EatDenver

From prix-fixe menus and bubbly to dance parties and board games, ring in the New Year at the region's independent restaurants, bars, and breweries ✨

Welcome to EatDenver’s newest member, Pizzeria Leopold! Founded in 2018 inside the previous Lakewood staple Deli Italia, owners Lindsay and Chris Lyons share a “passion for food made from scratch with a lot of love and high-quality ingredients.” The mom-and-pop style pizzeria features a menu of pizzas, Italian subs, salads, and homemade desserts, shelves of imported Italian products, and a full-service bar - all centered around sustainable, local and organic ingredients. Our favorites? The Diavola Pizza and Chicken Parmesan on house focaccia bread. Visit Pizzeria Leopold Tuesday through Sunday 11am to 8pm at 1990 Wadsworth Blvd in Lakewood. Get your 'za on 🍕❤️

Welcome to our new member, The Local Drive! Founded by Winston Manley and Joe Lynch, The Local Drive is an eatertainment destination featuring a craft cocktail bar of over 80% Colorado producers, over 300 courses on custom Trackman golf simulators, bar games, in-house PGA pros, monthly leagues, trivia nights, and an interior decorated by Colorado wood shops, welders, and muralists. Visit The Local Drive in Denver or Longmont for your next happy hour, tee time, or private party, open 9a-10p Sundays through Thursdays and 9a-12a Fridays and Saturdays. Swing easy ⛳🏌️

We are so proud of the more than 30 EatDenver members recognized on Denver Westword's list of "100 Denver Restaurants We Can’t Live Without." Congratulations to this year's picks! ✨ Alma Fonda Fina, LoHi ✨ Chopstix Fusion, Southeast Denver ✨ Dan Da, Aurora ✨ Farm & Market, RiNo ✨ Gusto, West Denver ✨ Jacques, LoHi ✨ Kawa Ni, LoHi ✨ La Forêt, Baker ✨ Little Arthur's, Capitol Hill ✨ Luchador Taco & More, Whittier ✨ MAKfam, Baker ✨ Nana's Dim Sum & Dumplings, LoHi, Aurora, and Boulder ✨ O Lien Kitchen, Westwood ✨ Samosa Shop at Honor Farm, LoDo ✨ Wok Spicy, Englewood ✨ Xiquita Restaurante y Bar, Uptown ✨ Angelo's Taverna, Central Denver and Littleton ✨ Barolo Grill, Cherry Creek ✨ Bastien's Restaurant, City Park ✨ Columbine Steak House & Lounge, Valverde ✨ Crown Burgers, University Hills ✨ Domo, Lincoln Park ✨ El Taco De Mexico, Lincoln Park ✨ Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder ✨ Jax Fish House, LoDo, Glendale and Boulder ✨ La Loma, Downtown Denver ✨ Lao Wang Noodle House, Westwood ✨ Mexico City Restaurant & Lounge, Ballpark ✨ Pete's Kitchen, City Park ✨ Poppies Restaurant, University Hills ✨ Potager, Capitol Hill ✨ Rioja, LoDo ✨ Silla, Aurora ✨ Sushi Den, Platt Park ✨ Table 6, Speer ✨ Taste of Thailand, Rosedale ✨ Welton Street Cafe, Five Points ✨ A5 Steakhouse, LoDo ✨ Annette, Aurora ✨ Beckon, RiNo ✨ Brasserie Brixton, Cole ✨ Bruto, LoDo ✨ Hop Alley, RiNo ✨ Kumoya, LoHi ✨ Molotov Kitschen, City Park ✨ Noisette, LoHi ✨ Restaurant Olivia, Washington Park ✨ The Plimoth, City Park ✨ The Regular, LoDo ✨ Safta, RiNo ✨ Sap Sua, City Park ✨ Stone Cellar Bistro, Arvada ✨ Tavernetta, Union Station ✨ Uchi, RiNo ✨ Wildflower, LoHi ✨ The Wolf's Tailor, Sunnyside ✨ Yuan Wonton, Park Hill ✨ Blackbelly Market, Berkeley and Boulder ✨ Blazing Chicken Shack II, Park Hill ✨ The Bronze Empire, Cory-Merrill ✨ Carmine Lonardo's, Lakewood ✨ Carrera's Tacos, Greenwood Village ✨ Cuba Bakery & Cafe, Aurora ✨ Gaia Masala & Burger, Speer, LoDo and Boulder ✨ Garibaldi Mexican Bistro, Englewood ✨ House of Bread, Southeast Denver ✨ Kiké's Red Tacos, Highland ✨ La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, Ballpark ✨ Lucky Noodles, City Park ✨ Mango House, Aurora ✨ NBX Asian Cuisine, Lone Tree ✨ Odie B's, Sunnyside ✨ Sonny's Mediterranean, LoHi ✨ Spice Room, multiple ✨ Split Lip, RiNo ✨ Tocabe: An American Indian Eatery, Berkeley ✨ Vinh Xuong Bakery, Valverde ✨ Abejas, Golden ✨ Ace Eat Serve, Uptown ✨ African Grill and Bar, Lakewood ✨ Benzina, Park Hill ✨ The Bindery, LoHi ✨ Cart-Driver, RiNo ✨ Coperta, Uptown ✨ Duo Restaurant, LoHi ✨ Fish N Beer, RiNo ✨ Fruition, Country Club ✨ GetRight's, Wheat Ridge ✨ The Ginger Pig, Berkeley ✨ The Greenwich, RiNo ✨ Hey Kiddo, Berkeley ✨ Lucina, Park Hill ✨ Point Easy, Whittier ✨ Revival Denver Public House, Uptown ✨ Somebody People, Overland ✨ Spuntino, Highland ✨ Temaki Den, RiNo ✨ Teocalli Cocina, Arvada and Lafayette ✨ Vine Street Pub and Brewery, City Park West ✨ Work & Class, RiNo

