Came here for lunch and shared the fettuccine and the meatball sandwich. The pasta is made in house and tastes delicious. The fettuccine had great flavor, but wish it had some kind of meat or chicken in it. The meatball sandwich was very flavorful and saucy and came with a side salad. The staff was very attentive and it was a very casual -order at the counter and seat yourself type setting. read more

Difranco’s - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Food and service was GREAT. Loved the spaghetti, the meatballs are to die for, and Dishes were displayed beautifully when served!

Okay so their food is definitely good BUT if you order the eggplant parmesan sandwich please know that it's NOT what most people would consider an "eggplant parm". It's literally these giant eggplant steak pieces that aren't breaded and it's basically just... an eggplant sandwich. Definitely not what I was expecting and I don't love eggplant like that (the pieces of it are super thick), so that was a disappointing and expensive mistake. Really feel like they should change the name of it or clarify that it's different from probably any other Italian restaurant. Other than that their food is really tasty. read more

The food here is delicious and extremely fresh! I went here for a friend's birthday and will definitely be going back. We ordered a lot of food and all of it came out quickly, made correctly, and with fantastic service. I got the Penne. The ingredients were so fresh and the flavor was amazing. The best part about this place: gluten free pasta and dessert options! read more

Difranco’s - Penne - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The door opened and the aroma caused immediate salivation. I ordered the 1/2 eggplant and thought more cheese was needed & it needed more baking time. The two guys ordered sandwiches and liked them but left hungry, just not enough good. I want to try the ricotta cookies, cya on my next visit. read more

DO NOT ORDER!!! Absolutely horrible food in small portions for way too much money. The carbonara had absolutely zero flavor not to mention only filled the container up maybe to a fourth full. And that is what you get for $16. The chicken parm shouldn't even be allowed to be called that. The cause tasted like watered down tomato juice. And the chicken was so rubbery I wasn't even sure it was chicken. And that was $20. When I called the restaurant their response was "uh sorry...what do you want me to do about it?" In a very sarcastic way. Followed by "I can't do anything for you" absolutely worst Italian restaurant in Denver read more

See all

There's not enough good things to say about this quaint but AMAZING place. Best Italian I e had in Denver. Each time we travel to the city, we have to make a stop! read more

This place is the best Italian food in Denver. I have been looking for really good lasagna for over 2 years. I met a friend last night for dinner at DiFrancos. Got a bottle of wine $24 happy hour. We both had the arugula pear salad. It was beyond expectations and scrumptious.The pear was so tasty. I had no idea a roasted pear could taste so good. My friend ordered the potato gnocchi. It was served with braised beef shoulder. OMG it was so amazing. I recommend this dish. prepared to perfection. we both loved it. I ordered the lasagna. I have finally found my favorite lasagna. It had a little spice to it but not too much. it had plenty of sausage and the sauce and the cheeses are spectacular. It is the best lasagna in town. Job well done Adam. I will be back. Ms Ann read more

I love DiFranco's! I've been here twice and both times it was great. The food is always fresh, the staff is friendly, and the dining area is nice, cozy, and clean. If you're looking for a small menu where every item is made with attention and care, this is it! read more

This is some of the best Italian food I've had in my whole life. We had the chicken and spaghetti Parmesan. It was literally perfect. The chicken had a very light breading that stop added flavor. The mozzarella was fresh and moist and the red sauce was just ever so spicy giving it just a tiny kick to make it extra special. We also ordered the summer ravioli special that was unique and scrumptious. Topped with a delectable pulled pork and corn over handmade ravioli, it truly was a special treat. We came on a Wednesday evening, and they had a date night special. For $50, you got two salads, two entrees and two cannolis, either chocolate or candies pecan. Everything was made with so much attention to detail. We will definitely be back next time we are in Denver. read more

It has always been a nice experience when we go to DiFranco's. It's a small and cozy restaurant. The staff are always kind and patient as we stand their being indecisive with our order. They have a smaller menu, which means every dish gets a good amount of attention of the chefs. We got the porchetta sub and their season dish. Everything came out just delicious. The pricing is average I guess for an Italian restaurant but the portions were a bit on the smaller side read more

