The Blue Parrot Restaurant
640 Main St, Louisville, CO, 80027
The Blue Parrot Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
640 Main St
Louisville, CO, 80027 - Phone (303) 666-0677
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
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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Stephen P.
It's decent for what it's trying to be, a casual classic Italian-American family restaurant. Want modern upscale Italian? Of course this isn't the place. First off, I'll encourage anyone to get the spaghetti to go, it's a great value for tasty homemade noodles! All homemade noodles have a distinct texture, the unfamiliarity of that breadiness is the only reason I can think of anyone objecting to that dish. Dining in loses a good bit of that value, and the inside of the restaurant doesn't provide nearly as much ambience as typical in places of this type (or as you'd expect, particularly with their new mural outside). The menu also gets a bit shaky in places, really nothing else as good as that homemade pasta. As others have said, salads were particularly poor by current standards. One bright spot was that service was friendly and efficient!
(3)Anna L.
Several generations of my family come from the Louisville area and they all rave about The Blue Parrot. I've been to this restaurant a couple of times as a child and remember liking it. I recently moved back to Colorado and thought I would give it another try now that I am an adult. I went with my boyfriend and neither of us were at all impressed with this restaurant. Here are the reasons why I don't recommend this restaurant: *Atmosphere: It's basically a diner, so that should have tipped me off right away. It smells a little bit like a hospital and most of the customers are local families, which means lots of loud children. It's definitely not a place to go on a date unless you're going for something really casual. *Service: Our waitress was very brusque and seemed distracted and flustered the whole time. Then, a miscommunication about our food occurred in the kitchen and three different groups of people who were seated after we placed our orders received their food and had left before we got our food. *Food Quality: It was not as I remembered as a child to say the least. It was bearable but not spectacular. I've made better pasta in my own kitchen. I could get better pasta at Olive Garden or the Cheesecake Factory. *Price: For two people to eat a basic dinner here was $50! We ordered an appetizer so that obviously makes the price go up, but we have eaten cheaper meals at much better restaurants. Those four strikes account for the four stars I have taken off in my review. Because of the poor atmosphere, lousy service, mediocre food quality and insanely high price to top it off, I give The Blue Parrot 1 out of 5 stars.
(1)Vicki B.
This is an old family restaurant. If you try to compare it to the other Italian places of modern day, of course it won't compare. It's an old town fixture and have been serving the locals for a very long time. Just because the interior looks shabby, it's because it is an old family place. Am I making my point?
(5)B S.
Disappointing. A coworker mentions this place every time I voice that I'm looking for a good local Italian restaurant, I tend to hold my colleagues in high regard, so trusted his taste and judgement. Off I go on a late lunch date with my girlfriend on a Saturday afternoon. Walking in to the place I was immediately impressed with the upscale looking interior, as from the outside it does look like it would 'feel' older inside. Unfortunately, this interior was simple a facade, for this was the bar, and not where we were to be eating. The hostess walked us past the beautiful modern looking bar room into the dining room. The room did not have the smells I've come to associate with Italian dining - Tomato sauce, basil, the faint aroma of wine. No, none of these wonderful smells here, only the odor mildew. Ok, I can deal with a slight odor, lets get on to the service and food. The menu has an origins story there on the front, but It was obscured by many splatterings of marinara sauce so I will never know the true story of how The Blue Parrot came to be. There was a little bit of everything in this menu, I thought it was funny that the hamburger was under "Steak and Shrimp" instead of the sandwich section, but I digress. I ordered the "Combination Platter" and picked 2: Gnocchi, and Cheese Ravioli. My girlfriend had the same, with 'Meat' Ravioli, and Lasagna. 3 minutes later we had our meals. Mine: A salad plate with gnocchi and cheese ravioli, a mug of marinara for accompaniment, a very pathetic looking meal. Hers: A salad plate with gnocchi and 'meat' ravioli, topped with lasagna, and a mug of marinara for slathering. The food wasn't bad, but I expected more. More presentation, more flavor, especially for $10.50 and $11.50. I did not try the lasagna, as it looked disgusting, but my girlfriend wants me to mention that the cheese was 'rubbery'. When I got to work on Monday, I asked my coworker about his experience with the Blue Parrot, and he told me he has never been past the bar. Which is where we should have stopped. Thanks Luis.
(2)James R.
We ate at the Blue Parrot before heading over to the street fair - most of the restaurants in the area were packed, but we were seated immediately. In hind sight, that should have been a red flag. The interior is shabby, it looks like it hasn't been updated in at least 15-20 years, but, we were willing to look past it - this place is a Louisville landmark, after all. A few minutes after we were seated, an overwhelmed waitress stopped by to say she'd be right over... A few minutes later, we repeated the exchange. We decided that if we had been sitting for 15 minutes without water we'd head out. At 14 minutes the waitress returned to take our order. We each ordered a glass of wine (the wine selection is exclusively brands that come in 1.5 liter bottles and retail for 12 bucks), a calamari appetizer, spaghetti and ravioli. The calamari was out in a few minutes, which was a little alarming, and, for the first time in my life, I had food on the table before I had a glass of water. Needless to say, the service left a lot to be desired. My wife's ravioli was cold, my spaghetti was OK, and they forgot our bread... Just as well I suppose. Entrees also come with a container of extra sauce, which was also cold, and was entirely unnecessary. I won't be going back to the Blue Parrot, and it's a shame.
(1)Rob C.
My partner and I checked this place out on a Saturday night. It was fairly dead when we got there. Now I can understand why. It looks like the newer generation of owners is just interested in the bar area and not really the quality of the food. We ordered two Blue Parrot salads. Pass on those and pay more for the mixed greens. The Blue Parrot salad was basically the ends of the iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots and red cabbage drowned in vinegar and oil. The bread they give you is average. It was fresh but nothing special. We both ordered chicken parmesan. The food arrived warm. However the actually parmesan was not melted in the oven. It was just thrown on as an afterthought. The noodles are definitely homemade and will stick to your ribs. Im not usually a fan of thick homemade spaghetti but thats just my personal choice. The pasta was good. It was cooked right. The chicken was just a thin patty. It might have been frozen at one point. What really made the meal was the sauce. It was delicious. They even bring you small jugs of it on the side. It was zesty not quite an arrabiata sauce but still had a nice kick to it. The ambiance is tired and old. The decor is sparse and dated. The wallpaper is visibly peeling away in the restroom. So there appears to be no investment from the current owners. Makes you feel like they just keep the restaurant open for nostalgia since this place has been open since 1919. We probably won't go back since downtown LoUisville has a myriad of new restaurants to try and this place could use some help. The wait staff was very friendly and on point.
(2)Kristen N.
I don't know too much about the history of this place, but it's my understanding that it's been around in Louisville for quite a while. I'm wondering if perhaps their glory days have come and gone? The BF, his two little ones and I all visited at dinner time on a Thursday evening and the place was pretty much empty. Not a good sign. The BF and one of his kiddos are vegan and getting the waiter to understand what that truly meant was a bit of a struggle. In the end, I'm not sure that we really ended up with vegan options. The sauce is just barely ok. Honestly, I probably like the stuff out of a jar a bit better. The eggplant parm was pretty sad and the kid's mac and cheese was pretty much just Kraft. I don't think we'll be rushing back.
