Partners in Food Safety

Partners in Food Safety Logo

Denver’s dining scene is red hot. But, are local restaurant inspectors seeing red when they make their rounds?

Not in establishments designated as “Partners in Food Safety,” a program designed to recognize Denver food facilities that consistently promote and maintain excellent food safety practices.

The bar is high. Of the more than 3,500 regulated retail food establishments in Denver, only 15% typically qualify for the Partners in Food Safety Award.

“Food establishments” include restaurants, food trucks, bakeries, convenience stores, and food vendors and cafeterias in facilities such as schools and airports. The criteria to become eligible for the program are rigorous and include the following:

  • No more than two critical violations per inspection on the last two inspections
  • No fines issued within the last 12 months
  • No foodborne illness outbreaks within the last 12 months
  • Must complete a formal training program for all food handling employees

Dining out is a treat. An opportunity to enjoy a variety of food prepared in all kinds of ways; there’s something for everyone in Denver’s dining scene. But just as important as the buzz is food safety. You can search current and past award recipients below as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Partners in Food Safety program was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic but is now back in full swing!

Do you run an award-worthy restaurant, food truck or other food service establishment? Use the button below to apply to become a Partner in Food Safety. Our application is now available in Spanish as well. 

Apply now!

¡Aplique Ahora!

Partners In Food Safety Award Recipients

2025 Recipients

Restaurants, Food Trucks, and Other Food Establishments

Buffalo Wild Wings, 7670 E. 36th Ave. 

Carl's Jr., 4730 N. Tower Rd. 

Chick-Fil-A, 3601 Quebec St. 

Dave's Hot Chicken, 99 S. Broadway

Famous Dave's, 7557 E. 36th Ave.

Meow Wolf, 1338 1st St. 

Reunion Rehabilitation Hospital, 4650 Central Park Blvd.

Wendy's, 9111 E. 40th Ave.

Schools

Barnum Elementary School, 85 Hooker St.

Doull Elementary School, 2520 S. Utica St.

Florida Pitt Waller K-8 School, 21601 E. 51st Pl.

Grant Beacon Middle School, 1751 S. Washington St.

Highline Academy Northeast, 19451 E. Maxwell Pl.

Isabella Bird Community School, 2790 N. Lima St.

Knapp Elementary School, 500 S. Utica St. 

Northfield High School, 5500 Central Park Blvd.

Rocky Mountain Prep - Berkeley, 3752 Tennyson St.

Sabin Elementary School, 3050 S. Vrain St. 

Smith Elementary School, 3590 Jasmine St.

Swigert International School, 3480 Syracuse St.

Westerly Creek Elementary School, 8800 E. 28th Ave.

Willow Elementary School, 8499 Stoll Pl.

Previous Recipients

2024

Restaurants and Food Trucks

AFC Sushi at Safeway #1248, 2660 N. Federal Blvd.

Blue Bonnet, 457 S. Broadway

Brother's BBQ, 6499 Leetsdale Dr.

Centurion Lounge (DEN), 9100 Pena Blvd.

Chick-Fil-A, 8900 Pena Blvd.

Chick-Fil-A, 3601 Quebec St.

Chipotle, 1480 16th St.

Egg Belly

Five Guys, 8201 E. Northfield Blvd.

Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard, 4975 N. Federal Blvd.

Kikka Sushi, 1701 Wewatta St.

Machete, 2817 E. 3rd Ave. 

Maria Empanada, 1298 S. Broadway

Qdoba, 1201 Larimer St. 

Qdoba (DEN), 8900 Pena Blvd. 

Santiago's, 2505 N. Federal Blvd. 

Sexy Pizza, 2846 Fairfax St. 

Shake Shack (DEN), 8900 Pena Blvd.

Shondiz, 8000 E. Quincy Ave.

Subway, 18611 Green Valley Ranch Blvd.

Sweetgreen, 275 N. Saint Paul St.

Sweetgreen, 1750 Wewatta St. 

Wendy's, 9111 E. 40th Ave. 

