We went to fratelli's before a theatre production one night because it was close by. We could not have been more disappointed. We were seated by an incredibly rude server who then disappeared for almost ten minutes even though we were the only ones in the dining room. The food was bland and tasteless and there was a strange odor coming from the kitchen. Incredibly over priced for the portion size and the wine that was recommended to us by our server (eventually) did nothing to help. Can not recommend any part of this experience to anyone.
(1)
Joel S.
Our party of 6 had a reservation for 8:15. After 9:00 we still weren't seated nor were another couple waiting in the bar. We were treated rudely by the hostess who made no attempt to explain or compensate us for our delay. After this argument with the hostess, everyone in our party left. Our group dines out often together and we cannot remember be treated worse by any staff member in a restaurant. We do not recommend anyone eating here.
(1)
Stephanie R.
My husband and I visited Fratelli's last night and were Very pleased with our experience!!! From the moment we walked in the door we were greeted warmly by the Hostess (who knew her way around the wine list, which is RARE)!!! Our server was very pleasant and attentive!!! My husband got the special, the Veal Parmesan... and he was very happy with his meal!! The bread is so delicious, I am fairy certain they make it in house!!! I got the Gnocchi with Pesto sauce... it was so fresh and light!! Very authentic!! Our portions were satisfying, We will be visiting again!!!....
(5)
Kathy S.
What a lovely experience. Every dish is made to order. The best food and atmosphere. The owners and wait staff are more than accommodating. The ambiance and art work in the restaurant are beautiful. My friend left his glasses and we were chased down for them to be returned. I would highly recommend that you try it.
(5)
Paul V.
Yikes. Honestly a pretty poor experience at Fratelli Ristorante Italiano from start to finish. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? So in walked myself and my family on an abnormally snowy May evening the Saturday before mother's day. While not packed, Fratelli had a good crowd going as it was prom night for Pueblo West. I'll bring that up as if to grasp for some context as to why the service was so poor at Fratelli on this given evening but it's hardly a suitable excuse if we're being honest. We had a reservation and were seated quickly enough. The atmosphere at Fratelli is good, with a mix of high tables and low group seating and some classic Italian decor. Unfortunately, one of the reasons that I got to enjoy the surroundings to such a degree is that menus were never brought out, and after five minutes or so my mom walked over and grabbed us some menus herself. From there things trickled downhill. A woman who appeared to be the authority of the evening (and there was only one other server in the whole place, which was a gross understaffing for a Saturday evening) eventually took our order and seemed bothered that my mom was asking questions with regard to particular dishes. Water came eventually and was rarely refreshed, and overall the whole ordeal just left a bad taste in my mouth. I almost always give this star, but the service at Fratelli was extremely disappointing. No Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Some reviews that I browsed prior to showing up hinted at Fratelli being expensive, so I was pleased to find that everything was entirely reasonable. Few menu items are over $20, and my pictured Pasta al Forno was a decent portion for being only $15.00. Fair value. Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? I didn't hate it, but I certainly didn't like it. Italian is so fundamentally good that it's as hard to disappoint as it is to really wow someone, but my pasta was significantly overcooked. Additionally, the "three cheeses" tasted like, well, one cheese, and I couldn't even tell you what the other two meats were besides meatballs, which I will say were the highlight. Mediocre overall as a dish. Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? The service really shot Fratelli in the foot, and bad service is one thing I can rarely overlook. There's better Italian in Colorado Springs and abundantly better service. No Star Granted.
(2)
Oskar H.
I probably won't go back; overpriced for what you get, and although this place is "authentically Italian" (the owner speaks Italian better than English), there is an excellent pasta place around the corner that is better and cheaper (Il Vicino). Service was good. Menu items way overpriced, and really not that tasty. I had "shrimp amalfi puttanesca," served on low-quality, really awful pasta, and I can make the dish much better at home. It's hard to make this simple dish taste uninteresting, but it happened here. We sat outdoors, the ambience of which would have been nicer if Nevada were a quieter street. But it's not.
(2)
James H.
Nice ambiance, great place for a date. Great menu and it's nice to have the chef come by and ask for feedback.
