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The trend of high-end Mexican restaurants continue with Xiquita Restaurant + Bar, the new concept of chef Erasmo Casiano and Rene Gonzalez slated to open this spring. Casiano launched the successful Lucina Eatery + Bar in March of 2022, a Latin fusion eatery with nods to coastal Spain and the Caribbean. With Xiquita, pronounced "chiquita," the plan is to highlight the elevated and traditional foods found in Mexico City, including the Yucatan dish Tikin Xic, pictured here.
Corn is a centerpiece of Xiquita and it plays a role across the menu, appearing in different dishes in a unique way. Expect to see items such as horchata mousse cake. On the traditional corn side, Casiano will create house-made tortillas using corn masa he processes through nixtamalization.
Pambazo, a type of sandwich filled with potatoes and chorizo and spiced with red guajillo pepper sauce, is also a highlight of the menu.
Troy Guard of TAG Restaurant Group has added to his Colorado empire with the January 16 opening of Done Deal, a cocktail bar inside the Atrium of Republic Plaza in downtown Denver. This is the first bar concept by Guard, who also runs the Denver steakhouse Guard & Grace along with multiple locations of Los Chingones and the breakfast spot Hashtag. Aside from drinks, the lounge offers small plates such as smoked salmon rillettes ($13), king crab cocktail ($18) and marinated olives ($6).
With a long list of unique and classic cocktails, Done Deal aims to cater to all types of drinkers. On the large-format side there’s a four-to-six-person punch bowl ($75) laden with tequila, Flor de Caña, pomegranate, orange, and grapefruit. On the small side is the Teeny Martini ($10), a half-sized cocktail featuring espresso, strawberry, and yuzu.
With the opening of Done Deal out of the way, the TAG Restaurant Group plans to expand Hashtag, its breakfast mini-chain, into downtown Denver. The company just opened a second location in the suburb of Highlands Ranch in November. Diners can order various styles of hot cakes, a pho-style "hangover cure" soup, pork green chile omelets and more.
In March Denver can expect to dive into Corsica, a new concept by the national Del Frisco's Restaurant Group, which operates Barcelona Wine Bar, Bartaco, Del Frisco's Grille, and other concepts. The overall vibe is meant to be vibrant and social, both at the bar and in the dining area. On the food side the theme revolves around French and Italian coastal flavors. Expect sharable plates and an extensive wine list.
The RiNo neighborhood in Denver is known for large warehouses and an industrial atheistic. Corsica leans into this idea and is located in a building built in 1934. What makes the space stand out from all the other warehouse concepts is the vibrant mural done by international artist Keya Tama. Corsica will also feature a street-side patio, allowing diners to take in the urban chic of the neighborhood.
Slated to open in Boulder in April, C Bar is a contemporary cocktail bar created by Half Eaten Cookie Hospitality. Owner Bryan Dayton sees this venture as going back to his roots in the beverage space, and has teamed up with award-winning mixologist Diego Baud, founder of Hotel Artes' Liquid Journey cocktail class in Barcelona, Spain. The menu features modern cocktails with influences from the classics, with a bit of whimsy thrown in to the mix, perfect for the sleek retro vibe its going for. Heading up the food team is partner Samuel McCandless. While the focus is on drinks, the chef will curate a selection of globally-inspired bites and small plates meant to complement the cocktails.
Half Eaten Cookie has more projects in the works with the expansion of C Burger, the company's fast-casual burger joint featuring regenerative beef. Run by Dayton and McCandless, the first C Bar launched in a kiosk inside an Englewood brewery and taphouse this last year. The new one will open in Boulder later this spring. Apart from its organic and local beef, the new location also will offer chicken sandwiches, salads, and a full bar program.
Pearl Hospitality, the team that brought Denver Lady Jane, The Wild, and Hudson Hill, will launch its fourth bar concept, Two Moons Music Hall, in March. The 4,000-square-foot space in the RiNo neighborhood will feature not just expertly-crafted drinks, but also a stage to host live bands and ticketed performances. The idea is to give the neighborhood a comfortable spot that also serves great cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Pearl Street Hospitality was founded in 2015 by Jake Soffes, now a managing partner. Also on the leadership teams is Anders Lehto, who handles the coffee side, and Stuart Weaver, another partner and the bar director for Two Moons. Overall, the management team brings more than 60 years of combined experience.
Lotus Concept Management has added a fresh concept to its repertoire, which currently includes the Viewhouse brew pub restaurants and My Neighbor Felix. The new Wonderyard Garden + Table is in the Ballpark district and features an indoor and outdoor space serving craft cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired bites such as prosciutto peach flatbread and a charcuterie board.
Distinct design features include a carousel booth to dine in, oversized birdcages, teacup tables, giant sculptures and bursts of color every which way. The venue makes use of all 12,080 square feet of space, offering enough Instagram-able spots for anyone wanting to snap a selfie or group photo.
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