Okay. We should have took the advice of some other reviewers and made a reservation. The front host area was pretty disorganized. The restaurant had been hit with two parties of 10 and the place seemed understaffed. Pizza was decent, nothing really extraordinary. Tastefully designed inside but they had the AC running like it was still 80 out even though it was significantly cooler already by 5 PM when we entered. We had a large Aimee pizza for 15. Not sure it was worth 15 but it was decent. Homemade breadsticks with marinara were nice but there was no free bread provided and you had to pay for the breadsticks/marinara combination. The service bordered on attentive. I wouldn't say the waiter and waitress (we were served by two because of some kind of table assignment error) were overly helpful but they were reasonably prompt and not overly rude. As we were leaving at 8 the prom tables started coming in to dine. Apparently Brighton has an early prom. Overall it was OK. Nothing special but not horrible.
(3)
Nik K.
Not the best Italian. It is defiantly not fresh. Very expensive for what you get. It does have friendly service and good atmosphere.
(3)
Anna B.
I want to give this place a higher review, because I really liked it. It had a nice atmosphere, and our waitress was very sweet. We came here for breakfast on a Sunday. The food was good, but very expensive and very oily. Our eggs were coated in it, and the pancakes were crispy from all the oil they were cooked in. It's definitely not the place to go if you're trying to eat healthy. And I just think $25 for breakfast for two is a little steep - and we ordered the cheaper menu items. I would come back to try their dinner menu, and maybe that will change my review.
(3)
Ugoma A.
Awesome food! The music is great and the environment is even better. The service is quite nice, they make u feel like you are family. I''ll definitely visit again :-)
(5)
Casey W.
I have to start by saying I have never taken the time to contact a restaurant after my meal or to post a review. I am disappointed that I am doing it now. After a mediocre experience when the Brighton location first opened, my husband and I just accepted that we would have to continue to go out of the area for a non-chain and at least semi-gourmet dining experience. I am planning a client event and a personal event for this summer and have been looking for a good location. Several colleagues, clients, and local contacts encouraged us to try Pinocchio's again, which we did tonight. I placed an order for pick up at 5:45 and was told by the employee who answered the phone "[w]e are slammed so it will probably be an hour." Her tone made me feel like our order was an inconvenience. I was annoyed enough to call back and cancel the order, but my husband still wanted to give it a chance. He arrived at the restaurant at 6:45 and did not leave with our order until 7:30. He took a moment to tell the manager about our experience placing the order and waiting an additional 45 minutes, and her response was "[y]eah, sorry. I have already decided this is my last night." When my husband finally arrived back home we were ready to enjoy our meals. We ordered the clam linguini and pasta carbonara. We were both disappointed right away, and after our almost two and a half hour ordeal, we were still hungry because neither of us could even finish our dishes. They both had a burned flavor, and the clam linguini had an unbelievable amount of thyme--there was so much every bite was crunchy. We still held out hope for dessert, but again, after one bite gave up and just became more angry. When I ordered I specifically asked if the brownie had nuts and was told no. My only bite had nuts, which I am allergic to and luckily was able to spit out in time. Finally, instead of the bourbon pie we ordered, we received the chocolate tort which was not anything special and tasted as though it came from Costco or Sam's Club. Overall, I am sad. We strive to spend our money locally, and even though we can accept that not everyone will like every restaurant or dish, the customer service added insult to injury.
(1)
Michael O.
My Italian wife and I love this place, she often gets something with Chicken in it, and I get the hot and spicy calzone. with a couple of beers for me and a coke for her it is about 25 bucks with tip. We love this place.
(5)
David P.
Been here three times, each time something is just off. When we arrived, the hostess was completely clueless. For some reason, she wasn't taking names, so when she was seating 4 parties of 2 each, she took us in completely wrong order. She took us after two couples that came in after us. None of us had reservations. First two times in here, I would say the food was just "ok". This time it was just not good. We told the waitress we didn't want anything with heavy cream, something on the slightly healthier side. I know, it's italian.... but still. She gave us two recommendations on what she called "healthier"... when they arrived, they were pasta dishes soaking in butter. Both were quite nasty. We would have been better off eating their pizza, probably a lot less fat. Dessert was pretty good, got the Chocolate Bomb. Big portion. My wife though the brownie was bland, I thought it was pretty good. Two positives are the decor and waitress, both were very good. This will be the last time we eat here.
(1)
Heather L.
I want to give this restaurant more stars because the atmosphere and staff are great, but we have gone twice now and both times the food was extremely salty. My husband ordered a wine sauce and it tasted like they poured a whole bottle in. For the price, I expect better food.
(3)
Tina F.
Pinocchios isn't horrible, but the food is just OK. The pasta wasn't freshly made (although it sounded like there may have been items on the menu made with fresh pasta, the spaghetti wasn't). The eggplant parmesan was an oil slick, as if they tried frying it oil that wasn't quite hot enough yet. And the portion size was HUGE. I don't know if the restaurant changed portion sizes due to complaints, but I had enough food left over for dinner and breakfast. As previous reviewers stated, Brighton doesn't have a lot of Italian restaurants so it's probably the best Italian restaurant in town, but that's not saying much. I wish more Italian restaurants would make their own pasta. It would make a world of difference.
(2)
Jodi B.
Who knew you could find such a great restaurant in Brighton? Pinocchio's offers both great food and atmosphere. I highly recommended the toasted raviolis to start. To be honest, I haven't tried anything I haven't loved. This place has become one of our favorites and we love to take friends there. BTW, always leave room for desert. :0)
(5)
Mason C.
