Cafe Jordano

This family-owned Italian restaurant has been around a long time, and the homey comfort food represents it well. It’s located in a small strip mall in Lakewood, Colorado, but seems to have plenty of room, which filled up quickly during the dinner service. Plenty of free off-street parking in the mall lot, which was a great convenience. Upon arrival, were waited a bit to be greeted, as the front desk was visiting some seated customers, but once greeted was shown to our reserved table even though our party was 100% complete. Service overall was quick in the beginning, but once the restaurant filled up, our server seemed to disappear for long periods and refills were a bit of a wait. Thankfully, the bus staff were all very attentive. Complimentary bread and oil/balsamic were on the table to start and once ordered the dishes were served hot and presented nicely. All were a nice representation of Italian flavors, Chicken Parmesan, Grilled chicken two ways, and an order of the daily special, all the entrees came with a simple side salad or daily soup. The standout was the light white sauce that was with the grilled chicken entrees, light and rich for the pasta and a great consistency to use the bread to soak up the excess. The portions were good too, with many of taking leftovers home. Overall, the timing of the service was a bit slow, but the food was very good, and it would be worth a return visit. Tips for your visit: To avoid a possible wait, try arriving a bit earlier for dinnertime, and for a quieter atmosphere, the add-on room has a nice space between tables.

Turns out I’ve known the owner for over 38 years. We met when we were waitresses a couple different places we worked in downtown Denver. Every time I come to town I have to try to catch her, most times I don’t, but I still go and eat the food. The place has many pictures of her family history and her as a baby in Italy. Her restaurant has grown beyond comprehension. It’s good, beautiful and always reliable food. We had the sausage pepper, onion sandwich, and Bob’s favorite. I WOULD RECOMMEND

Cute family local restaurant in a suburb of Denver. The server was great. The dessert was great. I felt the Alfredo sauce was kinda bland. Needed more of a cheese flavor. It still nice place to eat.

This place is amazing! Food was great, service was excellent. Ambiance is typical of an Italian restaurant. We’re very surprised about this hidden gem on Jewell Ave (haha!) Will go there again when it’s not as busy.

Thanks so much to Selene that recommended me to come check the food at her job!! I love Italian food and this is the best place ever!! Everything tasted home made food I was impressed dish after dish! our server Paul was amazing very sweet and caring!! I would be recommending this place 100%!!

Café Jordano cannot be beat! We’ve been going here for many years. My mom and I always enjoy the polo Eleganté which is tender chicken in a cream sauce with mushroom. My best friend always gets Bob’s favorite, which is chicken in a cream sauce with asparagus. You can get the dishes, served with pasta and red sauce, or have the dish served over the plain pasta, which is really delicious. There is bread on the table for you as soon as you’re greeted, with oil and vinegar for dipping. The price is are on par with other restaurants.They serve Coke products. They have remodeled the eating area after they acquired the space next-door and it is very nice inside. Our servers are always excellent.

This is the best Italian food on the West side of Denver. Shout out to the owner who is a true Italian gem. I would also like to give a shout out to our waitress Debbie , who handled a large group with professional charm. It's not an easy task. I highly recommend.

We absolutely LOVE Cafe Jordano! I've been coming here since I was a kid and now I bring my own family here whenever I can. The prices are so reasonable, the portions so generous, and the quality of the food & service is top-notch. We love seeing Elisa and Jordan and the many other staff members who have been working there for years!

On a recommendations from friends we gave it a try Saturday evening. Meh, just average Italian food , expensive for what you get. Not likely to go back for a second visit.

Came here for an early dinner before my niece's play tonight. This was close to the venue, but pretty pleased that the place was really, really delicious! We all sat down and there was water and fresh bread waiting for us. Skipped apps and I ordered the tortellini alla panna (cream sauce, peas, prosciutto, and I asked to omit the mushrooms) my family all had different dishes. I was never my niece who had the kids mac n cheese (penne cooked I a parm cream sauce), my nephew had the rigatoni bolognese that he had two meatballs on top. As a side dish I went with the minestrone. Heidi was our server and she handled out large group very professionally, friendly, and quickly. Some needed boxes but I'll admit I did not. My pasta was that good! Thanks to the people here at Cafe Jordano. Good timing, good location, great food! Support small owned businesses!

