Deli Italia is serving up the BEST Pizza in Denver, Colorado
Location
Deli Italia Pizzeria is located on the corner of Wadsworth Boulevard and West 20th Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado. This hidden pizzeria is easy to spot with abstract black and white art painted on the side. The murals are done by a local artist and friend of the restaurant owners. They are currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM and closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Deli Italia History
Deli Italia has been a locals favorite in Denver for over 30 years. Chris and Lindsay Lyons have always had a love for food, so about three years ago they purchased this well-established Italian deli. It has come a long way in those three years. The pizzeria has gotten a facelift and looks more trendy than before. The menu has also gotten a revamp. The classic Italian dishes are still available but are better than ever with high-quality ingredients and recipes created by chef and owner, Chris Lyons.
Type of Restaurant
Deli Italia is an authentic Italian pizzeria dishing out subs, pizzas, salads, and cannolis. Coming soon in September of 2021, there will be a name change to the restaurant. The new name will be Pizzeria Leopold’s, named after their firstborn son and to tie in the Italian tradition. Deli Italia is a casual restaurant with great food, fun drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere. They firmly believe in fresh high-quality ingredients which are imported from overseas or bought from local vendors in Colorado.
“Deli Italia Pizzeria and Market is a place for people to come together and enjoy great food and a wonderful community.”
– Chris & Lindsay
Deli Italia Market
Deli Italia has a small market with authentic Italian goods. You will find tomato sauce, olives, wine, pasta, and more to buy and take home with you. Get inspired by your authentic dinner at the restaurant, then take those ideas and recreate your own Italian feast at home. There are also imported meats and cheeses in the deli, to really elevate your next home-cooked meal!
The Menu
Deli Italia’s menu is simple but packs a punch of flavor. They specialize in pizzas, subs, and salads. You may know them as THE BEST PIZZA IN DENVER. Deli Italia won the best pizza in Denver award in 2021! After years of experimenting in the kitchen and getting the precise baking measurements correct, the homemade Lyon’s pizza dough was invented. After two days of rest, the pizza dough is hand-stretched and topped with fresh ingredients.
Along with their famous pizzas, Deli Italia just added a hand full of appetizers to their menu. These are great bites to share with your closest friends and family before your pizza arrives. We cannot forget about dessert and what would an Italian pizzeria be without cannolis? Deli Italia offers five different cannoli flavors including; Plain, Pistachio, Chocolate Chip, Oreo, and Almond.
Along with traditional Italian eats, Deli Italia sells alcoholic drinks. Enjoy a cold beer while you munch on your spicy Italian sub. If you’re more of a wine lover like me, try a nice house red wine with your tomato base pizza. There is also a list of cocktails to choose from if you are feeling a mixed drink for the evening.
Price ($$)
Deli Italia is moderately priced with entrées ranging from $7 to $23. These are great prices for the quality of ingredients and preparation that goes into each and every dish. This is a perfect date night place that will not break the bank for an all-around appetizer, entrée, dessert, and cocktail dinner!
What I Ordered
Little Italy – $12.00
Little Italy is a new appetizer on the menu that comes with three large house-made meatballs covered in homemade marinara sauce and cheese. The three Italian meatballs come with a warm chewy piece of homemade bread. This was a great start to our meal. The hot meatballs were juicy and full of warm Italian spices. The marinara sauce oozed with homemade love and hugged the meatballs tight. The melted cheese was the perfect garnish to add some saltiness to the dish. One of my favorite bites was the warm bread dipped in the acidic homemade marinara sauce!
14″ Fungi Bunch Pizza – $21.00
TOMATO SAUCE, CHEESE, PROSCIUTTO DI PARMA, MUSHROOMS, ARUGULA, EVOO
One of the BEST pizzas I have ever tasted! The Fungi Bunch is well made and well named. This mushroom-packed pizza offers everything you crave in a pizza. The warm homemade pizza dough is thin and lets the fresh toppings shine. The acidic homemade marinara sauce is a great base for this rich earthy pizza.
The mushrooms were packed with flavor and added richness to every bite. I mentioned to Chris that I love mushrooms, so he added special porcini mushrooms to our pizza. The locally sourced porcini mushrooms were shaved raw right on top before heading into the oven. Prosciutto Di Parma is one of my favorite Italian meats and they did not skimp on this imported good. Every slice had a large pile of salty soft prosciutto. The arugula was the cherry on top, it provided a change in temperature and a slight pepper note.
Cannolis – $3.99 each
CHOCOLATE CHIP, PISTACHIO, OREO
Just when I thought this dinner couldn’t get any better, a trio of cannolis was brought to our table. These cannolis are absolutely gorgeous! Since Deli Italia does not have a fryer, the crunchy shells are sourced from a local vendor in the area. The filling is made in-house and consists of two simple Italian ingredients ricotta and mascarpone. It was hard to pick a favorite but my inner love for chocolate came out and soon the chocolate chip cannoli was my favorite. The mini chocolate chips provided a change in texture and a hint of sweetness.
Rating
This was one amazing dinner filled with great service, delicious food, and special company. We will definitely be back! Thank you Lyons Family!
While you’re in Denver take a Day Trip to Rocky Mountain National Park!