Any restaurant in Brighton that isn't Mexican is greeted with a lot of enthusiasm. Great Location. Confusing parking. Smallish, quaint dining room. Food is good not great but not bad. Tried fried raviols, chicken raviolis, shrimp w/ angel hair. Enjoyed them all. Price point is on higher side, which means it could only grow higher. Service is inconsistent; from over-the-top-guy to forgettable-lady. Worth a couple trips. But again, for the choices in Brighton, Pinocchios could be seen as big fish in a very small pond.
(3)
Mark R.
Had a chance to go to this Italian restaurant and found that the food was great. I mean, it was nice to have Italian food in the middle of Brighton, rather than having to travel to another city. Good points: The food was great (I suggest that you order the antipasta salad). The restaurant felt like an Italian restaurant being run by someone who wants to run a good restaurant. Undecided points: Portions seemed a little small for an Italian restaurant (which is OK if you think most restaurants serve super-sized meals). Service wasn't quick, but not slow either (not surprising in a small restaurant). Bad points: parking is an issue. Some tables are a little close to others which could lead to service issues and the sharing of conversations. Conclusion: I might go back someday, but I'm not in a hurry to do so
(2)
Adam C.
Nice food and staff. I'd have to say a bit bland for my taste but I am prefer spice to my meals. A pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff make this a nice dinning experience.
(4)
Travis A.
They get 2 stars for breakfast and 3.5 stars for dinner. Service was suspect and coffee is folgers and the wasn't quite right. Dinner was pretty good with a nice atmosphere but a little pricey.
(3)
Teresa J.
Pinocchios is one of my favorite places to eat in Brighton. The service has always been great. The minestroni soup is delicious. I love their lasagna. The parking is a little random. I always highly recommend eating at this restaurant.
(5)
Raoul B.
Well, any time a new restaurant opens in Brighton that ISN'T MEXICAN FOOD is a cause for celebration. (No, I'm not being racist, the simple fact is that most of the restaurants in Brighton are Mexican joints, a couple good ones, most of 'em mediocre to downright bad, and it seems like every time a new place opens it's.......MEXICAN.) Anyway, Pinocchio's is an Italian eatery that opened a few months ago, and we finally got around to trying it out on my 49th birthday, and ya know what? Pretty good. ALMOST great, had it not been for a couple of small things, I'll get to them later. First, the place is nice and tastefully decorated, and surprisingly large, given it's location in an old downtown building that used to be a parcel/shipping service. Parking's kind of a challenge, no private lot, and downtown parking in Brighton can be a PITA, to say the least. We were seated in the corner, and there were the good ol' white and red checkered tablecloths, and fan-folded napkins. The waiter was a guy named Kevin, and he was a hoot. Flamboyant, chatty guy, very knowledgeable, with a lot of flair, it was almost dinner theater. I had a pomegranate martini(excellent), my wife a glass of red wine. We started out with something called a Warm Balsamic Asparagus appetizer. Spears of asparagus, garnished with sauteed red pepper, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar and lightly dusted with grated Parmesan. Delicious! Tender spears, somehow infused with a light smoky flavor, and I wanted to sop up the balsamic with some bread, but we never got any of that, apparently, bread doesn't come with the meal. We did have a couple of small chunks with our salads, which were crisp and fresh, and decidedly NOT OUT OF A BAG. Kevin never got around to offering us the fresh-ground pepper treatment, although he was making a big deal of it at the table next to us. I ordered the veal Parmesan, my wife, the veal picatta. When the entrees came, I asked for some extra Parmesan, and never got it. Probably because the food was brought out by a "food runner", not the waiter, a practice I can't stand. Look, if I'm tipping on service, the waiter should see it through from beginning to end, bring out that chow, and set the correct dish in front of the person who ordered it. My veal was tasty and tender, although, for the price, the portion was a bit on the small side. It came with spaghetti, I ordered some meatballs, 'cause, hey, what's some spaghett without the meat-a-balls? Also a steamed vegetable medley that was OUTSTANDING. I'm not given to raving about accompaniments like this usually, but they were perfectly steamed and seasoned, and I ate every bite! My wife's picatta, also on the small side, was also a little salty, but overall, pretty tasty, too. I mentioned that it was my birthday, so I got some free ice cream, yay. Besides the aforementioned glitches, there was also the AC, WAY too high, and blowing right on us. My poor wife was a popsicle by the time we got out of there. Also, when we got the bill, we were charged for TWO glasses of wine, although my wife only had one, and at the wrong price, a dollar higher than what was stated on the wine list. Kevin appeared a little taken aback when I brought this to his attention, but quickly adjusted the bill. I know it seems like I concentrated on the negative aspects of this place, but let's face it, when you're dropping $70-80 on dinner, these things tend to stand out. Overall, I really like this place, and, with a few tweaks, they could be GREAT, no small feat for a Brighton restaurant. I'll definitely be back to try some of the other menu items, because they've got a lot of the standard Italian fare, pizzas, calzones, lasagna, sub sandwiches, etc.
(4)
Stephanie C.
My husband and I have eaten here a few times and always enjoyed the meals. We decided to try breakfast, which according to their website, opens at 9:00 am. We drove many miles and arrived Saturday morning at about 10:00 AM. CLOSED. I cant tell you how mad we were. Found another place in Brighton that was open for breakfast and it was awesome. Definitely will return to that place. Pinocchio's? Not so sure. Spend the money and update your website if you value your customers who take the time to visit your restaurant.
(3)
Stephanie A.
