Locanda Del Borgo
5575 E 3rd Ave, Denver, CO, 80220
Locanda Del Borgo Menu
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Lunch Menu
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Lunch Menu
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Address :
5575 E 3rd Ave
Denver, CO, 80220 - Phone (303) 388-0282
- Website https://www.locanda-del-borgo.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Jasmine G.
This restaurant is excellent! It was recommended to us by a friend, otherwise we would have never discovered it. It's kind of hidden, not a lot of people know about it. They have some of the BEST GNOCCHI I've ever had! We definitely go here a few times a month. The hostesses are all really nice and they actually have a busboy who I think is from Italy! He speaks Italian - how authentic! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. You can be somewhat casual, but if you're really dressed up, you'll still definitely fit in!
(5)Bruce W.
In the middle of our dinner this evening, our wait person disappeared. Up until that time we were having a pretty nice time of it. We waited...and waited...and after a while another wait person showed up (after we flagged her down) saying our original wait person "had an emergency." Being in the food business for a rather long time, an "emergency" can often be a buzzword for anything from, "The waitperson quit," to "we fired him," to (we will allow) an actual emergency. The important point is that the manager should have been immediately on top of this; no manager could be found. If the establishment cared about its service, the manager should have immediately come to the table and explained the situation with a deep apology. That never happened. The food itself was decent enough, and it is the only reason I am offering a rating as high as it is. We were prepared to order dessert and coffee, but we elected to leave. I don't know if I will be back.
(3)Frances G.
Considering the strange service my pesto penne was delicious! The somewhat sporadic service came and went, but the bread and food was solid. This neighborhood spot nestled in a predominately residential area delivered in terms of strong line up of Italian eats with the likes of hearty sandwiches, pastas, and salads.
(4)Lfr3 R.
This is an update on the service of this place. We live in the neighborhood. Called to check on getting a dessert and the service person that answered the phone said that since the menu was in Italian, didn't know exactly what was on the dessert menu. Went by to pick up something and stood at the front (around 8:00) and stood there for at least 10 minutes and could NO ONE to help us. We were told that they were too busy to get a dessert for take out.
(1)Cody C.
This place needs to seriously work on their wait time. The waiter was sssooooo slow we seriously almost got up to leave. The food was decent. Their cannolis had way too much lemon zest (or flavoring) in the cream. This is a great place for the 55+ crowd (because every time we go in its nothing but a bunch of grandmas and grandpas.
(2)Jeff S.
Italian restaurants rarely make me this happy. I like Italian food, but it's so commonplace that it's usually nothing amazing. Locanda del Borgo actually wowed me. My mom took me here for my birthday for lunch. It's a nice little spot tucked away off of 3rd ave. We were greeted and seated immediately. I had the house made fettucini with sausage and mushrooms. The pasta and meat were delicious, and the olive oil sauce it was tossed in was just about perfect. Mom had the sausage and pepper panini and loved it. They also had some amazing cannolis for dessert. Great wine list! Our server wasn't terribly good. He was slow to touch back to our table and there were only two others in the place, and he wasn't very personable. This was a great meal and I'm coming back very soon!
(4)Ron g.
Food can be wonderful and we have eaten here several dozen times. Tonight, and we all have bad days or nights, service was off the charts bad. I tracked down a waitress to take our order. No olive oil or bread was offered and service just sucked. Owners may have their hands in the other restaurant. It is hard to miss we had 4 kids and no service or food. They brought 2 kids food and not the other two. Four parents enjoy drinking with no food. Glad the conversation is good. Been here and hour and eleven minutes and no entree.
(2)Elke B.
Amazing, delicious, fantastic. The mozzarella starter was memorable and mouthwatering.
(5)Vicki P.
I know I've been to this restaurant a couple of times before but it was so long ago that I can't remember if it was actually the same place or the restaurant that was there before it. Anyway, I finally made it back for a group lunch on a quiet weekday afternoon. The lunch menu has tons of options and something for everyone in the way of sandwiches, salads, pizza and pasta dishes. I chose the seafood salad consisting of calamari, shrimp, and scallops on baby greens with roasted bell peppers, capers and olives. The salad was truly excellent and it didn't taste like any of the seafood was frozen. One of my dining companions remarked that it looked like I had about $30 worth of seafood on my plate. I agree and it was definitely worth the $12 price tag! I don't think our lunch club could be mistaken for ladies who lunch, but the extremely relaxed service we received seemed to indicate otherwise. Even though the restaurant was nearly empty, we had to look for our waitress quite a few times. My suggestion is to allow yourself enough time (and perhaps patience) for a leisurely meal.
(4)Amy P.
We were looking for a yummy dinner close to home and were incredibly pleased both by the food as well as with the service. Our waiter, Ben, was fabulous; he balanced being friendly and knowledgeable with giving us time to talk and enjoy our meal. The food was excellent. We had the prosciutto appetizer with olives and artichokes paired with a lovely Chianti that Ben recommended followed by the veal scallopini. Both dishes were divine! We ended the meal with a wonderful beet salad and left happy and very satiated. The last thing I'll say is that we almost didn't go because of some negative yelp comments on their service. Seek out Ben and he'll make sure you are taken care of!
(5)Cameron H.
Party of 8 and a baby. Our server was friendly and knowledgable but she was hella busy in my opinion. We ordered 3 bottles of wine and I was impressed by her wine knowledge and wine service (she's the 1st person in Denver I've seen open a bottle of wine like a pro. Label facing the host , proper tasting pour, a proper wipe of the bottle after each pour ,ladies first after the host etc etc..) but she sent her trainee over to open the 3rd bottle and the kid really bunked it. No offense to him but he had a hard act to follow. All in all everyone was beyond impressed with the food. Our server suggested 3 specials which 2/3 were ordered and they were both knock out. It was a good night out and I'm stoked to go back with just a friend or even by myself to enjoy a drink. Again everything was awesome. Thanks
(3)Diane V.
I was a little disappointed when visiting this restaurant for th e first time. It got raves reviews so I was expecting fantastic service. All I can say it was pretty average. The server was nice but not incredibly enthusiastic. I would have ordered another glass of wine had she come around a little more often and actually asked. The frito misto was so dissapointing It is served in a cone and the bottom pieces were soggy. Either it was not fried at a higher temp or maybe should come served differently. And the scallops were terrible, over cooked little bits of Bay scallops. Again service sub standard as we had to ask for a dessert menu as we were not offered one. So sad this place didn't work out, I was so hopeful.
(2)Alexis R.
Wow! I loved the intimate atmosphere with candle-lit tables. It is always crowded so reservations are a must, but I really enjoyed the food and service. We arrived with reservations and waited just a few minutes as our table was prepared. The server was friendly and brought us two wine samples, but when we ordered a bottle she was a bit taken aback that we didn't follow her suggestions...I think she snubbed us a bit after that, but I still gave Locanda 4-stars for the food, wine selection and tiramisu! It did take about 10 minutes for water and 15 minutes for our bread to arrive but the place was packed at the time, so I lend the wait to that fact. I tried the chicken milanese. It was very artfully presented with plenty of chicken and I loved the addition of the arugula and tomato salad. It was tasty, but served with a bit too much olive oil for my taste. The fresh made ravioli was awesome. We took advantage of the wine list, which had offerings from below $30 to well over $100. Ironically, we got a bit of table side entertainments when the bread basket on the table behind us caught on fire from table candle...the guy was so engrossed in his phone he didn't even noticed. As the flames grew, I gained the attention of the bus boy and it was taken care of...Anyways, rather funny that the guy at the table didn't even look up to see when the ado was about! We finished the meal with tiramisu- it is a MUST! Very creamy with a rich coffee note. I loved this place and plan to return when I'm in the area.
(4)Jerad L.
Had Stephen as a waiter and he made the experience! Rarely write on Yelp, but good food and great service! Thanks!
(5)Alex s.
Great place to get some amazing food. We went there on a snowy night over the holidays and despite the weather the place was packed. We were lucky to get a high top table which wasn't the most comfortable but the food was well worth it. I would definitely recommend the fettuccine with mushrooms and homemade sausage. It is worth going back for. All of the pasta dishes were cooked extremely well and the minestrone soup was fantastic. Very hearty and earthy with a touch of basil. We didn't get a chance to try the deserts because we were too full but will definitely be back sometime soon.
(5)Kendall S.
