If you're  nose is pointed at an upward angle, I would argue that this is not the pizza place for you.
Rico's is the dive bar of pizza places. Stocked with characters and a throwback feeling. I am a fan of the meatball sandwich myself. It's small and cramped but worth a stop in to check out.
Bring cash Rico don't mess with no high tech machines!
I have been going to Rico's (formerly Blue Moon Pizzeria in Cinderella City) since the late 1970's. Â I believe they make the best NY Style pizza in Colorado. Â Their crust is a treat all by itself. Â It is golden, bubbly and chewy, like your favorite bread sticks wrapped around a fabulous pie. Â
I think the true measure of a pizza joint can only be taken by trying their basic cheese pizza. Â The Rico's pie is amazing. Â The aforementioned crust surrounds a sauce that is neither too tangy or too sweet. Â The cheese is generously applied and cooked to a bubbly golden top. Â The tips of each slice curl slightly from the weight but a couple of bites in and it holds together nicely. Â Then you reach the crust and... bliss.
The same comments can be made about their calzones as well. Â I am such a fan of their pizza that I almost never stray from it to try the other offerings. But what I have tried has never disappointed.
Sylvia and Rico do not spend much time there any more, but they have left it in very capable hands. Â They work as a family and they treat their customers like family, too. Â
This is a no frills, cash only restaurant, so visit the ATM just outside before coming in. Â This is one way thay have kept their costs down and can continue to offer such high quality food at such reasonable prices.
There are a few good pizza joints in town, but if you have a quest for the best, start here and you will likely never stray...
Wow!
So I'm walking around Englewood this afternoon on a lunch break to grab a few things from the shops on Broadway and come across Rico's. Â I've driven passed this place a million times but never stopped in.
Upon being instantly greeted and asked if I was picking up or eating in I told the girl at the counter that this was my first time in and she showed me right to a table. Â Oddly enough I'm in a pizza joint and not in the mood for pizza so ask what else they have. Â She recommends the combo sub, which consists of ham, salami, onions, peppers and cheese, which I don't ever doubt a servers suggestion.
Wow! This thing comes out hot and open faced covered in cheese! Â Not really sure how to tackle this beast I wave her back over and ask, "how to I take this thing on?" Â Of course she laughs and says, "you fold like like a sandwich an eat it!" Â DUH!
From that moment on lunch was awesome. Â A cool little spot with maybe 8 tables in the place and patrons coming an going picking up to-go orders and guys stopping in for a slice of pizza and a Coke.
Then I notice a little sign next to my table that reads, "No credit or debit cards. Â Cash or personal checks only" Â Uh oh. Â
So I finish my lunch, step up to the counter and mention, I don't have any cash is there an ATM close? The cashier shows me an ATM 15ft. away in the parking lot where I can get some paper money. NICE!
Back in I come to gladly pay up for a full stomach and notice a sign for T-shirts $5. Â Are you kidding me! I'm a t-shirt junkie so YEAH give me one of those too!
In and out of Rico's (my new favorite pizza joint) without having pizza, dropping $15 for a hot sub, coke, t-shirt and a tip! Â Can't be that. Â I'll be back!
Best pizza in town too me! Â They have amazing subs especially the combo sub! My favorite! Â There calzones are great too an if you want them smothered in marinara sauce they will drown your food in it which sometimes is too much but you can ask for the sauce on the side. Â Sal an his family are amazing people! They have been serving me an all our guys at swift for years!
Review Source:So to be clear, I have only tried the Pizza here... no comment on the rest of their menu.
First, this place has no ambiance whatsoever. It is a hole-in-the-wall and if you want romance or nice decor; this place isn't for you. If you are okay with cramped tables, a staff with what some might consider a "New York" attitude and some darn good pizza - welcome to Rico's!
Their pizza is served on a thinner crust than most Denver spots and is just what a pizza should be. Cheesy, greasy and tasty! Not crazy expensive either...
So if you want pizza and you want it good and are not too worried about all that other restaurant type stuff - hit up Rico's; you won't regret it!
I stopped in for one of their sub lunch specials. As I was waiting to order I saw a table get their order of chicken parm subs and I couldn't resist.
I am a genuine sucker for good bread. In Denver and Colorado I find it hard to get really good bread with a sandwich. Great bread is something I miss from the East Coast.
Rico's has incredible bread. Apparently the loaves are handmade and baked in house. They are uniquely shaped and definitely have a handmade look and feel to them. Their subs come oven baked, which, in addition to melting the cheese, gives the bread a great crackling crust. The bread is by no means hard, as when the crust breaks as you bite it, the bread gives way to a chewy and satisfying taste. The bread also holds up really well under the weight of the generous amount of sauce apportioned onto the sandwich. I love bread, and Rico's has some great bread.
