As we countdown the days until we get to Italy, we decided to treat ourselves to a little preview with lunch at Parisi in Denver. We were introduced to them by some of Rick’s family that also lives here and they were raving about how good and authentic the food is. It was. So, recently we made a return visit and decided to showcase it as our Denver highlight for the month of May!
Service
The restaurant is spacious and has outdoor seating, but you order at the counter and then they bring the food to you. The servers are friendly and they’re good about refilling water and checking in to make sure your food is good and you have everything you need.
Drinks
They’ve got a good wine, beer, and cocktail menu to go with their dishes. Most are some Italian specialty or have a nod to the restaurant’s Italian roots. I opted for a glass of their pinot grigio which was perfect to go with the 75 degree weather and Rick got a cocktail, the basilico, which was also quite refreshing.
Food
The food is authentic and delicious! The pasta is fresh and made in-house, the sandwiches are flavorful, and as a pizzeria you bet the pizzas are traditional and packed with zesty flavor. The portions are a good size, filling but not “I’m going to explode” filling.
They also have a gelateria inside and offer classic gelato flavors like stracciatella, pistachio, spumoni, chocolate, and hazelnut, as well as rotating flavors like strawberry cheesecake, coconut, and apple pie.
Atmosphere
Parisi has a casual atmosphere and is both a great place for families, friends, and fun dates. There’s plenty of seating though we have seen them pretty busy, so either get there before or after the lunch crowd for a relaxed meal instead of trying to find a table while it’s crowded.
They have a daily happy hour with discounted drinks and specials on appetizers from 3 – 5 p.m.
They do have a sister restaurant downstairs, Firenze a tavola, which is billed as “intimate dining.” I think next time we’re in the neighborhood we’ll stop there for a nice Florentine dinner – maybe after we get back from Italy so we can see how it compares.
If you’re in the mood for authentic, classic Italian dishes, you can’t go wrong with stopping by Parisi, or even just getting a sweet treat of gelato on a hot summer’s day.
