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A range of Greek dishes on a green table at Kini’s
Greek cuisine is served at Kini’s in Cherry Creek.
Quality Branded

The Hottest Restaurants in Denver Right Now, Winter 2023

Warming up with the Eater Denver Heatmap

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Greek cuisine is served at Kini’s in Cherry Creek.
|Quality Branded

It may be bitterly cold out there, but it’s nice and toasty inside the Eater Denver Heatmap. Unlike theEater 38,這是作為一個指南最好的啊f the best, this regularly updated roundup aims to introduce readers to the best of the new: what’s popular, what’s promising, and what’s poised for success in the weeks to come. Included here in geographical order are 14 noteworthy restaurants and cafes that all opened, or reopened after a long hiatus, within the past six months (no earlier than August 2022).

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Pollo Tico at Avanti Food and Beverage, Boulder

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It’s not often a stall in a Boulder food hall warrants a slot on this map. But then again, it’s also not often that a stall in a Boulder food hall serves Costa Rican food — otherwise unheard of around here — prepared by a chef whose resume includes Eleven Madison Park, Café Boulud, andTop Chef.As the name suggests, roast chicken represents the heart of the menu, made all the more soulful by sides such as gallo pinto and yuca fries as well as an array of housemade salsas.

Pollo Tico’s half-chicken on a white plate with a side of shredded cabbage.
Pollo Tico’s half-chicken comes with a side and two salsas.
Travis Khachatoorian, YFT Media

Bodega Denver

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Already filling a similar all-day hangout niche in the Sunnyside neighborhood as its predecessor, Buchi, this spunky little cafe has launched with coffee, top-flight sandwiches, and easy-drinking adult beverages, which it serves from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday–Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Come on the early side for a cortado and BEC with hash browns on a Kaiser roll, a little later for beer or a Bloody and a lamb birria French dip — and whenever possible, get the griddled banana bread; it might prove to be the sleeper hit on the small menu (which will expand in the future).

Blonde wood tables, graffiti, and black chairs make up the interior of Bodega in Sunnyside
Bodega’s interior.
Ruth Tobias

Noisette Restaurant and Bakery

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Elegant yet easeful, the pastel-hued dining room of this buzzy new French restaurant in LoHi sets the mood for what seriously talented husband-and-wife team Tim and Lillian Lu call cuisine bourgeoisie: Think escargot-stuffed potato fritters, Alsatian-inspired choucroute garnie, and classic tarte tropézienne, all paired with wines from the France-centric list. Think, too, about croissants, tarts, and macarons, because Noisette operates as a bakery by day.

A fork and knife cutting into duck breast in foie jus on a white plate.
Noisette’s magret de canard.
Jeff Fierberg

El Chingon Bistro

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Run by Lorenzo Nuñez and his nephew, classically trained chef David Lopez, this upscale-casual Mexican spot has been sorely missed since its closure in Berkeley last year. But as of January 3, it’s back in a big way, opening the doors to its new, larger LoHi location for happy hour and dinner. Expect a menu that, like its predecessor, mixes tradition with inventive touches (here’s hoping Lopez brings back his lump crab cakes with epazote-pepita salsa and serrano aioli).

Taco platter with guacamole and a slice of lime.
Tacos at El Chingon’s original location.
Ruth Tobias

Everyday Pizza

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From the owners of exceptional plant-based eatery Somebody People, this colorful, cool-as-could-be new Ballpark parlor is turning out vegan pizzas that showcase seasonal produce — from brussels sprouts to butternut squash — in highly creative combos enhanced by hemp cream, almond tzatziki, and the like. A handful of small plates and pastas follow suit (try the fried romano beans), while the bar concocts virgin as well as full-strength cocktails.

Person grabbing a slice of onion pizza with green olives.
An onion pie with green olives at Everyday Pizza.
David Williams

Pirate Alley Boucherie

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Fans of the much-missed Julep will recognize chef Kyle Foster’s savvy Southern stamp on the sandwiches (and a smattering of sides) at this luncheonette in LoDo’s Ice House building, where it shares a cute space with wife Katy Foster’s Stir Cooking School. It may be a po’ boy, but the roast beef debris is rich indeed with both gravy and remoulade as well as sweet potato and cabbage, while the grilled bologna puts its childhood counterpart to shame.

