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Carelli's Of Boulder

3.9 (387 reviews)
Closed Closed

Carelli's Of Boulder Photos

CARELLI'S OF BOULDER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Romantic
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Carelli's Of Boulder

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Reviews With Photos

Sohrob H.

Uniqueness: A Boulder favorite with consistently great Italian food and a welcoming atmosphere Wait Time: **** (Popular but well-managed, reservations recommended) Food Quality: ***** (Always delicious, great portions) Service: ***** (Friendly, efficient, and welcoming) Setting: ***** (Cozy yet slightly upscale, great for special occasions) Cost: **** (Reasonable pricing for the quality and experience) Carelli's is one of my absolute favorite spots in Boulder. The food is always consistently great, the service is attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming with just the right touch of upscale dining. I've celebrated birthdays, graduations, and other milestones here, and it never disappoints. It's also a perfect spot for parents visiting CU students--nice enough to feel special but still casual and reasonably priced. The pasta dishes are fantastic, the pizza is excellent, and everything always comes out fresh and flavorful. Whether you're stopping in for a casual dinner or a special occasion, Carelli's is a solid choice. Would I come back? Absolutely--this place never misses.

Fettucine Carbonara
Tammy S.

It's been lovely since our date here so May years ago when we sat by the fire. We still enjoy going and the atmosphere is both warm and comfortable while being a social and lively place. Always greeted with a smile, we do try to make reservations because they can get busy, we feel welcomed and are always seated quickly. There is a patio that is great as well when the weather permits. The food has always been the main reason we return and tonight was no exception. I ordered the papársele carbonara and my husband got the risotto funghi with a chicken breast. Both dishes were fabulous! They were well balanced, perfectly cooked and bright with seasonal vegetables. The wine is almost always the house Chianti and dessert the lemon crème brûlée. So glad we have this neighborhood gem in our neck of the woods!

Veal Parmigiana

Great ambience, food and service. Shannon and the rest of staff rock, do a fantastic job.

$42 tenderloin meat and spaghetti
S G.

We came to celebrate a birthday party. We enjoyed our meal together. It is not our first time eating at Carelli's. We love it so much. Food and drinks tasted delicious . I took the tortellini's but, I found out they don't make it over there, only the sauce service was amazing. See ya next time. Cheers

Meatballs

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2 months ago

Excellent food and great prices. Drove up from Denver to try it out and will definitely be coming back!

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5 months ago

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8 months ago

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1 year ago

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22 days ago

Excellent food. Wonderful ambience. I had the gnocchi. It was delicious. We ate at the bar. The red wine was perfect.

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11 months ago

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1 year ago

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

Hands down...the BEST restaurant in Boulder!! Food is always wonderful! Staff is extremely nice. Our favorite!

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6 months ago

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2 years ago

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9 months ago

Overpriced and my dish was inedible. Broccoli and noodles...in a pan of water. What a disappointment

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10 months ago

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

Food very good. Patio is simply a gated area adjacent to the parking lot. Overall environment old school. But again quality food

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1 year ago

reagan was awesome. I would highly recommend. great place in Boulder to go for nice events with good prices and nice people.

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2 years ago

Gluten free Pizza and Foccacia is amazing! Beautiful restaurant with great service! Great cocktails and Wine list.

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1 year ago

Amazing service! So sweet and always asking what they can do. Beautiful atmosphere and such yummy food!!

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2 years ago

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Page 1 of 10

Ask the Community - Carelli's Of Boulder

What's the dress code?

It's Boulder

Is there a dessert menu? I don't see any desserts mentioned on the online website.

Yes, they are FABULOUS. It was my Birthday and the Decadent Chocolate Cake with Strawberries and chocolate sauce was melt in your mouth HEAVEN!

What is the corkage fee for bringing in a bottle of wine?

Colorado state law does not allow for corkage/bringing your own wine into on-premise establishments (restaurants, clubs, lounges). You may take sealed wine home purchased at the establishment.

View All 5 Questions

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4.9(112 reviews)
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I'd give more stars if I could. Genuinely French crepes. It was his grandmothers recipe. Fresh and…read moredelicious. I was $1 short and he gave me the money! This place was on diners drive ins and dives. Well deserved.

