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. Subscribe for free to be the first to get my curated lists of new restaurant openings and recommendations.
I keep a list of every new and upcoming restaurant opening in and around the Denver area and every few weeks I sift through all of them to pick out the ones you actually need to know about. Last month was chock full o’ interesting openings I’ve been itching to tell you about. Here are some noteworthy spots that had their debut in August that should be on your radar for one reason or another:
New restaurant concepts
1. BearLeek – RiNo: Bringing together a world of flavors
BearLeek, the new globally inspired restaurant from Executive Chef Harrison Porter and Chef de Cuisine Rema Maaliki, opened August 1 in the basement of a building in RiNo. Porter and Maaliki bring a wealth of professional experience to BearLeek, having cooked in kitchens around the world. Porter’s time in New York, Melbourne, and Peru, along with stints at Brasserie Brixton and Alma Fonda Fina, informs his playful approach to balancing flavors from across the globe. Maaliki draws on her work at Mercantile and The Wolf’s Tailor, blending international techniques with her Palestinian and Lebanese roots. Rounding out the team, Carlos Hugo Meza curates the beverage program, while longtime Mercantile and Fruition veteran Tara Marcellus keeps the floor running smoothly.
Porter says BearLeek is his chance to create a space that reflects his lifelong love of kitchens and hospitality. “I enjoy taking care of people,” he explains, adding that part of what drives the project is “exciting guests in new ways and giving them a comfortable space to be inquisitive.” After a six-month search, when they toured the former Osaka Ramen space it felt like “it was meant to be.” The partnership with co-owners Maaliki and Meza thrives on complementing each other’s strengths and embracing the challenge of building something together. Porter also sees the restaurant as a way to give back to a city that has given him so much. “I’ve always loved Denver. It’s my quirky, big ‘little’ city home,” he says. Their goal is to build a dining experience as warm and welcoming as it is adventurous – “like being in a friend’s home to hang out, try new things, and meet new people.”
- Vibe: The sleek, minimal design by Regular Architecture leans into its windowless, subterranean setting with a dramatically dark design. The walls are painted an inky black with pebbled leather bench seating, while blue and red neon split the space, giving it a futuristic feel – like Luke and Darth Vader could burst in wielding their appropriately colored lightsabers at any moment. The open kitchen is framed by an eight-seat concrete chef’s counter, and an evil eye, a gift from Maaliki’s mom, hangs nearby to ward off bad spirits.
- What’s on the menu: In contrast to the moody interiors, the food has a lighthearted streak. Both bears and leeks appear throughout the menu – from an ursine-shaped seasonal “butterbear” laced with burnt leek for the bread course to the Instagram-ready “bearpop” dessert made of passionfruit cream. To get a sense of the collaboration between the chefs, seek out the Tuna Crudo, which was a version of a dish Porter developed during his time in Melbourne but got a new spin once Maaliki got her hands on it. “To make it our own, we added labneh referencing Rema’s heritage, charring the snap peas, and a ponzu dressing to tie it all together,” Porter explains, highlighting Maaliki’s “great eye for plating and final touches.” While Maaliki downplays it as one of the humbler dishes, a favorite of mine is the pierogi – chive potato filling brightened with lemon and enriched with truffle butter – which made its way onto the menu when they were trying to figure out how to make use of the noodle cooking station left by the former ramen shop.
2. Rougarou – Five Points: Chic new late-night spot
Denver isn’t exactly known for a cliquey restaurant scene, but Rougarou comes about as close as the city gets to a cool-kids’ clubhouse. Open since August 14, industry folks have been filling its tables from day one, eager to see what owners McLain Hedges and Mary Allison Wright have cooked up with their latest venture. A self-described “shapeshifting Southern” restaurant, Rougarou is an evolution from their dive bar-y award-winning spot, Yacht Club. It’s got a more grown-up approach and is the sort of place you go to when the responsible one in your friend group decides: “Let’s go out and have a good time, but we ARE going to sit down and enjoy a proper meal.”
Online reservations are available, but if you can’t plan ahead there’s still a very good chance you can get in. The front half of the restaurant has a dedicated bar and a handful of cocktail tables that fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Some of the best seats in the house – a long railing adjacent to the kitchen overlooking the main dining room – are often open for walk-ins as well. Rougarou is open daily except Wednesdays, 5pm –1am making it one of the few late-night spots in town.
- Vibe: As you’d expect, the vibes are immaculate. The atmosphere is delightfully off-kilter, with a hint of gothic flair: a miniature altar to the legendary rougarou (werewolf) greets guests at the door, while nostalgic touches – bentwood chairs and marble tabletops – mix in the comforting feel of a Southern bistro.
- What’s on the menu: Inspired by the American South, Executive Chef John David Wright – brother of Mary Allison and formerly of Hop Alley – has launched a well-balanced, nuanced menu that reveals new flavors with each bite. Classics like boiled peanuts (pro tip: drink up the lingering lemon‑pepper sauce) sit alongside a strawberry-flecked collard green salad, blackened Georgia trout, and a soon-to-be signature blue cheese tart.
