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.

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.

Perfectly plated new American fare with a local and vegetable heavy menu, a great cocktail and wine list, and a roomy patio in a modern-art-meets-historic-building setting is what Point Easy, opened in June, is all about. Look for charcuterie choices such as chicken liver pâté, local cheese, and rabbit rillette; entrees such as a pork chop, mussels with fries, and hand-made pastas; as well as local fare like the cure salad with greens grown just for the restaurant. Eat all this and more in the bright dining room, at the long wooden bar or outside on the best patio in the neighborhood. If the menu sounds too good, instead of picking, tell your server to let the chef decide what to present in a five-course-or-so tasting menu, all tailored to your likes and aversions.