Schools

Ashley Elementary School, 1914 Syracuse St. 

Barney Ford Elementary School, 14500 E. Maxwell Pl.

Brown Elementary School, 2550 Lowell Blvd.

Bruce Randolph Middle School, 3955 Steele St.

Columbine Elementary School, 2540 E. 29th Ave.

Denver School of the Arts, 7111 E. Montview Blvd.

DSST Elevate - Middle and High School, 10825 E 47th Ave.

Florida Pitt Waller, 21601 E. 51st Ave. 

Garden Place Elementary School, 4425 Lincoln St. 

Girls Athletic Leadership School, 750 Galapago St. 

Godsman Elementary School, 2120 W. Arkansas Ave. 

Grant Beacon Middle School, 1751 S. Washington St. 

Green Valley Ranch Elementary School, 4100 N. Jericho St. 

Hallett Academy, 2950 Jasmine St. 

International Academy of Denver at Harrington, 2401 E. 37th Ave. 

Inspire Elementary School, 5650 N. Elmira Ct. 

Isabella Bird Community School, 2701 N. Lima St. 

Joe Shoemaker Elementary School, 3333 S Havana St.

McAuliffe International School, 2540 Holly St.

Newlon Elementary School, 361 Vrain St. 

Northfield High School, 5500 Central Park Blvd. 

Odyssey School, 6550 E. 21st Ave.

Pascual LeDoux Academy, 1055 S. Hazel Ct. 

Robert F. Smith STEAM Academy (Barrett Elementary School), 2900 N. Richard Allen Ct. 

Samuels Elementary School, 3985 S. Vincennes Ct. 

Schenck Community School, 1300 S. Lowell Blvd.

Skinner Middle School, 3435 W. 40th Ave. 

Smith Elementary School, 3590 Jasmine St. 

Stedman Elementary School, 2940 N. Dexter St. 

Swigert International School, 3480 Syracuse St. 

Thomas Jefferson High School, 3950 S. Holly St.

University Prep - Steele Street, 3230 E. 38th Ave.

Westerly Creek Elementary School, 8800 E. 28th Ave. 

William Roberts Elementary School, 2100 Akron Way

Willow Elementary School, 8499 Stoll Pl. 

Wyatt Edison Charter School, 3620 N. Franklin St.

2023

Restaurants and Food Trucks

AFC Sushi at Walgreens, 801 16th Street Mall

Arby's Store #8508, 18408 E 47th Ave. 

Atomic Cowboy, 141 S. Broadway

Blue Bonnet, 457 S. Broadway

Brother's BBQ, 568 Washington St.

Burger King Store #23802, 4906 N Tower Rd. 

Carl's Jr, 4050 Colorado Blvd.

Chipotle, 1600 California St.

Chipotle, 140 Steele St.

Dave's Hot Chicken, 99 S. Broadway

Hong Kong BBQ, 1048 S. Federal Blvd.

Juice Kitchen, 1050 17th St. 

Maria Empanada, 1298 S. Broadway

McDonald's, 300 S. Broadway

Noodles and Company, 550 Broadway

Panda Express, 3000 E. 1st Ave.

Qdoba, 550 Grant St.

Shake Shack, 290 Josephine St.

Shish Kabob Grill, 1503 Grant St.

Sweetgreen, 275 Saint Paul St.

Taco Bell, 1600 Glenarm Pl. 

Yampa Sandwich Company, 444 17th St.

Schools

Academy 360 Charter Elementary School, 12000 E. 47th Ave.

Asbury Elementary School, 1320 E. Asbury Ave.

Bruce Randolph Middle School, 3955 Steele St. 

Clayton Educare, 3751 E Martin Luther King Blvd. 

College View Elementary School, 2675 S. Decatur St. 

Columbine Elementary School, 2520 E. 29th Ave.

Cory Elementary School, 1550 S. Steele St. 

DCIS at Fairmont, 520 W. 3rd Ave. 

Denver South High School, 1700 E. Louisiana Ave.

DSST: Byers Middle School and High School, 150 S. Pearl St.

