So, updating my previous review now that we've been able to try their food. We came in this morning for brunch and it's so good! My girlfriend got the Chicken and Waffles while I went for the Huevos Ranchero with Jalapeño Elk Sausage. We were sat immediately and the service was on point. Plenty of food for fairly cheap. We will definitely be back to try other brunch items and the dinner menu. read more

Shells and Sauce - Huevos Rancheros with Elk Sausage - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Time at Shells and Sauce My sister's birthday is a special time and I wanted to give her and my brother-in-law a nice dinner. We selected a restaurant well known to my wife who patronized it for over two decades. We arrived on time, at 6 p.m., expecting prompt and attentive service due to the restaurant's policy of turning tables every 90 minutes. We sat alone until about 6:10 when a surly waiter approached us, clearly annoyed that he had to deal with people in their 70s. I'm 75. We ordered wine and salads, which were delivered at an interval longer than expected, around 6:30. In the interval between ordering and delivery of the salads, the waiter grudgingly accepted our entrée orders. At 7, the arrogant waiter rudely advised my sister that her entre was not available and told her that she would have to order an immediately-available pasta dish. Seeing the evening stretch out, we ordered a second bottle of wine. Still no food. Before the entrees were delivered, my sister lost patience and decided to leave. Understandable given the dismissive treatment we received. The only mistake I made was not going out with her. We vainly protested this treatment to the waiter and asked the whereabouts of the second bottle of wine, the arrogant waiter denied that we had ordered it. Out of politeness, we did not point out to him that the wine glasses had been sitting empty for a long time and should have been cleared if they were no longer to be used. Unbelievably, there is more to the crappy service, but I'll not bore you with more details. Suffice it to say that I love dining out and have done so hundreds of times in New York City, London, Paris, Washington D.C., Prague, and scores of other cities over the past 50 years. I can differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable service. Shells and Sauces serves the unacceptable variety. If you are in your 70s, do not patronize Shells and Sauce. Do not patronize Shells and Sauce if you plan to live into your 70s. If you know anyone in their 70s, be a friend and urge them never to utilize Shells and Sauce. Finally, one nice thing about the passage of time is that after two days my frustration faded. And I also know that the rude, arrogant, nasty waiter will remain a jerk until the end of time. read more

I wanted a go-to neighborhood Italian place for dinner. Despite the large portions (my meal lasted for 2 more) and the decent price, I will probably not be returning. The appetizer we ordered (crispy brussel sprouts) were the best part of the meal for us. Fried and perfectly crispy, the brussel sprout is elevated to its best manifestation. I got the pork belly gnocchi, which was creamy and salty, but not much more. The creme brulee was sweet and vanilla-y but lacking all subtlety. Also, while I understand that it's a popular and busy restaurant, the service shouldn't reflect the traffic. Our server looked rushed and annoyed the entire time. read more

No parking, no business. While I understand that due to the nature of the neighborhood parking can be an issue. There is a parking lot in back that has 19 spaces (not sure how many employees use) and parking MAY be able to be found on 12th Ave, but I tried to visit this restaurant on a Wednesday night (have a LivingSocial deal) and there was no parking to be found even within reasonable walking distance. That's fine. They could have great food as many reviews attest, but I can too easily find a dozen other places that have food that is at least equally good and where I can park quickly and easily - no hassle. I am sure that many in the neighborhood enjoy this restaurant, but the lack of sufficient parking has imposed a cap on the revenue potential of this business. I will just give my LivingSocial deal away. read more

Shells and Sauce had been established in the Capital Hill location for years. The establishment serves brunch and dinner. When you walk in the front door you are greeted with energy, friendly smiles, and great atmosphere. Food quality is great, prices are still reasonable for the past 4 years since I have known them. For a word of advice you can never go wrong with a $3 mimosa with breakfast. read more

This is a good mom and pop Italian restaurant. They have great happy hour specials. I've eaten here a few times with the family. Depending on what you order it can be expensive ($20 pasta with a protein), but then you can get a bargain for the calzone or pizza (HUGE calzone). Ate here in August and had a peach trip dessert that was delicious - cobbler, sherbert, and cheese cake. The cobbler alone was worth it! read more