I’m already planning to go back for more after hearing good things about the chicken on a stick and grits and grillades. They’re also friendly to price-conscious diners, with an assortment of small plates and sides priced $5–$15, allowing customers to decide if their visit is just for snacks and drinks or a pricier full meal.
Naturally, the cocktail menu is equally ambitious, with martinis, “tropical-ish” sips like a sorghum daiquiri and mai tai, plus riffs on Southern standards like the Hurricane and Sazerac. My only gripe: some housecrafted zero-proof options would be welcome – right now it’s mostly iced tea or canned and bottled choices.
3. Saigon Noodle Club – Edgewater: A new spin on PKR’s legacy
Owners Long Nguyen and Shauna Seaman opened Saigon Noodle Club at the beginning of the month, following their run with the Pho King Rapidos food stall and truck in Denver. After permit and inspection delays, they’re now serving food as part of a wave of changes at Edgewater Market, including a new Tessa Delicatessen and Gladys’s recent upgrade to a sit-down spot. Saigon Noodle Club focuses on affordability, with all menu items priced $15 or under – perfect for the market’s diverse crowd, from roaming teens to families grabbing a quick meal.
- Vibe: It’s tough to create an atmosphere in a busy food hall, but Saigon Noodle Club makes the most of it, with a youthful, street-inspired hip-hop swagger. Traces of their old life as Pho King Rapidos are everywhere – you can’t escape the PKR bear, which appears in neon on a shelf, on the back of team members’ T-shirts, and in the artwork hanging on the walls. Cafe du Monde yellow coffee cans serve as planters for greenery lining the compact kitchen, which has never looked better after an intense deep clean.
- What’s on the menu: It’s a different concept from their previous spot, with a simplified menu focused on signature meat or vegetarian bowls and rolls. While I mourn some of my PKR favorites not making it to this menu (a moment of silence for the chicken over rice), you can now reliably get their beef phở. My new favorite item is a non-broth noodle dish called the “Phở Sizzle,” featuring wok-seared phở noodles in a spiced tallow sauce and piled high with herbs. The wings with spicy salt-and-pepper seasoning have also quickly become a fan favorite.
4. Pig and Tiger – Five Points: Bold Taiwanese flavors reign at this new b&m
Darren Chang, a first-generation Taiwanese American from LA, has teamed up with Chef Travis Masar, to honor his heritage and bring more Taiwanese food to Denver. The concept began as a food stall at Avanti F&B in Boulder in 2020, where they quickly built a loyal following and now Pig & Tiger is ready for its big moment as a dedicated restaurant in Five Points.
Customers are already organically discovering the restaurant, appealing to residents of nearby residential apartments and filling a void in dining options in the area. The team plans to launch happy hour in October, eventually add takeout, and introduce Taiwanese breakfast this winter, including a signature beef noodle soup, extending the concept beyond dinner into a full-day culinary experience.
- Vibe: Pig & Tiger’s space strikes a balance between industrial edge and playful charm. Designed by Eli Hariton of Damn Good Interiors, it features exposed brick, ironwork, and a black-and-red palette softened by floral wallpaper panels and the painted restaurant logo, while walls of windows flood the front with daylight. A sapele wraparound bar with high-tops invites casual drinks, and tables near the kitchen offer a traditional dining setup. But it’s at night when the space truly comes alive – dim lighting casts a warm glow, creating unmistakably sexy vibes.
- What’s on the menu: There’s a wide variety to choose from, including rice and noodle dishes, sharable plates, and a zero-proof–friendly cocktail menu. The May Mei, a refreshing salted plum spritz inspired by Chang’s mother’s favorite drink, is finished with a dusting of li hing mui powder on the glass rim. On the savory side, try the Pig & Tiger Salad, which zigs where most salads zag by going with a mildly bitter base of chrysanthemum greens and arugula, topped with strips of tofu gan and dressed in housemade chili vinaigrette. The Mapo Tofu is an easy (vegan-friendly) crowd-pleaser, swapping pork for roasted mushrooms in a dark, fermented black bean sauce, served with short-grain rice. I really mean it when I say you should save room for dessert: the grown-up take on Chang’s childhood shaved ice order is a delight, made with shaved frozen pineapple juice over silky almond panna cotta and topped with an almond crunch, while Masar’s take on a chocolate marquise, is infused with black sesame and served with ginger ice cream, and offers a rich, decadent finish.
Bars, cafes, and coffee shops
5. Broderick – Wash Park: Uncle Tim’s Cocktails gets a living-room style lounge
Broderick takes its name from the San Francisco street where co-owner Tim Felkner first began tinkering with the idea that would grow into Uncle Tim’s, the Denver-based bottled cocktail brand he helped launch in 2022. While their original distillery and tasting room is situated in Hilltop, Felkner and his team have now planted roots in Wash Park with a new South Gaylord Street cocktail lounge now open Mon – Sun evenings.
