WELCOME TO TRUE ITALIAN TABLE!

WELCOME TO TRUE ITALIAN TABLE! This blog was born out of passion for all things Italian—but especially Italian food and wine. With Italian being the most popular ethnic cuisine in the world for dining out, we want to discriminate between the wannabes and those restaurants, food products and recipes that are authentically Italian. We are on a quest to find True Italian Tables—ristorante, deli or your nona’s kitchen—in metro Denver, and we welcome your help with recommendations.

EST October 22, 2009 in Denver, Colorado.
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 c.2009 – 2010 [TrueItalianTable] All Rights Reserved.

Carmine’s Brings the Taste of New York to Lone Tree

Carmine's Pizza & Pasta

Owner Danny Pisarra grew up in Queens Village, where the flavors of southern Italy flowered.

By Claire Walter

I grew up in Connecticut, went to college in Boston, moved to New York and then across the river to Hoboken, N.J., which at the time was about 45 percent Italian-American. In every place that I lived before moving to Colorado, pizza meant a toothsome thin crust, pliable enough to fold but robust enough to hold a layer of flavorful sauce, stretchy mozzarella cheese and maybe some toppings. Each slice was a two-napkin affair because moisture from the cheese running down to your wrists was part of the appeal. If a place served pasta, it had to be simple. Favored were such robust dishes from southern Italy as spaghetti with meatballs (and clam sauce on Fridays), stuffed shells, lasagna and eggplant parmesan. Extra points for using family recipes. And wine, if available, had to hold its own against rich, high-flavor red sauces.

I felt at home when I walked into Carmine’s Pizza & Pasta, and that’s exactly the way owner Danny Pisarra wants it. He grew up in Queens Village, N.Y., in a family of “terrific cooks” and spent time helping his grandmother on Long Island with her tomatoes, peppers and basil. She taught him how to make fresh sauce from plum tomatoes. “The earth was outstanding,” he recalls. “It was a mix of rich soil and sand.” He’s been in the Denver area for some 20 years, running New York-style restaurants but is still a bit wistful for such soil.

Carmine's art

Danny and his wife Toni live in Lone Tree, so that’s where they located Carmine’s (no connection to Carmine’s on Penn). This classic neighborhood place is a welcome anomaly amid the chains that dominate this fast-growing area. The restaurant is cozy and simple with bare tables, pendant lighting and paintings of Italy and a chalkboard menu on one wall. Framed pages from vintage New York newspaper sports sections occupy other wall space. “I’ve had them since I was a kid,” Danny says. “My wife won’t let me put them all up, because she doesn’t want it to look like a sports bar.” An open kitchen in the back cranks out great pizza, delivered fast and hot by the friendly waitstaff.

Garlic Knots

Everything is made from scratch, including the excellent dough used for pizza, calzones and garlic knots. These light little twisted baked treats are rich with butter, parmesan and garlic. I’m inclined to order a side of marinara for dipping. The lasagna is to-die-for. And the tennis ball-size meatballs crown a plate of spaghetti with beefy aloofness. But for nostalgic former New Yorkers and others, Carmine’s pizza–whether it’s a simple cheese pie or loaded with veggies, meats or a combination–is the real deal.
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Carmine’s Pizza & Pasta
9500 Heritage Hills Circle
Lone Tree, CO 80124
303-799-4969
carminesnypizza.com

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
(to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and to 8 p.m. Sunday)

This is a TrueItalianTable recommended authentic Italian restaurant.
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Claire Walter is a freelance travel and food writer. Her award-winning blogs include travel-babel.com and culinary-colorado.com, which are Colorado-focused but not Colorado-exclusive. She can be reached at cmwalter@claire-walter.com.

