December’s restaurant roundup captures the highs and lows of Boulder’s food scene this holiday season. Eight local favorites have closed their doors, marking the end of an era for some beloved establishments. But there’s also good news: Three new spots have opened, offering fresh options for diners. Plus, we share holiday dining tips, local market dates and a spotlight on North Boulder’s vibrant restaurant scene.
Have news about your favorite restaurant or upcoming events? Send your tips and food news to food@boulderreportinglab.org.
Closing time
South Boulder Speakeasy: Next to the Tandoori Grill at 619 S. Broadway is a spot with an unmarked door and darkened windows called the South Boulder Speakeasy, affectionately nicknamed “Tandoori Next-Doori.” The space has operated as a seasonal, three-nights-a-week bar with open mic nights, karaoke and live music, and it is closing on Dec. 28 after 13 years.
The speakeasy is run by Gurjeet Gill Dhanoa, who also owned the Tandoori Grill with her husband for 24 years before selling the restaurant to Binod Gurung in August 2023. Gill Dhanoa stayed on to run the bar, but Gurung explained the challenges: “The bar side is seasonal, there aren’t enough customers in the summer, and since it is open only three nights a week, it doesn’t make sense financially.”
Gurung plans to continue nightlife activities, like hosting live music, in the main restaurant. Most people are ordering takeout, he explained, and there’s a lot of space in the restaurant that can be filled. After the speakeasy closes, Gurung said that he’s heard a tiki bar may open in that space.
Thrive: The vegan and raw food community was hit hard when Thrive announced its closure in November. This busy and in-demand café, open for nearly a decade, was forced to move because property owners will be demolishing the space for development at 1509 Arapahoe Ave., a prime location across from Boulder High. Thrive’s space included a patio, outdoor seating and on-site parking.
Corey Jacobs, who founded the all-organic, vegan, plant-based and raw food restaurant, shared the news with a mix of gratitude and hope: “We have been blessed in serving our community the highest quality organic offerings for almost a decade from our little centrally located spaceship in the heart of Boulder.”
Thrive held a final celebration on Nov. 11, combining a farewell party with a fundraiser to help support a potential new location. Jacobs added, “With an overall shift in the economy, it has seemed impossible to find a location affordable to continue our humble mission. We have recently found a space that can reasonably work to continue a Boulder location for Thrive.” You can learn more about their plans and contribute to the new location on Thrive’s GoFundMe page.
Meta Burger: The vegan fast-casual chain once named “best vegan burger in the world” closed its Boulder location on 29th Street on Nov. 29. Although the restaurant’s website doesn’t explicitly note the closure, its online menu lists all items as “out of stock.” On Instagram, the final post is about a customer-led fundraiser to help the founders transition and pay off debts. According to an article in Westword, Meta Burger‘s founders have to declare bankruptcy and sell their homes due to a downturn in business. The Denver-based chain launched in 2018.
Maine Shack: The popular lobster roll destination closed its Boulder location permanently on Nov. 3, after just a year, and shuttered its Denver operations for the winter season on Nov. 10. The owners of Maine Shack posted notice and their plans on Facebook: “This was not an easy decision to make, but with the rising cost of labor and goods, along with current economic challenges facing small businesses, closing Boulder was best for the health of our company.” They are looking for a new location in Denver and plan to expand to Naples, Florida.
Reelfish: Adding to local seafood departures, Reelfish in Lafayette closed on Nov. 16. Gluten-free and celiac diners have noted how much they’ll miss the celiac-friendly fish and chips.
The Rusty Melon: The restaurant’s location in Gunbarrel closed its doors in October after its lease was not renewed, according to a sign posted on its door. The location had an unfortunate start, signing a lease in December 2019, and opening in early 2020, which coincided with the early pandemic and its impact on the restaurant industry. The Erie location of The Rusty Melon, which describes itself as a “modern restaurant in Colorado” and has been open since 2018, remains open.
Wonder Press: The cold-pressed juice and wellness café closed its Longmont location in November. It had just opened in November 2023 on Francis Street in the former Ziggy’s location, with a goal to expand beyond its first storefront in Boulder on Pearl Street. That Wonder Press location remains open.
BOCO Cidery: Boulder’s only cidery, located in North Boulder, closed on Nov. 24 after five years in business. The owner has hopes to reopen in the future, he told Boulder Reporting Lab.
Now open!
Over Thanksgiving weekend, you may have seen the lights come back on and an open sign reappear at 2770 Pearl Street, the old Black Pepper Pho location. No, it’s not back; the space now belongs to Thuy Steward and her new restaurant, Lotus Moon, Vietnamese Vegan Cuisine.
The restaurant is still building its online presence, but diners can visit in person or order takeout through Clover. Lotus Moon is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will have a grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 7. Exterior signs may take time to update due to the city’s permitting process, but Steward and her team are patiently fielding questions from everyone who stops in, and she’s hoping to woo them with her plant-based recipes honed over years in the catering business.
Spruce Café opened its fourth location in September, this one at 600 S. Airport Rd. in Longmont, where they serve fresh pastries, quiche, sandwiches, salads, and a selection of drinks.
