All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
A boardwalk and patio are part of the new Boulder Reservoir Services Building now open to the public. The facility includes Driftwind Restaurant, locker rooms, meeting space, offices and a play area for children.
Driftwind Restaurant awaits customers for its "elevated concessions" and special events at Boulder Reservoir. Attendance at the reservoir has been slow so far, but the restaurant expects things to pick up with the summer heat.
A new restaurant is dipping its toes into the dining waters at Boulder Reservoir. Driftwind opened with concessions on June 5 and is slowly ramping up over the next weeks and months to include special events, facility rental and, eventually, regular dining overlooking the reservoir.
"There is something special about being by a large body of water," said Driftwind Manager Avara Yaron. "It's comforting, soothing. We're providing meals for people in this beautiful atmosphere."
The waters have been a bit choppy so far with the pandemic delaying things last year. The fallout continued this year as pandemic supply chain issues delayed a critical piece of equipment, a walk-in refrigerator. A liquor license is still pending for several special events and the restaurant just passed its kitchen inspection June 7 after a gas line into the building, owned by the city of Boulder, had been damaged.
The restaurant's next step is "elevated concessions," according to Yaron. It will offer hot food like burgers, including grass fed beef and vegetarian, along with salads and other prepared foods. The goal is to do that by July 4, possibly sooner. Next month, the restaurant is planning the first of several public special events that will raise money for local non-profits. There will be dinners, acoustic music and activities such as paddle board adventures.
"We want to have lovely events that can support really good causes for the community by the beach where people can put their toes in the sand," Yaron said.
The slow ramp up is also a chance for Driftwind to prove itself to reservoir neighbors, showing that it can be a positive community asset that hosts responsible gatherings. Yaron says regular dining services will wait until next year when the plan is to have four-course meals with wine and beer pairings on Fridays and Saturdays and offer family-style dining on Sunday.
The restaurant is part of Dine and Dash Group, owned by Boulder residents Josh and Kate Dinar. The company owns River and Woods Restaurant, T/ACO and Ash'Kara in Boulder, along with other restaurants. It has a five-year lease with the city for the space in the Boulder Reservoir Visitor Service Building.
The shiny new building is a major upgrade. The old one was torn down and construction was completed last year. Along with the restaurant, there are locker rooms, meeting spaces and offices. A boardwalk was added along with a children's play area.
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