“Pre-game, post-ride, positive vibes.”
That’s the promise of High Country, the new restaurant on Pearl Street set to open on April 22. The chef and owners, whom diners might know from their other restaurant, Gemini, created their latest Colorado craft food and beverage experience to showcase burgers, wings, barbecue, fries and beer to fuel an active, high-energy, high-altitude crowd.
Executive Chef Brian Pierce set the scene for their vision: Potential future customers are out at 2 in the afternoon and want to pre-game somewhere before going out again. Or maybe they’ve just come off the mountain at 4 p.m. after hiking or riding for six hours. High Country is the spot to top off the day or grab a bite before going out, he said.
Continuing a whimsical play on the word “high,” the interior decor showcases some out-of-this-world artwork. This includes alternate reality and space images, a mythical jackalope, and Jetson-style white chairs with comfortable cushions.
In the main front dining area, there are two diner-style marquee signs hanging above the open kitchen with rotating messages. The second room features a full-length bar where guests can enjoy local draft beers, approachable wines and signature cocktails (alcohol and zero-proof options) created with fresh juice and herbal highlights. The drinks are named with a local flair, including Frozen Dead Guy, Steamboat Slide, Skin Up, Wildflower and Starshine.
“It is important for us to put as much care and attention to the non-alcoholic items, with fresh, juicy, fun, lively, energetic stuff on that side of the menu, because it’s delicious, healthy and great,” said Pierce.
Pierce leads an experienced team in launching the venture — High Country is a family-run business. Brian’s wife, Elizabeth Neckes, manages behind the scenes; her twin sister, Catherine Neckes, is the executive pastry chef; and Catherine’s husband, Michael Mehiel, is the managing partner, handling front-of-the-house operations. The group opened Gemini, next door, in November 2021, focusing on contemporary Spanish food and wine and its international influences.
When Hapa Sushi moved from its location on the bricks farther west on Pearl, opening the space next to Gemini, the team knew it was the opportunity they’d been looking for to expand.
“We love the atmosphere and the energy on Pearl Street and jumped at the chance to build a second restaurant on the bricks,” Mehiel said.
The restaurant will open daily at 11:30 a.m. and has more than 100 seats, with most inside and up to 24 seats outside on the mall. The menu, available all day, features a variety of fun desserts and even milkshakes. Dishes made for sharing include Car Camper Cheese Fries with pepper jack, pickled Fresno chili, black beans, charred corn, avocado crema and tomatillo salsa, as well as Hippie Dip with spicy roasted carrot and sunflower seed hummus and crunchy market veggies. Main dishes include Bonanza Brisket, a slow-smoked brisket glistening in a special recipe red-eye sauce; Fried Trout with Cadillac Ranch; and the Mile High Burger, a double stack of certified Angus beef, pepper jack, bacon, frizzled onions, avocado aioli, lettuce, tomato and pickled onion.
There are also sandwiches, bowls and salads, with vegetarian and gluten-free options. And yes, there are fries: hand-cut quarter-inch, blanched and double-fried for optimum crispiness, served with dipping options like chipotle aioli and what Pierce describes as their “killer ranch.” A dedicated gluten-free fryer is used to prevent cross-contamination.
“You can come here with anybody and find a path towards having a great time,” Pierce said. “It’s a welcoming environment that’s high energy and geared towards a good time, and we have options to accommodate all lifestyles and dietary choices.”
And for those of us who start with the dessert menu and work our way backward to a meal choice, don’t overlook the retro-chic offerings from Executive Pastry Chef Catherine Neckes, who honed her skills in classic Americana desserts at Christina Tosi’s award-winning Milk Bar in New York City.
High Country desserts feature classic favorites:
- Lemon bars with a pastry crust and macerated seasonal berries.
- Carrot cake topped with brown butter cream cheese frosting.
- Brownie sundae with vanilla ice cream, rye whisky caramel, and candied pecans.
- Pineapple fruit cup with coconut sorbet, cardamom citrus syrup, and coconut crunchies.
High Country’s doors will officially open to the public on April 22, welcoming diners for a casual meal with eclectic mountain vibes.
High Country
Location: 1117 Pearl Street, Boulder
Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m, Monday-Thursday, and until 10 p.m., weekends
Summary: Flavorful comfort foods to fuel a high-energy outdoors clientele who appreciate fresh craft cocktails in a high-vibe atmosphere.
What’s the address??
1117 Pearl Street