Denver’s 5 Best New Restaurants to Try

Well-loved chef Alex Seidel—who’s also behind Fruition, Mercantile Dining & Provision, and Chook Charcoal Chicken—opened this pizzeria in his neighborhood of Lakewood, bringing a casual but refined Italian joint to the area. Taking over for Frontroom Pizza, the quaint eatery now serves classic entrees such as lasagna, chicken parmesan, spaghetti, and garlic bread, as well as a slew of pizzas using Seidel’s own dough recipe. It gets very busy, especially on the weekends, so a reservation is highly recommended.

The latest location of The Post from restaurant group Big Red F took over the Lola space in February. Now, the neighborhood has a large area to hang out, eat stellar fried chicken, and take advantage of the indoors and open-air patio for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Like the other six locations of the restaurant (the second in Denver), the focus is bone-in fried chicken that happens to also be gluten-free. Sides include green-chile macaroni and cheese, thigh fries, and an array of fresh salads, which can be eaten as is or topped with the signature chicken, and drinks run to house-made beer and margaritas. Bonus: there’s a bar downstairs called The Groovy for those looking for adult-only time and a solid old-school cocktail.

Get tacos with an international kick, margaritas, and a vibrant atmosphere at this new place opened in April by co-owners Rico Aragon, Flor Aragon, and Yoon Terry. Here, diners get traditional Mexican fare with local and Korean accents thanks to the owners’ unique backgrounds. That means elk or buffalo tacos, dishes laced with kimchi, bulgogi tacos, and grilled cactus. Give the poke nachos, chicken and waffle, and birria chile relleno a try, too; it’s all fiery, fresh and craveable. Don’t miss the taco Tuesday special, when it’s two hard-shell tacos and a margarita for $10.