Sandwiches, gumbo, and more on a wooden table at Pirate Alley.
Sandwiches, gumbo, and more at Pirate Alley.
Stephan Werk/Werk Creative

Wellness Sushi

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本身有了一個忠實的幽靈kitchen, this local pioneer in vegan Japanese food opened with a bang in November. Per the name, the cheerful little counter joint in Congress Park specializes in creative plant-based sushi — take the Dancing Green Roll featuring opo squash tempura and cilantro aioli, among other things — but it also serves up ramen, onigiri, and donburi with similar flair.

Wellness Sushi’s Smoky Sake Roll with chopsticks on a black dish.
Wellness Sushi’s Smoky Sake Roll.
Wellness Sushi

Reckless Noodles

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Asian noodle house meets cozy craft-cocktail den at this Capitol Hill spinoff of a popular Seattle spot. Reflecting Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese influences, the smartly conceived menu ranges from squid larb to curry vermicelli with beef cheeks to lobster fried rice, while drinks like the Saigon Spritz with gin and jackfruit shrub jibe with the vibe.

Snacks from Reckless including grilled beef in betel leaves and roast duck crispy rolls with cocktails on a wooden table.
Snacks at Reckless include grilled beef in betel leaves and roast duck crispy rolls.
Reckless Noodles

Kini's

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Blue and green hues set the breezy tone at this newcomer from the Quality Branded group in Cherry Creek’s Clayton hotel; coastal Greek cuisine clinches it. Be it raw or wood-roasted, seafood centers the menu, but it’s supplemented by specialties like flaming kasseri and grilled lamb chops, while a handful of Greek varieties enhance the wine list.

An array of dips on a small table at Kini’s.
An array of dips at Kini’s.
Quality Branded

Cretans

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Elaborating on the Kini’s theme, Quality Branded has also launched a hit in the form of this sultry Mediterranean lounge next door, where the wine list dares guests to explore, say, amphora-aged Aglianico del Vulture from Basilicata, Slovenian pét-nat, or even a “Mystery Grab” — that is, a bottle selected from a special case sight unseen. If that sounds like a party waiting to happen, rest assured that eats like caviar sliders, oysters on the half shell, elaborate dip towers, and meats and cheeses galore (plus a few larger plates) keep it going. (So, by the way, do cocktails at Cretans’ adjacent sibling, the Moroccan-inspired bar Chez Roc.)

A variety of snacks on small trays at Cretans.
A variety of snacks at Cretans.
Quality Branded

Mister Oso Wash Park

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A spinoff of ever-popular LoHi spot Señor Bear, the equally hot Mister Oso in RiNo now has an offshoot of its own in Wash Park. Sultry tropical vibe, check; festive modern Mexican menu, check (don’t sleep on the smoked-potato tacos); spicy mezcal margaritas and congelados del día, or daily changing frozen cocktails, check. As the Culinary Creative team behind the venture (and many others) keeps proving, don’t fix what ain’t broken — expand it.

Person holding a green tray of tacos from Mister Oso.
Tacos from Mister Oso.
Kayla Jones

Cucina Bella

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For a neighborhood place with a fairly traditional menu, this Italian-American eatery in Lowry is operating at an unusually high level. Brothers Luis and Heriberto Gutierrez are industry veterans, and their experience is reflected in the love they’re getting for their fried calamari, chicken piccata, and peach bread pudding.

Lasagna at Cucina Bella on a white plate.
Cucina Bella’s lasagna.
Hard Knoch PR

Next Level Burger

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Located in the University neighborhood, the first Colorado link in this multistate vegan chain offers up a whole lot more than plant-based burgers to sway hardened carnivores, from “chicken” tenders to “fish” ‘n’ chips. But the burgers featuring mushroom-quinoa patties are the best place to start when it comes to joining the meatless movement, accompanied by loaded fries and soy- or coconut-based shakes.

Vegan burger, bratwurst, and fries on a wooden table at Next Level Burger.
Next Level does more than burgers, including vegan brats and loaded fries.
Next Level

Saucy's Southern BBQ & Cuisine

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Building on the success of their food truck (and a THC-infused sauce brand), Khristian Matthews and Ki’erre Dawkins launched this brick-and-mortar slice of Southern comfort in the University neighborhood in October. Short but sweet, the menu hinges on ribs, wings, and hot links complemented by a handful of sides (including grilled teriyaki-parmesan corn) and occasional specials as announced onInstagram, such as red beans and rice.

