While plenty of restaurants have shuttered in Denver, the Boulder dining scene is evidently immune to the economic doom and gloom.

Just chew on this:

* Two Spoons, a soup and gelato shop owned by Dave Cohen, the brainchild behind Spruce Confections (767 Pearl St.), has opened at 1021 Pearl St., and already crowds are clamoring for the ever-changing roster of winter warmers - clam chowder, buffalo chili, chicken matzoh ball and roasted butternut squash, just to name a few. Cohen plans to push the soups during cold snaps and gelato when the sun beats down on Pearl Street's buskers.

The menu changes daily, soups are all small batch, and if you bring in your own spoon, you'll get 10 percent off your order. And here's the really cool part: The shop has plans to set up a monthly soup kitchen program in conjunction with the Emergency Family Assistance Association, a nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter and basic necessities to Boulder County residents. For more info, visit twospoonsboulder.com.

* Radek Cerny, the exec chef-owner of L'Atelier (1739 Pearl St.), is putting the final touches on his new restaurant, Full Belly, an inexpensive breakfast, lunch and dinner bistro slated to open next month at 2779 Iris Ave. While you're waiting on that, it's a good time to check out L'Atelier's "We're all in this together" recession dinners, where $29 (excluding tax and gratuity) gets you a four-course dinner, including lobster ravioli, a caprese or Caesar salad, a choice of six entrees and dessert.

It's a great deal, but you need to plan accordingly, because the dinners are only available on Sundays and Wednesdays. Call 303-442-7233 for reservations.

* You can watch Full Belly swell into fruition while checking out Arugula Bar e Ristorante, which is already open just a stone's throw from Full Belly at 2785 Iris Ave. The Northern Italian restaurant, spearheaded by chef-owner Alec Schuler, is open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner Monday through Saturday. Check out the menu and wine list at arugularistorante.com.

* Happy Noodle House - the latest in the long line of restaurants owned by Dave Query (West End Tavern, Zolo Grill, Jax Fish House, Centro and Lola) - is now open at 835 Walnut St. Offering happy hour, Sunday brunch and dinner seven nights a week, the Asian- inspired joint serves udon, pho, ramen and hot pots alongside small plates like wok- charred greens, steamed pork belly buns and roasted Japanese eggplant.

And here's another reason to get your happy on: The daily happy hour proffers a dozen dishes, none of which rings up at more than $5, plus $3 draft beers and cocktails. Go to happynoodlehouse.com for all the joyful details.

* Just around the bend from the Happy Noodle House, at 1047 Pearl St., things are beginning to take shape at Terra on Pearl, the new restaurant from Bradford Heap, chef-owner of Niwot's Colterra (210 Franklin St.) and the former chef at Full Moon Grill and Chautauqua Dining Hall in Boulder.

"I get my juice from cooking really fresh, simple food that's pure and inspires me," says Heap, who explains his new venture as a "modern American bistro focused on Colorado-grown food, a strong wine program and really great hand-crafted local beers."

The restaurant, which is taking over the former Tom's Tavern space, is getting a major face-lift. "We discovered that Tom's had a basement," says Heap, who is adding 40 seats on the patio. And, to pay homage to Tom's, which flipped some of Boulder's best burgers, Heap is planning to do his own burger. "It will be a simple grilled burger, but we're using all natural meat, hopefully ground in-house," he notes.

Essentially, says Heap, this will be "a place that's all-inclusive, where people can come in and relax while enjoying a seasonal menu that supports and promotes sustainability, but at reasonable price points." Ultimately, he says, "I want to honor the animal that's coming to the table. I'm not a radical, but I wholeheartedly believe in respecting the animals we eat."

Terra on Pearl will be open for lunch and dinner daily.