A dream come true, Cattivella, a restaurant owned by chef Elise Wiggins, opens today in the still-growing Stapleton neighborhood. The Italian restaurant is the first to open in the Eastbridge Town Center development, one that will also house Concourse from chef Lon Symensma, Los Chingones and Hash from chef Troy Guard, and an outpost of Next Door, a more casual off-shoot of Boulder-born the Kitchen.
"This is my ‘hood and I can't wait to welcome my neighbors and friends into Cattivella," said Wiggins who is a resident of Stapleton. "This project is a dream come true for me."
After serving as executive chef at Panzano for 12 years, Wiggins was ready to create a restaurant of her own that brings together her extensive travels to Italy. Cattivella is inspired by Italian cuisine without confining that inspiration to a certain region. Each dish has a story with some being personal to the way the chef learned it or fell in love with it and others having fascinating historic backstories. Highlights of the menu include the focaccia di recco, the fagioli di fiasco, and the stunning dry aged certified Angus steaks.
The modern yet homey space is anchored by an exhibition kitchen in which an Acunto wood-burning pizza oven is the star. A chef's counter gives some guests a front seat to watching the pasta table. Others might be seated with a view of the butchers' corner where the Cattivella butchers will craft menu items from beef, pork, lamb and other whole animals. The surrounding chefs' counter will seat 26 along with 74 additional interior seats and 100 seats on a wrap-around patio with stunning views of the mountains. The restaurant is surrounded by glass on 3 sides and sports a modern feel. The open kitchen will provide the perfect setting for the wildly successful cooking classes that Elise continues to offer.
Cattivella, now open for daily for happy hour, dinner, and brunch on the weekends, is located at 10195 East 29th Drive - the southwest corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Galena Street. Reservations can be made at 303.645.3779.