On a trip to Denver we very early on identified shells and sauce as a restaurant to try. Tucked into a cute little neighborhood it promised to be a treat. Unfortunately the promise wasn't fully met. Everything was perfectly charming. Bread arrived at our table. It was good, but not amazing. It felt dense or maybe it was "tired." We got the truffle Mac and cheese as an appetizer. It was super gooey with melted cheese and sauce. It was a tad under-seasoned but good. For dinner we tried the Rigatoni Bolognese and the stuffed shells duo. The ragu was a tasty blend of pork and beef. Portion was generous. The duo of shells was a fun way to try flavors. The sweet potato stuffing was sweet and flavorful. The goat cheese filling was delicious. The sauces the shells were on were tasty enough but also under seasoned. The potato filling was under seasoned. The temperature of the shells and the sauce was only warm. Would we recommend Shells and Sauce? A qualified yes. Perhaps our experience was atypical. Many many positive reviews hint at that possibility. The neighborhood is cute and everyone was friendly. It felt like a neighborhood hangout. I'm not sure we would return the next time we travel to Denver but maybe we would. read more

What a great atmosphere. Food was delicious and servers were very attentive. I had the chicken parmigiana which I would definitely recommend We will be back read more

The food was amazing and our server Jamis made our night! His service and food recommendations were the best!

This is the coziest little restaurant. We've probably been there 5 or 6 times, always in the winter. There's something about sitting in this warm, packed place eating delicious fresh pasta and drinking wine that just screams cold weather to us. We also like to take out-of-towners here and everyone loves it. The staff are very friendly and we've never had a bad experience. read more

This is a "classic" Denver Italian spot, and it was just okay for me. I came here for a team dinner, and ordered the classic stuffed shells. The portion was modest, and I didn't really feel full afterwards. Also, the flavors weren't that exciting, and the dish was lukewarm at best when served. I would have loved to try some of their wine selection, but I wasn't able to drink at the dinner I attended. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals, so maybe it was just the dish I got. I'll give this place a star back because our server was absolutely amazing! Super enthusiastic & talked up all the dishes, and when he heard I couldn't drink, he offered to whip me up a custom mocktail based on my flavor preferences! And I'll add that it was amazing! This place definitely has character & history, just not sure I'd choose it over other restaurants in Denver if I wanted Italian again. read more

Ordered carry out, it was ready on time and perfect temp. The pork loin is fantastic, cooked to order as requested. Great flavors on the pork and ravioli. Great to go packaging. Walked from home, truly a neighborhood hot spot. Super busy, highly recommend a reservation as it's tiny and highly desirable! Delish! read more

I'm a fan! We were able to get a last minute Saturday night reservation. Cute restaurant, prompt service. Our server was attentive and friendly. They quickly brought out a fresh, dense bread with a balsamic dipping sauce, that we found enjoyable. The wine list is good and affordable. The Caesar salad needs some help. The dressing lacks that "bite" that all good Caesars have. We found it quite bland. The lasagna was the star of the show for me. This is a fantastic dish. Highly recommended! read more

Shells and Sauce - Lasagne - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Consistent Italian cuisine at Shells and Sauce. Enjoy an authentic Italian venue with classic flavors direct from Italy! The exterior is quaint with outside seating and European style seating inside. Happy Hour specials are affordable and delicious at $8.95 for a full dinner. Check out the menu in the photos . The hand cut salmon with potatoes and broccolini is the perfect size. Flat breads and salads are also tempting choices. The bread is classic Italian but the dipping sauce is different. Ask for olive oil and Parmesan. Daily specials can be found on the chalk board! I tried the Cheese Tortellini Grilled chicken Roasted tomatoes & Spinach in Parmesan cream, topped with Grilled Haviler sausage and baby Mozzarella. Very unique flavor! Make reservations on the website to make sure there is a table for you. A 1.5 hour time limit is allotted for dining. Parking behind the building off Elizabeth is helpful. Come try this place. You will love the authentic atmosphere, attentive service and food! read more

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Delicious food and great service! I had a really nice spur of the moment meal here and had an excellent meal. They were also quick to seat us which was a huge deciding factor to choosing this spot over other Italian restaurants in the area. They also had a great selection of specials. Would come again!! read more

