LGBTQ+-Owned Diner Champagne Tiger Opening on East Colfax
A new, much-needed sit-down spot is coming to the “gayborhood” of East Colfax: Champagne Tiger. The restaurant, owned and managed by Chris Donato, is a French-American diner that highlights queer performance alongside food and drink done well.
Donato describes himself as “no stranger to the finer things;” his background boasts 13 years in the fine dining industry, and he spent the past t10 years as the brand director for Pizzeria Locale based out of Boulder. Therefore, he says, the goal of the spot was not to reinvent the wheel, as is often done in new restaurants, but rather to make the classics approachable and delicious. Champagne Tiger has been in the making for the past three years; the concept stemmed from collaborations across the state to produce drag and ballroom performances that also featured upscale food like oysters, champagne, and french fries. Seeing that it came from a pop-up and was so loved by Denver’s queer scene, one could say that the spot has been built by the community it has found itself in.
The space boasts a private dining room that seats six to eight people (with a custom-curated $75 menu), two days of queer-focused entertainment a week, and a gorgeous back patio with fire pits and cabanas. The interior is decorated in an elevated yet comforting mid-century modern style bar with globe lamps and lavish green upholstery—and a baby grand piano, just in case anyone was unsure of the cozy grandeur that Champagne Tiger is soon to be known for. Dinner will be served at Champagne Tiger Wednesday through Sunday, with weekend brunch (Denver’s Most Luxurious Drag Brunch on Sundays, which has two seatings) and weekly Wednesday night piano performances.
Donato aims to create a space in which “you look forward as much to the food as to the show,” which tends to be a sentiment that’s lacking in most spaces, including queer ones. In addition to the biweekly performances hosted in the space, the new diner also boasts a mouthwatering menu. The restaurant has an impressive selection of American diner classics with a French twist, and vice versa; Donato’s list of iconic dishes at Champagne Tiger covers a wide breadth of flavors, but all share a refined, yet congenial air. He highlighted the tater tot waffle, which can be served ‘loaded’ (think baked potato—sour cream, cheddar, bacon, chives) or “royale,” with creme fraiche and caviar. Also highlighted were the signature French omelette, served rolled with boursin cheese; a mustard-roasted chicken, half or whole, with a simple argula side salad; and of course, the three different types of french fries, Wellfleet oysters from Donato’s hometown in Massachusetts, and plenty of champagne.
However, Donato wants to make it clear that this is not an upscale establishment—Oftentimes, fancy restaurants feel stuffy and judgmental, and Champagne Tiger aims to be anything but that. The vibe is what Donato describes as “bougie-rowdy,” along with the restaurant’s tagline, “Celebrate Every Day.” This means that not only can every day be a celebration of anything, with the restaurant’s champagne and caviar, but it’s also an ode to everyday foods and people that the restaurant intends to serve.
Additionally, Champagne Tiger aims to be the “best first stop on East Colfax”—It’s not a bar, and it’s only open until 11 p.m., but it’s the perfect place to get your night on Denver’s Lavender Hill started. It’s a “pop-and-pop” restaurant, independently queer-owned, and in the very same neighborhood in which Donato and his husband reside. In the opinion of this author, Champagne Tiger is a future Denver staple—a warmly and eagerly welcomed addition to the gayborhood.
Reservations are available via TOCK starting on Saturday, August 24. Limited parking is available onsite, and the patio is first come, first served.
Photos courtesy of Champagne Tiger