So not Italian! We are Italian and this place was terrible. I've never seen it be busy since it opened. From the over-priced bad food to the mexican music they have blaring from the kitchen, to the uncomfortable seating.....this place is a total "do not do"
(1)
Sarah G.
We love going to pinocchios. We have had great service and love the food!
(5)
Michael R.
I saw the prior reviews and had not the highest expectations. Boy, was I surprised. I think Pinocchio's has some basic dishes that may not rise above, like spaghetti and meatballs. But if you dig deeper, you find better. I ordered the angel hair pomodoro, which has a light but savory tomato and basil sauce. I added sun dried tomatoes, shrimp, mushrooms and buffalo mozzarella. Spectacular. Served beautifully plated, hot and delectable. The service from reservation, greeting, wait staff to bussers, was friendly and attentive. On this night my experience was 5 star.
(5)
Joni M.
We love Pinocchios for lunch and dinner. Great service, atmosphere and the food is terrific.
(5)
Kimmy T.
The sauces here are soooo good! I drenched the toasted ravioli in its' sauce and wanted to lick the plate. The sauce on the chicken marsala was light and didn't taste too mushroomy like some of the other sauces I've had. I liked the baked gnocci best. It was really cheesy with lots of Italian sausage and meatballs. The portions are big and A and I were both stuffed at the end of the meal. The owners are so nice and the rest of the staff are all friendly. It really feels like you're dining with family and eating a home cooked meal here.
(4)
Diane M.
We stopped at Pinnochios on our way home from Denver. What a great discovery! We had stuffed portabello mushrooms as an appetizer....they were filled to the brim with yummy, gooey cheeses and sauce and absolutely delicious. Served with crunchy toast bites they were a meal by themselves. Our entree was manicotti with Alfredo - perfection! Hot, mouth-watering and enough to share. The service was impeccable, as well. We will be going back and taking friends with us! One cute aside...each table has a unique set of adorable salt and pepper shakers. It was fun to look around at what the tables near us had!
(5)
Zoe W.
If only I could give 0 stars. We called last night and shared our food needs. We were told that there would be several choices for us. Today we came in and were told the only things on the menu we could have were drinks. Rude service, rude manager, and completely worthless restaurant.
(1)
Amy C.
Great food. If you like freshly made Italian food and don't mind the wait you should check out Pinocchio's in Brighton. I had the Veal Parmesan with Spaghetti and my husband had the Best of Both worlds; lightly breaded chicken with spaghetti and fetuccini alfredo. The bread sticks are homemade dough.
(5)
Stephan G.
Thursday night, 7pm ish. We came in and were seated immediately. Wife's pesto bowie pasta with shrimp tasted good, but was drowning in sauce. I ordered the pasta primavera. I ate a few bites and was overwhelmed by the salt. Waaay a too much salt. It was inedible. I sent the pasta back almost immediately. The waitress took the salty mess and acted like it was not an issue. Wife finished dinner and when we got the check the dinner was still on there. Needless to say we won't be back. Pros: Location. Quiet family place. Cons: Food Food Food
(2)
Dave A.
I stopped in on a recent visit to Denver. Really well done all around. Outstanding service, friendly staff, great food. We had the Chicken Parm and a Calzone at our table. The food was fresh, served hot, great flavor.
(5)
Tanner C.
Great ambiance, and great food! Their house speciality, Caramelized Onion and Asiago Ravioli was superb! Putting this place on the must go back list!
(5)
C S.
Quaint little Italian restaurant in the heart of Brighton. First time here with the Mrs. and it was very good. Homemade Lasagna & Pinocchio's pasta with sausage & peppers, s ide salad with ranch dressing was awesome, portions were perfect wine a little pricy but overall....really good! We'll be back for sure.... I'd even say it could be the best Italian restaurant in B town.
(4)
Derek I.
Have eaten here in the past (over a year ago) and everything was good. Ordered take out recently and was disappointed in the quality and value. I know it's hard to present well in a to go box, but come on... I'll try to attach some pictures of: $9 Caprese Salad (tomatoes with no taste), $7 Artichoke dip (looked/tasted like plastic), $13 Lasagna (do I need to explain?)
(1)
Michelle S.
The Pizza and Calzones are my favorite. The appetizers are great as well. The toasted ravioli and artichoke dish are my favorites. Love the Pinocchio Spaghetti! Restaurant is always clean and the service is always spot on We are fans! Keep up the good work!
(4)
Nick R.
The pizza here is one of the best! as a fat kid I know what I'm talking about:) I would recommend this place to anybody
(5)
C. S.
My husband surprised me and took me here for my birthday on a weeknight as neither of us had ever been there and it's pretty close to us. When we were first seated the waitress put us directly next to a loud four-person group, whilst the rest of the tables were just about empty which seemed odd to me. They were kind enough to move us after we requested a different table, and from there we greatly enjoyed our dining experience. First of all I LOVE the quaint atmosphere of the place with the cute picnic tablecloths (small tables) and fresh tiger lilies at every table. They were playing classic tunes like Sinatra all night while we were there which was a huge plus for me and helped set a quiet, romantic mood. We ordered the breadstick appetizer which itself is unseasoned plain bread however the marinara sauce that it came with was to die for. We cleaned out the small bowl that the sauce arrived in, it was just so good. I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo while my husband ordered the Hot & Spicy Calzone, both came with high quality garden salads that used a variety of greens instead of just the typical 'iceberg lettuce' salads that I've seen at so many other Italian restaurants. The plating of the pasta was very nice looking and it had a light, creamy taste although the sauce was a bit on the runny side. The chicken in the pasta was delicious. My husband's calzone however was fantastic and massive, a huge round thing for only $9 which was a steal. We both agreed that my alfredo was "good" but his calzone was just amazing. I ended up stealing a few bites out of it and dipping it into the delicious marinara sauce it came with. I had also gotten a Raspberry Italian Soda with my meal and that was reallllllly really good. It had that light sweet and creamy flavor that was just a perfect compliment to all of the salty Italian food we were eating. I highly recommend it. Overall I would recommend this place for a cozy romantic night of tasty Italian food, I know the husband and I will definitely be back. Most dishes on the menu are anywhere from $9-$14 with large portions, and I think it's a great affordable deal for the high quality of food.
