In this month’s cheat sheet there are two spots with very different takes on Italian-American cuisine, and a Japanese-style sando shop with lines out the door.
This is an excerpt from the New Denizen newsletter on Substack, published one month after subscribers receive the list. Subscribe for free to be the first to get my curated lists of new restaurant openings and recommendations.
I keep a list of all the new and upcoming restaurant openings in and around the Denver area and every few weeks I filter through them to find the ones you actually need to know about. December is never an easy month for a business to open since so many people are distracted by the holidays, but more than a few buzzy spots launched in the last few weeks.
Here are the most noteworthy spots that started welcoming guests in the last month:
New restaurant concepts
1. Johnny Bechamel’s – Speer: A new Italian spot leaning into its strengths
The newest project from the Mamas & Papas Hospitality Group, this spot marks the team’s first full-service restaurant. Known for their roster of Italian-inspired food (Dio Mio, Redeemer Pizza), the team has moved beyond RiNo and set up shop next to the always-busy Uncle Wash Park. Johnny Bechamel’s aims to carve out its own lane with sturdy neo-Neapolitan pizzas and a menu that uses Italian-American cuisine as a jumping-off point rather than a rulebook.
- Vibe: The room leans fun and funky, with mint-green chairs, blue-gray walls, and a glass block feature wall. Subtle design details thrown in from Regular Architecture, like an oddly narrow seating nook tucked between the hallway and bar that features a wave of neon lights, add a bit of whimsy to the space. On the way to the bathroom, you’ll pass vintage Negroni posters, a black-and-white photos of women sitting seaside and slurping pasta, and a shot of the Sopranos cast.
- What’s on the menu: The restaurant simply bills itself as Italian-American cuisine, however with all the cheffy twists and turns the menu takes on, to me it reads more next wave Italian-American. (A helpful distinction given the restaurant is directly across the street from the longtime palace to family-sized Italian cooking, Carmine’s on Penn.) While appetizers cover classics in the form of sourdough focaccia and fried calamari, there are more eclectic starters like a hamachi crudo with white bean purée and creative curveballs like the piquillo peppers stuffed with spinach-artichoke filling and showered with breadcrumbs. The rest of the menu plays to the group’s established strengths, with a selection of housemade pastas like a wide pappardelle tossed in chicken cacciatore ragù with a garlic-almond crumble and a tangy lasagnetta layered with béchamel, oyster mushrooms, and leeks. As expected, the 14-inch pizzas are great: though the smart move is to dig into the more esoteric options, like the tomato pie with the works (prosciutto, piped whipped ricotta, basil, and 12-year balsamic), or the spicy alla vodka that gets its zing from Lottie’s Calabrian chili sausage. Desserts, a clementine cake with fennel-orange semifreddo for example, and a number of well-made cocktails (Harry’s Holiday is a charmer) nicely top everything off.
2. Eloise – Berkeley: The Japanese-style sando shop with lines out the door
Eloise is new sandwich shop from Lula Rose owner and Good Bread co-owner Oliver Miller-Finkel, located in Denver’s increasingly tony Berkeley neighborhood. The shop, which is named after a beloved pet dog who also doubles as its mascot, specializes in brioche and Japanese-style sandos. Apparently no one in Denver has a real job because fans routinely find time to line up before the 11am opening (weekdays included) with the shop often selling out well before its 3pm close.
- Vibe: The space is a compact storefront with a clean, simple cafe feel. There are a handful of tables for dining in, but this is very much a grab-and-go operation. A wood-paneled takeout counter and open kitchen are topped with white marble, lit by simple rattan lampshades. Behind the counter, shelves are packed with the equipment and ingredients needed to crank out that day’s sandwiches.
- What’s on the menu: The selections change week to week, but the egg salad sando has remained a constant. Built with soy-marinated jammy eggs, Kewpie mayo, and chives, tucked between slices of light, fluffy shokupan – crusts on, if you must know – the whole thing comes tightly wrapped in white-and-teal checkered paper. Specials have included a chicken katsu with cabbage salad, and tonkatsu sauce, as well as a BLT featuring heirloom tomatoes and chicharrones. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s often a brioche option layered with strawberry, hazelnut, chocolate, and vanilla crème. While sandwiches are the main draw, the menu also includes salads and drinks, including pour-over coffee, sweet barley tea, and select lattes.
