Benzina

This was our first time here, saw it had great reviews so why not come by and try something new. We…read morewere seated immediately despite it being so packed on a Monday night without reservations. The place is cozy, homey, and welcoming when you walk in. The concept of it being inside a home is very interesting. The food here is amazing especially their Caesar Salad. That salad was so delicious we wanted to order some to go. Now the reason why this place is getting three stars because 1. The service here is horrible! 15-25 minute wait for our server to come back around and check in on us. It wasn't just us either but it was everyone else in the room. Saw a couple that waited about 25 minutes just to be checked up on after being seated. We also never asked for our bill yet and it was given to us without us asking. We wanted to order more food after our entree. Hence why we never got to order our Caesar salad. 2. This one was the most disappointing part of our dinner. We ordered tiramisu for our dessert, once served I noticed a glossy chunky on it, assuming it was maybe crystallized sugar. Wrong. It was a chunk of ice!! The tiramisu WAS STILL FROZEN!! For 12 bucks I can get some better tiramisu at king soopers, Safeway, or any other restaurant honestly. 3. There was an ant in my drink, and we weren't compensated for that. We paid 4 dollars for an ant drink.

We came to celebrate our anniversary The food and the staff were wonderful! This is a fantastic…read moreplace and a wonderful time not just for special occasions.

Ambiance

Gnocchi with Italian sausage, parpadelle with lamb shank, lobster ravioli and PEI Mussels...

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Tiramisu

Tavernetta

4.5(970 reviews)

3.8 mi•Lodo, Northwest

My partner and I had an excellent dinner at Tavernetta recently. Our server, Luis, and our…read moresommelier (also named Luis) were both fantastic! They gave excellent recommendations. We started with the focaccia (with the ricotta and honey on the side) and it was so tasty. My partner doesn't normally like ricotta, but loved this dish! Then, we had the melon salad (very refreshing). We were celebrating our anniversary, and the staff brought out complimentary glasses of bubbly rosé, as well as their special dish, which were the stuffed squash blossoms. This was a really thoughtful touch! For mains, we ordered the tagliatelle with lobster (this dish had a tiny bit of spice, which was fine for us but might catch someone else off guard), and the lamb loin. Both were excellent. Overall, we had a great time! We found easy street parking nearby, as well. My only downside would be that, because this restaurant is so popular, there are lots of diners, which makes for a pretty loud atmosphere. However, this just speaks to how good everything is, so if you think about it, perhaps it's a good sign!

Tavernetta is the bomb! I get so excited to come here every time and luckily my coworkers like this…read moreplace enough for me to dine here every now and then for lunch. It is always a treat. No matter what you get here, you will enjoy it. I haven't had a bad dish or drink here. Do not skip out on the Per La Tavola (for the table plates). They are all so good. We normally get the Piatti Di Cicchetti (olives, pickled veggies, and almonds), Piatti Di Salumi (prosciutto, salame, coppa), and the Burrata. They all complement each other SO WELL. Pair that with a white wine and you got yourself a time. The 2 course offering for lunch is also phenomenal. I got the Insalata Mista (lettuce, shallot, reggiano) and it's a decent sized salad and very tasty. The Mafaldine (lamb ragu, pecorino romano) is to die for. Such great flavor and the pasta is always cooked perfectly. The service here is always top-notch too. The staff is very well-trained and is on top of everything. Truly a well-oiled machine. The atmosphere here is impeccable too. You can tell that everything was thought of for a great experience: lighting, table layout, decor, etc. It is a great place to bring a significant other, business customers, etc. I cannot wait for my next visit to Tavernetta and I was just there a few hours ago!

