The ONE Group, a global restaurant company based in Denver, quietly launched its latest venture, Salt Water Social, in Cherry Creek on November 7. The upscale seafood-focused eatery sits in the former Thirsty Lion space, which has been vacant since 2019.
“Despite not having done any marketing yet, we’re thrilled with the level of business we’ve seen so far,” said Emanuel “Manny” Hilario, CEO of The ONE Group, which also owns multiple locations of STK Steakhouse, Kona Grill, Benihana and RA Sushi.
The concept was initially developed for London and Toronto, but the pandemic brought the project to a halt. It was revived when Hilario and his team came across the space at 201 Columbine St.
“Cherry Creek is a fantastic neighborhood with an educated clientele when it comes to food and wine,” he said. “Denver has become a hub for high-quality restaurants, and since we’re based here, it makes perfect sense to introduce new ideas … where our resources are already located.”
Described as the seafood version of STK (the group’s high-end modern chophouse), Salt Water Social blends fresh seafood and steaks with craft cocktails.
But the pricing is somewhat steep. For example, a Caesar salad rings in at $26, the Dungeness crab cake starter is $41, and the salmon filet entree is $55. That’s notably more expensive than at comparable seafood spots like Ocean Prime and Water Grill, where a Caesar salad is under $20, crab cakes are less than $30, and salmon dinners are in the $45-$49 range.
Hilario emphasized that Salt Water Social does have less expensive happy hour offerings. “We have $3, $6, and $9 options with incredible quality products. While we position ourselves as a fine dining establishment, our happy hour makes our menu more approachable for everyone.”
The design of Salt Water Social clearly draws inspiration from STK while carving out its own identity. Both concepts feature large floral arrangements, a DJ booth, and an undeniably glitzy vibe. While STK leans showcases an almost Vegas-like ambiance with dim mood lighting and hues of black and purple, Salt Water Social channels a sleek nautical aesthetic with its blue and white color palette, mermaid statues and artwork, and white marble countertops. The exterior facade is artfully crafted to mimic ocean waves.
The restaurant also offers weekend brunch, as well as lunch Monday-Friday. The sprawling space has a large wraparound bar, a private dining room that seats up to 20 guests connected to an outdoor patio, and a separate covered patio that can host parties of 40-60 people.
“We like the current environment for openings – we’ve opened five restaurants [of other brands] this year alone. Our strategy focuses not only on the immediate success of a location but also on building a loyal clientele over time, ensuring the long-term potential of each new opening,” said Hilario.
Despite lean times for many restaurants since the pandemic, The ONE Group has expanded its global presence to 168 restaurants across 12 countries – and that’s just the start, according to Hilario. He envisions the STK brand reaching upwards of 200 locations worldwide, and Benihana reaching 400 outposts globally.
Though Hilario noted national potential, the group’s current goal is to make Salt Water Social the best seafood restaurant in Cherry Creek. “After we achieve that, we’ll evaluate how to grow the brand further.”
