Tavernetta — Restaurant in Denver

I recently ate at Tavernetta for the first time and Taco Bell for the first time in three years. This is a showdown review.

About me: I've eaten at Beckon (before and after the star), Brutø (after the star), Dio Mio, Barolo Grill, Safta, Tamaki Den, Mister Oso, and Ash'Kara. I wanted to try Tavernetta with the girlfriend ,because it was awarded a Bib Gourmand and I've heard good things. I tried Taco Bell again, because it was raining ice and I wouldn't have to get out of the car.

First Impressions

Tavernetta is situated just outside of Union Station. The decor is nice. They have an open kitchen where you can see the chefs preparing the food.

Taco Bell is in a shopping center. The building looks impossibly small. No one is inside. Just before we get to the Taco Bell, 4-5 cars pull into the drive through.

Winner: Tavernetta

Service

One of the things that differentiates a good restaurant from an okay restaurant is consistency. I went to Chez Maggie with my girlfriend and the service was some of the best I've had in Denver. The food was simple, but expertly prepared. My wife went back with a friend and the service was so-so and the food was just not good.

I went to Tavernetta for a lunch. The service was slow and not in a relaxed-Europe-style-dining-enjoy-the-ambience slow, but in a I-wonder-if-the-waiter-forgot-that-we-were-assigned-to-his-section slow. Both my food and my girlfriend’s food was room temperature, which means it was sitting out for a while before he thought to bring it over to us. The restaurant wasn't busy so there wasn't another reason for the slow service. Once we finished our (not hot) food, our plates remained for about twenty minutes before the waiter (who went to check on the table next to us) was able to be flagged down and to bring us our check.

Despite the 4-5 cars lined up in front of us, the Taco Bell drive through line moved faster than a highway at rush hour. It wasn't long before we were at the window and told we could order whenever we were ready. From there, we were whisked to the window where money was taken and food was delivered.

Winner: Taco Bell

Food

As noted above, our food arrived at room temperature. It was pasta. The kind cooked in boiling water. My girlfriend ordered the cacio e pepe. I'd say the frozen variety from Trader Joe's had more flavor. My dish was also lacking in flavor. It wasn't just lacking that special something-it was downright bland.

The Taco Bell crunchwrap supreme offered a delight of textures. Each bite provided a satisfying crunch. Sure, the flavor wasn't out of this world, but an array of hot sauce varieties added a much appreciated kick.

Winner: Taco Bell

Drinks

My girlfriend ordered a 'Late for the Train' cocktail and noted that it was quite good, though a bit small.

To my knowledge, Taco Bell does not offer alcoholic beverages. I'm going to go ahead and assume that a Mountain Dew Code Red (or whatever the closest option is) wouldn't have been as good.

Winner: Tavernetta

Value

A meal for two at Tavernetta for lunch came out to around $110 with tips (I tipped 20%, though I probably should have tipped 0% to match the European style of their service?).

The meal for two at Taco Bell came out to $15 even (I even rounded up 'for the children' or maybe it was education). I could have eaten for several days at Taco Bell and not come close to the bill at Tavernetta.

Winner: Taco Bell

Overall

I'd say that if you and your beau (or throuple) are contemplating a nice night out, I would recommend that you ditch the reservation (and attitude, and mid food) at Tavernetta for a drive through delight at Taco Bell. Also, Taco Bell is apparently open until 3AM (or later) while Tavernetta probably closes at some boringly early time like 9PM. Taco Bell is (unfortunately, surprisingly?) the better option for...

We were robbed!

Tavernetta is top 3 worst "fine" dining experiences I have had the privilege of experiencing. Awkward atmosphere, overworked staff, and of course... the trash food.

My girlfriend and I chose Tavernetta during Valentine's day weekend, which also coincided with our first anniversary. FYI we knew going in that the menu was fixed.

Upon walking in the restaurant, you're immediately greeted with pleasant staff... which is my only praise for our night. Both the hostess and waiters were 100% excellent service-wise.

When being brought to our table, you walk through the open kitchen, which sounds a lot cooler than it is. You get a front row seat to the understaffed kitchen with the cooks sweating away, cranking out 1/4 main dishes available that night. A supply-chain like in/out in/out of moving dishes with little care or effort (which, spoiler alert, explains the food). Child labor at the Shein factory looked like luxury living in comparison.