PATSY’S INN Italian Restaurant by WC

Originally posted October 21, 2009

PATSY’S INN Italian Restaurant
3651 Navajo Street
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 477-8910

 

“With a history that spans more than 80 years, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant is Denver’s oldest Italian restaurant. Founded in 1921 by the Aiello family, Patsy’s has undergone a few changes over the years but the heart and soul of tradition have remained the same.”
read more from Patsy’s website…

Patsy's Inn

This has been one of my favorite Denver restaurants for years. “It’s the restaurant stupid!” I mean the restaurant itself, the physical property: the dining room, the kitchen, the bar, the little shaded-lamps on the walls of the booths, the booths, the glass behind the bar that looks like a two-way mirror, the back-room behind the glass, the mural along one wall, and the fact that they haven’t changed a single, solitary-thing – as far as I know – in decades! These are the things that make Patsy’s, Patsy’s. The photos on the walls and bar have been there since the summer of 1921. OK. I don’t really know that, but…

Imagine a Martin Scorsese film: Brooklyn, NY (1959.) A quiet summer evening in a neighborhood restaurant (think Denver’s version of “MOONSTRUCK”) – cut to a Ted Williams’ Louisville Slugger. Somebody “whacks” somebody. Ba-Da-Bing! Ba-Da-Boom! The End! Fugedaboudit!

Patsy’s has been serving the same Italian food for years, from at least three different owners. And the food is authentic and tasty, if you like Southern-Italian cuisine. I happen to like it.

From Patsy’s menu:
Pasta! Served with your choice of soup or salad and Patsy’s original spaghetti sauce
Homemade Spaghetti – Patsy’s Specialty! ($9.50.) Check the menu on Patsy’s website for other pastas.

Also from the menu:
House Favorites! Includes bread and your choice of soup or salad

Baked Lasagna or Eggplant Lasagna – Sausage or lightly breaded baked eggplant, layered with pasta, Patsy’s original spaghetti sauce ricotta, romano and provolone. Topped with mozzarella ($13.00)

Putanesca – A spicy specialty of Trastevere. Tomatoes, capers, calamata olives and red pepper, with white wine and olive oil over fettucine ($11.00).
Topped with grilled chicken breast ($14.00)

Chicken or Eggplant Parmesan – Tender chicken breast rolled in seasoned bread crumbs or seasoned baked eggplant. Topped with Patsy’s original spaghetti sauce, parmesan and mozzarella, with homemade spaghetti ($14.00) Check the menu on Patsy’s website for more entrees.

Also: Appetizers, Salads, Soups, Desserts, Sandwiches, Lunches, Wines and a Full Bar with a dozen stools

We were told that a relative of the original owner family (The Aiellos) is the new owner and proprietor of Patsy’s Inn. Tell Kim that I sent you…

Patsy’s has a huge parking lot on Navajo – 1/4 block north of the restaurant – that they share with the art- galleries (several on the block.) The area hosts a First Friday (of the month) art-walk, many of the galleries “do” cheese and wine.

A GOLD STAR: Unlike so many restaurants, Patsy’s background music is period appropriate to the restaurant’s vintage decor and type.

Memo to Martin Scorsese and other Film Industry execs: You used Las Vegas’ Peppermill’s Lounge in “Casino”and The Golden Gate’s, Bay City Diner in “Pay It Forward.” Give this place a try. Fugedaboudit!

May 14, 2010
Patsy’s Pizza and Pasta place—next door to the main restaurant—is open for business.
A sign with the word “Dream” hangs above the counter. I’m guessing someone dreamed up the idea for this restaurant.

January 19, 2011
The pizza is rather thick with a tasty golden crust and excellent cheese on top. This is more of a Neapolitan pizza than NY-style. By the way, pizza is not served in the main restaurant.

[October 3, 2009 - photo before the opening]

Patsy's Pizza
photo WCarbone

This is a TrueItalianTable recommended authentic Italian restaurant.

This post was first published Oct. 21, 2009.

C.2010 [TrueItalianTable] All rights reserved.

