You might catch a clams and linguine special on mollusk Mondays at Angelo's.
Angelo's Taverna/Instagram
Angelo's Taverna
620 East Sixth Avenue303-744-3366
angelostaverna.comAngelo's Taverna bills itself as Denver's original pizza and oyster bar — and given that this joint has been serving central Denver since the Nixon administration, it's safe to say that it's the longest-running restaurant of its ilk, even though it’s now on its second owners (who opened a second outpost in Littleton). Even if you’re a half-shell lover, Angelo’s makes a compelling argument for a char-grilled preparation, with oysters dressed up with garlic butter, bacon and Gorgonzola or chipotle bourbon butter. Beyond bivalves and pizza, it's got a stacked lineup of Italian fare — some classic, like chicken parm and vodka penne, while other options have an Angelo's twist, like the chile relleno ravioli. Whatever you order, don't skip the housemade limoncello.
Cafe Jordano boasts a large menu, including a whole section of buffalo dishes, an American twist on traditional Italian fare.
Nate Day
Cafe Jordano
11068 West Jewell Avenue, Lakewood303-988-6863
cafejordano.comFor over three decades, this Italian eatery in a nondescript Lakewood strip mall has drawn a crowd of regulars. When it moved to a larger space next door to its original location in 2018, it didn't lose any of its charm — thanks in large part to owner and co-founder Elisa Heitman, who was born in Italy and opened the spot with her now ex-husband in the early ’90s. The menu is stuffed with authentic Italian dishes, many made with recipes from Heitman's hometown of Naples, alongside its now-signature buffalo dishes — an alternative to the veal that was used during Cafe Jordano's early days.
Carmine's on Penn
92 South Pennsylvania Street303-777-6443
carminescolorado.comCarmine's on Penn has held down its corner of Pennsylvania and Bayaud since 1994. When the restaurant opened, it was intended as a place where large groups could converge and enjoy themselves without thinking too much about what they were eating — ordering big platters of Italian food served family-style, which is still the approach today under owner Brad Ritter, who purchased the restaurant in 2006. (You can opt for family-style or a size meant for two these days.) There's now a lighter, brighter sister restaurant, Carmine's at McGregor Square, but we prefer to eat giant heaps of dishes like carbonara (made — non- traditionally, but deliciously — with cream and butter) at the OG outpost.
Cranelli's Italian Restaurant
10047 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree303-799-3661
cranellis.com
One of the newer red-sauce joints in town, Cranelli's was opened by longtime industry pros Jimmy Crane and his wife, Lasinda, in 2013. It's tucked away in a housing development behind Park Meadows mall, but don't let its suburban facade fool you. This spot's got an old soul, with hospitality to match. The arancini rotates often, garlic knots are complimentary on your first visit, and the menu is loaded with hits, from eggplant rollatini to pasta pomodoro to linguine and clams — and many dishes are available in half or full sizes, depending on your appetite. The neighborhood is wise to the talent in the kitchen, so reservations are a good idea, even on a weeknight. Pro tip: Parking is super-limited, but the lot across the street is open — which explains the droves of hungry diners you might see crossing Park Meadows Drive any given evening.
Gaetano's
3760 Tejon Street303-455-9852
gaetanositalian.comGaetano's underworld history, when the place was run by the Smaldone crime family and was a hub for illegal gambling and bootlegging, is familiar to Denver natives, as is the overhaul it got after the Breckenridge-Wynkoop group bought it. In 2013, it landed back in independent hands when one of that team's former employees, Ron Robinson, purchased the eatery. As of 2021, he now owns its historic brick building, too. Gaetano's is still a great neighborhood spot with a swank, Frank Sinatra vibe and a smattering of red-sauce classics done right.
Gennaro's has a lounge side and a restaurant side, but most neighborhood regulars hang out in the lounge.
Sarah McGill
Gennaro's Cafe Italiano
2598 South Broadway303-722-1044
gennaroscafeitaliano.com There's nothing innovative about the seventy-year-old Gennaro's, and that's just the way we like it. From the black-and-white-checkered linoleum floor to the weathered wooden bar, every nook and cranny of this joint screams nostalgia. Naturally, that extends to the menu: You won't find "twists" or "takes" on anything here, just satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs Italian-American classics. Start with an enormous loaf of garlic bread and marinara or fried ravioli for the table, then chow down on the aptly named "Colossal calzone," Italian sandwiches, pizza or sausage and peppers. The neighborhood atmosphere is bolstered by regular trivia, live music, open mics and bingo nights.
Grammy's Goodies
4601 Harlan Street, Wheat Ridge303-422-0380
grammysitaliangoodies.comGrammy's started out as little more than a booth selling homemade cookies at Lakewood's annual Festival Italiano, but expanded to a counter-service restaurant and bakery in 2015. Somehow, though, it feels like it's been around a lot longer. Go here for pizza, towering slices of lasagna and savory sausage cannoli (spelled here with a double "n," like its sweet counterpart) with a Denver-inspired slice of green chile inside. But Grammy's also stands out for its vast selection of baked goods — especially around such holidays as Christmas and Easter. Like any good Italian nonna, the family behind this spot knows how to churn out an insane amount of sweet treats, including classic takes on pizzelle, honey cookies, struffoli, pignoli and much more.
Lechuga's
3609 Tejon Street303-455-1502
lechugasitalian.com They don't make them like they used to — but Lechuga's marches on anyway, an old-school Italian joint where you can order pasta by the bucket and square pizzas (with green-chile strips, like a true Denverite!). Lechuga's is one of the last red-sauce joints left on Denver's Northside, in a section once known as "Little Italy." Newcomers to Denver, please understand that "canoli" means something different here; Lechuga's signature dish isn't a dessert, but rather your choice of a meatball, sausage or sausage-and-jalapeño combo wrapped in dough with a little bit of cheese in the mix, baked and then smothered, if that's how you like it. Make it a meal with the famous "spanoli" plate — two mini canolis and a side of spaghetti for under $10. With a $6.50 Tuesday night spaghetti special and lunch deals every weekday, Lechuga's is a tasty reminder that here in the Mile High City, we like our Italian food greasy and cheap, served up hot in a place that feels suspended in time.
Odyssey Italian Restaurant
603 East Sixth Avenue
303-318-0102
odysseyitalian.com
For a decade, this restaurant housed in a Victorian home has served up classic Italian fare with a side of equally classic hospitality. The cozy, charming setting makes this an ideal date-night destination. And on Monday nights, it offers an insanely good deal: Order any option on the pasta menu for just $11.95 (normally $20), and you also get a Caesar salad and garlic bread. With a price that low, you may as well throw in a bottle of wine, too.
Romano's
5666 South Windermere Street, Littleton303-798-4944
romanospizzeria.com Romano's has been serving impressive plates of spaghetti — and everything else covered with its dense, garlicky red sauce — since 1967 in a sleepy neighborhood a few blocks from Littleton's Old Town. All the old-school favorites are here: spaghetti with clams, eggplant Parmigiana, pizzas and calzones. Romano's is the real deal: Family, food and tradition come together to make this a favorite, even with those outside the southern suburbs.
