Great place! When passing by, a friend said "eh, it's an ok place." He could not have been more mistaken. Took my mother here for her birthday, and we had a GREAT meal. The lasagna was phenomenal, and huge and I had plenty left over for dinner the next night (and I have a good appetite!). Plenty of bread (as for the review that said you "were literally the only table not to receive bread with our meal," well, don't you have a voice? Really. The soup special was a creamy bisque; it was spicy, and delicious. The price overall was reasonable, $45 for 2 (1 glass of wine, 1 salad, 1 soup, 2 entrees, excl. tip), Definitely a place I want to visit again (and again!). read more

I used to live at 12th and Columbine so I could walk here anytime. I'd usually go for the happy hour at night, usually after 9 if I recall correctly. Admittedly I've only been here for happy hour so I've never waited long and only gotten the small dishes. So maybe I haven't had the full experience, but every time I have come it's been pretty good. The free bread is amazing and I usually get a loaf to go. The salads are good, the ravioli and sliders are good and the pizzas SUCK. Never again. But then again it's called SHELLS and Sauce eh. (Mac and cheese is so creamy and delicious!!) read more

This was my 2nd time here with friends. We love this neighborhood, and the food and atmosphere at this restaurant are phenomenal. If I had reviewed it the first time, I would've given it 5 stars for sure. But our waitress, Lucila, gave attitude when I asked about what was in the special that was prepared. She curtly responded that she told us that pork belly was in it (I don't eat meat). It's interesting since we three eating there did not remember her mentioning pork belly. I told her that it was okay and that I just moved it to the side, and she seemed offended. But in the end, the company I was with, the food, and the environment was good...so 4 stars it is! read more

Shells and Sauce - Mushroom ravioli with shrimp (pork belly is there too, but didn't eat it) - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Far exceeded my expectations!! All portions are large enough to share, and I recommended you do because everything was amazing. From the warm baked homemade bread, to the fried mozzarella-- which were basically mozzarella sticks on steroids. If that didn't fill you up, the main courses all were impressive! Shrimp diavolo-- a spicy rigatoni with shrimp cooked to perfection! Friendly service and can NOT forget the heavy wine pours! Fancy or casual-- a great date night spot or place to meet friends!! read more

quick & friendly servers. blessed to find such authentic italian food in downtown denver. our battery died and the manager was even kind enough to come out and help us jump start the battery in the snow, cannot be grateful enough. looking forward to come back soon, thanks again. read more

Nice staff. Super busy. Fun environment and best of all the food is affordable and amazing.

This place is OK. I ordered a seafood risotto, and it would have been really good without the seafood. It was a special that night, It almost seemed like they were trying to get rid of some suspect shellfish. The mussels literally tasted like pooh. They have small plate apps, all of which were pretty good; fried lasagna, grilled asparagus wrapped in proscuitto, some artichoke thingy. I should've stuck to my initial selection of veal parm... read more

I'll start out with a positive... The food is awesome... That's that... Servers are uber strange. Seriously weirdest service ever ****please don't bring another tables dirty dish to mine***** oh and my glass was dirty asked the bidder for a new glass of water he seriously brought me back the same one. Second try asked the waitress same thing umm I'm sending the glass back cause it's dirty so I can tell its the same one! Ugh! But the buffalo truffle ravioli seriously to die for!!! I mean I would go back but I think Id just sit at the awesome bar upstairs. read more

I'm from upstate NY where I believe that italian cannot be beat, prices there are cheap and food is savory and authenic. so walking into new italian especially in Denver, I was a skeptic. But to my surprise Shells and Sauce has Great food, Nice atmosphere and inexpensive. Location is a little quaint but it has the flavor of a nice hometown authentic, locally owned. Food specials are unique and delicious. Ive visted them a couple of times ordering anything from the tortellini, Lasagna, and raviolis. All are excellent. Service is great, you can tell that the waiters are very busy but the are accommodating. The only bad part of this place is that when they are busy their one bar tender is slammed which = slow drinks. Besides that I recommend Shells and Sauce and It has become my go to Denver Italian food. read more