Difranco’s - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Fresh homemade pasta and desserts . The eggplant Parmesan with spaghetti was divine! My family also loved their spaghetti and meatballs and the Alfredo read more

Some of the best pasta/chicken parm we've ever had. Thin and crispy chicken cutlets with large portions! We got the bread and balsamic to start off which was good too. Definitely coming here again! read more

See all

It had a good start to the food up until you realize how damn SPICY the red sauce and meatballs are! Why do they douse it in red pepper flakes? This is Italian, not Mexican food. Way way way too much heat and I assume it's globs of red pepper flakes. Lay off the spice and it could be better. Seriously it was so hot that my mouth was on fire and I was sweating. Italian food should have some spice but not burn your face off. The homemade pasta was good at least. read more

Yum yum yum! I don't know how it took me so long to try this spot, it's a boutique restaurant below one of the ornate apartment buildings on Lincoln Street. I'm so impressed with their farm-to-table seasonal menu. They're a certified green business and are 20% wind powered. The gentleman working the front counter today gave us great service. He was enthusiastic about their specials (Wednesday lasagna night, $2 off starters on Happy Hour) and really put in his word for the ricotta cookies. We had the alfredo and spaghetti with meatball using our food passport. The spaghetti really had a special taste; a little spice coming off the meatball or something. It was filling with the big ol' meatball and a piece of bread to scrape up the remaining red sauce. The alfredo was good. The ricotta cookies delivered too: a little gooey, cheesy sweet cookie and a rich icing on top. Next time I'm really looking forward to giving the vodka sauce a try and when the seasonal ravioli are back on the menu I'm getting an entree of those too! read more

See all

I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. The term catfish comes to mind, because somehow this place has amazing pictures and reviews, but really could not deliver on any front but hiring a very friendly staff. Make no mistake, this is a glorified deli counter, with uncomfortable seating, bright lights and virtually no space. The food is overpriced, small servings, and to be honest, not very good. I ordered the spaghetti and MEATBALL (singular) which wasn't fully cooked and made almost instantly ill. I sent it back and they sent me two, very cooked, flavorless wads. If the pasta is "homemade", it was made in the Barilla "home" weeks ago. I was sick for at least a day after eating here, and am really disappointed I paid the bill . How this place has survived the pandemic is beyond me but I am eagerly awaiting this restaurateurs book " On the ball : How i took the S out of meatballs " read more

This restaurant popped up on Yelp's delivery service - I was looking for a new place, thought the food here looked and sounded pretty good, so I placed an order, first off at a pretty reasonable price for all I was ordering and delivery fee and tip and everything; not bad. But Di'Franco's really came into their own when there were issues with the delivery. Frustrations with Grubhub on an already bad day were instantly assuaged when I called the restaurant to check the status of my order that was placed two hours ago. The man I talked to at Di'Francos was quick to explain the mixup with delivery and told me that due to the confusion, they were refunding me and had included a free dessert. He was very kind and I thanked him, they took initiative with an issue that definitely wasn't their fault and I wish I could tip more now having my food. Needless to say, I'm getting Di'Franco's again and again and thank them for making this bad day feel good with tasty food and above and beyond service. read more

Difranco’s - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Sept 2017-- I ordered te sweet corn ravioli ($16), my husband ordered th fettucini ($14) and we shred a KALE Caesar salad. My ravioli was superb and the fettuccini was also quite good. We ordered a cannoli just to live big and also enjoyed it very much. Nice decor. Modern yet not obnoxious ambiance, so we def recommend It to others. read more

Difranco’s - Sept 2017 - I ordered the sweet corn ravioli and it was superb. husband ordered fettuccini. - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Fantastic location, fantastic food. Cute little place with nice atmosphere. My dog and I sat at the outside seating, which was very comfortable.I ordered the chicken parm spaghetti and she got the spicy Italian sausage side. We were both very happy. Very attentive staff also. read more

Been coming since before the pandemic and it's great every time. Usually end up getting something red sauce based with meat. They make their meatballs a little spicy like I make them, which I love. The people working there are always friendly. read more

