Restaurants have faced difficult times since the pandemic, as the costs of goods, labor and rent have gone up, forcing them to raise prices in many cases to a level that many people can no longer afford. So it’s worth recognizing some of the familiar spots that have stuck around, continuing to provide a place for Colorado diners to rely on with new dishes or old favorites.
Here are four restaurants that are all celebrating their tenth anniversary over the next few weeks with some big and/or fancy blowout bashes.
James Beard Award-winning chef Alex Seidel of Mercantile. (Anna Stancioff)
Mercantile, Thursday, Oct. 24
Mercantile hosts a one-night-only dinner, featuring a menu created by founder and chef Alex Seidel, as well as Mercantile kitchen team members and Seidel’s chef friends from Colorado (that includes Lon Symensma, Jen Jasinski, Paul Reilly and Johnny Curiel) and across the country. It kicks off at 6:30 with a welcome cocktail from former Mercantile bar manager Patrick Murphy, who is now with Rootstalk and Radicato in Breckenridge. That will be followed by a five-course seated dinner with dishes like sea urchin and king crab Koshihikari rice with yuzu, katsuo dashi and egg yolk; and dry-aged duck breast with foie gras dirty rice. Tickets, $195 per person, are available at Tock.
Mercantile, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver; mercantiledenver.com
Work & Class, Sunday, Nov. 3
Dana Rodriguez “is throwing a party to celebrate a kickass decade of Work & Class.” That’s the word from the organizers of the Día de Muertos-themed event (which begins at Work & Class before heading to Carne, the chef’s latest restaurant). At each stop, Dana’s friends and fellow Latin chefs will be serving delicious food, including Jose Avila of La Diabla Pozole, Ryan and Josh Carrera of Carrera’s Tacos, Erasmo Casiano of Lucina and Xiquita, Johnny Curiel of Alma Fonda Fina, Christina Richardson of Chile Con Quesadilla and Zuri Resendiz of Luchador Taco. Costumes are encouraged and some proceeds will benefit the Colorado Restaurant Association’s Angel Relief Fund. Tickets, $100 each, are available on Tock. The party begins at 6 p.m.
BOULDER, CO – SEPTEMBER 27: The Blackbelly logo in neon is reflected in the meat case at Blackbelly on September 27, 2023 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Work & Class, 2500 Larimer St.; Carne, 2601 Larimer St., Denver; workandclassdenver.com
Blackbelly Market & Restaurant, Saturday, Nov. 16
Celebrity chef and Blackbelly founder Hosea Rosenberg and the kitchen team will host a 10th-anniversary dinner on Saturday, Nov. 16 that includes cooking by former Blackbelly chefs from the last decade, including Chris and Ariana Teigland, the married owners of Glo Noodle House in Denver, who first met while working on the line at Blackbelly. The five-course tasting menu costs $150 per person and reservations can be made on Tock.
Blackbelly, 1606 Conestoga St., Boulder, CO; blackbelly.com
Folks enjoy the rooftop patio at Los Chingones on June 4, 2015. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post)
Los Chingones, Saturday, Nov. 16
After a huge $750,000 remodel, Los Chingones — a Mexican food restaurant from prolific chef Troy Guard — is ready to celebrate. It will do just that with a 10th anniversary party featuring food and drink specials, live music and giveaways. Tickets, $50 are available at eventbrite.
Los Chingones, 2463 Larimer St., Denver; loschingonesmexican.com