We took advantage of Denver's Restaurant week last night and chose DiFranco's based on it's ratings. Food was both delicious and beautiful. Atmosphere was vibrant, unique and new age. Service was the best I have ever had, hands down.
Our courses consisted of:
-Wine: one bottle of Barbera San Silvestro
-Starter: Mushroom Polenta Â
-Dinner: I had Duck Raviolo, my husband had the Chicken Parmesan
-Dessert: I had Marscarpone Cheesecake and my husband  had the Nutella Gelato
We WILL be back.
I've eaten here regularly since they opened and the food just keeps getting better. Had the duck Raviolo and polenta salad tonight; it was mouth-watering & delicious. Â I'm not much of a sweet tooth, but the pistachio cookies and the ricotta cookies are a must-have each visit. Â I love the staff's energy and the changing seasonal menus and specials. Â
I also love the communal seating, and the fact that I almost always run into people I know here. Â It's becoming quite a neighborhood hot spot. Â
Fresh is best! Â Thanks DiFranco's, for bringing Denver something new, delicious, and exciting.
The food here is fresh and very flavorful. I really enjoy the artisanal style of pastas and cheeses. The prices are on the high side, but I get it. High quality organic meat and produce is expensive. DiFranco's is quickly becoming my favorite lunch spot. The chief and staff are very friendly and personally ask how the food is and will gladly take time to answer any questions.
Review Source:I love DiFrancos....stumbled upon it when I was looking for a italian deli for my father's birthday. Â The reviews on yelp were awesome and they have not disappointed me. Â Not only is the food great, but so is the service. Â I will continue to come here and will always bring friends to share in my sweet find. Â :) Â I would highly recommend trying the penne with vodka sauce. Â Amazing!!!
Review Source:Wasn't going to post a review because most other five stars covered my many visits and opinions, but will after reading Mr. mango angry dudes review. Anyone that crabs about the prices of an organic store that supports local farms just doesn't get the concept. Go somewhere else if a cheap meal is all you care about. Second, I personally love the fact that they only have two small tables and one big table here. You can tell it makes some people squeamish, but for those that don't have insecurities, embrace the fact that we are a community and might have to sit next to people in breweries, etc. to enjoy small good things this place is on the right track.
Try the pasta they make in store and breaded chicken. Bring back the mini cake things and more types of gelato!
I just had lunch here and find the food mediocre but at 5 star restaurant prices. Â The salad I had was way too oily. Â However, the tomato soup was better than average. Â No dedicated seating, only a long table that everyone sits at. Â Payed $7 for a small bowl of soup, $11 for a small salad all so I can re-live cafeteria dining. Staff not very friendly.
Review Source:I've been three times & can confidently say this intimate little Italian deli is top notch. Everything is fresh and made with quality ingredients, both the salads and sandwiches are savory. Very cool little place with friendly staff, great table for community seating as well. They also sell some Italian specialty items, so it's ideal for taking a great meal home or dining there.
Tastiest chicken parmesan sandwich I've ever had, delicious carbonara, remarkable orange fennel salad, and do save room for a pistachio cranberry cookie.
SO FRESH! Difranco's has made me seriously reconsider my relationship with Italin food...we're serious now (insert heart emoticon here) I am a huge fan of the proscuttio and egg sandwich, and their ricotta cookies can and should be bought in quantities of 5 or more. Â Their butternut squash ravioli is just as good as the stuff I had in New York this summer :)
Review Source:I mean, seriously... this food is spectacular. Â Whatever you guys do to create these amazing dishes - please, keep on keeping on. This is truly my number one recommendation for foods of all cuisines. If you love food, and love experiencing explosions of taste in each bite, look no further than diFranco's. A-mazing! Nice job, Ryan!
Review Source:DiFranco's is a great little restaurant with very fresh food and a good meatball sandwich. The caesar salad was one of the best that I have ever had! Portions are fresh, but small. The meatball sandwich only had two meatballs and it was $9. The caesar salad was also very small. Â Even with portions being small, the food was so good I have to give it 5 stars.