(4)
Heather H.
I am a local & used to go all the time. I will never eat here again & I will tell everyone I know never to eat here. I would put -10 on here, but Yelp won't let me.
(1)
Chelsea K.
I cant for the life of me understand how people could have a bad experience here at Pinocchios. We dined here for the 4th or 5th time last night. I highly recommend the Carmelized Onion and Asiago Ravioli - it was FANTASTIC! Their balsamic spinach salad was amazing and as always, their bread sticks were delightful :) Service was spectacular.
(5)
Sean S.
It'sa pretty terrible. Lika chef Boyardeea! Lots of greasy, runny, limp noodle dishes just like yo mamma never served.
(2)
Michael C.
Decent service, decent food. Good couples and family ambience and one of the nicer places to go in Brighton. The children's menu has enough variety to please most kids. On the critical side, the food is a little salty even for Italian fare, and the mixed drinks are pricey considering the mediocre quality.
(3)
Matt S.
I love this place. The owners are awesome and the food is fantastic. Eating here is like going to your Italian mother's house for dinner.
(5)
Emma C.
It's always nice coming here and we always enjoy good food, though the service is usually on the slow side. Still, there's no rush from the wait staff, and they're always pleasant, accommodating, and knowledgeable about the menu. Their spaghetti has also drastically improved. I've always loved the sauce -- it's an interesting and flavorful "sweet" marinara sauce -- but it used to be really watery. The sauce has been much thicker during my last few visits, and it definitely makes a basic dish much better. (That's always my complaint with most Italian restaurants; the other pastas can be fantastic, but the basic spaghetti is always watery and there's little to no effort put into it, and I don't know why.) My only real complaint with Pinocchios? It. Is. Always. Freezing. Inside. When it's 85 degrees outside and I would rather be out there getting sunburned than be inside in what feels like the middle of Antarctica, that's not good! It's hard because of the way their vent system is set up, but when I need to run out to my car to grab a heavier, winter-y jacket so I don't sit there with my teeth chattering, you really need to ease up on the AC. Otherwise, it's a lovely Italian eatery that we always enjoy coming to. With snow boots and a parka, of course. ;)
(4)
Beckie K.
My mouth is watering just thinking about this place. Their food is delicious. Their breads are seriously the greatest I've ever had! I have ordered the bread basket and pizza rolls as my meal several times, and it never disappoints.
(5)
Douglas G.
Food and setting were nice. Our server belongs at Denny's on the graveyard shift. We will not be back for at least a month to ensure she's had ample time to get fired.
(3)
Dave A.
Hate to do this but after getting sick others should know. I ordered a sausage sandwich for lunch yesterday. Figured it was safe enough, an Italian eatery should have a no issues with sausage. Oh how wrong I was. First it didn't even taste like Italian sausage. My grandparents came from Sicily so my expectations are low with Italian food but the sausage here was just freaking odd. The sandwich comes smothered in peppers and sauce so that kind of masked the taste but something seemed wrong. About half way through I found out why the funny taste, the meat was rancid. Seriously I must have started at the least rancid end because the last bite was sour, rotting food. Within hours I was puking. Had to leave work early and spent the night spewing from ahem both ends. Never again.
(1)
Jessica B.
Always enjoy coming here. The service is always great, super quick and VERY attentive, but definitely not overbearing. The last few times I have been, we typically stay for several hours, catching up, and every server we have had is amazingly sweet and understanding. You can take your time and not be rushed!! I've had several different entrees, appetizers, and desserts and I honestly don't think you can go wrong with anything.
(4)
Brooke C.
We've been here twice and both times, the food was wonderful! The service is alright which is why I gave it 4 stars. Nothing terrible, but nothing spectacular either. Nice, quaint place in town to enjoy.
(4)
World T.
Sadly disappointed. I LOVE Italian food. One of my favorite restaurants is Patsy's in NW Denver. The negatives: No changing table in the restaurant, which made it difficult to change our baby's diaper (we did it upstairs on the floor .) Ordered the Rosemary Chicken and Pasta dish and it tasted like it was in a bowl of Ramen soup...yuck!! The positives: great atmosphere, quick service; the wine, peanut butter cheesecake and garlic breadsticks were all delicious!
(2)
Lee S.
This was totally an accidental find. We had some business in Brighton and were driving around looking for a place grab lunch. We saw the sign, drove around the block and thought we would try it. What a pleasant surprise. The service was fast and courteous. The bread was hot and the marinara flavorful. My son enjoyed his "kid menu" meatballs. And me? The caramelized onion & asiago ravioli appetizer was like nothing I had ever tried...perfect.
(4)
David T.
