The Fort Collins Coloradoan's top 10 restaurant stories of 2023

Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·5 min read

Fort Collins was hungry for food news in 2023.

The year brought big announcements, from the shakeup of a beloved Fort Collins-born beer to In-N-Out's official entry to Northern Colorado.

Here are the top 10 most-read food and drink stories from this past year.

10. The closure of ND streetBar

The new year kicked off with some big restaurant news when ND streetBar, 100 N. College Ave., shuttered in early-January. The Fort Collins restaurant originally opened as The Kitchen in June 2014 — taking over the longtime Old Town home of Beau Jo's, which vacated the space the previous year in favor of its current location at 205 N. College Ave. The Kitchen later changed its name to Next Door American Eatery in 2019 before rebranding again to ND streetBAR. After sitting vacant for much of 2023, the darkened doors of 100 N. College Ave. may soon see new life as the owners of little — a popular West Mountain Avenue eatery — plan a new concept for the space.

9. Our Tour de Fat guide

Tour de Fat was back in full force this year and, fittingly, our guide to the annual costumed bike parade landed on 2023's most-read list. After being hampered by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, this year marked the parade's second annual return to Mountain Avenue, where costumed cyclists paraded in their best and wackiest getups.

Cheers to a new year: 7 New Year's Eve dinners to try in Fort Collins, Timnath

8. News of a possible Timnath In-N-Out

Customers place their oreder during the opening of Colorado's new In-N-Out location in Loveland, Colo., on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
Customers place their oreder during the opening of Colorado's new In-N-Out location in Loveland, Colo., on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.

While still awaiting Loveland's much-anticipated In-N-Out Burger earlier this year, Coloradoan reporter Pat Ferrier broke the news that the California-based burger chain was also eyeing little Timnath. The company filed a conceptual plan with the town's planning department in late May for a parcel at the northeast corner of Interstate 25 Frontage Road along Weitzel Street in Timnath. According to planning documents, In-N-Out hopes to develop a 3,860-square-foot building with drive-thru and 1,440 square feet of outdoor patio seating to accommodate 134 customers. As of November, In-N-Out's purchase agreement was being finalized and the company was excited about the location, with the project at the "one-yard line," according to Grant Nelson, the developer working on the Ladera project.

7. Our 2023 Great Plates guide

Staff serve dinner at RARE Italian on March 1, 2023, in downtown Fort Collins. Great Plates, the annual fundraiser for the food bank in its 18th year, began on the first of the month and runs until March 14.
Staff serve dinner at RARE Italian on March 1, 2023, in downtown Fort Collins. Great Plates, the annual fundraiser for the food bank in its 18th year, began on the first of the month and runs until March 14.

Fort Collins was hungry for news about Great Plates of Downtown — the annual dining fundraiser that brings $25 meal deals to dozens of Old Town eateries in March and benefits the Food Bank for Larimer County in the process. The two-week event took over 50 participating downtown restaurants, bars, coffee and dessert shops, raising a record $152,382 in donations. Great Plates' 2024 menu specials will be announced Feb. 14.

6. Our list of Fort Collins' top patios

Patrons visit the patio at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in Fort Collins on Aug. 4, 2023.
Patrons visit the patio at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in Fort Collins on Aug. 4, 2023.

Fort Collins-area patios enjoyed their day in the sun this summer when we published this updated guide to the most popular alfresco dining and drinking spots. Each featured patio offered something a little different, from Tiki bar energy or golf course views to live music and lush "Secret Garden" vibes.

5. Ginger Graham named interim Walgreens CEO

Ginger Graham
Ginger Graham

Ginger Graham, the owner and creator of Fort Collins' Ginger and Baker café and bakery, was named interim CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance — the holding company that owns Walgreens in the U.S. and the retail pharmacy chain Boots in the United Kingdom — earlier this year. Graham led the company through its search for Tim Wentworth, who was appointed to the permanent CEO post in October.

Fort Collins restaurant news: 4 spots open in December, 8 will have closed by month's end

4. The winner of our March Madness sandwich bracket

Cade Wright plucks a sandwich from an oven at Cheba Hut on Laurel Street in Fort Collins on Feb. 28, 2023.
Cade Wright plucks a sandwich from an oven at Cheba Hut on Laurel Street in Fort Collins on Feb. 28, 2023.

What is Fort Collins' favorite sandwich? That's the question we asked for the Coloradoan's 2023 March Madness food bracket challenge. Starting out with a field of 32 sandwiches, Coloradoan readers whittled down the list to a final winner: Cheba Hut's white widow toasted sub.

3. What to know ahead of Casa Bonita's much-anticipated reopening

Cliff divers jump during an advanced tour for media members at the soon to re-open Casa Bonita in Lakewood, Colo., on Friday, May 26, 2023.
Cliff divers jump during an advanced tour for media members at the soon to re-open Casa Bonita in Lakewood, Colo., on Friday, May 26, 2023.

Legendary Lakewood restaurant Casa Bonita reopened to much fanfare this summer. So what made the unique eatery's return so interesting? The Coloradoan's Holly Engelman cliff dove into this question, tackling the appeal and nostalgia of Casa Bonita, the story behind its notable new owners and the reputation — and reimaging — of its menu.

2. In-N-Out opens in Loveland

In-N-Out Burger made its Northern Colorado debut in November, marking the end of a long and winding road for the chain's entry to the area. The restaurant's Loveland drive-thru, 1450 Fall River Drive, opened Nov. 10 with one drive-thru lane, indoor seating for 84 customers and a covered patio with outdoor seating for 28 customers. In-N-Out officials first met with Fort Collins officials back in October 2019 to discuss plans for a 3,832-square-foot restaurant at 1700 S. College Ave. — a skinny Midtown business strip that's now home to Newk's Eatery and Dave's Hot Chicken. After abandoning those plans, In-N-Out turned its eyes to Loveland, where it bought the Fall River Drive property in February.

1. New Belgium switches up flagship Fat Tire brew

Community members enjoy a Fat Tire from sponsor New Belgium during NoCo Pride in the Park on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Civic Center Park in Fort Collins.
Community members enjoy a Fat Tire from sponsor New Belgium during NoCo Pride in the Park on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Civic Center Park in Fort Collins.

After 32 years, New Belgium Brewing announced big changes for its flagship Fat Tire beer in early 2023. The brewery tweaked the beer's recipe, packaging and name, turning Fat Tire into Fat Tire Ale — America's first certified carbon neutral beer. The overhaul had been in the works for about a year and had already started to be quietly rolled out on liquor and grocery store shelves when New Belgium announced the change in January.

Coloradoan reporter Pat Ferrier contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: The Fort Collins Coloradoan's top 10 restaurant stories of 2023