New Restaurant Cheat Sheet: April 2025 Report

An iconic sushi chef goes upscale and exclusive, a joyful Venezuelan spot keeps it deliciously affordable, and beer is now served in an old schoolhouse.

Good afternoon. This past weekend was so beautiful and now… it’s raining. But it’s good for the plants. Yay!

Has anyone else been watching The Studio on AppleTV+? While the plots are sometimes predictable, I find the cast – especially Ike Barinholtz and Kathryn Hahn – to be top notch and hilarious. The pace is zippy and the timing on jokes is impeccable. I should probably start a drinking game every time Seth Rogen falls into something (he does it in just about every episode).

Anyway, let's doooo thiisssssss!

Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

• 8 new Denver (and FoCo) restaurants you should know about

• 4 links that made me laugh, cry, or say whaaaat?

• One final craving (starting a letter-writing campaign to get this dish back on the menu)

8 new restaurants you should know about

From L to R: HashTAG 17th Street, Belles & Boots

Yes, I’m keeping a list of every new and upcoming restaurant opening in and around the Denver area. Here’s your cheat sheet of April’s new restaurant openings worth knowing about:

New restaurant concepts

1. Kizaki - Platt Park: Sushi icon launches intimate new concept

The first solo venture from Sushi Den co-owner Toshi Kizaki, the restaurant opened on April 11th and offers an intimate dining experience with a 9-seat sushi counter and a 12-seat dining room. The beverage program is led by certified sake sommelier Yuki Minakawa, who, according to her LinkedIn, has been consulting for the Sushi Den group since summer 2024. Kizaki offers two seatings Thursday through Sunday, at 5pm and 8pm.

Kizaki is one of the pioneers in bringing high-end sushi to Colorado and one of the first restaurant chefs to fly fresh fish from Japan into the US. He views the new restaurant as a “retirement” project. It’s the only (as far as I can recall) dedicated fine-dining sushi restaurant independently owned and operated by a native Japanese chef here in Denver. The interior design, exacting culinary perspective, and tasting menu format are tailor-made for Michelin. As long as the food and service deliver, this spot should be a prime candidate for inclusion in the Colorado Michelin Guide later this year.

• Vibe: Located inside Denchu at 1551 South Pearl Street, the elegant and serene-looking space is designed with Japan in mind, featuring burnt red cedar paneling, glossy moss-green tiles, and a Siberian elm chef’s counter.

• What’s on the menu: Priced at $255 per person (before tax and tip), the 20-course tasting menu adheres to traditional Edomae sushi methods – described by the restaurant as “a 200-year-old Tokyo-style sushi that honors the integrity of each ingredient through authentic Japanese techniques.” Early menus have included dashi soups, tofu dishes, hand rolls, grilled tuna collars and a mix of fish originating from Japan, California, and Spain.

2. Catira - Greenwood Village: Colorful Venezuelan wins on affordability

Wife-and-husband team Clare and Manuel Sucre opened their first restaurant at the beginning of April, bringing bold flavors of Venezuelan cuisine to Denver. Manuel moved from Caracas to the US over a decade ago, where he eventually met and married his now partner, a Denver native. The restaurant’s name, Catira – Venezuelan slang for “blondie” – is a playful nod to Clare’s golden head of hair.

The couple made an effort to build a team with Venezuelan roots, including hiring through Denver’s WorkReady program that helps asylum-seekers gain skills to ready them for the labor market while they wait for work permits.

And if you’re wondering how these first-time owners pulled off such a polished debut – with slick branding and a plush, playful design – it helps that Clare’s dad, Mark Berzins, founder of the Little Pub Co. (behind longtime Denver bars like the British Bulldog, Will Call, and Icehouse Tavern), was a mentor throughout the process of getting the restaurant up and running. Also working in their favor: affordability. Most items are under $10, with nothing on the menu over $20.

I’ve already heard great things from folks who’ve been, and I’m excited to try it myself.

• Vibe: The space is vibrant and full of personality, featuring bold splashes of hot pink, tomato red, ocean blue, and sea green, along with a spacious bar and a cozy dining room.

• What’s on the menu: Arepas, empanadas, and other comforting classics. Signature dishes include the cachapa, a sweet corn pancake folded over salty cheese and topped with butter, and tequeños, a Venezuelan snack of cheese wrapped in spiraled dough and fried until golden.

3. Pho Social - Baker: Eatery that had to overcome major challenges before opening

This family-owned Vietnamese bar and restaurant from first-time owners and husband and wife Phuong and Tuan Nguyen brings traditional flavors with a modern twist. Opened on April 27, 2025, the restaurant was more than two years in the making, with the team facing major delays after dealing with two unreliable contractors. Throughout the setbacks, they turned to social media to share their story and keep the community engaged. Judging by the early reviews, that connection paid off – neighbors have been leaving reviews saying they’ve been eagerly awaiting the opening, praising the flavorful pho, warm atmosphere, and genuine service.