DSST: Cole High School, 3240 Humboldt St. 

Ellis Elementary School, 1651 S. Dahlia St.

Evie Garret Dennis Campus, 4800 Telluride St.

GALS - Girls Athletic Leadership School, 750 Galapago St. 

Godsman Elementary School, 2120 W Arkansas Ave. 

Grant Beacon Middle School, 1751 S. Washington St.

Green Valley Elementary School, 4100 Jericho St. 

Gust Elementary School, 3440 W. Yale Ave.

Lena Lovato-Archuleta Elementary School, 16000 E. Maxwell Pl.

Lincoln Elementary School, 710 S. Pennsylvania St. 

Marie L. Greenwood Elementary School, 5130 N. Durham Ct.

Marrama Elementary School, 19100 E. 40th Ave.

Maxwell Elementary School, 14390 E. Bolling Dr.

McGlone Elementary School, 4500 N. Crown Blvd.

Merrill Middle School, 1551 S. Monroe St. 

Omar D. Blair Charter School, 4905 Cathay St.

Polaris at Ebert Elementary School, 410 Park Ave. West

Regis Groff Campus, 18250 E. 51st Ave.

Stephen Knight Center, 3245 E. Exposition Ave.

Swansea Elementary School, 4650 Columbine St.

University Prep - Arapahoe Elementary School, 2409 Arapahoe

University Prep - Steele Street, 3230 38th Ave.

Willow Elementary School, 8499 Stoll Pl.

Wyatt Edison Charter School, 3620 Franklin St. 

Other Food Service Establishments

Gilliam Youth Services Center, 2844 N. Downing St.

UAL Flight Training Center, 7500 E. 35th Ave.

2022

Restaurants and Food Trucks

AFC Sushi at Walgreens, 801 16th Street Mall

Blue Bonnet, 457 S. Broadway

Chipotle, 140 Steele St.

Maria Empanada, 1298 S. Broadway

Outback Steakhouse, 16301 E. 40th Ave.

Outback Steakhouse, 8601 W. Cross Dr.

Shake Shack, 260 Josephine St. 

Shake Shack, 2995 Larimer St.

Schools

Archuleta Elementary School, 1600 Maxwell Pl.

Bruce Randolph School, 3955 Steele St.

Clayton Educare, 3751 E. Martin Luther King Blvd.

Cole Middle School, 3240 Humboldt St. 

Denison Montessori, 1821 S. Yates St.

Dora Moore ECE-8 School, 846 Corona St., #259

DSST: Byers Middle School, 150 S. Pearl St. 

Garden Place Elementary School, 4425 Lincoln St.

Merrill Middle School, 1551 S. Monroe St.

Polaris at Ebert Elementary School, 410 Park Ave. West

South High School, 17100 E. Louisiana Ave.

Steele Elementary School, 320 S. Marion Pkwy.

2020

Restaurants, Food Trucks and Other Food Service Establishments

Contact Us

Public Health Investigations
201 W. Colfax Ave.,8th Floor
Denver, CO 80202

 

Phone: 720-913-1311
Fax: 720-865-5534
Email: phicomments@denvergov.org

Office Hours

Summer Hours (April through October):

Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

 

Winter Hours (November through March):

Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Need to file a complaint?

Complaints can be filed with the Public Health Investigations Division for issues related to:

  • Food Safety & Regulated Food Facilities (please use this form for general food safety complaints only)
  • Foodborne Illness (please use this form for Foodborne Illness [getting sick from a facility] complaints only)
  • Residential Housing
  • Body Art
  • Swimming Pools
  • Lead Poisoning
  • Child Care
  • Schools (grades K-12)
  • Noise
  • Cannabis

You can report any of the above complaints online, by calling 311 or by sending an email to phicomments@denvergov.org.

 

An investigator will follow up with you to let you know the outcome of the investigation. Please note that most complaints, as well as other inspection records and reports we generate, are considered public records.

To report suspected child abuse or neglect:

If you have concerns about possible child abuse or neglect call the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 844-CO-4-Kids, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Your call is confidential.

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