(2)Martin B.
This is my first time ( lunch hour) and ordered a One person 7 inch pizza: my expectations were that would be decent but nothing that special, I mean a pizza is a pizza It was surprisingly excellent. It was more cheese than anticipated and extremely tasty. I can't wait to return here again In addition the price was excellent for this pizza $7.50 base price .75 each additional item Btw, my 4 stars often are others 5 stars. I'm a tough critic. I rarely give 5 stars.
(4)Chanel V.
FRESH FRESH FRESH Italian classics - from delicious minestrone soup to handmade gnocchi and house red sauce. The gnocchi were light, delicate, and smooth to the bite! Recipes tasted very homestyle like they were the original ones from the restaurant's 1919 opening! It's definitely all about the food here, not about the ambiance or decor (reason for the 4/5 rating) Ultimately, a good restaurant makes good food and that's what Blue Parrot delivered!
(4)Nory B.
I have never taken one bite of my dish and then asked for the bill, paid and left, but that's what my husband and I did today. We ordered the homemade spaghetti noodles with olive oil and garlic. We asked the server if we could add spinach ( they do have spinach as an optional topping for their pizza), but she said they don't really have spinach, they just pick thru the salad mix to get spinach for the pizza. I truly appreciate her honesty and solid service in such a depressing job so we left a 30% tip. The spaghetti came out as a pile of gray, square-shaped noodle strings that honestly looked like they had been extruded out of a Play Doh press. They tasted like mushy dishwater. I have never seen or tasted "pasta" like that. Needless to say, I won't be back.
(1)Jackie B.
The food was ok. Not the best, not the worst. The sauce was good, but I'm not a fan of chewy noodles. They ran out of croutons for the Caesar salad.
(2)Bryan H.
So I've eaten at this restaurant in three different decades and this one was the worst. Three sales was drenched with dressing and the "spring" mix salad was more like the fall or winter mix. My wife had the spaghetti with meat sauce, the meat was not to be seen or tasted and when we asked the server he said it was small strips of pork. HA. He's funny. I had the lasagna and it was tough, chewy, and rubbery. The meat was sausage and ricotta mixed together in between 1/8 inch thick slabs of noodles. To top it off it was cold and weren't offered options to make it right, just a quick comp and get outta here kind feel.
(1)Mark S.
Noodles were a little under cooked... shrimp was chewy...6 shrimp and a salad cost $16! Waitresses were very nice...
(2)Scott R.
This is not a fancy place. If you want a place that still uses Grandmas recipes and takes the time to make their own pasta, then this is the place for you. I no longer live in the area but try to stop by when I visit.
(5)Glen I.
I read the reviews and I can't believe what I am reading. The food at The Blue Parrot is real good. Their sauce is the best I have tasted and you combine this with their homemade noodles and you have a timeless classic. The meatballs are the best I have had, and I have eaten at some of the finest Italian restaurants in the USA. Where these people say this is a one star joint go back to your Spaghetti O's this place is not for you.
(5)Julie B.
Great spot for an inexpensive breakfast.
(4)Jamie L.
I just don't get this place. I want to like it. It's in a charming Olde Tyme downtown area of Louisville. It's a Family Owned Italian Restaurant. I REALLY want to like it. I mean, you read all these raving reviews from people who have been going there for 50 years. You see the sauce bottled and sold at Costco, for Pete's Sake. It must be great, right? Not So Much. Their salads, as noted in the other reviews, are sadly lacking. Dressing is right out of a bottle. Iceberg Lettuce. Carrot Shreds. Not much else. Oh, and it's EXTRA to get a caesar salad. Sigh. Their highly-touted handmade pasta? Thick, mushy, lacking in flavor. If you're going to make fresh pasta, please know you need to: 1- Salt the Water, and 2- DON'T OVERCOOK IT! Fresh pasta, even of this thickness (see photo) needs only 2-3 minutes of cooking. They really overdo it here. The Oh-So-Infamous Big Parrot Sauce? The stuff that Oldtimers rave about and that is sold in supermarkets? Bitter. That's it. No depth. No "Day Long Simmer" flavor at all. Speaking of Oldtimers: The only reason I can imagine that so many 50+ year fans of this place remain so is the comfort factor. Indeed, the interior most closely resembles a Dining Room at a Senior Living Facility. There are good points, though. Their bread. Oh. My. Goodness. It's sinful and perfect. (They must have it delivered.) I could make a meal on just that. Sadly, not much else.
(2)John C.
My family and I went to the Blue Parrot for dinner and left feeling like there were better choices available. The spaghetti was bland,the garlic bread was just buttered toast, and the atmosphere was lacking. I remember going to this restaurant growing up and it really seems like it has gone down hill significantly. For the money there are far better places to eat Italian food.
(1)Ben D.
Our family has had spaghetti with meatballs and sausage for over 40 years every Christmas Eve, and I start salivating for it immediately following Thanksgiving every year. I've never tried anything else and never intend to, it is the pinnacle of spaghetti perfection. The meatballs are huge, lean, and cooked to perfection. The sausage is deliciously spicy, I've never had better. I highly recommend ordering it to go, it is very affordable. Best enjoyed with plenty of wine, family, and friends.
(5)Rob C.
wow! we were sat waited 10 minutes & watch as two of the slowest waitress I have ever seen lumber around the dinning room not making eye contact on purpose. then a dishwasher ran out into the dinning room. as if to say you didn't serve the meatball did you? finally we got up to leave the waitress suddenly appeared & said & I quote "ahhhh I wasn't fast enough for you?" we saw her out back smoking as we turned the corner where we ended up at casa alegre 5 out if 5 stars! go there! on the way back to our car we say the same waitress smoking again this time in front. this place needs a restaurant intervention. it is just sad, so very sad.
(1)Zach D.
I have but one question: How has this place stayed in business for so long? I desperately hope that The Blue Parrot was better in the past with the original owner's, however if that is so, I feel the quality of the food died with them. I can't grade them on how they were in the past, however I can review them on my experience, and let me say that I wish I would've gone to Old Chicago instead of this "legendary" joint. To start, the service wasn't awful... but you would think that such a historical place as such would have a little better quality of workers. Several of the staff members looked as if they had just walked out of high school... wearing chains and listening to their iPod. You would think you could lower your "swag" for a few hours while you work and have respect for such a well known place. Now, to the meal: -CLASSIC COMBINATION DINNER, GNOCCHI & MEAT RAVIOLI (3)- Wow. I again am shocked that this place remains in business, as I could see a restaurant like this ending up on the Food Network show, "Restaurant Impossible". The gnocchi was hardly gnocchi at all, being very small and awfully flavorless. And for the meat ravioli? I would've experienced more flavor from a Chef Boyardee can... not to mention they were chewy and under cooked. I also ordered an Italian sausage link with my "classic" meal, and it was so dry and so over cooked that it literally made me choke. Oh, and the sauce? You guessed it... bad. There isn't much more I have to say about this historic restaurant, except that I feel bad for the original order's of this place, as The Blue Parrot is an embarrassment to Italian food. Do me a favor, go to your local grocer and purchase a frozen Kroger brand of ravioli. It will be far better.
