This spot has been on my radar for quite some time, so when the 3 of were seeing a show in the area, we opted for a bite to eat first. SPACE: Located in an outdoor mall area, the space is easy to spot with ample parking. The interior is cozy with dim lighting and oak accents, while offering a variety of seating for parties of all sizes. A spacious outdoor patio is also available - perfect for the summertime! We were seating in the middle of the dining room, which was fine with us. The vibe is def cozy chic, which we found welcoming . SERVICE: I had booked reservations in advance, as Happy Hour here is a major hit. The friendly hostess seated us and our server followed shortly behind her. She was friendly, attentive, provided some good recommendations and was pleasant all around! SIPS: While our friend opted for a glass of wine, my husband stuck with water, while I looked at their mocktail menu. The options are limited, but available for a fun treat. I opted to try the "Little Kiss" which was a mixture of grapefruit, sparkling soda, and cranberry. The flavors were on point for the holiday season and tasted refreshing. I will admit, the glass it came in was a turn off. It was like a normal draft size class, which made me feel like I was about 9 years old. Bummer. Otherwise, there are plenty of options for drinkers alike - beer, wine, cocktails, you name it, they have it! SUSTENANCE: The food!! This spot is known for their rustic Italian and woodfired creations - and the menu is fire. I asked for some bread and oil to start - because that sounded divine. It came out quickly and was a nice intro to the meal. My friend opted for the Pasticcio - aka meatballs, three cheese tortellini, slow braised Bolognese, herby pomodoro, bechamel and parm brulee - which he found to be fantastic! It came with more bread, which was perfect for dipping. My friend got a kick out of the presentation as well - in a cast little iron cauldron! I chose the Seafood Pasta - a special of the night. I'll admit, I was a bit disappointed in my meal - as it was a mixture of squid, shrimp, scallops and other - in a red sauce. Not what I was expecting with seafood, but always down to try new things. The seafood flavor overpowered the dish - which made it hard to finish. I opted not to take it home. My husband noshed on the Brasato - Barolo wine slow braised angus short rip, creamy polenta and gremolata - which was DIVINE. The meat was SO tender, delicious and took on the rich wine flavor, perfect over potatoes! YUM! The pizza stood out to me as well, but considering Cattivella is classy, I opted for other. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and could see returning. read more

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Everything was just ok... food, service, atmosphere. Nothing stood out. We ordered off of the happy hour menu and it was nothing to write home about; all standard Americanized Italian food. We had to ask for one persons food as it was completely forgotten and didn't come out until everyone was finished. It gave us extra time to chat with our friends but not the meal experience we were hoping for! read more

Ribeye special was a joke. A bone shank with literally two bites of steak. Most expensive dish on the menu too. Been here many times and it's always been good, but not on this night. Another person in my party also ordered this and it was same disappointing dish. Lesson learned...if I go back I will Stick with the pasta. read more

The service was a bit lacking - it took quite awhile for anyone to come over to us after we were seated but the kitchen was quick and the food is great. Super fun to sit at the bar and watch them cook in the open kitchen. The sauce for this short rib ravioli special was unreal! I've had the Trenette before and would get that before I'd order the Zozzona again. Still so many things on the menu I still want to try. Dont sleep on the Pollo Valdostana - the woman next to me was having this and it looked SO good. I usually go for pasta but will try that next time. read more

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Great place to stop by and eat in East Denver/Aurora. Lovely seating, fun open kitchen design, great menu options, and fresh food. The service left a little to be desired. The waiter was a bit abrasive during ordering and the service was a little slow (coming from a former server). There were times our water was left unfilled for quite a while. We also saw our food was out and ready to be ran to our table, but our waiter walked by it several times before walking it a few feet over to our table. The food was pretty good. Notably, the roasted grape appetizer was incredible. The goat cheese was some of the best goat cheese I have ever had (second only to a goat farm in Maui). I had never heard of or considered roasting grapes, but they were delightful. It was a very memorable dish, and would by itself make a return visit worthwhile. 10/10 would recommend the roasted grape appetizer served with goat cheese. read more

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I was shocked how many people dine out on a Monday night, but noticed it was happy hour all day score!!! Our server Maddox had a decent amount of tables inside and outside and looked like he was spot on with each table. Super friendly, asked customer if this was their first time dining here. He really did a great job. I only got one photo and that was of the grilled Cesar salad and the grilled taste makes it stand out from the normal Cesar salad that restaurants serve. I got the non happy hour green pepper and sausage pizza since I was hungry and wanted lunch for tomorrow as well. The pizza was delicious and came freshly out of their oven. Great neighborhood gem read more