2.7 mi•Alamo Placita, Southwest

Interior

Insalata Di Stagione

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Old Fashioned

Angelo’s Taverna

4.4(2k reviews)

This restaurant was recommended by a friend, and now I completely understand why people speak so…read morehighly of it. Every part of our visit felt thoughtfully put together. We were seated quickly, our server was attentive and friendly, and everyone seemed genuinely happy to help. The menu offered plenty of choices, and everything we ordered was delicious. The flavors were balanced, the ingredients tasted fresh, and every plate arrived at the perfect temperature. It's obvious that the kitchen takes pride in what they serve. Even the drinks were prepared perfectly and paired well with our meal. The atmosphere was another highlight. The restaurant was spotless, beautifully decorated, and had a relaxed vibe that made us want to stay longer. It felt welcoming without trying too hard, which made the experience even better. I rarely leave reviews, but this place truly deserves one. It's refreshing to find a restaurant where the quality of the food, the level of service, and the overall experience all come together so well. I will definitely be returning and recommending this place to friends and family.

Angelo's happy hour & martinis are a routine staple! Specifically: chargrilled oysters & Olive…read moreGarden martini. Always a great vibe!

4.9 mi•Highland, Northwest

The Church of Pasta?

Pollo Angelito

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Spuntino

4.3(542 reviews)

Wow. Spuntino truly blew me away! Service here is INCREDIBLE. The staff truly know good…read morehospitality. Provided us with great recommendations. All of the dishes were unique, fresh, and delicious. I loved the Indian spices/flavors that came out in these traditional Italian dishes! Cappellini Aglio e Olio: 4/5 Gnocchi: 5/5 Burrata: 4.7/5 Arancini: 4.6/5 Great spot for a date night! Make a reservation ahead of time!

Have wanted to try Spuntino for a while. Went for a birthday dinner celebration. We were a party of…read morefour with various food allergies, and despite the family-style nature of the offerings, Spuntino was able to accommodate our needs, and we had a great meal. We were seated at the front by the window, which was nice. It did get a little hot in the restaurant as more people arrived, since it has been unusually warm in Denver this season. We split six plates and were stuffed by the time the celebratory dessert arrived. We started with the burrata, which paired well with apple butter and pickled apples. The arancini was a fusion of Indian spiced cauliflower with mint-cilantro yogurt raita. My favorite of the Spuntini dishes was the Granchio--jumbo lump crab served over a crispy potato cake with butternut squash and a perfect 63 ° egg. We split two Primi dishes: their special of the day pasta, and the Cappellini Aglio e Olio. The Cappellini was amazing--a perfect blend of Indian spices, breadcrumbs, and another 63 ° egg. Yum. If you love scallops, the Capesante dish is not to be missed. These were some of the sweetest, perfectly prepared scallops I have had.

Inside

Special of the day, truffle pasta

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Bella Italia

4.5(319 reviews)

2.2 mi•Southeast

Amazing food!! The service was amazing. Felt very welcoming and great ambiance. If you're in Denver…read moreyou should definitely visit!!

Always a must grab when on this side of town. Best little spot in the city! Food is always…read moredelicious and service is excellent.

Dining Room

Rice Balls

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Garlic Cheese Bread

Panzano

4.3(1.3k reviews)

3.3 mi•CBD, Northwest

Is it weird the thing I remember most is the Butterscotch pudding? I don't know if it was that good…read moreand nostalgic, or the other stuff wasn't memorable. At the time, I enjoyed all the food including the Arrabiatta with Ricotta, Short Rib, Calamari, Charcuterri, Burrata, Tiramisu and Butterscotch Pudding (yeah, it deserves another mention). Service was 10 star! The staff taking care of our large party was great with bringing the food, clearing plates, and most importantly, bringing drinks, which were also good. That Carrot/Mezcal drink was a winner, as was the Long Island Iced Tea. After my trip, I even bought the cheapo Snak Pack of butterscotch putting for home, which wasn't the same as the masterpiece here. Still good though, as was the other food here! The only odd part was the trek to the men's room... I thought Ashton Kutcher was going to be in there laughing at me when I finally found it. Because of Punk'd, not because of other reasons to laugh at me in a Men's room.