Fratelli Ristorante Italiano downtown Colorado Springs. This Colorado Springs independently owned restaurant is a real gem and has quickly become our very favorite Italian. The owner, Kym, is there to welcome you almost every night and she takes pride in making sure that all of her guests are welcomed and delighted. Chef Armando has been there for 18 years and was classicly trained in Naples. All of the dishes are fresh and made from scratch with Armando's fabulous sauces. Live musicians and local artists are at Fratelli's nearly every week. The atmosphere is clean and classy. If you are looking for a romantic evening or a classy place for a business meeting, this is it. They even offer an early bird special-you can download a coupon at FoodieClicks.com We started our meal with the "La Caprese"-Real Buffalo Mozzarella, Balsamic and basil. A perfect compliment to Chef Armando's homemade white and wheat bread. The Mozzarella was soft and tender. Chef Armando surprised us with a crostini of smoked white fish. Each bite was tender and addictive, leaving us wanting more! We had to try the "Gnocchi Fatti in Casa" with the Pesto Pine Nut Creme. It is so silky delicious, the cream is light and compliments the potato dumplings perfectly. It paired well with a glass of crisp Riesling. It is truly the best gnocchi we have ever found, and we've had gnocchi throughout the world, including in Italy. If you love gnocchi, you've got to try it. We also had a special of pork pounded thinly and breaded on a bed of pasta with a spicy red sauce. The meat was tender and cut with a fork, the sauce had just enough spice to impart flavor yet not overwhelm. The dish was perfectly balanced and perfectly delicious with a glass of red wine. The meal was complete with a homemade cannoli topped with chocolate, cream and berries. Yes, it was decadent, but oh so good. We truly enjoyed every bit of our time at Fratelli and highly recommend it.
(5)
Corey M.
I've only been once, but I likely won't be back. I couldn't tell if the woman helping us was the hostess or manager, but either way she was unacceptably rude. The fresh bread was nice, but the food was very bland and pretty expensive compared to other Italian in town. It also seemed odd that everything was so slow since it was not very busy. Maybe they're doing it on purpose to seem "authentic"?? I DID hear that they were selling the place since we were there, but haven't really checked since. There's a LOT of good restaurants downtown, don't go here. If you REALLY need Italian, it's worth the drive to go to Paravacini's in Old Colorado City.
(2)
Mitch M.
I had an absolutely fantastic experience. I happened to have the place mostly to myself and was able to enjoy a relaxed meal in an especially quite room. Mondo, my waiter and sommelier, made some fantastic recommendations. This was easily the best meal out I've had in Colorado Springs.
(5)
Jensin S.
Never in my life have I experienced such horrible treatment from a human being. The "Italian man" (owner?) that serves people is inconsiderate, rude, and does not deserve any business from anybody that walks in this restaurant. Robert Irvine needs to be called, because an intervention is in dire need!! It was my friend's birthday and she had made a reservation for a party of 6 of us women to eat at the restaurant that night. The waiter was aware that it was her birthday and was completely rude to all of us and especially her. The waiter knew we had not decided what we wanted to eat yet and needed help understanding the menu, yet he asked for my friend's order and when she said "can I have just a minute to decide please?" He said: NO. I could not believe this. That was just the start. He was very flippant and rude to my friends and I the entire dinner service. At the end, when asked to split the check, he told us they could not do that and we should have asked for it to be split from the beginning. I went up to ask the woman behind the cash register to ask if she could split the check for us and then the Italian man came out from behind the kitchen and totally caused a scene by yelling at me and arguing with me (yes, even in front of other patrons) - telling me that he was so upset and to deal with him, not his wife. He clearly did not want us to split the check and did not want to get our business a second time. If I didn't have good morals, I would have walked out of the restaurant without paying a dime. Bottom line - DO NOT GO TO FRATELLI - YOU WILL REGRET EVERY SECOND AND EVERY PENNY SPENT!!!!
(1)
Kelly B.
We thought we'd give this place a shot, bad decision all around. We went in about 8pm on a weeknight for a late light dinner before heading home. There was one other table of four older folks in the restaurant, turns out they were regulars or family of the owners possibly due to the conversation we overheard. The Hostess seated us and we looked over the menu, we noted entrees were in the 12-17 dollar range, fair enough. She mentioned the special was Risotto (but neglected to tell us it was $25 a plate). The food arrived quickly, portions were small, I would give the food 3 stars, I've had better frozen dinners to tell the truth. When the bill came it was $60 for two entrees and two beers! We were a little surprised and my wife asked the Hostess how much the Risotto was, she said $25, (with a bit of attitude) I told to her that most servers will mention the price, especially if it's twice as much as a normal entree. She just gave me a blank stare and asked if I needed a hard copy of my receipt. As we walked out after paying (no tip, obviously) I handed her the two free drink cards she had given us with the bill and said "you can have these, we wont' be coming back", her only response was "that's fine" and out we went into the night. Horrible, horrible customer service, mediocre, expensive food, skunked beer. If you do go here to eat, ask the price of the specials or you may be shocked by the bill, I would rather go to Fazzolis Fast Food than here, personally, service is better, food is comparable and you get what you pay for.
(1)
Rosie S.
A friend and I stopped in for her birthday dinner. This was a last-minute second choice as the place we were going was closed. I have been to this restaurant a few times over the years and always enjoyed it on a limited basis due to the prices. However, I was quite pleased to see their 4-course early bird special on their website and thought it was well worth the price. The owner is always very pleasant and attentive. We were seated right away. The service was very good although it was a slow night. I did choose wine to accompany my dinner and it was fabulous. The atmosphere is really nice, comfortable, super clean, and welcoming. My friend had the eggplant and I had the pesto chicken. We enjoyed both. The bruschetta was very good. The lemon dessert was wonderful!! Nice touches of berries, chocolate, and mint. We had a very nice time. I wouldn't hesitate to stop by again based on this experience.