3 Sons Italian Restaurant

3 Sons Exterior

3 Sons Italian Restaurant & Bar
14805 West 64th Avenue
Arvada, Colorado
303-455-4366

3 Sons had been serving fine Italian food on W 44th Ave in Denver for years. Susan and Michael Scarafiotti purchased 3 Sons in March of 2004. For over a year, the new owners have been serving fine Italian food at a new location in Arvada. The new 3 Sons Italian Restaurant and Bar opened at 14805 West 64th Avenue in Arvada, Colorado, in June 2009. And it’s a good thing. Not that they moved, but everything is good: the location, the bar, the dining room, the food, the happy-hours, the staff, and the spotless head(s).

The Tuscanesque-style restaurant with beige walls, old-brick archways, booths and chairs in warm reds and golds is in a shopping-center location, plenty of parking. There’s a bar area with a few booths and tables in front of floor to ceiling windows where patrons can “do” half-priced apps and 2-4-1 wine and wells and other drink specials at Happy Hour (call for hours).

The brunette cocktail-bringer we had last night was over-the-top gracious. Not only when she brought us the drinks and fresh bread with olive-oil/Balsamic dipping sauce, but every time she passed the table.

3 Sons at Christmastime

Moving to the dining room (one of two) after lingering a half-hour in the lounge, we were seated at a cozy booth in a warm room with subdued lighting, a kinda-formal setting. The only thing out of place was the dude in the Giants team-jacket. This is really a fairly elegant room.

From the menu we chose a basic pasta (spaghetti) with Marinara sauce served with meatball or Belfiore’s sausage ($11.00), and White trout filet pan-roasted & topped with shallots, white wine lemon butter sauce, served with Chef’s risotto of the day & 3 Sons vegetable medley ($17.00.) Add a soup or fresh house salad for $2.99, we did. A cool, blonde brought us fresh bread and dipping-sauce with the entrées. All the right textures, flavors and accouterments were accounted for and present. Portions were decent, service was excellent. I’ll return to try the pizza ($11.00) – ($15.00) and Lasagna ($17.00) and…

Full menus can be viewed at 3 Sons Official Website. Items from those menus include: Calzones ($14.00), Spaghetti Bolognese, Meatloaf ($15.00), and a Family Favorites list including, Lobster Ravioli ($16.00). Oh yea, Uh-hmmm!

3 Sons Patio

Photos are from 3 Sons Official Website
This post assembled by W Carbone.

This is a TrueItalianTable recommended authentic Italian restaurant.

ARMANDO’S By Claudia Carbone

First published April 22, 2010

ARMANDO’S
1610 E. GIRARD PL, Unit M
ENGLEWOOD, CO
720-377-2285

Armando's Italian Restaurant
Photo WCarbone

By Claudia Carbone

Like the pure Colorado air he loves, the food that Bennito Sarlo serves at Armando’s is fresh and wholesome. “We do everything here,” said the Neapolitan restaurateur who got into the biz with his brothers Antonio and Armando in 1987, not too many years after the family landed in New York City from Naples in the early 80s. Preferring the Denver air and (relatively) less traffic to NYC, they opened Armando’s in Cherry Creek, and then nine years ago moved to a very small shopping strip in Englewood off Hampden Avenue between Gilpin and Lafayette Sts. Those of you who like hole-in-the-wall authentic Italian joints can bookmark it—it’s a keeper.

With no more than 25 seats, the funky space is an eclectic mix of family photos, pop culture, and sentimental Italian stuff that only those who grew up in an Italian family would recognize.

But the food. . .ah, just about everybody recognizes the popular Italian fare covered here, starting with traditional antipasti like Insalata Caprese, a plate of cold antipasto, bruschetta, several salads and homemade soup. The hot antipasto of two meatballs, two sausages, two garlic rolls and eggplant could be enough for a small meal at $9.95.