We thoroughly enjoyed sitting at our table... less than 16 inches from other couples on each side. I wish I could say we had a nice conversation, but eve's dropping on others was just too easy, especially when you're close enough to grab a salt shaker from the other table without getting out of your seat. If the restaurant tried just a little harder they could pull of a Bennihana-style seating arrangement rubbing elbows with new friends.

The food went from bad to sewer real quick. We shared all options on the fixed menu and got a fair "round robin" of the festivities. The burrata and bison tartar were decent, but I didn't appreciate the kid's cheese-it chips sticking out of the tartar. After all, I just tried a sample of those from Costco the day before.

The next dishes included the gnocchi and crab spaghetti. Gnocchi was okay. The crab spaghetti was disgusting and reeked of an aquarium. I don't think a seal would feel comfortable touching that dish.

The grand mains were the short rib and scallops. Both had little taste. I am not exaggerating by saying that a Denny's would be embarrassed to serve either of these dishes — and they don't even serve short rib or scallops!

By the time dessert came along (chocolate ice cream topped with olive oil + some sort of grocery store cake crumbs) we were tapped out. FYI others around us who were behind on ordering opted to skip meal portions after they saw the masterpieces we were served (and our clenched facial expressions after each bite).

All-in-all, Tavernetta really did their best to ruin our evening. Despite their best efforts, my girlfriend and I found humor in the negligence and apparent robbery a high-end establishment was charging for backwash meals.

The owners should be embarrassed for this venue's take on Valentine's day. Even if the non-fixed meals are 10X better, you'd still be 10X of a solid 0.

Unless you have a weird sense of humor like us, don't come here. You can do so much better than olive oil'd...

5 Stars – An Unforgettable Italian Dining Experience

My husband and I recently dined at Tavernetta in Denver, and it was truly the best dining experience we’ve ever had. From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. Our server (Josh? Unfortunately I am not positive if this is correct.) was attentive, knowledgeable, and made us feel exceptionally welcome. We were able to walk through the kitchen to get to our table and it was so cool to be able to see the chefs in their element, preparing the food we would be eating! As a big fan of professional chef/cooking reality shows, it felt like a treat and provided a whole new level to our dining experience.

We began our evening with expertly crafted cocktails: the Elijah Craig Old Fashioned and a delightful Espresso Martini. To accompany our meal, we were offered a superb selection of Italian brandy, which was a perfect complement to our desserts.

For our first course, we shared the Focaccia, Insalata Mista, and Burrata. The Insalata Mista was phenomenal and easily served two. My husband is extremely picky and doesn’t typically enjoy dill or mint, but even he was completely wowed—he said it was hands down the best salad he’s ever eaten. The freshness and quality of the ingredients were outstanding, and everything was so thoughtfully balanced. Each dish felt elevated through the incredible combination of flavors and textures.

Our main courses were equally impressive. I had the Rigatoni with lamb ragu and Pecorino Romano, while my husband ordered the Porchetta Arrosto, slow-roasted pork with salsa verde. The flavor was great. We also shared the Grilled Rapini as a side dish and enjoyed it immensely!

For dessert, we indulged in the Crostata Di Rabarbaro, Rum Baba, and Affogato. The Affogato, with its rich espresso poured over honey gelato, was absolutely incredible—the honey ice cream was intensely flavorful and left a lasting impression. It was the best ice cream I have ever tasted! The Crostata, with its cheesecake and mango sorbet, was a surprising hit for my husband, who usually avoids mango but found this dish vibrant and beautifully balanced. He also typically dislikes coconut (he’s very picky!), yet genuinely liked the Rum Baba, which brought the flavors together in such a refined and satisfying way.

A special thank you to managers Ambyr and Seth, who went above and beyond to ensure we were well taken care of. Their professionalism and genuine hospitality truly elevated our dining experience.

Tavernetta offers an exceptional combination of exquisite food, outstanding service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. We can’t wait to return and highly recommend it to anyone seeking an unforgettable Italian dining...