(4)
Michael H.
Went here based on some positive Google Maps reviews, and was not disappointed at all. I was the only customer there and sat at the bar, and had a great time talking with the wait staff and owner (who is also the chef). Had a very generous pour of Scotch and had the daily special, which was a spinach and sausage plate. Also was treated to soup, freshly made house bread, and wonderful bruschetta that was topped with mozzarella cheese. Truly a family owned business. I opted for dessert (italian cheesecake) and was glad I did. It was obviously a bit more expensive than the Olive Garden. But for less than $40 I got a 4 course, homemade Italian meal (yes, the owner/chef was born in Italy). Will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)
Reed R.
This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in Colorado Springs. We wandered in out if the rain, hungry and disappointed by the service at another establishment tonight. First, the staff was amazing, friendly, knowledgable and helpful. They didn't treat us like scrubs, even though we looked like we just came off the mountain, because we did! The food reminded me of my time in the amalfi coast, but without the tourists. The handmade pasta was fantastic, just enough on the plate to accentuate the entree without "American" size portions. The Marsala was a beautiful exercise in the requisite restraint; just the right amount of wine and mushrooms in the sauce without turning it into a hunters sauce, a jaeger sauce. Delicious! The puttanesca was a perfect blend of pomodoro and olives, just a bit of kick; the gamberi perfectly prepared. I see some of the other reviews, but this reminded me of a dinner in Italy like few I've had state side. I Will be back, we thank everyone at fratellis for such a delightful evening.
(4)
Molly M.
Moved to Colorado Springs from Denver in April and have been dying for a good Italian restaurant. We went to Fratelli tonight for dinner and we couldn't have been more pleased. It was delicious...we highly recommend it. The owners are amazing and the food is fresh and authentic.
(5)
Tisha B.
7/11/09 Sadly, I must downgrade my original review from 5 stars to 2 stars. Tonight's meal was nothing like the first time. Almost not like the same restaurant at all. The service was painfully slow. We were at a tiny two-person table that was so small the plates were nearly falling off the edges. Even getting our water refilled tonight was a problem. The appetizer special was good, but very slow coming out (it was only mozzerlla and peppers). The salad was terrible. Basically looked and tasted like garden weeds with no dressing at all --- so nasty and bitter I didn't eat it. My veal was tender, but there were only five tiny pieces with a bit of DRY pasta in the middle. Holy canoli!! I was still hungry!! These were like veal medallions rather than actual pieces of veal. And there was no sauce (supposed to be scallopine) so it was dry. Not so good. A huge disappointment. On to dessert. We ordered the tiramisu since it was so great last time. This time it was obviously old (VERY OLD) and/or store-bought. It was soggy, had an odd flavor, almost like egg nog. Also had a strange yellow color with a lot of extra goop on the plate. This definitely was not fresh tiramisu or homemade. Another big bomb!! The coffee was good. So sadly, Fratelli's moves from a 5 star down to a 2 star. For the price, it is not a 5 star experience. This place is not a bargain price-wise. Maybe they lost the good chef we had the first time. We won't be going back and are looking for a new Italian restaurant. #1 Review (May 2009): After living in Italy for two years, I have to say Fratelli's is had some of the best Italian food I've had since coming back. Delizioso! Lovely decor. Attentive, but not intrusive service, but the real story here is the food. Seriously, bar none, this is some of the most authentic Italian I've had since living in Italy (and I've had lots of so-called "authentic Italian" over the past few years). The three people I dined with all agreed (and we've all lived in Italy). We dined slowly as in Italy - over 3 hours - and ended with desserts: Italian cheesecake, cannoli and for me, the best Tiramisu since Italy! Tutto bene! Depending on what you are accustomed to spending, this may be a bit pricy and more of a special occasion place (birthday, anniversary, etc), but it is well worth every penny for a wonderful dining experience. Buon appetite!
(2)
Linda B.
Fig, buffalo mozzarella prosciutto platter was an amazing start, but that where it ended. My Veal Scaloppine was not made to order. Microwave ovens do not belong in an authentic Italian kitchen.
(2)
Alicia R.
My husband and I were both stationed with the Navy in Naples, Italy for 3 1/2 years, with me living in an apartment off base. This place is over priced and so not worth the money. We went here not long after we moved to the Springs from Italy in great hopes that we would find a place with very good Italian food. Nope. It was the typical American-Italian fare, though a bit fancier. And we tried just about everything, leading to a bill over $100. And apparently the chef was supposed to be from Naples! I guess if you're looking for a super fancy Olive Garden-type place, go here. If you're someone who misses real Italian food, don't get your hopes up.
(2)
Sibby S.
