A Colorado Classic Returns to Denver 🍕

Beau Jo's closed its South Colorado Boulevard location a few years back, and honestly, that felt like a small loss for Denver. Not a dramatic one — you could always make the drive to Idaho Springs, and plenty of people do — but having it in the city mattered. So when I heard they just opened a new spot across from DU, I went pretty much immediately.

The timing is interesting. They just opened last week, which means right now is probably the quietest it's going to be for a while. Once the fall semester starts and DU students figure out there's a Beau Jo's within walking distance, I'd expect weekend waits. Going now, before that happens, is a reasonable idea.

What Beau Jo's Actually Is

If you grew up in Colorado, you already know. If you didn't, here's the short version: Beau Jo's makes what they call Colorado Mountain Pies — thick, heavy, braided-crust pizzas that are more of a meal than most pizzas have any right to be. The crust is substantial enough that they put honey on the table specifically for it, so you can dip the extra crust at the end. It sounds like a gimmick. It's not — that combination works, and it's been working for over 50 years since they started in Idaho Springs.

The pizzas are big and dense and meant to be shared. If you're used to Neapolitan or New York-style thin crust, this is going to feel like a different category of food entirely, which is fine, but worth knowing going in. My wife and I split a medium and had no trouble finishing it, but we were also pretty hungry.

The Experience at the New Location

The space feels right for the neighborhood — relaxed, nothing fancy, the kind of place you'd bring a group of people who can't agree on anything but pizza. The menu is built around the Mountain Pies, which come in different sizes and with a solid range of toppings. They also have smaller pies if you're going solo or just want something lighter, which is useful.

The crust is the main character here. It's bready and slightly sweet, and the braided edge gives you something to actually hold onto. The sauce is straightforward, not trying to do too much, which lets the toppings come through. I went with a combination that included green chiles, which is a Colorado instinct at this point and a good call — it adds some heat without overwhelming the whole thing.

Service was quick and friendly. It has the energy of a place that just opened and is still excited about it, which tends to fade over time but is nice while it lasts.

What Works and What Doesn't

The crust-and-honey thing is genuinely good and worth trying even if you're skeptical. The pizzas are filling to a degree that some people might find surprising — this is mountain food, built for people who've been hiking, not a light Tuesday lunch. If you're in the mood for something more delicate, this isn't the spot.

The prices are reasonable for what you're getting — a medium pie is shareable and won't hurt too much. Parking around DU can be a little annoying depending on when you go, but it's not a dealbreaker.

One honest context point: this is comfort food with a Colorado identity, not a pizza revelation. People who love Beau Jo's love it partly because it's tied to Colorado in a specific way — Idaho Springs road trips, ski season, that whole thing. The pizza itself is good. The nostalgia makes it better. If you're new to it, you might land somewhere between "I get it" and "I really get it," and either reaction is fair.

Beau Jo's being back in Denver is a good thing. It's worth going before the DU crowd settles in this fall — grab a Mountain Pie, try the honey on the crust, and see where you land.