Wonderful restaurant with great service! The food is top notch, freshly made in the kitchen, daily specials, homemade limoncello. What's not to love?? read more

Bettola Bistro - Layered cake with a delicious sorbet - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Our team visited Bettola a few weeks ago and wow! Everything here is just spectacular. The food is AMAZING. For apps, we got the blistered brussel sprouts, goat cheese crostinis, and warm olives. Brussel sprouts were my favorite! Entree-wise, we ordered a couple specials, the salmon salad, arrabiata, scallops and chicken parmesan. I had the arrabiata and it was 10/10. Perfect amount of spicy, perfect pasta texture and I loved the pickled pepper drops. We enjoyed every bite of our food, and you can tell a lot of care goes into each dish. The honey cake was absolutely delicious. I am still thinking about it to this day. Special shout out to Shafer and Josh! Such fun and welcoming energy. I'm so glad we found Bettola and would definitely recommend! read more

Let me start by saying the food was a 4+ stars! We visited Bettola Bistro on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The cozy atmosphere was perfectly pleasant, and the food earned more than four stars. My Chicken Parmesan may have been the best I have ever eaten. However, the service obliterated an otherwise excellent meal. Many reviews describe Bettola as a hidden gem with warm, attentive service. That makes our treatment even harder to understand. I waited tables years ago, so I am extremely lenient with waitstaff. I know how hard they work and what they endure. Do you know how rude and dismissive a waiter must be for me to write a one-star review? VERY. I do not know his name. He appeared to be serving most, perhaps all, of this small restaurant. That is a tremendous workload, and slow service alone would not have upset me. Maybe he was having a terrible day. Maybe he was in pain. I truly do not know. But he seemed friendly with many other customers while treating us with indifference. He was inattentive, and dismissive, and appeared entirely comfortable behaving that way. Why were we treated differently? Was it because we were older? Was it because I am Black? I sincerely hope neither was true, but his conduct left me asking those questions. Whatever you are going through, every guest deserves your best. We were kind and respectful. Even a difficult guest deserves basic dignity because a waiter has no idea what that person may have endured that day, either. Respect must travel in both directions. Always. Our party divided the check. I don't know what my friends left him, but I still left a 25% tip. I did that because I remember the work and because countless waiters give their guests outstanding service every day. The kitchen produced a remarkable meal. The Chicken Parmesan alone could bring me back. But excellent food cannot erase treatment that makes guests feel unwelcome. Bettola deserved better representation. We deserved better treatment. Everyone does. Do your job, treat every guest with dignity and respect, and do your job well, or quit, man. read more

Pre-race pasta night is a tradition for us, and we make it a point to try a different local Italian restaurant each time. This time, Bettola Bistro got the nod. Our schedule meant takeout was the only option, and in hindsight, we timed it perfectly. We placed our order around 5:15p on a Saturday evening and learned they stop accepting takeout orders once the kitchen gets slammed. Given how small and intimate the restaurant is, that makes complete sense. The dining room only has a handful of tables, a cozy little bar, and a tucked-away patio that feels surprisingly secluded despite being in a strip mall (don't let this deter you). From start to finish, the ordering and pickup experience was seamless. The staff was warm and welcoming, our food was ready exactly when promised, and everyone we interacted with was genuinely friendly. We ordered the crispy eggplant along with the bucatini and meatballs. Overall, both dishes were enjoyable and clearly made with care. The crispy eggplant had a nice texture but could have used a bit more seasoning or punch of flavor. The bucatini was satisfying, though the meatballs leaned a little dry and lacked that flavor pop for my taste. The accompanying ricotta was creamy and delicious, but I was hoping for a more pronounced lemon note. Even with those small critiques, we really enjoyed our experience. Bettola has the kind of inviting neighborhood feel that makes you want to come back, and next time we'd love to dine in and soak up the atmosphere instead of taking our meal home. read more

I stopped in with a couple of girlfriends last night for my bday. One had suggested it after winning a gift card and trying it on a separate occasion. This experience was unexpected. It's located in a strip mall and is very unassuming from the outside. I would never have guessed a fine dining experience was to be had inside. This was a really terrific dinner. The spot is small with a limited number of tables, there is a small seating area outside in front but its sandwiched in between parked cars. We ordered some wine and shared a cured salmon crostini app. We ordered the lamb ragu, arrabbiata and squid ink fettuccini with clams. We were informed about the 45 min wait time as everything is prepared fresh to order. The meals were fantastic. My fettuccini with clams had a sauce that I could have drank by the cup full. We each tried each other's dishes and while the clams was my favorite, the ragu and Arrabbiata was delicious as well. We finished with a slice of the honey cake which was so light and creamy. I was impressed by the quality of all the dishes and will absolutely be back for more. I am so glad that a gift card introduced us to this gem! read more

