We first came to this little unassuming place by word of mouth. All of us love authentic Italian and hoped for the best. We we're blown away!!! And this place has been a staple ever since... The antipasto meat and cheese platter has a ricotta salata and soppressata that together are divine. My favorite has to be the prosciutto vodka sauce on the penne... Delicious! Finally, don't forget about the dinner and a bottle of wine on Wednesday's! Great hump day treat for that someone special...wonderful staff and amazing desserts make this restaurant 5 star all day long! read more

DiFranco's is so good. Pleased it's a few minute walk from us :) Dining there is lovely. Their pasta is some of the best in town. But we also buy their homemade pasta to prepare at ours! read more

My boyfriend and I eat here about four times a month, definitely one of our favorites. Consistent seasonal menu changes always has you trying something new and delicious. It's always a treat when Charlie and Brooke are working too! Best Italian in Denver! read more

Now that I don't work here anymore I can post this without bias ;) Fresh pasta deliciousness, great atmosphere, and an even better crew. I will forever adore this restaurant. Like I have always said, everything on the menu is amazing regardless of season not to mention the BEST chicken parm in Denver! Tonight I had the spaghetti chicken parm and I loved every last bite! Oh and have I mentioned the pastries are to die for! If you haven't been in you must come try it! Love you all!! read more

Had their pasta with Vodka sauce today at the Italian festival. It was delicious. I can't wait go to their restaurant and try some of their other dishes and desserts. read more

Nice chicken parm, meatball and the gluten-free pasta was good also. Decent wine, salads looked nice. Tirramasu was good. Over-all a nice experience..small,cozy place..good size portions and good service. read more

This good Italian boy is about as picky as can be when it comes to Italian foods, but DiFranco's gets four GOLD stars from me. Great service, amazing food, friendly folks, casual atmosphere and prime location all make this place a winner. My only complaint would be that the portions are the same size for both lunch and dinner. At least they seem to be to this guy. Highly suggested. read more

If there's one word that describes the food here, it's fresh. Today they had a special of the chicken parmesean sandwich with a side salad for $11. Ordering both of those a la carte would be $14 so I had to go with their special of the day. Their entire menu looks good. The salad was mixed greens and was well dressed. There were shaved carrots, tomato wedges and fennel. The chicken parm came on fresh bread. The sauce was flavored nicely. The mozzarella was fresh! It was really good. The chicken wasn't that typical deep fried, greasy cutlet of chicken you can get elsewhere. Their ricotta cookies are good. They're rich what you'd expect and really moist. For the $2, you may as well order them and split them with your table or if you're ordering solo, still get them and no one will judge you since they're bite-size. :) The seating itself there is limited. There is a main long table that could maybe hold 8 across on each side and then two tables of two as well. The outside has several seats as well. The overall vibe and feel of this place is clean and modern. The next time I'm there I'll probably get some of their fresh pasta to go. The fettuccine and spaghetti were both $12 per pound. I know I would never make fresh pasta at home mostly likely so I'll definitely try it from here. My coworkers all loved the food as well so we're definitely going to be coming here soon just as you should too! read more

Went here for lunch on a Saturday and it delivered a pretty solid experience. Pretty basic menu but from our two dishes I would imagine it is all very solid. We ordered the chicken and eggplant parm sandwiches and they were both nestled under fresh baked bread which was great. The sauce was nice but could have been a tad thicker. The filling of each sandwich had fresh herbs and nice cheese pairing. Overall they were very good I just think that $11.50 was a bit steep for something that was very good but not mind blowing or huge quantity. Would come back to try the fresh pasta and desserts as well. read more

The Wednesday deal is a good option, but I wasn't impressed with the pasta. My pasta with red sauce had Asian/middle eastern spices, which tasted really good, but not what you expect from an Italian restaurant. The salad was forgettable. The cannolis were good, but a little too sweet for me. Seems like the wine is always pretty affordable though. read more

Had the spaghetti for dinner. Pasta wasn't done properly (slightly crunchy inside). Sauce was different. No olive oil on the table for dipping bread. The meatball was decent, but just one small one, so it felt more like an appetizer than a meal. If I come back, it will be for the meatball sandwich, since the meatball was good. read more

Overpriced food, bland taste, small portions. Yeah yeah I know it's organic, expensive ingredients yada yada. Still I need more flavor for my palate. Had the penne vodka and carbonara - mehh Saving grace - the meatballs were really good but at $3 per ball, come on... read more

Rustic Italian at it's finest! I went for Denver Restaurant Week and had an arugula salad, ricotta ravioli with lamb shoulder and a glass of white wine. Everything was top notch! The four of us sat at the large table top and it was lovely, a great girls night. The restaurant is small and intimate. Great prices for bottles of wine. They also have a cheap date night on Wednesday that includes 2 italian salads, 2 entrees, 2 deserts and bottle of wine for 45 bucks! This is a must try. Great staff too! read more

