The ambiance is simple and chill, nicely understated. The service was great! The Italian half salad was good, but I would have loved crunchier lettuce. The pizza was phenomenal. The crust was chewy and thin with enough salt to make it flavorful. The sauce m, cheese, and toppings on the pie were excellent. I dare say one of the best pizzas in Denver! read more

Benzina - Spicy Soppressata pizza - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Funny how this restaurant was many things before it became this fine establishment. As the area is being reconstructed you see this gem sticking out. I actually didn't notice it the many times I've driven by it. I had come here with a friend to try out a new place. The menu was very limited. I guess it hit on each topic like pasta, pizza, salad, fish etc.. i stuck with something safe. A pepperoni pizza. You really can't mess that up but it was a nice thin crust pizza. I also had an old fashioned and it was tasty as well. The servers were friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately they don't give a military discount. read more

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Last minute reservations easily nabbed at 5:30pm on a Friday (for 5:45pm for three)! Granted this was a rare snowy evening in Denver. Parking easily found within a half block. Cute spot that has the layout of a 50s diner. Service was great, kid friendly, they have booster seats but I'm not sure if they have any sort of kid menus/crayons, but we came prepared. STARTERS * Arancini ($4.50 each) - 4 stars. Quite gooey inside. Nice honey dip. * Homemade Bread ($9) - 3.5 stars. A big puffy piece of bread - good but we just ended up with too much carbs between this, the burrata, and pizza! The cheese dip came in a cup and was quite acidic. * Burrata ($17) - 3.5 stars. Very tasty cheese, super fresh, but this was basically a pizza with a piece of burrata on top and some oil and olives. Impressive but I wish we were warned it was just a lot of bread. * Caesar Salad ($9 half, $16 full) - 3.5 stars. Nice sharp dressing. ENTREES * Chicken Parmigiana ($24) - 3.5 stars. Fairly moist chicken. PIZZA * Crushed Meatball ($20) - 4 stars. Lovely thin crust. A bit of spice. Right amount of tomato, oil, arugula. We also got a Manhattan and an Aperol Spritz which were good! read more

Benzina - Burrata ($17) - 3.5 stars. Fri night 2026-03-06 - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I'd always driven by Benzina and thought it looked interesting, so I was excited to finally try it with a friend. I ordered the Lasagna Bolognese it was flavorful, though the meat wasn't as tender as I would have liked. I also tried the burrata, which was decent, and the focaccia didn't have much flavor beyond the olives. Overall, the food was solid. Service was okay, slightly slow but the food itself came out quickly. A good spot, definitely worth a visit! read more

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Parking can be hard to find for this restaurant since they only have a small lot and the street parking is hard with all the Colfax construction. But the food and the service is definitely worth it. The place looks small from the outside, but it's actually pretty big with a lot of seating. In the summer, it looks like they have a lot of outdoor seating. I don't usually comment on the looks of the staff, but the young lady waitresses and bartender are very good looking and friendly. They all pitched in to serve our meals whenever they were ready but our main waitress Ashland? was very attentive. The food came out relatively fast and it was all delicious. We got the arancini, it came in a little cup. Make sure to get some of the sauce on the bottom as it really adds to the flavor. Then we got the roasted cauliflower and that sauce was amazing! Then we also got the chicken parmigiana and lasagna. They gave a very healthy portion of chicken and it was breaded very nicely. It came with spaghetti noodles and the sauce was light but tasty. The lasagna was also very good and it didn't feel heavy in my stomach. All the 4+ star reviews for this place are warranted...you have to try Benzina! read more

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Best Italian in Denver. Great service. Try the lasagna! The Italian margarita and house made bread are great.

Denver's best kept secret. 10/10 for food, ambience and service. We ordered 2 apps and 2 mains and everything was great.

