Lo Stella Ristorante

Italian restaurant · Civic Center

Lo Stella Ristorante

Italian restaurant · Civic Center

4

1135 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204

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Lo Stella Ristorante by @ExploreTock
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Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null
Lo Stella Ristorante by null

Highlights

Authentic Italian dishes like fish ravioli & cacio e pepe  

Featured in Eater
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1135 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204 Get directions

lostelladenver.com

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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1135 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204 Get directions

+1 303 961 2277
lostelladenver.com
lostelladenver

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 15, 2025

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@foodandwine

Where to Eat and Drink in Portofino, Italy

"A family-run establishment dating to 1850 and now in its eighth generation, located in the main square and celebrated for handcrafted Ligurian recipes. It’s especially known for pastas—mandilli served with authentic pesto alla Genovese is a highlight—while dishes like fish ravioli and risotto Stella impress; even simple traditions, such as dipping bread in the rosy crema di gamberi, evoke deep local heritage." - Kristy Alpert

https://www.foodandwine.com/taste-portofino-italy-8776736
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@exploretock

DENVER CITY GUIDE

"Lo Stella Ristorante is the oldest and most successful family owned restaurant operation in Portofino, Italy. It is one of the country's most renowned historic family owned and operated restaurants for more than 170 years. Now, The Golden Triangle in Denver is home to this historically famed Italian restaurant, led by the 8th generation family member, Alessandro Polo."

https://www.exploretock.com/blog/city-guides/denver/
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@eater

These Are Denver’s Best Italian Restaurants | Eater Denver

"The original Lo Stella has been a fixture in the Ligurian town of Portofino since 1850; eighth-generation restaurateur Alessandro Polo opened this satellite in the Golden Triangle in 2013 to introduce Denverites to the region’s coastal cuisine. Here’s hoping that he someday puts his focaccia del Recco or pansoti in salsa di noci (walnut sauce) back on the menu, but in the meantime, anything featuring seafood is the way to go, from fritto misto with sea bass and calamari to the tagliatelle with shrimp, zucchini, and saffron that Mick Jagger sampled during a visit on tour." - Eater Staff

https://denver.eater.com/maps/best-italian-restaurants-denver-boulder-colorado
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@eater

The Most Underrated Restaurants in Denver | Eater Denver

"A block from the Denver Art Museum, Lo Stella brings the authentic flavors of Northern Italy to the Mile High City. The family-owned restaurant’s other location is in the Italian coastal village of Portofino, and its specialties are a laundry list of Italian classics. Find veal ossobuco, homemade pastas in family sauces, pizzas topped in buffalo mozzarella, and beef carpaccio." - Rebecca Treon

https://denver.eater.com/maps/denvers-most-underrated-restaurants
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Tim

Google
This place was really good. We had the fish ravioli.. AMAZING.. Along with a yummy bread basket and shrimp pasta. We had a reservation to make things easier. I would definitely come back again for some more fish ravioli! I never think I’ll have fish ravioli anywhere else. Great!

Megan Kleckner

Google
This was a solid, traditional Italian restaurant. The menu is limited, so you know the dishes on there will be very good. The burrata and prosciutto appetizer was delicious and don't miss the tiramisu, some of the best I have ever had. I will definitely visit again when craving some fresh pasta.

Dr. Mia Su Cary she, her

Google
Highly, highly recommend Lo Stella Ristorante! The food was delicious including the Insalara Tricolored and the Ravioli de Pesca. The wine selection by Ralph, top notch as always. And the deserts? Divine. We shared the huckleberry tart and pistachio ice cream. Fabulous. I will be back!

Liz Gulley

Google
We went for the gnocchi flight and cacio pepe and had a great time! This was a good amount of food for 3 people (plus dessert and drinks). Our waitress was fantastic and we will definitely be back!

amir hoda

Google
All around great experience. Jake took amazing care of us. The food was delicious, nothing like freshly made pasta. Timing of food was perfect as well. The desserts are to die for, save some room.

Eric

Google
Food is absolutely amazing, did the gnocchi flight, tiramisu, and some apps. Service really steals the show though and Jake was amazing! 11/10 do recommend and will be back!

Monica Syeda

Google
Had a great time here!! The food was so good - the vodka sauce may be the best I’ve ever tasted. The vibes were so comforting and cozy and our server was absolutely amazing. She gave the best recommendations for everything and helped me pick out a great glass of wine and overall just started off our night great! Will definitely be coming back here.

