Cash Landing

The ghosts of Christmas pasta bring in the green with the red.

Comments (0) By Jason Sheehan Thursday, Dec 23 2004

...continued from page 2

Mark Manger

Eat, drink, and be merry: A meal at Il Fornaio is worth celebrating.

Location Info

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Maggiano's Little Italy

7401 S. Clinton St.
Englewood, CO 80112

Category: Restaurant > Italian

Region: Southeast Denver Suburbs

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Details

Maggiano's Little Italy
7401 South Clinton Street, Englewood, 303-858-1405. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday
Bruschetta: $5.95
Mozzarella marinara: $6.95
Gnocchi: $14.95
Lasagna: $13.95 Alfredo: $14.95
Piccata: $14.95
Tiramisu: $6.25

Il Fornaio
1631 Wazee Street, 303- 573-5050. Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 4-10 p.m. Sunday
Polenta: $7.50
Involtini: $7.95
Carpaccio: $7.95
Pizza Margherita: $9.95
Gnocchi: $12.95
Cappellachi: $12.95
Lobster Ravioli: $17.95
Pollo Toscano: $13.95
Tiramisu: $6.50

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Everywhere we turn, there's more great food. Floppy homemade ravioli con aragosta stuffed with lobster, scallop and bread comes topped with a silky shrimp-and-lobster cream sauce that's a little weak against all that pasta, but the dish is still wonderful. An order of cappellacci di zucca brings another round of homemade ravioli, these turned at the corners almost like wontons, filled with butternut squash and walnuts, and sauced with a light nap of tomato and brown butter; the plate is decorated with battered and fried sage leaves.

Across the wide, white-clothed table, Laura looks lovely -- smiling and relaxed. Feeling foolish (and a little goofy from the wine), we raise our glasses and quietly toast the holidays, each getting in a quick sip to make it official before the soft-footed waitress arrives with the dessert cart and begins giving smart descriptions of everything available. We agree on the tiramisu without even having to discuss it. Through the window beside our table, we can see the Christmas lights twinkling on the rails of the Mongolian BBQ joint across the street. Inside, the air is filled with the scent of fresh bread, good cooking smells coming from the huge open kitchen, and the sound of other couples clinking other glasses, making other toasts as the first seating of a busy Saturday starts winding down.