Don’t let my petite frame fool you — I love to eat. Discovering great new places to eat is one of my favorite things to do. I’ve developed a pretty selective palate, after living in New York City for most of my adult life. It will come as no surprise to anyone that NYC has some of the best food in the entire planet at every price point — to $1 slices of pizza, to food trucks, to fine dining, my hometown has it all.
Now that I live in Denver, I’m so excited to discover the great meals that the great state of Colorado has to offer. I try to keep a no-meat policy, but I do make the occasional exception (usually when it comes to ramen, which always seems to have pork in it). Hopefully a few of my finds will become some of your new favorite places to eat!
Feeling adventurous and looking for a place to eat in the Denver area you haven’t tried yet? Check out New Denizen‘s list of brand new restaurants, bakeries, cafes, food trucks, and bars that opened in (and around) Denver in 2026. Updates will be made about once a week, so bookmark this page and check back […]
In this month’s cheat sheet a Pan-Latin rooftop restaurant with million-dollar views, an audio bar still finding its groove, and an African speakeasy with a techy twist on entry. 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 […]
These are my personal recommendations of the 10 best new restaurants that were added to the Denver metro dining scene in 2025, ranging from a bewitching Southern spot serving chicken on a stick to a family-run restaurant offering soul-fortifying Tibetan noodle soup. In a year when ambitious, boundary-pushing projects have become harder to back, the […]
Molino Chido is here to feed the people. Officially opened on Nov 11, 2025, it’s chef Michael Diaz de Leon’s first restaurant working with Denver restaurateur Tommy Lee (Uncle, Hop Alley), focusing on Mexico City–inspired street food. It’s a homecoming of sorts for Diaz de Leon. After leading ID Est Hospitality’s Brutø to its first […]
In this month’s cheat sheet a high-octane restaurant parks itself in Denver and a satisfying small-business alternative to corporate salad chains. 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 […]
In this month’s cheat sheet, a new cool kids’ spot for late night eating and drinking has emerged, a globally inspired restaurant tucked underground debuted, and a high-end Cherry Creek convenience store that stirred online controversy. This is an excerpt from the New Denizen newsletter on Substack, published one month after subscribers receive the list. […]
Editor’s Note: On September 15, 2025 the Michelin Guide awarded Kizaki One MICHELIN Star. I visited the restaurant in July 2025. Denver restaurateur Toshi Kizaki — known for running several of the city’s most popular Japanese eateries – has opened a new, eponymous omakase counter, Kizaki. At 70 years old, he works on‑site four nights a […]
BearLeek is new globally-inspired restaurant in RiNo from Executive Chef Harrison Porter and Chef de Cuisine Rema Maaliki. The spot is tricky to find because it’s literally underground — you walk down a flight of stairs to reach the entrance of this moody space, with inky black walls bathed in an neon wash of red […]
In this month’s cheat sheet, a top vegan restaurant gets a sleek upgrade, a historic Colorado donut shop lands in Denver, and apartment building residents are annoyed by a rooftop cocktail bar. This is an excerpt from the New Denizen newsletter on Substack. Subscribe for free to be the first to get my curated lists […]
In this month’s cheat sheet, a Top Chef alum’s BBQ spot launches, Nepali flavors grow in RiNo, and a high-profile bar stirs things up in Sunnyside. This is an excerpt from the New Denizen newsletter on Substack. Subscribe for free to be the first to get my curated lists of new restaurant openings and recommendations. […]