Tiffany Morgan

Google
Such a wonderful first experience! Incredible Italian spot I didn't even know existed. The burrata was so fresh and creamy. The cheese covered steak, heavenly and perfectly cooked. But it was the tiramisu dessert, I can only imagine Grandma would make, paired with the sparkling wine to top the night!
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Hannah C.

Yelp
Good ambiance with comfy booths for group seating-- our waiter was super enthusiastic which was refreshing XD and service was very prompt! -The bread basket on the appetizer offerings was pretty mediocre-- especially when the 'focaccia' was as crunchy as a cracker. -The pasta was solid and everyone polished theirs off-- all the dishes had pasta with a good chew and cooked al dente. Seasoning was good (not too salty). I will say my cacio e Pepe wasn't as creamy as it should be, and the cheese had become somewhat stringy, but overall wasn't bad. -Dessert: We tried the tiramisu which was good but pretty unconventional. It looked like a pudding on the plate, with drenched lady fingers covered in a very soft marscapone cream and dusted with cocoa. Overall, not bad and would come back with friends for solid pasta and good ambiance!
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Ali W.

Yelp
Overall I wasn't super impressed with the food . But the service and ambience makes me want to come back! (1) Insalata Tricolore: Arugula with sautéed mushrooms and tomatoes. I have to say this was beyond flavorless. We asked for a lemon wedge and salt to spice it up which definitely helped. But it literally tasted like nothing. There is oil and vinegar at the table but I didn't notice it until we finished the item. We were just glad to get greens in our belly but would never get it again. (2) Rigatoni Alla Carillon: Such a weird dish. The sauce tasted like hotdogs. It was oddly addicting but also super weird at the same time. I really don't know how I felt about it overall. I also thought all their pastas were homemade but only a handful of them are. Then the rest are "imported" but definitely don't taste anywhere near homemade. (3) Ravioli Stuffed with buffalo: Good but not great. The sauce was not too meaty. A little plain though. Drinks were good. We got a manhattan which my partner liked and I got the Italian 75. It was good but heavy on the soda water. Made it refreshing though. We then went to the bar to watch sports which is not a bad place to watch and had a few more drinks. We really like the service and atmosphere the most about this place. The food was probably 3/5 for us but the service and atmosphere makes this place a 4. We'll definitely be back for that
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Adam M.

Yelp
I absolutely loved this place. Unfortunately we did have to wait a decent amount to be seated even though we made reservations a few months ago, but the quality of the food made up for this. I got the Rigatoni alla Carillon and it was great. My wife may or may not have busted me literally eating the extra sauce on my plate with a spoon after I finished my meal (whoops) Lo Stella is going to find its way into our Italian Dinner Routine moving forward!
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Allison C.

Yelp
Mother/son date night here was soooo fun! The service and atmosphere was AMAZING!! I love that the menu isn't large and that they focus on a handful of options! Would definitely come again... but would hope to sit at the bar - seemed so fun!
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Chantel S.

Yelp
A very quaint restaurant that stands out amongst the neighborhood of Five Points, yet left a lot to be desired. To start the prosciutto e burrata was underwhelming, if you order this appetizer there is no vehicle to eat the burrata since the bread is separate and an additional charge. This was disappointing considering the price point over $20 for an appetizer of just thinly sliced meat and cheese. For dinner we had the lobster rigatoni and cacio e Pepe specials, the pasta was very tender but the cacio e Pepe unfortunately arrived to the table cold and was quite dry. The rigatoni was a little difficult to eat with the lobster shells served with the pasta. The service was distant, we found ourselves spending quite a bit of time trying to flag our waiter down to order and for our concerns on the meal.
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Alisha Alexandra H.