熱林ks, wings, and ribs covered in sauces at Saucy’s Southern.
熱林ks, wings, and ribs at Saucy’s Southern.
Saucy’s Southern

Pollo Tico at Avanti Food and Beverage, Boulder

It’s not often a stall in a Boulder food hall warrants a slot on this map. But then again, it’s also not often that a stall in a Boulder food hall serves Costa Rican food — otherwise unheard of around here — prepared by a chef whose resume includes Eleven Madison Park, Café Boulud, andTop Chef.As the name suggests, roast chicken represents the heart of the menu, made all the more soulful by sides such as gallo pinto and yuca fries as well as an array of housemade salsas.

Pollo Tico’s half-chicken on a white plate with a side of shredded cabbage.
Pollo Tico’s half-chicken comes with a side and two salsas.
Travis Khachatoorian, YFT Media

Bodega Denver

Already filling a similar all-day hangout niche in the Sunnyside neighborhood as its predecessor, Buchi, this spunky little cafe has launched with coffee, top-flight sandwiches, and easy-drinking adult beverages, which it serves from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday–Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Come on the early side for a cortado and BEC with hash browns on a Kaiser roll, a little later for beer or a Bloody and a lamb birria French dip — and whenever possible, get the griddled banana bread; it might prove to be the sleeper hit on the small menu (which will expand in the future).

Blonde wood tables, graffiti, and black chairs make up the interior of Bodega in Sunnyside
Bodega’s interior.
Ruth Tobias

Noisette Restaurant and Bakery

Elegant yet easeful, the pastel-hued dining room of this buzzy new French restaurant in LoHi sets the mood for what seriously talented husband-and-wife team Tim and Lillian Lu call cuisine bourgeoisie: Think escargot-stuffed potato fritters, Alsatian-inspired choucroute garnie, and classic tarte tropézienne, all paired with wines from the France-centric list. Think, too, about croissants, tarts, and macarons, because Noisette operates as a bakery by day.

A fork and knife cutting into duck breast in foie jus on a white plate.
Noisette’s magret de canard.
Jeff Fierberg

El Chingon Bistro

Run by Lorenzo Nuñez and his nephew, classically trained chef David Lopez, this upscale-casual Mexican spot has been sorely missed since its closure in Berkeley last year. But as of January 3, it’s back in a big way, opening the doors to its new, larger LoHi location for happy hour and dinner. Expect a menu that, like its predecessor, mixes tradition with inventive touches (here’s hoping Lopez brings back his lump crab cakes with epazote-pepita salsa and serrano aioli).

Taco platter with guacamole and a slice of lime.
Tacos at El Chingon’s original location.
Ruth Tobias

Everyday Pizza

From the owners of exceptional plant-based eatery Somebody People, this colorful, cool-as-could-be new Ballpark parlor is turning out vegan pizzas that showcase seasonal produce — from brussels sprouts to butternut squash — in highly creative combos enhanced by hemp cream, almond tzatziki, and the like. A handful of small plates and pastas follow suit (try the fried romano beans), while the bar concocts virgin as well as full-strength cocktails.

Person grabbing a slice of onion pizza with green olives.
An onion pie with green olives at Everyday Pizza.
David Williams

Pirate Alley Boucherie

Fans of the much-missed Julep will recognize chef Kyle Foster’s savvy Southern stamp on the sandwiches (and a smattering of sides) at this luncheonette in LoDo’s Ice House building, where it shares a cute space with wife Katy Foster’s Stir Cooking School. It may be a po’ boy, but the roast beef debris is rich indeed with both gravy and remoulade as well as sweet potato and cabbage, while the grilled bologna puts its childhood counterpart to shame.

Sandwiches, gumbo, and more on a wooden table at Pirate Alley.
Sandwiches, gumbo, and more at Pirate Alley.
Stephan Werk/Werk Creative

Wellness Sushi

本身有了一個忠實的幽靈kitchen, this local pioneer in vegan Japanese food opened with a bang in November. Per the name, the cheerful little counter joint in Congress Park specializes in creative plant-based sushi — take the Dancing Green Roll featuring opo squash tempura and cilantro aioli, among other things — but it also serves up ramen, onigiri, and donburi with similar flair.