Bettola Bistro - Squid ink linguine with clams - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The best bolognese I've ever had. It will be hard to venture away. I'm always picking about meatballs being over turned and yes I was disappointed again. But the sauce is as great. The olives are amazing. The service was excellent and I liked that the chef studied in Italy. We sat at the bar. You need a reservation. We like the bar. Very nice wine selection. The food was beautiful!! read more

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I've driven by Bettola so many times and finally stopped in last night. It's located in a strip mall in Aurora, and you can't tell anything about it from the outside. We walked in and saw how tiny and intimate the restaurant is. There were probably 10 tables or so and bar seating. We were greeted right away and asked if we had reservations but we did not. No worries, they actually had one table available so we were seated. They let us know that they make everything from scratch so receiving your entree could take up to 45 minutes. We were ok with that and ordered some drinks! I tried the Smoked Strawberry cocktail based on our server and sommelier, Schafers, recommendation! It was good, strong but good! My husband ordered a beer (the incredible pedal) and we both really liked the drinks. We decided to order the Tuscan Bean Dip that came with focaccia bread and that was super tasty! That bread was delicious, the best I've ever had! For my entree I decided on shrimp scampi while my husband got the scallops. Everything was cooked just right and was delicious. We received house bread with oil as well with our meals. For dessert I had to try the chocolate gelato and it was a perfect yummy end to the evening! The cake on the table next to us looked tasty as well and will have to try that some time! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming here! Loved the ambiance and location. We left happy and full and glad we finally stopped by! read more

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Wow. This was by far one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in Colorado since I moved here in 2017. The highlight of our dine in had to be the amazing service we received from our waiter, Schafer, who we learned is also a Sommelier. He was so friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. I've never felt so taken care of and he seemed genuinely interested in making sure we had an excellent experience at their restaurant. We went here for date night last week and happened to go on a night they were having half off on all their wine bottles, woo hoo! We loved the selection Schafer made for us when the initial choice we made was out of stock. He inquired if we wanted bread service and OH MY GOD. Some of the best bread I've ever had at an Italian restaurant! It was described as burnt garlic bread but he should have called it paradise in your mouth. The bread was flavorful, fluffy and paired amazingly with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar we were provided. The chef even gave us half a loaf to take home and I almost died out of gratitude, that's how lovely this bread was. We ordered the shrimp mango appetizer and absolutely loved the earthy texture of the sauce it was served in. I ordered the special that night, which was a ragu pork dish and I swear I had died and gone to heaven (if there is such a thing). My boyfriend got the Chicken Parmesan and was extremely satisfied with the flavor and portion. We ended the night with a peach cobbler and ice cream. You could tell by our happy dance that it was the perfect sweet ending to a fantastic dinner. I can't believe we have lived down the street from this amazing hole in the wall restaurant for over 2 years and are just now trying it. If you are thinking of dining at an Italian spot, please do yourself the ultimate service of trying Bettola Bistro. Your tummy and more importantly, your taste buds will thank you! read more

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Possibly the best Italian spot in Colorado. Everything is made to order so expect to wait for your food for quite a while. 100% recommend both the mussels and Caesar salad to start off. Really premier appetizer and salad. The entrees were also great but maybe not amazing read more

This was my first time visiting Colorado, and I decided to try Bertola Bistro after seeing all the amazing reviews on Yelp. They were rating it 10/10 and 5 stars, so I wanted to see for myself what made this place so special and I'm happy to say it absolutely lived up to the hype. From the moment I walked in, I was warmly welcomed by Safia (I hope I got the name right). The restaurant is small and cozy, but the reception and hospitality were perfect. For my appetizer, I tried something I had never had before fried rice with mozzarella cheese. It was surprisingly delicious and very flavorful. I enjoyed every bit of it. For my main course, I had the shrimp scampi, and it was cooked to perfection. The shrimp had the perfect texture and the flavors were just right. You can really tell care goes into the cooking here. I also had a drink called the Vermont, which was a mix of white wine and liquor. It was refreshing and delicious. Josh, the waiter who served my drink, was excellent and attentive. They also served a dip (I believe it was some kind of bean and olive dip) with bread, and it was very tasty as well. Overall, I have to join everyone else in saying this place deserves a full five stars 10/10. I truly enjoyed every part of my experience. As someone visiting Colorado for the first time, this has been the highlight of my trip so far. I highly recommend Bettola Bistro to anyone coming to Colorado. No regrets at all! read more

