Black Hat Cattle Co.

About Us · Kittredge, Colorado

An old favorite.
A new chapter.

A mountain steakhouse with a history worth keeping, a crew that cares, and a connection to Colorado ranching that runs deeper than the menu.

The Black Hat Story

Rooted in Kittredge since 2005

Black Hat Cattle Co. opened in Kittredge in 2005, becoming part of the foothills' steakhouse tradition. For years, people came up Bear Creek Canyon for a steak dinner, a drink with friends, or a celebration around the table. That history belongs to the guests and the community as much as it belongs to the restaurant.

When Evan Jeffries purchased Black Hat, he saw a chance to carry that story forward. He brought Scott McKenzie on board to help lead the next chapter, drawing on what they had already built at The Lazy Butcher and Cowboy Lounge in Evergreen: a close connection to the beef, a kitchen that cares about its craft, and hospitality that makes people feel at home.

Black Hat reopened in 2026 with that shared foundation. Today, steaks, seafood, spirits, weekend brunch, and mountain hospitality bring longtime regulars and first-time visitors to the same table.

The Lazy Butcher crew gathered at the butcher case in Evergreen

From Evergreen to Kittredge

A butcher shop heart. A steakhouse table.

Evan opened The Lazy Butcher in Evergreen in 2024, bringing a butcher shop, market, scratch kitchen, and the Cowboy Lounge together under one roof. With Scott helping lead the operation, it became a place to pick up dinner, settle in for barbecue, or spend an evening with neighbors.

That work shaped the approach at Black Hat. The two businesses share a belief in good cattle, good food, and good people, with Colorado beef, hands-on butchery, and a crew that takes pride in the whole journey from pasture to plate.

The Lazy Butcher and Cowboy Lounge have their own character, and Black Hat carries that same care into a Kittredge steakhouse setting.

Meet The Lazy Butcher →

The People Behind It

Good cattle. Good food. Good people.

Evan Jeffries, owner of Black Hat Cattle Co. and The Lazy Butcher, wearing a black cowboy hat

CEO & Owner

Evan Jeffries

Evan's family has ranched in Evergreen since 1863. He grew up working cattle with his family on Bear Creek and spent 20 years with Denver Fire while keeping cattle operations going on the side. In 2014, he started Bear Creek Cattle Company; in 2024, he opened The Lazy Butcher.

Buying Black Hat brought that ranching and food story to a longtime Kittredge steakhouse. His focus connects the cattle, the butcher shop, and the dining room, with a commitment to quality food and the Colorado communities that make these places possible.

Hear Evan's story on The Mountain Side →
Scott McKenzie, COO of Black Hat Cattle Co. and The Lazy Butcher, wearing a Lazy Butcher cap

Chief Operating Officer

Scott McKenzie

Scott brings an extensive restaurant background to The Lazy Butcher and Black Hat Cattle Co. After helping shape the operation in Evergreen, he joined Evan in Black Hat's next chapter and served as general manager when the restaurant reopened in 2026.

Today, as COO of both businesses, Scott helps bring the crew, kitchen, dining room, and events together. He believes a great restaurant is built by its people, and wants every guest to feel like a regular. Honest work, a firm handshake, and looking out for your neighbors are part of how he leads.

Making Room for More

Creating Heritage Hall

The next chapter went beyond the dining room. Evan, Scott, and the team created Heritage Hall on the second floor at Black Hat, giving weddings, private dinners, milestone celebrations, and community gatherings a home of their own.

The idea grew from the same hospitality they had built at The Lazy Butcher and brought to Black Hat: bring people together, feed them well, and take care of the details. Heritage Hall pairs a dedicated event space with the Black Hat kitchen and the Velvet Brim bourbon bar, so the room, food, and drinks are part of one experience.

It's another way to carry this building's tradition forward, with space for new stories above the steakhouse.

Explore Heritage HallPlan your event →
Heritage Hall upstairs at Black Hat, set for a private reception with round tables and the Velvet Brim bar

Work With Us

There's a place for good people here

Our story is built by the crew. Explore current opportunities with Black Hat Cattle Co., Heritage Hall, and The Lazy Butcher through our shared jobs portal.

View Jobs & ApplyCome share a table →