The food was amazing! Service was fun and friendly. The location was a little uncomfortable, it's small and old and stairs upstairs are inconvenient to restrooms. I think next time I'll ask for table on main level or enjoy the people watching outside. Great happy hour prices! read more

Shells and Sauce - The white chocolate bread pudding was everything! - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We are not from the area, and my wife and I have made this restaurant a "must" when we visit Denver. We love the character of the surrounding neighborhood and once inside, the staff has always been extremely friendly and highly attentive at the table. As for the food, I've only had two of their specials which are not on the main menu. Last night I ordered a Blackened Californian Sea Bass entree which was arguably the best fish-based meal I've ever had. I don't recall the name of the entree, but my wife ordered an angel hair pasta meal with salmon and it was also fantastic. We don't know when our next trip will be back to Denver, but we do know we will be back here when we do! read more

Shells and Sauce is my favorite neighborhood spot for Italian food. The wine selection is a great reflection of the restaurant: cheap, unpretentious and good. I had a healthy glass of Barbera and the new Rosso from Coppola, both of which were great and under $8. When you get the bread on a good day, it's delish. When you get it after it's been sitting in the oven too long, it's crumbly and sad. I with they would serve just olive oil with the bread instead of the balsamic -laden dip they serve now. Overall the bread is a nice treat on a cold day. The house salad is overpriced not good. The ingredients are average and the portion is small. I'm glad I never ordered the cheese plate because it sounds disappointing as well. However, I think they do have great entrees--I've never been disappointed there. The dishes are creative with subtle twists on old standards. Their meatballs are heavenly and reasonably priced at $11. They chicken piccata was surprisingly good with a great balance of capers to cream. And, it was accompanied by the most lusciously buttered spinach. I've never had desert here, but their red velvet cake looked gorgeous. All in all, I will continue going to shells and sauce, a great neighborhood italian joint. read more

I've been frequenting Shells and Sauce as my go-to moderately-priced Italian restaurant since I moved to Denver. I'm always impressed by the food I get, as well as the attentiveness and friendliness of the wait staff. My most recent experience did not meet those expectations however. Our party of 5 arrived around 5:50 and was seated in the upstairs portion. At first we were at the bar because seating was full, but a table opened up around 6 and the very gracious host who sat us was able to make the smaller table work. Our waitress greeted us and not everyone in our party was ready to order, so we asked for another minute to decide. 10 minutes later, she finally returned to take our order. Right after ordering (around 6:15) I let our waitress know that I was in a bit of a rush (I needed to leave by about 6:45 to make a play downtown) and asked if she would bring my check so I'd be able to just eat quickly and leave. I paid for my meal and then our party sat waiting for our food for the next 30 minutes. By about 6:35, I asked the waitress to just have my meal come out in a to-go box so I'd be able to leave on time. At 6:45, there was still no sign of our food and our waitress had given us no indication of how much longer it would be. I ended up having to leave the restaurant WITHOUT my food. When I asked my co-workers the next day (they were kind enough to bring the food to work for me) they said that the food had come about a minute after I left and that my food still wasn't even packaged to go! I want to be able to go back to Shells and Sauce because even cold the next day my dish was delicious, but I'm not sure that I can put up with the hit or miss service. read more

Uhhh...YUMMMMMMM-O! Decided to grab some dinner here on a rather stuffy, hot Wednesday night. Small, cozy restaurant that was hustlin' & bustlin' with people...a signal that this place is good eatin! I love the ambience of the inside, though we felt it was a tad too warm and opted for patio dining. Actually as it turned out, it was warm out there too! Oh well. They start you off with some bread and a delicious balsamic dipping sauce. I don't believe it was the normal EVOO & balsamic vinegar. This was more acidic, garlicky, and had some basil ground in there. It was a bit tart for me at first, but it is actually very flavorful. We shared a salad- the one with beets, chicken, candied walnuts, goat cheese, dried cherries, and mixed greens. Delicious! It could be a meal salad along with the bread they serve. Was pretty full after this. Then came the entree. I ordered some stuffed shells, which were stuffed with a butternut squash/sweet potato mixture. It was surrounded by a pesto cream sauce and later topped with shredded parm. What a flavor bomb! Loved the flavor combo, but I could have enjoyed it even more if these were made into raviolis. My love ordered the artichoke raviolis with shrimp. He loved it. I got a taste and my oh my, I liked it better than mine. Great and overall attentive service. I noted that the waiter is actively looking around to make sure all of his tables were given some TLC. Would definitely love to dine here again and try the pizzas. I was eyeballing one at the table next to us and it sure looked delicious. read more

