Johnny Bechamel’s Opens in Speer Neighborhood as Mamas & Papas Hospitality Group’s First Full-Service Restaurant
DENVER, CO – A new Italian-American restaurant has opened in Denver’s Wash Park neighborhood, marking a new chapter for the team behind some of the city’s well-known counter-service concepts.
Photo Provided by Mamas & Papas Hospitality Group
A new Italian-American restaurant has opened in Denver’s Wash Park neighborhood, marking a new chapter for the team behind some of the city’s well-known counter-service concepts.
Johnny Bechamel’s, located at 81 South Pennsylvania Street, is the latest restaurant from Mamas & Papas Hospitality Group, the Denver-based group behind Dio Mio, Redeemer Pizza, and Little Johnny B’s. The opening represents the group’s first move into a full-service dining format after nearly a decade focused on fast-casual and counter-service restaurants.
The menu centers on Italian-American cuisine, with a focus on handmade pasta, naturally leavened pizza, and a rotating selection of classic dishes. A full bar program accompanies the food offerings, expanding the group’s typical service model.
The interior design blends vintage and contemporary elements, with curated dishware, custom finishes, and design details intended to create a more residential, lived-in atmosphere. According to the ownership team, many of the furnishings and decorative elements were intentionally sourced to give the space a sense of familiarity rather than feeling newly built.
Johnny Bechamel’s name is inspired by a fictional Italian-American chef character, “Johnny B,” a recurring figure referenced throughout the restaurant’s branding and interior details. The concept reflects the group’s ongoing interest in combining traditional culinary influences with a more casual, approachable environment.
The Wash Park location places Johnny Bechamel’s among a growing cluster of neighborhood-oriented restaurants and bars, as the area continues to attract new dining concepts alongside long-established businesses.
Johnny Bechamel’s is now open and operating daily.
Development Team
Owner / Operator: Mamas & Papas Hospitality Group
Co-Owners: Chef Spencer White, Chef Alex Figura, Lulu Clair (Operations Director)
Architect / Interior Design: Regular Architecture
All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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