Coming soon
Relish Food Hall/Pickleball has announced a lineup for its upcoming opening in Louisville. A former Sam’s Club is being remodeled to create a combo restaurant and pickleball destination at 550 McCaslin. The space will feature eight food stalls that include arepas, pizza, sandwiches, soups, a bar and a coffee shop, along with 20 indoor and two outdoor pickleball courts. An opening date has not been set.
Spotlight on North Boulder
Wapos, a traditional Mexican restaurant, reopened on Oct. 26 in North Boulder after a kitchen fire gutted the building two years ago. The unassuming small cottage house with a covered patio sits at the entrance of the “Emerald City,” a cluster of green arts and warehouse buildings. Wapos is a go-to spot for fish tacos and refreshing margaritas, especially on NoBo Art District First Friday Art Walk nights. Food trucks filled the void while Wapos was closed. Now they’re back with daily double happy hours Tuesday through Sunday, from 2 to 6 p.m. and 8 to 9 p.m., plus an all-day happy hour on Mondays.
A couple of blocks south is Bellota at 4580 N. Broadway, part of the restaurant group that includes Corrida and Oak. This location specializes in regional Mexican cuisine with seasonal specials and top-shelf agave cocktails. General Manager Lauren Joy joined the restaurant in April, bringing an extensive background that includes working at her family’s restaurant (The Pantry in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado) and stints as a line cook, pastry chef and sous chef at The Med on Walnut before it closed during Covid.
Joy and her team at Bellota have created a welcoming environment that entices diners to try unique creations, like the New Squash Salad with butternut squash, pomegranate, pickled serrano and sesame seeds. Before new dishes appear on the menu, the staff works together to make suggestions and give tasting notes for approval by Culinary Director Jordan Wallace. A hidden gem is Caramelo’s tortillas (made in Lawrence, Kansas), whose rich, griddled flavor comes from baked-in pork and duck fat. Only the Costra and shrimp tacos are made with these unique flour tortillas, which are featured on the specials list every Monday, four for $20.
The next stop in the North Boulder experience is Santo, located in the Ideal Market shopping center. Chef Hosea Rosenberg (of Blackbelly) highlights northern New Mexico cuisine at this restaurant, which earned a 2023 Michelin Guide recommendation. Santo celebrated seven years in Boulder on Nov. 18.
An insider tip for this spot: Try the cold desserts with warm flavors — biscochito, canela, Mexican hot chocolate and many others, including six vegan flavors. A traditional biscochito cookie is made with anise, orange zest and cinnamon, and the ice cream version captures the warm holiday flavors with a little crunch. Canela, a Mexican cinnamon, is softer and sweeter than Ceylon. The small-batch, homemade ice cream is cheaper than a trip to Taos and just as delicious.
Holiday Tips & Tidbits
Timing is everything when planning a holiday meal and placing orders from bakeries and specialty shops. Most places recommend ordering by the second week of December to avoid missing out on your favorites. Check with businesses directly for specials and ordering deadlines.
- Boulder County Farmers Winter Market: Dec. 7 and 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. The event features “150 local farmers, ranchers, food producers, and artisans to create a local-only holiday shopping experience that champions small businesses.”
- Waves of Grain Farm Co-op: Winter indoor market every Saturday at The Stand (Riverside), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Il Pastaio: The family-owned and operated Italian restaurant at 30th and Arapahoe is offering holiday “Pasta Packages,” which include two fresh pastas, sauces, and sides for take-and-bake meals. Founder Giuseppe Oreamuno’s family recipes are made fresh daily. Il Pastaio is celebrating 25 years in business soon. Call or visit for details; the restaurant is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Downtown Boulder Dine-for-Discounts: Dine at any of the 100+ restaurants in the downtown district, then bring your receipt within 48 hours to a participating shop for up to 20% off or other special offers. Ten stores are currently on the list, with updates throughout the month.
- Snooze’s “Pancake It Forward:” Through Dec. 31, send a friend a voucher for a free single-pancake side dish. Vouchers must be redeemed within 30 days. Alternatively, treat yourself to their holiday “Nana’s Hot Cocoa Pancake,” topped with toasted marshmallows and crushed candy canes, and served with spiced hot cocoa.
You missed the opening of a new restaurant in town. The Ironwood Bar & Grill, located at Flatirons Golf Course, had a formal ribbon cutting ceremony with the city’s Parks and Recreation officials in September. Aside from serving golfers, it is open to the public, serving American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week. Contact owner Noah Westby at noahananda@gmail.com
Looks like we’re getting a True Foods at 29th St Mall in the former Arhaus space too. At least that’s what the sign on the door says.
Lbn is right about True Foods. It says that here as well. https://www.twentyninthstreet.com/Directory/Details/863513
I’ve eaten at the Denver location a few times and been very impressed with service and freshness.
Also, we have a new vegan place. Don’t know when it opened exactly, but excited to try it.
Lotus Moon Vegan Pho at 2770 Pearl
Still bummed about Meta. I enjoyed going there from time to time and the people were really great.