• Vibe: Black and gray color palette with simple and modern decor and furnishings

• What’s on the menu: Appetizers (spring and egg rolls, coconut shrimp, pork dumplings, soft shell crab, and a banh mi charcuterie board), 12 different pho variations, bun bo hue, 10 vermicelli noodle bowl options, banh mi, rice plates, and other specials. Smoothies and cocktail menu, including a lychee martini garnished with the fruit and a tamarind marg. Under 11 kids menu also available.

4. Little Johnny B’s - North Capitol Hill: The ol’ pizza switcheroo

It all happened so quickly. The famed New York pizza brand Roberta’s had been operating the kitchen at the Public House at Urban Cowboy since the spot opened last September. But on April 10, Mamas and Papas Hospitality – the team behind RiNo favorites Dio Mio and Redeemer Pizza – announced they were taking over with a new concept dubbed Little Johnny B’s, which opened less than two weeks later on April 21.

They teased it as the “little sibling” to their upcoming pizza and pasta spot, Johnny Bechamels, which is slated to open later this year next to Uncle in Wash Park. So far, none of the reporting I’ve seen has been able to pin down an on-the-record reason for Roberta’s abrupt exit, but it’s nice to see a local group getting the chance to spread their wings a bit more.

• Vibe: Historic carriage house converted into a bar and restaurant with a hip American cowboy aesthetic. Tin ceilings, antlers on the wall, grandma wallpaper, rustic wood tables and chairs. A safe space for double denim or a fresh fitting hoodie.

• What’s on the menu: 12” wood-fired pizzas (pistachio and sausage pie and the Spring Pie with garlic cream, asparagus, and oyster mushrooms sound dope) with optional dipping ranch, shared cheese plates, a little gem salad, 3 piece cannoli plate for dessert. Happy hour menu 10-11pm weekdays, 11pm-12am weekends with a selection of food items $13 or less.

Bars, cafes, and coffee shops

5. Schoolyard Beer Garden - Civic Center: Big beer energy now that school’s out

This huge beer garden immediately caught my eye thanks to its spectacular location – both in and outside the historic Evans School building. Cool! Developed by Denver-based City Street Investors, the German-style beer garden spans 5,000 square feet of street-level outdoor space within the school’s original gates. According to its website, it also features “an inviting indoor area situated in what was originally the school’s boiler room and engine room in 1904.” Axios reports that the building still has over 13,000 square feet of retail space available for lease, with future plans for an event venue.

• Vibe: The whole thing feels like the first step toward creating a tamer version of the most epic school-turned-bar-restaurant-entertainment hall in the country: McMenamins Kennedy School in Portland. The Schoolyard rooms look a little more middle-of-the road “nice” and generic than the unforgettably idiosyncratic spaces McMenamins created for their conversion project. If anyone on the development team is reading this, please, there’s still time to get creative and let your freak flag fly!

• What’s on the menu: 18 beers on tap, frosé, frozen margs, spritzes, standard grill fare like salads, burgers, brats, and sandwiches. Some diners have complained about the 20% auto grat for counter service.

6. Wobble Hi-Fi - Fort Collins: Northern Colorado just got its first listening bar

Fort Collins just got its own Japanese-inspired hi-fi listening bar, which opened on April 11. Owners Preston Bishir and Miles Storm, who have over 20 years of combined experience in the hospitality world, decided to open a space inspired by Japanese jazz kissa after bonding over the idea that Fort Collins was missing a place they actually thought was cool to hang out in.

In an interview with KCSU News, the duo shared that they both have backgrounds in music and were drawn to the vibe of kissa bars, where vinyl is played on hi-fi systems that make sound feel warm, immersive, and intimate. They’re already hosting DJ sets and hope to eventually throw listening parties for local band album releases. Long-term, the owners say they plan to transition the business into a worker-owned co-op.

• Vibe: Quiet and cozy with lots of warm wood paneling, green corduroy seats, Noguchi-style paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

• What’s on the menu: Cocktails, whiskey highballs, g&ts, wine, beer on tap/bottle/cans, and two non-alcoholic mixed drinks along with canned and bottled NA options like St Agrestis’s Phoney Negroni and NA beers. 12” pizzas, in cheese or pepperoni, are also served.