I have been wanting to try Panzano out for years now, so I am glad the opportunity presented…read moreitself. Panzano is located inside the Hotel Monaco along 17th in downtown Denver. When you make reservations, and it is highly recommended that you do, there is an option to select a preset theatre menu option- Theatre Prix Fixe for $60 per person or the traditional menu option. The Theatre menu is the way to go for sure. For my first course, I selected the Insalata di Caesar. This is a very large portion of salad so be forewarned but it is also very good, so win-win. For the main course, I opted for the Pollo alla Milanese. Also, a huge plate of food. I was able to make two additional meals from the chicken. The tagliatelle was perfectly cooked and the sauce paired perfectly well with the breaded chicken. Perfetto! For dessert, I had to try the Budino di Caramello. The butterscotch was truly delectable. Our server and the staff at Panzano were amazing and checked in on us frequently. I highly recommend Panzano if you're in the area.

Dining Room

Cavolini di Bruxelles (fried brussels sprout, apple cider reduction, pistachio, rosemary salt, sliced green apple)--delish!

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Brussels sprouts

Cranelli's Italian Restaurant

4.4(2.4k reviews)

13.4 mi

Always love coming here whenever possible!…read more Food is always fantastic and so is the service!!

One of the best things about this restaurant is that it's locally owned, which is becoming harder…read moreand harder to find in the Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree area. The owners are actively involved in the community and consistently give back, especially by supporting local youth organizations and fundraisers. It's always nice to support a business that invests in the community it serves. Beyond that, the food is excellent. The menu offers a great selection of Italian favorites, from delicious pasta dishes to plenty of other options, and everything we've tried has been consistently flavorful and well prepared. They've expanded the restaurant, so there's much more seating than there used to be, and on a beautiful Colorado evening, the patio is a fantastic place to enjoy a meal. Whether you're dining in or grabbing takeout, the experience is always great. The service is consistently friendly, attentive, and professional. This is one of those local restaurants that keeps us coming back, and it's an easy recommendation for anyone looking for great Italian food and outstanding hospitality.

2.0 mi•Cherry Creek, Southeast

Warm cozy inviting ambiance

Eggplant Parmigiana

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Bar area

Quality Italian

4.0(748 reviews)

Full bar

Gluten-free friendly

Our server, Kaitlinn, was wonderful! Her recommendations,…read moretiming, and personality were terrific! Thanks to the manager as well!

$240 after tip for 4 Negroni's and one shared Chicken Parm Pizza. NO appetizers. NO dessert…read more The worst part was being charged $12 for bottled water after I specifically said we wanted tap water. We didn't even drink it. This isn't Disneyland. Don't bring people a $12 bottle they didn't order and quietly add it to the bill. I'm a bartender. A Negroni uses an ounce each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Even using Monkey 47, the ingredient cost is only $3 per drink, yet these were $25 each, plus a 20% tip. That's a 900% increase!!!! 900% An $88 pizza, $25 cocktails, and a forced $12 water is absurd. Restaurants can charge what they want, but customers deserve transparency. This is exactly why people are eating out less.

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Osteria Marco

4.1(2k reviews)

3.6 mi•Lodo, Northwest

Was visiting from out of town and stopped in to have a drink and some food and man a great time was…read morehad!! We will definitely be back on our next trip! A huge shout out to Blake for the outstanding service! The bar was absolutely packed, and Blake was constantly on the move, yet he never missed a beat. Even with the crowd and nonstop demands, he stayed friendly, attentive, and professional the entire time. Our drinks were spot on, service was quick, and somehow Blake managed to make everyone feel welcomed and taken care of. It's rare to find someone who can handle that level of pressure with such a positive attitude and genuine customer service. Thank you, Blake, for going above and beyond and helping make our night so enjoyable. Your hard work definitely did not go unnoticed, and it's employees like you that keep customers coming back! Hope to see you in the near future!!

I came into Osteria tonight with my wife and it was so busy but then we met Blake and even though…read morehe was slammed he always came over checked on us and gave the best service we've had in awhile! Definitely will come back to have him serve us again.