I understand that they use a similar dough for their pizza. Even though they don't serve slices I am looking forward to going back to try a pie, and another sandwich.
Hello, Rico.
Authentic, what I believe to be NY style pizza. The smothered calzone is one of a kind. I always choose meatball as the topping, it tastes like your mama made it. Can't beat the lunch specials; $2 dollar subs on fresh homemade bread. Outside, an inviting smell of fresh baking bread and pizza lingers. One of the best pizzerias  in Denver hands down.
Thank You Rico.
Tried this place for the first time as I live nearby. The meatball sub was not good. There was no meatballs, just ground beef. The cheese was still hard and not melted. Antipasta salad was average. I ordered take-out. The inside was very small, crammed, and loud. I will probably not come here again, but if I do I might try the pizza.
Review Source:Had lunch here on a friends recommendation. Â Wasn't disappointed. Â Many of the things written in the previous reviews are correct such as the salad consist of iceburg lettuce topped with cheese and pepperoni and they don't take credit cards. Â Solve those two issues and they get one more star from me. Â We received a friendly greeting as we entered and again from the waitress. Â Had a small calzone and I can't find anything to complain about it. Â I will be going back to for more. Â Happy it was recommended to us. Â We're not from NY but we actually loved the atmosphere.
Review Source:I stumbled into this place today.... I was driving around town and doing some errands when my stomache started talking to me! Â So I saw Rico's and pulled into this small little parking lot that doesn't really have a lot of spaces to park. Â The place is small but had a very good feel to it when I walked in. Â You can definitely tell that it's ran by tradition... the decore, the booths, and still using the old school cash register! Â I sat at a booth by myself and looked at the pictures around the place... a lot of history behind this place!
I ordered the fried zucchini sticks and the combo sandwich, that had ham, salami, peppers, onions and topped with mozzarella. Â When I got the zucchini, I thought WOAH that's a lot of zucchini? Â But man are they delicious! Â Just the right amount of spice in the breading and the Ranch they gave me.... Awesome! Â Can't stand it when a place doesn't have good tasting ranch!
When the sandwich came.... first bite I thought I was in heaven! Â It was everything that I thought it was! Â They put their home made vinagrette in the sandwich, which was a good surprise! Â I only ate half of it, because I spent a lot of my time with the fried zucchini! Â Twelve bucks later, I was a very happy camper! Â You gotta check out this place if you've never been...
First time there: July 30, 2011
Last time there: July 30, 2011
Meatball sub wasn't bad... service didn't come with a smile.... and while we were there, no orders were "rung up". Â When my husband came home and pulled his money out of his pocket, he realized he was short changed $20. Â I called the restaurant and was told I would get a call back as soon as the register was counted. Â Husband said, "How will they know if they are 'over' in the register if no orders were rung up?" Â Call back to us said the register was exact to the penny! Â Have you ever heard of such a thing? Â Exact to the penny??? Come on!!
If you go there.... just make sure you count your change!
So there are people that get all up in arms about the difference between American Italian food and Italian Italian food. Â All I can say is that if you want spaghetti drenched in red sauce with a delicious sausage on top than this is the perfect place for it.
It is exactly what I want when I think of American Italian food! Â A most go to South Denver spot!
OK - This family has been feeding me since the late 70's when it was called Red Moon Pizzaria and located in Cinder Alley in the old Cinderella City Mall on Hampden. Â Slice a roni and a coke for a little more than a buck then. Â Perfect NY style pies. Â The ham and cheese calzone is my absolute favorite thing on the menu.
Thank you for all the great meals and memories!!
Um, three words: Â MEATBALL SANDWICH SPECIAL.
They make their own bread, the meatballs are fabulous and the sauce is yum-yum. Â And they cost less than $3, and that INCLUDES a drink! Â I can feed a family of nine hundred for about five cents here ... and it's GREAT FOOD.
I can't vouch for the other items on the menu, sorry. Â I only ever get the special, because why mess with perfection?
The owner is great, too. Â Actually everybody there is great. Friendly, conversational, quick. Â Service is wonderful. Â
Not a ton of seating, which can be prohibitive because it's a popular joint, but you can carry out, so no problem there. Â
Ricos is a hole-in-the-wall place that's been around for years ... for a REASON. Â Because it's freaking AWESOME.
What I like best about Rico's Pizzeria is the place it self. Allow yourself to forget that your at a restaurant on South Broadway and you might just think you're somewhere in the Italian neighborhood in New York.
The staff looks like they've been making pizza, sandwiches etc., their entire lives. They just look like a big happy (perhaps slightly disfunctional) family.
Sadly I was not as in love with the food as my husband. I found the bread to be bland and the pizza was too watery, making the crust soggy. The flavor was great so based on that alone I would recommend Yelpers to give it a try.