Excellent Italian food! Our new go to Italian delivery spot... the delivery courier took longer than normal to deliver our order and even reheated, the food was incredible. We can't wait to order from DiFranco's again! read more

Good food....WAY overpriced $2 for 2 Small slices of baguette with butter and garlic seasoning...come on. I'm Italian from NYC. I Know Italian food. VERY disappointing read more

I dont typically right a review based on service, but I think this illustrates how delicious the whole meal was: My plate was empty of pasta, and I had some sauce left but no more bread. An employee (manager?) asked if I was done enjoying my food, but instead I asked, "Would it be possible to have some bread to sop this up?" His response, "Of course--I hate washing this stuff down the drain" Every last bite is delicious and they take pride is that. The experience was warm, I felt taken care of. The price is between $$ and $$$ but worth it. We'll be back! read more

DiFrancos does it right. Every. Single. Time. Their staff is excellent: inviting, knowledgeable, and check in at the right times. The food is outstanding! I love their pastas, both eating in and the noodles and sauces you can take home to prepare yourself. Their salads are perfectly portioned. Today I tried a $9 lunch sandwich (Thursday special) and was not disappointed. If they could put a half pasta, half salad option on the menu I would be in heaven! Prices are at a good value for home made quality! Try their home made pastas. Note: the portions aren't huge (no Maggianos or Olive Garden - how dare I!? Sizes here) but they are perfect fully filling! read more

Difranco’s - DiFrancos Italian sausage sandwich with a side salad. - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

As others mention, this is a pretty small place, so may be hard to find seating if you come during a busy time. There is free parking in the garage. I love the quinoa salad with beets, but my very favorite thing is the lemon ricotta cookies. So good!!! read more

Fettuccine Alfredo is the best I've had. My partner ordered the chicken parm and we loved both of our dishes.

One of my new fave restaurants in Denver! Classic, wholesome & delicious without being overpriced or pretentious. Service is always top-notch. I've eaten there multiple times now and am always pleased. Don't forget to grab a cannoli on the way out...YUM. I would also highly recommend their catering! read more

We showed up from out of town, without a reservation, and we're welcomed in. The food and the service were both fantastic, and the staff were very welcoming and warm. The chicken parm was really tasty and the place smells marvelous. Thank you for a wonderful meal on a Friday night! read more

Ok, who flew my mom in to cook my dinner? Seriously, the Rigatoni with spicy tomato sauce and a side meatball was one delicious meal made with care. The ingredients were so fresh, and their combination so perfect. Spices and herbs danced on my tastebuds, while the amount of salt was just right. The sauce was not really that spicy, but rather a perfect zesty that a red sauce should be. And the meatball was so well crafted. I went to a show at the Bluebird afterward and actually held off on getting a drink so that I could further savor my experience - it was that good. Now I'll be honest, I was a little dismayed at first that I had to order a meatball as a side, but realized once the dish came out that this was ingenious. You can also order chicken or Italian sausage as well, so you can basically make the pasta dish that you want. But whatever you do, you must follow Kelly T.'s advice and save the bread for cleaning that plate of yours. You'll be sorry if you don't. Amazing food, cool casual atmosphere, and the sweetest of people behind all the magic. I can't wait to come back and try the Potato Gnocchi. A great place for any moment. I have been hearing rave reviews about DiFranco's for some time now, and it was great to finally stop in and have my high expectations met. read more

Difranco’s - Potato Gnocchi / Italian Sausage Ragu - soooo delicious, one of my fav dishes anywhere. - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I have been to DiFranco's a handful of times and I have yet to have a meal that disappointed me. Homemade pastas and sauces are over-the-top delicious. Probably the best I've had anywhere, but definitely the best I've had in Denver. I've actually eaten all three types of pasta and sauce that are on the menu currently, but because all of the products/produce are locally sourced the types of sauce changes with the seasons. I love that. I've also ordered the polenta, tomato, and mozzarella salad; ricotta cookies; and the tapanade. Again, so, so good. The portions are what portions should be so they may look on the smaller side if you are used to gargantuan, American-style pasta. But, I am always just the right amount of full after a meal here. The people that work here are friendly to everyone. As I sit at the large community table inside I hear them greet most people that enter by name and ask questions about things happening in their lives. So, not only does DiFranco's support our local businesses, they also support the local community of people by becoming part of our everyday happenings. You can eat in or grab something to go, but DiFranco's does casual Italian very, very well and so you should do one or the other sooner rather than later. read more