Cattivella - Grilled Romaine Insalata - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great Service,Calimari was great with good portion Everything else was really good. The spoonful of tiramisu was a nice touch. read more

We went here with another couple a few weeks ago and we were NOT impressed. The food was mediocre, the server was lack luster (had to wave him over multiple times and with our reservation we weren't seated where asked so everything was a scramble in the end) and one full meal just never came out....until the END of the meal when everyone else was done - and again, we had to wave the server over to even tell him the food was never served. To say the least...we won't be coming back here. The menu's alone show their lack of care for the restaurant - all our menus were falling apart. read more

First and foremost I have to commend our server Vitali. He curated our dining experience from the moment we sat down all the way through each course. We were able to try everything we wanted to try because he helped customize a family style setup. He doesn't just know the menu very well he brings life and historical background to each dish. I'm grateful for the experience I had with him as our server. Now for the meal highlights: Peach crostada - delicious sweetness with a tang. It is a lot better than the apple version. The apples weren't soft. Pasticcio- this was hearty and delicious. The lamb was rich and flavorful Tirimisu taster- this made me regret not getting a full portion. This was delicious. Notable mentions: Irish coffee with cream and whiskey Expresso martini Torre Zambia - dry red wine Overall I would go back in a heartbeat! Grateful to Elise Wiggins and her commitment to excellence. Cheers! read more

Came by to celebrate something special and got treated to some bar seating where we were able to watch the chefs prepare all the food. We got two pastas, two pizzas, and drinks all off their happy hour menu. Their happy hour menu was nice because we could try multiple things since they were smaller portions. The gnocchi was unfortunately a little cold when it came to us so that was our least favorite dish and the marry me chicken pizza was our favorite dish. It was a good experience and we will probably go back in the future. read more

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Everything from the service to the food was incredible. It was a beautiful experience and we will be back. Full of flavor, great recommendations, gave samples which made it fun. The strawberry basil cocktail was delicious. The oysters were the best I've ever had! read more

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The food is VERY good I must repeat very because it's so good!! I got a delicious short rib in a red wine sauce. The service was great and our waiter was nice. The general ambiance was nice and cozy. The lights are kinda dim and again the food is AMAZING! read more

I've never stopped loving Cativella, but I had to update my review to say "GET THEE TO THE THURSDAY TASTING MENU!" 6 courses for $40!! They just started it two weeks ago. I went to the first night. 1st course: Stuffed crisply sphere of truffle mushroom mousse, sage preserved tomato salsa. My rating: 9/10 2nd course: Smoked seared sea scallop, potato mousse, crispy speck with pitcher of chive garlic butter poured over. My rating: 10/10 3rd course: Grilled Patagonion red shrimp and Olathe corn ravioli with zucchini basil sauce. My rating : 5/10 (surprisingly bland, unfortunately) 4th course: Baby Butter lettuce, basil green goddess dressing. My rating: 7/10 (a little dry on the dressing) 5th course: Grilled Italian Piedmontese Ribeye, Italian Salsa Verde, creamy polenta, gongonzola crumbles. My rating: 10/10. Would give it a 20/10 if I could. Gave me goosebumps it was so good. 6th course: Flourless Almond Chocolate Tort, Marsala Chocolate Sauce, Vanilla Bean whipped cream. My rating: 9/10 read more

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The atmosphere, service, drinks and food were all excellent. A great treat for yourself, date night, or celebration meal. Chef Elise is amazing as well, such a warm and welcoming personality, and that sentiment carries over to her restaurant! Wish I were staying longer so I could participate in one of her cooking courses. Highly recommended! read more

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Wow! Cattivella took me by surprise! I was expecting an average Italian meal in a retail area but got so much more. We got a reservation on a Monday night. We requested to sit inside but they only had patio available so we had to opt for that. It was a bit chilly but we managed. The happy hour menus was going on all night so we got the Burrata app, zucchini app, and an aperol spritz. My husband and guest got the two pizzas, since they were the happy hour ones they were a bit smaller but enough for two grown men to share. I got the special! It was white fish over grains and veggies, it was fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try a few other dishes! read more