This used to be our go-to place and we ate dinner 2-3 times a week as a family. The food is good and mostly consistent. The service can be slow but the waiters do their best with great attitudes. Our love affair with LDB is over. When they told me that they would not substitute sides with out a charge, I was outraged. I asked for spinach (or cauliflower) instead of French fries..... not white truffles!! As I have worked in many restaurants, I know there is a 'line' of sides in every restaurant kitchen and it does not take more money or manpower to offer me another option to the unhealthy French fry choice. In addition, it is wasteful to force a patron to have something on their plate that they will not eat. Many other neighbors share my sentiment but perhaps are not so vociferous about their discontent. Please go back to the accommodating lovely neighborhood gem we once loved.
(1)Tyler S.
Another great find from Yelp! We stopped into Locanda del Borgo one evening after arguing about what we wanted to eat for dinner that evening (you know the routine), and magically this beauty popped up on my phone and sounded quite appetizing. Thankfully, they take OpenTable reservations and I was able to get us one, because when we arrived, the place was pretty hoppin' for a Saturday evening. Our server was really laid-back and helped guide us through the evening's specials and some of her favorites. We both started with a Caesar Salad, which was a little bit too authentic for my taste. While the freshly shaved cheese and ground black pepper was a nice touch, the dressing was a little too overpowered by the anchovy flavoring. Now I love a good traditional Caesar, however, the dressing was a little "too fishy" for our tastes. For my entree, I ordered some spinach ravioli that was stuffed with braised short ribs and covered in a really tasty cream sauce. Not the most healthiest option, but it was really delicious. *Also, it is worth mentioning that my portion was not the largest in the land. While it seemed like a perfect amount of food for myself, it came out with maybe seven or eight raviolis. My partner branched out and ordered a pasta dish that contained house-made pasta, sausage, and peppers in a red sauce. This pasta dish was portioned a little bit larger for those who maybe want a little bit more to eat. For dessert, we split the Tiramisu gellato that was also some of the best I have had. Not only did it carry a nice flavor of the traditional dish, it had a perfect texture that held up through the entire course. I am looking forward to our next venture here so that I can try some of their other items of the menu!
(5)Jessica H.
Food was very good, I had their wild mushroom fettuccine and it was excellent my husband had their short rib raviolis which was also great. We had a great experience and the serving staff was very knowledgeable about wine and food. This was our first time but we will definitely go back. Great neighborhood gem.
(4)Meredith G.
I have to agree with many reviewers here. The service at this place is lousy. The food is very good, but the amount of time to wait for the waiter and the mistakes to the meal are not worth going back for. After fifteen minutes of being seated, we had to ask for a waiter to take our drink order. Now to the food. One friend in the party ordered the pork chops and requested pasta instead of potatoes. Being a restaurant owner himself, he was shocked by being told that there are no substitutes!!! Really???!!! Isn't this an Italian restaurant?? Isn't pasta an easy request?? The waiter and I had a discussion about my wanting the white wine and clams but that I wanted a homemade pasta. We talked about linguine vs. fettuccine...whichever was homemade. Fine. My dish came out with cheese on top and I remarked that there was no mention of cheese in the menu in which he said "I know"...no problem, he took it back and said they're going to remake it. Brings it back and I take a bite of what I thought were clams out of the shell and they're sausages!!! When I asked him where he got sausages from considering we never discussed sausages at any time, he said if I got the fettuccine he thought I'd want the fettuccine on the menu that came with sausages!!! What??? I waited again for my dish. Everyone finished eating. No offer of dessert...didn't take my dish off the check...nothing!!! The owners or managers who were there never even bothered to come over to apologize. There are many great restaurants in Denver...this is not one I want to give my business to. Not to mention its in the middle of nowhere...
(3)Jennifer M.
The only reason for four stars is a lack of good beer. Beer isn't even listed on their drink menu, so they clearly don't see it as worthy of drinking with their food. But that aside, I loved this place. Very extensive menu of pastas, meats, seafood, appetizers, salads, pizza - tons to choose from. Had a nice glass of proseco with the fritto misto appetizer - thought it was tasty, but nothing super special. Then I had a beautiful salad of tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella with a sweet balsamic reduction. Even in January, the tomatoes were sweet and full of flavor. They had no problem with our table's special requests for changes to our entrees. I had the gnocci without the ham and it was divine. Thankfully, the portion was small because it was a rich dish. The wine was great and our server was knowledgeable about their offerings. For dessert, I had a chocolate hazelnut mousse torte that was delicious. All in all, a great meal in a quaint neighborhood joint. The service was good - after about 10 minutes of no service at all, but understandable since they were getting busy on a Saturday night. Can't wait to come back this summer and camp out on their cute patio.
(4)Jenn P.
I can see this place from my front porch. Which would normally be a really really good thing. It certainly was when this location was the Hillcrest. Man do times change. It would matter not if this place was in Guantanamo Bay or across the st. I would not do business there. I have been twice and feel like that's enough to decide.Especially because the second was for my birthday. People pay extra close attention on such occasions. Hmpff. I'm not sure if there is some sort of child free law there but judging from the scowls and sneers we receive upon sitting I'm pretty sure there's something to that effect going down. My kids are VERY VERY well behaved.Seriously I do not have the patience for anything else, and they know how to act more appropriately than most adults...some at this very restaurant. The point is my money is just as green as anyone else with or without kids.We parents can sense this kind of unrest the minute we walk into a place.For the prices you charge, this is even more upsetting. The mussels are average and the drinks are overpriced. I ordered the veal piccata and it was so salty it ruined the entire and overpriced dish. I was a year older and still hungry. Desserts are smallish and dryish and ...you guessed it. Overpriced. Sorry to be un-neighborly guys...but I was here first, the least you could do is make me feel welcome. Oh what I'd do for a cheeseburger and kids menu...Hillcrest...there's no sunshine when your gone!
(2)Ginger W.
I inked here last night for an anniversary dinner. I read all of the reviews prior and was a little apprehensive, but I was really pleased with the experience. We shared the the fritto misto app, and Caesar salad. I had the gnocchi and my partner had the steak. All were really good with exception of the Caesar, I just didn't care for the dressing all that much. It was busy, but we had a reservation and were sat right away and the service was good. Portion size was appropriate as well. I look forward to dining here again,
(4)Steffen A.
It's the economy. Like many of us, I've had to cut (wayyyyyy) back on those special-occasion dinners out. You know, the ones that come close to a $200 tab for two. And even those quick, let's just grab a casual-bite-at-a-bar type dinners have been replaced by a store-bought roast chicken served up with a heapin' side of steamin' styrofoam packed goodness. Because even those casual dinner's at a bar run $50 plus tip. And you can pull off the whole chicken and a side thing at home for about $10. Times be tough. My partner and I visited nearby Locanda Del Borgo for restaurant week. It was the second time we'd eaten there and we both came away scratching our heads in confusion. Confused because we really, really wanted this place to succeed but annoyed because we don't think it should. Everything about the restaurant projects a neighborhoody type vibe. Although admittedly this is the oh-so toney Hilltop / Crestmoor neighborhood. Still, it's the sort of place where we'd like to think we could drop in for a light salad, bowl of pasta, glass of red wine sort of meal. The disconnect for us isn't the food - which is very good. Simple and well executed. Although there is little on the menu that makes me smile in anticipation of trying a dish that I couldn't also find at about a fifty other Italian restaurants in Denver. The disconnect for me are the prices. Even our prix-fixe, $52.80 dinner for two (appetizer, entrée, dessert) topped $100+ with three glasses of wine and a tip. And if this hadn't been restaurant week, the check would have grown to $150. Maybe it's me. Maybe it's the state of my finances. But even $100 for a couple of salads, a couple of plates of (very good pasta) and a couple desserts? In a neighborhood type of place, no less. It left me confused. Happy because I'd just had a very good meal. Angry because I felt like I'd paid way too much for what I got. If it's neighborhood Italian I'm looking for, I'll drive to the Cherry Tomato. If it's high end, special occasion, kneel at the alter of ambitious, creative Italian, I'll visit Lucca d'Italia. I know I'll leave those places patting my belly, not scratching my head.
(3)Bob O.