Welcome to our newest member, Pizza Pasta Villa! Located in Denver’s Bear Valley neighborhood, Pizza Pasta Villa was founded on a love for good food and a passion for “keeping things real.” Family recipes like lasagna bolognese, meat arancini, pasta al forno, and stone oven pizza complement an Italian villa atmosphere to create a place where “neighbors can gather, enjoy authentic Italian dishes, and feel right at home.” From takeout pizza night to a dine-in pasta dinners, visit Pizza Pasta Villa Monday through Friday from 11am to 8pm (closed Tuesdays), Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 8pm, and happy hour daily from 2pm to 5pm. Menus and more at: pizzapastavilla.com. Buon apetito!

Celebrating another year of growth, impact, and industry support with the world's best board 💙✨ EatDenver is built on the ethos that a rising tide lifts all boats, and there's no better group to embody this than our team behind the scenes, staffing our events, creating our programming, advocating on behalf of small businesses, and building resiliency for our independent food and beverage community. Thank you to everyone who shares their time, passion, and energy in advancing our mission: Karen LuKanic, sarah abell, Chad Michael George, Bryant Palmer, Elizabeth Quaid, SHRM-SCP, Beth Gruitch, Carrie Shores, Daniel Asher, Erasmo Casiano, Giles Flanagin, Heather Dratler, John Imbergamo, Long Nguyen, Meaghan Goedde, Peter Newlin, and Ty Leon Additional thanks to our venue host, Kawa Ni, for the amazing food spread, generous hospitality, and for keeping the bubbles flowing. Interested in joining the EatDenver community? Learn more at eatdenver.com/membership.

Join EatDenver for our year-end program, a best practice roundtable for food and beverage operators, presented by US Foods. This program will be a guided discussion among participants, reflecting on best practices for 2024 operations, looking toward 2025 trends and innovations, and offering an opportunity for industry professionals to share resources, referrals, and support in real-time. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g4b7DFx6

"With Denver's minimum wage set to increase again on January 1 and costs continuing to rise for just about everything from ingredients and supplies to rent and taxes, we're likely to see restaurant closures continue to stack up...Still, new restaurants are outpacing the passage of old. In November, we reported 21 openings (as well as five new places to eat and drink at Denver International Airport) and 14 closures, some of which came right as the month ended." (Molly Martin, Denver Westword) Congratulations to the region's newest places to drink and dine: ✨ Colorado Hots (Wheat Ridge) ✨ Dumplin' (Denver) ✨ Empanada Espresso (Northglenn) ✨ Fortune Nong Jia Le (Denver) ✨ Golden Outpost (Golden) ✨ Hearth (Denver) ✨ HOMEGROWN TAP & DOUGH, INC. (Westminster) ✨ Honey Basil Express (Greenwood Village) ✨ Il Forno Di Tutti (Aurora) ✨ Jack N Grill 2 at Boombox Brew Bar (Denver) ✨ Le Colonial (Denver) ✨ Magna Kainan (Denver) ✨ Mezcaleria Alma (Denver) ✨ Miya Moon (Broomfield) ✨ The Moose (Denver) ✨ Na Favola Trattoria & Pizzeria (Greenwood Village) ✨ Oh Dumpling (Greenwood Village) ✨ The Parlour Bar at Clayton Hotel & Members Club (Denver) ✨ Saltwater Social (Denver) ✨ Som Dee Thai Kitchen (Denver) ✨ Thick's Gelato and Chocolates (Denver) ✨ Welton Street Cafe (Denver)

Last week Molly Martin of Denver Westword published her "100 Best Bars" list, new and noteworthy spots that the city "can't live without". Congratulations to all those recognized 🍸🎉

Welcome to one of our newest EatDenver members, Kawa Ni! 🍜🥢🍸 Inspired by a month-long trip to Japan, co-owner and chef BILL Taibe founded Kawa Ni Westport in 2014 as a tribute to the dozen-plus Izakayas he frequented, Japanese pubs where he could “grab a drink, settle in, and get comfortable.” Last year, with business partner Massimo Tullio, Bill replicated the concept in Denver’s LoHi neighborhood, complete with shareable plates, authentically sourced decor, Japanese chefs, and TOTO USA bidets. Since it’s 2023 opening, Kawa Ni Denver has received recognition on Eater's “The 38 Essential Restaurants in Denver” list, Thrillist’s “13 Must-Visit Restaurants in Denver” list, Denver Westword’s “Best of Denver” list, and as a 2024 Michelin Recommended Restaurant for a menu that includes Shaved Broccoli Miso Goma, Karaage Don, Spicy Lamb Dan Dan, yuzu-infused sake bombs, and Japanese whisky. Visit Kawa Ni Tuesday-Sundays for dinner and weekend lunch. Kanpai 🍻