I really question the veracity of many of the harsh reviews here because, as you all know by now, I'm picky, picky and I thought this place was just dandy for a little Italian place on the main drag in old town Brighton. I am a big city boy and I was humming the theme to Green Acres all the way but it wasn't bad at all. Cute goat farm on the way up with baby goats - ah. Friend of mine just bought a house out near Barr Lake and bribed us to come visit with a promise to buy dinner. Ended up driving another half hour to find this place but we were pretty surprised (lower expectations in the boondocks perhaps). Pros: - Clean and pretty place - lots of parking. Friendly greeting by a staff of healthy looking country girls. Not a skinny jeaned, greasy haired, tattooed, pierced, surly hipster waitress in sight. Refreshing! Service throughout was terrific. - Simple basic American Italian menu (entrees around $12-$14 and includes a salad.) Also, a roster of sandwiches, pizzas and flatbreads. Good bang for the $$. - Full bar and serviceable wine list - I think the most expensive bottle was $30. - Salads are pretty basic but fresh and accompanied by warm tasty fresh bread sticks. You can upgrade to Caesar or Antipasto salads for a buck or two. - Food was as good or better than we expected. I had manicotti (spinach and ricotta filled) with a rather thick red sauce and sauteed Italian sausage) - $13.95 Their red sauce is a little heavy on the tomato paste for me. Other dishes sampled were a classic spaghetti carbonara and the asiago, grilled onion and spicy sausage ravioli in a tomato cream sauce. I was out ordered because both were better than mine. - Dessert was actually the star of the show. All made in house and excellent. The real standout was the Kentucky Bourbon Pie - ooh baby. Absolutely save room. Cons: - It's probably an hour drive or more depending on traffic from downtown Denver so unless I'm out that way again (unlikely) it won't be a frequent destination. - Crowd skewed older/country/suburban (OK for us but if you're looking for a lively scene this ain't it). Sound track was mid-century crooners (Ella, Frank, Dean, etc.) - I'm quite sure they don't make any of their pasta from scratch but I wouldn't expect that they would. And, frankly, unless you really know what you are doing, good dry pasta is probably better than fresh 90% of the time. - Parm is powdered in jar - ick. So, if you ever happen to find yourself out there, God help you - at least you know that you won't starve to death. Maybe just a solid 3-3.5 stars in Denver (although we've discussed the dearth of even mediocre red sauce joints here before) but for where it is and what it is I'm cool with 4 stars.
(4)
K G.
Had a wonderful dinner. Especially loved the toasted ravioli and balsamic green bean appetizers. Enjoyed chatting with the owner as she mingled with guests. Very sweet lady. Eat local when you travel. Makes for great experiences!
(4)
Rick S.
Food and service were both great. Haley (our server) was terrific. Was a busy afternoon, but we got awesome service. The Cesar salad was fresh, crisp, and delicious. We ordered the spaghetti and the lasagna. Both were flavorful and a good portion size. The soft breadsticks were fresh and hot. We will be back. Glad to support a local business.
I joined my mom/dad and brother/sister-in-law/niece here this past Friday for dinner to celebrate my mom's bday . Total cost, for 5 adults, was $204 (including 20% tip). We had: two apps: garlic cheese bread and asparagus with balsamic reduction - hard to mess up garlic and cheese, and the asparagus was good Salads all around: $1 upgrade for spinach and caesar- do it, both are worth it (spinach salad had little chunks of smooth chevre and a nice balsamic drizzle over it) 6 glasses of red wine total - nice selection of reds by the glass for reasonable prices (NOT $14/glass) two desserts Calzone- pesto- yum! crispy yet chewy on inside, fresh, generous with cheese and sundried tomatoes Fettucine with shrimp X2 chicken something for bro and mom They were very generous with the homemade bread sticks that come on the side of the salads, and with the portions of the entrees (we had three to-go boxes) Owner stopped by to say hi, introduced her daughter, who happened to be our awesome and highly personable waitress. This was a very nice meal close to home for everyone, with good service and reasonable prices. I'd go back and I'd make a reservation again because they were jammed (and we ate early -resy was at 6:30) . Good find with quality food.
(4)
Andrea H.
Tried this out while in town visiting. Food was good. Service was comparable to most dine in restaurants. We had several orders of the bread sticks, which were delicious. Pasta was good, sauce lacked the homemade taste, that I love so much. Was hoping for quality Italian but this was good in its own rite.
(3)
Shandra L.
Good food and clean, nice atmosphere. The sauces were not the best (super thin), and our appitizer "The best artichoke dip" only had one canned artichoke but pretty good for being in Brighton.
(3)
Graham W.
My husband and I were craving Italian and having just moved to the Thornton/Brighton area, we didn't know much about where to go. So I got on Yelp, found this place and thought we'd give it a try. We were pleasantly surprised. We were seated promptly and a few minutes after we were seated the owner (I'm not really sure) started talking to us. It helped that we had our infant son with us and she made some recommendations from the menu. She also brought our son a breadstick, which he devoured. They were really good. I went with the Asiago carmelized onion ravioli, which was fantastic. It had a rich creamy sauce and onions and mushrooms on top. Absolutely fabulous. My husband had a combo calzone, which was also great. Both of us had salads to start - included in with the dinner - and our soda glasses never reached half full. It was a great experience - pretty crowded for a Tuesday - and a great meal. We both said we'd go back again and try something different. The menu had a lot of items we both wanted to try. Italian food is pretty scare this far North, but this place is a gem and highly recommended.
(4)
Hans T.