Yelp
This authentic Italian restaurant always impresses... Lo Stella Ristorante stands as one of my favorite restaurants in Colorado; they offer the most authentic Italian cuisine & their recipes have been passed down for generations. One of their newer features is the Pasta Dalla Forma where their freshly cooked pasta is finished in a large cheese wheel before being served (note this is done in the kitchen, but patrons can observe their pasta being tossed through the kitchen window). We arrived at Lo Stella and were seated at the front of the restaurant, next to the main bay window. Lo Stella's aesthetic is classic Italian - intimate & relaxed with natural shades of oak & mahogany throughout the space. Restaurant staff - Iris, Luca & Leo - led us through our meal. All of them were so amazing and knowledgeable on the menu (Lo Stella's staff is known for making customers feel like family). Owner, Alessandro was inhouse and was incredible (per usual). It was a busy Friday night, and he was active on the restaurant floor ensuring every customer and every member of his staff had what they needed. Alessandro started us off with prosecco - salute! For cocktails, Ashley and I had the Italian Cosmo made with vodka, grand marnier, cranberry juice, & lime. The Cosmos were delightfully refreshing & sweet with balancing sour from the lime. For Antipasta we had the Caprese Di Bufala Campana Dop and the Prosciutto Di Parma E Burrata Pugliese. The Caprese featured mozzarella that was bright & creamy. The taste of the cheese was cut by the acidity of the juicy tomatoes & aromatic basil. The prosciutto appetizer combined creamy burrata & delicately salty prosciutto that everyone loved. The Spaghetti Cacio E Pepe was prepared 'Pasta Dalla Forma' in the cheese wheel and was made with butter, toasted peppercorn, and pecorino romano. Sharp and salty with a bit of spice from the freshly cracked pepper, this pasta celebrated the flavors of the classic Roman dish. The spaghetti was beautifully textured from the pecorino cheese - so good. The Ravioli di Pesce in Crema di Gamberi is homemade Fish Ravioli with creamy shrimp sauce (a recipe that has been used since 1940). The Ravioli is my favorite dish at Lo Stella. The homemade raviolis delicately enveloped a lovely sea bass filling. The mild sea bass was a great match for the decadent shrimp sauce. When all the raviolis had been devoured, we used the shrimp sauce left on the plate for our bread. A must order! The filet was served with Italian raclette on top. The filet was cooked perfectly and the raclette made for a luxurious topping with epic cheese pulls. The Taglierini Verdi Al Funghi E Polpo was made with homemade spinach taglierini with octopus, mushrooms, & white wine. A beautiful veggie pasta enriched with a mix of earthy mushrooms & tender octopus. For dessert we had Espresso Martinis - the perfect ending to a perfect meal.
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Tammy S.

Yelp
We had a reservation for dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday. We walked in to a sea of people who were all trying to not crowd the diners sitting in that same area. I asked a few people if they knew where to check in for a reservation and they said they hadn't seen anyone and were waiting to be helped as well. Simone finally came to check in with people and he was super friendly. He let me know that he had a table for us in the corner (perfect) and the people had checked out but we're still talking. We were happy to wait for the table out of the hustle and bustle of it all. They finally left and we sat down hungry and ready to have a delicious dinner. Our server, Jake, was friendly and introduced himself and gave us time to consider drinks while he checked on other customers. When he came back we ordered a bottle of wine and Prosciutto E Burrata. This was a bit disappointing as the burrata wasn't cream infused inside. It was the texture of mozzarella and not burrata. The prosciutto was too thickly sliced which was a double bummer. The wine was delicious and we would get it again; A super Tuscan. Between the 4 of us, we ordered 3 different entrees: the Cacio E Pepe, Rigatoni in Vodka Sauce with Pancetta, and the Wild Boar Ragu. All of the dishes were tasty and the portions are generous. The Wild Boar Ragu was barely warm until you got into the middle so maybe put into a cold bowl? In this dish and the Cacio E Pepe, the para was the highlight as it should be and the sauce to complement the pasta. In the rigatoni dish, the sauce was the main event. We ordered the panna cotta for dessert and shared this dish. The dessert was light and tasted like cream as expected. The caramel sauce was thick and delicious. It was a lovely evening and I'm hoping they get the entry figured out. No host station and no one to greet you and find out what you need is a problem. While service was a bit slow, Jake was amazing and friendly. And if you want tasty treats like wild boar or venison, this is your place.
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Thao T.

Yelp
We came in for dinner on a Friday night with reservations. Highly recommend making a reservation a couple weeks in advance. It was really busy when we entered the restaurant. Several other parties came in with us and we weren't sure how to check in or who to check in with but someone eventually came up to us. We got the raclette appetizer, fish ravioli, and braised boar ragu tossed in the parmigiano cheese wheel. Unfortunately, both pastas, mainly the ragu, were so incredibly salty. The fish ravioli was really unique and my favorite dish of the night even though it was salty. The flavors were there. We really enjoyed the raclette appetizer as well and only wished it came with more of the crispy baguette slices. We were mainly there for the steak raclette but they had ran out earlier in the night. Our server was amazing. She had a ton of energy and had great recommendations for us. Note that the restaurant can get a bit loud with everyone talking but it added to the ambiance.
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Julie S.