This is my happy place. Perfect portions, Boulder Natural Chicken (!!!), local produce, and wonderfully happy, kind, helpful employees. Lately I've been all about Macaroni Monday (Penne Pasta + Choice of Sauce + Italian Field Greens Salad for $13)...and I'm not even a little sorry (but maybe my waistline is). read more

First time I went-5 stars, second 3 stars. I like that the pasta is homemade and you order at the cash register. I had ravoil with some kind of shredded beef and ckn parm first time both of which were really good. 2nd time butternut squash ravioli and ckn fettucine both of which were on the bland side and smallish portions. read more

I've been so underwhelmed with takeout during covid but tonight's dinner from DiFrancos was a very pleasant surprise! My 2 year old really wanted spaghetti and meatballs earlier today so when I also saw they had gluten free options for hubby I ordered online ASAP. If I could take off a half star for no kids menu I would. Even the option of half portions of pasta dishes for the wee one would have been appreciated. So, I would have rather got something else but I figured I'd just share with the toddler (she didn't even take one bite. Whyyyy??). Husband wanted gf pasta and meatballs and the gf bread. I ordered a Cesar salad. We also tried a lemon cookie. I wish my stomach held more food so I could have finished the pasta. ...Hello lunch tomorrow. This food brought me back to when I was a little girl growing up in Italy, except I never was a little girl that grew up in Italy, so, like, THATS how delicious it was. You can feel the soul of the nonna that influenced those recipes. The simplicity of the flavors with an added kick I'm not used to in my takeout Italian food really made an impression. Every element to the dish was executed perfectly. My husband said his gf pasta was the best he has had. The meatballs would have been too spicy for my toddler, if she had decided to take even one bite. The salad was the perfect complement. The greens were fresh and the dressing was light and flavorful. The lemon cookie inspired me to want to try every other baked good they offer because it was exquisite. We will be back soon (maybe tomorrow) to try the burrata. I didn't even have time to read reviews before ordering. I understand why this place has so many great reviews. It is THAT good. So much for being proud of myself for not gaining weight during COVID. read more

Absolutely lovely staff & excellent food! We got fettuccini alfredo and penne and both were very tasty, however cannoli stole the show at the end of the meal. Definitely will be back to try some more dishes! read more

Great vibe. Delicious food. I felt like I was in a new york eatery. Servers/chefs have their heart and soul in it. Why 4 stars? A little pricey for the entree portion sizes. My wife and I left hungry even after some delicious lemon ricotta cookies. read more

DO NOT FALL FOR IT! Very antiseptic!. My husband paid $10.00 for a reservation. Would you make reservations at chipotle? HELL NO! Went in & it is a deli/chipotle style fast food kind of place. OMG NO!! Wine was blah! Food was blah! Disappointed that it was not a real dining experience. read more

DiFranco's is a hidden gem! I don't know why this place isn't on every "best restaurants in Denver" list. Their homemade pastas are ahhhh mazing! The spaghetti & meatball has the most amazing red sauce. I also love the fall butternut squash ravioli. Super friendly staff and very very accommodating. My mom is vegetarian & accidentally ordered something with meat & they completely remade the dish for her so quickly! Also $20 HOUSE WINE - can't beat it!! I will continue to go back again & again! My only complaint is that I wish they were open later hours. Love you DiFranco's read more

Difranco’s - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Food was okay. Place had a trendy design. Nothing crazy special. read more

Difranco’s - Penne angel hair pasta meat balls garlic bread - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This is the best Italian restaurant in Denver, and the best overall as far as I'm concerned. Ryan, Charlie, Sierra, and the rest of the team create amazing dishes, combined with top notch customer service that makes every trip to DiFranco's a fantastic experience. They make an amazing gluten free pasta, and the seasonal menu changes provide plenty of great options if you're a regular visitor. The meatballs are the best in Denver, and I also recommend the Penne with Vodka sauce, Stuffed Shells, Rigatoni, and Spaghetti. read more

I can't wait to go back. The salad, spaghetti, sausage, and cannoli were spot on. I now have a red sauce that I aspire to recreate at home. read more

Fresh, Local, Italian in an open, vibrant environment. Across from Dazzle, DiFranco's is the new gem on Lincoln. Serving fresh pasta with delicious sauces and meatballs to die for. This place is great, the atmosphere is as bright as the smile on owner Ryan's face as he runs around making sure everyone is enjoying what he is putting down. Being from the east coast, a legit chicken cutlet is hard to find until NOW! Not to be missed, so don't drive too fast down Lincoln or you might miss this spot on the left underneath the Beauvalon. The caesar salad left me wanting more and there is quite an assortment of delicious desserts to tempt you as you eat. read more

Perfect. Well worth it. The angel hair was enjoyed by all. Add a side of meatball or chicken if you want meat. Note, the meatball has a bit of kick, so if you can't have spicy food stick with naked chicken. The desserts are all awesome too! read more