(1)Bob S.
Had a big party 31 and was given a total with 920 and tip was 44% waitress got screwed by management. Tried to make it good $15 per plate and honestly should have been 8 for spaghetti
(1)Aaron N.
My family and I are out here on vacation and a local had told us to check out the blue parrot. I read the bad reviews on yelp and was expecting bad service and bad food. I was wrong. The service was friendly, personable, the owner even stopped to chat and welcome us. We had an amazing breakfast with great food, friendly/local atmosphere. Give em a try, don't listen to those haters.
(4)Andee H.
I seriously don't know what the hell we were thinking. This is what I knew. This restaurant has been around forever. They sell their sauce at Costco...I've seen it, but never had it. Pasta is supposably homemade. This is what I know now. I wanted to leave as soon as we came in the door. The place was virtually empty except for a few tables of folks over 65. Plus the decor was OLD and cafeteria like. All I can think about is how I can easily see this place on Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. Our waitress, a young gal, who was probably the best part of the whole thing was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. If you are going to charge 11 bucks for spaghetti swimming in 2 feet of oil and a caesar salad with absolutely nothing, but romaine lettuce and dressing. Of the two of us I got the better salad...Merle's salad was iceburg lettuce with several frozen disgusting pieces. I ordered the aglio e olio. It's normally one of my favorite things to eat. Came in a bowl filled with oil. So gross. Merle said it's one of the worst meals he's ever had. I couldn't agree more.
(1)Frank N.
I always look for the local classic, this place did not disappoint, a life long local sports hero gave me the recommendation . Thank you coach! Breakfast was served prompt, coffee hot. I had the two links and eggs with hash and toast. The links were made in the kitchen, just the right amount of spice. Our server and the owner were very hospitable and made us feel like regulars, we even got a Merry Christmas. We will be back for dinner , looking for some great Lasagna. Enjoy !
(4)Jason B.
Some friends of ours introduced us to the Blue Parrot with take out. The italian sausages are wonderful. The meatballs are delicious and the spaghetti is a very large noodle. The sauce is spicy and they give you a pitcher full of it with your spaghetti. I had the sampler with spaghetti, lasagne and cheese ravioli. The lasagne has a thick noodle in it, which I thought was good. My only complaint is that the ravioli were really small and if I had ordered the 6 ravioli as an entree I probably would have been upset. I had the tirimisu for dessert and it was excellent. It was a more custardy creation than what most places have with a dusting of chocolate powder on top. My advice is to stick to the basics here. Get the spaghetti and do not fail to get the sausages and meatballs, because they are the stars of this show. The complaints about the decor are all valid. Someone went FRP crazy in there. It feels like a mobile home. Very cool neon signs though. In fact if you like neon a trip to Louisville would suit you.
(3)spencer g.
Seriously, anyone that rates this above a one or two is in the meatball witness protection program. The food is nothing special and the place needs a remodel. How in the world does it stay open? Granted they have local nice staff, but the place is living on a legacy. Louisville has awesome places to eat. I would love to see the BP survive, but something has got to change. The breakfast is even boring. You never see a line there for a reason. Throw us a bone BP. Get a chef and crank it up. Downtown is packed and it aint for rope noodle. After 16 years in Louisville, just cant take it any longer.
(1)Erin T.
Incredibly disappointing. Not only is everything freaken expensive, portions are so small. I got a combination plate with ravioli(!) and gnocchi. I swear, the gnocchi was just normal pieces of pasta. Not potato-y at all! And the ravioli was really sad, there was like 1/16th tsp of stuff in there. On top of that, I felt like I was sitting in a senior citizen rec center room while I ate among a very interesting crowd (aka, they all looked like old tourists). The only saving grace about this place was 1) The marinara sauce was really good and spicy and 2) The people there were interesting to look at. I'm not quite sure where they got their recipes from or how this passes as Italian food in people's eyes. For the same price you could get a great meal at Olive Garden.
(1)Seth D.
Best Spaghetti in all of Colorado! Everything is homemade in the restaurant and is fresh! Love their spaghetti with Italian sausage. The sauce is amazing too!!! Highly recommend stopping in Louisville, Colorado just for some good Blue Parroti!
(5)Alia Z.
Came for dinner - tried their gnocchi with the tomato sauce and a meatball and their chicken alfredo. The noodles in the chicken alfredo were thick and yummy, the sauce was a bit runny. The gnocchi was fine, the sauce was REALLY good. It's a cheap place to get decent pasta.
(3)Banjo G.
The Blue Parrot is landmark restaurant that has been part of Louisville's history. It is shame because I would like to give this restaurant five stars but I can't because the quality of food and service has decreased. I came here with a group of 20 people. Two people in our party were not served until way after everyone else was served and/or had finished their meal. The waiter did not come out and explain that there was a delay or even apologize for the fact that was such a long delay. My friend's boyfriend who eats about everything and is a monster when it comes to food, left most of his Gnocchi untouched. My friend tried to pawn off her Shrimp Alfredo and a family member complained about their chicken caccitore being burnt. The waiter never asked me or anyone at our table if we wanted something else to drink or offer a refill. How disappointing! I guess you have to be careful about what you order here. I am only giving the Blue Parrot three stars because the Italian sausage is good and the homemade thick spaghetti noodles are also good. Next time, I would rather order out than have restaurant service here. I also know, now, that it is my best interest to only order the traditional spaghetti and not to order other menu items.
(3)Chrystal T.
There is very little redeemable about this place, they have decent homemade noodles beyond that for being a restaurant open for as long as they have 100 years? You can tell the food is stuck decades back. The spaghetti sauce is thin, not at all hardy so does not hold up to the noodles well, the salad is completely uninspired a bag iceberg salad with nothing else added, really just lettuce, bread was also pretty blah. So even though this place has history and been there forever does not mean it is good. Miss
(2)Brittany B.
This place is a classic! been going here ever since i was a baby! Delicious spaghetti, bread and salad
(5)John G.
Colacci's Blue Parrot has always been a part of my dining life. My first memory there was of a poster that dawned its walls in the '70s. It was of a young child with a spilled bowl of pasta on his head. It is a very apropos vision for this restaurant. You won't get phenomenal service, the plates & glasses might not have a Palmolive shine, the simple salads have WAY too much dressing & an obnoxiously large pepper and the place itself looks like Michael Corleone might walk in at any moment to put an end to Solazzo & McCluskey. You will, however, get a fantastic plate of pasta with the best homemade gravy (that's spaghetti sauce for the un-indoctrinated Italian) to ever cross your taste buds, a homemade sausage that has never been matched in all my travels and if you leave hungry, it's your own fault. The noodles are 1/8 inch thick and also...homemade. You can even watch the noodle sheets being cut! They will even provide you an ole' school wax paper bib. Top your meal off with a creamy bowl of spumoni. I love the pasta and have seldom eaten anything else but my family and friends say the meatballs and lasagna are also excellent. Very few people I have introduced the Blue Parrot to, my intentionally contradictory ex, have disliked this little jewel in Louisville Colorado.loyalty A true 5 Star...probably not, but it certainly owns my loyalty. Wes Parker "Eat your heart out bud!"