Rico's is my favorite local pizza place. Â My family eats there at least twice a month. Â The pizza is fantastic, the prices cannot be beat and their service is excellent. Â We typically order the same thing and our waiter remembers us and just double checks our order before putting it in. Â He even remembers that my wife doesn't like onions on her salad. Â
We sometimes order take out but we prefer dining in. Â The interior reminds me of the pizza restaurants I used to frequent with my grandfather when I was a child It iscozy, warm and a little kitschy. Â :-) Â I love it. Â
If you have not been to Rico's you need to go!
It could be 5 stars, but no beer.
Warm and cozy and very charming. It hearkens back to those goold old days when "Italian" meant fake plastic brick. I loved the atmosphere. There was an enjoyable buzz of conversation.
Friendly welcome and wait service.
Delicious pineapple and ham pizza. Lots of gooey cheese. Just the right amount of salt in the crust.
You should go.
GO HERE IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN! Â Â Perfect for lunch or a quick cheap dinner on the run.
Best 4 dollars with tax I have ever spent. Â Super fast too. Â
2 sandwiches for 4 dollars with tax. Â Holy GREATNESS! Â ME LIKEY!
Perfect sauce and bread to go with your Sausage or meatball sandwich.
The lady behind the counter said, "ONE OF EACH." Â IN less than 4 minutes, 2 hot sandwiches were in my hand.
Thanks Ricos, Very delicious and great location! Â I will be back.
All I can say is Oh Hell Yea! Â A little bit of spice in the sauce, plentiful cheese, generous amount of pepperoni, and a crust capable of carrying it all while being tasty enough to justify eating away the edge. Â But if you eat the edge that takes away room for more of the ooey gooey yummy middle of the pie. Â
So sad that I've lived in this neck of the woods for 3 years and just now trying this joint out. Â Rico, please forgive me. Â I'll be back soon to try other toppings, calzones and hopefully a blissful order of garlic cheese bread. FYI garlic cheesy bread is the equivalent to nibbling on the back of my neck in foodie terms. Â Oops maybe that was TMI ;)
Yes yes only cash but I'll stop by the ATM for you anytime and twice on a football Sunday.
Where is the cheese?
I had good experiences here until my last visit. The medium pizza with two toppings lacked cheese. There were areas of the pizza with no cheese!!. I am comparing it to the same pizza ordered in other occasions. Maybe it was the idiot that prepared the pizza, maybe they are now being cheap. A real letdown, I was pissed.
The teenager and I ate lunch here this afternoon. Â Lucky for me, I noticed the "cash only" sign as we entered. Â The owner pointed across the street to the nearest ATM. Â Funny thing...when I looked at the bill, I had enough money in my wallet to pay before I went to the ATM. Â The teenager had jalapeno poppers, the Stromboli calzone, and a Sprite. Â I had manicotti and an iced tea. Â The bill came to $23.00 and some change, which is pretty good for the amount of food we got. Â
My salad consisted of iceberg lettuce, some pepperoni, green pepper slices, onions, and mozzarella cheese with Italian dressing. Â Everything was fresh and tasted good. Â The garlic bread was standard, but that's okay since garlic bread isn't supposed to be a fancy thing to begin with. Â My manicotti was delicious. Â Lots of red sauce and cheese-stuffed manicotti. Â The teenager loved the jalapeno poppers, except that they weren't spicy. Â His calzone was huge, and he ended up taking half of it home...no complaint from me since that meant I didn't have to make dinner. Â Service was very friendly. Â It is small inside, but we both liked the atmosphere and the smell of garlic in the air.
We will defintely return because we want to try the pizza.
Oh, another good thing is that Rico's is next door to the Army Surplus Store and just a couple of blocks from a really nice used bookstore on Girard.
This place has delicious pizza...its an independant pizza joint, so the concentration is on food instead of fancy places to sit, or freshly dusted windowsill's. Â They get you your food and get you on your way.
People complaining about the cash only cracks me up...Small businesses have to pay quite a bit to take credit and debit cards. Â While it may be an inconvenience, its worth it to stop at the ATM for some Rico's. Â
While the pizza was delicious, my only complaint is that they need a 1 day notice to do a Sicilian, which is kind of a pain, but I'm definately going to try it out. Â I haven't had better pizza in Denver.
You will get lots of fiber from this cardboard pizza. Â I had high hope because of all of the great reviews. Â So I walk into this shack and the people were friendly enough but then they yanked my pizza out of the oven and slapped it into a box. Â The gal checking me out couldn't even close the box top which suked cause it was raining out. Â Then she pressed down on it an ruined the box so there was no way it would ever close right. So I marched outta there with my crushed pizza box and cardboard pizza. Â The pizza was so bland, no Italian spices or anything. The cheese was cheap and fake tasting. Â This is the most horrible pizza experience I have ever had. Â How do they rate so well?
