Savina’s Mexican Kitchen to open Friday in Loveland

LOVELAND — A third-generation family-owned hospitality company is bringing the third location of Savina’s Mexican Kitchen to Loveland.

Savina’s, at 1455 Rocky Mountain Ave. in the Centerra community, will offer a limited number of lunch reservations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday for staff to practice,  then open fully on Friday.

The restaurant run by Englewood-based Brinkerhoff Hospitality operates other locations at 1801 Broadway in Denver and 6361 Promenade Parkway in Castle Rock.

The opening in Loveland marks a significant investment in the region, creating employment opportunities across culinary, hospitality, management and restaurant operations.

“For our organization, opening a restaurant is about more than building a beautiful space and serving great food. It’s about becoming part of a community,” Mark Brinkerhoff, CEO of Brinkerhoff Hospitality, said in a prepared statement. “We’re excited to bring Savina’s to Loveland, create more than 90 new jobs, and introduce Northern Colorado to the recipes and hospitality that have been part of our story for generations.”

Savina’s story began in 1973, when Grandma Savina Mendoza opened a small restaurant in a brick house in North Denver. Known for tasting her green chile herself each day, she established a standard for the recipes and hospitality that would become part of a Colorado dining tradition spanning more than five decades.

Her award-winning Hatch green chile remains at the heart of Savina’s menu today, alongside hand-rolled mini rellenos, fajitas, tortillas and signature margaritas.

The restaurant’s history is also deeply connected to the Brinkerhoff family. Milford “Sonny” Brinkerhoff partnered with Grandma Savina at La Loma, the restaurant on the hill at 26th Avenue in north Denver. His son, William Brinkerhoff, helped grow the family business. Today, Sonny’s grandson, Mark Brinkerhoff, leads the company as its third-generation CEO. In 2025, the restaurant was renamed Savina’s Mexican Kitchen in honor of its founder.

At the new Loveland location, Grandma Savina Mendoza’s portrait will welcome guests as they enter. Savina’s in Loveland features designs inspired by Spanish colonial architecture found throughout Mexico, as well as an open kitchen, horseshoe bar with a tequila barrel, and an enclosed patio designed to open during warmer months. Private dining spaces will also accommodate gatherings and special occasions.

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