3. Florence Supper Club – West Wash Park: A love letter to the old school red sauce joint
This new restaurant from chef Miles Odell and GM Paul Lysek opened just before Christmas, channeling the spirit of the old-school New York/New Jersey red-sauce joint. Both Odell and Lysek are originally from the East Coast, making the project feel like a return to their roots. Lysek describes the goal for the small, dimly lit space as creating a restaurant “that’s warm, a little nostalgic, and full of great food made with love.”
The second restaurant from the duo, who are also behind Odell’s Bagels, Florence is named for Lysek’s grandmother, and its gracious, laid-back service takes inspiration from memories of her family meals, which always felt like a joyous celebration no matter how casual the gathering.
Tapping into the retro, upscale red-sauce trend that restaurants like Carbone have kept popular over the past decade, Florence is one of the first entries of its kind to the Denver market, but topped off with a warmer, more approachable twist. No bouncers or doormen stopping you at the door, however, when I visited in the first week of opening, the bar filled quickly after 5pm, so for right now reservations are highly encouraged.
- Vibe: Taking over the former Finley’s Pub space, the team refreshed the original wood bar and booths and layered in Little Italy–inspired touches: flickering crystal lamps on red-and-white checkered tables, grapevine-printed Tiffany-style lights over the bar, and brick-red walls lined with framed black-and-white family photos and vintage finds.
- What’s on the menu: With so many Italian-American classics on the menu, it’s natural to want to order one of everything. If you want to sample more, try politely requesting half orders of some of the menu items. If it’s just two of you for dinner, dishes like the very good (but very large) Caesar salad are more manageable this way. Handmade pasta is rolled wafer-thin, allowing the sauces to shine without the dish feeling heavy. The spicy rigatoni alla vodka features housemade pasta with a gentle kick and a creamy finish. Orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe hits all the right notes, coated with a slightly brothy sauce. A sleeper favorite is the Tuscan kale and white bean side (possibly my favorite item on the menu). The cocktail list goes for well-known favorites like martinis, Negronis, and amaretto sours, with zero-proof mixed drinks available on request.
4. Magic Noodle House – City Park West: Hand-pulled noodles now in the heart of Denver
A new Chinese hand-pulled noodle and dumpling concept from the team behind Kung Fu Tea, TKK Fried Chicken, and Hana Matsuri Sushi had its grand opening on December 11th. While freshly made hand-pulled noodles have been a draw for several restaurants in Aurora, Glendale, and Lone Tree, until now there haven’t been many options closer to the center of the city. The space features a windowed kitchen where guests can watch noodles pulled in real time and dumpling wrappers rolled and stuffed by hand.
- Vibe: Taking over the space that formerly housed a Qdoba, the spot has been transformed into an inviting space with plenty of natural touches. Wood-slatted trim, dark wood tones, and fiery red accents nod to a classic Chinese color palette, while bamboo steamers etched with the restaurant’s name add a charming touch. Anchoring the room is a mural by Oregon artist Julia Kenyon, depicting a flowy-haired woman gracefully lifting noodles with chopsticks.
- What’s on the menu: Chef Guoming “Sam” Xin, founder of both the Noodle Man concept and Noodle Den restaurant in Las Vegas, has been brought on to train the kitchen. The menu leans into Spanish-Chinese fusion, with Iberico pork featured in dishes like ham-spiked pork wontons, soup dumplings, shu mai, and pan-fried buns. The Mongolian beef noodle stir-fry has already emerged as an early fan favorite, with sizzling beef slices layered with onions and chili peppers mixed with hand-pulled noodles.
Bars, cafes, and coffee shops
5. El Piñon – Hale: A cozy hideaway for coffee and cocktails right on Colfax
Look for the neon sign of the Vista Motel along a stretch of East Colfax and you’re there. The newly renovated La Vista Motel has reopened its doors, bringing mid-century charm back to one of the city’s most iconic corridors. And with it, they’ve introduced El Piñon, an on-site coffee shop and cocktail bar, run by Weston Scott, founder of Ephemeral Rotating Taproom.
