50 Best Italian Restaurants near Thornton

“It’s rare for a restaurant to truly set itself apart from the competition, but this Olive Garden did exactly that and then some. From the moment we walked in, the ambience transported me far from suburban Denver and straight into what felt like a warm Italian vista, the kind my great-grandfather Lepolni would’ve proudly shown off.

Our server, Luke, was an absolute standout. He made us feel instantly at home, balancing professionalism with a friendly, welcoming energy that elevated the entire night. It felt less like we were being served and more like we were being hosted.

And let’s talk about the food — incredible. The gnocchi was perfectly tender, the breadsticks were dangerously addictive, and the stench wafting from the kitchen was honestly amazing in its own right. Not a bad smell no, no. I’m talking about that rich, savory, almost mythical cloud of garlic, butter, and simmering sauces that hits you like a warm hug from a distant Italian relative you didn’t know you had. It set the tone for the whole meal.

The entire experience was unexpectedly charming from the atmosphere to the service to the company. (And yes, the person I came with wasn’t too bad-looking either, lol.)

All in all, I’d give it a solid nine out of ten, with bonus points for nostalgia, comfort, and those deliciously overwhelming food aromas. Thank you, Olive Garden, for creating such a lovely night for my friends and me and thank you Luke K. for being the heart of the experience. I’ll definitely be back.“

“Bina the owner was very welcoming, had lots of choices and the restaurant was very family friendly. Great, quick pizza.“

“I cannot say enough about the incredible experience I had with Sliceworks in Thornton. As a member of the West Ridge Elementary PTA, I’m always looking for ways to celebrate our hardworking teachers and staff. With National Pizza Day approaching, I hoped to partner with a local pizzeria to treat them—but with a limited budget, I wasn’t sure what was possible. From the moment I reached out, the Sliceworks team went above and beyond. They immediately connected me with their manager, Mike, who responded quickly, asked what we needed, and said he’d see what he could do. Within days, he reached back out—not with hesitation or conditions, but with generosity. He was all in. Despite being overwhelmed that day, handling orders from other schools, and even dealing with a no-call no-show, Mike and his team delivered exactly what he promised—exceptional service and even better food. Our staff was absolutely blown away, not just by the quality of the pizza but by the kindness and dedication behind it. Sliceworks isn’t just a pizza place; it’s a business that cares. You can feel it in the way they serve their customers and taste it in every bite. We won’t be going anywhere else for pizza in the future, and we cannot wait to continue supporting and partnering with such an outstanding team. The world needs more businesses like Sliceworks—and more people like Mike.“

“I've lived right dwn the road for 19yrs exactly, next wk, & think this place has been here the entire time. If I feel like a good lunch special or want a delicious calzone, I come here!“

“Crepe bar and bottomless mimosas were the best I’ve ever had“

“we have not been to a godfathers in 20 years, closed where we love. AMAZING PIZZA AND CALZONES! love the atmosphere!! a must!!“

“The cheese bread is my comfort food.
This location is very nice and so I tend to go here when I am stressed and get food.
I give a positive experience to this location, and I hope you have a good experience with them as well.

Kid-friendliness: There is a bouncy ball machine inside, and it feels safe inside. It is not a large space, so they don't have room to run around but it isn't a negative atmosphere in any capacity.

Wheelchair accessibility: There isnt anything that would be detrimental to wheelchair accessibility. The only barrier is the door, as there is no automatic opener.“

“Wow Sputnino, thanks for a truly stellar experience! Our server, Matthew, and the rest of the team made us feel so special during our celebration, going above and beyond for everything. I can’t say enough kind words about the impeccable service or the amazing food. Thank you for making us feel so welcome and reminding us what a wonderful dining experience you can have with the right staff who care. Keep doing everything you are doing“

“Everything is fabulous!!!“

“Great food. A must when your in Denver“

“Ordered drinks, waiter returned for order, appetizers arrived, no drinks, server said bartender was busy, drinks came halfway through appetizers, gave us bill and dessert at same time, no acknowledgement of birthday… made a deal of checking beforehand“

“Great Food and friendly staff!“

“Had an amazing dinner and an amazing server Noah!!! 10/10 experience!! Every bite of food was amazing and everyone was excited to eat their leftovers!!“

