The team behind Denver's beloved Yacht Club cocktail bar has opened something completely different in Five Points—and it might be even better. Rougarou, the cozy-cool tribute to Southern cuisine from McLain Hedges, Mary Allison Wright, and her brother, executive chef John David Wright, is bringing thoughtful, soulful food to Welton Street.
With a name drawn from Cajun folklore's legendary werewolf creature, Rougarou embraces the mystery and warmth of Southern hospitality. The beverage program, unsurprisingly given the owners' Yacht Club pedigree, is exceptional. Cocktails like the Sorghum Daiquiri and the Bananas Foster Julep capture the spirit of the South in liquid form, while a small but smart wine selection rounds out the options.
But the real surprise is the food. Executive chef John David Wright has created a menu that's both innovative and deeply rooted in Southern tradition. The West Indies crab salad with butter crackers nods to Gulf Coast classics. The hot-and-sour catfish offers a creative twist on a regional staple. Fairytale eggplant with ancho chile peanut butter and ricotta salata brings unexpected global influences to familiar flavors.
Dessert is not to be missed: the rice pudding with pumpkin-white chocolate ganache and pecan praline is already developing a devoted following.
What makes Rougarou special is how it honors Southern food traditions while bringing something completely new to Denver. This isn't a recreation of a New Orleans po'boy shop or a Nashville hot chicken joint. It's a thoughtful, personal interpretation of the South that could only exist here.
For Five Points, Rougarou adds another excellent option to an already vibrant dining scene. For Denver's Southern food lovers, it's a revelation.