My new favorite italian restaurant in Denver! I went here with a friend I hadn't seen in awhile and we had the most amazing time. While we waited on our table we were offered complimentary pizza and drinks. The manager, Richard Aguirre, treated us and all the other guests like queens. And then we were seated upstairs (which is not quite as nice as the downstairs atmosphere, I highly recommend reservations even on a tuesday night), and the food was delicious! They were out of their signature dish, the stuffed shells, so we'll be back but the shrimp dish & caprese salad we ordered were delicious! read more

Really good dinner here last night. Everyone enjoyed their food and the desserts looked amazing. We had a large group and a 7:00 reservation. It was probably closer to 7:30 before we were seated and there was no good place to wait. I felt like I was going to fall into the table behind me several times. No way to enjoy a before-dinner drink (or even conversation) while we waited as the small bar area was packed, too. In the spring or summer you could wait outside; in the winter it's a bit trickier. I called earlier in the day to discuss my food allergies and the menu and was really disappointed by the indifferent response I got. Having said that, the waiter was much more helpful and I was able to thoroughly enjoy my dinner, too. I would recommend Shells and Sauce for couples or small groups. A group of 10 was a bit much for the space and it is so loud that you're lucky to be able to hear the person next to you, let alone anyone further away. read more

Love S&S as my friends call it. I walk here at least once a week. Brunch and happy hour are my favorite times to go. It has recently gotten way busier but don't let the crowds scare you. Just make a quick reservation and you are good to go! When I'm about to walk out the door I just open up my OpenTable app and make a reservation then and there and I can get in right away. I've never had to wait with my technique. All the staff is awesome and it still has the neighborhood feel. I always get hellos and hugs from the staff and know a lot of the regulars. Happy hour is the best time to go. GREAT deals and it isn't too busy yet. read more

My boyfriend and I live in Congress Park and love taking the short stroll down 12th Ave to Shells & Sauce. It's exactly what you would expect from a neighborhood Italian restaurant - cozy and inviting. They have a patio and two levels, which equates to plenty of seating. I'd still recommend making reservations - they're on Open Table and it's pretty easy to get a spot! On this particular visit, we went for Sunday brunch. We ordered the Chicken and Waffles and the Grilled Portabella & Asparagus Benedict. I was a little disappointed in the bread used for the benedict - they appeared to be slider buns, not even like an english muffin or something similar. Otherwise, breakfast was quite good and well prepared. Their brunch menu is surprisingly extensive! Service is good, although during brunch hours they were very busy - just something to keep in mind. Shells & Sauce is a great neighborhood staple. I haven't visited for dinner in a while - will update my review after dining in the future. read more

Tonight my partner and I had one of the worst service experiences at an otherwise solid establishment. We are typically content regulars at Shells and Sauce because the service and food is always of consistent quality. Tonight was a terrible exception due to a horrible server who shall remain nameless. Although my partner's entree was perfectly hot, my entree was brought to the table too cold to enjoy two bites. We wanted to address the issue right away, but Our server was so absentee, we ultimately approached one of the other servers, Logan, to have our server please come to our table. She never came, so Logan offered his assistance. Accordingly, Logan went to have my cold entree reheated. During the time I waited my reheated entree, my partner finished her entire meal and I went without any water and our server was nowhere to be seen. When the entree was brought back to the table by our original server, there was no apology, only a pathetic excuse about her being busy (this place is always busy). Most significantly, the returned entree was still not hot; at best, it was only as warm as my partner's last bite. As horrible as the meal/experience/night was, Logan was able to rectify the evening by taking over our table. Our original server, despite her constant proximity to us for the duration of the evening, offered no apology or acknowledgment, much less any eye contact. We will go back to Shells and Sauce, but only because of Logan and our past experiences, and will always be willing to wait to sit in Logan's section, no matter the wait-time. Also, an honorable should go to the hostess, Eliza, who is always great on the phone and worked hard to accommodate our seating requests (and more) upon our arrival. read more

