Given a gift card for my birthday, I shared it with my spouse for HIS birthday... what a fabulous gift for BOTH of us!!! It's a lovely restaurant with a a comfortable upscale vibe, it feels special, and it IS special. Our waiter, Greg, was fantastic. So was every other person who served us, picked up our plates, cleaned our table between courses, served us our drinks and food. It was over the top. Then... the food... is truly the star. We began with the Tagelle (a bread with cheeses and a pistachio butter) -- a fabulous start, then moved on to the Lasagna Verde, Maiale al Latte (a pork dish that was butter-smooth), with a side of the Patate (don't know how they can make a potato taste as good as these were). Each was presented beautifully (believe it or not I didn't have my phone to take pictures!!!). It is a very very special restaurant. It's expensive, but one of those places that will stay at the very top of our list for special occasions. read more

Cute little french inspired restaurant. Tiny tapa portions with big prices. Gnocco fritto: Ohhhh this was soo good. What a weird mix of prosciutto and beignets but sooo good. Soufflé al parmigiano: Read raving reviews but prob the least favorite. Did not like Lasagna verde: Yes, this was very good. Bistecca di colorado: This was ok, overcooked otherwise would have been really good Asparagi: Ohh the sauce on this was tasty Gianduia Tiramisù: I thought this was just ok Would come back to try more! read more

The good: the service was incredibly kind. The servers were all super attentive, my water glass was always full, and we were checked on constantly. Props to the team for providing exceptional service. The lasagna was the highlight of the night and the best dish by far. So delicious, I wouldve just ordered two if we knew. The trout was also well cooked so we enjoyed that. The medium: the cocktails were great, just teeny tiny. And the gluten free pasta was middle tier GF pasta, but nothing compared to its sister restaurant. The soufflé was interesting and unique, but looked better than it tasted. When it deflated it very quickly became a cold, salty pile of cheese. The bad: the gnocco fritto is an underwhelming dish and we wished we didn't order it. The concept is just a bit odd and the fried dough was just not very tasty. I would've enjoyed it more with just slices of bread. The fried dough just didn't match the ham and seasonal mostarda which was fog for us. The combination didn't work. overall we all thought it was way too expensive and most dishes underwhelmed us. A little disappointed and likely won't return read more

Dear Emilia - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Beautiful space! Professional service!! Great wine!!! But most importantly AMAZING food read more

See all

I made a reservation thru OpenTable in early June. I was seated at the chefs counter on a Saturday night. I noticed almost every table was occupied. My server, Alondra R introduced herself and went over the new items on the menu. I started with the Manhattan Nero. A strong cocktail. I got the Pomodoro d'estate which is a version of Caprese Insalata that replaced the lettuce salad. Next was the Campanelle. This was cone shaped fusilli pasta in a rich sweet corn cream sauce. Several pieces of crunchy pancetta added texture. Next was the Maiale al Latte with a fork tender slab of braised pork shoulder topped with Ela Farms pear butter and creamy polenta. I paired it with a glass of Predappio Sangiovese. The house manager brought me a glass of white Albarino which is the same grape as the Nebbiolo in the red wine but made differently. A great addition. I also got a side of grilled squash. A great meal. I was so full, I skipped dessert. They add a 20% service charge in lieu of tipping. read more

See all

Excellent service and even better ambiance! Loved the food here - everything was well made and presented. Pastas were fresh! Will probably be back read more

See all

We went here for my birthday dinner, and it was incredible! Definitely lived up to the hype, and more. Just writing this months later, I can still remember the distinct flavors! Definitely worth a special occasion, date night, or just treating yourself! read more

See all

Dear Emilia just opened a few days ago and is already booked out months in advance (bit pro tip: you can snag a seat at the open-seating 6-spot chef's counter if you show up at 4pm). From the team behind Olivia, the focus here is upscale, hyper-regional Italian cuisine with a particular emphasis on Emilia-Romagna. We sat at the chef's counter, which I highly recommend. The staff and service there were excellent and really elevated the experience. Standout dishes for me included the parmigiano soufflé, which was absolutely heavenly and easily my favorite bite of the night. I also appreciated seeing a leek side dish on the menu -- a criminally under-appreciated vegetable in my opinion. It was nice to have a gluten-free pasta option available as a substitute for the garganelli with duck and pork sausage, though I didn't really pick up on the black truffle in that dish. Also, the ribeye was delicious, but I'm still stunned at the $110 price tag. I don't think the dessert was terribly memorable either (the risotto). Overall, we had a great time and enjoyed the food and service, especially at the chef's counter. While it may not end up being our favorite opening of the year, it's a strong addition to Denver's Italian dining scene -- and I would happily go back for that soufflé. read more