- Vibe: It feels like stepping into someone’s well-loved home, layered with personality: thrift-store paintings cover the walls, rugs warm the wood floors, and shelves are stacked with vintage clocks, mirrors, phones, film projectors, and other nicknacks. The front lounge offers cozy love seats, while the back room opens up with couches, upholstered chairs, and tables – perfect for groups or the comedy and music events they plan to host.
- What’s on the menu: Guests can sip Uncle Tim’s bottled classics by the glass – or buy a bottle to take home – sample flights for comparison, or try seasonal and zero-proof creations that highlight the bartenders’ range. The Bright Eyed, an NA cocktail built with hibiscus, pink peppercorn, and a squeeze of lime, lands as a vision in pink that drinks bright and juicy. If you are peckish, Broderick offers charcuterie, snacks, and paninis from Gino Panino, a sandwich concept from Rebel Bread.
6. Town Pump Provisions – Cherry Creek: Convenience store and eatery sparks online debate
Just days before its August 15 grand opening, Town Pump Provisions had already become a hot topic among the terminally online. Critics first took issue with the use of the word “bodega” to describe anything in the affluent Cherry Creek neighborhood. Soon, niche forums, disappearing messages, and private group chats went into overdrive, dissecting slang definitions of “town pump” and eventually resurfacing personal details about owner Dana Monfort’s relationships (married into the family that owns the Colorado Rockies) and her purported pro-MAGA political stance, inferred from photos posted to her personal Instagram account.
Despite the chatter, the three-part complex — a high-end convenience store, a health-focused grab-and-go eatery, and a new Little Man Ice Cream shop — remains open and ready for business in a redeveloped lot on Third Avenue, where the longtime creperie Crepes & Crepes once stood. The wide, open-air patio is shaded by twin white beach umbrellas that could be straight from the French Riviera and the entrance marked by cutesy placards that beckon customers inside, fitting the expected look of the upscale enclave. However, it’s anyone’s guess whether the rumblings of controversy will reach Town Pump’s target audience — or if Cherry Creek residents will just settle in and enjoy.
- Vibe: The connected Town Pump convenience store and eatery both have a pristine, earth-toned look ready for anyone who enjoys being cocooned in colors of quiet luxury. The convenience store is stocked with a high-low selection of consumables that includes everything from Gatorade to naturally fermented persimmon vinegar. With a curated selection of products fit for a trend-conscious clientele, status items like a range of Flamingo Estate candles and bath products and Touchland hand sanitizers line the alabaster-colored shelves. On their side of the building, Little Man has leaned into the vintage charm they’re known for, squeezing in a hollowed-out milk truck where servers dish up cones from their lineup of funky ice cream flavors.
- What’s on the menu: In addition to a full coffee and tea menu, Town Pump Eatery offers a daytime selection of sandwiches, salads, bowls, and wraps. The menu ranges from chicken tenders and Caesar salads to interpretations of bodega classics like the BEC and chopped cheese, with a wellness-coded angle reflected in drinks such as a probiotic lavender lemonade.
Expansions and upgrades
7. King Arthur Baking Company – RiNo: This favorite brand of bakers has come to Denver
Store openings are not usually my thing, but this one was too big to not mention. King Arthur Baking Company has landed in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood! From now until Jan 18, 2026 the beloved baking supply brand will be offering Coloradans their flours and full range of other baking products and equipment for cakes, cookies, pies, and even pizza to buy in person.
The store is located at 2800 Walnut Street, Suite #100 and open daily, 10am – 7pm. A smaller King Arthur pop-up store in Boulder will open at 1638 Pearl St on September 13, 2025.
- Vibe: The space they are leasing is enormous (nearly half of it is currently being used as a giant stock room) and they are planning on using the large basement space to host upcoming events (including “ask the baker” sessions and book signings).
- What’s on the menu: While there are plenty of supplies to make something delicious at home, there is also a special collaboration King Arthur has whipped up with Poulette Bakeshop in Parker, CO: Through the month of September, you can pre-order Poulette XL macarons, viennoiserie boxes, cookies, and other goodies to pick up at the King Arthur pop-up store in Denver. Orders go live on Poulette’s website at 8am each Sunday for pickup the following week.
One final craving
The Manchester Farm quail from Margot’s à la carte menu completely knocked me off my feet. I’d never had quail served fried before, and these little birds were cooked to absolute perfection, with the ideal crisp. During my visit, I was told it was the last of the wonderfully sweet Rainier cherry sauce that accompanied it, but the quail remains on the menu for now – just with a different sauce. You should absolutely get it while you can. Bonus: Margot, located on South Pearl Street, boasts one of the prettiest main dining rooms in all of Denver.
ICYMI: Last month, I shared the top vegan restaurant that got a sleek upgrade, an historic Colorado donut shop landing in Denver, and the hot gossip on an apartment building annoying residents with a rooftop cocktail bar✨Read it here✨