Got takeout tonight which was our first time eating here. The food was ready quickly (20 minutes) and was super fresh and hot when we got it. The burrata was excellent, really soft and creamy, and the pesto was delicious too (not too cheesy or oily so the flavor of the greens is prominent). We got fettuccine Alfredo (with a breaded chicken cutlet on the side), the fresh made noodles were thin and light, not doughy. The Alfredo sauce was also really creamy and not too heavy. The chicken was juicy and tender. We also got the carbonara which was very rich and cheesy (a tiny bit heavy on the Parmesan for my taste, so I might ask for them to go light on that next time). Also liked the texture of the fresh spaghetti noodles, and a side of roasted broccoli which went really well with it. The bacon bits were generous and flavorful. The last thing we had was Caesar salad which I wish came with anchovies but I really liked that they used mixed greens with arugula instead of just plain romaine! Also they definitely had homemade croutons which were super flavorful and the dressing was good. We enjoyed everything! I wish they had a little more variety in desserts (cheesecake or something might go really well with the rest of the menu) so we didn't have dessert but we had a ton of food, I think it was a pretty good value and portion size for the price. Quality was excellent! I highly recommend for some tasty Italian with lots of homemade ingredients! read more

Just went out on a date night at DiFranco's. What a great deal! Every Wednesday $50 buys you and your dining partner a couple of simple fresh salads served with a tasty light EVOO dressing. That's followed up with your choice of 2 of their 1/2 dozen or so great homemade pasta dishes or paninis and then you also get a couple of cannolis for dessert. Each couple also receives a very serviceable bottle of red barbera or white chardonnay/sauvignon blanc wine. And all for $50. So that's the background info. Now to the "rest of the story:" The over-sized black-and-white pix on the wall are of Ryan DiFranco's family. And even though I was there with the world's most beautiful and understanding woman (hi there, sweetheart . . . are we having fun yet?;), since I have to be truthful in my reviews I'm forced (?) to say that Ryan's grandmother was a total, complete, amazing Sicilian hottie-and-a-half, back in what looks to be the 60s. There she is half life-size, bikini-clad on a dock, holding a . . . wait for it . . . ya ready (?) . . . fish. Hmmm. Now I know that doesn't seem like the setting for a smokin' babe who's gotta now be in her 80s or more if she's still alive, but I can only hope that one day when we're back for more of that wonderful homemade pasta (the recipes for which were grandma's very own), we'll have the pleasure of getting to meet Mrs. DiFranco up close and personal. I'm positive she's still as elegant, as beautiful, and most importantly, as good a cook as you've ever met. So here's to famiglia DiFranco. They're a gorgeous talented lot, and Mrs. D's grandson sure can cook like his grandmother. Arrivederci, and sign me, David "Mangia bene" M read more

DiFranco's serves up some of the finest Italian food in Colorado. The menu is sublime. The menu does change throughout the year, although I'm not sure how often it changes. The menu is simple and offers a variety of salads, sandwiches, pasta, and desserts. The difficulty is choosing an item from the menu knowing you cannot order the entire menu for dinner. Well, you could order the whole menu but lets be realistic, you'll only order one item. We started with an Arugula salad with roasted pear and a pear garlic vinaigrette. The salad was refreshing and was an excellent way to start our meal. I dream about the Penne with prosciutto vodka sauce that satisfied by growling tummy. The pasta is rich and flavorful and was the perfect size for me to finish off without feeling overly full. I took my fresh bread and soaked up every little bit of sauce I could see. A meatball on the side was a nice addition to dinner and had great seasoning. My dinner didn't end there, an order of garlic bread finished out the evening, topped with fresh parsley and garlic. If that wasn't enough food, we were craving dessert and had been eying the dessert case up front. We decided on an assortment of desserts. We started with a cannoli, three lemon ricotta cookies, a rainbow amaretto cake, and a nutella wedding cookie. If the pasta wasn't enough to keep me coming back, the desserts push me over the edge. I would like fifty of those rainbow cakes so I can have one whenever I want. The lemon ricotta cookies would be a splendid compliment to any dinner party if I wasn't in the baking mood. It's small on the inside and has one large community table and two individual tables by the window. The people working here are friendly and definitely take pride in the quality of ingredients they use in their dishes. When I'm craving Italian, DiFranco's will top my list of places to go. *Count the BF and I in for Wednesday Date Night = Two salads, two entree's, a bottle of wine, and two cannoli's for $40. read more

