Shawn Campbell
The new year is starting off strong with the debut of six bars and restaurants, including two from our list of the most anticipated winter openings.
Mar Bella Boqueria is the latest addition to the Michelin-starred Fonda Fina Hospitality group, which plans to introduce its first tasting-menu spot, Maize, later this year. Located in the Clayton Hotel in Cherry Creek, Mar Bella Boqueria is a departure for the team, which has focused solely on Mexican cuisine so far. This newest concept is described as a “Spanish neo-bistro and wine bar” that “captures the vibrance and spontaneity of coastal Spanish dining, complete with a seafood-forward tapas program, jamóneria-style chef’s counter and conserva bar, and a chef’s counter omakase experience.”
Cafe Tres, which got its start as a farmers’ market favorite, now has a brick-and-mortar location in Curtis Park. Stop by to try the Cuban pastelitos and croquetas that Michael Solis learned how to make at his family’s multi-generational bakery in Miami.
Just in time for the Stock Show, American Lore has started pouring on Tennyson. It doubles as a whiskey bar and custom hat shop from two familiar names: Hats by Parker Thomas and Number Thirty Eight.
Down south in Lone Tree, Jack’s on Pearl debuted a second location dubbed Jack’s Modern Steakhouse in the former Mimi’s Café space, while up in Northglenn, Louisiana-born burger chain Smalls Sliders, which counts former NFL star Drew Brees among its investors, opened its first Colorado outpost.
There’s also another spot at Denver International Airport. Denver Street Eats was created “with inspiration by the River North (RiNo) Art District near Downtown Denver,” according to a press release, and is serving “locally inspired cuisine, including hearty breakfast street tacos, burritos, and bowls loaded with steak, chorizo, and green chile” — but it’s actually operated by DEN DN Trugoy-BigC, LLC., described as “a joint venture entity operating under Areas USA, an international leader in food and beverage and travel retail, operating across Europe and the Americas.”
We’ll be sticking with actual local concepts for our airport food needs, thank you. For example, Tamales by La Casita is a great option for a green chile fix at DIA.
We reported just one closure this week, as Dry Dock bids farewell to its longtime Aurora location on January 10. The tap room plans to relocate to the former Pub on Pearl later this year, while a new German brewery, ZoiglBräu, is set to move into the vacated East Hampden space.
In other openings and closings news:
Jack’s Modern Steakhouse
Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened or closed this week*:
Openings
American Lore, 3965 Tennyson Street
Café Tres, 2960 Champa Street
Denver Street Eats, Concourse B, Denver International Airport
Jack’s Modern Steakhouse, 9155 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree
Mar Bella Boquieria, 233 Clayton Street
Smalls Sliders, 1831 East 120th Avenue, Northglenn
Closures
Dry Dock Brewing, 15120 East Hampden Avenue, Aurora
*Or earlier and not previously reported.
Know of something we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.
