Vero Officially Takes Over Boulder’s Pizzeria Da Lupo

Vero — the Italian eatery that got its start inside RiNo’s Denver Central Market — has opened its doors to the Boulder community, following an overhaul and rebrand of the former Pizzeria Da Lupo. Last October, Vero and Il Posto owner Andrea Frizzi took over the small, strip-mall storefront at 2525 Arapahoe Avenue.

Following 14 days of construction, the new design is bright and clean, removing the Italian-themed framed photos and posters that previously covered the walls, and replacing them with mint green and pearly white tiles. Aged soft brown and red floors were cleaned but maintained. The space seats 47 (not including the six small patio chairs), split between benches, wooden bar stools, and a granite high-top community table.

Frizzi has developed new menu items for this second Vero location that does not serve pasta, but dishes out a collection of “simple food.” Starters include the saffron arancini atop bright salsa verde, and wood-fired mussels dunked in white wine and garlic, with ribbons of leek.

Right now, the new kitchen is featuring a burrata pizza with San Marzano tomatoes and Kalamata olives. The rest of the pizza menu from the original Vero remains intact, though, incorporating high-quality ingredients, such as DOP mozzarella, bresaola, speck, and more. Red and white wine — both just $7 for healthy pours — and Peroni are on draft, along with a small selection of bottles, as well as Coda Coffee prepared on the espresso machine.

Building owner Ken Wolf originally intended to have chef Matt Lackey build out a concept in the Boulder space, but when Lackey died in a climbing accident in 2017, Wolf asked Frizzi to convert Da Lupo.

The new Vero operates seven days a week, open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, and until 10 p.m. on weekends. Frizzi says looking ahead to 2019, he hopes to add to the Vero family. In the meantime, Denver International Airport’s Denver Central Market is slated to open July 1, with Vero inside.

• All Previous Eater Coverage of Vero [EDEN]