By Chad Buleen
In a city the size of
Denver, guests and residents are bound to find dozens of Italian restaurants. However, there are a handful of Italian restaurants that are able to set themselves apart from the pack thanks to their attention to detail, authentic Italian atmosphere and much-lauded cuisine.
Luca D'Italia
Luca D'Italia does not feature some of the bells and whistles that lesser Italian establishments might rely on. Luca D'Italia is a simple restaurant, however that should not be mistaken for inferior. In fact, Time.com named Luca D'Italia one of the top three restaurants in Denver. Chef Frank Bonanno has been featured on the Food Network. He makes everything from scratch, including mozzarella, sausage, pasta and ricotta. The individual courses are designed to be small, allowing guests to enjoy each of the courses of a meal.
Luca D'Italia
711 Grant St.
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 832-6600
lucadenver.com
Pagliacci's Italian Restaurant
Pagliacci's Italian Restaurant is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Denver, having been established in 1946. Though times have changed, the restaurant mostly has not. Guests who visit can still expect to hear Frank Sinatra songs playing in the background and can see the same Italian countryside scenes painted on the stucco walls as they always did. Guests who dine here receive an order of bread from Gargaro's Bakery to start their meal off. Then, they may choose to order a dish such as minestrone soup, fried ravioli, chicken livers or calamari. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Pagliacci's Italian Restaurant
1440 W. 33rd Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 458-0530
ipagliaccio.com
Mici: Handcrafted Italian
Mici: Handcrafted Italian offers Italian food in a modern setting. The restaurant includes a decor that features warm shades of orange and vibrant green colors. It also has big windows, tall tables and stool-like chairs. Guests who visit Mici can start their meals with antipasti such as toasted ciabatta covered with honey, walnuts and melted Gorgonzola. The restaurant also features more than a dozen different kinds of pizzas and calzones that guests may order.
Mici: Handcrafted Italian
1531 Stout St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 629-6424
miciitalian.com
Resources
About the Author:
Chad Buleen is a Society of Professional Journalists-award-winning newspaper journalist and magazine editor with more than 10 years experience. He is a senior magazine editor at an international children's publication. Buleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications with an emphasis in print journalism from Brigham Young University-Idaho.