Feeling pretty alienated by "host" and service while I'm eating that I feel I have to post now. Party of 7 for "best HH" order at least $25-30 each so far and have to hear host right behind is say to server "that's All they ordered" with serious attitude after already giving us a attitude when we walked in without a reservation for happy hour at 515 WTF. Please do not state you have happy hour if you do not want people to come in for it. It's too bad cause the food is pretty delicious but they just lost 5 walkable customers, which is too bad for business. The waitress was fine which is also too bad for her cause he gave us all a bad taste in our mouth. She just stopped and asked if I was writing a review since she saw my phone and Yelp out and I told her how the "host" was not friendly to us and she said he was the manager ... FYI well that seals the deal on. It coming back till there is new manager! So there ya have it make the decision if you would like to support this business or not. This is not my first time here since I have lived here for 20+ years but it has been a few years since I have had a good experience here.... You Decide read more

Little spot in the neighborhood. Their portions are pretty ginormous from the lasagna to their spaghetti and meat ball! Service was good too. Good for a little date night. read more

Everything we had was excellent as was the service. We also thought a good value for the quality, atmosphere and size of portions. The Meatballs and tiramisu were notable! read more

Great atmosphere, always enjoy sitting at the bar though it's typically not easy to get a seat for brunch, and sitting on the corner by the door in winter can be a little chilly. Chris is great, love the Louisiana accent. My favorite is the vicuvious (sp?) breakfast with bacon. read more

Came in for the Ford Fundraiser tonight!! Andrew served us at the bar and we had great service! The food and drinks were great! Sitting at the bar with Andrew made our evening great! We ordered brushetta, chicken ceaser salad. read more

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Have to give them 5 stars because of their amazing customer service! Three of us dined for the evening trying a nre place. We started with the burrata which was tasty then waited for 45 min for our meal. All 3 meals were delicious and they offered a free dessert due to the wait. The cannoli which we took home was amazing! That wasn't the best part, when we went to pay all 3 of our meals were taken care of on the house. We only payed for our appetizer. This team went above and beyond. The dessert was more than generous let alone 3 free meals. We look forward to visiting again soon! read more

Shells and Sauce - Spaghetti & Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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A must go! I have been here for brunch a few times and just went for dinner a few nights ago for the first time. Both are so so good. We started with Brussels sprouts and the fries as an appetizer. The Brussel sprouts were the biggest I have seen, literally. The taste was great. The fries were interesting.... almost like a thin potato chip look but soft on the inside. I would recommend both. You also get a fist sized fresh loaf of rosemary bread which was to die for. For dinner, I had the mini bolognese for 6 dollars on the happy hour menu. The size was perfect and the price was right. My boyfriend has the special- lobster filled ravioli with shrimp. It was a bit spicy but the pasta was cooked perfectly. I would trust that anything on the menu is amazing brunch, lunch or dinner. We have never had to wait to be seated and parking has never been a problem. They also have a small lot in the back of the restaurant. Has outdoor seating and two story indoor seating- including a bar. read more

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The food at this restaurant is tremendous for the price. I give 3 stars because of their hours. Most people 20-40 age in Denver eat dinner after 7:00pm because of work schedules, and this eatery does not allow for that. If you want to get food after a work day, this is probably not your place as they will take your business as an inconvenience. If this restaurant gets a more competent manager and waiters it'll be a regular for myself. read more

What an amazing neighborhood eatery! The food is fantastic and very well priced. The specials are to die for and very creative. What really gives this a neighborhood feel is the service. Maria has been my server many times and she is an absolute delight! Warm, friendly and welcoming every time! A must try you won't be disappointed! read more

This is a fantastic neighborhood restaurant. It's a very comfortable atmosphere with great service. Food is always good, I've never had a bad dish here. read more

