The energy at Supermoon is electric—and not just because of the giant “You can sit with us” neon sign that greets you. Part restaurant, part bar, and part nightlife destination, it’s an exciting space to visit, offering Boulder something very different from its predecessor, the fine dining restaurant Arcana.
During the COVID shutdowns, founder Elliott Toan decided to switch up Arcana to something more fun and welcoming to all. There are enough high-end restaurants in town, he figured, but not really anything that can go from day to night and allow guests to, well, just play.
“I want these community elements where we open up our space and say yes to everybody who wants to come in,” says Alana Logan, Supermoon’s events and programming director. “Everyone’s welcome. It’s in our ‘You can sit with us’ sign. We wanted to make something that Boulder really needs—a fun, funky, vibey community space.”
The biggest change in the switchover from Arcana to Supermoon was the menu. Elliott and former chef Samuel McCandless both loved dumplings, and maybe even more importantly, their kids loved dumplings. Part of having good energy, after all, is tapping into your inner child, so creating a menu and space where everyone—even the tiniest humans—could feel comfortable was essential.
Four handmade dumplings kick off the menu—ginger pork gyoza, mushroom with roasted garlic gyoza, vegetarian egg rolls, and crab Rangoon with pimiento cheese and red pepper jelly. The perfectly pleated, matchbox car-sized pork and veggie gyoza also appear on the kids’ menu, because of course kids are going to get their own menu at a restaurant dedicated to fun and play.
“That’s part of our whole theme of finding your inner child,” Alana says. “We encourage kids to play, not be quiet. We wanted to create a space where families can come with their kids that’s laid back, where they’re not worried about spills. We’re focused on kids and family.”
The rest of its menu is just as fun: French fries served with curry mayo; the crispiest, most delightful fried rice; spicy ramen housing a tangle of noodles, custardy egg, and, if you opt for it, giant strips of salty pork belly; and cake pops or assorted mochi for dessert.
And then there are the sides to Supermoon that only the grown-ups can appreciate. The cocktails are fantastic, like the tropical-feeling Rum at the Moon with lychee, lime, Capelletti apertivo and rum, and the Yuzu Beats, a blend of gin, yuzu, kefir lime, lemongrass and lemon.
After dark is when the moody, romantic vibe really comes out, when Supermoon grows into its adult (translation: not all college kids) nightlife scene. There’s live music on Thursdays and dancing until late into the night, with local DJs and performers taking full advantage of the venue’s top-of-the-line sound system. “Live music has been a huge hit,” Alana says. “The sound system in Supermoon is as good as the Fox or Boulder Theater’s.”
Since their goal is to meet the Boulder community’s needs, they were there for neighbors following the Marshall fires. The restaurant gave away more than 150 free meals to anyone who was affected, doing their part to nourish their bodies and souls. Just another part of the electric energy pulsing through Supermoon.
Supermoon 909 Walnut St.
303.444.3885
SupermoonBoulder.com