Review Source:All I have to say is O.M.G. Looking for fresh, delicious, authentic Italian food? Look no further! The menu is relatively limited, but everything on it is superb. Â The lemon ricotta cookies are a must try as well (3 for $2!). Â Every time I have been in there, it is the same young couple (plus one or two others) who greet you with a smile and a hello and obviously strive for very satisfied customers. Â Also, they have frequent specials and "perks" so be sure to pick up a Belly card and ask about the daily specials!
Review Source:Mmmhmmm yum!
I have to agree with the other reviews, this place owns up. The bf and I stopped in here for lunch and both got the rigatoni with tomato sauce, I had the side of meatball, and he the naked chicken. Prepared to order and served to us as we sat at the communal table. I really wanted good pasta and DiFranco's served. The flavor of the sauce, the bite of the rigatoni, and my meatball - very very good. I was so taken by the aroma, I forgot to take a picture to share with yelpers. Well, that is all the more reason why you should go there yourself and check it out!
unbelievable. what a find! local, organic ingredients, family owned, excellent service and incredible food!! the price is right and great Italian food!? Â in Denver!? we will be back!!!
*added bonus for music junkies, no Miley Cyrus or Hootie and the Blowfish here. jammin to Cut Copy and Miike Snow while you eat is most enjoyable :)
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.
Ok, who flew my mom in to cook my dinner? Seriously, the Rigatoni with spicy tomato sauce and a side meatball was one delicious meal made with care. The ingredients were so fresh, and their combination so perfect. Spices and herbs danced on my tastebuds, while the amount of salt was just right. The sauce was not really that spicy, but rather a perfect zesty that a red sauce should be. And the meatball was so well crafted. I went to a show at the Bluebird afterward and actually held off on getting a drink so that I could further savor my experience - it was that good.
Now I'll be honest, I was a little dismayed at first that I had to order a meatball as a side, but realized once the dish came out that this was ingenious. You can also order chicken or Italian sausage as well, so you can basically make the pasta dish that you want. But whatever you do, you must follow Kelly T.'s advice and save the bread for cleaning that plate of yours. You'll be sorry if you don't.
Amazing food, cool casual atmosphere, and the sweetest of people behind all the magic. I can't wait to come back and try the Potato Gnocchi. A great place for any moment. I have been hearing rave reviews about DiFranco's for some time now, and it was great to finally stop in and have my high expectations met.
Holy crap. Â This place has been on my list to try for a while based on the good reviews, and I finally got there. Â OK, there are now three places that have what I call "high-end" sandwhiches that I've been to: Vert, Lunch Matters and now DiFranco's Italian Deli. Â I ordered the chicken parm sandwhich after getting my hair cut so the ladies love me. (hair cut for the ladies, not chicken parm) Â You could tell the tomato sauce was homemade and it was to die for. Â The chicken was cooked and seasoned perfectly, and you get a side of delicious pasta salad as well. Â Oh, and the Italian sodas are delicious as well. Â I chose the blood orange which was bloody good.
It's a bit of a smaller place, but still offers plenty of seating. Â The service was very good, however it was late and they were preparing to close. Â The prices are a bit stiff compared to other delis, but you get what you pay for and you definitely get some good grub here. Â I'm definitely stopping in next time I'm in the neighborhood, or I may just make a special trip to the neighborhood for my next visit.
This place is wonderful! I ordered lunch to go recently as this place is near my house. I ordered the Penne with Vodka Sauce and a Cannoli. Â
The penne dish was outstanding. The sauce was creamy and flavorful, but not overly heavy and, the pasta was a perfect al dente. The cannoli was perhaps one of the best I've ever had. The shell was flaky and the homemade ricotta filling was light rather than dense and the citrus flavor went nicely with the chocolate chips and pistachios.