Yelp
I made a reservation ahead of time with my husband and our infant and the host put us at a high top table for 2 right by the door. The food was underwhelming. No Caesar salad to my surprise. Caprese salad was decent. I also couldn't add a protein to my pasta. Skip the bread, it's hard and not warm. Although it's impressive to serve homemade pasta and the other location of this restaurant is in Portofino, I wouldn't race to come back here. Our server Jake was attentive and friendly. P.s. don't show up here on wine night if you aren't going to participate, my error.
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Gina K.

Yelp
We came to Lo Stella for a group dinner. There were 6 of us. It was easy to make a reservation and I highly recommend doing so, it was packed the Saturday night we were there. We ordered a bottle of cab sav and they. Brought us focaccia bread and oil to start. We ended up ordering Burrata appetizer which was nice but not the best Burrata I have had. A bit watery actually. I couldn't pass up trying the homemade tagliatelle and bolognese especially since it said it was grandma Laura's. It was delicious!!! You could tell how fresh the ingredients were but enjoy sauces and it was more meaty than a sauce. They were out of the lemon dessert so we opted for the chocolate cake and tiramisu. Both were exactly what you would expect to get in Italy. They were perfectly done and not overly sweet like American desserts typically are.
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Emma M.

Yelp
Delicious food and drinks, great ambience, and attentive servers. We really enjoyed dining here for my mother in law's birthday. We'll be back for sure!
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Olivia G.

Yelp
I found this charming spot walking around my neighborhood and fell in love! The space is intimate and perfect for a date night. The staff was very attentive and made me feel taken care of. I ordered the Cacio e Pepe and Mussels and left a very happy girl. They also had an impressive wine list to pair with our meal. The only thing I was bummed about was that I was hoping they would mixed the Cacio e Pepe in the cheese wheel in front of us but they do it in the kitchen. :( Nonetheless, this spot is guaranteed to give you a delicious, authentic Italian meal!
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Julia O.

Yelp
My friends and I had the loveliest time dining at Lo Stella Ristorante. Leo served our table of 8 and provided the highest quality of customer service. Everything we could possibly need was taken care of. The restaurant exudes a charming and intimate ambiance, offering delectable, authentically Italian dishes of the highest quality. We ordered nearly everything on the menu and sampled eachothers dishes. Each dish surpassed the last in its excellence. As a pescatarian, I couldn't partake in the meat dishes, but my friends raved about the Lasagna alla Bolognese. I would highly recommend the Spaghetti "alla Puppo". The flavor was simple yet delicious. I ordered the Pasta "Cacio e Pepe" condita nella forma di Pecorino Romano with a side of the "Alla Puppo" marinara. Everything bite was layered with so much flavor. For dessert, we indulged in the entire dessert selection, and the panna cotta emerged as my personal favorite. Be sure to order Limoncello!
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Lindsey T.

Yelp
Had an amazing meal here the other day after with my partner who saw an infamous TikTok video with the cheese wheel at the table with the raclette. I remembered to take pictures of everything else. They don't bring it to the table due to space restrictions, so don't come here and get disappointed about that. Our server Alex was so incredible I never would have guessed she'd only worked there for a month, and when we had questions about the Grappa, she sent over the in-house expert. Great experience!
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Rachel C.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I went here last Tuesday and had a great time. Though I was surprised how booked up the restaurant was even though it was only a Tuesday, though luckily the staff was still able to immediately seat us at the bar, so that was totally fine with us! And overall the atmosphere was great, and the food and drinks were awesome, I totally recommend this place.
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Hannah S.

Yelp
We had reservations and were seated right away. Our waiter was pleasant and efficient. We shared the prosciutto burratta. It was good, prosciutto was tender but it would've been nice to have a crostini to spread the burratta on. I had the Italian 75 which was delicious. The cacio e pepe was good, but nothing special. I think they lure you here with the Romano cheese wheel, which you never get to see your food prepared in it. My husband had the steak raclette. The steak and cheese together was delicious. The pickled vegetables were pretty tough to chew. For dessert we had chocolate cake, which was very chalky and tasted like a flourless cake which we didn't expect. Overall it was a good experience, but the food was fair at best.
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natalia G.

Yelp
Service was amazing, atmosphere was intimate and nice! Food was good. I was looking forward to the steak raclette and was disappointed by the steak not having a lot of flavor, barely ate the cheese. The pastas were flavorful. The dessert that looks like a pie, the dough was really hard it was hard to cut it with the fork. The chocolate part was good!
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Chad M.

