Our growing community is home to some of the oldest (and best!) Italian restaurants in Northern Colorado. But among the amazing restaurants in FoCo, which ones serve the tastiest Italian cuisine? Below you’ll find Fort Collins’ most exceptional Italian restaurants and eateries, serving the most authentic Italian fare in the city. Salute!  

 

Inspired by old world familial hospitality, ideals and atmosphere, Cacciatore at Heller’s Kitchen is a must-try in Jessup Farm Artisan VillageTheir menu is made up of hand-crafted pizzas, salads, entrees and desserts that all showcase delicious and seasonal flavorsWant to enjoy Cacciatore from the comfort of home? They also offer Take & Bake Dinners like Lasagna Quattro Fromaggi, Crispy Eggplant Parmesan and Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccini for pick up that you can reheat in your oven at home!  

 

The Panino’s story begins in Colorado Springs all the way back in 1974 when Grandma and Grandpa Frasca opened their first restaurant with a focus on families in their community. Since then, their family of restaurants has grown to include three in Colorado Springs, one in Minnesota and one here in Fort Collins! The locally owned, vintage-inspired, neighborhood restaurant offers comfort food with an Italian flair like pastas, paninos (artisan baked sandwiches) pizza and more.  

 

From the same masterminds behind Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, RARE Italian is a restaurant concept showcasing influences from both Italy and American Italian immigrants. While you may be planning to stop by RARE for just their amazing pastas, we urge you to try one of their famous steaks! Dubbed one of the “The Best Steaks in America” by Gear Patrol, their steaks are dry aged in a custom dry-aging room for a minimum of 21 days before serving and are worth the visit all on their own.  

 

While most of us think of Italian food as simply warm bread, pizza and pasta dishes, there’s so much more to it than thatEnter Gelato & aMore, an authentic Italian restaurant known for gourmet Italian specialties including gelato and Dolci (dessert). While they are currently closed for renovations, you can still order from their Ghost Kitchen Menu for delivery in the Fort Collins area. Their Ghost Kitchen Menu includes their famous pizzas, pasta, soup, sandwiches and, of course, gelato. 
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You won’t find any fake cheese or phony accents here—Canino’s is the real deal! Owned by Clyde Canino, Canino’s is dedicated to real Italian food and real people using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. They’ve been serving Fort Collins for more than 45 years, offering unpretentious pizza, plenty of pasta and so much more 

 

The whole family will love dining at Nick’s! This hot spot is nestled in the heart of FoCo, and offers a festive atmosphere and homestyle Italian cuisine. You can enjoy fun specials (like burger night on Tuesdays and mussel madness on Thursdays), or just stick with the menu’s mainstays—including crispy calamari, bucatini carbonara, and braised lamb pappardelle.    
 
Pulcinella, which opened their first location in Northern Colorado in 1991, is an authentic Italian eatery known for their traditional recipes, warm ovens and welcoming smiles. Here you’ll find a spectacular lunch and dinner menu full of Italian favorites as well as catering options. Stop by to enjoy their home cooked fare at one of their two locations in the Fort Collins area!  
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With three locations throughout Northern Colorado, Mama Roni’s is one of the best spots in the region for delicious pizza! Their signature dough is made from scratch every day while their veggies are fresh and never frozen. While their pizza and pasta sauces are made from tomatoes grown in Stanislaus Valley, California within the hours of piking at the peak of ripeness—and only in season.

 

Recently opened on Harmony Road in Fort Collins, Marchitelli’s is an offshoot of the extremely popular Marchitelli’s Gourmet Noodle in Crested Butte. From mozzarella sticks, traditional lasagna and chicken parmesan to things like Lobster Ravioli and Elk Cannelloni, there’s a little something for all kinds of palates at Marchitelli’s!  
 

At Domenic’s in Fort Collins, they want you to set your expectations high. So when you visit, expect an inviting atmosphere, creative flavors, interesting menu items and incredible service! Their menu is a mix of Italian classics and new, innovative dishes like Baked Cavatappi Arrabiata, Stuffed Airline Chicken, Jalapeno Cheddar Elk Sausage and a Smoked Salmon Cheesecake.  

 

The European-inspired Cafe Vino never disappointswhether it’s time for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or dessert! Enjoy an amazing dining experience featuring the finest, local and organic ingredients along with decadent pastries, local craft brews and over 200 wines. Their casual, yet classy, atmosphere is perfect for intimate dinners, celebratory meals or simple weeknight get-togethers with friends. Reservations are recommended. 

 

For something outside of the pizza and pasta box, head to La Piadina, a local spot known for Italian flatbread sandwiches. While they started out as a food truck, they now operate a brick-and-mortar location as well, which you can find on College Avenue! Their Piadina’s are created using an authentic dough that follows the first written recipe from 1371 A.D. but they also have a vegan dough option made with extra virgin olive oil. Get it filled with high-quality ingredients like ham, prosciutto, pepperoni, meatballs and more or keep it vegetarian with tricolor peppers, pesto, artichoke hearts or grilled eggplant.  

 

Buon Appetito 

Did we miss your favorite Italian restaurant in the Fort Collins area? Let us know about it in the comments below.