Not sure how to approach this ... I agree with one of the other commenters that when they're on - they're on. And when they're not - OMG! And when they're on they have some really tasty dishes - the bolognese, the fettuccine with house made sausage, the garlic broccoli, and the rolled pizza dough filled with fresh Mozzarella (when they don't burn it - make sure you get a side of Marinara) are very very nice. Also the bone-in rib-eye (when my wife's not looking) is outstanding. And then there is all the other times. I get a fair amount of carry-out and they are about 1 for 18 which is great if you want a free glass of wine. Speaking of which, if it wasn't for Angela behind the bar I'd probably have lost my sense of humor and bagged it a long time ago. So where does that leave us? Make sure the chef's in, get aggressive with the wait staff if you have to, and know that they have the ability to turn out some really fine food if they want to (or have to). Sounds awfully like eating in a French restaurant - no insult intended.
(3)Evey M.
The food is good... not great but good. The service we had was fantastic from our waiter and less then stellar from every other employee. I'd try it again but I'm not sure the results would be any better.
(3)Randy C.
Overall I was pleased with the entire dining process. I try to stay focused on food, but service and atmosphere were both great also. Now for the important stuff. The menu there is great. There is a ton of variety (pastas, meats, pizzas) so it's definitely a place I will go back to in the future. My dining partner and I split several items, we started with an appetizer (braciole), split a salad (grilled artichoke), and finished with the lamb chops and spinach ravioli. All three dishes were solid. The braciole was full of flavor and I really like the sauce. The grilled artichoke on the salad was awesome and I felt there was just the right amount of feta cheese. Both entrees were good, but not great. We ordered the lamb medium rare, but it was slightly overcooked. However, the mustard sauce was delicious and more than redeemed the dish. The spinach ravaioli was another solid dish. The cream sauce and short rib is a unique approach to ravioli but I felt the portion was maybe 2-3 shells short. I will definitely go back to explore some of the other dishes and maybe try the pizza (it looked really good). Also, I should note that I didn't have wine so really didn't look at the wine list.
(4)David T.
It's been awhile since we've been here but we've liked it very much. Always great service and better than average food. We especially enjoy the patio in the summer. I wish i could remember the name of our waitress because she was the BEST. Great wine recommendation and very knowledgeable about the menu. Our experience over about a dozen visits has been that the best options are the most simple. I think that is often true at Italian restaurants here just as they are in Italy. Great fresh ingredients served without a lot of interference. Have some squid. a salad and some pasta or grilled fish and you'll be a happy camper. Other than cannoli, Italians just don't get dessert - skip it and have a limoncello and espresso instead.
(4)Pierre D.
Over the years, I have taken family members, friends to Locanda del Borgo. Evan had business related dinners and lunches. This is a solid place, reliable and most of all, it offers delicious, authentic italian food. I always look forward to going there. Frito Misto and bruschetta, beet salad, Misto Carne, pork chops are my favorites. On the dessert department i must say that their Tiramisu is hard to beat. I hear they are making their own bread, and since it's so good it makes perfect sense.
(4)Justine M.
Came here pretty late on a weeknight and the staff were still very friendly and happy to serve us. Overall, good, tasty food at decent prices. Nice ambiance and enjoyed the many options on both the food menu and wine list. Especially liked the thin crust pizza and caesar salad -- yum!
(4)Stephanie S.
I had great hopes for this place after reading other reviews and looking at the menu online, but my husband and I were seriously disappointed in our experience. Having worked in restaurants in the past, I have a lot of patience when it comes to eating out and the things that can go wrong. However, there is a mishap and then there is just plain horrible restaurant management. We went for dinner on Friday night and were told the main dining room was full, but if we wanted we could sit on the covered, heated patio. The patio sounded fine to us, as we were fairly hungry and it was nice outside. I got a bad feeling as soon as the hostess brought us out there. The patio is cramped and on a slant. There were a couple tables of people at one end, but she brought us to the other end where it was deserted and all of the tables except for ours were sitting there dirty with plates and silverware not yet cleared away. Why the hostess didn't take care of that situation when she saw it, I am not sure. We settled in to enjoy the quiet at first and did receive bread and water, but then proceeded to sit there amongst the dirty tables surrounding us for at least 15 minutes without ever seeing a server to even get a glass of wine. Having not even ordered anything yet, I did not feel bad about getting up and leaving. Clearly, they did not care to keep us as customers. I don't think I have ever had such a bad experience at a restaurant and I will definitely not be returning!
(1)Nick C.
Went here for my birthday dinner last year and was so impressed. Nestled amongst a hair salon and cheese shop in the Hill Top neighborhood, this Italian restaurant was off my radar until my close friend told me it was his special occasion date night restaurant. Also knew them for the Fritto Misto shown in 5280's Best Bites. Nice interior with a full view of the kitchen and cooks which is always a plus as I like to see that they have nothing to hide. My dining partner began with a salad of baby greens with carrots, roma tomatoes and balsamic. It was simple but beautiful. My salad was quite possibly one of the best that I have ever had. I went with the grilled seafood salad that consisted of mass quantities of grilled calamari, shrimp, scallops, clams and mussels. The roasted red peppers went exceptionally well with the freshness of the seafood. My date went with the margherita pizza which is your typical pizza consisting of mozzarella and tomato sauce. Once again simple, but huge. Crispy thin crust just like my date prefers. I went with the misto carne which consisted of sirloin steak, lamb chop, and house sausage. Talk about a protein fest. Each was cooked perfectly to my liking, very rare. Each had great flavor but I tended towards the lamb the most as I tend to do. They were accompanied by roasted potatoes and vegetables. For dessert, which is rare for me especially after stuffing myself with meat, we split a complementary birthday panna cotta which was well executed. The service was outstanding, the atmosphere was perfect, and all in all, a great birthday dinner. Look forward to going back for some risotto or gnocchi which I hear is stellar. I refuse to give five stars to a place that I have not been back to more than once, so hopefully on my next go around, they will prove that it is not a fluke.
(4)Stopher W.
Not always a big fan of Italian but I like this. Neighborhood restaurant with great fan base. The local community seem to support this restaurant. Everyone seem to know each other. I liked the food and we had a great time. I would go back again
(4)Barbara S.
This was our Valentine's destination. I'd like to go back when it's just a restaurant, not a Hallmark holiday factory. They were super-organized. We had rec'd a confirmation call about the reservation even though I made it thorugh opentable.com . Nice touch to keep the patrons flowing. Seated right away - liked the changes they'd made since it changed hands. Our waitress was adorable and helpful and had some cute red eyeglasses. I ordered the steak and arugula appetizer as an entree then minestrone soup. Because it was so cold out and we were seated by the wall of windows, I wished I had ordered a side of space heater. Even the ladies sitting at the interior tables had their coats over their Valentine's colors, but it didn't affect the food. Hubby liked his pasta with fresh mozz and my minestrone got better and more flavorful with a few bites. Will try this again on a non-holiday. It was one of the few places that had a 6PM table on opentable.com and I thank yelp for the good reviews that I popped over to read before committing. Great location, service, and atmosphere. Just turn up the temp when it's super cold out. . .
(3)Ang H.
This place had many accolades online - voted by the Westword as the best neighborhood Italian restaurant - so I was excited to try it. For some reason, I was expecting (and hoping for) a cozy, family run restaurant with home-style cooking. But instead, this restaurant was trendy, overpriced, and was cold and dark inside. We were sat at a small, two-seater table nestled along the wall with other small tables on either side of ours, snuggled right up making it hard to have a private conversation or romantic dinner. The meal started out with bread served along with fantastic oil and balsamic vinaigrette- that was the highlight for me! We ordered the butter lettuce starter salad, which was a tiny salad that cost $9 (that is just WAY too much, in my opinion) - and I swear there was no butter lettuce, it was definitely romaine. Strange? I think so. My boyfriend and I ordered spaghetti and meatballs - we were craving hearty, thick spaghetti with big, homemade meatballs - some comfort food, ya know? But instead, we got a small "fancy" bowl of spaghetti and none of it tasted homemade. The noodles were noodles - like what you buy in a box for $2 at King Soopers. The sauce tasted canned and the meatballs were like those little frozen ones you buy in the freezer isle. Then, this place had the nerve to charge $14 for it! Yikes, I thought this place was incredibly overpriced considering the quality and portion sizes. Plus, to top it off, our service was sub-par. We had empty glasses of water and had a hard time getting our server's attention. Not to mention that the table to our left was left unbussed for almost our entire meal, so we were looking at a dirty table. There weren't that many tables in the place and for the price, I expect the employees to be all over that stuff. In stealing Yelp's words from above (when I give a restaurant two stars), "Meh, I've had better" - waaaaay better.
(2)Trish G.