Calamari

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Gaetano's

3.8(1.1k reviews)

4.7 mi•Northwest

Gaetano's sitting at 3.8 is a crime. I've been here over a dozen times, you don't rack up a streak…read morelike that for a mediocre restaurant. Pesto's unreal, steak's unreal, somehow both at once. Ignore anyone camped out in the 1,2,3,4-star section. Those guys are unhappy with everything, one bad breadstick, mad about their refill on diet coke with 5 extra lemons, and they are still 'thinking about it' three weeks later. That's who's dragging this score down. Not the food. I'm on visit thirteen and still going. Get the pesto, get the steak, ignore the guy who's still thinking about it.

This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Denver, located in the Highlands neighborhood…read more It's old school (originally opened in the 1930s) serving great authentic Italian food with an interesting history. Back in the 1950s & 60s it had a unique connection to organized crime & was known as a hub for mobsters. This is a lively place with a cool vibe playing music from the 50s, 60s & 70s. I especially enjoyed the Motown sound. Lots of windows, both booths & tables were comfy & cushioned. Jack was our server & he was very friendly & attentive. We arrived for Brunch on a Sunday afternoon & the place was busy. We had Cheese Bread with Marinara, Lasagna & Chicken Parmigiana. Our dishes were delicious! The bread was a meal in its self with a really tasty sauce. The lasagna was very good as well but the parmigiana was even better...crispy flavorful chicken. What tied all this together was the scrumptious red sauce used in everything we ate. It was awesome with a spicy kick. This was an amazing meal & I look forward to trying some of their dishes from the dinner menu like the Lobster Ravioli & the Chicken Marsala.

We arrived at Gaetano's, and we were seated in the main dining room, in a booth.

Parmigiana

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Cabernet Sauvignon

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6 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Erin G.

5 months ago

I really wanted to like Benzina, but unfortunately the experience fell short in several key areas. Service felt disorganized from the start. Our meals were delivered at completely different times, which made it difficult to enjoy dinner together. To add to that, our appetizer plates were never cleared--they remained on the table for the entire meal, which detracted from the overall dining experience. The food itself was inconsistent. The chicken parmesan was particularly underwhelming--soggy, served cold, and lacking flavor. The hanger steak was also disappointing and didn't resemble a proper hanger cut, either in texture or presentation. That said, the tagliatelle was a standout and easily the best part of the meal--well-prepared and flavorful. Overall, while there was one highlight, the service issues and uneven food quality made this a disappointing visit. read more

John S.

3 years ago

What a wonderful culinary establishment! It's a favorite of me and my mom to go. I've NEVER had anything here short of excellent. Steak tartare, fresh pizza dough bread, pizzas, arancini, pastas, cocktails, desserts, all phenomenal. Service is quite friendly and they describe the dish when they serve it to you. Menu changes slightly from time to time which is nice read more

Red R.

4 years ago

Amazing food, and I know the sizes already tell you how big they are, but wow it felt like they went extra generous with these portions! All of the pizzas, in my opinion, are delectable, but the Pappardella pasta we had deserves special note. Despite my personal bias in favor of Fettucine, whatever is in the sauce here is magic. read more

Poncif A.

3 years ago

unprofessional management. lots of wasted potential. not worth it at the moment. maybe when they get real admin here

Claire N.

5 years ago

Outstanding service. Delicious food. Great building. We will be back!

Bob S.

4 years ago

great pizza salads and pasta!

Benzina - italian - Updated September 2026

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Johnny Bechamel's was somewhere I had been wanting to try for some time now and their happy hour…read more(4-6 PM) is an incredible deal! We ordered the gem salad, sourdough focaccia with the cacio e pepe spread, the pepperoni pizza, and Hugo spritzes, and everything was excellent. The sourdough focaccia was one of my favorite bites of the meal. It was perfectly airy and the cacio e pepe spread was rich and packed with so much flavor. The gem salad was fresh and a good size making a great starter, and the pepperoni pizza had a crisp crust with just the right balance of cheese and sauce. The happy hour pricing makes it even better, cocktails and spritzes are $10, and wine by the glass is $8, which is hard to beat! The staff were incredibly kind and friendly. The restaurant definitely filled up while we were there, which speaks for itself, but the service was consistent. We'll definitely be back to try more menu items!

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Beautiful place! Service was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what else…read morecan I say!

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