Originally built in 1956 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property now fully embraces a restored 1960s aesthetic with modern touches and updated amenities. Interior design on the entire location was done by Melissa Friday of Xan Creative, who certainly knows her way around vintage-inspired spaces, having previously worked on the Snooze properties and Steuben’s.
- Vibe: Keeping with the property’s nostalgic vibe, the main seating area features a long wooden bar and classic booths with soft corners, while a rusted-red patterned mural adds graphic flair. A staircase behind the main seating area leads down to Grandma’s Basement – a cozy hideaway with wood-paneled walls, mid-century furniture, fuzzy and nubby fabrics, and the warm glow of undulating lava lamps. Back out on the ground floor, outdoor seating, shaded by the motel’s second-floor overhang, provides additional spots to relax in the warmer months.
- What’s on the menu: Mornings feature Servant Coffee, tea, and Rebel Bread pastries, while evenings shift to cocktails and wine. Classics like Old Fashioneds, mojitos, and White Russians made with Family Jones vodka share the menu with tequila-based drinks like palomas. A tight wine selection offers rosés, whites, oranges, and reds from California, Spain, Italy, and France, alongside local brews from Westbound & Down and Aspen Brewing Company on tap.
6. Threefold Bakery – Breckenridge: A trio of culinary vets joins forces to uplevel the mountain town bakery game
This bakery is a collaboration between James Beard Award–winning chef and Colorado native Matt Vawter and California restaurateurs Sean and Melissa McGaughey. Squeaking in an opening in the last days of December, the cafe sits in the heart of Breckenridge on Main Street, just two blocks from Vawter’s other restaurants: his flagship contemporary American spot, Rootstalk, and Italian concept, Radicato. The McGaugheys bring an impressive pedigree as the chef/owners of two Healdsburg, California properties: Michelin-recommended Troubadour bakery and bistro and Quail & Condor, a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery.
The trio first met years ago back in Denver, when they were all on the opening team at Alex Seidel’s Mercantile Dining & Provisions. Since work on Threefold began, Sean and Melissa have made multiple trips to Breckenridge, bringing along a Quail & Condor head pastry chef and director of operations to help set up the space. The two will continue to travel from Breck from time to time and collaborate closely on recipe development and menu evolution. Aaron Beatty, a lead bread baker from Quail & Condor, has temporarily relocated to oversee bread production at the new shop. While Vawter is the most hands-on day to day, the bakery’s creative direction remains a shared vision across the founding team.
- Vibe: From the street, racks of bread visible through the front window act as an irresistible invitation for guests to come inside. Once through the doors, the space is bright, welcoming, with a Colorado-meets-California feel. Anchoring the main wall is a vibrant triptych mural from Grand Junction-based artist Anna Hileman depicting the Rocky Mountains amidst a swirl of fruit trees and wild fennel, with cranes soaring in from the ocean. The sandhill crane – a root and tuber-eating bird – also flies high in the bakery’s logo, a playful nod to the founders’ other businesses, keeping with the avian motif of Quail & Condor while working in a grounded land reference to Rootstalk.
- What’s on the menu: The artisan bakery focuses on long-fermented sourdough breads, including seeded loaves, baguettes, focaccia, and challah on Fridays. The pastry case is equally stacked, loaded with classic cookies, croissants, and an array of meticulously crafted pastries. Early menus have included kouign-amanns with jaw-dropping lamination, which can be paired with coffee from Huckleberry Roasters.
One final craving
Illustration: Laura/New Denizen
I attended the final installment of Xiquita’s Our Mexico dinner series for 2025, where guest chef Michael Diaz de Leon collaborated with Erasmo Casiano on a menu celebrating the food of Chihuahua. I don’t often get emotional when eating (occupational hazard), and pop-ups rarely move me beyond muted appreciation. But the chacales with chochoyotes and smoked mushrooms nearly brought me to tears. Getting a bit of the house-nixtamalized cracked corn in pool of the deeply layered, umami-rich mushroom broth, with a bit of fried hoja santa chip made for a perfect bite. One of the best dishes I ate in 2025!
ICYMI: Last month, I shared a top Denver chef’s return with a new taqueria, a vibey Italian-ish pasta shop, and a rockin’ new cocktail lounge with a one-of-a-kind menu. ✨Read it here✨