Review Source:Ricos Alfredo Pasta, Salad and garlic bread lunch/dinner special for no more than 8 bucks is so  amazing I think I  might have to pick it up tonight for dinner.
It's enought for two meals, and the house salad dressing and  perfect. The pasta is VERY greasy and alfredoy (if that was a word) but thats how I like it.
The pizza is fresh and they aren't scared to pile it high with toppings.
The only down fall to this place is they only except cash. No credit cards and I don't think they except checks at least I hope not considering the part of  Englewood its in.
I highly suggest this place, but don't forget your cash! Oh and they are closed on Sundays...which is when I Â typically crave the pasta. Bummer!
First off, bring cash, or go home. Â I am not a fan of the "cash only" way of doing business, and since I rarely ever have cash on me, Rico's does not get nearly as much of my business as they could.
Their chicken parm sub is wonderful. Â Their sausage sub is wonderful. Â Their pastas are so-so. Â I still need to try their pizza because I have never seen one come out of their oven that did not look absolutely delicious. Â I just need to save some cash I guess.
I like the atmosphere, the prices, the food. Â For me and my little reviewer, Ricos is a hit.
Sauce, the way sauce is supposed to taste; according to a Sicilian. This place is a great stop before a concert at the Gothic. Its family owned and you really feel as though you are eating in someone's kitchen (very small). I have to mark them down a little for their false advertisement of $2 sandwiches, when you get inside and see the menu they are actually $6. I think that's a little wrong. Also, their idea of an antipasto salad is kind of lame. Other then that this place must be doing something right because the restaraunt is always packed.
Review Source:"Authentic Kitsch"...that's the best way I can describe the interior of Rico's. With random pictures of Italian-American iconography, an old TV, along with a hodge-podge of other items, it feels like the place has evolved into its current state. That is, the stuff was built and accumulated...not manufactured out-of-the-box like the walls at Applebee's or Buca di Bepo.
The pizza's not bad, but if I'm going to Rico's, I need to get me one of their sandwiches. The sausage sandwich is my absolute favorite. Just a perfect mixture of cheese and meat. But be sure to grab plenty of napkins, because you can't stop the sandwich!
While I'm okay with the food, the lack of a credit card machine is rather abrasive. They have a few handwritten signs hung up all over the place, almost demanding that you don't DARE use your plastic here--cash only, chief.
Sal, the owner/boss of this place is kinda' cool. Cracks me up how he winks at the girls who come in. He's also, apparently, a bad-ass bowler, as evidenced by the multiple bowling awards and trophies displayed in the place. Makes some mean sammiches and can bowl a 300... seems like he'd be a fun guy to hang out with.
Oh, and another tidbit: from what I've learned, there is nobody named "Rico". Rather, this place was named after the town of Rico, Colorado. At least, that's the story I picked up from the various interior pictures.
Yes. Â It is aggravating as all heck that Ricos still does not accept credit or debit cards. Â It pretty clearly says "tax evasion" to me. Â I find it grating that they inconvenience customers in this way. Â Like others, I have placed my order and allowed my mouth to begin watering only to discover that I had no acceptable form of payment and end up leaving.
Other than that, though, Ricos is perfect. Â It's an authentic local NY style pizza joint that has been in business in Englewood for decades. Â The dough is made fresh and it makes for the most delicious crust I have had. Â The toppings they use are mega high quality. Â
My personal favorite at Ricos is the combo sub - a delicious oven baked sandwich cooked open so that the cheese is allowed to brown and edges of the meat curl up with roasty yumminess. Â I would be thrilled to be served a sandwich like this anywhere in the world. Â
Rico - get with the times, man - start accepting plastic - and sharing your wonderful food with more people!
If by "real NY style attitude" the previous reviewer was implying that Ricos' is cramped, dirty, and loud then I would have to agree.
I've been in to Rico's three times because it's right in my neighborhood and it has big signs proclaiming how dirt cheap the food is.
The first time I had to walk in and walk right back out, though - they're pretty much the only place in town that's still stuck in the Cretaceous period when people didn't accept credit/debit cards. I can't tell you how obnoxious that is - I don't know anyone who carries cash around anymore except drug dealers and grade school kids.
The second and third times were unremarkable besides the filth. The whole place is dingy and extremely dark, and there was actually a thick layer of greasy dust on the window sills. The food was pretty standard - lots of grease, tomato sauce, and carbohydrates. The waitress was a little slow and she never smiled.
Overall, I'd skip it if I were you.
Rico's is by far the best pizzeria in Colorado.
It is true NY style pizza. The owner actually worked the same mall that my mom did in NJ in 1975.
The place is small, the people are nice, the food is cheap. I LOVE Rico's. Try the garlic bread. SOOOOO GOOD.
Real NY style pizza with real NY style attitude. a favorite of mine.
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