(5)Travis C.
Omg love this place. The spaghetti is so good and the meatballs and there italian sausage is so delicious. Even the salad and bread is perfect kick off to your meal. Great staff and bartender is always so friendly. Maybe ill need to eat there soon!!!!!
(5)Ginni T.
7:00 on a Friday night. Peak "going out to dinner" time, right? ONE server for the room we were seated in, and the poor gal was in perpetual motion every time she "stopped" at our table. Paul has been the bartender there for years and apparently took over as manager. Salad no longer comes with the meal. 99 cents for bagged salad with far too much dressing was too much! Medium spaghetti for $11.99 seemed excessive. I appreciate that the manager is trying to update the look and feel of the restaurant to be more competitive, but adding a pianist with an upright piano that needed tuning was not the way to go. Spaghetti tasted the same way it has for the 40 years we have been going there. Sauce has been watered down substantially. Meatball was flavorless although my dogs loved it. Chicken cacciatore has always been one of the best I have ever eaten. I feel bad for the memory of Tony Colacci. I will continue to go to the Blue Parrot for carry-out but am not inclined to dine in the restaurant again.
(2)Chuck R.
Call me a food snob, but our first time eating at this place (after eating pretty much at all the other places in Louisville) and I will not be going back. It needs a major renovation if it wants to keep up with the competition surrounding them. The floors were grossly dirty, every single wall in the place is painted blue with no decor on the walls, and the food was mediocre (if that's what they call gnocchi); the salad was bland; and when I mean bland - it was just lettuce, no other items in the salad. The bread came out cold served with cold butter squares. Overall the flavor of the food was not Italian. I'm not sure who owns this joint, but in my eyes it's not an Italian for sure. Not going back, and not recommending this restaurant to any friends or visitors.
(1)Ashley F.
I honestly do not see why this place has the right to say, "#1 since 1919". Maybe 1919 they were #1 when they actually made quality food! The sauce was less than ok, meatballs were very questionable (I think it was the left over parts of a cow), the parmesan cheese was so old! I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone!!
(1)Brandi W.
I grew up at this place. The thick homemade noodles and simple oil and vinegar salad are comforting and I love them. I will say that this is the place to come if you want spaghetti, meatballs and sausage....... but thats about it. I cant say much for the rest of the menu but the spaghetti has kept me and my family coming back for over 40 years.
(4)Amy G.
The service was fine, nothing special, but the food reminded me of a bad cafeteria. Not sure why this place is so well known...
(2)John S.
Please stop supporting this restaurant. There is much better food available almost anywhere else. Every time I drive by I cannot understand the appeal. The noodles are mushy. Sauce is flavorless. Bread might as well be croutons. I gave it two tries because some neighbors love it. I just don't get it.
(1)Dave C.
As a 12 year Colorado resident it was time to try to Blue Parrot, should've waited another 12 years because I can honestly say it was one of the worst meals I've ever had in this great state. We had such high hopes, every table was full, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, but little did we know they all must have drank the cool-aide because this was worse than a 2 day old can of spaghetti-O's. The pasta was terrible, the chicken cutlet was a fried stiff Frisbee soaked in sauce over more uncooked pasta. My wife couldn't even finish her ravioli and she loves ravioli. Even my 2 young daughters had troubles. I can't believe this place is still in business. I have to think that if McDonalds offered Italian food it would be better than the Blue Parrot. I'd rather had the McChicken Parmigiana than anything from the Blue Parrot.
(1)Mike A.
There's a pattern here. The people that advocate BP are skewed by "I've always e eaten there" nostalgia and loyalty. The truth is BP is vastly outdone by literally everything around it in Old Town Louisville. There are several significant eateries on Main Street and a burgeoning food scene. In general As other locals have mentioned the BP is an embarrassment and a missed opportunity. Would love to see this place find its soul, a new image, and muster some mojo. Good businesses thrive in Louisville, the BP survives with head scratching defiance. You want Italian in Down Town go to Zucca. Or drive to Via Toscana or Parma which are both excellent. You want wacky nostalgia about sub hospital cafeteria Italian served up inside the vibe of an old Elks lodge no need to hurry cause there's plenty of room for you there.
(1)Shalon A.
The only reason my husband and I went here was because we got a piece of mail awhile back from the Blue Parrot, asking for customers to give them a second chance, that they have improved. A living social deal came out so we picked one up and went in. I really wish we hadn't. We were greeted by a horrible smell in the dining room that neither of us could place. I actually had to dig out some strong smelling lotion out of my purse, put it on my hands and keep my hands near my face to keep from getting nauseas. We ordered (I ordered GF), our bread came out and they made a nice little GF roll, which was really exciting to me. Unfortunately, it tastes terrible, as if no one had tried it before they served it. My husband ordered the combo and couldn't even eat any of the meat in the lasagna because "it tastes like dorm food." His gnocchi wasn't even gnocchi and the sauce had no flavor except for lots of pepper. Our waitress receives a gold star as she was extremely polite and didn't put us in an awkward situation by asking us how the food was. It was like she knew. I would love to see this show on Restaurant Impossible, Robert Irvine would whip them into shape.
(1)Kelly M.
If it's a good homemade Itailan dish you want...this is the place..love the the food & great people that work there
(4)Katrina R.
I wish I could've given this restaurant a higher rating, but all in all it was pretty disgusting. Besides it's bland interior I tried to get past, I order the Vegetarian Lasanga. It was lukewarm at best, the cheese was chewy and microwaved and the waiter had to put an extra plate under it because the watery over salty sauce was leaking over the edges. The lasanga had no taste and I didn't eat more than two bites. Needless to say I didn't keep the leftovers when I got home. If you want better food, go to your nearest high school and order a lunch tray there. It'd be cheaper too. The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because the waiter was great. Probably because the food wasn't. EDIT: I took away the two stars considering the food again.
(1)Nick A.
Fairly good food and also fairly cheap. The sauce is very good and if you're a senior then I guess you get a great discount? I mean, it is quite a local institution and good on it for its years of service.
(3)Laurie W.
I love the Blue Parrot. It's comfort food, and I've been eating it all my life. I love the gnocchi. Little bites of potato-pasta goodness, drenched with their delicious red meat sauce and smothered with romano cheese from the shaker on the table. Delicious. And the sausage, I'll take a patty of that peppery meat any day! I also adore the huge, thick spaghetti. I love that it doesn't taste dried. I'll take a doughier pasta over a skinny spaghetti hands down. The atmosphere does leave a bit to be desired. But my grandma meets someone she knows at the Blue Parrot every time we take her. And I'm ok with that. They've all been going to the same restaurant for years and years. And it's good. I agree, grandma!
(4)Jim W.
This place packs 'em in on the weekends and I don't get it. I've only eaten here once and I didn't think it was any big deal. Maybe the thick, pasty noodles are an acquired taste. I actually went in the one time I ate here to get a pizza. They don't have pizza. It is an Italian restaurant right? The atmosphere struck me as hospital cafeteria or something.