Yelp
If you're looking for authentic Italian cuisine in Denver, look no further than Lo Stella. This cozy and charming restaurant offers a menu that honors the traditions and flavors of eight generations of Italian culinary passion. The service was impeccable. Our server, Leo, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. He made us feel welcome and comfortable, and gave us great recommendations. The owner, Alessandro, also came by to check on us and chat. He was very gracious and passionate about our experience. The food was divine. We had a group of 6 and deferred to Leo to choose our dinner selections. We enjoyed the Caprese, Raclette, Paccheri All' Aragosta, Tagliatelle Bolognese, Rigatoni and few other Chefs delights. The tiramisu was light, fluffy, and decadent. Lo Stella is an authentic gem in Denver, and I can't wait to go back, a must-try for any Italian food lover, you'll be glad you did!
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Melanie S.

Yelp
I came to Lo Stella with a friend who was in town from out of state who had seen something about their Parmesan wheel on Instagram. The photos on the online menu looked incredible, so I was really excited to try it and made the trek downtown to meet her. I loved the building. The space was small and cozy that gave it an air of exclusivity while still being casual. The ambiance was so on point, with fairy lights and eclectic decor, and soft music playing. The service was also great. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, and very attentive. A+ for first impressions. I ordered the Chardonnay by the glass and it was AMAZING. It is very rare to find wine that I like that much because I have a hard time describing what my tastes are. I got a "B" in wine class in college and never really studied up to "A" level. While everything else was on point, I didn't think the food fully delivered. We started with the bread basket and I was surprised when it arrived five seconds after ordering. It had obviously been prepared and was waiting for order, which might be reasonable for efficiency's sake. Unfortunately, some of the pieces were stale. The pieces of focaccia that were in good shape were perfectly buttered and salted and pretty delicious, but it was unfortunate to get some pieces that were not. The other role provided in the basket was pretty mediocre. Nothing special about its taste or texture. My very favorite food is a really well made pasta. I don't eat pasta often because I'm not as young as I used to be, so when I do I want it to be worth every bite. If it is, I don't beat myself up after. The pasta here, though beautifully presented, was not the type of pasta that felt worth it. I ordered the Taglierini Al Cighiale tossed in the Parmigiano Reggiano wheel and felt the noodles were slightly too al dente, which made them feel like they weren't a homemade noodle (I'm sure they are, the texture was just off). Also, the wild boar was tough. I have ordered wild boar noodle dishes at many restaurants (it is my very favorite), and usually it is melt-in-your-mouth tender, but this was pretty chewy. Because the boar wasn't as tender as it could be and the noodles were a bit too firm, it threw off the whole dish. I didn't finish it (a rarity for me) and gave the rest to my husband when I got home, who agreed with my assessment of the boar. I would totally come here again for a drink because like I said, the ambiance and service was amazing. I do think there are better options for well prepared pasta in Denver, though. I may be willing to give it another try because some of the other reviews are raving, so I wonder if I just had an off night.
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Jay K.

Yelp
So much for providing feedback when ASKED.... I didn't want to criticize their service in my original review but this response speaks for itself. LOL
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Tim K.

Yelp
A very mediocre Italian restaurant and not deserving of the hype. Their two pasta dishes advertised as served in cheese wheels are not. Presentation is on a regular plate and neither are worth $30+! No salad or side is included and they don't offer bread before or with your meal. Service was good, cute place but their food is overpriced and lacks flavor. Carrabbas is a better deal!! Tim K.
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Seth H.

Yelp
Server was super attentive, had a nice birthday dinner. Would love to see some more classic Italian dishes but that's just me...good overall experience.
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Kimbra J.

Yelp
The cheese wheel social media posts obviously have all of us running to Lo Stella. My girlfriends and I headed to Lo Stella for a birthday dinner this week, and like several other patrons we felt the service was sub par. This can make or break an expensive dining experience. The bartender confirmed with me, how to make a Cosmo, which seemed odd. The Cacio e Pepe in the cheese wheel ended up being our least favorite dish, far too dry and sticky. Our waiter was very stand offish, wasn't too interested in giving us recommendations, we had to track him down several times for plates, refills and the bill. We also had an issue with our bill, missing one of our receipts to sign, sounds like others have had bill problems too. Came off as sloppy. Overall, we decided at the table we were disappointed and won't be back. Angelos has delicious pasta, and way better ambiance and service!

Sophia E.

