Hi Chris!
Can you tell us your backstory leading up to owning “Champagne Tiger”?
Chris Donato, Owner, moved to Denver from Boston in 2005. After working at the St. Julien Hotel and Spa for a number of years, he joined Bobby Stuckey at Frasca Food and Wine. Donato worked all FOH positions before taking the job of General Manager at the original Pizza Locale. After the brand partnered with Chipotle Mexican Grill, Donato became Brand Director and helped the chain grow to nine locations, before leaving in 2022.
Champagne Tiger has operated since 2021 as a marketing events company collaborating with Denver’s best restaurants to host the city’s most luxurious drag events. The sold out pop-ups mix grower Champagne and caviar with drag entertainment and dollar bills. Hosting events at Sunday Vinyl, Major Tom, The Bindery, The Clayton Club, X Denver, Brasserie Brixton and more.
What style can we expect to see inside Champagne Tiger versus the old Tom’s Diner Spot?
Champagne Tiger is a high energy French American diner where guests come to celebrate everyday. Comfortable to be in, easy to enjoy and focused on making everyday a celebration. Champagne Tiger provides a space for people to celebrate special occasions, gather with friends before a night out and is a food focused alternative to the existing Denver drag brunch experiences. It’s a restaurant that knows how to have a good time. There, The Tiger’s Den is a 6-8 person Private Dining room (perfect for birthday and other small celebrations), a gorgeous landscaped patio available for Corporate Functions and larger celebrations like weddings and large family gatherings.
American diner meets French Brasserie with perfectly executed menu classics and encouraging hospitality brought to life by a best in class team with a proven track record of opening and operating nationally renowned restaurants. Weekly shows including the Wednesday Night Cabaret will feature a three-course meal showcasing housemade pasta for $39 and Denver’s Most Luxurious Drag Brunch with two shows (10:30,1:30) Sunday will highlight queer performative art (Drag Queens, pianists, violist and singers) and a memorable dining experience. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended.
Champagne Tiger is the perfect first stop before a night out on Colfax or before heading to X Bar, Charlies. the Fillmore or the Ogden for a show. Unlike Tom’s Diner, Champagne Tiger will not be open 24hrs and will focus on quality everyday classic bistro and diner menu items.
What neighborhood can we find Champagne Tiger?
Champagne Tiger is located in Uptown on Colfax, in what is now being called Lavender Hill – Denver’s Queer Cultural District. Due to the rowdy but elegant energy Champagne Tiger offers, the corner of Colfax and Pearl felt like the perfect place for the diner. Chris and his husband Jeff live two blocks away and wanted to open the diner in his neighborhood where they have a community of supporters already excited about Champagne Tiger. There are wonderful places to grab chicken tenders, pizza and gyros in the area but there isn’t a place to sit down and enjoy a full meal and well made cocktails. We hope Champagne Tiger will be the place for people to go before heading out on Colfax.
What can people expect out the Luxurious Drag Performances that you will offer?
From 7-9 on Wednesday nights Champagne Tiger offers live piano, sometimes accompanied by live vocals or violin. All Wednesdays we offer a three course meal with seasonal salad, fresh handmade pasta and a dessert. The beverage of choice on Wednesday’s are Martinis which are on special all night long.
Sundays are all about Drag! Champagne Tiger is partnering with Denver’s premier Drag entertainers to curate Sunday shows that showcase joyful, celebratory, SUPER talented and often hilarious Drag. Champagne Tiger is proud to announce shows with the House the Misdemeanor, Dixie and Anastaysha Krystlas, Pony & Anita Goodman, The Paula’s, Scout and more. There’s nothing better than a perfectly made omelet, oysters, champagne for mimosas and Denver’s best Drag shows.
Champagne Tiger will focus on performative Drag, that highlights entertainers other talents like singing, piano, humor and creativity.
What types of Food + Drinks can be expected on the menu?
Champagne Tiger is a restaurant that knows how to have a good time, serving only delicious food and playing with the tensions between rowdy and elegant. Mixing grower Champagne and caviar with joyous entertainment- Champange Tiger is an invititaiton to celebrate. The menu highlights recognizable American diner classics like omelets, waffles, french fries, burgers and BLTs while weaving in brasserie staples like schnitzel, roast chicken, oysters and beef tartare. It’s accessible for everyday dining, but the perfect place to celebrate special occasions.
The bar offers playful cocktails, a robust N/A program and a “high-low” wine list. Enjoy thoughtfully selected weekday wines or splurge on a bottle from “The Hits” reserve list. Champagne is the focus but popular wines are offered by the glass. Or get an ice cold Arnold Palmer.
What challenges have you faced along your journey?
Funding – opening your first restaurant is financially very difficult. You don’t yet have credit for the business or a proven track record owning your own restaurant so it’s challenging to qualify for loans. You have to put your entire financial future on the line in hopes of being successful and that may not be enough. We are very fortunate to have dedicated investors who believe in us but are still looking for a few more who believe in our vision to make sure we’re fully funded.
How would you describe the personality or “Vibe” of Denver?
Well that’s a loaded question – Denver is a lot of different things to a lot of different people. What I love about Denver is that people are encouraging towards new ventures and want other people to succeed. I’m grateful that over the years every person I know in the hospitality business has shared their time, knowledge and contacts with me. Without all the amazing guests we have and the hospitality professionals supporting us we wouldn’t have gotten this far.
Website + Social Media for “Champagne Tiger”?
For more detailed information about us on our website at www.ChampagneTiger.com
HOURS OF OPERATION
MON & TUES – CLOSED
WED & THURS – 4:30 – 10:00 PM
FRI: 4:30 – 11:00 PM
SAT: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
SUN: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
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