Soaring to new culinary heights at DIA
No one wants to hang out at the airport, but sometimes because of layovers, missed flights, or just long security lines, a few hours in the terminal is in the cards. Luckily, at Denver International Airport (DIA), staying around a while might not be too taxing. In fact, your taste buds just might thank you for the extra stop on the journey.
DIA has been pursuing a transformation of the airport experience called the “Great Hall Project,” and part of the plan includes a larger selection of dining options. The airports takes proposal requests from vendors and evaluates each proposal and how it will fit into the overall airport scheme.
“In order to meet the needs of the traveling public, DEN publishes requests for proposals, and any qualified individual or group is able to submit a proposal,” said Alex Renteria, public information officer at DIA.
“DEN currently operates a 171,000-square-foot concession area with over 140 different options and selects a panel of employees, community member[s], and airline member[s] to evaluate each proposal and score [each] based on several factors,” explained Renteria.
While you can still order food from the regular places like Wolfgang Puck, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A and Panda Express, DIA has started offering more and more local options.
Root Down is a local and perennial favorite that has been at DIA since 2013, along with other newer local go-tos like Snooze, Snarf’s Sandwiches and Elway’s. Starbucks has increased its presence in the concourses, and Denver-based Dazbog Coffee has plans for 2022 and will eventually have locations in three concourses.
Another local coffee shop in DIA is Kabod Coffee, a minority, woman-owned business that serves Ethiopian coffee along with baked goods and food from Share Good Foods. More local food options moving into DIA include Novo Coffee, Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen, Mercantile Dining & Provision and Superfruit Republic, to name a few.
Along with the various national and local food options, ordering food in different ways is also on the table. Food orders can be delivered to you in the airport depending on the restaurant by a service called “Eats Delivered,” an app that will deliver food to a designated place in the terminal or the desired gate. For more information on this unique service, visit flydenver.com/eatsdelivered. For a complete list of restaurants at DIA,visit flydenver.com/enjoy_relax/dine.
Article and photos by Bryan Goodland
