Help us to build the Backyard at River and Woods, and then come this summer to enjoy the taste of Colorado Comfort Cuisine you helped to create!

Imagine an outdoor restaurant space where you can come to enjoy great food and great company under the open sky, a place for date nights and family nights and warm weekend brunches, a place to gather with friends, to enjoy a drink from a converted airstream bar and some live acoustic music, a place to hold private parties and receptions, and to embrace the amazing outdoor and culinary culture of the little mountain hamlet that remains at the heart of Boulder-town. 

 

The large, fully-enclosed backyard oasis will provide a space unlike anything else in Boulder. With a grassy area for kids to run, an outdoor rotisserie and food bar, a mobile beer, wine and cocktail bar, strung lights and beautiful landscaping, the Backyard at River and Woods will be a truly special community experience. 

Once upon a time, an historic old home on the east end of Pearl Street was made iconic by John's Restaurant, one of Boulder's first fine dining establishments. Forty years later, Chef John and his family wanted to ensure that the little house would remain a place to embody a culinary legacy, an authentic space where the community could come to connect through great food. 

Enter River and Woods, a true community restaurant serving an unprecedented taste of Colorado Comfort Cuisine, opening summer 2016. 

River and Woods is a joint endeavor of Chef Daniel Asher and Josh Dinar. 

Daniel is the culinary wizard behind some of Denver's buzziest eateries, including root down, linger, and Ophelia's. 

Josh is co-owner of the Boulder hotspot T|ACO, co-founder of Boulder's Restaurant Week, and publisher of DiningOut Magazine. 

Together, they hope to breathe new life into this one-of-a-kind space, simultaneously honoring its history and energizing its vibe. 

The backyard isn't all that we're changing in this amazing restaurant space! We're re-energizing this iconic building, simultaneously paying homage to and re-defining its history. An enclosed front porch waiting area opens to a front bar with a vaulted roof and hand-hewn framing. Beams from a Colorado silver mine create an entryway to a warm, intimate dining area featuring barn wood ceilings. And finally, a sleek, updated kitchen space offers unique “food bar” seating, So guests are a part of the action. 

The $30,000 we're looking to raise will cover a small portion of the overall costs to build the Backyard at River and Woods. Because it will be designed as a true community gathering space, we want to offer the opportunity for our community to be a part of its vision and execution. 

Those who contribute will be a part of our family. You'll be recognized on a wall of founders, kept up-to-date on the restaurant construction as it happens, and, of course, be invited in to recoup your investment in amazing food and sweet gear! Contribute at higher levels, and you'll also be invited to an exclusive opening party or have the opportunity for a private dining experience hosted by Chef Daniel. 

(Eat in the kitchen at River and Woods)

Aside from contributing financially, there are other ways to join the River and Woods experience. As a part of a regularly-rotating menu, we invite the community to submit the recipes that mean the most to them. On a regular basis, Chef Daniel and his crew will choose from those recipes, experiment with them, invite the submitter to a special tasting event, and ultimately showcase your dish—and its story—to guests at River and Woods. Pretty cool, huh? 

Lastly, we ask that you help us spread the word by sharing our campaign with your own friends and family through your social media networks. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and reach out to us any time with thoughts, suggestions or anything else. We look forward to seeing you this summer in your own Backyard at River and Woods!