Traditional pasta is made in house. You won’t be eating frozen ravioli like the chain restaurants serve up. Besides several ravioli dishes, choices with a just-right tomato sauce include Ziti, baked with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses; Manicotti stuffed with ricotta and topped with mozzarella (or with spinach Florentine-style); Cheese Tortelloni; and the standbys Spaghetti, Fettuccine and Rigatoni. Besides tomato sauce, you can get Alfredo, Carbonara, White-wine, Pesto and Puttanesca.

You don’t find Gnocchi (bite-size pasta dumplings made with potatoes) at most Italian eateries, so here’s a chance to try this Italian staple. Armando’s is superb—light and fluffy like my Zia Jose used to make. You can get them with tomato sauce or tossed with butter and cheese.

Classic baked dishes include both Chicken and Eggplant Parmigiana; Lasagne, both meat and veggie; Eggplant Rollatini (slices rolled with ricotta) and Eggplant alla Romano (prociutto and provolone added to the rolls).

A full menu of both Neapolitan (thin crust) and Sicilian (deep dish) pizzas is offered: choose from “regular” toppings to more gourmet selections like sautÈed spinach, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and anchovies. Calzones and sandwiches are on tap too. Pizzas range from $6.50 (small cheese) to $19 (extra large primavera).

Most entrees cost between $10-$11; the most expensive dishes are Shrimp Scampi and Fettuccine with Clams for $12.95. A side salad is $2.95; a cup of soup $3.50.

A good selection of true Italian desserts are here: Tiramisu, Tartufo, Cannoli, along with New York Cheesecake, “Mamma’s” Carrot Cake and Chocolate Seduction Cake.

Mangia alla True Italian Table!

This is a TrueItalianTable recommended authentic Italian restaurant.

Nonna’s: An Italian Charmer in Denver, Denver restaurant with a neighborhood feel serves Chicago-style Italian fare – Article and photos by Claire Walter

Our foodie friend and colleague Claire Walter shares these articles and photos from some of her favorite Italian eateries. Find more of her reviews on her website www.culinary-colorado.blogspot.com.

Nona's Bistro

The intersection of Leetsdale and South Monaco in Denver is particularly uninspiring, so an attractive restaurant in a strip shopping center is quite a find. My friend Laura, who lives not far away, was the finder. We went there yesterday for lunch. During a previous visit, Nonna’s Chicago Bistro was a small, cafe-size restaurant — the kind of charmer that should be just around the corner from everyone’s home.

Looking at the restaurant’s website, I have the impression that the Catalano family has operated restaurants around many Mile High corners since opening a place called Johnnie’s back in 1952. Other names that might sound familiar to Denverites are Red Hot Experience (a Chicago-style hot dof [sic] place, Littleton), Frankly Red Hots (location unknown to me), Ristorante Catalano (Englewood) and Catalano’s Italian Market (Highlands Ranch).

Nona's interior

Since then, Laura had told me, Nonna’s had doubled in size and added the Bella Vino wine bar next door to the original space. The owners, Joe and Dedria Catalano-Tudor, have successfully transformed their cojoined spaces into a pretty place made to feel Italian with faux flowers, vines and fruit painted directly on the stucco walls. Sinatra and other recorded crooners serenaded lunch guests, and on Friday and Saturday evenings, I understand that the entertainment is live.

Thick-sliced, toasted Italian bread and marinara sauce for dipping holds hunger at bay until the rest of the order arrives.

I ordered a small pizza margarita, a thin-crust pie topped with olive oil, sliced fresh tomatoes, cheese and julienne strips of basil leaves. The crust was the best part — thin-crust in spite of the owners’ Chicago ties, tasty, chewy and baked for just the right amount of time. The mozzarella (or maybe mozzarella and something else) was standard. In addition to the cheese that was melted onto the pizza, small cubes of cheese were sprinkled on top — sort of a cheese-0n-cheese garnish. The tomatoes would have been better if it were still tomato season. And the fresh basil curiously did not have a strong basil flavor or bouquet. But most curiously, instead of being cut into wedges, the pizza was cut into little squares. Kind of a pizza grid that doesn’t quite show in the image below.