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I came here because a friend of mine recommended the place due to the amazing and personalized service. And I 1000% agree. The sum and server who took our orders were amazing. My friend got the rigatoni with vodka sauce and crispy eggplant which was so delicious. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the sauce was amazing as well as the eggplant. I got the buccatini with marinara and lemon ricotta and meatballs. My server recommended the other dish that came with spaghetti, but I really wanted bucatini however he said the other dish was more complex. I did like my dish, but I can understand that it was not maybe as spectacular as the one he recommended. We shared the burrata with tomato jam, pickled onions, and almonds, which was amazing. We definitely needed more crostini and when I asked for more bread, I got two pieces which confused me a bit as I was expected at least four crostinis since they are pretty small. On Wednesdays all wine bottles are half off, which is a great deal. The sommelier made a recommendation for wine just by asking what we enjoy. We each got a slice of honey cake with raspberry sorbet. I wanted to share a slice with my friend but she did not so I got my own which I finished 75% of it but could've easily been fine with sharing half. It was delicious but i think the honey taste was a lot and the sorbet helped balanced that. Once i ran out of sorbet the sweetness of the cake was too much. I made a reservation because I read reviews that it is recommended to do so we had a 6 PM reservation and there was only one or two tables with people as the evening went on when we left at 8 PM. There were still a couple tables empty but it definitely filled up. It is very dim that is something I immediately noticed. And the menu is on a QR code. read more

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Absolutely fantastic Italian restaurant! The food was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Every dish was beautifully prepared, and the pasta was outstanding. The service was warm, attentive, and welcoming, creating a wonderful dining experience from start to finish. The cozy atmosphere made it the perfect place to enjoy a meal with family or friends. I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait to come back! read more

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Great food , especially the fried brussel sprouts. Great service and prices. Plenty of parking.

I saw the raving reviews of this place & thought it would be a nice last stop before my flight. The service was incredibly welcoming and friendly up until we ordered. My cousin is on medication that limits her appetite & causes nausea. She opted for a side salad and was mainly dining here for me. Our server, Jeff, was patronizing and belittling about her option. We understood the wait was long for the food and didn't have a problem with it. My problem is the disrespect the staff have. We were given bare minimum service and noticed the stark difference in treatment compared to the other tables. I'm unsure if we were being profiled as bad tippers because of our order and thus given bad service. I don't appreciate the prejudice and passive aggressiveness. Jeff barely paid any attention to us. The salad was snidely served to her first, before my entree even tho he was well aware that was her entree. The salad also tasted like it had been sitting out, and the croutons were soggy. I can only barely give credit to him for taking it off our bill without us asking as it was obvious that it was a barely edible dish. Would have appreciated if we had been offered other options or even an apology. Dessert was also not offered to us, even though every other table was offered after their meal. Our check was handed to us shortly after our table was cleared. Shame, as we were interested in the honey cake. I've never experienced worse service in my life. I wish I could have positive things to say about the food but my appetite was ruined by the horrendous and disrespectful treatment. read more

Don't let the strip mall location fool you, this place is a small delight! Excellent service, atmosphere, drinks and, most importantly.. amazing FOOD. We went with the specials (short ribs and black cod) and we need to come back for the lasagna. We also had the Brussel sprouts (so tasty and crispy) and they also brought us fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic oil - classic and yummy. We ended up getting the highly recommended honey cake which was light and delicious - a great ending to a big meal. read more

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Celebrating a late birthday dinner with friends and was greeted kindly by staff . Very personable and fun. Small space so I would recommend making a reservation in advance . We tried a little of everything . Started off with the goat cheese crostini and mussels which were fabulous but the star of the show was the lobster lasagna . I can't explain the experience but all I could say that it's an explosion of flavors that were executed perfectly in a dish ! The chicken Parmesan was delicious as well at the shrimp scampi and seafood diavolo ! Ended the night with chocolate cake and a raspberry gelato expresso . Bartender even made us expresso martini upon request. Give this place a try , it's delicious! read more

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I love, love, love,Iove Shafer (Sommelier, Chef and Owner)! He educated us about each dish and perfect wine pairing. Our group laughed and shared delicious food and warm ambiance. Don't miss out on this hidden gem! read more

Bettola Bistro - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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This place is so special! Amazing vibes and every dish was spectacular! The black cod is a dish I have to have every time I'm here. The desserts are out of this world--have to have the honey cake. Everything coming out of Chef Sue's kitchen is absolutely incredible! read more