I returned to Fratelli this week for the first time in about six years (so I could write a fresh review for you Yelpers). I wasn't expecting much, based on the mixed reviews here on Yelp. The place itself is cute and cozy. A small retail area of imported Italian foodstuffs is located on one side of the wall as you enter the dining area. Small but attractive bar area. The main dining area is small, but comfortable, with lots of artwork from local artists adorning the walls. The service was good, and both the owner and waiter were attentive. The food was just ok in my book. Went with their special Veal Parmigiana, that was decent enough, though I thought was very expensive for what you get (rather small portions). It was accompanied by three over-sized vegetable raviolis. I started my meal with a pasta soup that was lukewarm, and rather blah. Their so-called "really good bread" was pretty basic and boring. Overall, I was a little disappointed, especially since this place bills itself as a gourmet Italian destination. With the high prices, I expected a lot more (I spent less last week while dining at the Summit and the Broadmoor.) Though not gourmet, I find the mom and pop Italian places like Roman Villa, Luigi's and Pannino's more satisfying, and far less expensive.
(2)
Whit R.
My my, I have to say I'm surprised by the other two reviews. We had a very enjoyable time at Fratelli's and will definitely go back. We showed up a bit after 5pm to take advantage of the 2-for-1 cocktails at happy hour (on Saturday!). We sat at the bar and had an appetizer, too. It was antipasto - delicious cheeses, meats and olives. Yum! The bartender knows his way around a manhattan, too, which is often reason enough for a return trip in my opinion. Dinner was very tasty and the portions were reasonable, which was a nice change of pace (note - I got THREE meals from my last bowl of pasta at Carrabba's). I had gnocchi and they were just as yummy as always. The missus had a seafood special that I didn't get to taste too much of but I know for sure that the scallops were spot on. The wine list here is a little intimidating. I honestly don't remember what we got but it was full bodied and a bit fruity. I also remember the description mentioned something about it being from the region of Italy that produces "the best" wines. Who knows? This was after the 2-for-1 cocktails, don't forget... The atmosphere was intimate, the service prompt and attentive and the meal itself quite above average. Maybe I'm a naive American and I don't know anything about Italian food, but Fratelli's was a cut above the rest in my opinion. Check it out!
(4)
Barbara S.
Our experience at Fratelli's was very positive. It would appear that whatever negative issues previous patrons experienced have been resolved. We were warmly greeted and promptly shown to our table. All of the servers, host (owner??) were very friendly and attentive. We started the meal with a very delicious salad (Procsiutto Piatti) recommended by our server and it did not disappoint. Our entrees (Pollo Capri, Veal Marsala and a pasta dish) were all delicious, too. Additionally, the ambience was very pleasant. I love the fact that they have artwork on display by local artists - even in the restrooms! All in all a very enjoyable evening. Next time we are in Colorado Springs, we'll make it a point to visit Fratelli's again.
(4)
Joseph H.
First and for most, after reading the reviews initially, I was a little skeptical about this place but decided to give it a chance because I was meeting the GF's parents for the first time and was looking for a good restaurant to treat them to..........this place was a blessing in disguise :) The service was excellent. Our waiter and the Chef personally came out to ask us how the food was and were very attentive to not only our table but everyone in the restaurant. Wine selection was excellent, La Caprese was amazing with fresh buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. Entree wise, went with the gnocchi bolognese.............heaven, the orange italian cheesecake was a perfect way to end the meal. It was the perfect restaurant, for a perfect evening, and couldn't have gone any better. People bashing this place obviously are some Italian Restaurant Elitist. Yes I have tried better places else where, but this is one of the best places Italian wise in Colorado Springs and I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for some good italian food, perfect atmosphere, and service.
(5)
James H.
To sum everything up, the food was sub-par and uninspired to say the least. Nothing was seasoned and the food looked like it had been sitting most of the day waiting to be served. The Bruschetta was oily and had absolutely no taste whatsoever. 3 of us got the veal and 1 had the shrimp. The 5 shrimp that came with the scampi dish were overcooked and had no flavor, the pasta was overcooked and dry, not fresh. There was some sort of sauce with the dish, but it wasn't seasoned and didn't coat the noodles or the shrimp. Nothing was seasoned and it was plain lacking. The veal was breaded, but the breading was complete mush by the time it reached our table. I don't know if you usually make your own pasta, but what was served with the veal was obviously dry and not fresh and way overcooked. The marsala sauce was broken (and there was no demi glace to be found anywhere), watery and not seasoned at all. The 4 bites of veal I had were tough and way overcooked. The button mushrooms were soggy and rubbery with absolutely no flavor whatsoever. I would hardly call 2 limp greenbeans an "italian vegetable" either. The salad was not dressed at all, there were dabs of something oily on pieces of wilted lettuce, but nothing was coated correctly. It was also not seasoned at all. I also took complete insult to the waiter stacking our finished plates in front of us. We paid over $300 for 4 of us and to have plates slopped on top of each other is an outrage. I would expect this to happen at a chili's or TGI Friday's, not an "upscale" restaurant.
(1)
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Address :124 N Nevada Ave
Colorado Springs, CO, 80903
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Bob M.
