I’m Italian. I’ve Lived in Colorado Springs for 20 Years. I’m Still Looking for Great Italian Food.
My last name is Ferrara. I grew up eating Italian food that somebody’s grandmother made that morning. Fresh pasta. Sauce that simmered all day. Bread that was still warm. That’s my baseline. That’s what I’m measuring every Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs against — and after twenty-plus years of searching, I can tell you: the quest is ongoing.
Don’t get me wrong — there are places in the Springs that do Italian food well. Some of them do it very well. But finding the kind of Italian restaurant where I sit down, take the first bite, and feel like I’m at my family’s table? That’s a higher bar, and this city hasn’t fully cleared it yet. Similar to my search for great Mexican food here, it’s an honest, ongoing exploration — and I’m happy to share what I’ve found so far.
What I’m Looking For (And Why It’s Hard to Find)
Before I get into specific restaurants, let me tell you what I’m actually chasing. This isn’t about being a snob. It’s about knowing what Italian food is supposed to taste like when it’s done right.
- Fresh pasta. Made in-house, that day. There’s a texture difference between fresh pasta and dried pasta that you can’t fake. When a restaurant makes their own fettuccine or ravioli, you taste it in every bite. When they don’t, you know.
- Sauce with depth. A good marinara or bolognese has been cooking for hours. It has layers. The tomatoes have broken down, the garlic has mellowed, the herbs have infused. It doesn’t taste like it came out of a jar twenty minutes ago — because it didn’t.
- Quality ingredients, simply prepared. The best Italian food is not complicated. It’s a few great ingredients treated with respect. Good olive oil. San Marzano tomatoes. Fresh basil. Parmigiano-Reggiano that was actually imported from Italy, not the green can on the shelf.
- The atmosphere. Italian dining is supposed to be warm, unhurried, and a little loud. It should feel like a gathering, not a transaction. White tablecloths are fine, but so are red-checkered ones. What matters is that you feel welcomed.
- Fair value. I’m willing to pay for quality, but I don’t want to pay Manhattan prices for Colorado Springs pasta. A good plate of pasta with a glass of wine shouldn’t require a second mortgage.
Paravicini’s Italian Bistro — My Number One
I’ll say it straight: Paravicini’s is the best Italian restaurant in Colorado Springs, and it’s the one place that comes closest to what I grew up with. It’s located in Old Colorado City on West Colorado Avenue — my neighborhood — and it’s been a west-side institution for years.
The space is intimate. White tablecloths, warm lighting, and a dining room that feels like a proper Italian bistro. It’s not big, which is part of why it works — the kitchen isn’t trying to serve 200 covers a night. They’re focused on getting each plate right.
Their fresh pasta is the star. They make it in-house, and you can tell from the first bite. The Pappardelle Bolognese has real depth — the meat sauce is rich, slow-cooked, and clings to the pasta the way it should. The Osso Buco, when they have it, is outstanding. Their specials rotate and are worth asking about — the chef clearly puts thought into what’s seasonal and what’s available.
Is it perfect? Nothing is. The prices are on the higher end for Colorado Springs — you’re looking at $25-$40 for entrees. And because the space is small, you’ll want a reservation, especially on weekends. But if you’re looking for the closest thing to an authentic Italian dining experience in this city, Paravicini’s is it. I keep coming back, and that says everything.
Dat’s Italian — Casual and Consistent
Dat’s Italian is also in Old Colorado City, just a short walk from Paravicini’s, which makes the west side the unofficial Italian corridor of Colorado Springs. The vibe here is completely different — it’s casual, counter-order, and unpretentious. You walk in, order at the register, grab a seat, and they bring the food to you.
What I like about Dat’s is the consistency. Their pizza is solid — thin crust, good sauce, quality toppings. The calzones are big enough to share (or not — no judgment). They do a respectable baked ziti and their meatball sub is one of the better ones in town. It’s not trying to be fine dining, and that’s perfectly fine. Sometimes you just want good, honest Italian food without the fuss.
The portions are generous and the prices are fair — most items are in the $12-$18 range. It’s a great lunch spot, and a solid casual dinner option when you don’t want to dress up or make a reservation. For what it is, Dat’s delivers.
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano — The Upscale Chain That Mostly Works
Now, Biaggi’s is a chain. I know. I generally prefer local spots, just like I do with BBQ. But I’m going to give credit where it’s due — the Colorado Springs location at the Promenade Shops at Briargate puts out above-average Italian food with a polished dining experience.
Their Lobster Ravioli gets consistently good reviews, and I’d agree — it’s one of the better dishes on the menu. The Chicken Limone is well-executed. The wine list is surprisingly good for a chain. And the dining room is comfortable and well-maintained — it feels more like an independent restaurant than a corporate concept.
Where it falls short for me: it’s still a chain. The sauce doesn’t taste like it simmered all day in someone’s kitchen. The pasta isn’t made in-house. It’s well-prepared food from quality ingredients, but it doesn’t have that soul — that intangible thing that separates a good Italian meal from a great one. If you’re on the north side of town and want Italian without driving to Old Colorado City, Biaggi’s is a solid choice. Just go in with the right expectations.
Pizzeria Rustica — When the Pizza Craving Hits
Pizzeria Rustica downtown does Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza, and they do it well. The crust is thin, blistered, and chewy in the middle — the way it’s supposed to be when it comes out of a proper wood-fired oven. Their Margherita is a good litmus test: San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil. Simple. If a place can nail a Margherita, they understand Italian food.
Pizzeria Rustica nails the Margherita.