Benzina's is a lively Italian restaurant on Colfax. With the construction on Colfax and the neighborhood streets having permit parking it can be difficult to find parking. They do have about 5 parking spots in their lot. The rest of the lot is an outdoor dining and games. This is a great place for a quick weekday meal especially if your a family in the neighborhood. We went on a a Wednesday night and made a reservation. We arrived a 10 minutes early but they seated us at the counter which was perfect for two people. We had waited a while for our waitress to come over so, we decided on a spicy soppresata pizza and the ravioli to eat. I got a spritz and my husband got a glass of wine (it was on their specials). We ended up getting our drinks and food at the same time which was a bit odd but, was very fast. By that time the restaurant started to fill up. We noticed that not only did our waitress check on us a few times but, so did other staff. It was nice to see how well the staff worked together to ensure all customers were being taken care of. Since we were at the counter we were able to enjoy seeing the kitchen staff churn out dishes. We have our eye on a few for next time just from being seated at the counter. When we got our bill, my husband noticed they forgot to charge us for the second glass of wine he had. So naturally we said something. The women was grateful that we mentioned it was gave it to us on the house anyway. Overall, great food, superb staff, and lovely atmosphere. read more

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Just my luck...I find a great restaurant and they are closing.....silent scream!!! My friends picked Benzina for our annual dinner and it was fantastic. The owner is such a sweet hard working guy you just have to love him. Amazing food! The pizzas were stellar especially the mushroom. Perfect crust and bake....just super yummy. Great Arancini....crispy not greasy. Light and fluffy with tons of flavor. I am not a huge fish fan but their Smoked Trout Cesar turned me into a huge fan. Lovely chunks of light smoked trout in a crisp salad..yes please Lovely burrata with focaccia ...great combo with fresh baked focaccia topped with olives. Top it off with 1/2 bottles of great Italian wine (the 4 of us drank 3 bottles...yikes) Please Please Please stay open we love you guys read more

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*Very* good food. We ordered an Arancini, a Chicken Parm and a Casareccia. We'll be back!

Tasty food, nice outdoor seating, and the kindest service! Will definitely be returning.

"There's a great restaurant on Colfax" is a phrase rarely, if ever, said in Denver. I'm happy to say Benzina is that place. Food: We ordered the Arancini, the Mozzarella sticks (really Mozzarella logs), Chicken Parmigiana, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Ceaser Salad, and Pizza Spicy Sporessata. This is how Italian food should be made. Simple, not multiple liters of sauce, but flavorful. BUT... The pizza showed up when those not eating pizza were done with their meals. Which leads me to... Service. Started a bit slow, but, to her credit, realized the pizza was ready way too late. So dessert was on the house. And delish! Hopefully this place will survive the BRT Colfax construction, which won't be done in 2027 as planned since, we'll, this is Denver. This place could be the best Italian restaurant in Denver. We'll be back. Just fix the pizza timing, and you'll earn 5 stars. read more

Benzina - Chicken parmigiana done right! - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Like it says in the description it is a refurbished auto shop but with a very hip vibe. The staff was very friendly; the menu was limited but still plentiful. There was plentiful of outdoor seating - even though the views are that of a major thoroughfare they still managed to make it pleasant. We had tagliatelle - was good and mushroom pizza -was great. For starters we had a half cauliflower- it was just ok (a little bland- but a reasonable substitute for a salad). Tiramisu was also good and was a generous portion. The one problem with the place is parking (they have only 4 parking spot) so one has to settle for street parking which can be tight. read more

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All the food we have had there has been excellent. We especially liked the lasagna and chicken parm. The service was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. I like the converted gas station. It's really unique. read more

B.A. and team do a fantastic job. Food is excellent! Fun environment, keep up the great work.

Highly recommend happy hour! We got the mushroom pizza and margarita - both so good! We also each got an arancini which was delicious. Crispy on the outside, and melty on the inside. Service was great. Would definitely return!! read more

I heard they were closing by the end of March so I made a reservation thru OpenTable. Since their announcement they are busier than ever according to Westword magazine. When I arrived, I was able to speak with the owner, Brad Anderson. He said business has improved enough to stay open until early May, possibly later. They have a straightforward menu of shared & large plates, pasta and 7 pizza's . I sat at the bar. They have a nice selection of cocktails and wines. I got an order of Arancini. Very good with lots of Saffron which gave it a golden color with creamy gorgonzola cheese. A creative appetizer. Next was a Caesar salad with smoked trout. Very good with a Passionfruit Cosmopolitan. I ordered the Mortadella pizza prepared with a gluten free crust. It was prepared with pesto, olives and an Italian ham, Mortadella. A wonderful meal. I had a conversation with a couple that have been coming here since Benzina opened. They said Brad Anderson has decades of experience in Denver and hope he stays open. Nice atmosphere and joyful customers. read more

