06/05/09

God I love this place

by Tomgoodlove

No joke my favorite Italian food in Denver.

Try the creamy sausage beet pipe regate - -

It hurts it tastes soo good.

04/03/09

Average, boring Italian

by writeon1

Why do we need another one? The owners have closed previously-innovative Cafe Star and are reopening it as Stella. I hope they at least save the beautiful bar! I just wish there were more corageous restauranteurs in this town that would open something less safe and boring. The last thing I need is to navigate another pasta and cream sauce menu. RIP, Cafe Star,,,

• Cons: this town has way too many "Italian" restaurants

01/21/09

Favorite Date Restaurant

by RColes

This restaurant is my favorite Italian restaurant since coming to Denver. It even rivals some I've been to in New York. Having lived and gone to school there, I'm a hard eater to please. First, I want to praise the lasagna. I have to watch my wieght, but every time I go, I just resign myself to the fact that I'm going to go home like Mr. Creosote in Monty Python, with no room for even a "wafer-theen mint". The lasagna is always slightly different, made with a different sauce each time. But each time, it is transcendent, the best I have ever had. In fact, this once included a sauce that I would normally not order, a puttanesca. I hate capers, and so this has never been my favorite kind of sauce, but I had been so impressed with their past lasagna dish that I tried it. And so now...I can't eat puttanesca anywhere else. The problem with capers is that they often overwhlem all other ingredients. This was perfectly balanced. I had the same experience with their White Chocolate Kahlua Bread Pudding. Not usually a bread pudding fan. Most places either dry it out or turn it into a mushy mess. This was springy, moist, warm and melty. I had no room left, but couldn't stop eating. And the price was absolutely reasonable, even in this economy. Now to address hygiene. I've read in a couple of reviews that it's not so clean, but I have to disagree. I've seen their kitchen, because it is open. And I've only ever seen close attention to keeping hot foods hot, cold foods cold, prevention of cross-contamination by separate and disinfected preparation surfaces, hand-washing, and utensil sanitation. I've heard complaints that they are not "traditional Italian". I grew up with "traditional Italians". Every person I know makes their dishes differently, in Italy, or here. It's basically traditional with a little twist. If my Italian friends had had access to ingredients like truffle oil, they'd probably use it. This is without question, my favorite place in Denver.

• Pros: Food, food, food, amazing quality with good portion size and great price
• Cons: None