It's places like Shells and Sauce that make me wonder why anybody would ever eat at an Olive Garden... The setup is a bit weird if you've never gone before, which I hadn't. You check in downstairs, and if there is a wait for a table you can go and try and find a table upstairs. The place seems pretty busy, but we were able to get an upstairs table after maybe 15 minutes of sitting at the upstairs bar. I'm not sure how they coordinate who is where... but regardless, go upstairs if you don't want to wait for a table. This place does have a couple minor annoyances. First, they have a big wine list but only have one glass that is less than $7. Some of the wines on the list are worth less than $10 a bottle at the store, so there is no reason to charge such obscene markups. Luckily, I don't often drink wine at restaurants. The beer on tap selection is also lacking... the place only seems to have 2 beers on tap. That is really far too few... The bottle selection is ok. Beyond the minor alcohol related annoyances, the food here is AMAZING. The eggplant parm was cooked perfectly. I could eat it every day. The dipping sauce for the bread was also very very good. The stuffed shells were the perfect blend of sweet and savory. The only minor disappointment was the mac and cheese appetizer. It looked and sounded a bit better than it actually tasted. It didn't have much flavor. I'm not sure if it needed salt or something else, but it didn't really taste like much other than the crunchy top, which was very good. I'd recommend a different app. I will definitely go back for the eggplant parm. read more

Shells and Sauce has become a favorite of ours. Just down the street from our house, it is the perfect place when we need someting delicious and don't feel like cooking. Up until last weekend, we hadn't had anything but dinner at S&S, but a friend was doing a brunch and we decided it was time to check out Shell and Sauce for brunch. Let me tell you - I thought dinner was amazing, but brunch is even better! We were in a group of 14, and ever person loved their food. The prices are also great. I had a skillet with eggs, potatoes, bacon, and lots of fresh veggies plus coffee and a bloody mary all for just $14. There were so many other delicious items on the menu, I can't wait to go back! read more

First off - brunch here is AMAZING. Not kidding. The food (funnel cake fries, breakfast skillets, biscuits and gravy...I could go on) is just damn good. I decided to update my review because I returned to S&S for dinner the other night and was, to be honest, skeptical about returning for dinner as my first experience was not very good. I went for dinner just under a year ago and remember really struggling with the menu and finding something that sounded good to me...and after settling on a dish, was not happy and neither was my date with theirs. The food just wasn't that good. Fast forward to last weekend, I had a "deal" certificate worth $30 so we decided to give dinner another shot (after I reviewed the menu on-line to see if it had changed and I believe it did because I was actually torn on what to order this time). I had the Bolognese and my friend had the lasagna. Both dishes were quite good (although the Bolgonese was pretty heavy on the garlic, so if you aren't a garlic-lover, this probably isn't for you) but both were still good. They started the meal with bread and a balsamic dipping sauce and both were delicious! We also got caesar salads and my biggest thing with caesar is that I don't like the anchovie taste and even without the anchovies on it, I still think it was a little too "fishy" for me. I enjoyed the croutons though :) The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was because our service, well, sucked. Our waitress had 4-5 tables and while she was very speedy to take our order, she never came back to see if I wanted another glass of wine or to refill my friend's water (although, after she dropped the check off asked her if she wanted some more water then. um, no.) Damn it bad service really ruins a meal for me. And really, it was just a good glass of wine that I really wanted another glass of! I couldn't have pushed my empty glass any closer to the edge of the table and still she didn't come by or notice. While I did just purchase another "deal" today worth $40 there, I will most likely put it towards brunch where the service has always been great and the food as well. read more