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This place caught my eye from the road & have been itching to get here. Finally got the chance to come and couldn't have been happier with our decision to. The inside is cozy and has a retro feel which we LOVED. Ordered the arancini and burrata as an app, both delicious, bread for burrata a little too olive -y for my boyfriend, but I loved it. For our entree we order the Spicy Soppressata pizza, and it was a hit. 8 slices in one, was perfect for our party of 3. We can't wait to come back and try the other pizzas and entrees. Great spot, server was knowledgeable and sweet! Check it out! read more

Wow fantastic - easily top 2 pizza spots in Denver (the other being Joey's Parm's - if you know you know ;)). Also the service was really good, so this spot has a lot more going on for it than most! read more

Wow!! What a great eating experience!! Savory thin pizza crusts with amazing toppings!! Great drink menu! Lots to pick from. The staff are very informative and always checking on you. Definitely coming back when I am in town!! read more

Had dinner here tonight with friends. Everything we tried was excellent! Chicken Parm, lasagne, and pasta with meatballs, everything very authentic and flavorful. Ingredients were fresh and they do not skimp on quality. When I cook at home, I always try to buy the best ingredients, so when a restaurant does the same, I really appreciate it. Can't wait to return to this neighborhood restaurant. read more

This place is so much better than the average italian restaurant in Denver. Chicken parm, hanger steak, and cauliflower are all to die for. Really hope this place sticks around. My favorite italian in denver read more

Really loved my visit to this cutie off Colfax. The space itself is really cute and repurposes what used to be a gas station, maybe? Unfortunately, the AC was broken when we visited so it was quite hot but the owner stopped by to make sure we were okay and they have fans all about. While helpful, the server was very clearly ready to be done with her shift, her day, her week, the month, even haha She was clearly very tired and I felt bad that she was working with an injury. Hopefully this doesnt sound sassy as we have all been there but I think it made me feel guilty as a diner and hope she's doing better! haha Everything from the menu was absolutely delish and the two starters I loved most were the scallops and the tartare. The Italian Old Fashioned with the grappa was interesting and refreshing. I think I like the traditional whiskey one but I am happy to have tried this one. I cant wait to go back. read more

Benzina revamped a great menu, and lowered their prices to get more people from South Park Hill to enjoy their Italian cuisine. The staff is attentive to their customers. A great bar with superb drink and wine selection. Check out the great food, have some fun playing Bocce, and enjoy their Happy Hour!! read more

We came here because my friend recommended it for us all to meet up at this restaurant. Since she's a local, I always take recommendations from ppl. It used to be a gas station, so to see how everything was renovated was interesting. It's a very casual place, and reservations aren't necessary. Since my friend goes their often, she placed an order for many dishes, especially the ones that would take a while. I enjoyed all of the dishes like the green circle chicken was so delicious. I wouldn't have minded another one. The appetizers' homemade bread, pork belly, and cauliflower were phenomenal. I suggest if you're in the area to check this place out. The service was really great here as the waiter was very attentive and great with kids. If you're looking for outdoor seating, this place has it too. read more

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Enjoyable evening with good food and service to match!! As with businesses on Colfax they are struggling through the transit renovation process. They deserve to be supported. read more

Super atmosphere inside and out. Great food had the lasagna and a pizza with homemade tiramisu. Definite place to go. read more

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Super yummy food. Simple menu but very tasty. We started with the ceasar, the house bread and the burrata. All were great. We ordered a few pizzas , a pasta, and the steak and everyone was happy! Dessert was also so good. They were packed tonight , a good sign for sure. Friendly staff, great space. Would come back for the pizza for sure ! read more

Great food and service. A very cool atmosphere, perfect for a cocktail. The steak tartar is amazing read more

Came in yesterday for the first time and everything was AMAZING! We got the chicken parm and lasagna bolognese and both were delicious. Our server, Jordan, took great care of us and was attentive throughout our whole experience! He helped guide us through the menu and recommended the lasagna. The place itself has a really nice atmosphere and would be perfect for dates or small meetings! we will be back :)) read more