Food is great, the menu is a bit pricey for a neighborhood place. The ambiance and decor has been upgraded One Zillion Percent since this place was the Hillcrest Grill. Removing that horrible 'child's corral' has weeded out the early-bird families with grandpa and four toddlers in tow - which totally brought down the whole having a civilized drink with my Adult Companions vibe. We live about four blocks away -- if it was a bit cheaper we would be there once or twice a week consistently. Instead we opt for less expensive places down in cherry creek or glendale. The deals are the pizzas - sized generously and hands-down much better than Cucina Colore (which are usually COLD by the time they get to my table). Also the appetizers are fairly large and the minestrone is excellent. Lasagna with the bechamel sauce - decadent. Frito Misto = very good.
(4)Chris L.
When the kitchen here is on, this place rates five stars and more. I've had ahi tuna dishes here that are toe-curling good - possibly the best I've ever had. The burrata caprese salad is something I would walk all the way across Denver to have. I wondered how that was possible in a neighborhood Italian place and discovered the story of the highly-rated Aspen restaurant in its pedigree. Mind you, the neighborhood is Hilltop/Crestmoor - this is no "joint" by any stretch. It's beautiful inside and the feel is of a very nice upscale bistro. The hosts are very nice, as are many of the waitstaff, but the service is the one drawback here. But the reason is its huge popularity, so you can't fault them too much. I like that there aren't a gazzillion waiters running around - it feels much more intimate the way it is. The only other reason i give it four instead of five stars is that sometimes the pasta dishes are uneven. I've had very good ravioli here, but never great (I hold the late great and hugely lamented Bambino's as the standard for great ravioli). Several friends who know food and who prefer different dishes have said that they would rate this a five for the things they've had (that I haven't). Definitely the best Italian restaurant in Denver right now.
(4)Tracy A.
Ate at L de B twice during May. First time was fantastic... then, as luck would have it, we told several family members how fantastic it was and convened a party there. (You'd think I'd know better by now, not to oversell a place.) The service was not spiffy, quick, or attentive enough for a place of this price and quality range. The wood-fired pizza was extremely soggy in the center.... basically the pie was edible only on the edges (which were rather tasty). The cannellini bean soup was boring (I'll stick with their wonderful lentil soup from now on). Alas, I must shift down to a 4-star review. (Until next time, hopefully.)
(4)Tracie B.
Many restaurants have come and gone in this space. Locanda del Borgo is just what was needed for the surrounding Hilltop and Crestmore neighborhoods. We have probably been ten times since they opened and we've never been disappointed. We've even dragged our friends there - and a place has to be good for us to do that! The space is open but not too noisy and I always like a clean view to the kitchen - I know this is trendy but hey, I like to see my food being prepared. Not only is the location/space a plus but Locanda rates high on my list for great price/performance. We love to share items so we typically share a starter - the pizza Margherita is my favorite (very thin crust with just the right amount of tomatoes, olive oil and fresh basil), a salad - all are great but I'm partial to either the Cæser ($8) or the Butter lettuce salad with pears, gorgonzola and pecans ($9). For the main, any of the pasta dishes is excellent ($12-$16) or the Risotto with shrimp "Scampi" and asparagus ($19). I've also had the grilled pork chops, which are fantastic. And yes, there must be wine - can't eat dinner without it. Locanda del Borgo has a pretty varied wine list but with as much as I would love a Cab-Franc from Italy for the same price as a great pair of $300 designer shoes, we tend to stick with wines in the $20-$30 range - there are several decent ones to choose from. We've never left Locanda del Borgo with less than totally satisfied tummies and palettes. For a professional opinion, check out Jason Sheehan's review in Westword, February 2009 ( westword.com/2009-02-05/… ).
(4)Mike Z.
The food was great. Not sure about the $9 vodka sodas. The service was very average. I would have given this place 2 stars but our waitress was high so I bumped it up to three.
(3)Bruce A.
Always a great meal (last nite veal scaloppini saltimboca - yum), mellow atmosphere, very friendly staff & patrons. Brought East Coast friends from out of town (they know Italian) & they raved. Can't go wrong at LdB
(4)Matthew R.
Locanda Del Borgo is a very consistently good restaurant. The food is usually spot on. My friend absolutely swears by the Cioppino and thinks it is the best in town. I have had a variety of things and have found most to be very good. This night I had the bib leaf salad with pears and pecans and the lentil soup. Both were amazing and just hit the spot. Our service was good this night, but this is one area where this restaurant can be hit or miss. I have had some good experiences and some not so good, but generally this restaurant falls just on the average service...nothing special.
(4)Cathy W.
I usually really like this place. But the last experience there merits some comments. We had made a reservation for lunch for 12 people over a month before we actually ate at Locanda. We arrived to a 1/4 full restaurant, which only had one server working the entire floor. It took the server 15 minutes to get us the bread she had promised, but she brought about 8 pieces for a party of 12 and forgot to bring the olive oil that the restaurant generally serves with bread. When we asked for more bread and some olive oil, it took another 10 minutes to get it. We ordered off the lunch menu. One diner was told he could get an extra sausage with his meal, but it never came. Two of us ordered the Chicken Milanese with grilled vegetables and potatoes. One of us got the veggies, one got potatoes. When we asked for the missing items, we were told they were out of veggies and potatoes. Two additional diners ordered the Salmon Salad. The server showed up with one salad and told us they were out of salmon, so the people who ordered it had to decide who got the food that they ordered. And, again, the potatoes that were supposed to be in the salad were not - out of potatoes. It took another 20 minutes for the person who didn't get the salmon to get the sandwich that he ordered, after everyone else at the table had finished their meals. The server kept apologizing and blaming all of the problems on the kitchen. While the manager comped a portion of our check, that really wasn't the issue for us. We had counted on them planning ahead, knowing that we were a large party, and having food on hand for that large of a group. And, if they didn't, letting us know when we were ordering would have been a nice thing to do. But, pretending that all was well when it obviously wasn't really made our experience unpleasant. Also, just an observation, but a larger party at the back of the dining room had a nice white tablecloth on their table. Ours was bare and we had paper napkins. Not nice when the lunch tab was around $300.
(1)S G.
Have eaten at Locanda del Borgo twice now. Both times, I was equally impressed with the food and the atmosphere and both time I was appalled with the service. It is really disappointing that the service is so bad here. It is a great little neighborhood spot. The frito misto was excellent - light and crispy. The minestrone was also very good. Pizza bianca was delicious. Veal scallopine was also wonderful. Sevice was just terrible though. First, I ordered a Moretti and received an O'Douls. Seriously. Then it literally took 45 minutes between the time we finished our appetizers and the time we received our main courses. Our server was also the bus boy I guess. Apparently he didn't know where the dishwasher was because as he bussed our table, he put a number of the dishes on the table behind us and they just stayed there for the rest of our meal. I enjoy the food and the location is close to my home so Locanda del Borgo will eventually get another shot, but that's it.
(3)Frankie V.
I have been to Locanda about 5 times. I like it so much that I have shared this place with many friends and have not been afraid that they would be disappointed. Last night my wife and I enjoyed a Cesar salad, mixed seafood pasta, pasta with tomatoes, eggplant, and mozzarella. We followed this with 3 scoops of home made Gelato. The food never disappoints. In the past I have had pizza from the wood burning oven. It was on par with pizza's that I have eaten in Naples Italy. This is truly one of the best Italian restaurant in Denver. Unless you arrive before 6, expect to sit at the bar. Reservations are a good choice, but it is a casual/nice atmosphere. The staff is helpful and attentive. I have a hard time deciding what would make this place a 5 in my book. Just can't put my finger on it. Maybe larger salad or appetizer portions? The main course and deserts are more than adequate. And, I am an eater.
(4)Daniel R.
