Riot BBQ Takes Over Wide Open Saloon Kitchen in Sedalia
Sedalia's Wide Open Saloon has a new culinary partner. On May 1, 2026, Denver-based Riot BBQ — the collaboration between Michelin-recognized pitmaster Patrick Klaiber and James Beard nominee and Top Chef contestant Manny Barella — soft-launched a takeover of the saloon's kitchen as its exclusive culinary partner.
The partnership officially kicks off Friday, May 15 with an invite-only preview dinner at 5607 US-85, the historic Johnson's Corner truck-stop site that Leah and Todd Hills renovated and opened as Wide Open Saloon in 2020. The Hills also own Wide Awake Eatery on Wilcox Street in Castle Rock.
How the partnership came together
Riot BBQ opened at 2180 South Delaware Street in Denver in June 2025 — the former AJ's Pit Bar-B-Q space, where Klaiber was previously the pitmaster. Within a year the new concept landed on Westword's Top 50 Restaurants in Denver and its Ten Best Barbecue Joints in Metro Denver lists.
In January, Riot BBQ provided the food when Wide Open Saloon took over the former Stockyard Saloon during the 2026 National Western Stock Show — a pop-up residency at the Livestock Exchange that paired the two operations for the first time. According to Westword, that collaboration is what set up the permanent move into Sedalia.
"Food, music, and atmosphere all have to work together. With Riot BBQ, we're building something that feels complete — a place where guests can come for dinner, stay for the music, and spend the entire evening here."
— Leah Hills, Wide Open Saloon COO, in a statement to Westword
"There's nothing more restorative than good food and good music, and this partnership really drives that message home."
— Manny Barella, Riot BBQ co-owner
What's on the menu
Riot BBQ's signature style blends traditional Texas barbecue — beef brisket, pork shoulder, and sausage links — with the live-fire traditions and flavors of Northern Mexico. It's a fit for the country, rock, and regional acts the saloon hosts year-round.
The expansion follows Riot BBQ's launch of a poultry-focused sister concept, Chicken Riot, in Cherry Creek last month.
Visit
Wide Open Saloon
5607 US-85, Sedalia, CO 80135
Hours: Sun–Tue 11am–8pm | Wed–Thu 11am–10pm | Fri–Sat 11am–midnight
Live music coming up: Rhett Haney (May 15), One Way to Rock (May 16), John Weeks (May 22), Funk It Up (May 23), Dueling Pianos (May 29), Chainsaw Rodeo (May 30), Float Like a Buffalo (June 20), Buckcherry (July 24).
Wide Open Saloon Website | Instagram | Riot BBQ Instagram | Online Ordering
The Hills family also runs Wide Awake Eatery at 115 Wilcox Street in Castle Rock — elevated brunch, lunch, and dinner with live music on weekends. For more Castle Rock and Sedalia openings, see the DougCo Social news desk or browse the Sedalia directory.