Tavernetta Opens Today Delivering Italian Classics

As the trains charge past, taking passengers to and fro, the heat of the action is in fact occurring across from the Denver Union Station platform now that Bobby Stuckey and chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson start service at Tavernetta today.

Thanks to the fan following accompanying Boulder’s Frasca Food & Wine and Pizzeria Locale Boulder, high hopes and joyous greetings come to 1889 16th Street, the Block A @ Union Station development with the latest Italian eatery in downtown Denver. Expected to open this spring, construction delays moved the debut back a couple seasons, keeping Denver diners hotly anticipating the iconic high standards of service and flavors extracted from the kitchen team’s handful of trips to Italy.

General manager Justin Williams — formerly of Thomas Keller Restaurant Group — will work alongside wine director Carlin Karr and chef de cuisine Ian Wortham, both long-time Frasca Food & Wine employees.

Designed by Denver’s Semple Brown, the interior is anchored by a large kitchen. A spacious bar, fireplace and chef’s counter are surrounded by classic and contemporary artwork, including vintage photos by Slim Aarons, collected by the developer/owner Continuum’s Marc Facone. With two seasonal patios, the restaurant seats 125.

Open for lunch and dinner, Tavernetta will concentrate on Italian classics, including carpaccio alla cipriani — grass-fed beef, parmagiano-reggiano and aioli — and gnocchi with lamb ragu and peccorino.

Tavernetta is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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