Out of all the various foods that I've eaten I have to say that this place supplies a dish that makes my top five. The lamb chops. However, in order to fully describe the experience of eating this exquisite dish I must first illustrate the environment. Locanda del Borgo is a small restaurant near Holly Street in the Hilltop neighborhood of southeast Denver. Going inside I can't help but feel super comfortable yet elegant at the same time. The interior is a bunch of dark wood, the bar is next to the entrance, the staff is friendly, there are regulars from the neighborhood, it's a very good feeling. It has all the delicacies of a fancy restaurant with all the warmth and familiarity of a local hot spot. It's that awesome. As I start to look at my menu I can't decide between the chicken and the lamb chops. The lamb chops say 24 dollars and change. I'm in college, this is ridiculous. But whatever, I'll try it. The dish comes almost immediately and I cannot believe what I see. The rack of lamb has been cooked until perfection. Every juice, smell, and texture of the meat is so perfect. I always wonder why I don't get more lamb. Perhaps it is a lot, it's just that I eat it so quickly. Or it may be that what is small is much more appreciated. Aside from the lamb, you are also served this rice cake yellow thing. I have no idea what it's called. But it is good. It compliments the lamb well. While I'm eating voraciously, committed to my meal, I can't help but notice that this tall big guy in the kitchen keeps looking around the entire restaurant. He wears glasses and looks about mid 50's. He's obviously one of the main chefs, but I get the feeling that he might be the owner also. I notice that he looks around all over the restaurant as if trying to read the reactions that the people have towards his food. He must be really paying attention because he noticed my smile while I was eating then came over and asked me about the lamb. I simply said, "It's the best I've ever had."
(5)Michael C.
We all are biased reviewers, but with Locanda del Borgo, I must admit, I am really biased. My family and friends have dined here at least 50-times since it opened and I think we know the menu well. When I enter Locanda (inn) del Borgo (Village), I get the warm fuzzy feeling of my favorite neighborhood establishment that knows my wife and adult children and knows what our demands are because over the years we have had many discussions with Giancarlo and his staff about what works and what does not work. Locando del Borgo knows exactly what it is. It is a neighborhood Italian restaurant, not an Osteria, nor a Trattoria, that takes advantage of what is good and available in the market while assiduously maintaining the set menu items. In the September 6th, 2004 issue of The New Yorker Malcolm Gladwell wrote an article entitled, "The Ketchup Conundrum." In the article he explained why some food products are market dominate while others are not. He introduced to me the concept of "amplitude" which is a word that describes our sensory reactions to the 5-elements of taste: sweet, sour, salt, bitter, and umami. When all of these component parts of a dish come together to form a unique sensory experience in our mouths, the food is said to have broad amplitude. I have digressed with this description of a technical food science term because it is so essential to good cooking. It is the characteristic of a meal that tells you to return to have it again. Giancarlo's food has amplitude. It is why we return. The salads are special. Beet salad, butter lettuce with pears and gorgonzola, an artichoke heart offering all leave me with an impression of "I'll order that again." The pastas are the star of the restaurant. The short rib sauce, the italian sausage, the bolognese, the simple tomato..all are imprinted on my sensory memory. The wine list is broad in its reach and affordable in its pricing. Last night our group ordered a white ($34) and a red ($36) from Italy that we had never tried. We felt no trepidation for we trust Locanda's selections. Both were great values . Desserts? Tiramisu ("Pick me up"), Panacotta (cooked cream with fresh fruit), the chocolate torte are all good. The panacotta always has the right amount of jiggle to let you know that there is not excessive amounts of gelatin. So my scorecard looks like this: 1. Ambience (weight of 1): warm, simple, comfortable. Not elegant. Very nice covered patio. Open kitchen that adds to the warmth. Pizza oven open to the public. What you generally see is that the customers do not pay attention to the happenings in the kitchen. They are absorbed in their appreciation of the meal. Score: 7 2. Beverage selection (weight of 1): Great bar, very nice wine list; a perfect match for the place; reasonably priced. Score: 8 3. Presentation of food (weight of 1): Once again, not elegant, but clean, neat, warm, friendly. Score: 8. 4. Price/Value (Weight of 1): It's a great deal to dine at Locanda. Score 8. 5. Service (Weight of 2): It can be inconsistent, especially with the turnover of some wait staff, but generally, they are well-trained, attentive, and kind. Score: 7 x 2 = 14. 6. Quality of Food (Weight of 2): Score: 8 x 2 = 16. 7. AMF Factor (Weight of 2): This factor measures how well the restaurant executes its value proposition. Locanda del Borgo knows exactly what it offers to make guests feel content and it executes that proposition very well. Score 9 x 2 = 18. Ambience: 7 Beverage: 8 Presentation: 8 Price/Value: 8 Service: 14 Food Quality: 16 AMF Factor: 18 Total 79/100
(4)Lauren H.
The food was yummy. The cockails were overpriced. The service was good except our waitress told us the specials of the night and then either omited or added different dishes to the tables on both sides of us.
(3)David C.
I really enjoy the food here! I've had several different pastas as well as the pizza, and I've liked every dish I've tried. Food is fresh and very high quality. There's a pretty good selection, though the menu is not as large as some Italian restaurants. The Colorado lamb was outstanding, and the fritto misto appetizer is not to be missed! The wine list is very broad and there is something in every price range, and I enjoy the open kitchen where you can look in and see the crew at work. Sunday nights they have Pizza Night (at least they did last fall, though I'm not sure if they still do), where any of their pizzas are $6.95 and wine is 25% off, which is a great deal. This leads me to my only issue with the restaurant. Given the price point of most of the menu, I just can't afford to eat here frequently - if dishes were just a couple of dollars less, this would go from being a great "special occasion" place to a neighborhood place where you could eat regularly.
(4)Lisa O.
This place is amazing! My friend and I went there Friday night and loved the food so much, we went back again tonight. The food is great, the prices are reasonable, the waitstaff was very attentive and the place is cute. What's not to love?
(5)Spencer L.
Worst service ever ! Oh wait there was no service. Pitiful meal. Could have had my dog serve better
(1)Paige J.
After a few trips to LDB, I am as in love as ever. The atmosphere is small and intimate, and the food is AMAZING - rustic, homemade style, but still very put together. Both the food and service have been reliable in our few visits. There isn't a ton of seating, so I would recommend making a reservation if you're going with a larger group or during prime hours.
(4)Elizabeth D.
For the fourth or fifth time we have eaten at Locanda del Borgo, and it seems to get better, if that is possible, every time. The proprietor is Sicilian, the food is terrific . Everything from the pizza, to the whole striped bass, and in between, especially the fritto misto, and, for dessert, nona's torta, is great, very authentic, very sophisticated preparation...Even when full the noise is not overwhelming, no screaming to carry on a conversation....The service is happy and efficient. Can't say enough about this place.
(4)JOJO J.
This place is so close to our house and I wish it had better food. The pasta dishes are just OK. They have seafood stew on the menu for 25!? why So much?? we had to clams and mussles for aps-they were good. The waitress was was just OK. Kind of slow and not attentive. She recommeneded three "top choices" I decided to take her advice and had the homemade linguini with sausage and mushrooms. It tasted exactly like beef stroganoff from a box. --was not that good. Last time we went the menu and the meal wasnt what it said. I also ordered the salad with pears and it had cheap RED apples as a subsitute-so lame. One piece of blue cheese-90 something dollars for an OK meal....so close to my house but I just wish the food and service were better....Id just go to the bar for happy hour thats it.
(2)A.C. N.
We have been to Locanda del Borgo several times, it is what brought us back on Thursday night to celebrate my dad's birthday. I should have know that it was off to a bad start. We made a reservation for 6 people for Friday night, we had a change in plans and I called to move the reservation to Thursday night. When I asked them to cancel the reservation for Friday night they said that they did not have a reservation for us on Friday night. Hum, interesting since I called the reservation in. I was like ok, no big deal, if can move the reservation that is fine. We arrived @ 7pm and we waited for 35 MINUTES until our order was taken. The drink order came out wrong and then we sat for another 20 minutes. We had to ask the hostess if we could get our waiter to come over and take our order. Two of us ordered the Cesare salad and the waiter came over to me to tell me that they didn't have any romaine lettuce, would I like to change my salad order. Then as some of the food finally came out, they told the other person who ordered the Cesare salad that they didn't have romaine lettuce for the Cesare salad. Why was this not taken care of when they told me about my salad? I thought that maybe they had enough for one salad that is why the other person was not asked if they wanted to change their salad. SERIOUSLY, WHO OFFERS CESARE SALAD ON THE MENU AND THEN DOES NOT HAVE ROMAINE LETTUCE?! The food came out and it was good, but to wait for an hour and 15 minutes is a bit much. We had to ask for bread, and the waiter said that he would bring some out as soon as it was out of the oven, hum, the table next to us got bread about 10 minutes earlier. I asked again about the bread, i got the same response and I commented that the table next to us got bread and the waiter was like, sorry I will go check. My rule of thumb is if you don't know, don't make up an answer, just be honest with us. At the end of the dinner, the waiter did bring out 3 desserts and apologized for the long wait, but honestly, if they want to stay in business, they need to get better organized on the wait staff side and in the kitchen. I am giving Locanda del Borgo 3 stars because of the service. We will try it again in the future and I hope that I can report that I am moving the rating up to 4 or 5 starts.
