30 WESTWORD FOOD & DRINK 2023 Say Cheese TEN METRO DENVER PIZZERIAS SERVING SLICES AND NOSTALGIA. Denver is in the midst of a pizza boom. New places have opened that serve all styles of pies. You can nosh on rectangular Detroit-style pizza or thin Chicago tav- ern-style, or order a pie built on sourdough crust that’s loaded with fresh local meats and produce. But before trendier places like Cart-Driver, Red Tops Rendezvous and Redeemer joined the party, the city had plenty of longtime staples that had been in the pizza game for decades. Here are ten old-school spots for pizza and other Italian-American classics that have withstood the test of time: Carl’s Pizza 3812 West 38th Avenue 303-477-1694 When north Denver was called simply the Northside, the area was fi lled with Italian eateries that fed the neighborhood for de- cades. And while most — including Patsy’s, Pagliacci’s, Carbone’s and Longo’s Subway Tavern — are long gone, Carl’s remains. Sur- rounded by trendy spots in what’s now called the Highland neighborhood, this spot that opened in 1953 hasn’t changed much since then. Currently owned by John Ludwig, who landed his fi rst job at Carl’s at age sixteen in 1976, it’s maintained its old-school, no-frills atmosphere — and still serves sausage made in-house, calzones, pasta, pizza on a not-too- thin, not-too-thick crust and more. Frank the Pizza King 4701 South Broadway, Englewood 303-789-2279 frankthepizzaking.com Founded in 1961 by Frank Krascek, this long- time Englewood staple is now run by Walter (Frank’s son) and Maria Krascek. Alongside medium-crust pies, which are the main draw, the sixty-year-old joint also offers homemade sausage sandwiches, Italian subs and other diner-style dishes. Lechuga’s 3609 Tejon Street 303-455-1502 lechugasitalian.com A north Denver staple since 1961, Lechuga’s is a family-owned-and-operated Italian restaurant that is well known for its sausage canoli and square pizza. It began as the bakery for Carbone’s, a now-closed Italian market and sandwich shop. From there, Lechuga’s evolved into a restaurant, and has kept its recipes the same since day one. The “spanoli plate” is a unique dish that includes canoli paired with a side of spaghetti. Lechuga’s has successfully served the Northside for generations and remains a go-to for many Denverites seeking reliably good old-school pizza and Italian food. ......................... ...................................... 303-469-9117 originalpizza.us Raffaele, Carmela and Carmela’s father, Giuseppe Aiello, opened Original Pizza in Broomfi eld in 1991. All three were born in Italy and came to Colorado with the goal of bringing the best pizza and Italian food to this region. The menu features both Sicil- ian and New York-style pizza, sandwiches, calzones and lunch and dinner specials. Pietra’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant 9045 West 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge 303-421-4100 Since 1964, the family-owned Pietra’s has been serving homemade Italian food — in- cluding pizza, soups, salads, sandwiches, canolis, pasta and more — in Wheat Ridge. Its secret? It hasn’t changed a thing since opening 59 years ago. Pizza Alley 3499 West 32nd Avenue 303-458-8415 pizzaalley.com Even as the Northside evolved into what is now named the Highland neighborhood, Pizza Alley has remained consistent on the corner of 32nd and Lowell, serving up the same recipes as the original owners did on day one. Pizza Alley has seen four separate owners since it opened in 1976; the most recent purchased it in 2020. The menu features longtime favorites like New York-style pies available whole or by the slice, calzones, pasta and sub sandwiches. Romano’s Italian Restaurant 5666 South Windermere Street, Littleton 303-798-4944 romanospizzeria.com The Romano family came to America from Italy by boat in the early 1900s, and patriarch Giovanni Frank the Pizza King has been serving in Englewood since 1961. continued on page 34 DANIELLE LIRETTE