We went to fratelli's before a theatre production one night because it was close by. We could not have been more disappointed. We were seated by an incredibly rude server who then disappeared for almost ten minutes even though we were the only ones in the dining room. The food was bland and tasteless and there was a strange odor coming from the kitchen. Incredibly over priced for the portion size and the wine that was recommended to us by our server (eventually) did nothing to help. Can not recommend any part of this experience to anyone.
(1)Joel S.
Our party of 6 had a reservation for 8:15. After 9:00 we still weren't seated nor were another couple waiting in the bar. We were treated rudely by the hostess who made no attempt to explain or compensate us for our delay. After this argument with the hostess, everyone in our party left. Our group dines out often together and we cannot remember be treated worse by any staff member in a restaurant. We do not recommend anyone eating here.
(1)Stephanie R.
My husband and I visited Fratelli's last night and were Very pleased with our experience!!! From the moment we walked in the door we were greeted warmly by the Hostess (who knew her way around the wine list, which is RARE)!!! Our server was very pleasant and attentive!!! My husband got the special, the Veal Parmesan... and he was very happy with his meal!! The bread is so delicious, I am fairy certain they make it in house!!! I got the Gnocchi with Pesto sauce... it was so fresh and light!! Very authentic!! Our portions were satisfying, We will be visiting again!!!....
(5)Kathy S.
What a lovely experience. Every dish is made to order. The best food and atmosphere. The owners and wait staff are more than accommodating. The ambiance and art work in the restaurant are beautiful. My friend left his glasses and we were chased down for them to be returned. I would highly recommend that you try it.
(5)Paul V.
Yikes. Honestly a pretty poor experience at Fratelli Ristorante Italiano from start to finish. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? So in walked myself and my family on an abnormally snowy May evening the Saturday before mother's day. While not packed, Fratelli had a good crowd going as it was prom night for Pueblo West. I'll bring that up as if to grasp for some context as to why the service was so poor at Fratelli on this given evening but it's hardly a suitable excuse if we're being honest. We had a reservation and were seated quickly enough. The atmosphere at Fratelli is good, with a mix of high tables and low group seating and some classic Italian decor. Unfortunately, one of the reasons that I got to enjoy the surroundings to such a degree is that menus were never brought out, and after five minutes or so my mom walked over and grabbed us some menus herself. From there things trickled downhill. A woman who appeared to be the authority of the evening (and there was only one other server in the whole place, which was a gross understaffing for a Saturday evening) eventually took our order and seemed bothered that my mom was asking questions with regard to particular dishes. Water came eventually and was rarely refreshed, and overall the whole ordeal just left a bad taste in my mouth. I almost always give this star, but the service at Fratelli was extremely disappointing. No Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Some reviews that I browsed prior to showing up hinted at Fratelli being expensive, so I was pleased to find that everything was entirely reasonable. Few menu items are over $20, and my pictured Pasta al Forno was a decent portion for being only $15.00. Fair value. Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? I didn't hate it, but I certainly didn't like it. Italian is so fundamentally good that it's as hard to disappoint as it is to really wow someone, but my pasta was significantly overcooked. Additionally, the "three cheeses" tasted like, well, one cheese, and I couldn't even tell you what the other two meats were besides meatballs, which I will say were the highlight. Mediocre overall as a dish. Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? The service really shot Fratelli in the foot, and bad service is one thing I can rarely overlook. There's better Italian in Colorado Springs and abundantly better service. No Star Granted.
(2)Oskar H.
I probably won't go back; overpriced for what you get, and although this place is "authentically Italian" (the owner speaks Italian better than English), there is an excellent pasta place around the corner that is better and cheaper (Il Vicino). Service was good. Menu items way overpriced, and really not that tasty. I had "shrimp amalfi puttanesca," served on low-quality, really awful pasta, and I can make the dish much better at home. It's hard to make this simple dish taste uninteresting, but it happened here. We sat outdoors, the ambience of which would have been nicer if Nevada were a quieter street. But it's not.
(2)James H.
Nice ambiance, great place for a date. Great menu and it's nice to have the chef come by and ask for feedback.
(4)John T.
This was a horrible dining experience. The special was twice the price of a normal entrée (we didn't find this out until we got our bill) and tasted like Lysol. Awful!
(1)Foodie C.