What can I say about Bettola other than I think Chef is the wizard of Oz behind her curtain. The food is unreal! It is made with so much thought and care and the flavors and quality are out of control. This restaurant is my absolute FAVORITE! I keep going back because the food AND service are top notch. Speaking of service, this place has the BEST staff. Josh and Schafer, thank you for always making it such a wonderful experience! I love that so much of the food is farm to table and that the staff grows it themselves. As for the ambiance, I love that the space is small and intimate. 10/10 recommend! read more

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Bettola is a must try spot for your next date night. They have a gorgeous setup, with amazing service, and gluten free pasta options. I got the arrabiata pasta with gluten free and vegetarian modifications and when I tell you it was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had I mean it!! I could not get enough of the lemon ricotta on top! I will absolutely return to try the rest of the menu. read more

Bettola Bistro - Pasta arriabiata vegetarian - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This place was so fun! The service was amazing, the food as well. I ordered the special of the day BOLOGNESE LASAGNA, I ate every bite. I also ordered an Italian Cream Soda soo good. Had a limoncello. And for dessert tiramisu. Everything was amazing. We had so much fun with our waiter. Got his name but forgot it. Darn it! I recommend making reservations as we came here for a friend's birthday and it's a small place. My only complaint is that it was pricy. read more

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This place was a real find! Fantastic homemade pasta, appropriate portions, small and intimate, yet casual. Excellent service. Gluten free options available. We shared a Caesar salad, lasagna, and best peach cobbler we have ever had! read more

Omgggg this place is a hidden gem! Been quite a few times now and their seasonal menu never disappoints. Drink are always good and everything is served with a healthy dose of creativity. Super intimate little place - I think the biggest table seats maybe 6. Great for date night! Service is always top notch. read more

A hidden gem, if you are looking for a warm and cozy Italian restaurant this is your place! Great for date night or an evening out with friends. The food was awesome, we started with a tasty bruschetta, warm olives with pickled red onions and goat cheese. We shared an authentic Caesar salad, they have a nice wine selection and mixed drinks. Dinner was on point with the special seafood pasta and bucatini with meatballs and a lemon ricotta. But wait... there's more! Dessert topped off an amazing meal, we had affogato, the gelato was delicious and you must get the honey cake! Care was put into the food, the staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring all patrons felt at home! We will definitely be back. read more

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I took some out of town guests here and they were impressed. The wait to get our food was longer than usual but we were told to anticipate that upfront. The food was on point and the service was great. read more

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Went here after a wedding and we had a large group of people. The food was amazing and it does take time since they are making it from scratch but it's absolutely worth the wait. Great place to take a date and they have an amazing garden outside! Really enjoyed the full experience. read more

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Had such a great experience and meal I forgot to take any pictures. The guest experience started with making the reservation. I was in town for a work meeting and saw the incredible reviews and really wanted to try this place. We had a party of 8 and they figured out how to accommodate us. For those of you who have been here know getting 8 people at one table can be a challenge because this place is tiny. But we had a great table right in the middle of the restaurant. The customer service was on point as soon as we walked in, asking all customers if they wanted ice in their water or not. They also did a great job managing our expectations for cooking times on meals for a larger party. I can't say enough about how great the food was. We started with Arancini (app special) for the table and they were perfectly crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. Each of us got something different for a main course and it's the first time I've seen everyone eat their entire meal. I had the crispy eggplant but everyone's looked delicious. Every dish had fresh herbs, edible flowers or micro greens from the garden out front. Next time I'm in town definitely coming back to try other dishes. Other musts: the Italian soda and save room for the Honey Cake with sorbet. The perfect amount of lightness and sweetness after the amazing pasta dishes. As mentioned this place is tiny so I recommend making reservations. Looking forward to going again. read more

Food was delicious and freshly made to order. I would highly recommend and we will definitely go back. I had the scallop dish which was very flavorful and my husband had the cioppino which was filled with plenty of seafood. We shared the Misto salad which had a simple but very tasty dressing. Our dinner was complete with a scope of Belgium chocolate ice cream topped with some cocoa nibs. Put it on your list of yummy Italian places to try ! read more

Bettola Bistro - Scallops and Mushrooms pasta - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I decided to come here knowing I could get good food, but I did not expect to have one of the best meals of my life. Everything could easily be the best version of that thing I have ever had. From caprese salad with homegrown tomatoes and basil, to the roasted root vegetable risotto with scallops, and finished with a honey cake made from scratch, I was left speechless countless times throughout the meal. And the cocktails are phenomenal as well. If you haven't been you need to visit soon. Everything, including the service, deserves an 11 of if 10! read more