Laura’s chicken piccata was a lightly breaded and sautéed or pan fried-till-brown piece of poultry perched on a bed of perfectly cooked linguine. The sauce was creamy and lemony, but the assertive capers dominated and overpowered the citrus flavor.

Price check: Many dishes cost the same price at lunch and at dinner. Antipasti, $8.75-$12.95; insalata, $6.95-$10.95; zuppa, $4.95-$8.50; sandwiches, $8.87-$10.95; pizzas, 10-inch, $11.95, and 16-inch, $19.95; entrees, $9.95-$14.95 at lunch, $12.99-$21.99 at dinner.

Nonna’s Chicago Bistro is located at 6603-I Leetsdale Drive, Denver; 303-388-1354.

View the original post on The Culinary Colorado blog.

Claire Walter is a Colorado-based, award-winning travel, food and snow sports writer who has written thousands of newspaper, magazine and online articles and has authored or co-authored some 20 books.

Nona’s Bistro is a TrueItalianTable recommended authentic Italian restaurant.

The Garlic Knot by Claudia Carbone

UPDATE NOVEMBER 13, 2010

The Garlic Knot on So. Colorado Blvd. at Yale Ave.

The Garlic Knot
2553 So. Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80222
720-542-3528

New York Italians: Ya gotta love ‘em!

Thanks to the Giampetro family who settled here from the Big Apple, the University Hills neighborhood now has a good Italian pizza joint. It’s been awhile.

Joe Giampetro and his brother-in-law Steve Cook opened The Garlic Knot across the street from the U-Hills Plaza. Under the watchful eyes of the entire family—mama Mary Lou, wives and kids—New York style pizza, pasta and panache has arrived. This is the real deal. The East Coast Giampetros meet the Colorado Carbones.

And we are impressed. Everything we tried meets our expectations—the salad is crisp and fresh, the sauce (“gravy” in NY) is red, rich and peppery, the spaghetti al dente, the meatballs light, and the pies thin, big and bendable, true to the NY style. Even the “knots”— little bite-size twisted bread treats—are baked to crunchy perfection with a subtle taste of garlic.
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UPDATE NOVEMBER 13, 2010 by WC
I stopped by The Garlic Knot, this night, November 13, 2010 for a slice to go. The Garlic Knot HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK. If you’re in Denver – breath a sigh of relief – If you’re not, get the envy wheels in motion.

Access The Garlic Knot’s Official Website for more locations, menus and more

This is a TrueItalianTable recommended authentic Italian restaurant.

Abo’s Returns to Pearl Street by Claire Walter

Our foodie friend and colleague Claire Walter shares these articles and photos from some of her favorite Italian eateries. Find more of her reviews on her website www.culinary-colorado.blogspot.com.

Abo's Pizzeria
Photo Culinary Colorado

Abo’s Returns to Pearl Street: Popular pizzeria is back in downtown Boulder

Once upon a time, there was an Abo’s Pizza on Pearl Street. In the decade or so since it closed, Abo’s grew to 17 Front Range locations with well-priced, popular pizza, mainly for the take-out and delivery market. Last year owner Steve Abo decided to branch out and opened Circle on Pearl, a contemporary restaurant and lounge on West Pearl. It never gained traction or a clientèle, and he wisely chose to close it and return to his pizza roots.

Now, Abo’s is back Pearl Street, one block west of the Mall. This take-out, delivery and eat-in operation includes a bar, a holdover, no doubt, from the Circle incarnation. Some of the interesting white jigsaw puzzle-like wall treatments remain, but instead of black behind them, there are now pleasing warm tones. One wall is exposed brick. Stark lighting has bas been replaced with more even illumination. And green and white checked cloths cover the white/gray/black circle design of Circle’s tabletops.