Fratelli Ristorante Italiano downtown Colorado Springs. This Colorado Springs independently owned restaurant is a real gem and has quickly become our very favorite Italian. The owner, Kym, is there to welcome you almost every night and she takes pride in making sure that all of her guests are welcomed and delighted. Chef Armando has been there for 18 years and was classicly trained in Naples. All of the dishes are fresh and made from scratch with Armando's fabulous sauces. Live musicians and local artists are at Fratelli's nearly every week. The atmosphere is clean and classy. If you are looking for a romantic evening or a classy place for a business meeting, this is it. They even offer an early bird special-you can download a coupon at FoodieClicks.com We started our meal with the "La Caprese"-Real Buffalo Mozzarella, Balsamic and basil. A perfect compliment to Chef Armando's homemade white and wheat bread. The Mozzarella was soft and tender. Chef Armando surprised us with a crostini of smoked white fish. Each bite was tender and addictive, leaving us wanting more! We had to try the "Gnocchi Fatti in Casa" with the Pesto Pine Nut Creme. It is so silky delicious, the cream is light and compliments the potato dumplings perfectly. It paired well with a glass of crisp Riesling. It is truly the best gnocchi we have ever found, and we've had gnocchi throughout the world, including in Italy. If you love gnocchi, you've got to try it. We also had a special of pork pounded thinly and breaded on a bed of pasta with a spicy red sauce. The meat was tender and cut with a fork, the sauce had just enough spice to impart flavor yet not overwhelm. The dish was perfectly balanced and perfectly delicious with a glass of red wine. The meal was complete with a homemade cannoli topped with chocolate, cream and berries. Yes, it was decadent, but oh so good. We truly enjoyed every bit of our time at Fratelli and highly recommend it.
(5)Corey M.
I've only been once, but I likely won't be back. I couldn't tell if the woman helping us was the hostess or manager, but either way she was unacceptably rude. The fresh bread was nice, but the food was very bland and pretty expensive compared to other Italian in town. It also seemed odd that everything was so slow since it was not very busy. Maybe they're doing it on purpose to seem "authentic"?? I DID hear that they were selling the place since we were there, but haven't really checked since. There's a LOT of good restaurants downtown, don't go here. If you REALLY need Italian, it's worth the drive to go to Paravacini's in Old Colorado City.
(2)Mitch M.
I had an absolutely fantastic experience. I happened to have the place mostly to myself and was able to enjoy a relaxed meal in an especially quite room. Mondo, my waiter and sommelier, made some fantastic recommendations. This was easily the best meal out I've had in Colorado Springs.
(5)Jensin S.
Never in my life have I experienced such horrible treatment from a human being. The "Italian man" (owner?) that serves people is inconsiderate, rude, and does not deserve any business from anybody that walks in this restaurant. Robert Irvine needs to be called, because an intervention is in dire need!! It was my friend's birthday and she had made a reservation for a party of 6 of us women to eat at the restaurant that night. The waiter was aware that it was her birthday and was completely rude to all of us and especially her. The waiter knew we had not decided what we wanted to eat yet and needed help understanding the menu, yet he asked for my friend's order and when she said "can I have just a minute to decide please?" He said: NO. I could not believe this. That was just the start. He was very flippant and rude to my friends and I the entire dinner service. At the end, when asked to split the check, he told us they could not do that and we should have asked for it to be split from the beginning. I went up to ask the woman behind the cash register to ask if she could split the check for us and then the Italian man came out from behind the kitchen and totally caused a scene by yelling at me and arguing with me (yes, even in front of other patrons) - telling me that he was so upset and to deal with him, not his wife. He clearly did not want us to split the check and did not want to get our business a second time. If I didn't have good morals, I would have walked out of the restaurant without paying a dime. Bottom line - DO NOT GO TO FRATELLI - YOU WILL REGRET EVERY SECOND AND EVERY PENNY SPENT!!!!
(1)Kelly B.
We thought we'd give this place a shot, bad decision all around. We went in about 8pm on a weeknight for a late light dinner before heading home. There was one other table of four older folks in the restaurant, turns out they were regulars or family of the owners possibly due to the conversation we overheard. The Hostess seated us and we looked over the menu, we noted entrees were in the 12-17 dollar range, fair enough. She mentioned the special was Risotto (but neglected to tell us it was $25 a plate). The food arrived quickly, portions were small, I would give the food 3 stars, I've had better frozen dinners to tell the truth. When the bill came it was $60 for two entrees and two beers! We were a little surprised and my wife asked the Hostess how much the Risotto was, she said $25, (with a bit of attitude) I told to her that most servers will mention the price, especially if it's twice as much as a normal entree. She just gave me a blank stare and asked if I needed a hard copy of my receipt. As we walked out after paying (no tip, obviously) I handed her the two free drink cards she had given us with the bill and said "you can have these, we wont' be coming back", her only response was "that's fine" and out we went into the night. Horrible, horrible customer service, mediocre, expensive food, skunked beer. If you do go here to eat, ask the price of the specials or you may be shocked by the bill, I would rather go to Fazzolis Fast Food than here, personally, service is better, food is comparable and you get what you pay for.
(1)Rosie S.
A friend and I stopped in for her birthday dinner. This was a last-minute second choice as the place we were going was closed. I have been to this restaurant a few times over the years and always enjoyed it on a limited basis due to the prices. However, I was quite pleased to see their 4-course early bird special on their website and thought it was well worth the price. The owner is always very pleasant and attentive. We were seated right away. The service was very good although it was a slow night. I did choose wine to accompany my dinner and it was fabulous. The atmosphere is really nice, comfortable, super clean, and welcoming. My friend had the eggplant and I had the pesto chicken. We enjoyed both. The bruschetta was very good. The lemon dessert was wonderful!! Nice touches of berries, chocolate, and mint. We had a very nice time. I wouldn't hesitate to stop by again based on this experience.