(2)Katie S.
We were at the Blue Parrot for a family function on 6/20/12 and had read the reviews here on Yelp before going. We ordered a round of the Parrot platter appetizers. It was a hodge podge of fried things, most of which were mushy and unappetizing. Everyone at the table ordered a salad, it wasn't too bad, a pool of water at the bottom but not too bad. Based on the reviews I ordered the spaghetti with Italian sausage and my husband ordered the Italian sausage sandwhich. The spaghetti noodles were ok, the sausage was good. For the sandwhich they sliced the sausage open and placed it open faced down on the grill overcooking the sausage, he ate the sandwhich but wasn't thrilled about it. We had also ordered a few PBRs from the bar, we are well aware that PBR is a cheep beer but it smelled funny and was flat. We will not be visiting this restaurant again.
(2)Jeff L.
I like the thick noodles. The meatballs have never been good and the atmosphere needs to be updated. A classic iconic restaurant that needs new life.
(2)Chris P.
Having lived in Boulder County since 1993, every couple of years I give the Blue Parrot a try hoping that things have changed. Alas, having dined there again tonight I am sad to report that the dining experience has remained negative. Some lowlights: I have had better salads at the Country Bufett (not a compliment) The wine glasses are extremely small Both the Chicken and calamari my daughter and I had were very dry Wait service and attention were subpar Decor was subpar Pricing was way above the dining experience I think that after all these years this may have been my last visit :(
(2)Dominique R.
I can't help myself...out of boredom last night I read through people's positive comments on this restaurant and couldn't help but laugh...A LOT...OUT LOUD. Someone mentioned that people that didn't like this food probably had never had authentic Italian food. I just want to shout out to him and say "PLEASE PLEASE TAKE A TRIP TO ITALY. Or even New York would do. PLEASE." And then let me know if you'll still respond that way. Anyone that likes this place MUST have the palette of a 5 year old. I'm sorry.
(1)Alston A.
Just bad, bad salad, bad sauce, the ravioli clearly came from a frozen package. The atmosphere is like eating at an old folks home, and the service isent anything impressive. It seems like a good idea, but really, go somewhere else, anywhere else.
(1)Jim B.
Read all of the reviews, so last night my wife and I thought we would give it a try. Will never go back again. For starters, you have to walk through a bunch of smokers standing right next to the entrance! I know some cities have ordinances that you must be at least 25 feet away. Guess Louisville doesn't? The place wasn't too crowded. Service was prompt. My wife ordered iced tea and spaghetti. I ordered the house Burgundy. It was ice cold, like just out of the refrig. She hate those wide noodle, if that's what you call the pasta. No taste, sauce bland. I had the combo, ravioli and lasagna for $10. Wow, three ravs, and what appeared to be a small lasagna that you would find in a Stouffer's single package. I hate it because I was hungry. We got the h out of there as soon as possible. Both of us had stomach aches last night, which I never do get. Too many good Italian places in Boulder County to ever try this one again. Yeah, maybe I'm a snob being raised in Chicago and eating realy, homemade Italian!
(1)Alden C.
This place is legendary for its pasta and it deserves that reputation! Nice family owned place has great Italian food, not quite the same as the Italian food that I had in Little Italy in Boston but the home made food is sure hard to beat!
(5)Todd T.
Look at my other reviews, you can see that I am generous. The places that I love, which are many, get 5 stars and incredible reviews. I wanted to like this place. Even after seeing that it had poor reviews, I said "I'm still going to give it a chance. Any locally-owned place that's been open for this long has got to be good." I was wrong. Oh, how I was wrong. The food is downright nasty. The spaghetti noodles were mooshy. We're talking nursing home texture. The flavor was nasty. The food was nasty. Granted, their dinner rolls/bread was ok, but everything else was nasty. Did I say nasty yet? Funny because they can their sauce and sell it at Costco. Avoid it. Don't go to this place. The poor reviews are here for a reason!
(1)Christi S.
Two small words are all I have to tell you... "Don't Go!" Please just... don't go. Seriously, don't make me beg. Another reviewer stated that The Blue Parrot had "Stouffer's like lasagna"... such a kind person they were because even THAT is way too generous of a comment for what they dared to serve at this "historic" restaurant. The "lasagna" (as I will loosely call it) was cold, unseasoned, had thin, runny sauce that was devoid of any taste whatsoever. Why this dining establishment has reportedly "survived" all this time I will NEVER EVER understand. Who keeps returning to actually spend their money and dine here??? The sauce was worse than something out of a Chef Boyardee can, my child's pizza was ADMITTEDLY "the little frozen Red Baron things, or something". Yes. Yes that was what the waitress SAID to us. The utensils and plates were dirty... I had to send them back for CLEAN ones. Lastly, the service... well... I think the fact that our server openly admitted we were eating something easily obtained out of a box at the local supermarket.... well, I feel that speaks VOLUMES about the time and effort this place takes for their paying customers. Thanks, Blue Parrot... you've given me one LESS choice for eating in Louisville.
(1)Betsy W.
The worst Italian food I've ever had The restaurant is a dump and needs a good cleaning and major makeover
(1)Elizabeth T.
I've been eating here since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I guess since it was the first Italian food I've ever had it set the bar for me. I have never been dissapointed with the thick, homemaed spaghetti noodles. I also love the gnocci; so buttery and yummy! The meatballs are flavorful and not too dry. I just love this place; it feels like home.
(5)Brooks W.
If you like feeling unwanted and invalidated for having needs/wants as a customer, this is the place for you. Food is perfectly average. There is something about this being authentic to old town louisville that lends a certain air to dining in this place.
(1)Phil M.
I've been going there since I was a little kid. It's so good. I really only get the take out. Call ahead and it will be waiting for you. Love the thick noodles and the meatballs!
(5)Ian J.
Overpriced and underdelivers. Portions are small for the price. Meatball sandwich is 1 meatball cut in half on 2 pieces of bread for $7. Rediculous. I won't be back.
(1)Alyssa W.
The noodles are homemade and delicious and staff are very nice, but that is where the good part stops. The alfredo sauce tasted like it was from a jar and the shrimp were way over cooked. Plus the amount of food for the dinner price was less than a proper lunch amount. The bread was nothing special either like it should be at an Italian place. Overpriced for what you get.
(2)Ashly C.
Sadly I created a yelp account within an hour of exiting this "restaurant" to warn others of my experience. I was expecting homemade Italian comfort food but instead was served nursing home/hospital grade food out of plastic baskets. I wish I could say something nice about the interior or service, but I got nothing. I strongly suggest Chef Ramsey visit this place and help them out.
(1)Allison S.
Hands down the worst food I've ever eaten in a restaurant. I'll agree with the other reviewers on the "middle school cafeteria" description, but I think I would have prefered my middle school cafeteria to this place. Really, really terrible food. Service, surprisingly enough though, was great.
(1)L R.
This is some of the worst restaurant food I have eaten. I would never go back. My daughter even said the applesauce tasted like glue. Save your money.