Love, love, LOVE this place! We used to live in the neighborhood and this was a 2-3 visit/week restaurant for us. The food is amazing and always changing, I definitely have a few regular favorites but it's always exciting to see what they have on special. Great atmosphere that's always buzzing and never stuffy, and I cannot compliment the staff enough. When we were regulars they would always remember us and even now, although we don't make it there as often, they still remember us and are very accommodating to any needs we might have. A Congress Park classic! read more

I came to Shells & Sauce with my sister from out of town over the summer, and we were both big fans. There is an extensive wine list which I took advantage of. We split a few veggie dishes and each got a pasta entree - everything was delicious. The service was great. I definitely recommend going on a day with nice weather! It was nice to sit out on the patio, sip wine, and enjoy the cute little street that the restaurant is on! read more

Order the truffle mac and cheese appetizer, it's a game changer! I had the cioppino for dinner, but had to wait almost an hour because they dropped my dish coming up the stairs. Staring at the table while everyone is digging in their food is not fun. However, ordering mojito after mojito is. Those things were good, best drink on the menu. I ended up getting my money back for my order, which def improved my experience there. I didn't have to ask. We were a group of 7, everyone ordered something different and I think the stand-outs were the 1) Wild Mushroom Marsala, 2) Spaghetti & Meatballs 3) Pork Chop Special. The staff even helped our group with suggestions on where to go for after dinner drinks, which is always appreciated especially for out-of-towners. read more

I've only been to Shells & Sauce for brunch, so I can't vouch for any other meals, but - I just can't get as obsessed with this place as most others are. For one, it's certainly not for the health conscious. The best items I've sampled there all come out of a deep fryer. Their chipotle sour cream is to die for, but it's not enough to get me to suggest this place anymore. Seriously, try the waffle fries if you don't care about calories. But, outside of that sour cream - I'm just not impressed. Recently, we had a reservation for 6 of us to join for brunch. Our reservation wasn't ready and we waited outside (in the cold, since there isn't much of a waiting area inside) for 10 minutes. When we did manage to sit down, we were wedged between two other parties that were just SCREAMING loud (throw on top of that the music playing overhead) and we essentially had to sit there in silence staring at each other. You couldn't even hear the server explaining the specials. The eggs carbonara is (sometimes) overly salted and the "poached egg" comes out of some cookie-cutter style mold vs being poached. Which would be generally fine, if it didn't come out overcooked - I order a poached egg for the runny yolk. I tried the traditional parmigiana (with eggplant) and substituted the spaghetti for salad. The eggplant was really oily, that oil just dominated the flavor of my dish. The romaine in the salad was slightly yellowing and looked like it was on its last legs. I've tried various versions of their benedict over time and the toasted brioche is generally hard as a hockey puck and impossible to enjoy since you're usually just spraying crumbs all over everyone or scared to crack a tooth. When you get an omelette, the "toast" is just bread they throw on the griddle which just makes it taste like canola oil. I don't know anyone that wants to eat canola griddle oil wheat bread. Just put it in the toaster or under a broiler? To boot, our coffee mugs generally sit there empty until we flag someone down for a refill. I would like to think that their dinner service is better (based on all these other reviews, I am sure it is), but I just don't think I'll be coming back for brunch anytime soon unless a few changes are made or someone else drags me there. read more

Shells and Sauce - Eggplant Parm - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Came in for a one year wedding anniversary. They didn't comment or mention anything or do anything even though I put in in the resume and also talked to the server before hand. My food was subpar as well. Very disappointed. Won't come here for a special occasion anymore. People want to feel special at their special occasions. This experience was a plain Thursday night due to their attention. read more

After having heard so many great things about this place I had very high expectations. I was not disappointed in any way. I went with friends to Sunday brunch. The place was packed! We all had the bottomless mimosas ($10), which were the best (strongest) I've ever had. Our glasses were never empty, which is no small feat when serving my friends and I (we love mimosas)! The menu has a huge variety of dishes and I had a hard time narrowing down what to order because everything sounded so delicious. I ordered the chicken fried steak. It was out of this world! I LOVE sausage gravy and they were very generous with it. I was in heaven. The steak was tender and delicious and the accompanying hash browns were perfectly crisp. We shared the zucchini fries and the parmesan truffle fries. Both were great. I can't wait to back again and again to graze my way through the entire menu. I don't know our server's name but she was phenomenal. The ONLY reason I didn't give this place 5 stars was for the noise. It's a tiny space and its was extremely loud. I wonder if there isn't something they can do to install some sort of sound buffers. read more

