Psst… National Spaghetti Day 2016 Denver

The Italians call it “Spag’etti” (imagine it with a beautiful Italian accent), we simply call it delicious.

January 4th is National Spaghetti Day and well, we think this calls for a special article featuring all the great places you can enjoy this amazing dish in Denver!

National Spaghetti Day 2016 Denver

DiFranco’s Italian

Location: 955 Lincoln St Unit D, Denver 80203

Hours: Monday -Thursday: 11am – 8pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am – 9pm
Sunday: closed

A chef driven quick service restaurant with a focus on simple and seasonal Italian cuisine.
DiFranco’s is a small Italian restaurant making food like grandma used to back in Italy, using simple, yet seasonal ingredients, many of which come from local farms. Many describe them as a contemporary Italian deli, but the food goes much beyond that of a deli. Mostly everything is made in-house and hand crafted from the finest ingredients available.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Spaghetti: tomato sauce, arugula, ricotta salata, meatball. Price: $12.5

Gaetano’s Restaurant

Location: 3760 Tejon St, Denver 80211

Hours: Lunch: Monday – Friday: 11am – 4pm
Dinner: Monday – Thursday: 4pm – 10:30pm
Friday: 4pm – 11pm
Saturday: 2pm – 11pm
Sunday: 2pm – 10:30pm

For nearly four decades, the most infamous mobsters in Denver history, Eugene (Checkers), Clyde (Flip Flop) and Clarence (Chauncey) Smaldone, made the Highlands their home. Following in the pre-prohibition bootlegging shadow of their parents, the were equal parts neighborhood saints and big city sinners. Welcome to the epicenter of illegal gambling, loan sharks and the dark and sexy side of our fair city.
In 2006 the now Breckenridge and Wynkoop family of restaurants purchased Gaetano’s from the Smaldone family. In 2012 they gave this fabulous building a face-lift and brought back to life a great historic restaurant in Denver’s dining history.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Bolognese: ragout of beef, pork and tomato with a touch of red sauce tossed with spaghetti.
Spaghetti Aglio & Olio: butter garlic chili flakes, herbs and olive oil over spaghetti & Carbonara: pancetta, red onion and parmesan finished with egg yolk over spaghetti original or classic.

Lala’s Wine Bar + Pizzeria

Location: 410 E 7th Ave, Denver 80203

Hours: Monday – Friday: 11am – 12am, Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 12am

The story of Lala’s is rooted in Capital Hill’s history. The story begins with the Boettcher Mansion, otherwise known as Governor’s Mansion. Governor’s Mansion was the idea of Walter Scott Cheesman who first arrived in Denver in 1861 in an ox pulled wagon. Walter Cheesman quickly became an enthusiastic and effective booster of his new city, helping to bring railroad service to Denver, and establishing the towns real estate industry.
Walter Cheesman eventually married Alice Foster Sanger. Two years later their daughter. As a teenager Glady helped her father design what would eventually become to be known as Governor’s Mansion. Unfortunately, just as construction was to begin in 1907, Walter Cheesman passed. Glady and her mother proceeded with the plans. Glady and her mother would live in the house and over the years Glady Cheesman would follow in her fathers footsteps becoming a very influential socialite in the Denver community. Rumor has it that among her peers her nickname was Lala.
Lala’s Wine Bar & Pizzeria is a reflection of the house that Lala helped to build.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Spaghetti & Meatballs: Lamb and pork meatballs, pomodoro sauce, Grana Padano & basil. Price: $12.

Lechuga’s Italian Restaurant

Location: 3609 Tejon St., Denver 80211

Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10am – 9pm
Friday – Saturday: 10am – 10pm
Sunday: 10am – 4pm (take out only)

Family owned and operated since 1961, Lechuga’s has been located in the heart of North Denver for over 50 years. What originally began as Carbone’s bakery has evolved into an Italian Restaurant known statewide, for its original sausage canoli’s. Despite the change of scenery in the North Denver area over the last few years, Lechuga’s has kept the exact same recipes since day one making it a staple in the Denver community. Baking fresh food daily is the key to their success.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Spaghetti: includes salad with choice of dressing. Garlic Bread, 1 Sausage, 1 Meatball. Price: Lunch $6.50/Dinner $8

Patsy’s Inn

Location: 3651 Navajo St, Denver 80211

Hours: Monday – Thursday:  11am – 9pm
Friday:  11am – 10pm
Saturday: 5pm – 9:30pm
Sunday: 4pm – 8pm

 Patsy’s Italian Restaurant is Denver’s oldest Italian restaurant. Founded in 1921 by Mike and Maggie Aiello, Patsy’s has undergone few changes over the years, keeping the heart and soul of family tradition. Mike and Maggie’s great nephew, Ron Cito and Kim DeLancey have since taken over. North Denver natives themselves, they vow to keep Patsy’s unique charm and character alive.