See all

I love restaurant Olivia so was excited to try this spot. I liked it but it did not wow me as much as I had hoped. The parmigiano soufflé was a unique dish and you really can't go wrong, the lasagna verde was small but absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly, and the trout was fine but the pesto on top is what made the dish. As others have mentioned, the skin is not crispy so some may choose to take it off. I thought the portion size for the trout dish and soufflé was fair but would have appreciated a larger lasagna roll. The dessert we got was a brownie cake with toasted meringue and cherries and while I loved the meringue and cherries, the brownie was dried out so it left me dissaponted. They provided two complimentary dishes to everyone: foccacia with the main meal and an amuse bouche to start. The amuse bouche was fantastic but the focaccia was overcooked and too crispy for my liking. The service and ambiance were both wonderful. Overall it was a good not great experience read more

See all

A great Italian addition to the Denver area! Would recommend the lasagna verde and DEFINITELY the maiale al latte. I rarely order pork, but it is absolutely a must try. I probably slightly prefer the pasta at their sister restaurant Olivia's because the pasta itself is a bit thicker at Dear Emilia, but the other dishes at Emilia are pretty unique and worth a try. read more

Dear Emilia - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This restaurant has a mid century vibe inside, open kitchen and great service. It felt too bright in there, with the kitchen and all the other lights, a more intimate atmosphere would be better. At times it seemed that the ventilation wasn't that strong in the kitchen and too much was escaping. The service was great, our waiter knew the dishes, could make recommendations and everything was smooth, timed well and professional. Given that they add the tip automatically, it's essential the service is great. The food for us didn't really hit the mark in terms of wowing us. I really appreciate that they source local, put a focus on farm to table and make everything from scratch. I wish the food was more exciting. We started with the mortadella de bison, it was a cute snack, but not really an appetizer level dish. We got the farina de segale, it was good, but not in any way memorable or something that would make me want to come back. The flavor didn't stand out in any way, but it was clear there was a lot of effort put in, the pasta itself was very well executed. For the entree we got the trout, this was a miss and a bit of a mess. There was a lot on the dish, rather working together it just felt messy. Also, if you're serving fish with skin on, it needs to be crispy, otherwise it's fishy and should be removed. We finished with the olive oil cake. It was delicious and moist. I wish the menu had more fish forward dishes, and more elevated appetizers. We are sensitive to some forms of dairy and a lot of the dishes we couldn't have. I hope the menu changes and evolves over time to bring us back. read more

I made a reservation as soon as they opened up reservations. So glad I did. The restaurant is gorgeous with the open kitchen. It is not in my favorite area of town but they have garage parking attached. They suggest 2-3 dishes per person and that was perfect has I already had my 3 ready to go by pre looking at the menu. Ordered myself a glass of Montepulciano di Abruzzo of course! Every dish was so good. I was surprised how light everything felt. Nothing was overindulgent or super rich. Would definitely recommend. The staff were great. Smiles by the whole team and many came over to say hi. Water was continually being filled around the room. The chefs come out and explain each dish. Just love this so much as someone who is a foodie! We are lucky to have this new edition in Denver! read more

See all

Tidbit: Get all the appetizers here! These dishes -- the parmesan souffle, the amuse bouche of chard on pie crust, the mortadella with pistachio -- felt the most unique, reflecting both the Italian region as well as our local Denver products. I also loved the pasta dishes and the fish stew. For the pasta dishes, the sauce work was excellent, and the green lasagna was super unique and beautiful. The fish stew was yummy, but there was something off in the timing of the plate being delivered, which meant... we were more ready for dessert than another main dish (no matter how delicious). I definitely appreciated the service. Heather has put together an amazing team, and I'm excited to see what's to come at Emilia! read more

Staff are amazing! The parm soufflé was different and delicious. The pasta is well made and cooked. A small, but nice wine list. The menu was ok and some dishes lacked flavor. The lasagna verde was tasty, but very rich (oil/fat). I like the location and ambience was nice. read more

Went with a group of 6 for my graduation. The service was amazing. The ambience was perfect. They gave us a free appetizer and some sparkling wine as a congratulations. Food presentation was like art and it all tasted delicious. We all left very happy with our experience. I could not recommend this place enough. read more

See all

I was really looking forward to dining at Dear Emilia based on all the hype, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. The food was just okay, and nothing we ordered stood out, especially considering the price. For what we paid, I expected much better quality, flavor, and overall value. The atmosphere was nice, but that alone wasn't enough to justify the cost. Sadly, I don't think it's worth the price, and I probably wouldn't return. read more