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Had an absolute wonderful experience! The wine parings with each dish fit perfectly , the food was amazing even the things that seemed a little different. The owner and staff were extremely welcoming and the atmosphere in general was very cozy will go again sometime read more

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Great experience. My work team was visiting Colorado from out of town and saw this place had great reviews. 10/10 service and food. Staff was super attentive and kind. Next time we are back in Denver we will be coming back. read more

Bettola Bistro - Lamb Ragu - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Food was excellent as usual and Josh was very professional. We had really yummy pasta! Our Server, Josh, was excellent and very professional. We will be back! read more

Who would have though a strip mall restaurant in Aurora would be delightful. My co-worker read about the restaurant somewhere, and said " I think this place is near you, you should check it out". I am a gin drinker, so I was impressed with the drink menu. The smoked vineyard two thumbs up. Oddly enough though, I don't think they have Italian wine on the menu. I had the Lamb rigatoni... mother of god, delicious. Definitely homemade noodles, homemade lemon ricotta, and black garlic, mint topping, blended perfectly. The bread was used to mop the bowl. Maybe 10 tables... but only 3 could seat 4.... I didn't count, but it is tiny. We went on a tuesday... but I can imagine reservation are required for all other evenings. read more

Absolutely love this place! Bolognese lasagna was hot, cheesy, creamy, delicious. Do not skip the limecello but careful how many you have! We tried to get the honey cake but it was sold out, so order fast if you're thinking dessert. Affogato with peach gelato was delicious too. Super affordable for Italian food, delicious made from scratch, amazing staff, romantic ambiance. Couldn't ask for more. Will be back! read more

Had a wonderful experience with great food and Schafer made it 10/10! New menu everyday! Cant wait to come back and try something new!! read more

Bettola Bistro - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Always delicious freshly made food to order. Wonderful waitstaff. My favorite place gor dinner!

An Italian Hole in the wall bistro. It says it right on their window. Opened in 2018. A precious hidden gem. A cozy spot to try when in Aurora. We tried almost the entire menu and I loved it!! It was such a nice delicious treat. A great surprise! Each meal was carefully prepared and served. Great night overall! We had the following: Charcuterie Platters, Brussels Sprouts, Tuna Crudo, Lamb Ragu, House Black Garlic Risotto, Seafood Diavola, Veal Osso Buco, 12 Layer Honey Cake Panna Cotta and Organic Passion Fruit Cheese Cake and fresh Blueberries. read more

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The food at Bettola was amazing and the staff was phenomenal too. Very attentive and we never needed for anything. This was our first time here so we tried a few options to share so we could sample the menu. First we had the brussel sprouts and caesar salad. They were both delicious and would highly recommend. The crispiness and char on the sprouts was really tasty. For our main courses we chose the Lamb Ragu, Pesto Salmon, and the Scallops. They were all great and each one of us had a different one we liked best. The pesto on the salmon and greens that came with it was so light but none of the dishes were overly heavy. Even the Lamb Ragu didn't seem too filling. That's not a negative. The meal left us full but not overly stuffed where you feel you've eaten too much. All in all it was a great experience and the waitstaff did a good job letting us know the dishes can take some time because the chef prepares each one individually. You could definitely taste that time was put in to each dish. read more

Our absolute favorite restaurant in the whole metro area! The food is always incredible, and the service absolutely can't be beaten. As someone with a food allergy, I know I can relax when we're eating here--with every dish made from scratch, they know exactly what is in everything. And did I mention everything is always incredible?? Try their regularly changing specials or the best scallops in town for dinner and be sure not to skip dessert. 100/10 can't recommend highly enough. read more

Johnson greeted us at the door and was our server throughout the evening! We were there with friends and checking in with us was perfect! Our glasses were always full, our needs were met but we never felt over interrupted! It is a quaint little restaurant with maybe 10-12 tables and it has a very nice bar. I had an aprel spritz and my husband had a bourbon. Our table shared the barrata platter which was excellent! The Caesar Salad was Devine! I had the Chicken Parmigiana and ate every bite and will be thinking about that one for a long time and get it again! My husband had the lobster lasagna and he loved it!! Our friends really enjoyed their meals as well and said they would be coming back again! They take great pride in their chef and the food they serve and the way they present it! For such a small unassuming restaurant it is a diamond! read more