7. Belles & Boots - Union Station/Ballpark: Boots, booze, and a mechanical bull

A rowdy new country bar and restaurant has landed in LoDo, courtesy of Lotus Concepts – the team behind My Neighbor Felix, The ViewHouse, and Wonderyard. The multi-level party spot features a massive bar, oversized booths, a mechanical bull, and a human-sized, boot-shaped disco ball over the dance floor.

Upstairs, there’s live music, a second bar, and patio seating. Bottle service comes with the full spectacle: cowboy-hat-clad servers in tanks and pleather chaps delivering your booze in a glowing boot with flashing signs. Just look for the trail of giggling girlies in cowboy hats, and you’ll know you’re in the right place.

• Vibe: Line dancing on the first floor, and at a certain point in the night female employees in cowboy boots and jorts will get up on the banquets and start dancing like it’s Coyote Ugly.

• What’s on the menu: BBQ meats and sandwiches with classic fixins. Cocktails, draft/bottle/canned beer, a lot of Barefoot wine, with NA drinks limited to Pepsi, Fiji Water, sweet tea, and Red Bull.

Expansions

8. HashTAG: 17th Street - CBD: Boozy brunch destination

It’s been a long time coming for the downtown Denver location of Troy Guard’s boozy brunch joint. Originally announced in 2023, the newest outpost finally opened its doors on April 29, complete with a 4,000-square-foot rooftop patio offering city views. This marks the third location of the brunch concept, and it's poised to become a go-to for downtown breakfast meetings and after-work drinks for those still coming in to work downtown.

• Vibe: Bright, modern, and cheerful, with plenty of yellow accents and rounded shapes that reflect its daytime-focused aesthetic.

• What’s on the menu: Brunch and lunch staples like pork hash (obvs), pancakes, waffles, a big cast-iron cinnamon roll, biscuits and gravy, egg dishes (e.g. benedicts), Spam musubi. A good number of global food items like huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, burritos, and churros are sprinkled throughout the listed offerings. Boozy and NA brunch cocktails.

That’s all for this month’s cheat sheet. If a monthly dispatch of my top picks isn’t enough, you can always check out my full list of everything that opened up since the start of the year. If I missed an opening, let me know so I can add it.

4 links that made me laugh, cry, or say whaaaat?

How Did Our Taste Buds Get So Spoiled? NYTimes

Flavormaxxing has infiltrated everything we eat and drink – from Starbucks matchas to internet-famous baked goods. Seemingly every dish now needs to smack us with layer upon layer of bold flavors. Gochujang-glazed wings, tamarind-yuzu ceviche – more is more. But is it? Writer Marie Solis explores why flavor chasing has become the norm and in the end she can’t shake the sinking feeling that all of this is just another expression of millennial striving, now playing out on our plates.

Food Tastes So Much Better When the Chef Has Gotten Some Sleep — Here's Why Food & Wine

Chef Matt Jennings didn’t realize it at the time, but chasing accolades and Michelin stars early in his career never truly made him happy. Trying to impress strangers only got in the way of building something lasting and meaningful. Once he prioritized his community, his team’s well-being, and his own, he saw real change taking root. “The honest truth is that when you stop chasing stars, you start chasing something much more important: impact.”

The World’s Most Beautiful Taco Bell Reopens After Remodel SF Chronicle

The Taco Bell Cantina in Pacifica, CA off Highway 1 is known for its breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and has become a fast food fan bucket list destination. After months of renovations it’s now back open for business and customers couldn’t be happier. But as for the food? Welp, it’s still Taco Bell.

Meet a Genius Behind the Non-Alc Drink People Are Obsessed With Extra Credit

Phony Negroni has become a staple on the NA menus of the country’s trendiest spots. St. Agrestis CMO Matt Catizone says it took nearly three years to perfect the recipe before launching in Dry January 2022. While Gen Z gets most of the attention in the media, he believes Millennials are actually driving demand for drinks like his, with the spending power and refined palates to appreciate complex, acquired flavors.

One final craving

I had the crackling pork rice bowl special at Sesame Sandwiches while it was a limited-time dish for Mile High Asian Food Week but honestly, I’m ready to start a letter-writing campaign to get it on the regular menu. Just before I had lunch, I’d gotten my eyes dilated for an exam and was wearing two sets of sunglasses and could barely see (shoutout to Kip from Stoned Appétit for making sure I didn’t walk into a wall), but maybe that made me focus even more on the flavors: sweet, tangy pork, lightly-pickled veggies with crispy fried onions, and a spicy mayo that tied it all together. Absolutely delicious.

ICYMI: Last month I wrote about the decorated Denver chef who just opened a spot in Cherry Creek, the bagel shop that dares to do an evening kaiseki menu, and the Asian dessert shop that gets Gen Z marketing. ✨Read it here✨