This family-owned Italian restaurant has been around a long time, and the homey comfort food represents it well. It's located in a small strip mall in Lakewood, Colorado, but seems to have plenty of room, which filled up quickly during the dinner service. Plenty of free off-street parking in the mall lot, which was a great convenience. Upon arrival, were waited a bit to be greeted, as the front desk was visiting some seated customers, but once greeted was shown to our reserved table even though our party was 100% complete. Service overall was quick in the beginning, but once the restaurant filled up, our server seemed to disappear for long periods and refills were a bit of a wait. Thankfully, the bus staff were all very attentive. Complimentary bread and oil/balsamic were on the table to start and once ordered the dishes were served hot and presented nicely. All were a nice representation of Italian flavors, Chicken Parmesan, Grilled chicken two ways, and an order of the daily special, all the entrees came with a simple side salad or daily soup. The standout was the light white sauce that was with the grilled chicken entrees, light and rich for the pasta and a great consistency to use the bread to soak up the excess. The portions were good too, with many of taking leftovers home. Overall, the timing of the service was a bit slow, but the food was very good, and it would be worth a return visit. Tips for your visit: To avoid a possible wait, try arriving a bit earlier for dinnertime, and for a quieter atmosphere, the add-on room has a nice space between tables.

Amazing! Great food. My husband had the lobster ravioli and I had the chicken parm. Delicious! We did arrive at a weird in between lunch and dinner time so there was only 2 other tables so we got to listen to the gossip and lives of the staff speaking to each other but that is ok, it made it more family like. I would defiantly be coming back!

Turns out I've known the owner for over 38 years. We met when we were waitresses a couple different places we worked in downtown Denver. Every time I come to town I have to try to catch her, most times I don't, but I still go and eat the food. The place has many pictures of her family history and her as a baby in Italy. Her restaurant has grown beyond comprehension. It's good, beautiful and always reliable food. We had the sausage pepper, onion sandwich, and Bob's favorite. I WOULD RECOMMEND

Honestly, Cafe Jordano turned out to be pretty standard Italian fare. I came here with some friends on a weekday, and the place was packed. Mussels in white wine sauce: these were pretty solid, nothing special. Would probably get them again as the portion size was good. Calamari: pretty meh, these were very standard calamari and nothing special. Fettuccine Alfredo: this had a bit of a weird aftertaste to it. Probably wouldn't get it again. Limoncello flute: this was actually amazing. I loved the lemon flavor, and it reminded me of a lemon sorbet.

Solid family-style Italian place. I've gotten takeout and have eaten there. I would definitely say the in-person experience is better food-wise (but isn't it usually?). It's a bit too saucy for my liking, but again: solid Italian food. The service is great and the dessert is delicious.

Such a busy cafe for a Wednesday night! But, Cafe Jordano has cemented their spot in the hearts of many Lakewood residents and with good reason. Spot was open by the bar on the two-seater tables so, my friend and I opted to eat here and avoid the wait. Service to greet us was fast and friendly and we soon had our orders in. Salad is a typical side salad with a few dressing options; I chose Italian because... what else? Crispy greens and a single tomato- nothing fancy but, tasty enough. For my dinner, I opted for the eggplant lasagna. What a hunk of a slice this was! Covered amply with the cream sauce and mozzarella, I dug in to a soft, easy to cut bite and it was delicious. Very flavorful, and filling - dangerous because I ate more than I should have and that super full feeling hit me about 10 minutes later. But, I still had leftovers to bring home. Had a sangria as well- not on the menu so, just ask if you are craving one to see if they have any available. The only challenge of the evening was getting our dinners presented to us minutes after the salads were delivered - yes, not even half way through them and being at the small bar high top tables, we ate them by holding them in the air. Challenge accepted and conquered! Definitely worth the visit even in a busy night- the vibes are happy and staff is friendly. The popularity is earned!

