Culinary Creative Group

What Culinary Creative Group does

Culinary Creative Group, Inc. is a Denver-headquartered, privately held hospitality company that owns and operates 23 restaurants, bars, and coffee shops across the Denver metropolitan area, Boulder, Aspen, Denver International Airport, and select out-of-state locations including New Orleans. The portfolio comprises 16 unique concepts spanning fine dining (A5 Steakhouse), modern Mediterranean (Ash'Kara), Latin-inspired (Mister Oso, Señor Bear), Italian (Bar Dough), Japanese (Kumoya), Filipino (Magna Kainan), brunch (Fox and the Hen), Puerto Rican bar (Ay Papi), cocktail bars (Sorry Gorgeous, Forget Me Not, Bar Amorina), neighborhood casual (Tap & Burger, Osito), and coffee (Aviano Coffee). The company serves individual diners, groups, private and corporate event clients, and, through an Events & Catering division, books large-scale functions for Denver sports teams, entertainment clients, and corporate buyers.

The business generates revenue through three streams: direct-to-consumer restaurant and bar operations, private events and catering, and a nationwide restaurant consulting practice that delivers conceptual design, financial management, operational management, real estate/retail curation, and event management services to external operators. Distribution is primarily physical (owned restaurant locations) supplemented by a gift card e-commerce channel, while reservations route through the TripleSeat platform and consulting business development occurs through direct enterprise sales. The company has no disclosed proprietary technology platform, mobile app, or AI/ML capabilities; its competitive differentiation rests on Michelin-recognized culinary talent, chef-led mentorship programs, and earned media reputation.

The company was founded in 2010 by Juan Padró, Katie O'Shea, and Kevin Eddy with the opening of Highland Tap & Burger in Denver and has expanded steadily since, including a 2023 partnership with Crescent Communities and Dart Interests to anchor two concepts at the NOVEL RiNo mixed-use development, the November 2024 launch of Magna Kainan with Chef Carlo Lamagna, and a July 2024 SEC Form D filing for a $4,249,499 exempt securities offering. Founder-led with no disclosed institutional private equity ownership, the group functions as a chef incubator that promotes internal talent into Chef de Cuisine roles while also partnering with established culinary figures.

Name

Culinary Creative Group

Legal name

Culinary Creative Group, Inc.

Website

https://theculinarycreative.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Culinary Creative Group is a Denver-headquartered hospitality company that owns and operates 23 restaurants, bars, and coffee shops spanning 16 concepts, while also providing restaurant consulting and large-scale events and catering services to external operators nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant and Hospitality Services

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA), Exclusive Dining Access & Chef’s Table Reservations (HSACAMAJ), Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG)

Keywords

• Restaurant group operations
• Hospitality consulting services
• Fine dining restaurants
• Event catering management
• Cocktail bar concepts

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Restaurant and Bar Operations: Direct-to-consumer revenue from 23 owned and operated restaurants, bars, and coffee shops across Denver, Colorado including fine dining (A5 Steakhouse), casual dining (Tap & Burger), cocktail bars (Sorry Gorgeous, Forget Me Not), and coffee shops (Aviano Coffee). Revenue generated through in-person dining, beverages, and retail gift card sales.
2. Consulting Services: Restaurant consulting services including conceptual design, financial management, operational management, real estate/retail curation, and event management for external restaurant concepts nationwide.
3. Events and Catering: Private event booking and catering services across restaurant portfolio including buyouts, semi-private dining, and large-scale corporate events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Culinary Creative Group owns and operates 23 restaurants, bars, and coffee shops across the Denver metropolitan area spanning fine dining steakhouses, modern Mediterranean, Italian, Japanese, Latin, and Filipino cuisines, as well as cocktail bars and a third-wave coffee shop. In parallel, the company delivers restaurant consulting services—including conceptual design, financial and operational management, real estate curation, and large-scale event management—to hospitality clients nationwide, and books private events and catering through its restaurant portfolio.