Yelp
We visited this place after seeing several Tik Tok videos rave about it. The pasta was good but, we were disappointed that the Parmesan wheel was not done in front of you as the videos had made it seem. The couple next to us experienced the same disappointment as they also had come from the video. The pasta tasted heavily like Parmesan (to be expected) but, did not have much depth or complexity beyond that. I wish it did. For us, the meal did not justify the pricing. The service was good, it was beautiful inside. We made a reservation ahead of time and didn't have to wait at all upon arriving. But, if you're going from tik tok, just know you will not be getting that same experience. **Also, the bread as seen in picture does not come for free as many restaurants do. It is considered an appetizer.
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Laura T.

Yelp
I really enjoyed lo Stella. Probably one of the top Italian restaurants that I have tried this far in Denver. The bread is 10/10 of course with some olive oil and grated cheese on the side. We ordered the raclette charcuterie app which was also good. The raclette was over potatoes and some mushrooms (very mild on the mushrooms), with two different cuts of meat and some pickled cabbage. The cacio e Pepe that is mixed in the wheel of cheese was sooo cheesy and good, the pepper gives it another dimension with the salt from the cheese. Also tried a lobster pasta dish. The sauce was tasteful and the lobster was cooked well. Dessert was a white chocolate mouse with Nutella ganache and toasted pistachios. Had a Sauvignon Blanc to drink, one by the glass and it was a fan of that. Could've done another but wanted to splurge more on food. Our waitress was helpful with recommendations. The other staff was nice, the place was very friendly and lively.
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Alexia F.

Yelp
This neighborhood gem is within walking distance of our apt so we've been a few times and it has never disappointed. It's a very intimate place. Great for a date night. The staff is absolutely amazing and so friendly! We usually get the Ravioli di Pesce in Crema di Gamberi (tasty but note - the shrimp is extra shrimpy so make sure you like shrimp if you order this) and Bucatini Burrata e Melanzane (my fav! SOOOOO yummy!!). They also have a fabulous wine list too! Pro Tip - Try to snag a reservation because it's usually booked!

Pat P.

Yelp
One word "wow". Our party of 4 had a great evening at Lo Stella thanks to Luca and the rest of the staff! The food was very delicious but I think what made this most memorable was the warm and kind staff that took care of us. Luca, the general manager, was our server and much more. He took time to tell us about the dishes, their Italian heritage, and introduced us to some of the tastiest wine and liquor options they offer. I recommend the Moscato Brandy, Sauvignon Blank, and the Riesling. Many Riesling wines get a bad rep for being sweet but this was far from it! The Riesling we tried was complex, fresh, and delightfully dry. Not something you may expect! We are excited to go back for an evening of good food, good music, and exceptional staff. Thank you!
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Nicole S.

Yelp
Came here for a late vday dinner and had the best time! I found Lo Stella walking around my neighborhood and couldn't wait to try it after reading the reviews and checking out their menu. The service here was incredible and our waiter was so friendly. He recommended dishes based on what we were looking for. I ordered the fish ravioli and it was the best I've ever had. The vibes in here were great! It was decorated for valentines a little cheesy but the flowers and interior were great for a date night spot! The waiters and staff were so friendly and recipes were certainly passed down from Italian grandmas. I can't wait to come back here!
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Patty W.

Yelp
Last night was an even better than the first visit! Started with the bread again and moved onto the main course. I had the Puppo this time and the wife had the Cacio y pepe! The sauce in the pupo was excellent. We both had a glass of wine to pair. Jakob our server was awesome!
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Caroline C.

Yelp
Unsure why some people are leaving low ratings. We loved our dinner at Lo Stella. The food and staff were incredible. We brought our young daughter and the staff (kitchen Included) was incredibly sweet with her

Lauren H.

Yelp
We were immediately greeted on a Tuesday night with "what's the name on the reservation?" Which was extremely off putting, as it was not busy for the 2.5 hours we were there, but chose to sit at the bar as they came off that they were extremely busy and we were an inconvenience. We were between different pastas but the bartender who was serving us recommended the pasta that was made in a cheese wheel. We thought that was great! Our pasta then arrived seemingly normal, we asked the food runner where this wheel was and she said we should've been notified and taken back to see it and she would take us with one of her tables... we declined but it was extremely disappointing. That server then proceeded to take care of us better than the bartender the whole night. The restaurant itself was very pretty and the food was good for Italian in Denver.
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Cammy P.