Full disclosure: I think this place is a "Brighton 4", meaning it maybe wouldn't fare as well if the competition wasn't so, well, nonexistent. Haven't had a chance to make it to Bucchi's yet, which I believe is the only other Italian restaurant in Brighton besides a couple of pizza places. Pinocchio's is a local chain, I believe, but they do a pretty nice job of feeling small-town and welcoming. Service is friendly and casual, if a bit disorganized at times. One of the times I ate here, I had a conversation with the owner about how she had just learned to make pasta carbonara, a personal favorite. I tried it later, and it was very tasty, and a massive portion. It was maybe a little overloaded with onion, peas, and bacon, but I think I got 2 additional meals out of it. Their sandwiches and pizzas are nice, and contain some fresh ingredients you don't see at other Brighton establishments. The side salads and bread that come with entrees are nice and fresh, too. Overall, this is a decent place for a meal if you don't want to travel far or spend a lot of money. (For the record, Brighton natives have told me Pinocchio's was "too expensive", so it definitely depends on your expectations).
(4)
Tanya M.
Don't know what it is about Italian in "north metro" (the suburbs) but nothing has a really unique, robust taste, and everything is far too salty. I had the clams in white sauce, and the husband had a baked ziti type dish. both were somewhat bland, and simply way too salty. the atmosphere is nice, if you are looking for a date place.
(2)
Leah S.
This is FANTASTIC! All the food is fresh and homemade. The breadsticks were fresh and amazing, the Caesar salad had homemade dressing and croutons, and I'm pretty positive all of the dressings were home made. And the lemonade was amazing, not to strong and not to sweet, it was just right! The portions were Fairly large but delicious! I had a calzone and the cheese was fresh and fantastic, the meat in it was also great. My sister had the angel hair pasta with shrimp and it was great! The shrimp tasted amazing and the pasta was delicious. My dad had a sun dried tomato pesto that was absolutely fantastic. And then the desert was just amazing! The cheesecake was fresh, there was a blueberry crisp that was great, and a delicious tiramisu. Overall, there was nothing bad about this restaurant. The service was great, the people were friendly, and it was very clean! It was the best meal I've had in a while! I would definitely come back again and recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Cathy K.
Atmosphere was nice, service was good, tiramisu was tasty... the rest of the food was OK. Raviolis had way too much sauce... more like ravioli soup and the veal was very over cooked. Probably won't come back.
(3)
Matt S.
A welcomed addition to Brighton! Pinocchios is a gem. Friendly wait staff, owners who take time to visit with patrons... and oh yeah, the food is fantastic! Each pasta dish I've ordered has been excellent, and their pizzas are wonderful. Also, never, NEVER skip dessert. Some truly delectable creations! Also, consider renting out their upstairs for events. I've been to a wedding and reception here, and it was first rate all the way. Cannot recommend Pinocchios of Brighton highly enough.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Steve R.
Okay. We should have took the advice of some other reviewers and made a reservation. The front host area was pretty disorganized. The restaurant had been hit with two parties of 10 and the place seemed understaffed. Pizza was decent, nothing really extraordinary. Tastefully designed inside but they had the AC running like it was still 80 out even though it was significantly cooler already by 5 PM when we entered. We had a large Aimee pizza for 15. Not sure it was worth 15 but it was decent. Homemade breadsticks with marinara were nice but there was no free bread provided and you had to pay for the breadsticks/marinara combination. The service bordered on attentive. I wouldn't say the waiter and waitress (we were served by two because of some kind of table assignment error) were overly helpful but they were reasonably prompt and not overly rude. As we were leaving at 8 the prom tables started coming in to dine. Apparently Brighton has an early prom. Overall it was OK. Nothing special but not horrible.
(3)Nik K.
Not the best Italian. It is defiantly not fresh. Very expensive for what you get. It does have friendly service and good atmosphere.
(3)Anna B.
I want to give this place a higher review, because I really liked it. It had a nice atmosphere, and our waitress was very sweet. We came here for breakfast on a Sunday. The food was good, but very expensive and very oily. Our eggs were coated in it, and the pancakes were crispy from all the oil they were cooked in. It's definitely not the place to go if you're trying to eat healthy. And I just think $25 for breakfast for two is a little steep - and we ordered the cheaper menu items. I would come back to try their dinner menu, and maybe that will change my review.
(3)Ugoma A.
Awesome food! The music is great and the environment is even better. The service is quite nice, they make u feel like you are family. I''ll definitely visit again :-)
(5)Casey W.
I have to start by saying I have never taken the time to contact a restaurant after my meal or to post a review. I am disappointed that I am doing it now. After a mediocre experience when the Brighton location first opened, my husband and I just accepted that we would have to continue to go out of the area for a non-chain and at least semi-gourmet dining experience. I am planning a client event and a personal event for this summer and have been looking for a good location. Several colleagues, clients, and local contacts encouraged us to try Pinocchio's again, which we did tonight. I placed an order for pick up at 5:45 and was told by the employee who answered the phone "[w]e are slammed so it will probably be an hour." Her tone made me feel like our order was an inconvenience. I was annoyed enough to call back and cancel the order, but my husband still wanted to give it a chance. He arrived at the restaurant at 6:45 and did not leave with our order until 7:30. He took a moment to tell the manager about our experience placing the order and waiting an additional 45 minutes, and her response was "[y]eah, sorry. I have already decided this is my last night." When my husband finally arrived back home we were ready to enjoy our meals. We ordered the clam linguini and pasta carbonara. We were both disappointed right away, and after our almost two and a half hour ordeal, we were still hungry because neither of us could even finish our dishes. They both had a burned flavor, and the clam linguini had an unbelievable amount of thyme--there was so much every bite was crunchy. We still held out hope for dessert, but again, after one bite gave up and just became more angry. When I ordered I specifically asked if the brownie had nuts and was told no. My only bite had nuts, which I am allergic to and luckily was able to spit out in time. Finally, instead of the bourbon pie we ordered, we received the chocolate tort which was not anything special and tasted as though it came from Costco or Sam's Club. Overall, I am sad. We strive to spend our money locally, and even though we can accept that not everyone will like every restaurant or dish, the customer service added insult to injury.