Abo's Pizza
Photo Culinary Colorado

Abo’s prices are always reasonable, but there are now excellent happy hour values too, daily 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A 10-inch cheese pizza is $4 (regularly $7); house, Greek or Caesar salad or antipasto, $3 (reg $6); wings, $3 (reg $4); burger, $5 (eg $8) and house wines and well drinks, $3 (regular prices vary). With prices like that, I — as a partner in MileHighOnTheCheap.com — had to try their happy hour. My husband and I did so this evening. We shared one pizza, each had a large salad, ordered one wine and one beer, and got a bill for $18 and a bit, plus tip.

If you’re not within striking distance of the Abo’s on Pearl Street, [click here for coupons good for $2 or $3 off a pick-up or delivered pizza from other locations.] 1035 Pearl St., Boulder; 303-443-1740.

Another pizzeria is due to open in downtown sometime soon. Bop, which the sign in the window indicates will make natural, organic and therefore very Boulder pizza, is under construction at 1175 Walnut Street, most recently the site of Yaki Maki, one of several downtown sushi places, and before that PanAsia. In another downtown development, the former Spud Bros. space at 2010 10th Street us being made over into an Asian restaurant whose name I have somewhere but can’t put my hands on. I seem to recall that it has a connection with either PanAsia or Yaki Maki. If anyone can fill in the blank in my brain, please do.

View the original post on The Culinary Colorado blog.

Claire Walter is a Colorado-based, award-winning travel, food and snow sports writer who has written thousands of newspaper, magazine and online articles and has authored or co-authored some 20 books.

Abo’s is a TrueItalianTable recommended, authentic Italian restaurant.

BONNIE BRAE TAVERN By William Carbone

Bonnie Brae Tavern
740 So. University Boulevard
Denver, Colorado
80209
(303-777-2262)

Bonnie Brae Tavern
Photo WCarbone

The name does not evoke an image of an Italian restaurant.

Named after a South Denver neighborhood, the Bonnie Brae Tavern is authentically Italian. Owned and operated by the same Italian-American family – The Dire Family - the Bonnie Brae Tavern has been serving Italian-American food for more than 75 years (Established 1934.)

Turquoise-vinyl-booths, vintage coat-racks and well-worn bar-wood suggest a place in time, long past. The owners have preserved the post-war ambience without fault (only TVs and contemporary beer signs unmask the era.) What was old is new again. Without the well-used flooring, ceiling and everything in between, the interior would look like something designers are striving for in 2010, at considerable cost and effort. The Bonnie Brae Tavern is, however, unmistakably old.

PIZZA is the signature food at the Bonnie Brae Tavern. The thin, “dry-er” crust is – for sure – the crust of a Colorado Pizza. The traditional (rich and tangy) pizza sauce is covered with traditional cheeses and toppings. This is not New York style pizza, but it is a tasty alternative.

I’m treading carefully here. Many Denverites are as proud of their Colorado-style pizza as New Yorkers are of theirs. Before NY Pizza came to town, the Bonnie Brae was one of the more popular pizza joints in Denver.

Italian dishes: Spaghetti and Meatballs/Sausage with a rich, red sauce is served with soup or salad and bread and butter ($9.00.) Also Vegetable Primavera ($9.00) W/Chicken ($11.00.) A la carte servings of Spaghetti are also offered. Old school spaghetti is what it is. The old menu offered more Italian dishes like Lasagna and Ravioli. (I would be less than honest if I didn’t say that I am disappointed that there are fewer Italian entrees on the menu.) Oh well – for South-Denverites – it’s all about the pizza here anyway.

Mexican Dinners include: Burrito W/Green Chile and Cheese (choice of beef, bean or both – $7.50) and 3 Crispy Chile Rellanos (smothered with green chile and cheese – $7.95.)

All-American Sandwiches ($6.75 – $9.95,) Burgers ($5.75 – $9.25.)