Cattivella - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Cattivella delivered a wonderful dinner experience in a charming setting. We chose their beautiful patio located within a small shopping center, which featured live music during our visit - a perfect touch for the evening. The interior offers ample seating with great views of their wood-fired pizza oven in action. We tried one of their specialty pizzas, which was perfectly cooked with excellent flavor throughout. The crust had that ideal wood-fired texture and taste. The service was outstanding throughout our visit - our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made sure we had everything we needed without being intrusive. They offer an impressive selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, plus an extensive dessert menu that's hard to resist. The variety ensures there's something for everyone. This is definitely a spot worth visiting soon - the combination of quality food, great atmosphere, and thoughtful touches makes for a memorable dining experience in Denver. read more

Cattivella - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We really enjoyed our dinner at Cattivella! The staff was friendly and accommodating, and everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. We can't wait to check out some of their cooking classes as well read more

Still a 5-star experience even on a Wednesday night! This place was packed when we stopped in just after 5:30 and since we didn't have a reservation they found us a spot at the chef's counter. (Can I just tell you that is certainly not a downgrade IMO) We got to see all the beautiful pizzas being prepared up close and personal and I was giddy! We started with a grilled cesar salad and then ordered off the specials menu for the mains with frutti di mare and a ribeye pizza. Also, I'm crying inside because we just got home and I realized we left 1/2 a pizza in a takeout box on the bar near the restroom. I'll also cry inside tomorrow at lunch time as well because I strategically saved enough for another meal Back to the meal... everything was phenomenal and then we also decided to have charbroiled oysters in lieu of dessert with no regrets. We also got seated during happy hour and had a couple drinks from that menu as well. Would we come again, absolutely and hopefully very soon. read more

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Cattivella is my favorite Denver restaurant. The food is excellent! The service is friendly and efficient. The atmosphere is fun and upbeat. There are truly interesting cooking classes, too. I would definitely recommend Cattivella. I've been going there for about 8 years now and don't plan to stop! read more

Lindsay waited on us at the bar. The restaurant was filled to brim and everyone was frantic. She was fantastic and took the time to wait on us and make us feel important. I will return Susan read more

We went on a whim for dinner at half past 6 on a warm October night and sat outside with string lights hanging above and a martini for my hubby and a big yummy glass of red for me. The pour was generous and I appreciated that as well as our lovely table with diners all around us enjoying their evening too. For me service and atmosphere really make a meal special, and the service was excellent, and our server Ben was lovely to talk to and knowledgeable about the menu and restaurant and very pleasant. I got an email from Cativella today, about a tiny tasting menu, intrigued, and wanting a night out between Dodger playoff games we booked a table and went in. We shared parmigiana pearls in pomodoro sauce and tuna tartare with avocado and truffle oil. I don't love truffle oil and was wary, but it was just a hint and both appetizers were excellent. Our second courses were elk bolognese and roasted chicken. The bolognese sauce was excellent, the pasta was a tad overcooked and I would have loved a fettuccine noodle to soak up the bolognese, so good. The chicken was yummy, but the truffle oil was too strong and not necessary in my opinion, but the mash potatoes, spinach and sauce were tasty and we ate it all. For dessert we split pistachio cheesecake with an almond crumb crust and berry sauce and flourless lava cake with hazelnut sprinkle, both were delicious. We had a great night, the price was really fair. Really enjoyed the tiny tasting menu. All of the staff worked hard and were excellent, and Ben offered some of the best service we have had in a long time at any restaurant. read more

Cattivella - Outdoor patio in October 2024 - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I've been here 3 times and I absolutely love it. The service is amazing and the food is bomb! The ambiance is exactly what I'm looking for when I need a nice dinner out. My only critique would be on the Trenette pasta, it lacked flavor in my opinion. My friend tried it and agreed. With that being said, when I mentioned that to my server...I had the best service I've ever gotten. My server immediately told me not to worry and recommended other dishes for me to try and quickly brought out a different pasta, and the gnocchi which were absolutely delicious. I'll definitely be back! Especially for the stamp card bar! (10 stamps and you get a FREE pizza!!) read more

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Perfect spot for a date night! Food was so good loved the valentines special! The dessert is always a must! read more

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Attended a cooking class this Saturday. It was a great experience. We were taught the skills to make a chicken and sausage gumbo. The end result was amazing. I would highly recommend the cooking classes hosted by the Chef Elise at Cattivella. read more

Despite not living in Denver we have come to place at least 4-5x over the course of 6 years. They have good food and if you time it just right you can hit their awesome happy hour. HH offerings include some of their pasta dishes (small portions but still plenty ), pizza and appetizers and drinks. Tonight we were lucky enough to make HH so we ordered 4 appetizers and then our meals. Their charbroiled oysters are very large and tasty! They have raised their prices on them since our last visit but they are quite big. The appetizer with roasted grapes, cheese and toast is also great. If you have never tried gnocchi then you must! Absolutely little pillows of deliciousness! Some in my family love the rabbit gnocchi and get it every time. This place is a little noisy but still a good choice for family or work dinner. read more