My wife's grandparents were visiting for the weekend and are huge Italian fans. After scoping restaurants and reviews, we opted for Shells & Sauce. A big factor was the restaurant offers gluten free noodles for one of our family members. The restaurant is located in a great area in Congress Park, and has convenient parking in the back. Upon entry, diners will immediately feel the cozy ambience and liveliness of happy diners. The restaurant also has outdoor seating as well as an additional patio (we did not look/see). Unfortunately, we were sat right next to the service register for our table of 5 with 6 chairs. I was bumped in the back of my seat numerous times which was a bit frustrating. Our server, George, was extremely friendly and helpful. He provided excellent recommendations for our meals. The bread that was served was very fresh with an almost crumbly focaccia texture. The entrees were a little slow to come out, but they were well worth the wait. Everybody raved over their respective dinners, which consisted of the Ziti Style Italian Cheese Ravioli (pictured), two orders of the Stuffed Shells Duo with added chicken, Creamy Chicken Piccata, and The Elizabeth (pictured). The portions were great, and everything was hot and delicious! I don't throw this word around often, but wow was it "authentic," too. Finally, my wife's grandparents were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary later in the week, and George was kind enough to serve a complimentary Flourless Chocolate Cake. I'm still drooling over it. read more

Shells and Sauce - Ziti Style Italian Cheese Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Went on a Saturday night and got a table of four right away but it got busy pretty quickly. There was still happy hour for drinks happening but they ran out of a few drinks I wanted to try. My table got the mac and cheese, truffle fries, and bolognese. The mac and cheese was extra cheesy and delicious. The bolognese was pretty good, standard bolognese. I added extra parmesan and chili flakes for an extra kick and boost in flavor. read more

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One of my favorite places to eat in Denver for Italian. The food is on point and delicious. I usually book through a reservation site and have eaten here 3/4 times total. I usually book through a reservation site like Resy or Open Table. My only complaint is the entry and host stand. They are busy and could give it a bit more attention. The table is usually never ready upon arrival but they do a great job ensuring you are sat close to your reservation. Cool, and there is no room to hang at the bar for a drink, so you are usually in the entry ramp way of the door. PS I have seen people here without a reservation and they don't get a table. Don't be those people. The food is great. I love the Shrimp Diavolo. It has never let me down, unlike the Lasagna which seems to be popular for unknown reasons. The drinks are great too. I think my desert has been limited but I believe they are done well with a great alcohol to mix flavor. I get a later reservation so I can relax and typically it's closer to close so there is not a rush to leave although they ask for 1.5 limit total. This place is also the first date of me and my husband so it is even more special to me. read more

Wow this placed was PACKED! Has a cute open atmosphere. Hated the bread and balsamic dressing they give If they did a olive oil n a touch of straight balsamic with herbs with the bread would be waaaaay better. Or hey just butter I'll take. Started with the caprese salad which was just O-K. Didn't take particularly taste like fresh Mozarella but more like those packs you buy at store already sliced in rounds and some beefsteak tomatoes. Next for entree was the Carbonara which was good but a tad bland. We ended with white chocolate bread pudding which was good. Will I try again? Probably. Was it best Italian I've ever had? Not really..... read more

Shells and Sauce - Carbonara with Papardelle - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I would personally say it's the least Italian food I've had in a while. A step up from Olive Garden.. and that's being nice. The liqour is watered down..seriously. The food is borderline Ok. Not Italian. Even the oil and vinegar mixture for the bread.. wtf is that. Pasta..not freshly made. Crabcake not fresh, not even close to being fresh. Frozen and cooked, I asked. The best part was the waiter. Would not repeat . read more

Shells and Sauce - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The service was great. The bread is delicious. The rest of the food was just okay. Nothing to rave about. Super casual, went with a group and sat at a booth. read more

I have to said I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The Marsala was delicious, the tiramisu was really good. I'll def be back. read more

Shells and Sauce - Mushroom Marsala - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Such a cozy spot with excellent Italian food. The lasagna was amazing! Perfectly crispy with lots of cheese and a good amount of meat. Very large portion size too. The caeser salad was just average. Could have used more dressing. I would definitely come here for the pasta dishes. Service was efficient and they bring out a tasty bread. We will definitely be back for more cheesy goodness read more