Everything is made to order at DiFranco's, including the cannolis. So if you are in a rush, you are better off going somewhere else and saving DiFranco's for a time where you have a few minutes to chat with the lovely staff while waiting for your dishes. Â Or even better, when you have time to sit down and savor your meal there. I was informed that will start serving wine and beer soon so I definitely plan to do the latter next time.
Wow. This place warms your soul as soon as you walk in. Â I came here for dinner to carb load for my half marathon the next morning and I had the Penne with prosciutto vodka sauce. It was DELICIOUS! I was tempted to get a second serving. Â Ryan, the owner of this fabulous place, truly shows that he commits his heart and soul to this work of art. Â I am proud of the progression of a this successful place and I CANNOT wait to eat here again when I am visiting from LA. Â Bravo, diFrancos and encore, Ryan!
Review Source:My boyfriend and I were only in Denver for 36 hours but we stopped in here for lunch on 9/4 after visiting the nearby Denver Art Museum. I normally refrain from writing reviews until I feel like I have sufficiently tried a restaurant and am confident in their rating, but diFranco's is just too good to pass up.
I had the portobello mushroom sandwich, complete with a fresh arugula salad and fried egg, served between 2 very thick and perfectly toasted slices of bread. There were also caramelized onions, shaved cheese, and balsamic/oil. It was so, so good.
My boyfriend ordered the fettuccine with spicy tomato sauce and their house salad. The pasta and sauce are freshly made in house and the taste reflects that. The salad was beautifully dressed lettuce, tomato, and green beans (?). 'Twas very good.
I dipped the ends of my sandwich (which I had to fight him off to enjoy, since it was so good) in his leftover sauce and the sweet caramelized onions were complemented wonderfully by the spicy tomato sauce.
The interior is clean and comfortable; the service (counter service) was friendly and casual. Couldn't have asked for a better lunch.
I really debated about the rating for this place because, hey, it's a deli but it is a very, very good deli. Â No fine dining experience, wine, etc. but what they do is make food obviously made with love and deep expertise. Â It is tiny and a bit hard to find. Â Look for the lime green umbrellas directly across the street from Dazzle. Â Dining in options are pretty limited to one big community table and a couple of deuces.
Lady friend and I had lunch there today. Â We were the only people in the place. Â I hope they are doing more business than we saw. Â She had today's pasta special - ravioli in vodka sauce and I had a meatball sub with fresh basil (small very tasty pasta salad included) - both in the $9-$10 range as is most of the menu. Â We were both pleased as punch. Â If I had one criticism (and I always have one) is that they put raw tomato slices on my sub in addition to the already tomato sauced meatballs. Â Unnecessary and just sogged out the bread. Â Her ravioli was truly divine. Â They hand make them (as they do all their pasta) and the silkiness of hand made pasta is just incredible. Â I may have to get out my pasta machine this weekend and whip some out myself. Â I'd forgotten what a difference it makes.
Portions aren't huge so we had room for my favorite Italian dessert - cannoli. Â Made in house and not filled until the last minute. They were the best I've had in many years - a bargain at $4 because they are lot of work. Â Perfectly crispy shells and light, citrus infused ricotta filling - a little chocolate on one end - a few pistachios on the other - sublime.
Gluten free fettuccine for you glutards by the way ($2 up charge). Â So, a wonderful tiny little gem of a deli that you simply must try. Â You can thank me later.
I have been to DiFranco's a handful of times and I have yet to have a meal that disappointed me. Homemade pastas and sauces are over-the-top delicious. Probably the best I've had anywhere, but definitely the best I've had in Denver. I've actually eaten all three types of pasta and sauce that are on the menu currently, but because all of the products/produce are locally sourced the types of sauce changes with the seasons. I love that.
I've also ordered the polenta, tomato, and mozzarella salad; ricotta cookies; and the tapanade. Again, so, so good.
