Old Major Enhances LoHi Scene

Denver’s LoHi neighborhood is bankrolling first-rate restaurants, and with it comes the highly anticpated Old Major. The restaurant is helmed by chef-owner Justin Brunson who also opened Masterpiece Deli and the Denver Bacon Company. The rustic farmhouse kitchen focuses on in-house charcuterie, sustainable seafood and ingredients sourced directly from Colorado farms. “The dream of opening my own restaurant and working with the best team in the country has finally come true,” says Justin.

The menu, which changes weekly, is succinct and to the point. Choose menu items from the farmer, butcher and fisherman, which include the vegetarian 3-course tasting menu, smoked trout and pan seared pork chops. Vegetables that accompany dishes are grown at an on-site garden in the RINO District. Vegetables aside- come hungry for the restaurants unique take on bread service- hand rolled pretzels served with golden mustard butter. And we can’t forget to talk sugar, with desserts like the maple bacon crème caramel.

The elevated farmhouse cuisine is paired with wine and cocktails that focus on whiskey, local brews and an exclusive Old Major Red and Old Major White Colorado’s Infinite Money Wine Theorem. Bar manager Courtney Wilson from Williams & Graham and mixologist Ryan Conklin have joined the team along with Ben Parsons of I-M-T. “This is a Denver Restaurant. We have organic growth in everything from the partnerships to the food,” says Justin.

The restaurant rocks a sleek, contemporary atmosphere inside a former 1940’s roller-skating rink that has been abandoned for years. “We came in and there were spider webs and dirt and I was like this it!” laughs Justin. The incredible build out maintained the original flooring of the skating rink but ceilings, benches and walk planking’s have been replaced with beetle kill wood. The 56 seats in the dining room and 20 seats at the barfill up quickly but don’t let that detour you from stopping by- 20 percent of seating are kept open for walkins.