Yelp
Super friendly and attentive service. Leo was our server and he was absolutely wonderful. Super cozy little spot, Maybe holds 40-50 people at a time. Definitely make a reservation especially if you are more than 2 people. We had a lager group which was awesome because we got to try more dishes. The fresh bread basket is delicious, super soft and tasty. We also started with the soup of the day, the tricolor salad, caprese mozzarella and the white wine clams. I have to say that the sautéed mushrooms are something I've never had on a salad and now that's all I want! So flavorful, that was a very pleasant surprise. The caprese was crisp and fresh and delicious. Clams with white wine was a super large potion and very herbaceous, full of fresh parsley. The pasta's were great. We did of course order the cacio e Pepe became one it's a delicious dish and two, we wanted to see the cheese wheel. They do NOT bring the cheese wheel to the table. They make it all in the kitchen in the back so if you go for the show of this you can't see it. It is also very rich and decadent with a cheese salty flavor. It was too rich for some of them but I personally liked it. Everything else was absolutely amazing. A fan favorite was actually the red sauce. All of the dessert were awesome! We tried one of each and we loved them all. I would definitely come back here especially because of the service. The only draw back was the cheese wheel being in a the kitchen.
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Alexandria B.

Yelp
We went because we saw some really cool tik toks with the Parmesan wheel and the raclette done tableside. The food was just okay, kind of disappointing overall.

Steven S.

Yelp
Real Italian food in the Golden triangle. This is a keeper! Gotta gotta have the pasta in the parm wheel. The food, service and ambiance are all top notch
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Kelly M.

Yelp
Loved everything we ate!! Atmosphere was lovely. It was a mini vacation to Portofino. Can't wait to try again!
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Mike D.

Yelp
This is a fantastic family owned business. We had a great time great food great place can't say enough good about it.made great friends there. Mike

Maria C.

Yelp
We went for my daughter's birthday and we're not happy. Her noodles were not cooked and mine were over cooked. My husband and sons steak was cold. I was told by server that the management blamed it on her and she had tears in her eyes. The server was great and always attentive. We spent over $330 and would not recommend it, we will not be coming back again. We didn't expect this from a highly talked about restaurant.
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Kristin O.

Yelp
LO STELLA RISTORANTE DENVER: Holy moly. This place was divine. We started with probably the best caprese salad I've ever had, and a focaccia bread basket. We both had Mick Jagger's favorite dish "Taglierini con gamberi, zucchini e zafferano". Then, espressos, and panna cotta with fresh berries. You MUST go here when you're in Denver. Our server Taylor was great. The food was amazing and everyone was so nice. Bread Basket Caprese Salad Panna Cotta Homemade Pasta
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Steve S.

Yelp
We ate here recently and tried their cheese-swirling pasta dishes that are semi famous on IG. My g/f got it with no meat, and I tried the bolognese version. They were both pretty good. We were seated for dinner in the front bar area - the vibe & atmosphere there is not the greatest - kind of crowded and noisy. The rear area seemed more like restaurant vibes, and has a view of the kitchen. Overall it's pretty good.
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Jeffrey S.

Yelp
Walking into this place it was busy and smelt amazing, the restaurant is small and intimate which was a plus. Our server Jake was amazing, all his recommendations were on point and the food was spectacular. I honestly was not expecting this place to be as good as it was. Everyone was friendly and the service was amazing, and the food was even better! You must go. And thank you Jake for a wonderful evening!
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David H.

Yelp
My goodness, this is an excellent restaurant. The decor is beautiful and subdued. The menu is small but seems to have something for everyone. The wine list is well curated. Service was attentive and friendly but non-intrusive. Very professional all around. This is probably not the best place to bring a child. A teenager, yes. It's a perfect spot for a date or a mommy-and-daddy-need-a-break night out. One more thing, this is one of most authentic Italian restaurants I've seen in a long time. It's not Olive Garden. No bread with your pasta (that seems like a carb overload to most Italians), everything isn't loaded down with garlic, and no spoon to help you twirl your spaghetti (although some Italians use spoons and I'm sure your server will bring you one if you ask).
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Samantha N.

Yelp
I haven't been to Lo Stella in years but there was a lot of hype surrounding the restaurant these past few months, so I decided to go again. Our server was great, rest of the staff very friendly. I ordered the tagliatelle mushroom with white truffle-tossed in the cheese wheel; it came out cold so the server had the kitchen toss it in the pan again. My dish tasted like butter noodles , there was zero truffle taste, definitely not a $39 dish. My husbands Rigatoni with boar was good, nothing great. Maybe caught them on an off night, but don't understand the hype. There's plenty of good italian restaurants in Denver, we won't be back to Lo Stella.
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Ashley C.