We went late at night after the Botanical Gardens and it had a fair amount of people for close to 9ish. The food here is just wonderful The bread is simply divine. I had gnocchi, and the Gorgonzola sauce was cheesy and a perfect texture of creamy. I also had a Caesar salad that was perfect on the amount of dressing and a good size for a side. My friend's food was great too; two had the special of stuffed ravioli with crab. I did not have any beverages except water, but my friends all had mixed drinks and said they were great. There are two drawbacks to this place: the size- the entry way does not leave any place to wait, so you are kind of in the middle of the room in an uncomfortable kind of way waiting...and the tables are very close. My chair kind of stuck out in the walkway and I felt like I was constantly in the way of the waitstaff. The waitstaff were slow. Like, super slow. I understand we were there late, but there weren't that many tables and they hadn't closed yet... we waited a while for our check and my friends waited a good while for their drinks. But the food... the food is soooooo good. Oh, and... I really want to try their dessert menu. A lot. read more

I visited Shells and Sauce when they first opened and was a fan right way. Eventually they went through a phase where it seemed like the quality of food had suffered. Now, they are back to their full glory! The food here is very good, and the atmosphere upstairs and on the the patio is peaceful and relaxing. The servers all provide excellent customer service, and this has never wavered during any one of our many meals here. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars in the noise level downstairs, inside. The room seems to have a tin can effect that makes everything so loud that I have left with a headache more than once, and it is difficult to have a conversation with the person sitting across from you without having to speak very loudly over the rest of the noise. Others I have talked to have experienced the same thing. Some discrete noise dampeners or tapestries would easily fix this issue. With excellent food and fun, prompt, friendly service, I will continue to frequent Shells and Sauce when I can get a table upstairs or outside. If you haven't tried it yet, get over there! read more

Good Lasagna and Stroganoff Strong wine list Came in on a Friday nite w/out reservations so sat @ the bar to have a drink & wait. Cole G. was so good, we never needed a table - thank you! He suggested a Riesling as my partner likes sweet - great choice, got a bottle. Try the truffle oil mac n' cheese only if you like truffle oil - strong but good for me. Lasagna was good and plentiful - more than enough for lunch the next day too. Stroganoff was delish - almost as good as my mom's. Went back for Happy Hour a few days later and had a smaller portion of Stroganoff $7 and a glass of Red Diamond Malbec $4.75 - excellent. read more

When someone brought up this place I thought it might be some sort of mac & cheese joint with all kinds of fancy pants dishes. Now that I've given someone a new restaurant idea, I'll continue with my dining experience at this quaint Italian joint. After much debate on where we should go instead of the normal Asian place we seem to only go to, we landed here, all 8 1/2 of us. Now we didn't know it was such a small place so I would suggest if going with a group larger than 4 that you call and make reservations. We got lucky and only had to wait 20 minutes for a table. On to the good stuff, the food..... Apps----- brussel sprout salad thing - soooooo good!! It had bacon and was fried up so perfectly I could have eaten just that for dinner, but I controlled myself. Antipasta salad - filled with everything but the gluten (pasta), yummy and paleo approved, if you're into that sort of thing. Din Din time!! Good thing about a large group is sampling everyone's dish, which of course we did. 6 cheese pizza - now I'm a big pizza fan even after working at a pizza place for 8 years, but 6 cheeses might be too much for me. It was really good, but wayyyyyyy too rich for my face. One slice and I was in a cheese coma for the whole night, some might say that's a good thing, but I wasn't feeling it. Order it and share with friends, don't eat the whole thing like I did. Classic spaghetti and meatballs - A staple in Italian and as a single guy claiming he cooks, but they do it better here. Seasoned well and enough to have for a midnight snack/2nd dinner. Chopped salad - comes with dinner and while I can't stand cheese that reminds me stale locker room feet, I took all that off and mowed down mine and anyone elses that didn't want to finish. I'm a sucker for a vinegar dressing. Mushroom truffle pizza - yummy yummy, while adding truffle oil to a soggy boot would make it appetizing, this pizza would probably hold it's own without it. Thin crust is a must and the subtle mushroom/spinach goodness is excellent. Stuffed Shells - give me butternut squash and sweet potato and thou shalt be happy. Stuff them in some pasta shells and thou shalt be glowing for hours with glee. Yeah, they are good. So, I'll return to this place I'm sure of it. Date night here would be great, it's got that low light date feel that puts you in that sort of mood, you all know what I'm talking about!!!! read more

