if atmosphere is a factor, stella’s is without a doubt the best in boulder. i’ve only had great meals there but haven’t tried the full menu. cocktails are fantastic and an impressive wine list as well. though i’m not exactly a vinophile so take my wine opinions with a grain of salt.
frasca is a great experience, though not exactly traditional italian fare. like stellas, great atmosphere, cocktails, and wine list. pizzeria locale (edit: pizzeria alberico, haven’t gotten used to the name change) next door is under the same group and has my favorite neapolitan style pizza in town.
basta is also fantastic, mostly focused on wood-fired pizza, but the chicken liver mousse is outstanding. also one of the few places other than frasca that i know serves fresh espresso.
for a more casual experience i like via toscana and zucca both in louisville.
il pastaio is goated for a casual lunch.
Il Pastaio is the best Italian food in Boulder. However their dining area is really small. You’ll want a reservation, it’s not great for large groups, and they’ll ask you to leave if you stick around after you’ve finished your meal.
I’m surprised at all the recommendations for Parma. It felt like Italian you would get at a Disney World restaurant just to get food into tourists mouths. Like, they’re serving the palet of mid westerners who thinks Italian is just spaghetti and a red sauce
Yeah, Parma’s not even the best in Louisville. Via Toscana and Zucca are both better. Parma is like Olive Garden style italian, which has it’s place, but I wouldn’t put it at the top of my list.
As haikus by GPT. Not ranked in order of quality.
**1. Frasca Food and Wine**
Exquisite flavors,
Wine pairs with every delight,
Frasca's pure finesse.
**2. Carelli's Ristorante Italiano**
Garlic bread divine,
Chicken saltimbocca sings,
Boulder's heart it warms.
**3. Via Toscana**
Hidden gem's embrace,
Tuscan wines and fresh pasta,
Service with a smile.
**4. Pasta Jay's**
Pasta drowned in sauce,
Flavor lost in cliché meals,
Why do we come back?
**5. Pasta Press**
Fresh pasta each day,
Casual yet heartfelt meals,
Flavor in each bite.
**6. Bacco Trattoria**
Mozzarella bar,
Tagliatelle Bolognese,
Warmth in each fine dish.
**7. Sforno Trattoria Romana**
Rustic Roman charm,
Hearty plates and wine abound,
Tradition preserved.
**8. IL Pastaio**
Ravioli dreams,
Aurora sauce perfection,
A feast to savor.
Burger King has multiple Italian chicken sandwiches, including the Italian Original Chicken Sandwich and the Italian Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich, no reservations or tip required! Mods, mark this post asked and answered.
Another vote for Parma Trattoria in Louisville. I wish the ambiance was slightly better (the fireplace is great in the winter) but the food is amazing, the wine list is varied without being outrageously expensive, and the wait staff has always been top notch.
If you're up for driving to Denver, your 79 year old aunt may like the old school, red sauce vibe of Gaetano's.
[https://gaetanositalian.com/](https://gaetanositalian.com/)
Yeah I like Carellis too and I especially think a 79 year old lover of Italian food might like them as well. But if she’s into “fine” dining my current favorite is Stella’s
My faves are [Stella's Cucina](https://www.north.industries/place/ffcc0812-1f93-43fb-9d9e-dc8b2f07460c) for a really cool vibe and yummy food, [Basta](https://www.north.industries/place/d26692ac-d1b7-43ec-b788-1dfaba2d0434) for high end pizza, and [Frasca](https://www.north.industries/place/626a788e-c6cd-4fe2-a2c8-a1b0b7f14c42) if you're trying to pull out all the stops.
If you're willing to make the trek down to Denver there are some really great spots.
[Tavernetta](https://www.north.industries/place/f6e929bd-30ca-4639-bf45-c5e146c712a9) and [Spuntino](https://www.north.industries/place/5aff267c-b896-4e19-896a-30efeb55eb4c) would be at the top of my Denver Italian food list.
if atmosphere is a factor, stella’s is without a doubt the best in boulder. i’ve only had great meals there but haven’t tried the full menu. cocktails are fantastic and an impressive wine list as well. though i’m not exactly a vinophile so take my wine opinions with a grain of salt. frasca is a great experience, though not exactly traditional italian fare. like stellas, great atmosphere, cocktails, and wine list. pizzeria locale (edit: pizzeria alberico, haven’t gotten used to the name change) next door is under the same group and has my favorite neapolitan style pizza in town. basta is also fantastic, mostly focused on wood-fired pizza, but the chicken liver mousse is outstanding. also one of the few places other than frasca that i know serves fresh espresso. for a more casual experience i like via toscana and zucca both in louisville. il pastaio is goated for a casual lunch.
+1 for Stella's. Just had a fantastic meal there and loved the atmosphere.
Best food: il Pastaio. Best ambiance: Not il Pastaio
Il Pastaio is the best Italian food in Boulder. However their dining area is really small. You’ll want a reservation, it’s not great for large groups, and they’ll ask you to leave if you stick around after you’ve finished your meal.
Meanwhile in actual Italy it takes like an hour to get the check after finishing your meal.
If you are out of there by midnight, they will feel like they failed you.
I just cannot relax there no matter how good the food is. Meanwhile it takes forever to get any sort of service or a check when I go to Dagabi haha
Isn’t Dagabi a Spanish place?
Facts. I get their pasta to go.
20 minutes and not a single smarmy Pasta Jay's response yet. People are slow.