Shells and Sauce - Classic Italian Caesar Salad - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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We went for my birthday dinner in April and it was lovely. The hostess was about 16 and this must have been her 1st job, she was very frazzled with how busy it was. She was also wearing the shortest gym shirt that seemed entirely inappropriate for a restaurant. The downstairs was diner/cafe vibes and it was very loud with the open kitchen right there. It must have been prom night because we saw a lot of teens in formal dresses. The upstairs definitely had a restaurant vibe to it. I can't remember our waiters name but he was lovely. Bread and sauce were brought first, it was balsamic based- not my favorite so we didn't really have that. We did order the truffle Mac and cheese as an appetizer and it was divine! So creamy and so many cheese- such good flavors. I had the shrimp a la vodka and it was yummy!! My boyfriend had the chicken parm and it was huge! We both had leftovers to bring back! They did have an outdoor patio, which would be lovely to sit at. I expect we'll go back! read more

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Awesome hidden gem. No idea that was there and can't wait to return. The cabana boy cocktail was the perfect nightcap!

I love this place and the food. I feel like the happy hour portions and portions in general have gotten smaller. The staff is always so friendly & I love the set up of the restaurant. Sometimes I have to ask for extra sauce tho, because as you can see.. they sometimes cheat you out of enough sauce. read more

Shells and Sauce - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We took my sister who was visiting from Idaho to one of our favorite Denver restaurants on Saturday night and it didn't disappoint. They had the roll-up doors open on a beautiful Spring night. It was crowded and we arrived about 10 minutes late for our reservation but they seated us right-away. The service and the food was excellent as we've come to expect. It had been a couple years since we visited last - so glad to see things as we remembered. We sat next to a nice couple on-vacation from Indiana and told them they had lucked upon one of the BEST local spots! read more

Shells and Sauce - Lasagne! Yum! - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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While following the GPS to Shells and Sauce, I wasn't sure we were in the right area, and then there it was. Don't be fooled by this seemingly small, Italian restaurant placed in the middle of a neighborhood. The staff was incredibly nice, and helpful. They offer different specials, which I ordered the pasta special that night, which was a shrimp bucatini - which was fine. I would like to return and stick to the menu as the other pastas I saw looked great. The bread was very good, and the desserts were nice. read more

Shells and Sauce - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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With a name like Shells & Sauce, one expects damn good Italian fare. The restaurant sits comfortably on the corner of 12th and Elizabeth. We showed up Saturday night around 8pm, and somehow scored a table amidst a busy crowd. Unlike my Yankees, this was a win in my book! Surprisingly, I haven't eaten much Italian food since moving to Denver. What the hell, Matt? Get back to your roots! I had a major hankering for hearty dishes from the old country, and overall, Shells & Sauce delivered a satisfying meal. Housemade Lasagna - I can't tell you the last time I ordered Lasagna at a restaurant, but our wonderful server, Lucy, persuaded me since it's made fresh every day. The heavy lump of pasta, sauce and cheese probably weighed close to 7 pounds. Joking, but not really! All I can say is that it tasted like textbook lasagna. Not overly sauced and meaty as hell. Ma would be proud! Bread on the table, side Caesar (with anchovies) and a House Cab rounded out this Italian feast. The cozy restaurant has an old school feel to it. The wait staff was busting their butts all night. Prices are a few dollars too high, in my opinion, when justifying the level of food. Though I wouldn't mind returning to get my fill of well done Italian cuisine! read more

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I've had Shells and Sauce bookmarked for years and finally made it happen when some friends wanted to meet in the area. I tried their creamy veal piccata and got a happy hour Malbec. I was a bit thrown off by the piccata sauce, at first, but it grew on me. It seemed a bit acidic. I think it just honestly didn't mix that well with the wine I ordered. My husband said his stuffed shells duo may be one of the best stuffed shells he's ever had. He enjoyed it so much that he scarfed it down so fast I wasn't even able to sneak a bite! read more

I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, with two glasses of Pinot noir and tiramisu for desert. The spaghetti was simple, the meatballs were very savory. The bread that was served with it was soft, warm, and paired well with my entree. Overall very pleasant and filling. The tiramisu seemed to be a cake drenched in coffee, so it had a bit of a grainy texture because of that. It wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. Inside was a bit smoky, I could see it in the ceiling lights. Because of that there was a strong scent inside. But the restaurant looked very clean I didn't see any dust, or grime. There was no music playing inside, but it was pretty loud because of all the people talking. A great thing! The service was great! I saw multiple people buss and set a table at once. I saw the manager and bartender polishing glasses. Everything was served with a smile. I can tell that they pay a great amount of attention to detail! I recommend this place greatly. read more