(4)Michael H.
Went here based on some positive Google Maps reviews, and was not disappointed at all. I was the only customer there and sat at the bar, and had a great time talking with the wait staff and owner (who is also the chef). Had a very generous pour of Scotch and had the daily special, which was a spinach and sausage plate. Also was treated to soup, freshly made house bread, and wonderful bruschetta that was topped with mozzarella cheese. Truly a family owned business. I opted for dessert (italian cheesecake) and was glad I did. It was obviously a bit more expensive than the Olive Garden. But for less than $40 I got a 4 course, homemade Italian meal (yes, the owner/chef was born in Italy). Will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)Reed R.
This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in Colorado Springs. We wandered in out if the rain, hungry and disappointed by the service at another establishment tonight. First, the staff was amazing, friendly, knowledgable and helpful. They didn't treat us like scrubs, even though we looked like we just came off the mountain, because we did! The food reminded me of my time in the amalfi coast, but without the tourists. The handmade pasta was fantastic, just enough on the plate to accentuate the entree without "American" size portions. The Marsala was a beautiful exercise in the requisite restraint; just the right amount of wine and mushrooms in the sauce without turning it into a hunters sauce, a jaeger sauce. Delicious! The puttanesca was a perfect blend of pomodoro and olives, just a bit of kick; the gamberi perfectly prepared. I see some of the other reviews, but this reminded me of a dinner in Italy like few I've had state side. I Will be back, we thank everyone at fratellis for such a delightful evening.
(4)Molly M.
Moved to Colorado Springs from Denver in April and have been dying for a good Italian restaurant. We went to Fratelli tonight for dinner and we couldn't have been more pleased. It was delicious...we highly recommend it. The owners are amazing and the food is fresh and authentic.
(5)Tisha B.
7/11/09 Sadly, I must downgrade my original review from 5 stars to 2 stars. Tonight's meal was nothing like the first time. Almost not like the same restaurant at all. The service was painfully slow. We were at a tiny two-person table that was so small the plates were nearly falling off the edges. Even getting our water refilled tonight was a problem. The appetizer special was good, but very slow coming out (it was only mozzerlla and peppers). The salad was terrible. Basically looked and tasted like garden weeds with no dressing at all --- so nasty and bitter I didn't eat it. My veal was tender, but there were only five tiny pieces with a bit of DRY pasta in the middle. Holy canoli!! I was still hungry!! These were like veal medallions rather than actual pieces of veal. And there was no sauce (supposed to be scallopine) so it was dry. Not so good. A huge disappointment. On to dessert. We ordered the tiramisu since it was so great last time. This time it was obviously old (VERY OLD) and/or store-bought. It was soggy, had an odd flavor, almost like egg nog. Also had a strange yellow color with a lot of extra goop on the plate. This definitely was not fresh tiramisu or homemade. Another big bomb!! The coffee was good. So sadly, Fratelli's moves from a 5 star down to a 2 star. For the price, it is not a 5 star experience. This place is not a bargain price-wise. Maybe they lost the good chef we had the first time. We won't be going back and are looking for a new Italian restaurant. #1 Review (May 2009): After living in Italy for two years, I have to say Fratelli's is had some of the best Italian food I've had since coming back. Delizioso! Lovely decor. Attentive, but not intrusive service, but the real story here is the food. Seriously, bar none, this is some of the most authentic Italian I've had since living in Italy (and I've had lots of so-called "authentic Italian" over the past few years). The three people I dined with all agreed (and we've all lived in Italy). We dined slowly as in Italy - over 3 hours - and ended with desserts: Italian cheesecake, cannoli and for me, the best Tiramisu since Italy! Tutto bene! Depending on what you are accustomed to spending, this may be a bit pricy and more of a special occasion place (birthday, anniversary, etc), but it is well worth every penny for a wonderful dining experience. Buon appetite!
(2)Linda B.
Fig, buffalo mozzarella prosciutto platter was an amazing start, but that where it ended. My Veal Scaloppine was not made to order. Microwave ovens do not belong in an authentic Italian kitchen.
(2)Alicia R.
My husband and I were both stationed with the Navy in Naples, Italy for 3 1/2 years, with me living in an apartment off base. This place is over priced and so not worth the money. We went here not long after we moved to the Springs from Italy in great hopes that we would find a place with very good Italian food. Nope. It was the typical American-Italian fare, though a bit fancier. And we tried just about everything, leading to a bill over $100. And apparently the chef was supposed to be from Naples! I guess if you're looking for a super fancy Olive Garden-type place, go here. If you're someone who misses real Italian food, don't get your hopes up.
(2)Sibby S.