Yelp
My friend and I really wanted to come here after seeing an Instagram story about someone ordering the cacio de pepe and it being tossed in a cheese wheel... so we both ordered it. To our surprise we were served a soupy pasta that was NOT tossed in a cheese wheel in front of us. There was way too much pasta water, as you can see in my picture, the starch did not combine with cheese to make a sauce, just literal water at the bottom of dish, poorly executed. Also extremely under pronounced pepper, where was the pepe? Experience was bleh. I've had way better Italian food and for $120 for two people we left pretty disappointed.
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Leslie R.

Yelp
I had read the poor reviews about service and noise. Wow! It is like sports bar noise level! We could not hear our waiter or have a conversation. Service is extremely slow and lackluster. Had to ask for bread and so wished I had reviewed the menu more prior to visit to be ready! Took forever for wine and ordered food immediately after wine arrived. Food was nothing spectacular. Lobster bisque was very good but had to go find a spoon to eat it! The noise level is over the top. Won't return. Left with a major headache. Very disappointed.

Samantha G.

Yelp
Food was absolutely delicious and ambiance was great! Had the fish ravioli (couldn't tell you the formal name of it) and my friend had the spaghetti in the pecorino wheel and we CLEARED our plates. Apps were delicious but would have liked for them to be served with bread instead of having to purchase it separately (it was only an extra $4). Jake was a GREAT waiter. He was well versed in the food and good conversation. I think we came on an off night and it took an extra 30 min to be seated, but other than that 10/10!!
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James J.

Yelp
When I tell you this place is absolutely amazing it might be an understatement! we walked in 20 minutes early for our reservations four of us with plans to just sit at the bar while we waited but to our surprise we were greeted by the owner who just gave off real cool vibes he sat us hisself immediately at a four top in the front near the bar..Than here comes ALEX with a big smile and great energy was so helpful and knowledgeable about the menu let us taste wine and actually found one I like and I don't like wine! The food was the best Italian I've ever had in my life. My guy Jake came over and checked on us a few times had some good conversations with him another amazing addition to an amazing restaurant! This place is a 10 out of 10 we will be back! Maybe today‍

Elizabeth I.

Yelp
This is a gem of a place! Started off with clams in a delicious lemon garlic broth. Clams were pretty small, but the broth really made up for it. For pasta we got the bison ravioli and the pancetta rigatoni. The bison was super tender and the red sauce was great. But the star of the night was the pancetta rigatoni with the most delicious creamy vodka sauce. It had a smoky flavor to it and the pancetta was cut perfectly. You could literally drink the sauce it was so good! Our waiter Luca was also super friendly and honestly made the whole experience great. Before we left, he gave us homemade Limoncello shots, some of the best limoncello I've ever had. I know people have complained of service being slow, but it truly is worth the wait. This place is a labor of love.

Kennedy S.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I dined here on May 24th for my birthday. We began by ordering a bread basket and the prosciutto appetizer, which was alright. Then for our entrees we went with both specials that evening, one was a 8 oz filet with raclette cheese and potatoes ($64), and the second was a bolognese tossed in their cheese wheel. We ordered the filet medium rare and it came out med well to almost well done. We sent it back and our server told us the kitchen agreed with us once they looked at the item. They should've checked it first, especially when they are cutting it in the kitchen and serving the filet sliced. Then, on their second attempt it came out blue rare. I can usually handle a rare filet but it has to at least be warm throughout and this was cold in the middle so it was borderline raw. As for the past special, it came out cold. We also sat there and waited for our entrees the first time for 30 minutes once we finished our appetizer. This was an extremely disappointing experience and by the end of our second attempt of getting a $64 entree correct we were over this place. We didn't even stick around for my birthday dessert. Overall, the food was extremely disappointing, our service was slow especially since there only a few tables in the resturant at the time and our server had at most three tables, there was no standard being presented by the kitchen, and we will not be returning.

Sarah M.

Yelp
Romantic and perfect place to go with loved ones or a special date. The bolognese is the best I've ever had, service phenomenal and wine second to none.

Sunday C.

Yelp
Food was average, service was subpar (had to ask for drink refills, dirty/empty dishes were left on table well after drinks and/or food were finished), special occasion (birthday) was not at all acknowledged! I didn't expect any special treatment, but a simple "thanks for spending your birthday with us" would have been appreciated! We are from Montana, and my daughter had picked this restaurant specifically for her birthday! We won't be back and we won't suggest it! Noise level was high and difficult to have a conversation at our table.