The portions are what portions should be so they may look on the smaller side if you are used to gargantuan, American-style pasta. But, I am always just the right amount of full after a meal here.
The people that work here are friendly to everyone. As I sit at the large community table inside I hear them greet most people that enter by name and ask questions about things happening in their lives. So, not only does DiFranco's support our local businesses, they also support the local community of people by becoming part of our everyday happenings.
You can eat in or grab something to go, but DiFranco's does casual Italian very, very well and so you should do one or the other sooner rather than later.
This place is a GEM. I had the pesto ravioli, my lunch date had the penne with vodka sauce. Both were awesome. As was the breaded chicken breast we ordered to add a little protein to our lunch. Best thing on the menu - the thyme infused lemonade. And, there's free parking in the garage right next door. So, an all around success for lunch.
Review Source:My first time to try this place. I've heard good things and decided to stop in on my way home from work. The decor is bright and welcoming.
got the chicken parm sandwich to go. It was fantastic! The bread was delicious and the chicken was perfectly tender and moist. The marinara sauce was as good as any I've ever had.
While I was waiting for my sandwich to be prepared I was offered a ricotta lemon cookie. Wow! Absolutely delicious.
I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu!
You know, I think that we, as a society have been missing out on properly prepared pasta. Too often we settle for semi soggy or sticky noodles, especially when we're grabbing something for lunch or a quick dinner. After eating at DiFranco's, I'm never settling again.
I had the penne pasta with a prosciutto vodka sauce. The pasta was al dente. Initially, I was a little surprised because I had come to expect pasta that was overcooked (I know, I'm obviously eating int he wrong places), but once I dug in, it was delicious. This place is perfect for lunch or a light(er) dinner because the portions aren't huge. They're just right for a really filling meal that won't send you spinning into a food coma.
Oh, and save that piece of bread on the side there, because you'll want to use it to scoop up the leftover sauce when you finish your pasta. If you eat the bread right away, you'll be faced with the agonizing decision to leave the remaining sauce or just pick the plate up and lick it.
I also had one of their Italian sodas. It was Strawberry Lemonade with a hint of, I think, basil or something (I'm bad with spices). SUPER sweet and tart, which is the way I like it. If you prefer more subtle Italian sodas, that's probably not the right flavor for you.
The space is open, modern and airy and I think it's a modern twist on the fundamental principle of Italian food: simplicity can be delicious.
This place definitely does simple right.
I just got back from lunch, and it was delightful. I had the meatball sub, with a side cesar-salad. As previously reviewed, the meatball sub was really good. Soft bread, home-made everything. Really tasty. Even the cesar was good. Nice lettuce and a good home-made light dressing. I had an italian soda to wash it down, and it was fantastic. My friend had the chicken-parm, and that too was awesome. They served his with a side of pasta salad, and even that was good.
Seriously, everything was good. For the area, the food's price was right on par, but the quality was exceptional, so we will definitely be going back.
Small, locally owned, locally sourced fresh italian! Â Walking in I feel like I've walked into a fresh neighborhood NYC deli/shop and makes me miss home. Â Shared two of the subs (meatball sub and the buffalo mozz sub) both were great. Â Meatballs were amazing. Â Can't wait to come back to try the fresh pasta and chicken parm.
Review Source:I stopped in today for lunch - never sure what to expect when a place is brand new.
I shouldn't have been worried.
Incredible food, friendly service, nice decor (it'll be even better when the chairs arrive, but that is a minor detail because the food was that good). Â I had the chicken parm sandwich and a lemonade, and then couldn't help myself and had a cookie or two.
All delicious. The ingredients are fresh and and flavors spot on. The tomato sauce included with the sandwich was especially nice. Lunch was filling, but not heavy and not at all greasy. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu.
The owner has pictures of his grandparents on the wall. You can tell the place and the food are a labor of love.
EAT HERE! Â Support local food and have a delicious meal while you're at it.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,317 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,986 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