(1)Steve W.
I've lived in the Boulder area since 1969 and The Blue Parrot has been around since I can remember. I went there with a friend recently and we both hadn't been there for over 15 years, but the food was still awesome. It's Italian comfort food. They hand-make the pasta (it's the super-thick kind) and the secret is the sauce and the super-dense meatballs. It's family-owned and they have a bar for you business-types. Two thumbs up from me!
(5)Anna B.
Husband & I went for dinner tonight and he already feels sick. The food was terrible, completely bland and tasted as though it was frozen and barely reheated. The garlic bread was completely devoid of garlic. The server had to come back 4 times, I kid you not, to get our order figured out. I'd save my 12 bucks and go to The Empire or the Waterloo down the street.
(1)Michael O.
love it, expensive but worth it. I grew up in Boulder, and have been eating this family's food since I was old enough to remember. My first choice for spagetti.....
(5)Ryssby R.
One word- gross.
(1)Jack G.
I grew up in Longmont and one of my favorite memories was of the Blue Parrot spaghetti. We used to stand in line at the back door with our pans to get large portions to take home. I took my family in a couple of years ago for spaghetti and it still is the best... Jack
(5)Brad M.
Some of the best Italian spicy sausage that I've had! I like the thick pasta but it's not for everyone. Minus the sausage, their food is so-so.
(3)Andrea G.
We were driving through Louisville and decided to stop at the Blue Parrot for a late lunch. Wish we had checked yelp first, but I guess we were thinking that any restaurant that has been around this long must be good, right? Plus, how hard is it to make spaghetti? Apparently, quite hard. Overcooked, too thick noodles topped with bitter tomato sauce or bland alfredo, not a meal worth noting. The dining room is very senior citizen home, which might explain why we were the youngest in the restaurant by 20 years. A few tables over we heard a few guests complaining about the food, including one who said he has been coming for 45 years and said that the quality has gone down quite a bit. Service was nice, the waitress was helpful, and the bread was fluffy and white, but don't bother stopping here. There has got to be some better options for italian in Louisville - even if only an Olive Garden.
(1)D W.
The food was horrible. It arrived cold with no taste. Don't Go!! If you're in Louisville, drive by quickly and don't even slow down. The only thing good was the service. The waitress was very nice but I am sure she doesn't even eat there.
(1)Fallon V.
Well, I had a first during my first visit to the Blue Parrot. I walked out before I had anything. So, this review isn't about the food but there's something to be said about being so turned off within the first 5-10 minutes that you decide that there is no way the food is worth staying. I don't know what I was expecting but I know I wasn't expecting to dine in a nursing home especially on date night. So, we hightailed it out of there and ended up at the Waterloo which was great and you should read my review on that if you are thinking of heading down to main street.
(1)Matt J.
Place smelled like a old folks' home, and food was not "comforting" at all, in fact, my wife ended up sick for a few days....never going back...
(1)Sturm B.
Come on guys... there is something really cool about the only restaraunt that has survived from when Louisville had 1200 residents until now, when it has over 40k. Sure, the sauce is hit or miss, but it is always god ol' comfort food. Thier home-made pasta is awsome, and you can take it home and put whatever you want over it. Thier meatballs are second to none in the world. When my family first started coming here, I was in grade school and Louisville was still a sleepy little hamlet with an ANTI-CHAIN restaraunt municpal code! It was so cool! You couldn't open a freakin' RubyChillabies or a McDonalds. When they did away with that law, the Colaccis died, the Blue Parrot went from a thriving hotspot to yesterdays news, and Karen sold Karens Kitchen to make way for Applebees, Ruby Tuesdays, Outback, McDonalds, etc. The town's downtown died. Nothing good came from it. As a result, the northern Denver suburbs are a wasteland of chain begotten CRAP. You have to drive to Denver or Boulder to escape it, with the exception of Blue Parrot. One of my friends who grew up in Louisville used to go to Blue Parrot with his cross country team when he was in high school to "carbo load" before major races... Blue Parrot wouldn't take thier money. How cool is that? Yes, they have hit or miss nights, but they make good old fashioned Italian-American comfort food, and I for one will be back for seconds. Slightly acidic sauce, blue cheese dressing that you can only get in old-school pasta joints, little water glasses made of gold tinited glass... I hope our kids are so lucky.
(4)Pashley C.
I found the food too salty and didn't enjoy my visit.
(1)Keith H.
Worst meal I've ever had. My chicken was way overcooked and dry. It also tasted more like Chinese than Italian. The lasagna was bland and hard. The sauce was also bland and lacked spices. Overall it was worse then eating a frozen dinner. Service was also lacking.
(1)Matthew B.
I can't believe someone else used the phrase "middle school cafeteria" to describe this place. It fits the bill perfectly, and it's a phrase I've been using about this place forever. I think it gets that name from those of us who have grown up in the Boulder Valley School District being served Blue Parrot pasta sauce on top of completely overcooked noodles in middle school because our parents would have rather bought the "hot lunch ticket" than given us the $2 to buy Bruno's Pizza and be cool like the rest of our friends. This place has never been that good, I suppose the only reason you would willingly go to this place is to order the WOP Burger so you could tell everyone you've had it.... and even that isn't that good. Pretty much this place only exists because Louisville natives feel the need to keep this place alive by occasionally visiting and "paying their dues." - Not worth the trouble.
(2)Adam T.
Wow. Just wow. THE single WORST food-related experience I have had. Ever. The food was disgusting, and over-priced. We somehow managed to spend nearly thirty dollars on white bread, 6 raviolis and a 1/2 order of Stouffers like lasagna. Actually, Stouffers is a lot tastier. The raviolis were clearly frozen, not to mention tiny. The first tip off should have been when we arrived and someone had smashed a piece of lasagna into the floor, and the waitstaff continued to walk over it. NO one stopped to clean it up, although so I didn't puke, my husband eventually did. Homestyle italian, though - I thought I would give it a chance. We were so wrong. I am amazed this place is in business. It is NOT ITALIAN FOOD - it is gross food. Please - if you don't want to waste your money and simultaneously throw up - DO NOT EAT AT THIS RESTAURANT!!
(1)Charles H.
This restaurant may be World Famous, but it's infamous in my book. Horrible food, poor service. Their spaghetti sauce reminded me of a school cafeteria. I think it was beef, but I wouldn't put money on it.
(1)Alannah B.
