About Reckless Roadhouse
In De Beque, CO
OUR STORY
The Reckless Roadhouse is a local Saloon and Smokehouse that also caters to the weary travelers passing through the Western slopes. Our custom built smoker is always burning, providing our guests with a full American BBQ menu and daily rotating feature items. The drink menu is designed to satisfy all parched palettes and our house crafted cocktail list is seasonal and constantly changing. We offer live music and events on weekends and special occasions.
“You don’t have to stay for a long time, but come in for a good time!”
The Owner- Russel KLASE III
Russell has been a chef in the industry for 15 years. He was born in Pennsylvania therefore raised on Dutch cuisine. His passion for cooking started with his grandmothers prep of traditional dishes in their home. Cooking for people started at a young age for Russell, it dates back to his boy scout days. He quickly became everyone’s favorite cook in his troop. To officially start his career, he ran his first kitchen at a BBQ restaurant at the age of 16. Spent his college years at Johnson and Wales University, acquiring two degrees, Culinary Arts and Food Service Management.
Russell’s first executive chef role was achieved at the age of 22 and became General Manager by 25. The next ten years were spent of building his career in Denver through winning awards, competitions and a nomination for a James Beard Award. There’s a ton of different kitchen environments and Russell has worked in them all, from Multi-Million-Dollar resorts to food trucks.
His passion has always been centered on farm to table cuisine, using sustainably raised animals and locally sourced produce and products. Russell always dreamed of one day opening his own business. In 2021, he opened his own catering business called Reckless Cheffing and that grew exponentially. That business step helped him establish roots and purchase his first brick and mortar location, Reckless Roadhouse.
The Roadhouse is a showcase of his personality, passion, and pride he takes in his work. With majority of his experience being in the fine dining sector of the hospitality industry, The Roadhouse is able to provide an elevated experience in this casual neighborhood concept. Russell’s drive for the saloon and smokehouse is to be a community cornerstone and provide a must stop watering hole for all western slope travelers.
The Saloon
The Reckless Roadhouse concept is a representation of ‘The Modern-Day Saloon’. Fully equipped with house-made elixirs, a corner stage for live music, and even a hitching post, it provides something for anyone traveling through the west. The Roadhouse building was built and established back in 1906 as the original livery stables for the town of De Beque. Since then, it has changed hands multiple times and has been many different businesses for the town. It has served as a grocery store, town hall, auto body, and mechanical workshop, bar, and cafe. After purchasing the building in early 2022, Russell remodeled the Roadhouse with the help of his friends and family. It is now a collective mesh of Wild West and Rock N’ Roll. You don’t have to stay for a long time but come in for a good time!
The Smokehouse
The Smoker at The Roadhouse is an 8-foot, custom-built BEHEMOTH of a machine. It was designed and fabricated by Sling N’ Steel customs out of Whitesville, Kentucky. The white plumes of fruit wood smoke pass through the backyard and can be seen over the top of the building as you pull up. The menu at The Roadhouse offers a new take on some classic barbecued meats and flavors. It
features smoked chicken and brisket, along with pulled pork, loaded BBQ mac and cheese, and many other smokehouse favorites. Everything is currently smoked with 100% local fruit wood from the neighboring orchard town of Palisade. Every
time you come by there might be a new featured item or daily special.