See all

Awesome, authentic little Italian place! Chicken parmesan was amazing. It was pounded thin and the breading was perfect. The spaghetti was fresh and perfectly cooked. The chocolate cookie with powdered sugar and the cannoli were delicious. I was not a fan of the eggplant parmesan. It was probably extremely authentic but the pieces of eggplant were too thick and too tough for me (basically the complete opposite of the chicken Parm). I am still giving this place five stars because that's how good the chicken parmesan was. I would definitely come back! read more

See all

I've been three times & can confidently say this intimate little Italian deli is top notch. Everything is fresh and made with quality ingredients, both the salads and sandwiches are savory. Very cool little place with friendly staff, great table for community seating as well. They also sell some Italian specialty items, so it's ideal for taking a great meal home or dining there. Tastiest chicken parmesan sandwich I've ever had, delicious carbonara, remarkable orange fennel salad, and do save room for a pistachio cranberry cookie. read more

The house wine was gulpable! My absolute fav dish is the sweet pea ravioli paired with the Caesar salad and of course we had to take a bottle of the house wine home. An adorable spot tucked off of Lincoln street. read more

Really, really wonderful food here! It's so good to have a good, authentic italian restaurant nearby. I get cranky if it's been to long without a good plate of spaghetti, just ask my husband! Lovely place and I love the bread. Great for takeout, especially now! read more

Dayum. DaYUM. DAYUM -this is to Kelly T.- Yes, it pays to be a longtime Yelp Eliter (that's not even a word but I DO NOT CARE). You know what, Yelp has been such an awesome organization since its inception. I mean, really...tonight was super-magical. I got special town-car rides with Uber (OH YEAH!)...practically felt like royalty in Denver! :P Then, upon arrival to DiFranco's, got an awesome bag of Yelp goodies ^_^ and a choice of beer or wine & tasty appetizers. The night was too fun: all women except for Nick N. (Tiffany's husband) & Bryan. I guess we women are loyal to Yelp for 5+ years...ooohhh. I loved hearing Ryan DiFranco talk about his fresh, local ingredients and awesome family recipes. Chocolate Truffles from the Chocolate Lab...MMmmmm! And Aiko Pops? ChristoPHAH is the raddest New Yorker I've ever met (ok, minus my older bro & his fam). I totally called ChristoPHAH out on his unintended pun. :P Really, we're all fit to be queens and kings here in Gold Badge Elite Land. Now, to get running.....;) read more

See all

Why can't I give six stars on Yelp?!?! Best Italian in Denver. Best Italian I've ever had. I had the sweet corn ravioli which could be served at Mizuna or Frasca and easily hold its own. It's a perfect dish with balanced flavors. I'm not a good enough writer to express how delicious this dish is. We also had the Italian cold cut sandwich, the garlic bread, and the fettuccine with vodka sauce. Everything was wonderful, but the sweet corn ravioli stands about the rest. The menu is seasonal so make sure you get there soon! I've been here several times and in general I'd recommend the pastas over the sandwiches. It's all great, but the handmade fresh pastas are what sets this place apart. DiFranco's is the best Italian place in town, try it tonight!!!!!!! read more

See all

DiFrancos has an excellent menu including seasonal offerings - so expect a couple new entres rotating throughout the year. Their lemon ricotta cookies are a great after dinner treat to accompany your meal. Their pasta is made on premises and from the first bite you can taste the homemade goodness. It's also for sale if you want to try and recreate your favorite dish at home. It's a small restaurant with a hip vibe. read more