Bono's Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Golden

We weren't even aware of this restaurant, but got a coupon for it, and their online menu looked impressive, so we decided to try it.

Jennifer started with the minestrone soup and enjoyed that. I started with the garden salad, with blue cheese dressing on the side, and it was some of the freshest and most delicious salad I've ever had.

We also started with the garlic bread and cheese, with some red sauce on the side. I soon noticed something that I've been wishing for, in dining out, and almost never find. It wasn't something, actually, it was a lack of something - EXCESS SALT.

I recently saw an article on Facebook, about some of the worst food dishes out there, and they mentioned a "Country Boy Breakfast" that had 4 days salt in one meal! I've put on 5-6 pounds of water weight, from eating out at a restaurant, so it was to my delight that I discovered that Bono's used...SPICES instead of SALT! Yay!

We both ordered the Seafood Fra Diavolo; Shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari, in a spicy red sauce. ( not too spicy hot though - just right! )

Then it was time for desert, and I took a trip up to the cooler case to peruse the offerings, but had a hard time deciding - they were all so tempting! I tried the Tiramisu, and Jennifer tried the Chocolate Calzone. We enjoyed them both, but they weren't so much that it was too much, if you know what I mean.

All in all, we loved the place, and are planning to return soon, to try the pizza - perhaps with a Calzone we can share.

Very nice experience!

And Joseph plays a great selection of real rock 'n roll, like Motown, late 50's...

My husband and I stopped in for dinner. I really wanted to love this little restaurant because I appreciate small, family owned restaurants. The restaurant is charming and personal, it felt welcoming when we walked in. But I was honestly disappointed with the food! Especially with all of the great reviews I'd read, I was really hoping for more. We were warmly welcomed and the service was attentive. We ordered the gnocchi in tomato basil cream sauce and the lasagna. We each started with soup. I had the minestrone and my husband had the soup of the day, a Tuscan soup with sausage, spinach, beans, and potato. The food came out quickly and was piping hot. I love lasagna and often order lasagna when we go out for Italian. The lasagna was a let down and left me unsatisfied. There was no meat in the lasagna and it was very heavy on ricotta cheese, which overpowered the dish for me. I have never had meatless lasagna, so that was a surprise to me. The gnocchi faired better. The tomato basil cream sauce was thick and creamy with ribbons of fresh basil on top, but I wish it had been more flavorful. The highlight of the meal for me for was the two slices of garlic bread that came with each pasta dish. It was crunchy and buttery with good garlic flavor. I would have loved more bread! I love Italian food and how rich, flavorful and satisfying it is. Overall, this meal just left me wanting more. I was hoping to find a new favorite local Italian spot, but I wasn't inspired...

I will share my review to help the owner build his business recognizing that it's really tough to run and staff a small business let alone a restaurant. Seems a great deal of small businesses miss many items. I would recommend an entire day to revitalizing the inside - basic cleaning of the ceiling vents, doors, chairs, windows and sills, and moving junk or non-necessary items out of the customers view. It may require redoing the bathrooms - but i realize the expense. Decide if you want to be a restaurant or a pizza delivery - but separate those functions. Regarding the food - do not serve mostly yellow lettuce for salads. I didn't eat mine and it's a waste of food and money. If you have to charge more for a great salad, then do it. The dressing was good. But If i come in i'm not worried about paying an extra buck - i'm looking for a clean comfortable tasty experience. Ask why would i go there vs someone else? I'd nix the old pictures too or have a local college artist come in and see what they could do. Paint, paper, candles, lowered lights or something different. The best part of the pizza was the dough - you hit it out of the park here - but i agree w/ another that it was a bit oily due to the sausage, etc.., but i'm ok with it. I'd go with sausage chunks and not ground sausage (recognizing that not everyone will agree - so offer both). This would be a great start. The owner is trying so I think we should help and not just...