Meet your host
Larry Herz.
Twenty-nine years in the business. A New York accent, a Denver zip code, and a camera. He isn’t a critic — he’s Colorado’s premier restaurant promoter.
The short version
From owning the business to putting it on camera.
Larry was born and raised in New York and graduated from George Washington University with a B.A. in marketing. He started managing Manhattan restaurants — including the legendary Tavern on the Green — before moving to Denver in 1993 and opening his first restaurant a year later. After 29 years in the business and six restaurants of his own, he reinvented himself as a restaurant promoter. Today he’s the face of OCN Eats.
The story, chapter by chapter
Twenty-nine years, one table at a time.
NY
Long Island roots
Raised at the table; lands at Tavern on the Green out of college.
1993
Drives to Denver
Cross-country in a Jeep with no job and no place to live.
1994
Carmine’s on Penn
Opens his first restaurant at 27 — five more follow, including 730 South.
2017
Reinvented at 51
Sells his last restaurant and becomes a promoter at OCN.
Today
The face of OCN Eats
Colorado’s premier restaurant promoter, reaching 800,000+.
Chapter one — New York
Raised at the table on Long Island.
As the youngest child, Larry’s family frequented the Long Island restaurant scene — and over plates of food, encouraged him to work for himself one day. Out of George Washington University with a marketing degree, he landed at Tavern on the Green, then the busiest restaurant in the world, and never left the business.
Chapter two — Denver
Cross-country in a Jeep, and a restaurant of his own at 27.
In 1993 Larry packed his bags and drove to Colorado with no job and no place to live. In 1994 he opened Carmine’s on Penn — still open more than 26 years later — and went on to own five more, culminating in 730 South, which he ran for 18 years in Bonnie Brae.
“I’m not a critic. I’m here to help. I’m a promoter.”
Larry Herz · OCN Eats
Chapter three — The pivot
Reinvented at 51.
With rent climbing and his teenage daughters growing up without him, Larry sold his last restaurant. In 2017 he took an office job for the first time in his life — as a restaurant promoter at Our Community Now. So many companies had promised to help his restaurants and never delivered; he set out to change that.
29 years, six restaurants
He’s sat in your chair.
Carmine’s on Penn
His first restaurant, opened at 27. Sold, and thriving 26+ years later.
Tavern on the Green
Where it started — then the busiest restaurant in the world.
A-Bar
Downtown Denver bar/nightclub across his ownership years.
Indigo
One of six restaurants he built and ran.
Go Fish Grill
Seafood, on his own terms.
730 South
His last and longest, sold when rent hit $14K a month.
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