We went, again, this weekend and had some rainy weather Lasagna and Cheese Ravioli al Forno. What a taste sensation. The Lasagna was just that right amount of firm and the Ravioli was smooth and tasty. Both had a very blended and balanced set of flavors While I agree the prices may seem a bit much for a local restaurant, a lot of places have had to raise their prices in the past couple of years. I'd say it is comparable to and in many ways, better then others near by and a lot better than the chains. my 2 cents read more

My girlfriend and I went here for Valentine's Day. The first thing we had to eat was their complimentary bread and olive oil/balsamic mixture for dipping. It was good, but I don't know why they didn't bring the balsamic and olive oil separately. The next course we had was an antipasto plate with fresh olives, assorted meats, vegetables, cheese, and crackers. Everything from the antipasto plate tasted fresh and delicious. They have some candied walnuts that are very flavorful and delicious. Our next course was a lobster bisque with a habanero relish. The soup could have easily been the best part of the meal. It was a small bowl of spicy creamy deliciousness. My main course was a New York strip steak served with some ravioli in a white sauce. The steak was burned a little bit on the outside, and under seasoned. But, the ravioli was delicious and the sauce was really good as well. My girlfriend's main course was some sort of scallop salad that was served on top of cheesy grits. Her scallops tasted like they were frozen, and they managed to burn those a little on the outside as well. All in all she was really disappointed with her dish because cheesy grits and scallops aren't a good combination. There were a few service problems as well. The server forgot to bring us our drink order. I had to order it a second time and they still didn't come out for another fifteen minutes. But, he did give it to us on the house. Also, my girlfriend ordered extra scallops and they didn't give her any extra. The server said that was because the scallops would've cost another $12 and he figured it would be a good idea to leave them off. If that's true then he's really presumptuous because I would've preferred my girlfriend to get what she ordered. In all honesty he probably just forgot them. The meal ended up costing a little more than $100, including a bottle of wine. I was less than impressed with the whole experience. But, the restaurant was super busy because of the holiday. I'd like to give this place another chance when it's not so busy. read more

We went here for a nice dinner on a very rainy day. The place is nicely put together with small dining and a large bar. There were multiple water leaks. Servers were nice and seemed energetic. Food was good, mozzarella sticks were cooked to perfection, happy hour menu was large. Entrées were good. Had the chicken fried steak (which could feed a whole family), the pasta I had with shrimp and mahi was good. A little turned off in the middle of our meal the wait staff was publicly yelled at and told to do their job better by a worker in the back (I'm assuming a manager or owner) Last I was dying to try the tiramisu, after my boyfriend took a bite, he asked if it was supposed to taste "like that". I took one bite and about threw up. The dairy was spoiled and you could taste the refrigerator taste that lingered for the rest of my evening. We politely sent it back and they took it off the check but now I'm paying for it on the toilet for the rest of my evening :( read more

Brunch review: I enjoyed my Vesuvio skillet- it hit the spot for an Italian brunch item. The crab cake Benedict certainly was tasty although the side potato cakes looked like they came from a fast food restaurant. Grateful they take reservations as the place gets hopping and is definitely not roomy. I note they need some new chairs, all of our chairs were jiggly-just sayin' read more