(1)Michael O.
My Italian wife and I love this place, she often gets something with Chicken in it, and I get the hot and spicy calzone. with a couple of beers for me and a coke for her it is about 25 bucks with tip. We love this place.
(5)David P.
Been here three times, each time something is just off. When we arrived, the hostess was completely clueless. For some reason, she wasn't taking names, so when she was seating 4 parties of 2 each, she took us in completely wrong order. She took us after two couples that came in after us. None of us had reservations. First two times in here, I would say the food was just "ok". This time it was just not good. We told the waitress we didn't want anything with heavy cream, something on the slightly healthier side. I know, it's italian.... but still. She gave us two recommendations on what she called "healthier"... when they arrived, they were pasta dishes soaking in butter. Both were quite nasty. We would have been better off eating their pizza, probably a lot less fat. Dessert was pretty good, got the Chocolate Bomb. Big portion. My wife though the brownie was bland, I thought it was pretty good. Two positives are the decor and waitress, both were very good. This will be the last time we eat here.
(1)Heather L.
I want to give this restaurant more stars because the atmosphere and staff are great, but we have gone twice now and both times the food was extremely salty. My husband ordered a wine sauce and it tasted like they poured a whole bottle in. For the price, I expect better food.
(3)Tina F.
Pinocchios isn't horrible, but the food is just OK. The pasta wasn't freshly made (although it sounded like there may have been items on the menu made with fresh pasta, the spaghetti wasn't). The eggplant parmesan was an oil slick, as if they tried frying it oil that wasn't quite hot enough yet. And the portion size was HUGE. I don't know if the restaurant changed portion sizes due to complaints, but I had enough food left over for dinner and breakfast. As previous reviewers stated, Brighton doesn't have a lot of Italian restaurants so it's probably the best Italian restaurant in town, but that's not saying much. I wish more Italian restaurants would make their own pasta. It would make a world of difference.
(2)Jodi B.
Who knew you could find such a great restaurant in Brighton? Pinocchio's offers both great food and atmosphere. I highly recommended the toasted raviolis to start. To be honest, I haven't tried anything I haven't loved. This place has become one of our favorites and we love to take friends there. BTW, always leave room for desert. :0)
(5)Mason C.
Any restaurant in Brighton that isn't Mexican is greeted with a lot of enthusiasm. Great Location. Confusing parking. Smallish, quaint dining room. Food is good not great but not bad. Tried fried raviols, chicken raviolis, shrimp w/ angel hair. Enjoyed them all. Price point is on higher side, which means it could only grow higher. Service is inconsistent; from over-the-top-guy to forgettable-lady. Worth a couple trips. But again, for the choices in Brighton, Pinocchios could be seen as big fish in a very small pond.
(3)Mark R.
Had a chance to go to this Italian restaurant and found that the food was great. I mean, it was nice to have Italian food in the middle of Brighton, rather than having to travel to another city. Good points: The food was great (I suggest that you order the antipasta salad). The restaurant felt like an Italian restaurant being run by someone who wants to run a good restaurant. Undecided points: Portions seemed a little small for an Italian restaurant (which is OK if you think most restaurants serve super-sized meals). Service wasn't quick, but not slow either (not surprising in a small restaurant). Bad points: parking is an issue. Some tables are a little close to others which could lead to service issues and the sharing of conversations. Conclusion: I might go back someday, but I'm not in a hurry to do so
(2)Adam C.
Nice food and staff. I'd have to say a bit bland for my taste but I am prefer spice to my meals. A pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff make this a nice dinning experience.
(4)Travis A.
They get 2 stars for breakfast and 3.5 stars for dinner. Service was suspect and coffee is folgers and the wasn't quite right. Dinner was pretty good with a nice atmosphere but a little pricey.
(3)Teresa J.
Pinocchios is one of my favorite places to eat in Brighton. The service has always been great. The minestroni soup is delicious. I love their lasagna. The parking is a little random. I always highly recommend eating at this restaurant.
(5)Raoul B.
