During National Pasta Month, we have been exploring the historical origins and varieties of noodles. Today, we celebrate the best one for holding the perfect amount of stuffing per bite with delicious flavors on National Ravioli Day. I recently participated in an Italian pasta-making class and discovered the simplicity of making these noodles with its three ingredients: egg, flour, water, and using a ravioli stamp cutter. While a well-made vessel is important, the fun really comes from what you select as your filling. Whether you enjoy the traditional meat and cheese or veer toward the vegetarian or sweet options, we have found five restaurants for you to go taste the delicious dish.
Viale Pizza & Kitchen
1390 S Colorado Blvd Suite 190, Denver, CO 80222
To find this Italian gem, you will need to drive into a small shopping strip off Colorado Blvd. Once you find it, you will be back again to enjoy all the delicious options that make up their menu. If you’re a real ravioli fan, they have three to keep you coming back. The bison ravioli is a fan favorite, there is a vegetarian option of Caprese cheese ravioli, and pictured is their lobster and shrimp ravioli topped with their tomato vodka sauce. My mouth is watering, go discover Viale today.
Panzano
Panzano has a long history in Denver, including being a significant stepping stone for two incredible female chefs in Denver. It’s where James Beard Award-winning Chef Jen Jasinki and her business partner Beth Guitch, who together have Rioja, Ultreia, Stoic & Genuine, and the newly relocated Bistro Vendome, met. Chef Elise Wiggins also served as the Executive Chef and won numerous awards during her 12-year stay prior to opening her own restaurant, Cattivella. Released as part of their “new year, new dishes”, Ravioli di Zucca is a great sweet option for you to enjoy as you bite into squash, dates, pecorino, almonds, black truffle, and brown butter.
Angelo’s Taverna
620 E 6th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
You may have seen Angelo’s driving on busy 6th Avenue, heard of their amazing oysters, or recall the name after more than 40 years in Denver. They offer three varieties of ravioli for you to select as an entree for a personal or family-size order of cheese or bison, butternut squash, and one that I must go try, Chile Relleno. They also offer a breaded toasted ravioli filled with a nine cheese filling and served with a side of marinara for you to dip and indulge in as an appetizer. Sounds like a perfect place to start and finish a complete ravioli-centric meal.
Coperta
400 E 20th Ave, Denver, CO 80205
Coperta is a fantastic place to become a regular as their frequent menu changes will take you on a culinary tour of southern Italy while cooking with local fresh seasonal ingredients. Opened and operated by industry power couple Aileen and Paul C. Riley, who previously owned beast + bottle, you know you are in good hands when you visit the welcoming Italian eatery in Midtown. Currently on their menu is a savory goat cheese ravioli with autumn squash, mushrooms, sage, and walnut. Grab your fork and enjoy a taste of Italy.
Parisi
4401 Tennyson St. Denver, C0 80212
This Italian establishment came to Denver straight from Florence circa 1997, and it shows. Proud to be one of the first purveyors of authentic Italian eats — like burrata, bresaola, and alici — in Denver, the team at Parisi describes their food as “edible nostalgia.” About their work, they say: “Know that every time you eat something from our menu, there is some story from Italy attached to it.” parisidenver.com