Did our usual weekly take out. My husband is disabled, so we order out. Tonight the employees at Cafe Jordano seemed to be off. One server was behind the bar talking to the bartender about one of the customers who wasn't Caucasian. If I wouldn't have already paid for our food, I would have left then. She was clueless that there were customers waiting like myself or sitting at the bar. Shame on the server and the bartender. I prefer not to patronize places that blatantly talk about their customers. In front of other customers. And who had the bright idea of putting the salad on top of the hot entree. We enjoyed a hot salad. I know you can do better

The food and service was fantastic at this local restaurant!. I would highly recommend this restaurant!

My friend and I eat here about every 2 months for lunch when we're in the area. It's some of the best food I've ever eaten. I've tried several things on the menu, some I like better than others, but everything is incredible. The service is always great and the staff are wonderful.

This is a great restaurant right in our neighborhood. Too often we overlook it when trying to think of a place to eat but clearly it is a local favorite - always busy! Authentic and delicious Italian food with some unique offerings. Tonight I had the Buffalo Al Jordana - it was excellent! Our server Maria was super friendly and attentive (we've always gotten great service). We'll definitely try to come more often!

Okay we just moved to the area and my expectations for this little strip mall italian spot were not that high. But man oh man, was I wrong. The place is PACKED on a tuesday night, all families and friends who clearly come regularly because the pasta dishes are great, the drinks are great, and the vibes are great. It's not a high end joint, it's a sub-$20 pasta plate with generous portions and quality sauces. The staff are awesome, and it's absolutely a place I can see us becoming regulars at

Delicious food and cocktails. Great service and management. Only drawback is you'll want reservations. Wait times can be long otherwise!

I met my sister and niece today for lunch. They both ordered the special of chicken Parmesan with portobello mushroom ravioli with a Gorgonzola sauce and said it was delicious. I decided to order the chicken Marsala over pasta and for the first time in many years, I was disappointed. It lacked flavor and the chicken was a little tough. I always order another chicken dish and have never been disappointed. With that said, I've only had chicken Marsala twice before, once at a friends dinner party and the second time was at a Denver restaurant. Both dishes were delicious. I've chalked off this experience to a learning experience. The service and ambiance are always great and consistent.

NICE DINNER We had dinner at Café Jordano, a local Italian restaurant in the Lakewood suburb of Denver. Located in a strip mall, there was plenty of parking. It was packed on a weekday evening with families and a boomer crowd. Service was friendly. We shared the Fried Calamari ($14.50) and Pollo Cacciatore ($19.95) that came with a choice of soup or salad. We chose the minestrone bean soup. The fried calamari was a small serving that came with a plain tomato sauce. The chicken cacciatore was a generous dish - large thin slices of tender moist chicken breast in a red sauce with thin slivers of mushroom and slices of green pepper. It was a tasty dish but I felt it was not chicken cacciatore - I prefer a more robust wine infused dish made with chunks of mushrooms and bone-in dark meat.

Phenomenal Italian food. Standing room only all the time for a reason. Great food, great wine.

Waiter was kind but wasn't knowledgeable about drinks so I was mistakenly drinking my friend's drink for the longest time until I finally realized our drinks were switched despite him claiming it was the drinks we originally ordered. The food itself seemed like a hit or miss I liked my soup that was supposed to be a side more than the pasta he recommended. My other friends seemed to enjoy their dish though. Must be a conflict in taste. Other than that the atmosphere was cozy and staff was friendly/attentive.

What else can I say but amazing everything. Was welcomed in and it felt like I was at home. The place is so inviting. Service was fast and we were checked on often. Food was to die for. The marinara sauce is on anything is a must try. Will be back again and again.

Haven't been to this one-time family favorite for the past ten years, so was delighted to have a chance to go on this night. They've beautifully expanded since then... but the staff is every bit as wonderful as it's always been. And then there's the food. Oh my... Bob's Favorite (which has been husband's favorite for all those years) was every bit as good as it was back then. Upon our waitress' recommendation, I tried the Lobster Ravioli. Bam! it is so good. Their sauces marry the various flavors beautifully. Such a treat to travel across town to revisit our old-time favorite. We may be making excuses to get to that side of town, 40 minutes away, just so we can visit Cafe Jordano.

Our hosts took us there during our visit. It's in a strip mall which doesn't lead to outside ambiance, but you just have to get inside. This wonderful family restaurant is well worth patronizing! Service was quick, friendly and engaging. Food was absolutely delicious, everyone enjoyed their order. Prices very reasonable. About the only negative I can muster is I was not overly impressed with the wine list; but that's very subjective and may not be accurate for others. If you find yourself in the Denver area and like family Italian, you won't go wrong here!

