Tavernetta
Italian restaurant · Union Station
1889 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202
.jpg "Tavernetta by Mike Thurk/Courtesy Tavernetta")
Highlights
Upscale Italian with handmade pastas, seasonal dishes, and great wine
Upscale Italian with handmade pastas, seasonal dishes, and great wine
"While Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder (see above) may well be Colorado’s most famous dining destination, its Denver sibling is every bit as notable. Set on the Union Station platform in full view of the trains, the sleek restaurant and lounge takes a broader regional approach to Italian cuisine than its Friuli-focused sibling, proffering a seasonal menu that might find Piedmontese vitello tonnato next to gnocchi alla Romana in mushroom ragu next to classic bistecca Fiorentina; the splurge-worthy wine list naturally follows suit. And the service, of course, is as polished as the tableware." - Ruth Tobias
"Tavernetta nails the Italian trifecta: good wine, handmade pastas, and great hospitality. But what makes this one of the best restaurants in the city is they also have one of the best steaks you can find in Denver—we’re talking about you, New York strip with charred eggplant and ricotta salata. Add on an after-dinner cookie plate, a spacious bar with a great spritz list, and a soul-warming fireplace, and you’ve got a restaurant you probably won’t want to leave (but eventually you’ll have to). While it’s not the cheapest—pastas can hit $38 and the grilled branzino rings in at $56—you’re guaranteed a beautiful meal in a beautiful setting. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - allyson reedy, patricia kaowthumrong
"Just a few early seatings remain for this celebrated Italian restaurant’s five-course prix fixe ($175) with optional wine pairings ($85) — better move fast to ring in the new year over tardivo in black truffle vinaigrette with hazelnuts and pecorino, radiatore pasta with braised boar and mushrooms, and stuffed lamb saddle with polenta and figs, among other elegant selections." - Ruth Tobias
"Like all of Frasca Hospitality Group’s restaurants, this acclaimed Italian haunt will be welcoming guests in grand style on Christmas Eve, offering a few specials in addition to its regular menu of antipasti, handmade pastas, and entrees like bison osso buco with farro, apples, squash and gremolata — many of which can be tricked out with shaved truffles in honor of the holiday." - Eater Staff
"Fresh handmade pastas and Italian wines and spirits dominate the menu at Tavernetta, which focuses on using seasonal, local ingredients to explore regional Italian fare in non-traditional ways. For fall, find standout pasta pocked with sweet corn and taleggio cheese. Diners looking for great value can visit Tavernetta at lunchtime for a deal on a two-course meal." - Annie Harrigan
