Any good Italian Food in Denver?

[Scott & Kerry]

Howdy folks - we just moved to Denver and are looking for (a) a great italian restaurant, regardless of price, and (b) a good, cheap italian restaurant. So far haven't found anything that we'd consider really good italian food. Also looking for a good sushi place, though I hear that Sushi den is the place to go... Any help would be much appreciated!

[srflojo]

I am not an expect, but I do enjoy the pasta with the red sauce. A few places we have enjoyed over the years are 3 Sons off of Federal and 40 ish is old school, as is Patsy's on Zuni. Another nice choice away fron the chains is Abrusics (sp. ouch!)in West Denver of of Youngsfield by the Applejack liquor store.

[TNC]

Mizuna and Luca off 7th and Lincoln(?) are both fantastic high-end italian. Every time I've gone or sent someone there are rave reviews.

In Boulder there is a place off 30th and Baseline in the strip mall on the SW corner. Definitely not pasta and sauce place, has some very good lunches.

I would second the rec for Abrusci's out off I-70 and Youngfield. It's got nice pasta and sauce dishes, plus some more interesting things on the menu for some variety.

If you're in the north side of Denver there is a sushi restaurant inside of a different restaurant on the corner of 95th and Arapahoe in Lafayette. I think all the signs say Magnolia, and the sushi place is a footnote on all signage, but is always full. Has great fish, and doesn't have the 'look at me' factor sushi den does.

I can't think of the names right now, but in Boulder there are a couple good sushi places on the 16th street mall.

TNC

[hans]

The "place off 30th and Baseline in the strip mall" is Carellis. Very good without quite reaching the great stage; tasty and reasonably priced. Local owned and operated, always a big plus for me. Worth going to and probably falls in between the two types of Italian restaurants the OP requested.

[Scott]

Depends which part of town you're looking. My current favorite for both "best" and "good, cheap" - Vincenza's, on 44th Ave west of Wadsworth, in Wheat Ridge. (Not far from I-70, so fairly accessible.)

Downtown, I like Panzano, in the Hotel Monaco at 17th & Champa - not terribly pricey, but not cheap.

[stoshb]

Good, inexpensive, italian with good red sauce: Gatenao's NW Denver, 38th st.

Very good pizza, NY style: Virgillo's, wadsworth and Alameda

[ratuetuate]

I travel to Denver a couple times of year and the past few trips have included a visit to San Lorenzo Ristorante in Greenwood Village (I know its not Denver but the burbs) It's a small but sleek ' young mom and pop' - with the owners as Hostess and Chef you can't help but get personalized service. The menu shows some real creative flair - my last visit and future visits I'll just ask Chef Dallesandro to select and cook for my table.

[jcattles]

We've never had a bad meal at Pagliacci's. Off I-25 around 20th street. I love the chestnut pasta with italian sausage. Oh and the minestrone is wonderful. It's served with every meal in a big soup bowl for the table, be sure to get a side of garlic bread to sop up the leftover soup in your bowl.
http://www.ipagliaccio.com/