I really have to marvel at the horrible reviews this place has received. Since several reviewers weren't specific at all about what they found so offensive/gross about their experience here, I'm not sure where they are coming from but I definitely don't agree. Some people seem to have just not enjoyed the food, or had a bad experience, which is valid, but I have never had one here myself. First of all, I don't go to The Blue Parrot for a fine dining experience. When I want some homemade pasta that's something different from your run-of-the-mill chain Italian restaurants, I eat there. The food is definitely not extraordinary but it's solidly good and inexpensive. They have several vegetarian options, which I appreciate, and I have tried most of them. I found the gnocci a bit disappointing and only tried it once, but I've had the cheese ravioli, the spaghetti and the alfredo several times. The alfredo is generally too rich for me so I usually just stick to the regular spaghetti. The vegetarian sauce isn't chunky or spicy but I think it goes well with the noodles and I like it quite a bit. I ENJOY the small iceberg garden salad they include with every meal (and my husband doesn't eat salad so they give him a small bowl of cottage cheese). It's not fancy but it tastes good, and the ranch dressing is awesome. The generous portion of bread included with the meal is homemade, and fresh. I've been coming here for 10 years and have never had a bad experience, either with the food or the service. The wait staff is personable, friendly and attentive. The food is fresh and consistent and I've never had an order messed up or anything that didn't taste good. The decor isn't fantastic but I am not someone who generally cares about that. The only negative for me is that the two dining rooms are very open and when there are family groups with kids it gets loud pretty quickly.
(3)Chris B.
I can't say that this is the best Italian food I've ever had but when I'm in the mood for something besides the "chains" (Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill, etc.) this fits the bill nicely and it's usually cheaper. I agree that the sauce isn't fantastic but again, it is good. For me their sausage is the best accompaniment to the spaghetti.
(3)Samantha M.
I love The Blue Parrot. My family and I have been coming here since I was a little kid and its still my grandfather's favorite restaurant. Yes, the crowd is a bit on the elderly side and the decor is lacking, but the homemade thick spaghetti noodles are delicious. They offer take-out too, so its also perfect for family dinners at home. The breakfast is amazing - get an Italian omlette (spicy sausage, mozzarella and eggs) or the french toast. Also at breakfast you can substitute a side of spaghetti - yummy! Its not fine dining italian, but it is wholesome and good. (For fine-dining go to Zucca just down the street)
(4)Elmo G.
Maybe it is a nice place for the older set, I just can't do it again, just too old and too much like the nursing home. Sorry but not for me. I do support the WOP burger thing.....
(2)Dustin G.
This is something of a Louisville classic, and has been around for ages...and I mean ages. The Blue Parrot definitely has its own style and flavor, there is no doubt about that; it even bottles its own pasta sauce for sale elsewhere. What this place does right is give you a lot of food for decent prices. Nonetheless, the quality of the food reminds me more of middle school cafeteria than it should. The salad even consists of iceberg lettuce, carrot slivers with a huge side of ranch. Unfortunately, this place didn't live up to its hype.
(3)Amanda W.
The Blue Parrot doesn't really make great Italian food, but there's just something about their big, fat, homemade spaghetti and softball size meatballs that will call to me every so often, and I just have to get a bucket of spaghetti to take home with me. The restaurant has been around since 1919 and they still have old-timey prices. Got love it!
(3)Scott P.
I think the others are off base and while this is not 4 star cuisine it is worth the trip. The food is in the hard to find "Italian homemade" style with thick noodles that have never been dried, the sauce is rich and thick but not acidic at all. Sure, the décor is old but it is not cafeteriaesque but rather harkens to what it must have been like to dine there in the 60s. This place is alright and I'll keep coming here driving in from Boulder.
(4)Madam F.
my meatball tasted like dog food... the worst dining experience in the last 10 yrs. we walked across the street and had wings instead. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. TERRIBLE! :P
(1)Dan N.
Yes, I'm a fan! Who doesn't love spaghetti & meatballs, lasagne & garlic bread? For years, I've spied those Blue Parrot spaghetti sauce jars at Costco, but never tried it. My girlfriend has regaled me with stories of meals past, and a family member who worked there. Up for a try, another couple joined us for a field trip to Louisville. Yes, the place could use an updating, it's fixed firmly in the 80's decor-wise. But then, ambiance is not why you go here. It's the homemade pasta, sauce & meats. Nothing fancy here, just good, basic, stick to the ribs Italian. Don't go for high end cuisine, but do go for a nice, inexpensive meal, especially if you are carb-loading :)
(4)Lauren B.
Our family has been enjoying The Blue Parrot for the last 30+ years. My kids are third generation patrons. We've spend birthdays, anniversaries, celebrated the birth of our children there, etc... Over the last 5 years, the business has gone down hill. It's a heart breaker. The prices have gone up considerably. The facility shows signs of decay-stained menus, stained ceiling tiles showing brown leaks, and filthy carpets. Unfortunately, the quality of the food as gone down as well. We've struggled with soggy, brow, wilted salads, stale, hard bread, and limp, damp appetizers. The sauce is still, hot and delicious though. The servers make the best effort they can, but it's obvious the haven't been trained-not checking in, refilling glasses, clearing random plates, etc..
(1)Chris A.
Their spaghetti and sausage is a must have! Add some cheesy garlic bread to compliment their homemade noodles. I recently tried their chicken parmesan sandwich which I enjoyed. Wait staff was very friendly. Also sat on the deck which was relaxing in downtown Louisville.
(5)A L.
This place is nothing fancy, yet there is something so great about it. The furniture could use an upgrade as it's been the same since before I was born over 25 years ago, but the food is simple and I keep going back. I have the best memories of going to the Blue Parrot after CU football games back when I was growing up - and the food has not changed a bit. The homemade thick spaghetti noodles and sauce (with no frills) is just plain tasty. Don't come here if you want to be impressed and want something beautiful to look at it - but if you want an awesome traditional italian meal that is dirt cheap and gets the job done - this is the place for you! I hope Blue Parrots makes it for many more generations to come. Very family friendly!!! (especially if you have small children as there is a playroom)
(4)Nick T.
I love this place! Just had a family lunch today, Paul the owner/manager helped me put a pre fix menu together so I could host my guests, it was awesome! I have been coming here since the early 70' as a kid and the homemade pasta, sauce and sausage link are as flavorful and consistent as ever. I love the new mixed green salad, the cherry peppers & warm french bread are a great start to the meal, and the blue cheese dressing. ....OMG so good! Thanks again Paul & Staff for another memorable foodie experience!
(5)Jessica B.
Great food. Grew up eating here. Meatball recipe has changed a little bit from what I remember but still great family style food. I love that we can get the sauce in the grocery store. Smooth and spicy perfection! The thick noodles are great! Yum!
(5)Steve T.
Candidate for Resturant Impossible! Horrible presentation, seen better at the soup kitchen. What wasn't right from the Cisco Food Catalog? I know they say the spaghetti noodles and gnochi are homemade. The cat food meatball was as dense as they come. Time to loose those recipes. Please think think twice before entering/eating.
(1)Randy R.
Only giving it one star as that is the minimum. Had a large party dinner there last week. No AC working is lower level. Using the handicap ramp going down rubbish along with an extension ladder stacked along the ramp. When leaving lights for the ramp either not working or turned on. Complained about sauce bring to spicy was told that sometimes happens when using from bottom of barrel WTH. Ordered the cannoli for dessert worst ever had Don't waste your money here
(1)Tom C.
The homemade spaghetti was ok. The homemade sausage had certain taste I couldn't figure out. It has a family friendly atmosphere! I don't recommend.
(1)Joseph B.