Food is good, and their prices are a bit lower than they used to be, but they need to read orders more carefully. Last night I ordered a margherita pizza with added soppressata (paid extra for that) and the pizza came without the soppressata. A few weeks ago I ordered a spicy soppressata pizza and specified I didn't want honey on it, yet it came with it. read more

Friday night, 6pm dinner reservations, seated immediately and truly a great dining experience. Ordered the trout caesar salad, carbanara pizza and a panna cotta dessert. Yes all of this was for one person, but easily could have been shared with another person. The trout salad was a weird combo, but it somehow worked. The fish was a different protein but still didn't overpower the salad. Pizza was delicious! I should have ordered the mushroom when I saw them flying out from the kitchen bar. The carbanara was good and had good fatty pieces of pancetta or bacon or some meat. A little salty from the meat, but overall very well made and delicious to eat. Panna cotta was SO good. I was so full already but I had to try it. Worth trying and perfect way to end my meal. I ultimately gave Benzina a 5/5 for its service. It was impeccable and I love it when servers serve the dishes and explains the ingredients used to create it. Very classy and I felt like I was high end dining! Parking lot is small ( 5 spots) but people street park on colfax or park in the residential road nearby. read more

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Benzina is proof that small menus, when executed with passion and precision, can outshine sprawling ones. Whether you go in expecting pizza, lasagna, or just want a great cocktail to cap your evening, you'll leave impressed. The mid-century modern touches, warm lighting, and open kitchen create a cozy yet lively vibe that draws you in. It's a gem in Denver's culinary scene--worth a reservation, a night out, or even a special occasion. read more

We had a nice dinner at benzina. The smoke trout Caesar salad was wonderful. Pizza was also great. We sat at the chefs table and it was fun watching them make all the food before it came to our seats. We love this place. read more

Benzina - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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This location used to be a muffler store and before that it was a Philips 66 gas station. "benzina" means gasoline in Italian. The modern-yet-funky restaurant brings a new vibe to the South Park Hill neighborhood with mid-century decor, funky music, '60s art, a bocce ball courts and Neapolitan-style pizza. We had the margherita pizza, meatball pizza and their crispy squid. Everything is cooked in this beautiful coal fired oven. Service is average. A spot with a strong history like this should be included in your must see. I like what they did to the place. read more

Came in tonight with some friends for the first time after hearing good things. I'll just say that the place lives up to the hype. The portions are perfect for sharing. Food/drinks come out pretty fast too. Service is welcoming and friendly. Shoutout to Jordan and Hannah who made sure to check on us frequently and ensure we had everything we needed. I'd recommend this place to anyone, especially for a date night! read more

I have a hard time reviewing this place because I wanted to like it and thought I would. It started off rough when it took about 15 minutes for our waiter to come greet us after we sat. It took another 10 minutes for them to get us our drinks and we just got beer. So almost 30 mins of waiting before we got anything. The bread was great like the reviews said but we're used to nice Italian restaurants to provide it for free. Their menu is very limited and it's pricier than most places so be aware of that before you dine here. The food was okay. Overall, I think this place is great for the right clientele but not for everyone. read more

Benzina - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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The food was delicious and we thought the portion sizes were big! The gluten free pizza crust was much better than a lot of gluten free pizzas. Would go back! read more

What a great find. A small white table cloth Italian restaurant in a rehabbed gas station Very different & creative menu. Enjoyed 4 items that were all very good and flavorful. Excellent service also Will be back often. PS. Make a reservation! read more

Benzina opened last May and I can't believe it took this long for us to eat here! Colfax is nicknamed the "longest, wickedest street in America." Benzina is wickedly good. Owner Brad Anderson has been a partner in many Denver restaurants, but I remember him from the Rocky Mountain Diner. He converted an old Phillips 66 gas station, built in 1963, into a beautiful mid-century modern Italian restaurant and bar. Benzina translates to "Gasoline," which seems appropriate. Chef Daniele Bolognini, who was born and raised in Italy (and previously was the executive chef at Acorn until it closed), oversees the kitchen. The menu is tightly constructed with 3 appetizers, 2 salads, 2 pastas, 2 meat dishes, 6 pizzas, and 3 dessert options. We shared one item from each category. One of the best meals we have had in Denver. Ever. read more

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