Dinner Entrees, such as: Steak – 8 oz. Ribeye w/two sides ($12.95,) Baked Ham, Pot Roast and Hamburger Steak are on the menu, as well as Salads and Soups.

Nightly Specials are offered – call or check the website.

Also Traditional Breakfasts and Children’s Menu

An old-style Bar with round spinner-stools runs the length of one wall in this family-friendly restaurant. BOLLA Wines are on the list…

The Bonnie Brae Tavern has remained basically unchanged since the mid 1950s. It is somewhat analogous to a classic automobile. Hopefully it will be preserved.

Before dinner one night, I ordered a *Moscow Mule just to see if they would know it. To my surprise, the bartender made me one (I had been trying to find one for weeks.) This is a good place.

Bonnie Brae Tavern’s Official Website with full menu, photos, history and more.

. Plenty of on-site parking is available (see photo)
. Happy Hours
. DARK MONDAYS

*Moscow Mule is a drink popularized during the “Sputnik Craze” of the 50s, consisting of Vodka, Ginger Beer and Lime juice, properly served in a frosted, copper mug (it kicks like a mule and speaks Russian).

Information is from April, 2010
This is a TrueItalianTable certified authentic Italian restaurant.

ROMANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT by William Carbone

Denverites who don’t travel to that far southwest outpost of Littleton are missing out on one of the Denver area’s best kept secrets, Romano’s Italian Restaurant on S. Windermere in Littleton, CO.

Romano’s Italian Restaurant
photo WCarbone

Romano’s Italian Restaurant
5666 S. Windermere
Littleton, CO.
80120
303-798-4844

This traditional family Italian restaurant has been around since 1967 offering Old-School, Southern-Italian pasta favorites, such as: Spaghetti (thick-homemade or thin noodles,) Rigatoni, Mostaccioli, Cheese Ravioli and Cheese Tortellini, all served with a thick, tangy, tomato sauce, choice of meatballs, sausages or mushrooms, bread and butter, and soup or salad ($10.95.) These huge plates of pasta are served with a + portion of sauce. Generous is one of the keywords describing Romano’s.

The dining areas are warm and cozy with elevated booths around the perimeter of the hardwood-paneled rooms. The booths are solid and comfortable, tables fill the center space. *If I have a complaint, it would be that the dining areas are just a bit too illuminated for my taste. I would prefer dimmer candlelight; however, this is foremost a family restaurant so… everything else makes up for the excessive light. This is a charming neighborhood family restaurant.

Also on the menu (Italian Dinners include bread and butter with your choice of soup or salad:)

SEAFOOD (following are two of the five seafood items listed on the menu)
Shrimp Scampi “Jumbo shrimp sautéed in garlic lemon butter, served with your choice of pasta” ($14.95.)
Seafood Platter “Clams, shrimp, crab and scallops over pasta in a light tomato sauce” ($15.95.)

CHICKEN AND VEAL (two of four)
Chicken or Veal Parmagiana “Breaded and lightly fried, then baked with melted cheese and topped with red sauce” Side of pasta. Chicken ($12.50) – Veal ($16.95.)

COMBINATION PLATES (one of three)
Romano’s Triple Treat (my fav) “Pasta, Eggplant Parmagiana and Cheese Ravioli served with your choice of meatballs, sausages or mushrooms. For those with a healthy appetite!” ($13.95.)

HOUSE SPECIALTIES (three of seven)
Fettuccine Alfredo “Our own recipe of the classic cream sauce” ($13.95.)
Ziti and Broccoli “Ziti and Broccoli tossed in butter sauce and seasoned with garlic” ($10.25.)
Pasta Primavera “Broccoli, carrots, onions, black olives and fresh mushrooms over a bed of fettuccine and topped off with our cream or red sauce” ($14.95.)