We're New Jersey natives. "The Italian food isn't as good anywhere else in the country," they said. They haven't been to DiFranco's. I enjoyed what had to be the finest chicken parm. sandwich/sub anywhere. The quality of the chicken and the light breading are not even in the same league as most places. The sauce is seasoned beautifully, and this sub is served with a slice of fresh mozzarella on rustic bread. My wife enjoyed linguine carbonara, which was also amazing. It's a small place. Takeout is always an option, or I'd go early to grab a seat. It's not the most intimate place for dates, but wonderful for friends and family! Don't let anyone tell you Denver doesn't have quality Italian places. read more

After a year of coming to DiFranco's, it's time to update my review. I can't say enough good things about this place. The food is amazing: super flavorful, super fresh and super light. The owners and staff are also very friendly. Do yourself a favor and try them out. Be sure to stop by their booth at the South Pearl Farmers' Market to sample their pesto sauce and vodka sauce. You'll be hooked, I promise. read more

The nastiest chicken parm I've ever had in my life. Cold rubbery chicken, odd spices, dry over cooked pasta and virtually zero parmesan anywhere on the dish. I ate a few bites five hours ago and my stomach still hurts. And they have the nerve to charge $20 for it...??? FIND ITALIAN ELSEWHERE. read more

Good lord!!! Grandma's spaghetti recipe is amazing. Like nothing else. Spaghetti fan? Then you have to try DiFranco's. The seasonal items are amazing too. Hurry before the Sweet Corn Ravioli is off the menu. read more

If you love spaghetti this is the place to eat! Not a quick Italian place so you actually need to sit down and enjoy the flavor:) very friendly staff read more

If you love Italian food and are nearby, this is the place to go. Their Spaghetti noodles are stern and the Meatballs are one of the best I've ever tasted in my life. We also ordered their Ravioli and it wasn't the typical red sauce. The sauce that came with the Ravioli is refreshing, tasteful and satisfies you wanting more even when you're full! The staff was helpful, didn't rush us and made sure we knew what we wanted. Bonus: The owner of the restaurant has a picture of his grandmother(when she was in her prime) in a bikini on the wall of the restaurant. What a homage to pay for the woman who clearly influenced his life! read more

Yo this spot is legit! Don't be fooled by the can sodas and chill vibe, this is true Italian cooking at its finest. The gentlemen up front welcomed us in and gave grata recommendations. We went with the sweet corn ravioli with beef and my girlfriend had the bucitini. Easily could have been fine dining anywhere else, but here it was priced right $15-17. We will come back on out next cheat day! read more

This is my favorite Italian place in Denver. The food is amazing and always fresh. You can't go wrong with any pasta dish on the menu. It's fun to go to DiFranco's throughout the year as the menu has seasonal changes. Their Wednesday night date night deal is perfect! We love DiFranco's and always feel welcomed by the staff. read more

Difranco’s - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This was easily the best spaghetti I've EVER had!! So delicious, especially the meat ball. read more

Difranco’s - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I love this place! Today I tried the ravioli, and it was delicious. Each visit the food is so flavorful. I need to keep returning until I have tried it all. Do not miss the Nutella gelato! Parking in the garage adjacent to the restaurant is so convenient which is a big plus downtown. Staff are efficient and very pleasant. read more

Went to DiFranco's with a friend because we both have to eat gluten-free and this place looked like the perfect combo of both safe and great. It was! My friend had the polenta, and usually I'm not a big fan but it looked divine, and I had some grain free pumpkin ravioli. It was incredible! I live up in the mountains and will DEFINITELY be making a stop at DiFranco's every time I go to Denver. I should add that I loved the atmosphere, giant table and the staff was very friendly and helpful. All around great experience! read more

The lunch menu initially seemed to provide a nice selection of entrees but, upon closer inspection, nothing stood out as something I really wanted to eat. I choose the Spaghetti Carbonara just because I have a very fond memory of enjoying that dish in Rome. I must say that they did an excellent job on the food and it was very authentic to the original recipe. The one thing that left me feeling like this had been a bad choice for my lunch break from work was the price. $18 (includes tip but no wine or other beverage) was much too much for a smallish portion of this simple peasant food. I might have been slightly less disappointed if there had been more pancetta in the bowl, but no such luck. Even food done well can be overpriced. I do intend to give them a second chance. But on a more special occasion and when I'm dining with friends. read more

Yet another 5 star rating on our dinner last night. The duck ravioli (one of the most decadent dishes we have ever eaten) was the highlight, followed closely by the lasagna (the best we have ever tasted). Our aspiring chef son (21) was truly inspired by your offerings. Another perfect Italian dinner from DiFranco's....nice work! read more

Great Food with really friendly service! Amazing prices. We will be back! Thanks Charlie Johnson, GM. Chicken Parmesan was excellent!

Love this place! We hadn't been there in years because we moved further south. Frankly, I wasn't sure if it was still open. But when we drove past and saw it was open, we had to have dinner. It's still just as good as I remember. Hands down some of the best Italian food in Denver! And their date night take out on Wednesday is a great deal. read more