“Delicious food especially the lasagna. Amazing desserts.“

“It is a fairly different concept for ordering and seating so just be prepared. It would probably move quicker if the food sucked but it’s amazing and that’s why there is a crowd. It’s worth it and the food does come out pretty fast. The pricing was fantastic for the value as well.“

“I just had the butternut squash ravioli and it was amazing!! I might come back tomorrow and have it all over again 🤩“

“This is my favorite restaurant! The food has a sensuous and complex flavor profile while also being rustic Italian. You will not find a better pomodoro sauce anywhere unless your grandma is from Italy and has a long held family recipe. The pasta is hand made and has a perfect texture and amazing flavor with the sauce. The house made buratta is the freshest, creamiest and thickest you’ll enjoy outside of select NYC restaurants that are famous for making their own mozzarella, ricotta or buratta. And the staff treat their guests like they’ve invited you into their own home. Jessica was amazing! All together, going to Luca’s is like getting the perfect big warm hug.“

“Fantastic service, The food was amazing. We went for our anniversary and we totally enjoyed the night. Can't wait to go back ❤️“

“Wow! The food was so insanely good it made me want to lick the plate clean, every bite was worth savoring. The whole vibe is effortlessly cool, with an atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. What really sealed the deal was the customer service. The owner was down to earth, friendly, and made us feel genuinely welcome. If you're anywhere near the area, do yourself a favor and stop by Bar Red. You’ll walk out already planning your next visit.“

“Most authentic hit the spot made with love Italian food I have ever eaten in all of Colorado absolutely astonished with everything I’ve eaten here never disappoints if I could I’d give them 10 stars absolutely delicious🤤 ♥️🙌🏽“

“Amazing food! Fantastic seasonal options! A hidden gem of Denver.“

“My boyfriend and I had dinner here on 11/15/25. The food was wonderful, the service was great and everyone was so friendly. We don’t live in Denver but we visit often so we will be back.“

“We had a fantastic dinner last night! Easy to get a reservation and they were ready for us the minute we arrived. Makayla was our waitress and she was amazing! She had great knowledge of the menu and was spot on in her recommendations! Kudos to kitchen as everything was perfect!“

“Love this place! Great service and fantastic food!“

“The food is excellent!!! I highly recommend if you’re a pasta lover!“

“We had a fantastic experience at Venice! We’ve lived in Denver for 20 years and we never knew this place existed. Great atmosphere and the food was amazing, so authentic! We went with our 3 kids (13, 10 and 10), they ordered off the kids menu and loved the fettuccini Alfredo. The service was excellent, and our server, Gillian was on point. I can’t say enough good things about him. We will most definitely be back. I would recommend this place to anyone. This place is really nice and intimate feeling. Great for a date night or a family dinner, so long you have well behaved kids who love good food.“

“Huge variety of food and all dishes are delicious.“

“The food tastes very good, the spaghetti I like is a must“

“We went for lunch or the first time today and had the amazing lunch. We eachhad the lunch special, which includes a specialty Pizza and a salad of your choice for starting at $14.50. I had the funguy Pizza, which is a Mushroom Pizza. It was absolutely amazing. I ordered mine without arugula , as I do not perfer that. It was so good that I ordered a full size to take home for dinner. Our server was Jordan and she was awesome. Very friendly and knowledgeable. The only downside I have to say is that their drinks were just okay. We had a Italian spritzer that was kind of tart, and then I ordered a Vodka martini, which they said they do not commonly make, and I could tell why... I sent it back and ended up getting a glass of red wine but the pinot noir was mediocre at best. I think management should up their Wine selection and quality, if they're going to pair with Italian dishes. I would definitely go back and order more Pizza and the meatballs look amazing as well.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10
Awesome pizza spot right off Colfax! Super yummy, flavorful pizza with fresh toppings and a perfectly cooked crust. The salad was just as good—fresh, crisp, and well balanced. Everything tasted high quality and made with care. Definitely a go-to spot when you’re craving great pizza. Highly recommend! 🍕🥗🔥“

“We received a gift card from a family member at Christmas and decided to use it on a Saturday night in January. The restaurant was packed but there was seating in the bar area, so we decided, what the heck(!) and went to the bar. Once seated we were greeted with the friendliest bar staff, Marissa and Tiernan. We wanted a glass of red and Marissa recommended the Porta Vita Italia. It is a delicious bargain and we were so impressed (and now hooked!). Our food was and continues to be great, as now we have become Saturday night regulars! We are Italian and honestly did not think we could get a traditional and tasty meal at a chain. Marissa and Tiernan, thank you for the excellent, friendly customer service and sweetness. You both are classy, sassy and super bad-**sy! We always look forward to our Saturday nights hanging with you both! See you next time, Cheers!“

