It’s often been said, “What’s old is new again.” Happily this concept is prevalent in numerous commercial and residential redevelopment projects throughout Denver. The result is a pro­gressive city that prides itself in neighborhood rejuvenation rather than uncontrolled urban sprawl. So what does this have to do with dining? When you make a visit to the newly opened Encore Restaurant, you’ll witness a fine example of this revitalization.

    Some fellow “foodie” friends joined me recently for dinner at Encore.   The restaurant is located on Colfax, just west of Clayton St. with public parking conveniently nearby. From the street, the building’s architecture exudes a modish urban contemporary vibe, and after delving into the building’s history, it’s immediately obvious why. Located in the former Lowenstein Theatre complex, the restaurant was cre­ated on the premise of preserving the artsy, theatri­cal elements of the historic theatre. As the second venture of restaurateurs Steve Whited and chef Sean Huggard, who are also partners of the successful Black Pearl restaurant, Encore opened its doors to the public in mid-December 2007. Whited and Hug­gard are both very passionate about conservation, so in addition to preserving original elements of the the­atre, such as the old Lowenstein sign that hangs prominently inside of the dining room and the orig­inal backstage doors that now serve as the entrance to a private dining room; the owners employ sustainable green practices in their restaurants. For instance, old cooking oil grease is provided to a local grease­-to-­gas producer, and the restaurant uses biodegradable sug­arcane to-go containers as well as 100 ­percent recy­cled paper products.   

    Taking a cue from its former space, the lounge is located where the Lowenstein ticket office once stood and is appropriately called the Box Office Lounge. The scene is young and trendy, featuring an elegant, granite-­topped bar and several high-­top ta­bles where customers are sipping martinis and nib­bling on appetizers. In the corner sits a grand piano, which is played on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

    The long, narrow dining room is modern, bright and min­imalist in design, boasting plenty of natural light. Seating consists of several four­-tops that align one side of the room along side windows that overlook an outdoor patio area facing the street. Several circular tables with seating for up to six are arranged in the center of the room while the opposite wall consists of “diner­style” booth seating for two. Behind that wall is a glass encased wine cellar containing a couple hundred bot­tles, and further back are the two large “backstage” doors that open into a small private dining room with seating for up to 10. Oppo­site is a bustling open kitchen area.