I don't know what I'm missing. I adore this place. I have eaten here more times then my waistline cares to admit. The bread is a.maz.ing. Dessert are divine. Brunch is creative. The servers are always top notch. My impossible-to-please mother requests Shells and Sauce every time she's in town, and that should say it all. But hey, keep giving it less then stellar reviews, that'll just mean I won't have to wait so long for a table anymore... read more

Last night was my first Shells and Sauce experience, and after hearing rave reviews from so many other people, I was a little disappointed in the entrees. However, the appetizer, service, and atmosphere were wonderful, which bumped up the rating to 3 stars and has convinced me to give Shells & Sauce another chance. My girlfriend and I went there to celebrate, as the restaurant is one of her favorites. We were greeted & seated promptly. Decent wine selection. Our waiter helped us select a bottle and I was extremely happy with what he recommended. The bread and dipping sauce they bring out to start are fabulous. Warm, crispy bread and a spicy vinaigrette sauce. We ordered the calamari fritti, which came with garlic aioili and marinara. The calamari was delicious and I loved the combination of calamari, artichokes, red tomatoes, and peppers. For dinner, we ordered (and shared) the special of the night, Wild Mushroom Ravioli and the Stuffed Shells. Both were okay, not great. My biggest pet peeve at a restaurant is when the food is too salty. I drank 4 glasses of water during dinner because of how much salt they'd used in both dishes. Beneath the salt I could taste wonderful flavors, but they were masked. Also, the mushroom ravioli was way undercooked. It seems like I had a fluke bad experience. The girlfriend said she'd never had food like we had at Shells & Sauce. Maybe the kitchen was having an off night. But, our waiter was wonderful and made our dining experience very pleasant. So I'll give Shells & Sauce one more chance. read more

This place is a stone's throw from my house, and I've gotta say that I don't make it in as often I as I would like. The good: Happy hour is awesome! Five-dollar tasty pizzas, discounted wine and beer, and it starts early (3pm-6pm) which is good when I'm given a break from teaching during the holidays or spring break. Their bread and vinegar/oil dip is also quite yummy, too! The bad: My husband and I had a reservation at 6:30, and we didn't get seated until 6:50 because apparently, reservations are merely a suggestion of when you'll get seated. There is also nowhere to sit while you wait for a table, and it seemed like 20 people were stuffed right inside the door. While I like this place, it's a place I need to go to during happy hour to avoid the overcrowded dining room. read more

I have been here for brunch 3 times and 1 time for lunch. Each time, the food was very good. I would even say it approached the 'delicious' territory. They have an eclectic menu featuring traditional dishes with modern takes. I've had a pretty damn good (and damn spicy!) Bloody Mary here as well. My complaint, however, has very little to do with the quality of their food and more to do with the service. While I've never had an unpleasant server, I have also never had an attentive one either. Many of them have seemed overwhelmed and even flustered. I, like at least one other reviewer, also had several items on my bill not match price-wise to the menu. When we pointed this out to our waiter, they acted shocked. They fixed our bill, but I have to say it was disconcerting to know that we would have been pretty grossly overcharged if we hadn't have been paying close attention. This only happened the first time I visited, so I believe they may have amended the issue. Overall, I would say this restaurant is definitely worth a visit as I'm sure that they have improved their service (especially after seeing these reviews). The food is great and that area of Denver is nice and pleasant. read more

Great brunch! Liked the crab cake Benedict and loved the breakfast tacos. The jalapeños and spicy aioli on the tacos (with subbed in hash browns) made the day. Great deals on carafes of mimosas for $10 and small funnel fries with chocolate and berry sauces for $4. All around good service and ambience, too. Enjoy! read more