Amazing food! I haven't had an Italian meal this good outside of my mom's kitchen! Everything that we had was mouth watering and tasted amazing. The sauce was great on all of the pastas. The calamari was perfect, lightly battered and cooked just right...so good! I loved the ambiance it was chic, fresh, clean that also has an old world feel. The old family photos brought the place a homey feel that brought a lot of warmth. The service was great. Everyone was so friendly and the food came out hot and fresh. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a meal that will not disappoint.

We went to Cafe Jordano on February 13th to avoid the Valentine crowd. is was 3:00 in the afternoon. There were two other tables besides ours so the restaurant was empty the service was horrible!! The server seemed frantic ask us what should I bring you next and apparently she was the owner or the daughter of the owner some how related. The food was cold we ordered Italian margaritas she brought regular ones and said this is what he made Seriously!!! if you knew it was wrong why not bring the correct order it was horrible. We won't ever return and after reading the reviews and a person posting they found a roach in their pasta that's a definite NO!!! Don't waste your money on this restaurant as it is expensive!!! Not worth!!!

Not a safe place to eat. I had dinner last night and ordered the soup. There was a small piece of shattered glass in my soup. They thought it could be from a wine glass. The owner was not nice about it. I will not go back! Just be careful eating there!

My wife and I had a great experience, wonderful ownership, awesome food. Pasta was amazing!!

Very good home style Italian food. Service is great. It is very casual yet nicely kept. Seems like a place you would like to take your grandmother. Been coming here for 25 years.

I've always loved this restaurant. If u have room try the round lemon ice cream thing!!! So good!

The dining area is very nice and the service was efficient and friendly. They have a bountiful menu and the prices are reasonable. Upon entering, the smell of pinesol was so strong it was overwhelming. We appreciate a clean restaurant, but the odor of strong cleaning chemicals really affects the appetite. The food was about a 6/10. Very sweet red sauce, mushy meatballs with too much breadcrumb and weak flavor. Very thin chicken in the chicken parm, bland fettuccine, lasagna with lots of pasta layers but next to no filling in between. The bread was really good. Thank goodness for that.

This a updated review of a great family owned and run authentic Italian restaurant. We have been a customer since they first opened. Food, service, ambiance. From the moment you greeted usually by the owner you feel wecome. The food is varied and we have tried many of the entrees and are never disappointed. Great adult beverage selection. Always see friend's family's enjoying a meal. We call Cafe Jordano our favorite.

Great food; the Sicilian lasagna and chicken Marsala were outstanding and the service superb.

Fantastic one of a kind restaurant! Service and food were fantastic! Not a fake, formula eatery. Just an independent restaurant owned by real Italian owners Ambiance is Italian courteous! One of a kind in Denver!

I can't see how this Restaurant has a 4 star rating. I would put Cafe Jordano up against any Italian Restaurant in Denver. Hands down one of the best I have tried.

WOW ! - blown away. Had dinner with a friend last night (Sat.) - expect a 40 minute wait but you will be overjoyed with the ambiance, the service and the absolutely tasty dishes: We had - Polenta Stack Bucatini Colorati Gamberi Alla Pomodoro Fresco Cannoli The plate presentation and the freshness of the tasty ingredients were on point. One of the best Italian meals I've eaten in YEARS accompanied with friendly and attentive service - they were absolutely bustling yet everyone in the place was beaming. Check this gem out during the week if you're not into waiting I would highly recommend it.

Café Jordano is the ultimate in comfort food. After going through some grief recently, I knew the one thing I needed to help me through was a good bowl of pasta to help me remember by loved ones. No question, I come to Cafe Jordano. Always consistent, delicious flavors that may not take the pain away but bring me to a place that feels like a warm hug. This team always shows up with warmth and kindness and I couldn't ask for more. Thank you to the team at Cafe Jordano for bringing a little light to the dark place.

Best Italian food in metro Denver. Clean, straightforward and good service.. One does need to go early. It's always crowded and they don't take reservations.

