Something new is cooking in Keystone. Three new restaurants, along with a lively slopeside bar called Kindred Spirit, are set to open next year in Kindred Resort, the new hotel & base area development located in the prime mountainside spot next to the River Run Gondola in Keystone.
Chef Eric Berggren will return to Summit County after 20 years of culinary training and high-end dining experience in California, Boston and Eagle County to join the Rocky Mountain Hospitality team and lead the opening of two of the three restaurants: Goodz Tavern, which will offer an elevated twist on favorite ski town dishes, and Kinji, a sushi and Asian fusion spot. The third restaurant will be named Lula’s Restaurant, nestled within Kindred Hotel’s lobby and managed by Vail Resorts as part of the RockResorts luxury collection.
Kindred Resort is expected to open by summer of 2025 as one of the largest and most luxurious new ski-front real estate developments in the Colorado Rockies, and will feature a 107-room upscale hotel that’s flanked by two towers of luxury residences, a private club, retail, a spa, meeting and event space, in addition to the three new restaurants and lobby bar.
The “Next Big Thing”
Referred to as “the next big thing” by Forbes Magazine, Kindred is a transformational project for Summit County that being brought to life by a group of Colorado mountain town developers, including long-time Summit local and entrepreneur, Shervin “Shevy” Rashidi. Rashidi also is the owner of Rocky Mountain Hospitality, the restaurant group that’s opening Goodz and Kinji, and owns 13 other restaurants and culinary businesses in Breckenridge, Keystone, Silverthorne, Copper, Beaver Creek and Lakewood, including Sauce on the Blue, Kucu, Quandary Grill, Enza’s Deli, Inxpot Coffee and Sauce on the Rocks.
According to Rashidi, Kindred is a game changer that’s designed to bring more energy to Keystone, as well as to shake up the culinary scene.
“At Kindred, we’re introducing the first sushi restaurant to Keystone, and will work with the team to ensure we have dining options at Kindred that are open year round,” says Rashidi. “Our goal is for Kindred to be a gathering spot and social hub, and to become the best slopeside venue in the ski industry to host weddings, events and conference groups. We want to strategically drive more business for our new town and other local businesses, especially during the historically off-peak times of spring and fall. We feel as if Kindred will add a spark of energy to Keystone and help to attract a new clientele and more business.”
Elevating the Experience
According to Ryan Geller and Scott Russell, Rashidi’s other Kindred development partners, Kindred is being built as the base area lodge and a community gathering spot for Keystone’s River Run village, as well as building a lot of excitement in the community for the public spaces and new restaurants.
“Our community has been waiting 20+ years for this real estate development of Kindred to come along,” says Rashidi. Russell added, “Kindred is setting a new standard. We’ll be the first ski-in hotel in Keystone, and we’ve redefined luxury real estate sales in Summit County with the success of the pre-sales for our 95 luxury residences. Right now, more than 85 percent of the Kindred Residences are under contract.”
Kindred is elevating the service and luxury to a level never before experienced in Summit County. According to Geller, “Kindred will roll out the red carpet and offer 4.5-star-level service, while staying true to our roots of being a family-friendly resort offering a warm welcome. It’s an exciting time for the Summit County community.”
Rashidi is excited about the return of Chef Berggren whom he initially hired in 1999 at Kickapoo Tavern, another Keystone restaurant, before he was promoted to the executive chef at Rashidi’s own restaurant, Quandary Grille in Breckenridge. Chef Berggren left Summit County in 2005 for California where he then graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts School and worked at La Cachette Restaurant, The Valley Hunt Club, Fairmont Miramar Hotel, Blue Plate Restaurant, L’Auberge Hotel Del Mar and Creative Artist Agency, as well as at Sensing in Boston and other private chef positions. For Chef Berggren and Rashidi, the Kindred restaurants are a homecoming and an opportunity to come full circle.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the Kindred team and infuse a touch of elegance into every dish,” says Chef Berggren. “My vision is to craft an experience through approachable yet refined cuisine, showcasing the finest ingredients Colorado has to offer. I aim to bring unexpected flavors to the table, enhancing the unique, welcoming experience at Kindred in Keystone, Colorado.”
Here’s the overview of Kindred’s new restaurants. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served at Kindred Resort.
Lula’s Restaurant, located in the Kindred lobby, next to The Kindred Spirit bar
Lula’s will serve modern Colorado cuisine featuring an upscale farm-to-table flair. The restaurant is named in honor of Lula Myers, one of the original settlers of the Keystone area whose homestead was situated where Kindred is being constructed. Lula was a local school teacher and is the namesake of the popular “Schoolmarm” ski trail at Keystone Ski Resort. According to the Kindred team, it’s fitting to name the Kindred Hotel restaurant after Lula since she was known for creating a warm and welcoming home with festive social gatherings and excellent food. Lula’s Restaurant will embody this spirit and provide an ideal backdrop to gather with friends, family or a corporate group, serving up modern twists on classic Colorado favorites in the private dining room, spacious main dining area or the outdoor patio overlooking the Snake River.
Kinji Sushi, located next to the River Run Gondola
Kinji is a highly anticipated new addition to the Keystone culinary scene and will be the only sushi restaurant in Keystone that also serves Asian fusion menu items. Chef Berggren will honor Japanese traditions at Kinji, while showcasing both local and international flavors. Kinji will feature a long sushi bar with some cozy seating, along with a dining area that can also be reserved for private events and celebrations. The restaurant is located on the gondola plaza level in River Run Village with large windows overlooking the world-class trails of Keystone Ski Resort and is expected to be open winter and summer.
Goodz Tavern, situated next to the River Run Gondola
Goodz is where you’ll go to get the apres-ski – or apres-bike – goods, er “Goodz.” The outdoor patio offers a prime people-watching, ski-viewing spot in Keystone, right in the heart of the River Run Village. The Kindred team expects Goodz to be on the top 10 list of apres-ski decks and will be a popular hot spot no matter the season. Chef Berggren and his team will be slow cooking the “goodz” with slow-cooked meats, and offering an elevated twist on the best ski resort favorite dishes. Think upscale tavern food.
Kindred Spirit, located in the lobby and living room of Kindred
Another addition to the mix will be: Kindred Spirit, the lively lobby bar where kindred spirits gather in the “living room of Keystone” with a stunning view of the slopes, sipping on signature cocktails, whiskey tastings and an extensive mocktail menu.
Kindred will also serve up signature experiences to guests and owners, such as an extensive s’mores menu available in the courtyard, in the lobby bar and through room service to hotel & residence guests and owners.
For more information, visit www.kindredresort.com to learn about Kindred’s hotel, residences and club, in addition to the dining experiences set to open in 2025.