Shells and Sauce - Crab cake benedict. Yum! - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Excellent food, spotty service. Everything we had was delicious. Drinks were great. Crispy Brussels sprouts were scrumptious. Bread was well seasoned. Entrees were generous, fresh and so tasty. Dessert was delightful and memorable. However the service wasn't great. We had to ask for refills multiple times. The food also took a while to come out. I'll absolutely go back though. It was so tasty and located in a great neighborhood. read more

We went there for Sunday brunch and it was absolutely delicious! I had the Arepa with braised beef and it exceeded my expectations, it's hard to even describe how good it was! Hubby had the Vesuvio skillet and loved it. We also shared chili cheese waffle fries which were fantastic as well. And how can you not love a carafe of mimosas for only $10! The prices were very reasonable, the service was fantastic and we will definitely be brunching here again soon! read more

Shells and Sauce - Waffle chili cheese fries, Arepa with braised beef, Vesuvio skillet and bananas foster waffle! Yummy!!! - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This place had fantastic Italian food! The portions were "American" sized - aka huge. The lasagna was agreed upon by the table as the best dish - relatively meaty, but a nice crunch to it. The cheesecake was especially good as well, as as the peach sangria, but the flourless chocolate cake left us disappointed as it was a bit dry. Overall we had a great experience and would definitely return. read more

The food was fantastic! I don't know why it's taken me so long to come eat here. But the service and everything about the experience was top notch. read more

Loooove the duo shells and cheesecake and sangria and salmon. Love it. Definitely will be back. Servers were so nice too and very attentive. Busy restaurant. So reservation is needed. read more

I've come here for brunch and dinner. Both several times! It's so good! Brunch date with the boyfriend and big group brunch with friends. Always had wonderful servers and great food! Dinner has always been wonderful too. They have funnel cake fries that are pretty delicious read more

Cool little place with great happy hour options from 3-6 (3:30-6 on weekends) for both food and drinks. Very friendly staff with great service. I tried multiple items on the happy hour menu and was very satisfied with everything I ordered. There's a nice little bar as well as seating, and also a small patio as well. I'm not in Denver very often but when I'm back in this area I will definitely be back and would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great food and drinks at a great price! read more

This was our second trip here. The first was over the winter, and then last night. It was like night and day. Or day and night. The staff is always friendly and works well together. It is a great neighborhood place for Congress Park. The first time was what made us so excited to come back. Now the third time will decide if it is great or inconsistent as we have seen so far. Last night the food was not nearly as good as the first time. Maybe a new chef? Maybe an off night in the kitchen? My lasagna came out cold, and my girlfriend's Seafood Cioppino dish was greasy and had quite a bit of butter. Our opinion is butter is used to cover up for a lack of skill in the kitchen. We'll see on trip 3, so make it so Shells and Sauce or we won't be looking to bring out of town guests back again. read more

I am so glad I gave this place a 2nd chance. Four of us went last night at 8pm. Had a reservation & there was a little bit of a wait. No big deal...it is Saturday night & they were extremely busy. We were seated downstairs and greeted by our server promptly. We all got something different (stuffed shells, trout, tenderloin & mozzarella stuffed chicken). Everyone loved their meals. The portion sizes were great too. After my experience last night I have a feeling Shells & Sauce will become a regular place for me. read more

My wife and I went here for our Anniversary dinner. The manager named Oscar went out of his way to meet all of our needs and make this dinner a very special evening. I was happy to find the parking lot in the back.The atmosphere here is great. Now to the important stuff. The food never disappoints us here. My wife had the italian seafood stew, and I had the Seabass. With both dishes, I was amazed by the balanced and delicious tasting sauces that really brought both dishes together perfectly. We also love to go here for a late night pizza which are half price after 9pm. Great place to hangout in a laid back atmosphere with good drinks and great tasting italian! read more

Live around the corner from Shells and Sauce so get to go a decent amount. Food here is awesome! Can't remember his name off the top of my head but the Bar Manager is really cool guy too who always seems to have a smile on his face and takes great care of all his customers. Brunch is really what is my favorite here. Prices are reasonable and you get amazing food with large portions read more