Product overview

The Culinary Creative Group is a Michelin-recognized hospitality group operating 16 unique restaurant experiences including steakhouses, Mediterranean restaurants, Japanese sushi bars, Latin-inspired restaurants, cocktail bars, and coffee shops. The portfolio includes A5 Steakhouse (Michelin-recommended), Ash'Kara and Mister Oso (both Michelin Bib Gourmand winners), as well as concepts like Bar Dough, Forget Me Not, Kumoya, Magna Kainan, Señor Bear, Sorry Gorgeous, Fox and the Hen, Aviano Coffee, Ay Papi, Bar Amorina, and Tap & Burger. In addition to restaurant operations, the company offers consulting services including conceptual design, financial management, operational management, real estate curation, and event management for restaurant projects nationwide. The company has also developed restaurants in Aspen, CO and New Orleans, LA through strategic partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A5 Steakhouse Three-time Michelin Guide Recommended steakhouse in downtown Denver featuring wood-fired steaks, seam butchery, fresh seafood, and creative cocktails in a restored historic building; named #1 Steakhouse in America by Tasting Table.
• Ash'Kara Three-time Michelin Bib Gourmand winner in Denver's LoHi neighborhood offering modern Mediterranean cuisine centered around wood-fired cooking and communal dining traditions from North Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.
• Aviano Coffee Denver's original third-wave artisanal coffee shop with over 20 years of operation, offering meticulously sourced coffees at locations in Cherry Creek, Denver International Airport, and Boulder at the Moxy Hotel.
• Ay Papi Latin-inspired restaurant and bar celebrating Puerto Rican and Latin culture with vibrant cocktails, art, music, and cultural pop-up events in Denver.
• Bar Dough Modern Italian restaurant in Denver's LoHi neighborhood featuring housemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and inventive small plates with a stylish bar scene.
• Bar Amorina Italian-inspired cocktail bar in Cherry Creek featuring hand-stretched mozzarella, elegant small plates, spritzes, Negronis, and signature martinis with vibrant patio seating.
• Forget Me Not Upscale craft cocktail bar in a restored former flower shop featuring flower, spice, and bark-infused cocktails; featured in Bon Appétit and consistently recognized on Denver's best bar lists.
• Fox and the Hen All-day breakfast and brunch restaurant in LoHi from Top Chef finalist Carrie Baird, serving inventive morning dishes alongside great coffee and cocktails.
• Kumoya Japanese kitchen and sushi restaurant in Denver's LoHi neighborhood featuring traditional sushi, modern izakaya-style dishes, and kappo-style dining with an authentic dry-aged fish program; recognized on multiple Best Sushi in Denver lists by 5280 Magazine.
• Magna Kainan Filipino restaurant in Denver's RiNo district featuring a woodfired approach to Filipino comfort food, a collaboration between Chef Carlo Lamagna and The Culinary Creative Group.
• Mister Oso Three-time Michelin Bib Gourmand winner with locations in Denver's RiNo Arts District, Wash Park, Boulder, Denver International Airport, and New Orleans; features smoked meat tacos, Peruvian ceviches, and Latin-inspired cuisine with a tropical vibe.
• Señor Bear Latin-inspired restaurant and bar in Denver's LoHi neighborhood drawing from Peruvian, Brazilian, Puerto Rican, and Mexican culinary traditions with refined modern techniques.
• Sorry Gorgeous Premier rooftop cocktail bar perched atop Novel RiNo offering panoramic views of the Denver skyline and mountains, featuring expertly crafted cocktails and serving as an event venue for weddings and gatherings.
• Tap & Burger Neighborhood gathering spot with locations in Highland, Sloan's Lake, Westminster, and DTC offering gourmet burgers, craft beer, sports viewing, and casual dining with locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
• 7908 Aspen Aspen's supper club in a mountain resort setting offering an authentic Aspen experience for early evening dining and late-night dancing, developed through consulting partnership with The Culinary Creative Group.
• Maine Shack Authentic New England-style restaurant bringing traditional shack fare including steamed and fried clams, lobster rolls, and clam chowder to Denver, developed in partnership with owner Drew Ryan.
• Osito Fast-casual version of Mister Oso serving smoked meat tacos, mission-style burritos, empanadas, and frozen margaritas in a casual setting.
• Prost Brewing Co. (Menu Consulting) Menu consulting project for a German-style craft brewery, creating food offerings to complement their German-style biers and support their beer garden expansion under Chef Max Mackissock.
• Sofia Modern Italian-inspired restaurant in New Orleans featuring house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and oven-roasted meats, partnered with the Sofia Foundation for culinary arts scholarships for underserved public schools.
• Restaurant Consulting Services Professional consulting engagements for restaurant operators, developers, and hospitality groups nationwide covering conceptual design, financial management, operational management, real estate/retail curation, and large-scale event management for 1,000–20,000 guests.