I returned to Fratelli this week for the first time in about six years (so I could write a fresh review for you Yelpers). I wasn't expecting much, based on the mixed reviews here on Yelp. The place itself is cute and cozy. A small retail area of imported Italian foodstuffs is located on one side of the wall as you enter the dining area. Small but attractive bar area. The main dining area is small, but comfortable, with lots of artwork from local artists adorning the walls. The service was good, and both the owner and waiter were attentive. The food was just ok in my book. Went with their special Veal Parmigiana, that was decent enough, though I thought was very expensive for what you get (rather small portions). It was accompanied by three over-sized vegetable raviolis. I started my meal with a pasta soup that was lukewarm, and rather blah. Their so-called "really good bread" was pretty basic and boring. Overall, I was a little disappointed, especially since this place bills itself as a gourmet Italian destination. With the high prices, I expected a lot more (I spent less last week while dining at the Summit and the Broadmoor.) Though not gourmet, I find the mom and pop Italian places like Roman Villa, Luigi's and Pannino's more satisfying, and far less expensive.
(2)Whit R.
My my, I have to say I'm surprised by the other two reviews. We had a very enjoyable time at Fratelli's and will definitely go back. We showed up a bit after 5pm to take advantage of the 2-for-1 cocktails at happy hour (on Saturday!). We sat at the bar and had an appetizer, too. It was antipasto - delicious cheeses, meats and olives. Yum! The bartender knows his way around a manhattan, too, which is often reason enough for a return trip in my opinion. Dinner was very tasty and the portions were reasonable, which was a nice change of pace (note - I got THREE meals from my last bowl of pasta at Carrabba's). I had gnocchi and they were just as yummy as always. The missus had a seafood special that I didn't get to taste too much of but I know for sure that the scallops were spot on. The wine list here is a little intimidating. I honestly don't remember what we got but it was full bodied and a bit fruity. I also remember the description mentioned something about it being from the region of Italy that produces "the best" wines. Who knows? This was after the 2-for-1 cocktails, don't forget... The atmosphere was intimate, the service prompt and attentive and the meal itself quite above average. Maybe I'm a naive American and I don't know anything about Italian food, but Fratelli's was a cut above the rest in my opinion. Check it out!
(4)Barbara S.
Our experience at Fratelli's was very positive. It would appear that whatever negative issues previous patrons experienced have been resolved. We were warmly greeted and promptly shown to our table. All of the servers, host (owner??) were very friendly and attentive. We started the meal with a very delicious salad (Procsiutto Piatti) recommended by our server and it did not disappoint. Our entrees (Pollo Capri, Veal Marsala and a pasta dish) were all delicious, too. Additionally, the ambience was very pleasant. I love the fact that they have artwork on display by local artists - even in the restrooms! All in all a very enjoyable evening. Next time we are in Colorado Springs, we'll make it a point to visit Fratelli's again.
(4)Joseph H.
First and for most, after reading the reviews initially, I was a little skeptical about this place but decided to give it a chance because I was meeting the GF's parents for the first time and was looking for a good restaurant to treat them to..........this place was a blessing in disguise :) The service was excellent. Our waiter and the Chef personally came out to ask us how the food was and were very attentive to not only our table but everyone in the restaurant. Wine selection was excellent, La Caprese was amazing with fresh buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. Entree wise, went with the gnocchi bolognese.............heaven, the orange italian cheesecake was a perfect way to end the meal. It was the perfect restaurant, for a perfect evening, and couldn't have gone any better. People bashing this place obviously are some Italian Restaurant Elitist. Yes I have tried better places else where, but this is one of the best places Italian wise in Colorado Springs and I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for some good italian food, perfect atmosphere, and service.
(5)James H.
To sum everything up, the food was sub-par and uninspired to say the least. Nothing was seasoned and the food looked like it had been sitting most of the day waiting to be served. The Bruschetta was oily and had absolutely no taste whatsoever. 3 of us got the veal and 1 had the shrimp. The 5 shrimp that came with the scampi dish were overcooked and had no flavor, the pasta was overcooked and dry, not fresh. There was some sort of sauce with the dish, but it wasn't seasoned and didn't coat the noodles or the shrimp. Nothing was seasoned and it was plain lacking. The veal was breaded, but the breading was complete mush by the time it reached our table. I don't know if you usually make your own pasta, but what was served with the veal was obviously dry and not fresh and way overcooked. The marsala sauce was broken (and there was no demi glace to be found anywhere), watery and not seasoned at all. The 4 bites of veal I had were tough and way overcooked. The button mushrooms were soggy and rubbery with absolutely no flavor whatsoever. I would hardly call 2 limp greenbeans an "italian vegetable" either. The salad was not dressed at all, there were dabs of something oily on pieces of wilted lettuce, but nothing was coated correctly. It was also not seasoned at all. I also took complete insult to the waiter stacking our finished plates in front of us. We paid over $300 for 4 of us and to have plates slopped on top of each other is an outrage. I would expect this to happen at a chili's or TGI Friday's, not an "upscale" restaurant.
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