I've been to Shells & Sauce for dinner a few times now and have mixed feelings about the place. Tucked right on the corner of 12th and Elizabeth, this restaurant is so conveniently located that it seems like a crime not to pop over every once in a while when I'm in the mood for Italian food. The restaurant itself is quite small, but the ample outdoor seating makes it a bit easier to get a seat when the weather is nice. There's also a rooftop area, but I've never been up there before and heard it might be reserved for private events (but don't take my word on this). That being said, I will never come here without making a reservation first--it tends to fill up quickly and I've seen people wait for the entire duration of our meal without being seated. But the food is so darn good that it is worth it. Dishes are priced fairly and come in massive portions--I've never left without a to-go box in hand. And be sure to ask about their specials! More often then not, I'll ignore the menu completely and go with one of the dishes they've cooked up specifically for that evening. Their wine and cocktail menu is also a delight and I'm always satisfied with my beverage choice. Service tends to be hit or miss. There are times when the service is impeccable and others when waitstaff can't get us out the door fast enough. Still, it's worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

Came here recently with a group of 8, with a reservation the staff had our table waiting. The menu is definitely not for anyone looking to watch calories! Having said that, not all menus should be. We had a round of spicy and or regular margaritas, overall consensus was too much dill and seasoning there was thick layer of seasoning at the bottom and every sip you got a mouthful. Food was hot but ultimatly lackluster, there was absolutely no seasoning not even a hint of salt. It all tasted bland. It wasn't a bad experience by any means but the food was just okay and the drinks were just okay. Service was terriffic, great staff! Tips: - Make a reservation - All your party must be present to be seated -There is a parking lot but it fills up quickly, allocate time to find parking in the neighboorhood read more

So glad we went! I have been wanting to try this place for sometime and we had the perfect opportunity when we visited the botanic gardens this weekend. The restaurant was pretty crowded when we arrived (we didn't have reservations) and we were told we had a 45 minute wait. Unfortunately there is really nowhere to wait that is out of the way, which I would say is the restaurant's primary downfall. That being said, the hostess went out of her way to order us drinks from the bar while we waited since it was difficult to edge your way in and place an order. Once we were seated, I have to say the food was delicious and the service was excellent. I can't wait to go back in the summer to try out the rooftop bar! read more

Great little Italian place ticked away in an urban neighborhood in Congress Park. The food is great here, can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We got the roasted beet salad to start and the lasagna and gnocchi for our entrees, and we both left with heavy doggie boxes - they don't skimp on the portions, so expect some leftovers for lunch the next day! Prices are very reasonable compared to the high quality of the food. Service is a bit spotty, but only really noticeable because I worked in the service industry. Had an awesome rooftop patio, but it was closed for a private party. If you're not headed to Liks afterwards, try the white chocolate bread pudding for dessert, it's pretty dope if you have any room left! read more

Shells and Sauce - White Chocolate Bread Pudding! - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I've driven past this place for months and today we finally decided to drop in. We were surprised to find out they have a happy hour on Sunday evenings! We ordered two small plates and the dessert special. The highlight of our dinner was the dessert for sure. It was some sort of peach and green chili cheesecake that came with a shot of peach moonshine. My boyfriend is very selective with desserts and he couldn't stop raving about it! The free bread and delicious dipping sauce was also a great touch. I think our waiter's name was Logan and he was super helpful with our decisions. Thanks Logan! read more

Good food with multiple vegetarian items. Killer Brussels sprouts. The shells & sauce duo was amazing, and the Elizabeth was so-so. The pear martini is fantastic. I ordered two - that never happens. read more

I LOVE Shells and Sauce! My fiancé and I went the first time right after work for Happy Hour! They had great wine specials and cheap, tasty pizzas. We went the second time for a double date during 5280 week! It was even better. Their bread and balsamic is amazing to start! Seriously. We had an extra serving both times we went! I got the stuffed shells for my entree. Now I dream about the stuffed shells. It is one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had - vegetarian, smooth, tasty, zesty, a little creamy and every bite is interesting. I can't wait to go back - I am 100% getting the same dish! Although their nightly specials are inspired and unique... If you're in the mood for dessert, you cannot pass up the homemade tiramisu! It is a large portion and VERY rich. Oh! And ask for Jamie. He's a gem. read more