• Events and Catering Private event booking and catering services across the restaurant portfolio, including buyouts, semi-private dining, large-scale corporate events, weddings, and receptions for Denver sports teams, top recording artists, celebrities, and corporate clients.
• Culinary Creative Group Gift Card The Culinary Creative Group gift card redeemable across the company's portfolio of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, available for purchase at restaurant host stands, by phone, or in bulk orders of 10+ cards via Google Form.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six Michelin Guide recognitions across portfolio
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Crescent CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2023Developer Crescent Communities partnered with Dart Interests and The Culinary Creative Group to bring Magna Kainan to NOVEL RiNo, a 483-unit mixed-use apartment complex. This partnership resulted in two restaurant concepts at the property.
• Dart InterestsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2023Dart Interests partnered with Crescent Communities and The Culinary Creative Group to develop restaurant concepts at the NOVEL RiNo property.
• 7908 AspenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner7908 Aspen is a supper club concept in Aspen, CO developed through consulting partnership with The Culinary Creative Group. The company provided conceptual design and operational management expertise.
• Maine ShackminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine Shack brings authentic New England fare including steamed and fried clams, lobster rolls, and clam chowder to Denver. Owner Drew Ryan partnered with The Culinary Creative Group to open the concept.
• OsitominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsito is a fast-casual version of celebrated Mister Oso serving smoked meat tacos, burritos, and snacks in Denver. Operated as an extension of the Mister Oso concept.
• Prost Brewing Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Culinary Creative Group was hired to design a menu for Prost Brewing Co., a German-style craft brewery in Colorado. Chef Max Mackissock created a full food menu to complement their German-style biers, transforming the venue from relying on food trucks to a full beer garden.
• SofiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSofia is a modern Italian-inspired restaurant in New Orleans partnered with the Sofia Foundation to provide scholarships for underserved public schools. The Culinary Creative Group consulted on the restaurant's development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises: Chicago-based multi-concept restaurant group operating ~100+ restaurants under one corporate umbrella with a chef-driven, mentor-heavy culture. Closest US analog to CCG's model of diversified, chef-led full-service concepts across a single metro.
• Union Square Hospitality Group: Danny Meyer's NYC-based hospitality group operating multiple full-service concepts (Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, Shake Shack spin-outs) plus a consulting arm. Highly comparable diversified fine dining + casual portfolio with explicit consulting services.
• Boka Restaurant Group: Chicago multi-concept group led by Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz with Michelin-starred flagships (Boka, Alinea partnership, Girl & the Goat). Directly mirrors CCG's chef-partner, multi-cuisine, Michelin-credentialed operating model.
• One Off Hospitality Group: Chicago-based group (Blackbird, Avec, The Publican) operating chef-driven neighborhood concepts with strong culinary credentials. Comparable in concept diversity, scale, and chef-partnership structure.
• MINA Group: Michael Mina's SF-based hospitality group operating multiple Michelin-decorated restaurants. Comparable portfolio of award-winning fine dining concepts under chef-operator leadership.
• Hogsalt Hospitality: Chicago hospitality group operating diverse concepts (Au Cheval, Bavette's, Green Street Smoked Meats). Similar diversified full-service and bar concepts with strong chef-driven positioning.
• Hillstone Restaurant Group: Multi-concept operator of upscale-casual dining brands (Hillstone, Houston's, R+D Kitchen, Honor Bar) across multiple US markets. Comparable multi-brand full-service operating model at similar geographic scale.
• 50 Eggs Hospitality: John Kunkel's Miami-based hospitality group operating chef-driven concepts including Swine, Stubborn Seed, and Yōgōtō. Comparable emerging multi-concept operator with a chef incubator approach.

Broad incumbents

• Cipriani: Global hospitality and food & beverage brand operating fine dining restaurants, bars, and event venues worldwide. Comparable multi-format hospitality model at materially larger international scale.
• TAO Group Hospitality: Large-scale hospitality operator combining restaurants, lounges, and nightlife venues (TAO, Marquee, Lavo). Comparable mix of full-service restaurants and high-energy cocktail/rooftop venues with event-driven revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/theculinarycreativegroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/The-Culinary-Creative-Group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-culinary-creative-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Culinary Creative Group