Wellness Sushi’s Smoky Sake Roll with chopsticks on a black dish.
Wellness Sushi’s Smoky Sake Roll.
Wellness Sushi

Reckless Noodles

Asian noodle house meets cozy craft-cocktail den at this Capitol Hill spinoff of a popular Seattle spot. Reflecting Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese influences, the smartly conceived menu ranges from squid larb to curry vermicelli with beef cheeks to lobster fried rice, while drinks like the Saigon Spritz with gin and jackfruit shrub jibe with the vibe.

Snacks from Reckless including grilled beef in betel leaves and roast duck crispy rolls with cocktails on a wooden table.
Snacks at Reckless include grilled beef in betel leaves and roast duck crispy rolls.
Reckless Noodles

Kini's

Blue and green hues set the breezy tone at this newcomer from the Quality Branded group in Cherry Creek’s Clayton hotel; coastal Greek cuisine clinches it. Be it raw or wood-roasted, seafood centers the menu, but it’s supplemented by specialties like flaming kasseri and grilled lamb chops, while a handful of Greek varieties enhance the wine list.

An array of dips on a small table at Kini’s.
An array of dips at Kini’s.
Quality Branded

Cretans

Elaborating on the Kini’s theme, Quality Branded has also launched a hit in the form of this sultry Mediterranean lounge next door, where the wine list dares guests to explore, say, amphora-aged Aglianico del Vulture from Basilicata, Slovenian pét-nat, or even a “Mystery Grab” — that is, a bottle selected from a special case sight unseen. If that sounds like a party waiting to happen, rest assured that eats like caviar sliders, oysters on the half shell, elaborate dip towers, and meats and cheeses galore (plus a few larger plates) keep it going. (So, by the way, do cocktails at Cretans’ adjacent sibling, the Moroccan-inspired bar Chez Roc.)

A variety of snacks on small trays at Cretans.
A variety of snacks at Cretans.
Quality Branded

Mister Oso Wash Park

A spinoff of ever-popular LoHi spot Señor Bear, the equally hot Mister Oso in RiNo now has an offshoot of its own in Wash Park. Sultry tropical vibe, check; festive modern Mexican menu, check (don’t sleep on the smoked-potato tacos); spicy mezcal margaritas and congelados del día, or daily changing frozen cocktails, check. As the Culinary Creative team behind the venture (and many others) keeps proving, don’t fix what ain’t broken — expand it.

Person holding a green tray of tacos from Mister Oso.
Tacos from Mister Oso.
Kayla Jones

Cucina Bella

For a neighborhood place with a fairly traditional menu, this Italian-American eatery in Lowry is operating at an unusually high level. Brothers Luis and Heriberto Gutierrez are industry veterans, and their experience is reflected in the love they’re getting for their fried calamari, chicken piccata, and peach bread pudding.

Lasagna at Cucina Bella on a white plate.
Cucina Bella’s lasagna.
Hard Knoch PR

Next Level Burger

Located in the University neighborhood, the first Colorado link in this multistate vegan chain offers up a whole lot more than plant-based burgers to sway hardened carnivores, from “chicken” tenders to “fish” ‘n’ chips. But the burgers featuring mushroom-quinoa patties are the best place to start when it comes to joining the meatless movement, accompanied by loaded fries and soy- or coconut-based shakes.

Vegan burger, bratwurst, and fries on a wooden table at Next Level Burger.
Next Level does more than burgers, including vegan brats and loaded fries.
Next Level

Saucy's Southern BBQ & Cuisine

Building on the success of their food truck (and a THC-infused sauce brand), Khristian Matthews and Ki’erre Dawkins launched this brick-and-mortar slice of Southern comfort in the University neighborhood in October. Short but sweet, the menu hinges on ribs, wings, and hot links complemented by a handful of sides (including grilled teriyaki-parmesan corn) and occasional specials as announced onInstagram, such as red beans and rice.

熱林ks, wings, and ribs covered in sauces at Saucy’s Southern.
熱林ks, wings, and ribs at Saucy’s Southern.
Saucy’s Southern

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