As Denver continues to struggle to keep its French restaurants open, some operators are turning their attention to the southern suburbs. But while the rent may be cheaper and the labor costs lower, opening a restaurant in a market farther from downtown carries a different set of challenges.
Bistro 36 opened in Littleton some eight months ago, fueled by the memories of co-owner Michael Cote’s childhood and cooking with his grandmother, Danielle, whom the restaurant is named after (“36” refers to the year she was born).
While the team continues to find its footing in its first year, it’s already nearing completion of a second eatery, Cellar 36, an Italian red sauce concept that is set to open soon further west in Littleton.
Traditionally, a bistro is a casual neighborhood restaurant with rustic and affordable food, and that’s the vision Cote and his partners Jake Weber and chef Rafael Muñoz wanted to bring to the south Denver suburb. The menu checks off all the expected bistro fare: steak frites, beef bourguignon, French onion soup, salmon meunière, and scallop Provençal, among other choices…