My mother came in town and we were sitting in my new apartment, with zero furniture and less food. so we decided to take a stroll down the street to this little spot. It was a warm night so they had the garage door up which kept a nice breeze blowing through the place. On a Thursday night at 7pm, there was no wait. We were shown to a table just fit for two, right under the open garage door. Our waitress came to visit promptly but we were being so chatty, she politely stepped back and returned a few moments later. Since its been a while since we had seen each other, we appreciated her kindness. The staff here seem to be taught somewhat of the same timing system in fine dining that I was taught, with 2 minute check backs and all. It was truly great service! Mom ordered the Veal parmesan and I had the chicken penne! Both were delicious!! Mom especially savored hers; what she brought home that evening soon got finished the very next day. Mine was a bit rich for my tastes but maybe on another night, I might'of thought differently. I will most certainly be coming back here again. Especially if they allow dogs around the patio, the pooch and I could definitely become regulars! read more

Do not waste your time making reservations. We called the restaurant, specifically seeking a time that night that would not involve a wait, and said as much. The person answering the phone, on a Tuesday, suggested 7:30. We arrived promptly, only to receive a cursory greeting after a few minutes, and no estimate of when a table would actually be ready. We are easygoing, so we wait confidently by the door (there is no place to wait in comfort), assuming that, like most restaurants, a table will be ready imminently or an explanation provided. After 10 minutes, neither occurs. My partner seeks out one of the staff, who promptly brushes her off with no explanation or attempt to make our wait more hospitable, by being able, at the least, to order a glass of wine. I'm sure the food here is good. However, I know how to cook; what I seek, when I go out, is SERVICE. Such over-the-top rudeness is completely unacceptable. We left, and had a lovely meal at the Greek place down the street. read more

We came in for late night pizza happy hour and for a group of 7, including a child, we were treated very well! We made reservations ahead with open table and they were waiting for us as we walked up. I usually have an amazing experience here, but last night was a bit off. They stopped serving the duck confit pizza... this is my entire reason for being. How could the chef do this to me?! Then, we were told they had a busy Friday night (really? Busy on a Friday? Who knew?!) And they were out of bread.. I had 2 S&S virgins with me and I raved about 2 things. Bread and duck pizza. All of our dreams were dashed in one fail swoop. Ok we redirected ourselves and ordered some pizzas. They got spinach, mushroom, truffle. I got prosciutto and riccota and THANK HEAVENS they still had the sweet balsamic reduction that went with the duck pizza. The pie was delish, super fresh, and should be served with that sauce on top. We were offered some free samples of the soup da jour (italian beef barley) and it was not good. Really bland and overly salty. My friend ordered wine, but it took forever to come! She also ordered a peach cobbler, but they ran out. I love this place, and we will be back, but better planning on a weekend evening would have made this experience a far better one. And please... bring back the duck pizza! read more

Stopped in for brunch on a Saturday around 1:00 and were promptly greeted by a very friendly person. Great start! Once seated (no wait) our waiter introduced himself and water was brought right away. The place was less than half full so tail end of their brunch. Not sure how long they serve brunch. Good menu with a lot to choose from (breakfast items, salads, and pasta). Wasn't in the mood for the $3 mimosa- yes that's strange for me. We selected breakfast tacos and the chicken and waffles. Three tacos with lots of filling-great flavor eps the chipotle sauce on top. The waffles were very fluffy and delish! Chicken was not heavily breaded which was nice. We couldn't eat it all. Would definitely return to try dinner sometime. Looked they had a nice wine list too and rooftop patio. read more

Stopped in a couple of nights ago for a some Italian and the food was great! The butternut squash-stuffed shells made me melt. What threw me off was the host gentleman, who was in quite the tizzy over a glitch in their reservation system. They were overbooked, and rather than staying calm, he rushed around, snapping at staff and making guests overly stressed as well. Even though we didn't get the table we had hoped for, we were able to eat at the bar and chat with Andrew the bar tender who is FANTASTIC. He and the other waiters managed to keep their cool. He even bought us an appetizer since we didn't get a table. So, what could have been a bummer of a night turned out great because of the awesome food and great wait staff. The host, however, could stand to take a chill pill. read more