Bonanno bringing Japanese-Italian fusion to Larimer Square

Romyo, a new restaurant from Bonanno Concepts, will debut this summer in the former home of Ted's Montana Grill.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:04am

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A minimalist, stylized 3D illustration depicting the interior of a modern restaurant with a mix of Japanese and Italian design elements, including booths, a central garden feature, and a prominent bar, all rendered in a clean, pastel-colored isometric perspective.Bonanno Concepts' new Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant Romyo will bring a unique dining experience to Denver's iconic Larimer Square.Denver Today

Longtime Denver restaurateur Frank Bonanno is opening a new Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant called Romyo in the former Ted's Montana Grill space on Larimer Square. Bonanno, who operates several other restaurants in the city including Osteria Marco, hopes to bring Romyo's Itameshi-style cuisine to the popular downtown block by mid-July. The 4,000-square-foot space will seat 80 inside with an additional 40 seats on an outdoor patio.

Why it matters

Larimer Square is considered one of the best dining destinations in Denver, and Bonanno's decision to open a new concept there underscores the continued appeal of the area for restaurateurs. However, Bonanno has also been critical of Denver's challenging restaurant operating climate, making Romyo's success an important test case for the viability of high-profile, fusion-style dining in the city.

The details

Romyo will feature a menu that combines Japanese and Italian influences, building on the success of Bonanno's previous Itameshi pop-ups and the short-lived Dumplin' restaurant. The menu will include items like black truffle wagyu dumplings, 'funky sushi rolls,' and an expanded entree selection. The 4,000-square-foot space will have distinct Italian and Japanese design elements, with booths and decor evoking the two cultures. Bonanno is also planning a garden feature and a 'big' bar area.

  • Romyo is expected to open by mid-July 2026.
  • Bonanno recently renewed the lease for his Osteria Marco restaurant on Larimer Square for 10 more years.
  • Kiso, a sushi restaurant, was previously slated to open in the Romyo space but was evicted in 2025 for owing $50,000 in back rent.

The players

Frank Bonanno

A longtime Denver restaurateur and the owner of Bonanno Concepts, which operates several restaurants in the city including Osteria Marco and the soon-to-close Dumplin'.

Jacqueline Bonanno

Frank Bonanno's wife and a co-owner of Bonanno Concepts, who will focus on the interior design and build-out of the new Romyo restaurant.

Asana Partners

The owner of Larimer Square, which previously leased the Romyo space to the sushi restaurant Kiso before evicting them for $50,000 in unpaid rent.

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What they’re saying

“'We've wanted to be in the Ted's space for about 15 years.'”

— Frank Bonanno, Restaurateur

“'Dumplin' really was our R&D testing for (Romyo). We always knew we wanted to do something bigger.'”

— Frank Bonanno, Restaurateur

“'I love Denver, and I think Denver is a great food city. But you never know. It's tough. No one's kidding anybody.'”

— Frank Bonanno, Restaurateur

What’s next

Bonanno plans to open Romyo by mid-July 2026, with the restaurant serving lunch on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in addition to dinner service seven nights a week.

The takeaway

Bonanno's decision to open a high-profile, fusion-style restaurant on Larimer Square underscores the continued appeal of the area for Denver's dining scene, even as the restaurateur has been critical of the city's challenging operating environment for eateries. Romyo's success will be an important test case for the viability of this type of concept in the current market.