(3)Shannon G.
We love Locanda Del Borgo. You can find affordable wine. All of the staff have always been friendly. The atmosphere is relaxing. You almost feel like your in a ski town based on the fact that the restaurant is nestled in between a few shops, and the covered patio is lined in the center of the shopping walk way. The food is delicious and they have several dishes that I love to order. Last night I had the arugula salad followed by the Orechiette with Italian Sausage and sun dried tomatoes in a nice red sauce.
(4)Andrew P.
A decent Italian food Restaraunt which focuses more on just pasta dishes. Their wood fire grill kicks up dishes which would normally seem bland. A coisy atmosphere but a little overpriced (especially their wine list where you'll be hard pressed to find more than 2-3 glasses of wine under $10)
(4)Jamie K.
Friends and I went here for dinner for our Valentine's girl's night out. Prices are really high, I work at a restaurant and I can sell the same glass of Reisling for $6 but they are charging $10. The kicker was that the waitress asked if everything was okay, because she thought we only tipped her 10% when in fact we tipped her 19%. I don't think this restaurant will be in my regular circulation...
(2)Florence N.
This was my 3rd time to this restaurant, which happens to be near my house. I had a very bad dinner here with my in-laws last night. The shrimp pasta dish smelled very fishy and tasted even worse. The quality of the shrimp was below that of frozen shrimp from Costco. The waiter did not return to our table to ask how the food was, by the time we were able to get his attention his reply to my complaint was "it is too much for you?" As if it was a preference problem. It smelled awful and the entire table noted this. I had to wait for my second pasta dish and then my relatives were all done with their food. We were asked if we wanted to look at a dessert menu. We then watched the waiter go to a nearby table and review the specials and open wine for 10 minutes. By the time he came back we weren't interested in wasting anymore time. It was a Thursday night and we weren't looking to have a 2 hour dinner. The worst part was that the restaurant charged us for all for meals and then when we asked the manager about it and explained to him that one of us had to return our first dish and wait for our second far too long, he was arguing with us and didn't want to comp the meal. Really bad customer service. Will NOT be returning.
(1)Jan A.
Denver's love of this restaurant baffles me. We have been to Locanda about 6 times as it is a lovely walk from our home. It's great to perch at the bar, where we have always received great service and drinks. But the food? We have been disappointed in almost every dish we have tried, from appetizers to veal specials. The flavors are odd and the fish or meat swimming in oil. We aren't pasta eaters, but maybe that is the go to dish.
(2)Adam W.
A great place to eat! We had wine (Chardonnay), champagne, beer and an expresso martini to drink. They were all wonderful. For our meals we had spinach lasagna, spinach ravioli, bolegnese and orecchiette. We cleaned all our plates so you know it's good :) our server was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for some good Italian food!
(5)Tom C.
Fantastic neighborhood Italian restaurant in an off the path location. Attentive and friendly service and a solid menu. These folks work hard to make your experience first rate. We enjoyed the calamari and the pizzas. The appetizers are terrific and the drink menu is thoughtful. Ask for a side of pasta with the bouillabaisse to sop up the sauce. Wonderful gelato! Prego!
(5)Mark H.
Cute little spot in a hidden shopping center. Service was great and the food was really good. Went with the braised beef ravioli and was not disappointed. I saw the special being served (Osso bucco over risotto) and it looked amazing. But they ran out at 7pm unfortunately and changed the special. :( Still had a nice dinner and enjoyed the wine list too. I'll come back a little earlier next time for the special.
(4)Brian S.
This place has the potential to be legendary. If you've been to Italy and know what *real* Italian food is like, come to Locanda del Borgo. Right now Giancarlo is stuck between a pizzeria and a trattoria. The pasta dishes are too big to be a traditional "first dish", but a touch small to be a full entree. Otherwise, the pasta dishes we had (Gnocchi and Linguine with clams) were excellent and properly prepared. Again, if you've been to Italy, you know pasta is intended to be on the al dente side with just enough sauce to have very little left over when you are done. That is what you'll get here. No one at out table ordered a meat dish, so I cannot comment on those. Two people ordered the pizza which are as good as Proto's if not slightly better. Seating - we had a larger party so we got a table at the back by Holly St. and had plenty of room to spread out. If you are looking for a romantic dinner for 2 be forewarned your table will be small and quite close to other tables. The dining room is somewhat loud. I would love to be back here in warm weather to experience the patio. Service - Our waiter took a while to great us, which always gives one pause. After that, the service was well paced. Other minor nit is that the after dinner coffee - one of us got a tall mug, the other got a cappuccino mug. Odd as they both got the same type of coffee. I had the cappuccino - not bad, but not great. I should've asked for help on the wine as I can never seem to pick out a great Chianti. Not sure our waiter could've helped us though. All in all, this place has a lot of Potential to be on the short "must visit" list for Italian in Denver. Put aside your stereotype of Italian food in the US and come here to find out what Italian (well at least southern Italian) *could* be like. This place is on my "come back" list.
(4)Michelle A.
Yeah not quite a fan. Was taken here for our anniversary and for the price I could have thought of another restaurant I would much have preferred to have eaten. I love that it is in a neighborhood strip mall. Hilltop area to be exact. We sat outside and that was enjoyable. All I wanted was a nice piece of fish and the beet salad. Right!. They had just run out of fish so I ordered the seafood risotto. It was ok but I really just wanted the pice of fish. The beet salad was good. My husband ordered the mixed grill and of the three pieces of meat he said the lamb chop was the best. His salad was a joke at $7.00. My father had cioppino and his wife clams spaghetti. They both seemed to enjoy their meals. The wine we had was lovely and dessert was ok. I have to be honest and say I will not rush back.
(3)Troy L.
Had dinner here tonight, I would not go back again! I made reservations, when we got there they wanted to put us at a cocktail size table for the two of us. The place was at NO time full! I asked to sit outside and was told only high tops were available so we agreed, but there was at least two regular tables open the entire time we were there. Now on to service.... wait what service, it was not good. I ordered a drink, and that was that, I was never offered another one. The Cesar salad was lettuce and some cheese, that was it! The entrees where flavorful but very small! Everything is OVER PRICED! If you want a good Italian meal go to Nonnas Bistro on Leetsdale!
(1)Barb B.
Whew, I am exhausted. But to round out my weekend of trying new places, I need to review Locanda del Borgo. It could be brief which is probably good since I am long-winded. In summary this is a very nice restaurant with a widely varied menu, and above-average execution. I highly recommend the lamb chops. The spinach ravioli with short ribs is tender, creamy, and very rich - I'm glad I tried it but I wouldn't order it again. The atmosphere is cozy yet sleek. A bit on the loud side but seriously what place isn't. The service is competent. I would go back because there are so many items on the menu, and many of them sound great, so I'd like to try a few more items. This is definitely no Olive Garden, and to me that is a good thing!
(4)David M.
Good neighborhood spot with honestly made Italian food. Service from Heather was enthusiastic, prompt and friendly. She forgot the extra anchovies for the caesar and didn't bring sugar for the cappuccino until asked, but those are small complaints to her generally 4-5 star service. The food, however, while made with fresh ingredients, wasn't 4-5 stars. The caesar was completely undistiguished: the dressing barely could be tasted. And what is a caesar salad if not mostly about the delicious (but gently applied) dressing? The fritto misto was well made, but came with only an ounce or two of marinara. The wood oven grilled ribeye was the star of the night, properly prepared and served with a delicious porcini mushroom sauce. The half order of ziti came with the mozzarella and a simple, but good, marinara, but the advertized basil was nowhere to be seen. A young montepulciano was a reasonably priced decent wine that went well with everything we had. Finished with a well made cappuccino and a middling chocolate/hazelnut tort (that did have a finely made crust). All-in-all, a good but not great meal. The cost was $100 + 20% tip. Would I go back? . . . Only if I happened to be in the area and didn't have other plans. Pro'lly to check out the gnocchi, since I'm always searching for a great version of that dish. From the other reviews I've seen, it appears that people are generally a little more impressed than I've indicated. So should you give it a try . . . ? My answer? . . . Hmmmmmmm, maybe.
(3)Art H.