If you are Italian, know an Italian or ever had a bowl of pasta and gravy, stay far away from this place. Although I've never had any food there resembling an Italian meal, they seem to live off a reputation they had maybe 50 years ago and the fact that there are not many Italians in the area and people who know what Italian should taste like they manage to thrive. Bottom line is the food is not good, go to Via Toscana instead.
(1)Michael C.
Amazing food, all hand made, the poor server got slamed but always checked on us same with the bartender, most all of there food is hand made defiantly worth a trip, idk why some of the people on here keep downing it I had no issues with staff at all
(5)Abby Q.
My boyfriend and I got dinner to go from here the night before the Bolder Boulder to load up on carbs (I will use any excuse I can to eat way too many carbs). We didn't realize there was a specific room for to go orders and walked into the front of the restaurant. This place seriously needs to do some redecorating, or dedicate their business solely to take out orders. There was one table of people dining on a Sunday evening. We ordered a combo dinner for two which included lasagna, spaghetti, bread, and salad. Their spaghetti noodles are just about as good as it gets. They're delightfully thick and doughy and just the right amount of sauce clings to them. Everything else left something to be desired. Their lasagna was very 'Meh', the bread was dry, and the salad was scarecely more than some iceberg lettuce tossed with a watery vinaigrette. The one saving grace was that they offered this much food at a pretty decent price. All of that put me out about $30.00. I can't say I'll be running back anytime soon, though it might remain a tradition to get just their spaghetti for dinner before the Bolder Boulder.
(2)William D.
My family has been coming to the Blue Parrot for decades. I wish I could say that we come for the food, but it's mostly about tradition. If you decide to give it a try, the cheese raviolis and meatballs are good but both dishes need lots of marinara sauce for flavor. I've never had "astronaut food" but I bet it's similar. It tastes like something your mom or a friend's mom would concoct on a whim when you were a kid. "Who wants Italian!" It's akin to a "home made" pair of pants. All this being said, give it a try for yourself. I know a lot of people that absolutely love the food. And I'm going next week...
(3)Steve W.
Have come here for many years. This is an old fashioned spaghetti place in Louisville started by Italian immigrants who probably came here for the now long gone coal mines. The food is not gourmet or celebrity chef but it is good and tasty and reminds me of a time gone by. When we were kids we would bring a pot over to be filled with spaghetti I'm sure you can still do this
(5)M S.
The WORST Italian place I have ever been to. Brown iceberg lettuce is their excuse for a salad. Waitress even admitted it was straight out of a bag. There were no tomatoes, no other vegetables that even resembled a salad. *The Italian bread was sliced from what tasted like a stale, store bought loaf. *The meat lasagna was just ok...my son ate it because he was hungry and didn't want to waste my money, not because it was anything he'd write home about. *The spaghetti and marinara was a bit tastier. *The decor is from the early 80s with the wait staff dressed slovenly in ill-fitting, undersized t-shirts. *There is no fresh Parmesan cheese. The powdered variety hanging out on the tables has probably been there as long as the decor has been around. I do not recommend anything about this restaurant for anyone with five viable senses. The business model sucks; the founders would roll over in their graves if they knew what a chintzy place the Blue Parrot has become. It's clearly not about quality as a whole when providing over-prices foods to the public.
(1)Sienna S.
My mom took me to Denver as her companion on a family trip. We toured all around, going to the old favorites. They went here when she was a kid. The decor may not have changed much, but there is a reason it's still here after all these years... It was delicious. Home cooked goodness. Larry, our server, was funny & accommodating. The place was packed on a tuesday night. Gnocci & sausage was vert tasty & the eggplant parmesan was a hit!
(5)Margaret C.
Years ago when I worked at StorageTek on the swing shift, this was one of the main go-to places to get take-out food for our hardworking team. That was in the 80s. I remember the Blue Parrot food being quite good then. It's not exactly bad now--from my recent experience and observations I get the idea they are really an old-school place resting on their laurels and they don't think they need to change with the times. But really it would help immensely if they did evolve at least a little bit. Standard American-Italian fare. Doughy thick regular pasta. Nice gluten-free pasta choice...kudos for that! Vegetarian sauce was pretty good. No music in the dining room. Acoustics helped to make the sound of the other diners eating super loud and clear. When I asked about the possibility of music I was told there was none. Stark atmosphere. Clean though. Salad was made with that kind of cut and bagged iceberg lettuce mix from Sysco or some such place. Not particularly impressive. The Blue Parrot could do so much more & be so much more.
(3)Ann S.
This is by far the worst restaurant I have ever been to. I wanted to try this place since it has been around for some time and form my own opinion. I deeply regret doing that! It was absolutely horrible. In fact a co-worker visiting from out of town went there a few weeks ago and said the same. I told him I would have warned him about how terrible this place is!!!
(1)Lesli E.
The reviews of this place are spot on. Horrible service, horrible food. I had pasta Alfred and the hubby had chicken pram. The noodles were flavorless and large. They kind of looked like small intestines. The sauces were flavorless to match the noodles. Grated parmesan cheese? I ordered cabernet and the waitress asked what flavor. Red? At least they had Mondavi on the menu. But wait, they only had one glass left. When I ordered a second, she brought out a half glass and said they were out. It's really a shame because this place has so much history.
(1)Alexa T.
If the homemade noodles have you wanting more of a fine dining experience, then this is probrably not the place for you. However, the workers are personable, and the resturant has an old town feel. Based on their menu history they have since early 1900s. Great wine selection. Ordered the eggplant parmesan which is very thinly sliced almost rubbery but good flavor. I ordered the spaghetti which comes with bread and butter... so so. If you are looking for a home style simple fill up, come on down.
(3)Mongo E.
I don't know why people complain about this place. It is what it has always been: a little Italian joint in a quaint little town serving basic, hearty Italian fare that is consistently delicious. From hand-made pasta noodles as thick as soda straws to rich thick red sauce that you can never get enough of, this place is a local gem. I have eaten meatballs in Italian restaurants in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and even Italy, and the Blue Parrot's hand-made ones are better than any I've had anywhere. Sure, the menu is somewhat small, but that just indicates to me that the owners stick to what they know best--basic Italian fare that was originally designed to feed working families. I've been dining here since the late 1970s and recommend it to anyone who wants a hearty, hand-crafted Italian meal.
(4)Edward S.
This place sucked. We never ate, because the server never came out--too busy smoking out back. We WON'T be back, though we will return to La Casa Alegre, the amazing place next door who offered us 5 star service and an amazing Mojito.
(1)Lani P.
Been here several times and I have to say, though I'm not a fan of "fat" thick noodles, their tasty Italian Sausage is the "BOMB!" Oh my god, we always get several sausages to go on the take out side. Here's the lowdown: Spaghetti w/extra sausage - Sauce is meh, not impressed, noodles, to thick for me, but the Italian sausage is SOOOO WORTH IT!! Chicken Cacciatore - I love this, especially the little plump peppers in it. There sauce is more on the vinegar, but I love it like that. Yummy.. My hubby loves this place and thinks they have a great sauce, so he's always buying it at the store. Well he even agrees that their sauce is kind of a "hit and miss," thing, sometimes it's flavorful and other times it's not. But hey if you get enough Italian sausage, Oh man you don't need anything else!
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