The pitmaster behind Denver's Michelin-recommended SMŌK is bringing his smoker skills west on Pearl Street, opening a Baja-inspired Mexican stall inside Avanti Boulder on Nov. 2. Bill Espiricueta, who has run SMŌK since 2018, is calling the new concept Costa Brisa, and it will take over the former Quiero Arepas space on the food hall's first floor.
Espiricueta has owned SMŌK in Denver since 2018 and previously ran Vaca Gordo there as well, but according to dailycamera.com, he wanted to open a new restaurant in Boulder specifically. Costa Brisa will sit inside Avanti Food & Beverage's Boulder location at 1401 Pearl St., joining the collection of stalls under one roof that has become a fixture of the city's downtown dining scene.
The idea for Costa Brisa grew directly out of what was already working at SMŌK. Espiricueta said baja fish tacos at SMŌK drew a strong response and got him thinking about what he could build around that idea, the outlet reports. He described the new menu as a blend of two things he loves: the bright, fresh flavors of coastal Mexican food and the comfort and approachability of Tex-Mex.
What's on the Menu
Costa Brisa's full menu includes a wide variety of tacos, burritos, quesadillas and bowls, per the same report. Among the specialties are shrimp tostadas with guacamole, Baja fish burritos and a California-style burrito loaded with carne asada, cheese and French fries. On weekends, the stall will also offer SMŌK's viral breakfast burrito, giving Boulder diners access to a dish that has already built a following at Espiricueta's Denver restaurant.
The restaurant is set to keep food-hall hours, running Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the report notes.
Joining an Established Food Hall Lineup
Costa Brisa will become the newest addition to a roster of stalls that already includes Bona Coffee Roasters, Boychik, Mangia Panino, New Yorkese and Peko Peko, as well as Rooted Craft Kitchen. Avanti Boulder sits at the corner of 14th and Pearl, a location Boulder Downtown describes as central to the food hall's identity since it opened in 2020. The Avanti concept itself dates back further, having first launched in Denver's LoHi neighborhood in 2015 before expanding to Boulder.
With Costa Brisa's arrival, Boulder diners will get a taste of SMŌK's smoked-meat sensibility filtered through a coastal Mexican lens, all without having to drive to Denver. The Nov. 2 opening adds another local name to a food hall that has steadily built its reputation one stall at a time.