If you like pretension then this is the place for you. Entrées are sans salad or anything else so everything is à la carte. The salad will add another $8 or $10 to your bill. There is no happy hour and cocktails are $10. I was afraid to ask how much a beer cost. The meal was served with bread. I guess the most disappointing part of the meal was being asked if we wanted more bread and it never came. I would rather you not even ask if you cannot follow through. Will never go back.
(2)Chloe G.
Amazing food, great service, nice atmosphere. This place is everything I wanted. The beefsteak tomato salad was DELICIOUS. Everything was fresh and the portion size was on point. The in-house made fettucini was amazing as well. It has sausage and the sauce is not too heavy. The waitress was knowledgeable about the wine list, which is always a plus. I will definitely be suggesting this place to friends.
(5)Steven B.
I stopped in about a week ago with my grown daughter. Showed up a little early with an Open Table reservation and had no trouble getting seated on time. One note, the parking lot fills up quickly and then your option is street parking. It's a bit of a pain but doable. This place is beautiful, warm and comfortable. A nice wood fire was burning. Everyone chatting amicably and clearly enjoying their food. The wait staff at Locanda appears to use the team concept. Throughout the evening we were served by three friendly young ladies. Unfortunately the service was a bit off. There were two or three times when we felt just a bit neglected. Not enough for us to get angry but enough to keep me from awarding four (4) stars. Now for the food. My daughter had the Orecchiette pasta with house sausage & rapini in a spicy sun-dried tomato pesto with aged ricotta. She loved it. I sampled it myself and it was delicious. I had the Ravioli Special which was the Spinach and Short Rib Ravioli in a Cream sauce of some kind. OMG, it was to die for! If I was just rating the food and atmosphere I would award four stars in a heartbeat. They need to square away the service but the food is so great that I'll be back.
(3)Alison M.
Authentic Italian at it's best! The servers and bartenders are knowledgable and will help you with anything you're unsure of. The calamari is perfect! We've eaten everything from risotto and lamb chops to the bass and arrabiatta pasta special. Everything is delicious! The manager and owner are both Italian (as in born and raised in Italy) and are clearly dedicated to making this an authentic Italian dining experience. The gelato and limoncello are even made in house. Don't miss out on this fantastic restaurant with an unpretentious vibe!
(5)Andrew S.
Awesome place for lunch or dinner. Reccomend to anyone looking for cheap options along with expensive possibilities. Food came very quickly and service was superb. The corn chowder is amazing. I also reccomend the ceaser as part of the soup/salad combo.
(5)Michelle S.
Went here tonight after a very long day at work and a craving for Italian. I've heard good things and kept thinking I wanted to try it out and figured tonight was the night. Parked in the little lot and walked in noticing many empty tables inside (the patio was packed). We were seated after 2 minutes when the hostess told us that she needed to print off more menus. Ummm ok....whatever. We sat down with one menu that was well loved. 3 minutes go by nothing happens. 5 minutes go by still nothing happens. 7 minutes go by and some guy goes by and gives us water. 10 minutes go by and still no server (keeping in mind that there are people floating around and while it's somewhat busy someone should have stopped by our table.) 12 minutes go by and I throw in the towel. We get up to go and the hostess looks at us confused so I say we're leaving, no one has been to our table since you seated us. She goes "but that never happens" to which I reply "unfortunately it did happen no one even gave us water until 7 minutes at the table" and she stammers something out while we're leaving. No mention of getting a manager or trying to keep us to stay. I don't know if it was an off night here, or if we looked too young our out of place or if service is usually terrible but I was bummed to be leaving because the menu looked great. Will I be coming back here? Probably not...which is a bummer because who doesn't love a neighborhood restaurant?
(1)Jeff J.
Overall, our first experience at Locanda del Borgo was awesome!! We dined at 6 PM on a busy Saturday night, and the food was excellent and the service very attentive. Our server assisted us with selecting a wine from their extensive wine list, and we were not disappointed at all with what we chose. Our meals arrived hot, and the highlights were the Fettuccine dish with fresh sausage, the sauteed spinach, roasted corn chowder, and the Tiramisu - DON'T MISS THE TIRAMISU!!! The only negative aspect of our experience was the table we were seated at; the restaurant was not full when we arrived and the hostess seated us at a 'tall' table near the bar. She asked if the table would be OK, and we said no (it's hard to sit at a table for 60-90 minutes with your feet dangling). So we asked for a lower table, as there were several open. She proceeded to tell us they were all reserved and that the tall table was the only table available to us. If that was the case, then why did you even ask?? Next time I make reservations, I will be sure to request a standard table away from the bar. Table issue aside, we had a wonderful meal and great experience, and can't wait to return to try some of their other entrees.
(4)Jennifer B.
Italian with hopes going forward. Went to Locanda del Borgo on a Friday night. Had to wait 5 minutes for a table but was seated timely based on reservation time. Took a little while for waitress to great us. Once order was places we were told bread was coming. After 10/15 minutes and we requested additional drinks the waitress said she would bring the bread right away. A little lacking in the service department, but they kept to their word and brought the bread with EVOO and Balsamic. We had the Braciole for the Appetizer which is beef stuffed with Romano cheese, pine nuts and herbs braised in a tomato sauce. This was amazing. The portion was perfect for two. You could see the pine nuts and the flavor was great. For the entrees I had the Orecchiette pasta with house sausage & rapini in a spicy sun-dried tomato pesto with aged ricotta. This was an incredible portion and had an aroma from Italy. If you could eat the air it would have tasted amazing. I ate about half and then took the rest home. My Dad had the Ravioli Special which was the Spinach and Short Rib Ravioli in a Cream sauce of some kind. Looked absolutely spectacular and that one was the perfect entree portion. Overall a good experience but was lacking the good service. I would definitely go again to take my chances Locanda is reading this review and knows they need to be more attentive. If they were, they would have received a better rating from me and from others from what I read. Recommended for a nice cozy Italian dinner. Just watch out for the service. :)
(3)Ari C.
Put at a table next to the door out to the patio. Every time the door opened a cold gust of wind hit us. The nice server got tired of relighting our candle that got blown out every time the door opened. Totally ruined a pretty mediocre meal. Told manager about it when he came by and all he could do was apologize, but offered nothing at all more to make it better. He did stop by when we were leaving to ask how everything was besides the breezy cold table...kind of like "Beside the gunfire, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?" Pretty clueless. Amazing how little comfort or entertainment you get for hundred dollars (for two). Not worth going out of your way for.
(1)Matt M.
I came to this restaurant with high hopes given the great write up in Westword calling Locanda "Best Neighborhood Italian." Walking in, I saw a classy place with thematic lighting and stylish design. The seating area itself is quite narrow but space seems to have been maximized. I made a reservation on Open Table that afternoon anticipating the Friday night crowd. Needless to say, the host informed us they were a few minutes behind. We watched as 3 separate parties that came in got seated ahead. Given the aforementioned narrow interior of the space, there is NO proper waiting area making for a very uncomfortable half hour to follow. We continued to wait as regulars strolled to the bar. Frankly, our uncomfortable wait made us feel like the restaurant housed an environment of an exclusive club that we weren't quite in. 30 minutes later we were finally seated... A runner promptly brought us bread and oil to dip in. Albeit the bread wasn't warm, it was fresh and satisfactory. We were warmly greeted by our server. From here, our service improved tremendously. We experienced a tasty meal-- I got the linguine while my friends enjoyed a pasta dish with veggies. The portions weren't gigantic but the pasta felt authentic and the environment was a serene and enjoyable. Overall, I wish our initial experience upon entering Locanda del Borgo was as positive as the latter half. If they could properly and promptly revise the way they handle reservations vs. regulars, I would definitely consider returning. Until next time!
(3)Erin S.
So you know the cartoon where a bear is so hungry, that he looks at a table and all of the sudden the table turns into a huge plate of food with lines of deliciousness coming off it? Yep, that happened. So my mom and I came here last night for my birthday dinner upon her recommendation and man am I glad she did. This place was pretty damned awesome if I do say so myself. We had a 6:30 reservation, and were seated immediately. This is a really cute little place, very dimly lit, and not overly decorated. Our waiter was really nice and attentive without being over bearing. We started with the Parma Prochutto which was awesome. The prochutto had a great flavor made even better with a little bit of fresh ground pepper on top. You can't really go wrong with kalmatta olives and artichoke hears either which accompanied said meat. It was a great start to what turned out to be a fantastic meal. We placed our order and here is where the meal came together. I ordered the Ricotta Gnocchi and my mom the Lamb Chops. Ummm yea lines of deliciousness everywhere. The Lamb Chops were fall of the bone tender with a really good flavor to them. They come 3 to a plate with some other vegetables that I am not sure what they were, but my mom was loving them. The Gnocchi was, well, just WOW! They were little smooth savory bites of awesome with a creamy ricotta sauce and some bacon thrown in for good measure. If I had been anywhere else I totally would have liked my plate. It was that good. We ordered tiramisou (sp???) for desert and they comped it for us. While I am not a huge sweets/desert person, this was hands down the best I think I have ever had. It was so smooth and creamy that I was kind of sad when it was gone. I could have eaten another one with no problems or guilt. I really enjoyed my meal last night especially with the company I was with. I would definately come back and check out some other items on their menu if they are just as good as what I had last night. Go! I don't think you will be dissappointed!!! Ciao!