I'd heard that this local French crepe place was good and because of transportation issues had not…read moremanaged to get here until now. But I am glad we had time today and went shortly after they opened for brunch and really enjoyed ourselves. We decided to share one savory crepe and one sweet. They are very large yet delicate and we barely finished them. Our savory was the Parisian and the sweet was the classic lemon. They were perfect in every way. Order at the counter when you arrive and choose a seat in the dining area. It's classic white walls with art and wood tabletops and metal classic cafe chairs. The food was excellent, the French chef owner made the crepes and delivered them to the table. We had picked up our drinks as we paid before choosing a table. It's usually been full when I've seen pictures in the past but it was a very cold day and students at CU as well as other families just getting back from the holiday season. They also offer Build Your Own Crepe and we probably will next time. For a sweet crepe next time I would do one with Nutella but without any banana as many of the standard choices had. For savory next time I would take the Normandy. We chose quickly today as a line started forming behind us. I had looked online at the menu though my husband had not had time. A plan would be good. It appeared that the counter staff may also be family. It is such a welcoming place with really good food, not found elsewhere in Boulder. And very good pricing for quality and portion size. They opened in an unusual little spot, almost downtown but not quite, in the stretch along Broadway between CU and the Pearl St Mall. They have a small parking access to 4 shared spaces with the shop next door to it and the access is on Arapahoe. If you are staying at the large new hotels on the Hill it's an easy walk, the equivalent of one long block. If you know Boulder well and need to easily park, there is paid parking in the library lot across Broadway and an easy flat walk both ways.

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Holy Crêpe - Dining area still with many seats

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Il Pastaio - Veggie lasagna topped with spicy arrabbiata sauce, roasted potatoes, Salad and bread

Il Pastaio

4.4(598 reviews)
1.1 mi
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I finally made it here and oh em gee! It is so frikkin good. It's like being transported to Italy…read more Even though I made a reservation and had hoped for a table, party of one, the place was packed on arrival and I got seated at the two person bar. All good. I loved having a view of the bustle of the restaurant and especially all the parties celebrating birthdays. A few employees would gather at the table while delivering dessert and sing happy birthday. A few patrons like me joined them in the serenade. Such a warm, family vibe. A lovely gentleman sat in the open bar stool next to me. Turns out he's a regular and longtime Boulder resident. He gave me some menu tips. Plus it was fun to learn about him and his business. I had the red wine on tap. Delicious and $9. Two favorite qualities in wine. I got the bolognese with linguini. It was beyond fabulous. Insert chef's kiss! I took a small container home because I knew it would make a perfect lunch the next day, and it was. The rolls are divine. Hard, crunchy exterior with softness on the interior. I had one there and brought a second home to enjoy with lunch the next day. I know how to live. I enjoyed a short chat with Mariano, the owner's son who basically grew up there. It reminded me of all my favorite places in Philadelphia where I'm originally from. I had been missing my casual Italian restaurant places but now I've found my new home. Cin Cin! See you soon again.

One of the best Italian restaurants we've been to. The pastas are house-made, the sauces are…read moreconsistently excellent, and there are solid vegetarian options--which we really appreciate. We discovered this place by chance while wandering around Boulder and were lucky enough to walk in that first time. Since then, it's become our go-to spot for celebrating special occasions. The food has never disappointed, and the hospitality is always warm and welcoming. Recommended dishes: Chicken Parm Mushroom Ravioli Vegetarian Lasagna Gnocchi Spicy Aurora Sauce Pesto Cream Sauce Note: The restaurant is closed on weekends, so plan accordingly and make a reservation in advance.

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Il Pastaio - Food Service Cloud

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Our first time visiting The Buff due to the positive recommendations. That always worries me…read morebecause the expectations are set high. We were greeted by a great hostess with an excellent sense of humor. They were able to accommodate our party of 7 at a round table that still had plenty of elbow room for all of us. Our server, Michelle, greeted us right away and provided recommendations on their coffee and drinks. She was energetic and fun - we loved her genuine interaction with us! The food came fairly quickly considering they were nearly full. I chose the cinnamon roll French toast (chef's kiss!!) and hubby had the basic breakfast. We shared our meals so we could each have something sweet and savory. My niece had the Heartland Skillet and said it was to die for! I don't think there was much on the menu where you could go wrong. And bonus - they offer a breakfast cocktail for 99 cents with an entree order. You can get up to 3. This is an excellent choice for brunch (service and food!) and we will return next time we are in Boulder!

Great food and friendly service. Although there is usually a wait, the wait goes quick, so don't…read morelet it discourage you from going there! They have a lovely dining room with a good atmosphere and a large menu with lots of variety. We love the Buff! (Also the $0.99 mimosas and bloody Mary's are so fun!)

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The Buff Restaurant - 1/2 order of gluten free French toast & 1/2 order of American skillet

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The Buff Restaurant - Eggs Benedict - wouldn't trade the dog for it - but perhaps the wife

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Carelli's Of Boulder - italian - Updated May 2026

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