When Evergreen restaurateurs Tiffani and Rand Packer first visited what had been Morrison’s Café Prague, they immediately felt its pull.
“We sat in that building and said, ‘The answer is yes’,” Tiffani Packer said.
They plan to open an upscale steakhouse called La Rocca Rossa in the Bear Creek Avenue building about July 1. The name translates in Italian to “The Red Rock” — a nod to both Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the surrounding geography.
“It’ll be something completely different, a brand new culinary journey for the area,” said Tiffani Packer, who owns Marshdale’s Evoke 1923 restaurant with her husband and executive chef Rand.
The two have extensive experience in restaurants and hospitality. In Evergreen, the Packers own Murphy’s Mountain Grill, Muddy Buck Cafe, Kiki’s Fresh Bowls andEspresso Evergreen. In Tampa, Florida they own Mekenita Cantina.
The menu will feature fresh pasta daily, a range of meats grilled on an open flame, and “a great wine list from Italy and the surrounding regions,” Tiffani Packer said.
Evoke 1923 describes itself as having, “A stylish yet understated décor,” and “A sophisticated but down-to-earth dining experience” at which “guests are welcome in attire from black tie to just back from the trail.”
Its entrees range from $39 for a grilled, 16-ounce pork chop or wild mushroom chicken lasagna, to $56 for bison short ribs, and La Rocca Rossa will be similar.
“This will be on the same level as Evoke 1923 — really unique food, beautiful on the plate, very dimensional in flavor. We believe in the five senses and in creating that entire experience for our guests.”
The opening of La Rocca Rossa will come about nine months after Café Prague, a 20-year Morrison business, closed abruptly. Its demise shocked regulars who loved the restaurant’s atmosphere and Czech food.
Packer said she and her partner intend to build on Café Prague’s reputation.
“It was such a legacy,” she said. “For us to be able to carry that legacy, and bring that sense of culinary adventure to the town of Morrison — we are just so grateful.”
The Morrison town board unanimously approved La Rocca Rossa’s liquor license application during its June 3 meeting, and fellow business owners welcomed the new operators to town during the public hearing.
“On behalf of the Red Hotel, which will be right next door, we believe this will be favorable for the town,” said Krista Wallace, a member of the Root Architecture team building the hotel.
Tony Rigatoni’s and Rooftop Tavern owner Reza Ardehali, who also owns an Italian restaurant just a block away, said he’s delighted by the new business.
“I would like to welcome our neighbors,” he said. “I am absolutely overjoyed that that block is not dark because we have construction. We have a missing tooth there, and it will be filled. But I cannot be more grateful that our block is lit up again.”