One of the best meals we've had in a long time. Well, since having dinner at their sister restaurant, Restaurant Olivia! Ty & Heather know what they're doing and we will follow them wherever they go! (When are we going to Italy?!) read more

See all

From the food to the ambiance to the cocktails/wine to the hospitality, Dear Emilia is incredible. Highly recommend everything but especially the gnocco fritto (pictured), the lasagna and the bistecca. read more

Dear Emilia - Gnocco Fritto - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I had one of the best foodie events of my chef career at Dear Emilia! I sat at the "Chef Counter", which is similar to a sushi bar vibe. Bright kitchen. Super professional staff. It was easy to carefully ask questions to the chefs as they worked. The goal is using as much local ingredients...meats, farms, etc. Balsamics are made in, along with Italian special made types imported. I get the feeling the menu changes a little often, but certain customer faves stay. The cuisine is one region of Italy. I started off with the traditional house "offering" hors d'oeuvre. Then, soufflé al parmigiano...parmigiano reggiano, pepe nero, saba. An airy soufflé of 24 month aged Parmigiano Reggiano with grape honey from Acetaia San Giacomo and rosemary. Excellant. Followed with a delicious ravioli potato filled pasta with parmesan cream Sauce. Aged balsamic drizzle. For my entree, maiale al latte...polenta cremoso, conserva di pesche, pangrattato. Whey-braised Rugby Scott pork shoulder with creamy Colorado polenta, West Elk peach preserves, topped with breadcrumbs. The whole time, my Server (I think she was the Hostess) was checking in, and making amazing suggestions when I had questions. Wine pairings, cooking methods, regions of Italy. Fascinating. Finally, I ordered Tiramisu to go. It was delicious for breakfast. I'll be back. Thx! read more

See all

Had a lovely dinner with my family. Dinner was exquisite, our server Greg was knowledgeable about the food and answered our many questions about the region. The lasagna is TO DIE FOR!!! In an effort to be more present as a family, we've been trying to not have our phone at the table or I'd post pics of the gorgeous dinner. Absolutely fantastic! Highly recommend!! read more

Amazing night. The power was out, they couldn't cook pasta, but the apps, and the service (ESPECIALLY, Bentley) was amazing. MUST GO!!

Wow, what a mistake. This was a terrible experience. I am ashamed for them. I wish I hadn't booked here for such a special day because they could not handle the hospitality. They bill themselves as a high end experience so that people who want to celebrate something special would go to this restaurant. But only parties of two with a casual timeline are welcome. We were a party of 3 and they had TWO chairs in the waiting area so when our reservation was delayed for over 30 minutes, one of us had to stand the whole time. Would you have guests in your house and only give some of them chairs if you were making them wait for over 30 minutes? When I told the manager this was my daughter's 16th birthday and it was being ruined, she told me to go back to the waiting area and just "enjoy spending time with my family". If I wanted to spend time with my family without your food, I wouldn't be in your noisy restaurant standing in a corner for about 40m minutes. Also my daughter rows crew so we were all up at 4:45 am. If I had known the restaurant wouldn't be able to manage their seating traffic at the time they promised, I would have booked at Mercantile or Tarvernetta. She was soo tired - it was just too late. It was 100% terrible. So they offered me money but you know what, can you get my daughter's birthday back? No. You can't. You ruined it. From me, you 100% deserve 0 stars and James Beard and Michelin should really take note of this if you're aiming at that level. Because your manager is not at that level. TLDR: if you are celebrating something really special like an engagement and you don't want your fiancee to sit waiting bc the restaurant can't handle their own traffic, or if you are a family celebrating your parent's anniversary and you dont' want them to have to stand because there are no chairs, or if you're a couple with young kids that you need to get back early, or if you are any group more than 2 and want to celebrate, don't come here. If, however, you're a couple of yuppies or friends and you've got time and you want to celebrate or eat, ok, sure, come here. But everybody else should go somewhere else. Then Dear Emilia will have the clientele they want and everyone else can have a nice dinner elsewhere. read more

Everything here was delicious and beautiful. Dishes are on the smaller side and shareable, so don't hold back. The beauty of that is you get to try all the goodness they offer. The bison tigelle was so yummy. We shared the lasagna and the pork shoulder. Both were divine. Wine list is top notch. Service is impeccable. Thanks for a great evening! read more

Wow! What an amazing experience. Food, wine, and service were exceptional! Tristan was fantastic with recommendations. This is for sure on our top list of faves! read more

What a wonderful experience we had at Dear Emilia. A perfectly paced meal, with incredible service and delicious food.