(4)Stephanie L.
Delicious! I was searching for someplace different in the Cherry creek area when I saw Locanda Del Borgo participating in Restaurant week, I didn't realize it was East of Cherry Creek until I reached the destination, The venue is one that I have passed by so many times that I was amazed that it was the place I picked for Dinner. I walked in and was so pleasantly surprised that this was my choice, yes I was blind dining for the sake of charity! The bar sits right in front as you enter just beyond the hostess station and it is nothing like I had imagined, great dark wood and even a television to grab the game. Just past the bar area is the dining room nestled with tables and a view of the kitchen. This gem tucked away in this neighborhood just off the beaten path suits both young and old. During 5280 week there is a special menu of course, I choose the three course meal, salad of blood orange, fennel, Frisse, toasted pistachio & feta cheese to start, I cleaned my plate and wished for more it was so refreshing. It was followed by porcini and chard wrapped roasted veal, served with butter/sage gnocchi, which by anyones standards by far the most mouth watering part of the meal - the gnocchi just melted in my mouth! Lastly, I completed my gastro feast with Panna cotta with fresh mixes berries. the sweet custard was just what was needed to complete my lovely meal at this fantastic dining find. But the highlight of my night was watching the patrons stop by and say their thanks for a luscious meal to chef Giancarlo Macchiarella, as he sat savoring the success of another wonderful evening over a glass of wine at the bar. As gracious as the surroundings so was chef Giancarlo Macchiarella and I was so delighted to have met him. I hope you all have the opportunity to stop and check it out for your self! Cheers!
(5)Heather H.
Menu is diverse enough for a casual dinner or a fancy, romantic date. Food was delicious and nearly as good as the food we had in Italy.
(5)Dave B.
Warm and friendly atmosphere that was exactly what we wanted on a Saturday evening. We were welcomed immediately by the hostess and told that the wait would be about 20 minutes. So, we sat at the bar and had splits of bubbly. The restaurant was packed and we given an outdoor-style patio table and chairs. That actually made me happy as the patio chairs are very comfortable. Very good service from our waitress and delicious food. Osso buco was cooked to perfection with a tasty tomato sauce. All-in-all, an enjoyable dinner. It is good to see a local restaurant thriving.
(4)W R.
The menu looked good online, but going in was an experience I could've done without. The restaurant was not busy. The server got us the water quickly, yet we had to wait a long time for bread. We thought it'd be warm having waited that long, but that wasn't the case. The meatball appetizer sauce tasted like tomato soup. We ordered mussels and clams as well and had a clam that did not open. My wife's mozzarella in her ziti dish was ice cold. Our main server was inattentive at best. I do not have this restaurant on my list to return to.
(1)Denise M.
Ate here with a large group on a Sunday night for a celebratory dinner and absolutely loved it. It has a very low-key, homey vibe. Our waitress was friendly and was great about offering suggestions, filling glasses, pouring wine and being extremely patient when kids wanted to order on their own. "I do it, I do it." We had a nice pinot noir, not sure which one. At our table people ordered the veal special, a Capricciosa pizza [the one with an egg], the shrimp risotto, the flat iron steak, the lasagna, the pork chops and the spinach ravioli. I had the ravioli and loved it. There was just the right about of stuffing in the pillows and the ravioli itself was very light. Delicious. Each person raved about his/her choice of dish. The pork chops even received a "possibly the best I've ever had" comment. The servings are nice sized without being obscene. I think the only doggie bag we left with contained a little pizza. We split the tiramisu and a panna cotta. I'm not a panna cota girl but the tiramisu was delicious and both desserts were quickly eaten. The next time I'm in Denver I'm going to request to go back!
(5)Aileen D.
I decided to bring my brother here for dinner on one of his visits to Denver since I'd always wanted to try this place and I was desperately trying to ween him off the Olive Garden. He was surprised he enjoyed dinner, being a severe reverse snob. The decor and space was warm and inviting as was the service. The fritto misto was lovely - I picked out all the veggies and scallops before my brother could devour the whole thing. We ordered the gnocchi and lasagna. The gnocchi was fabulous - smoky, creamy goodness. My brother didn't quite enjoy the bechamel sauce of the lasagna but I thought it was very good. For dessert, he ordered his standby of tiramisu which redeemed the restaurant in his eyes. I loved everything and will definitely come back.
(4)Carol E.
Twice I've been here since moving from the East Coast. Fabulous is all I can say. Lively crowd. Delivers great service. Not overly attentive. Manager is friendly & chatty. Very welcoming. Clams Linguine~ stellar Chicken Milano~ fabulous Brescola~ tender Salads totally fresh. What more can I say. Thus far the best Italian food since I landed in Denver Not 5 stars because I haven't hit some of the more notables
(4)Emery L.
This place is great. Yes, it may feel like it's a neighborhood spot for some reason that means it isn't a destination for folks outside of the 'hood...well it is! Get on your bike, your skates, in your auto and get on over there. I guess these are themes for me. High quality food, casual approachable atmosphere, knowledgeable staff. And it is solid time after time. They cook over hardwoods that come in by train (i think anyway). What's cooler than that? Sit at the bar or get a table but get over there.
(4)Too S.
Kicking myself for not finding this place sooner! Plenty of comfortable seating and a great patio area. Great wine list with reasonable prices by the glass and bottle. I didn't love the bruschetta appetizer but the frito misto was fresh and not over fried. Service was attentive but not overbearing. Mushroom risotto was cooked to perfection. The spinach ricotta ravioli in a basil cream sauce was full of flavor without being too rich. Perfected portions, I had to stop myself from licking the bowl clean. Their salad specials are big enough for two to share. We splurged on the tarimisu for dessert and the flavor was textbook to what we had in Italy. I can't wait to go back and discover more!
(5)Jeff R.
A really solid restaurant. Food was delicious and nicely presented. Overall very good, just slightly overpriced.
(4)Rachel G.
I selected this restaurant as a place for my family and I to meet for a nice Sunday dinner. My family has a long history with the neighborhood and I was happy to see such as nice locally owned restaurant thriving in the area. The service was great and the atmosphere was very quaint. I loved the way that you could see the kitchen and their wood burning fireplace. The food seemed to have lacked that certain oomph which would have given it a 5 star rating but it was still very good. Everything was very fresh, flavorful and the portions were just right that you are not overfull when you complete your meal. This is a great place to catch up with a few friends over a bottle of wine and a nice meal, especially now since their patio is open.
(4)Jeremy K.
Locanda Del Borgo's "House Sausage with roasted bell pepper" dish was listed as one of the top dishes in the city by Denver magazine, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5 (out of 10) Price: $12 The Skinny: "Locanda del Borgo" in English translates into "Inn of the village". Yes, I looked it up. The name certainly fits, seeing as how it's located in the residential part of Cherry Creek - steps away from what I imagine are homes containing stroller-pushing moms and husbands with Bluetooth where ears used to be. The restaurant itself is semi-chic in a minimalist way - stone floors, brick walls, shining silver, wide open and dark. Just the kind of village spot to order some authentic Italian with a glass of wine. After my first couple of bites, I really wished I had that wine. Maybe it would make me forget about the charred-to-hell outside of the sausage. It was carbon city. They should have served it with a grille scraper. Yeah, the inside of the sausage was good and juicy, but nothing could take my mind and tastebuds off of the awful casing. After taking my knife and running it down the side of the sausage, painting my plate black, it was redeemed to average. I will say this, though - the service was excellent. I ordered a pizza to go, and since my hands were full, the waiter took the time to leave the restaurant and walk to over it to my car. Above and beyond what I generally expect. I've got a picture of the burned bastard up on the blog in my profile jko
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