They invite you to sample their authentic Italian recipes and old-style charm. All the food is made by hand. The back wall of Patsy’s dining room features a hand-painted mural and other walls are lined with photos that showcase the rich history of the restaurant.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Homemade Spaghetti Patsy’s Specialty. Price: $11, Homemade Capellini Thin Spaghetti. Price $11, and Spaghetti Traditional Pasta Favorite. Price $10.

Piatti

Location: 190 St. Paul St., Denver 80206

Hours: Lunch: Monday – Saturday: 11:30am – 4pm
Dinner: Monday – Thursday: 4pm – 9pm
Friday – Saturday: 4pm – 10pm
Sunday: 5pm – 9pm

Piatti features Italian-inspired, seasonally dictated cuisine with an emphasis on local farms and producers. Their philosophy is simple: combine rustic, flavorful cuisine with simple, unpretentious design, an approachable and interesting wine list – many of which are served via their barrel-to-table program – a comprehensive offering of craft beers and unique, artisan cocktails.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Spaghetti with classic Bolognese sauce. Price $18

Sarto’s Social Italian Eatery

Location: 2900 W 29th Ave, Denver 80211

Hours: Monday – Saturday: Restaurant 5pm – 10pm, Pantry 11am – 8pm

Brunch: Sat & Sun 10am – 2pm

Sarto’s a social Italian eatery and pantry is located in the budding Jefferson Park neighborhood. Led by entrepreneur, Taylor Swallow, Sarto’s offers Metropolitan Italian “tailored” cuisine in a drink and food-forward, social environment. Sarto’s also offers great outdoor dining and Denver’s only authentic Cicchetti bar to enjoy small bites and drinks, as well as several private dining spaces for connection and celebration. In addition, Sarto’s Pantry is a gourmet market and deli providing quick serve sandwiches, salads, soups, and stromboli, and take and make homemade pastas, pizzas, sauces, oils and breads as well as.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Telle & Meatballs: Oven finished tender braised meatballs over fresh cut taglia’telle’ & herbed tomato sauce. Price: $11/$17 & Parmigiano: Crispy chicken topped with house smoked mozzarella atop tagliatelle in spiced tomato sauce. Price: $17.

The Old Spaghetti Factory

Location: 1215 18th St., Denver 80202

Hours: Lunch: Monday – Friday: 11:30am – 2pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11:30am – 4pm

Dinner: Monday – Thursday: 5pm – 9:30pm
Friday: 5pm – 10:30pm
Saturday: 4pm – 10:30pm
Sunday: 4pm – 9:30pm

A meal at The Old Spaghetti Factory is an experience. They invest meticulous attention to their décor so our guests feel as though they’re stepping into another world. The restaurant is adorned with antique lighting, intricate stained glass displays and an old-fashioned trolley car that doubles as a dining hall.

Nearly every item on The Old Spaghetti Factory’s menu is made on-site, from scratch, using fresh ingredients. Unlike most restaurants, when you order our entrées, they serve you a complete meal, which includes bread, soup or salad, and dessert. And with their famous kid’s menu, special treats and fun activities, they encourage families to feel at home.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Spicy Spaghetti Vesuvius: spicy blend of all natural chicken, sausage, handmade meatballs with green peppers and onions, seasoned with Tabasco and cayenne pepper. Price: $11.50

Venice Ristorante & Wine Bar

Location: 1700 Wynkoop St, Denver 80202

Hours: Lunch: Monday – Friday: 11am – 4:30pm
Dinner: Monday – Thursday 5pm – 10pm
Friday – Saturday: 5pm – 11pm
Sunday: 5pm – 10pm

Founded in 2002, Venice Ristorante has brought a five-star Venetian dining experience right to Denver, Colorado. It expresses the highest culinary expertise from the Owner Alessandro Carollo and Executive Chef, Christian Delle Fave. Venice invites you to be pampered by their monthly wine dinners, private dining for your next event (business or pleasure), complete catering services and their delectable five-course meals served table-side.

National Spaghetti Day Suggestion: Spaghetti Calabresina: Thin spaghetti pasta with petite homemade meatballs, fresh tomatoes and basil in marinara sauce. Price: $17.

Special National Spaghetti Day Offers

Sarto’s Social Italian Eatery (mentioned above) is offering one FREE glass of wine with a purchase of a pasta entrée!

Noodles & Company is offering a FREE small bowl of spaghetti with a purchase of any entrée at any one of their locations on January 4th 2016 for National Spaghetti Day! View offer at: www.noodles.com/national-spaghetti-day

Happy National Spaghetti Day 2016 Denver!