They also do interesting seasonal pizzas and a solid antipasti selection. The space is casual-hip — downtown, exposed brick, community tables. It’s more of a pizza-and-beer spot than a full Italian dinner experience, but for what it sets out to do, it’s one of the better options in the Springs. Great for a casual night out, especially if you’re already downtown.
Il Vicino — Wood-Oven Pizza and Good Beer
Il Vicino has been in Colorado Springs for a long time, and it’s earned its following. They do wood-oven pizzas and calzones with a nice selection of house-brewed beers. The pizza is thin-crust and flavorful — not quite Neapolitan-style like Pizzeria Rustica, but it’s well-made and consistent.
Their calzones are probably the thing I order most. Stuffed with good ingredients, baked in the wood oven until the outside is golden and crispy. The beer pairs well — their Scottish Ale is a local favorite. The atmosphere is relaxed and community-oriented, with a patio that’s great in the warmer months.
Il Vicino is more of a “pizza and beer” joint than an Italian restaurant, and I think that distinction matters. If you’re looking for pasta, veal, or a full Italian dinner, this isn’t the spot. But if you want solid wood-fired pizza with a craft beer in a comfortable setting, Il Vicino has been doing it well for years.
Giuseppe’s Old Depot Restaurant — The History Play
Giuseppe’s is located in a converted 1880s railroad depot, which gives it more character than just about any restaurant in town. The building alone is worth the visit — stone walls, timber beams, and a dining room that feels like stepping back in time.
The menu is traditional Italian-American: chicken parm, veal marsala, eggplant parm, pasta with red sauce. It’s the kind of Italian restaurant that reminds you of places your parents took you in the ’80s and ’90s — big portions, familiar flavors, red sauce on everything. And honestly? There’s something comforting about that.
The food is solid without being exceptional. It’s well-prepared, the portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable — most entrees are in the $18-$30 range. I’d recommend it for the experience as much as the food. If you’re taking out-of-town guests or celebrating a family occasion, the setting makes it memorable. Just don’t walk in expecting Paravicini’s-level refinement — that’s not what Giuseppe’s is going for, and that’s okay.
Leon Gessi Pizza — The Local Favorite
Leon Gessi has been a Colorado Springs pizza institution for decades. Multiple locations around town, solid New York-style slices, and a loyal following that goes back generations. This is the pizza a lot of locals grew up on.
Their slices are big, foldable, and satisfying — the kind of pizza you eat standing up at the counter and it hits exactly right. The pepperoni is crispy, the cheese is well-melted, and the crust has a good chew. Is it the best pizza I’ve ever had? No. But is it consistently good and reasonably priced? Absolutely.
Leon Gessi is comfort food. It’s the place you go when you want pizza that tastes like pizza — no truffle oil, no artisanal toppings, no pretense. Just good, honest slices. Every city needs a Leon Gessi.
The Chain vs. Local Debate
Colorado Springs has its share of Italian chains — Olive Garden, Carrabba’s, Fazoli’s. They’re here. People eat at them. And I’m not going to sit here and tell you they’re terrible, because that’s not fair and it’s not true. If you want unlimited breadsticks and a familiar menu, Olive Garden will give you that.
But here’s what I’ll say: the gap between chain Italian and good local Italian is wider than almost any other cuisine. A chain can do decent burgers. A chain can do decent BBQ. But Italian food is built on fresh ingredients, time, and technique — things that don’t scale well to a corporate kitchen pushing out hundreds of identical plates across thousands of locations.
When you eat at Paravicini’s or get a wood-fired pizza at Pizzeria Rustica, you’re eating food that someone in that building made with intention. That difference is real, and it’s worth the extra few dollars.
What’s Still Missing
After twenty years of eating Italian food in Colorado Springs, here’s what I’m still looking for:
- A real old-school Italian deli. A place with fresh mozzarella in water, imported prosciutto sliced to order, house-made sausage, and shelves of olive oil and San Marzano tomatoes. The kind of place where you walk in and feel like you’re in Brooklyn or South Philly. I haven’t found it here.
- Fresh pasta you can buy and take home. Some cities have shops where you can buy fresh-made ravioli, fettuccine, and gnocchi by the pound. I’d love to see that in the Springs.
- A trattoria with soul. A small, family-run spot with a short menu that changes based on what’s fresh. Handwritten specials. Wine by the carafe. The kind of place where the owner comes to your table and asks how everything is — because they actually want to know. Paravicini’s comes close, but I keep hoping for another one to pop up.
I know I’m being picky. It’s a curse that comes with growing up Italian — you’re always chasing the standard your family set. But the search is part of the fun, and every time I try a new spot, I’m rooting for it to be the one.
Reader Suggestions Welcome
This is an ongoing list, and I want your input. If you’ve found a great Italian spot in Colorado Springs that I haven’t covered here — especially a newer place or a hidden gem — let me know in the comments. I’ll try it, and if it’s good, I’ll add it to this guide. That’s a promise.
And if you’re visiting Colorado Springs and want to explore more of the food scene, check out our guides to the best BBQ, the best beer gardens, and the Old Colorado City neighborhood where several of these restaurants are located. The Visit Colorado Springs restaurant guide is another good starting point for planning your dining around town.
About the Author: Dominic Ferrara has lived in Colorado Springs for over 20 years. After working for Delta Airlines and visiting just about every major city in the United States, he chose Colorado Springs for its scenery, sunshine, and outdoor lifestyle. He lives on the west side near Ute Valley Park, where he e-bikes, camps, and explores the mountains regularly. His recommendations come from two decades of eating, hiking, and living here — not from a weekend visit.