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Was looking forward to my res at Cattivella for Restaurant week for WEEKS and was sadly disappointed tonight. The food was delicious (though cold), and the service was great but the portions were TINY. I try different restaurants every year for restaurant week and have never been served so little food, I was still hungry after the meal and had to order more food sadly. I honestly wish we had ordered off the main menu as we would have spent the same amount but had wayyy more food. read more

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just now New $100+ We enjoyed a private pizza class with Chef Elise. She is clearly an outstanding chef, evidenced by the sparkle in her eye when she describes meals she creates. She loves making people happy by sharing her culinary creations. She is an equally exceptional teacher. Her attention to detail and thoughtful explanations, encouraging the why, why, why helped us refine our home pizza making skills. The class exceeded our expectations and was incredibly joyful. And we came home with amazing pizza! Can't wait to practice our skills with friends. Highly recommend read more

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The Monday happy hour is such a great deal! We love the gnocchi and they have great cocktails.

The food is always fresh and delicious. The open air kitchen is cool and fun to watch everything being prepared. The service has always been good and it's a good place for a date night or a family dinner. read more

It was delicious, I had the buffalo Buratta which was very nice, and then the rabbit gnocchi, and it was an 8/10, there were some garnish for texture that reminded me of straw and was difficult to eat. If those little buds hadn't been in the gnocchi, I would give it a 10/10 read more

Cattivella - Rabbit Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Food, drinks and service were excellent despite the fact that the kitchen and bar were so busy either customers The wait staff assisted each other to make sure food and drinks were delivered in a timely manner read more

Such a great find. Unfortunately, had to come to Aurora to visit an ill family member at UC Health and was looking for options close by. We were genuinely impressed. So many gluten free options, as well. We'll be back. read more

Came here for happy hour on a Friday evening. The happy hour is only from 5-6 but you get a fantastic bang for your buck! Our waiter, Marcelo was amazing from the time we sat down until the time we left. I had a spicy watermelon margarita (not on HH) but it was amazing! We also ordered oysters, buffalo basil pizza, calamari, lamb ragu and pasticcio. The lamb ragu was one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life. read more

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Food and service was amazing. We sat at the bar and watched them make pizzas and all plates. The smells were wonderful and the food was so good. I would definitely visit again. read more

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Happy hour is the way to go! You can get a few different dishes to sample and share. I'm not a huge Italian food fan so I'm really picky about Italian food and this did not disappoint. Everything was delicious. Ambience was cute and cozy - perfect date night spot. I will come back. read more

One of the best restaurants I've been to in Denver. Everything's delicious. Very special, one of a kind place.

Dined here in September for a friend's birthday and it was delicious! From the Prosecco to the gluten-free pasta (for her) to the delicious shrimp (for me)! Topped it off with a gluten-free birthday dessert! And our server was fantastic! I will definitely dine here again. read more

Great food and drinks. Would highly recommend sitting at the bar, you can see the kitchen and watch them make the food. The food was pretty good and came out quickly! For happy hour, the portions are half sized. read more

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The first time here was amazing! The mojito and oysters are what brought me back. - photos are from first trip. Came the second time on a Monday during their all day happy hour, wasn't my fav experience. It was our anniversary- service was slow. We on this night the drinks and oysters were great! We ordered off the happy hour menu as a tapas type dinner - one of the noodle dishes was literally boiled noodles, in noodle water and a bit of garlic and olive oil. For the cost, have had a lot better experience and pasta dishes. Will still continue to go back for the oysters! read more

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The food was amazing, but what really made me write this review is the service. Every staff member there was moving around so fast. Our server, Jeremy, did a stupendous job. He made sure we had everything we needed and checked in just the right amount. Our food was timed out perfectly. We were too full to eat desert there but got some to go and they even let us have a spoonful of tiramisu so we didn't miss out. Food: Roasted grapes bruschetta. It was a dish we've never had. So good. Lamb ragú. The meat was so juicy and flavorful. The pasta tasted perfect. Rabbit gnocchi. So many complimenting flavors. The tomatoes were sweet and so good. The rabbit was the best I've had. So filling I had to take half home (I rarely don't finish my meal). Tiramisu spoonful. Just get it. Overall, come for the food, but come back because the staff really wants to make everyone have a wonderful night. read more