, and gluten-free Pancake Bites.
Mario’s Speakeasy Pizza moved into the former Pour House space at 1410 Market St. in Denver. To celebrate, the restaurant is serving 99-cent beers to diners. Bamboo Sushi in Congress Park has also officially opened. It’s the second location of the Portland-based sustainable sushi spot, located at 1160 Madison St. in Denver.
Chef and restaurateur Mary Nguyen’s latest project, Finch on the Fly, opens in the Denver International Airport this week. This is just the first opening the growing Olive & Finch Collective has in store for this year.
After a pivot last year, Incantation Brewing, formally Jade Brewery & Tea House, closed its Aurora tap room and coffee shop effective immediately. Other closings this past week include Crazy Horse Kitchen + Bar on East Colfax and Sauce on the Rocks in Littleton (but if you want to see what is still open and good in Old Town Littleton, read about it here).
On the Menu
The swank jazz club Nocturne in RiNo has released a unique cocktail flight centered around jazz history. For $56 per person, guests with one of the four nightly bar reservations can experience these four cocktails, each inspired by a pivotal era in jazz history. The curated menu also offers handpicked playlists showcasing the evolution of the music. Plus, the bartenders will share historical tidbits on both the drinks and musical history.
Now through February, Ti Cafe celebrates Lunar New Year (LNY) with themed drinks, bakery collaboration, and LNY inspired treats. There’s even more LNY specials going on around town, find the line up here.
Events In the News
Dress to the nines and go all out with a murder mystery dinner hosted at The Fort in Morrison on Friday, January 31. Tickets are $99 and include a beverage and four-course dinner. The meal starts with the hot buffalo sausage bean dip and pumpkin walnut muffins, followed by beef short rib over green chile and goat cheese grits. Finally, enjoy Bobbie Chaim’s Famous Cheesecake. Ages 18 and up only, for more information or to purchase a ticket, visit here.
Stop by the lobby of The Curtis Hotel on Friday, January 31, and celebrate National Hot Chocolate Day. In honor of the made up holiday, the property is offering boozy and straight mugs of cocoa. All you need is yourself and an ID if partaking in alcohol.
Head to Tapville Social for a collaboration the team is doing with Steuben’s for a sweet pairing of cupcakes and cocktails. The one-time event happens on Thursday, February 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets run $45.08, and can be purchased at tapvillesocial.com.