“Our visit last night was not the experience I was hoping for. We have gone to Amici's for years. Our first time was way back when they were still at 53rd. and Sheridan. I had the eggplant parmesan, which was very good. I don't know if the kitchen staff changes, or what? The eggplant portion was very small, three slices of eggplant the size of a silver dollar.“

“This is my very, very favorite go to restaurant. The owner has owned several Italian restaurants in Denver, most recognizably footers from the old days. The staff is amazing.The food is amazing and I would go there any and every chance I got.“

“We picked up pizzas for a large group activity. They were super kind, we had to wait a little bit for the pizza but we ordered a lot. So we had no problem waiting. The owner is very nice and helpful, the workers carried the pizzas to the car was very nice. Also best cannolis I have ever had, definitely freshly made.“

“The food was absolutely delicious and wish I had a bigger stomach to order more. We had the most incredibly kind and hilarious waiter Quinn I would highly recommend for a girls night or a date night. Dishes are the perfect size for sharing!“

“the food was really good and the staff was friendly a little bit overpriced but other than that a really good experience“

“Great customer service! Nice welcome when you head in and positive attitude. Pizza was ready in less than 10 min for carry out. It was delicious with great toppings and perfect cheesiness! Absolutely love their pizza for any occasion.“

“Wow! Who knew there was such an authentic Italian venue in Denver. Homemade artisan pasta with creative sauces and entrees. Try the bolognese as it is one of a kind. The wood-fired pizza reminded us of what we had in Venice, IT! The bar and wine list is loaded with special finds. My wife found the Paloma cocktail to be fabulous. I fell in love with wine list especially. If you’re in Denver this is a MUST! Cheers.“

“Great experience all around!“

“Delish food and great service all in a beautiful but comfortable setting.“

“This place is a hidden gem. The good news is there is a strip mall parking lot across the street because on street parking is scarce. The bison meatballs are excellent and the Ceasars salad is good. I had the steak with gnocchi and it was excellent! The gnocchi was home made and flavorful. My wife had the pasta rigate and the sauce was amazing and the noodles were homemade. We will be back soon to try more!!“

“I came to Denver from New Jersey for a Storm Chaser Convention, we have a couple steak houses back home but nothing comes close to this, I ordered a ribeye steak with a side of fries, the steak was cooked to perfection with the fat of the steak being glorious. I really wish we had something like this back home, the staff was welcoming and very kind. Thank you for the wonderful experience!“

“Stopped at the Aurora location on whim. Under new management. Amazing food and lovely family owned business. Took home some extra dishes for later. Give it a try!“

“Best Cheese Steak I've ever had anywhere highly recommend. Pro tip order 1 cheese steak with fries for 2 people it will be PLENTY of food. The Pizza is decent here, but nothing over the top, I give it a solid 7.2 on my DP scale. If you come, come for the sandwiches!!“

“Always yummy! Been coming here for years 👏❤️“

“The pizza is phenomenal! We had a thin crust, pepperoni, sausage(made in house), mushrooms, garlic and jalapeños. FANTASTIC The servers are so attentive and personable. Make you feel like you’re home. I’ve heard great things about this place and I believe they’re all true! I’m definitely going back ! Our server Cecily was the best. So friendly and fun!“

“My husband and I had the most wonderful meal and dining experience at Bucatino's last week. Everyone from our waiter to the greeters to the servers and helpers and especially to the owner James made us truly feel like we were eating in family's home. Warm, welcoming and just so delicious! If you have not. tried Bucatino Trattoria Romana in Lafayette you are missing out on wonderful dining experience! Thank you to James, to your chef, and to all of your staff for putting so much care into what you do for all of us!“

“Clean and spacious location... good food... and excellent kindness and courtesy staff... especially Nathan... we will definitely be back and recommend.“

“Absolutely amazing food. I had a great date tonight and I was so glad that we were able to be at your restaurant. Great chicken scallopini with mushrooms and great red wine :-). Our waiter was outstanding!“

“This past Friday night at the Denver Airport, I had THE BEST PIZZA I’ve had since I was in Rome 15 years ago! The crust was so light, so tender, I thought it might fly away. Incredible service too!“