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What's up with the bad reviews? This place was awesome! We showed up on a Thursday night around 6:30 and WOW they were busy - make a reservation! We ended up sitting at the bar and being able to eat there, so luckily, it wasn't a big deal. Our service was awesome, the bartender was very helpful and quick. We split a bottle of Chianti, which was great, and he brought up some crispy bread. Once we ordered, our food came out pretty quick - I got the shells duo and WOW. I love some traditional ricotta shells but OMG the butternut squash ones were to die for. I literally ate everything. I am a light eater, so someone who eats a lot should probably get something else, but I loved them. I also got the flourless chocolate torte for dessert and it's literally what I dream about. A lot of places tend to make them dry, nope, this was perfect, moist, and rich, the way it should be. All over, amazing. I would definitely recommend. read more

I think this place deserves five stars in terms of value, deliciousness and wonderful service. I'd like to point out first hand, service here was AMAZING. All the servers we interacted with were so so polite and respectful. It was a very good and outstanding aspect of running restaurants these days that some restaurant owners don't prioritize much. Very good job here. Their Happy Hour menu is such a smart move as they have some small plates to offer. Very good idea so people can try many things at once. We ordered the flat bread, chicken Parmesan, the Salmon on the HH menu and everything was great. Delicious with great value for the price point. We also tried the entree wild mushroom Sacchetti and it was great. The taste was well balanced and the broth was good. The Peach Sangria drink was very refreshing and well done. Perfect for a hot day. On street parking is the only thing that kinda hit or miss. I would go during non-peak hours. read more

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It was my first time here and my expectations were very high due to the reviews. Unfortunately my expectations were not met... food was overly priced and it was bland. The service was HORRIBLE, our waiter Maria was very rude and not attentive. read more

Service was good, but the food was lacking. Location was nice! The sauce that came with my dish seemed watery, and flavorless. The stuffing inside of the mushroom pasta I had tasted funny, so I mostly ate the chicken that I ordered with my dinner (it was pretty good but nothing special). The broccoli was also super bland, and overcooked. The place was super busy and seems pretty popular, but it just isn't for me. read more

Shells and Sauce - This is what was I left behind - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

First time here right before attending Blossoms of Light at the botanic gardens. We had reservations at 5:45 and were seated on time. The booth was VERY small for 4 of us. Be prepared to eat with your T Rex arms. It's also very noisy. Waiter was great. Very attentive. We started with a Pepperoni flatbread and side of meatballs. Meatballs are huge and we each had only 1/2. Table ordered Bolognese, Chicken Parm, Lasagna and Tortellini Ricotta Bake with a Meatball. Bolognese was nice and rich. Lots of veggie bits with great flavor. Chicken Parm was nice and crispy and a solid portion size. Ricotta Bake had a tomato sauce spicier than the marinara and bolognese. Lasagna was my personal favorite: huge portion, great ratio of meat, cheese, sauce. I'll be eating the rest for lunch today. There is parking in back and street parking all around. No valet, so be prepared to park and walk just in case. read more

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Arrived on time for our reservation, yet waited 20 min for a table. The restaurant was packed and busy. Stood in unheated entrance hallway, as no room at bar or elsewhere. Chose the restaurant as the menu had extensive gluten free options, which was important as a member of our party has celiac disease, There must have been cross contamination in the kitchen, as he was adversely affected afterwards. The food overall had great flavor and the service was fantastic after we were finally seated. read more

Great local neighborhood Italian place! We have been twice so far and love it. Super good prosciutto watermelon salad and their shrimp pasta with red sauce! read more