BAKED ENTREES (two of five)
Eggplant Parmagiana “Romano’s creation of three layers of Eggplant and melted cheese topped with your choice of meatballs, sausages or mushrooms” ($12.95.)
Stuffed Shells “Three jumbo shells stuffed with Ricotta cheese and spinach, baked under a layer of melted cheese. Your choice of Romano’s tomato sauce with meatballs, sausages or mushrooms or Alfredo cream” ($12.95.)

PIZZA
The pizzas are Colorado style. If you’re looking for NY Style pizza go elsewhere – or try a Colorado style pizza – they’re not bad, just different. Colorado style pizza is built on a crunchy, crispy crust. It does not have the pliable, stretchy crust of a New York pizza.

We tried The vegetarian 10-inch pizza: “Mushrooms, green peppers, black olives, onions, and fresh tomato ($10.95 – the 14-inch is $16.95.) The pizza was loaded with fresh veggies with, of course, cheese and a nice sauce. Although it is definitely not New York style, the pizza is well built, fresh and tasty. I would probably go elsewhere if I were looking only for pizza since I’ve become a NY pizza snob. However, if I’m looking for Italian food other than pizza, I may very well show up at either of Romano’s locations.

Traditional red-sauce pizzas: 10-inch – $8.00 to $11.50, 14-inch – $11.00 to $16.95.
Special White pizzas: 10-inch – $8.95 to $10.95, 14-inch – $12.95 to $16.25

CALZONES – Small $8.95 – Large $14.95

SANDWICHES (two of eight)
Meatball – $6.75
Italian Philly Cheese Steak, chicken or beef – $7.95
. Sandwiches include chips and cherry pepper

SOUPS
Italian Vegetable Soup - Cup $2.50 Bowl $4.25.
Soup of the Day - Cup $2.50 Bowl $4.25.

SALADS
Dinner Salad “Crisp salad made with Italian meats, cheese, fresh tomato and black olive” ($2.95,) Large salad – $5.95.
Antipasto Salad “Crisp lettuce topped with ham, salami, pepperoni, tomatoes, black olives, cheese, artichokes and fresh mushroom.” Anchovies upon request. Serves two ($9.25.)
Caesar Salad – $5.95, Caesar Salad with/chicken – $7.95

APPITIZERS
Garlic Bread – $2.95, Garlic Cheese Bread – $3.50.
Spinach Artichoke Dip “Creamy, cheesy artichoke dip served with toasted bread slices” ($7.95.)

DESERTS
Canoli, Cheesecakes, Spumoni, Sundaes, Chocolate Cake and Tiramisu ($3.50 – $5.25.)

LUNCHEN SPECIALS Served from 11am to 3pm Mon-Sat. Luncheon specials include soup or salad, bread and butter.
Here are two items from the lunch menu:
Spaghetti with meatballs, sausage or mushrooms” ($8.50.)
Lasagna Roll “smaller version of our popular dinner” ($8.95.)

CATERING MENU See Romano’s website.

. Wine and Beer
. Full Bar
. On-site parking

From South Broadway and Littleton Blvd. drive west on Littleton Blvd. to Windermere, turn right.

*Problem solved – there is a second restaurant location with more intimate lighting. The Highland Ranch Romano’s has a neat little area with a few cozy booths that have mini amber-shaded wall sconces on the paneled walls the booths. The soft lighting here is soothing and warm. Try to get a booth in this section. This location offers the same good food and even more. On the other hand, the Windermere site is in an older, artsy neighborhood which adds to the restaurant’s ambience. The solution: try ‘em both.

2nd location – Drive south on South Broadway to Springer Drive, turn right.
Romano’s Italian Restaurant
32 W. Springer Dr.
Highlands Ranch 80126
720-344-9530

Romano’s Official Website with complete menu, map, photos and more: www.RomanosPizzeria.Com

Monday – Thursday: 11am – 9pm
Friday and Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Littleton – Sunday: Noon to 9pm
Highlands Ranch – Sunday Dinner: 4pm – 9pm

Information is from January 30, 2010
This is a TrueItalianTable certified authentic Italian restaurant.