Get the mussels appetizers. It is so good! Mussels were fresh, large and cleaned properly. Sauce is incredible! Servers are kind and keep an eye on you so you're never waiting a long time if you need something - the busers work SOO hard here! The restaurant can get crowded so don't be surprised if you have a bit of a wait - it's worth it! Easy parking and just an overall great spot!

Food is great and service is wonderful. The Elegante dish and the Marsala is my favorite.

Best Italian around. Good service, drinks and food. I went when they opened and am still a fan

Been back here a few times and each time the quality of the food diminishes. As before, the place is packed -- if you are going to go, go early to get a table. Service is always harried, but efficient. Most recently the calamari was like eating a rubber band. Tough. Expect they have been frozen and flash fried. The Veal Parmesan special was tough as well -- think shoe leather. and there was twice as much breading as meat, then the same thick tomato sauce that goes on everything else in the place. I'm not a fan, but I understand why it is popular. Relatively inexpensive, friendly neighborhood place.

Food is fantastic. The penne, the lasagna, and the cannelloni was my fav. I had a mix of white and red sauce. Fantastic. Service was terrific, the server was great. Loved it, loved it, loved it! I'm from Vegas and will stop there all the time.

Went to dinner with my buddies last night. While we were parking the car, noticed there was a line outside the door. Said to myself, wow and this is a Tuesday. Either they are giving things away or this place is phenomenal. Raised in an Italian family, where everything was made from scratch at my home as a child. And this is exactly the same atmosphere I felt and tasted at Cafe Jordano. The woman greeter and seater was like I was back home in NJ with my Nonna (grandmother). She promised that we would be seated in about 15-20 minutes. So we hung in the bar area getting a little buzz attitude going down. Before we knew it, greeted again with a smile while ushered over to our table. Great waitress! So friendly, comforting and funny as well. Reading the menu, everything is uniquely styled for the particular entree. So it will take you 5-10 minutes to go through all the selections. I chose the seafood pasta. I wanted to have penne as my pasta rather than spaghetti. And red sauce rather than the white or olive oil sauce selection. "No problem", our waitress said with a smile. Since every dish is individually cooked to order they can mix and match to your hearts delight. By the way their house dry, red wine is good. Had another glass of vino and ordered the tiramisu. Homemade on premises. Delicious which my two other friends sampled and agreed. This first visit won't be my last. There are so many menu items that look delicious that I can't wait till my next trip back. This venue is a place that you will visit periodically to continue sampling other amazing selections. Thank you to everyone at Cafe Jordano for an amazing experience with wonderful selections. Thank you Wade for hooking us up with great scrumptiousness. Au Salute kids.

Fantastic food and service! Love the nightly specials. An absolute favorite of friends and family! Very accommodating of large groups too.

Service was exceptional, the Buffalo parm was very good. Great family atmosphere that treated us very well.

Visited Cafe Jordano for the first time and it was cranking! Made a reservation on a Friday night and I would recommend if you have a party over 6. Cute bar area to dine in as well. Enjoyed the Caesar salad and the entrees we had. Ambiance was loud but place was cute and clean.

Wonderful food, great portion sizes, friendly staff, nice atmosphere. We go here whenever we can. The owner is Italian. She is wonderful and very friendly. This is a GREAT place to go!

Family owned restaurant with delicious food and a nice atmosphere. Their cream sauces are fantastic.

My favorite Italian restaurant in Colorado. I've been coming here for 30 years, and it always delivers an amazing meal.

Less than stellar experience on this go-round. Our server was not very attentive to our table- had to ask for refills, etc. other large tables got their meals before ours even though we were ahead of them, and food was not as tasty as I expected. I'll try again and have a better idea of the experience for a future review update.

This is place is a hidden gem in Lakewood. I've lived in Lakewood for 10 years and didn't know this place. We went out as a family to celebrate my dad's birthday but I was only able to capture the appetites and my dish. The flavor was really nice and my seafood linguine was on al dente. There were lots of seafood on my entree and the mussels was super fresh and fatty. Typically a dish like this would cost around 25-35 depending on the place you go but it was around 20 if I recall correctly. I sample other dishes that my family ordered and all were very tasty. The only disappointment was the tiramisu is not as good as expected. It was too light and soggy for my liking.