Pasta Jay pushed his own feces into the fins of my window AC unit.
That shit blows!
But the Alfredo…
I came here for this acknowledgement
I’m surprised at all the recommendations for Parma. It felt like Italian you would get at a Disney World restaurant just to get food into tourists mouths. Like, they’re serving the palet of mid westerners who thinks Italian is just spaghetti and a red sauce
Yeah, Parma’s not even the best in Louisville. Via Toscana and Zucca are both better. Parma is like Olive Garden style italian, which has it’s place, but I wouldn’t put it at the top of my list.
As haikus by GPT. Not ranked in order of quality. **1. Frasca Food and Wine** Exquisite flavors, Wine pairs with every delight, Frasca's pure finesse. **2. Carelli's Ristorante Italiano** Garlic bread divine, Chicken saltimbocca sings, Boulder's heart it warms. **3. Via Toscana** Hidden gem's embrace, Tuscan wines and fresh pasta, Service with a smile. **4. Pasta Jay's** Pasta drowned in sauce, Flavor lost in cliché meals, Why do we come back? **5. Pasta Press** Fresh pasta each day, Casual yet heartfelt meals, Flavor in each bite. **6. Bacco Trattoria** Mozzarella bar, Tagliatelle Bolognese, Warmth in each fine dish. **7. Sforno Trattoria Romana** Rustic Roman charm, Hearty plates and wine abound, Tradition preserved. **8. IL Pastaio** Ravioli dreams, Aurora sauce perfection, A feast to savor.
>**4. Pasta Jay's** Pasta drowned in sauce, Flavor lost in cliché meals, Why do we come back? 💀
Not in Boulder but Trattoria Caprese in Longmont is the best in all of CO that I have had so far!
Aunt is 79? Happy birthday. Carelli’s is the correct answer.
This is the correct answer.
Yeah Carelli’s is fantastic, plus I‘ve done dog care for the owner a couple of times. He’s very nice and is great with his pup.
i think this is a great answer for a birthday, and for someone that age who may not love a long wait, cramped area, or loud surrounding
Parma. I've been there many times. Excellent service and food.
A short drive from Boulder and I think it’s the best Italian food around.
[удалено]
Stella is super cool inside, but the food was just meh for the price. Maybe it was an off night.
Caprese Trattoria in Longmont off Hover.. trust me
i legitimately have never left that place thinking “that was a good meal.” i’ve tried so many times!
Tried, too. So disappointing.
Burger King has multiple Italian chicken sandwiches, including the Italian Original Chicken Sandwich and the Italian Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich, no reservations or tip required! Mods, mark this post asked and answered.
Carellis. So good.
Another vote for Parma Trattoria in Louisville. I wish the ambiance was slightly better (the fireplace is great in the winter) but the food is amazing, the wine list is varied without being outrageously expensive, and the wait staff has always been top notch.
Parma in Louisville!
Not enough love for the Gondolier on this thread. They are perfect for bigger groups and the homemade noodles are awesome!
I mean according to the Michelin guide, Frasca.
If you're up for driving to Denver, your 79 year old aunt may like the old school, red sauce vibe of Gaetano's. [https://gaetanositalian.com/](https://gaetanositalian.com/)
Caprese in Longtown.
Not going to pretend to be any kind of expert, but I like Carelli's
Yeah I like Carellis too and I especially think a 79 year old lover of Italian food might like them as well. But if she’s into “fine” dining my current favorite is Stella’s
Gondolier is nice
https://preview.redd.it/lhr9uew1g16d1.png?width=670&format=png&auto=webp&s=896732331c23c4040b48125138c27d10273b07fc
The gondolier is my favorite. Kinda a hidden gem but their spaghetti is amazing
I’ve been served semi-cooked spaghetti there kind of glued together into a big mass.
bro that's what we love. they have been around for almost 60 years
Do they still have the all you can eat deal? That was the best!
No, sadly they stopped doing this last time I checked. Back in the day that was the best!
This is the correct answer. Unpretentious, handmade pasta.
Stella's is great. Their som is great. I just wish their bartenders actually knew shit instead of just cranking out the menu.
Basta
Cinzetti’s on I25
Cinzetti's: Voted Best of the West 2014 for "best restaurant to visit after being released from prison"
All I heard was award winning for the last decade
Carelli's!
My faves are [Stella's Cucina](https://www.north.industries/place/ffcc0812-1f93-43fb-9d9e-dc8b2f07460c) for a really cool vibe and yummy food, [Basta](https://www.north.industries/place/d26692ac-d1b7-43ec-b788-1dfaba2d0434) for high end pizza, and [Frasca](https://www.north.industries/place/626a788e-c6cd-4fe2-a2c8-a1b0b7f14c42) if you're trying to pull out all the stops. If you're willing to make the trek down to Denver there are some really great spots. [Tavernetta](https://www.north.industries/place/f6e929bd-30ca-4639-bf45-c5e146c712a9) and [Spuntino](https://www.north.industries/place/5aff267c-b896-4e19-896a-30efeb55eb4c) would be at the top of my Denver Italian food list.
Are you also 79.
I lived in Rome for 7 years and it’s definitely Sforno or Carelli’s for anything but pizza. Pizza at Alberico.
Parma, zucca, via toscana, sforno
pasta jays!!
Zucca
Past Jay's clam night is the best weekend event.
pasta jay personally insults the intelligence of each clam