After seeing all the good reviews we decided to venture out of our comfort zone and try Shells & Sauce. The restaurant was packed and made the right move to make a reservation. We were sat right away and the waitstaff couldn't have been nicer. Our waitress JoJo had other big parties, but greeted us right away and asked for our drink order. Since none of my party had eaten at Shells & Sauce she went over her favorites and what they're known for. We started with appetizers of ravioli and I can't recall the other one but it had a lot of cheese and garlic bread. Kinda like a fondu. It was really good as well. The small Cesar salad was really good. JoJo said the big one was big, but go with the small since we ordered so much food. The veal parmigiana was really good and had a hint of heat to it. Nice size portion too, so my left overs will make a good lunch for today. The other guests enjoyed their meal as well, but was stuffed from the salad and appetizers. Next time we go back I will definitely try this lasagna since it seemed to be the most popular dish on the menu. read more

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Well the place is probably your usual Cherry Creek area restaurant, in an older building pretty tight seating. The noise level was pretty high. There were 4 of us and I do not think that all of us could fully hear all of the conversations. The food was OK but did not really taste "Homemade " read more

Shells and Sauce - Scan code for menu. Dinner is 1.5 hours from when you sit down. This may lead to skipped desserts. - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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What a fun place! The staff is wonderful and kind. The drinks were delicious. The food was good. I have had better pasta in the city, but this place made penne a la vodka, which can be hard to find in Denver. Overall, I would dine again! read more

Shells and Sauce - Penne Vodka - Italian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Good value could not finish the plate of chicken parm. The Negroni was perfect , the waiter was very attentive.

Poised to be one of the best Italian places in town, I've tried so many other places down here in Denver, and it feels like I get burned a lot. Shells & sauce features very well made homey Italian dishes, with a slightly above average price tag, but the quantity matches the price. We've been here once before because of the passbook, but we stopped by here for valentines dinner for a repeat visit. I remembered my first time was a stellar experience. The food here is on the edge of glory, some great hits and some misses, I want to share what I had on my most recent visit. As you're sat at your table, they bring you a piece of home made bread with some vinaigrette, the idea was fantastic, who doesn't love some home made bread? It was dense and a little chewy, I personally quite liked the overall texture. However, I will say it was a little too salty. The vinaigrette was quite watery and I think just a standard olive oil and vinegar combo may be a more balanced flavor profile, and the vinaigrette was a little strong given its viscosity. Nonetheless, making your own bread is a gold star from me. I got the Pearfect martini, well balanced, sweet, fruity. I could have see it with a tad more alcohol, but that would have thrown the flavors off. We got the spaghetti and Italian sausage and wild shroom sachetti for our mains. The spaghetti was a great classic rendition, slightly sweet and salty red sauce, with great plump sausages made for successful dish. The meatballs that came as a extra side order were spectacular. It's hard to season meatball well - these weren't only that, well packed, flavorful and the size of two grapefruits, these are some of the best meatballs I've had here in Denver. The wild mushroom sachetti was a little bit of a let down. I saw the angle of the dish, as a mushroom lover, I loved the idea. The approach was probably your typical tortellini in broth dressed up with mushrooms. Great idea, bad execution. The sachetti themselves were good - a little light on flavor, but each of the little sachetti had a small filling of ground wild mushrooms. The sad part of the dish was the white wine broth. Diluted. Despite there being full cloves of garlic in the broth, falling apart (which is a great thing) the broth was tasteless and bland. I didn't have the heart to send it back as the overall composition was okay and I felt bad sending something back over a small component of the dish! Being the most expensive thing we ordered (with added protein) I felt like this was the low point of the night for me. Service was a little slow getting our check back, but no big deal - the one thing that did annoy me is they placed a broth based dish in an unsuitable box, it started leaking through and it destroyed the paper bag. A little oversight, but it was quite a mess to clean up - rethink your takeaway boxes, please. I think my last visit was better, but the quality of the food here was solid, despite my main dish. Totally recommend this place for any American Italian foodies out there! read more

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Very cute neighborhood restaurant tucked into Congress park. It's an easy walk for neighbors and feels very local. I used to live around the corner from this and whenever I had a desperate Italian food craving and didn't want to cook, I'd call in. I have to say on most occasions that insatiable craving wasn't fulfilled. I felt that a lot of flavor was missing. This ended up being a go to place for me due to the proximity, and sadly not the food. read more

One of Denver's best hidden gems - neighborhood Italian don with flair on every level.

Service was super friendly and wine pours were large but ambiance was nonexistent and food was very average. Got the Caesar which was pretty bad, the chicken Marsala was decent, and bolognese was average at best. Always super crowded and has people outside though read more