Well, any time a new restaurant opens in Brighton that ISN'T MEXICAN FOOD is a cause for celebration. (No, I'm not being racist, the simple fact is that most of the restaurants in Brighton are Mexican joints, a couple good ones, most of 'em mediocre to downright bad, and it seems like every time a new place opens it's.......MEXICAN.) Anyway, Pinocchio's is an Italian eatery that opened a few months ago, and we finally got around to trying it out on my 49th birthday, and ya know what? Pretty good. ALMOST great, had it not been for a couple of small things, I'll get to them later. First, the place is nice and tastefully decorated, and surprisingly large, given it's location in an old downtown building that used to be a parcel/shipping service. Parking's kind of a challenge, no private lot, and downtown parking in Brighton can be a PITA, to say the least. We were seated in the corner, and there were the good ol' white and red checkered tablecloths, and fan-folded napkins. The waiter was a guy named Kevin, and he was a hoot. Flamboyant, chatty guy, very knowledgeable, with a lot of flair, it was almost dinner theater. I had a pomegranate martini(excellent), my wife a glass of red wine. We started out with something called a Warm Balsamic Asparagus appetizer. Spears of asparagus, garnished with sauteed red pepper, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar and lightly dusted with grated Parmesan. Delicious! Tender spears, somehow infused with a light smoky flavor, and I wanted to sop up the balsamic with some bread, but we never got any of that, apparently, bread doesn't come with the meal. We did have a couple of small chunks with our salads, which were crisp and fresh, and decidedly NOT OUT OF A BAG. Kevin never got around to offering us the fresh-ground pepper treatment, although he was making a big deal of it at the table next to us. I ordered the veal Parmesan, my wife, the veal picatta. When the entrees came, I asked for some extra Parmesan, and never got it. Probably because the food was brought out by a "food runner", not the waiter, a practice I can't stand. Look, if I'm tipping on service, the waiter should see it through from beginning to end, bring out that chow, and set the correct dish in front of the person who ordered it. My veal was tasty and tender, although, for the price, the portion was a bit on the small side. It came with spaghetti, I ordered some meatballs, 'cause, hey, what's some spaghett without the meat-a-balls? Also a steamed vegetable medley that was OUTSTANDING. I'm not given to raving about accompaniments like this usually, but they were perfectly steamed and seasoned, and I ate every bite! My wife's picatta, also on the small side, was also a little salty, but overall, pretty tasty, too. I mentioned that it was my birthday, so I got some free ice cream, yay. Besides the aforementioned glitches, there was also the AC, WAY too high, and blowing right on us. My poor wife was a popsicle by the time we got out of there. Also, when we got the bill, we were charged for TWO glasses of wine, although my wife only had one, and at the wrong price, a dollar higher than what was stated on the wine list. Kevin appeared a little taken aback when I brought this to his attention, but quickly adjusted the bill. I know it seems like I concentrated on the negative aspects of this place, but let's face it, when you're dropping $70-80 on dinner, these things tend to stand out. Overall, I really like this place, and, with a few tweaks, they could be GREAT, no small feat for a Brighton restaurant. I'll definitely be back to try some of the other menu items, because they've got a lot of the standard Italian fare, pizzas, calzones, lasagna, sub sandwiches, etc.
(4)Stephanie C.
My husband and I have eaten here a few times and always enjoyed the meals. We decided to try breakfast, which according to their website, opens at 9:00 am. We drove many miles and arrived Saturday morning at about 10:00 AM. CLOSED. I cant tell you how mad we were. Found another place in Brighton that was open for breakfast and it was awesome. Definitely will return to that place. Pinocchio's? Not so sure. Spend the money and update your website if you value your customers who take the time to visit your restaurant.
(3)Stephanie A.
So not Italian! We are Italian and this place was terrible. I've never seen it be busy since it opened. From the over-priced bad food to the mexican music they have blaring from the kitchen, to the uncomfortable seating.....this place is a total "do not do"
(1)Sarah G.
We love going to pinocchios. We have had great service and love the food!
(5)Michael R.
I saw the prior reviews and had not the highest expectations. Boy, was I surprised. I think Pinocchio's has some basic dishes that may not rise above, like spaghetti and meatballs. But if you dig deeper, you find better. I ordered the angel hair pomodoro, which has a light but savory tomato and basil sauce. I added sun dried tomatoes, shrimp, mushrooms and buffalo mozzarella. Spectacular. Served beautifully plated, hot and delectable. The service from reservation, greeting, wait staff to bussers, was friendly and attentive. On this night my experience was 5 star.
(5)Joni M.
We love Pinocchios for lunch and dinner. Great service, atmosphere and the food is terrific.
(5)Kimmy T.
The sauces here are soooo good! I drenched the toasted ravioli in its' sauce and wanted to lick the plate. The sauce on the chicken marsala was light and didn't taste too mushroomy like some of the other sauces I've had. I liked the baked gnocci best. It was really cheesy with lots of Italian sausage and meatballs. The portions are big and A and I were both stuffed at the end of the meal. The owners are so nice and the rest of the staff are all friendly. It really feels like you're dining with family and eating a home cooked meal here.
(4)Diane M.
We stopped at Pinnochios on our way home from Denver. What a great discovery! We had stuffed portabello mushrooms as an appetizer....they were filled to the brim with yummy, gooey cheeses and sauce and absolutely delicious. Served with crunchy toast bites they were a meal by themselves. Our entree was manicotti with Alfredo - perfection! Hot, mouth-watering and enough to share. The service was impeccable, as well. We will be going back and taking friends with us! One cute aside...each table has a unique set of adorable salt and pepper shakers. It was fun to look around at what the tables near us had!
(5)Zoe W.
If only I could give 0 stars. We called last night and shared our food needs. We were told that there would be several choices for us. Today we came in and were told the only things on the menu we could have were drinks. Rude service, rude manager, and completely worthless restaurant.
(1)Amy C.
Great food. If you like freshly made Italian food and don't mind the wait you should check out Pinocchio's in Brighton. I had the Veal Parmesan with Spaghetti and my husband had the Best of Both worlds; lightly breaded chicken with spaghetti and fetuccini alfredo. The bread sticks are homemade dough.
(5)Stephan G.
Thursday night, 7pm ish. We came in and were seated immediately. Wife's pesto bowie pasta with shrimp tasted good, but was drowning in sauce. I ordered the pasta primavera. I ate a few bites and was overwhelmed by the salt. Waaay a too much salt. It was inedible. I sent the pasta back almost immediately. The waitress took the salty mess and acted like it was not an issue. Wife finished dinner and when we got the check the dinner was still on there. Needless to say we won't be back. Pros: Location. Quiet family place. Cons: Food Food Food
(2)Dave A.
I stopped in on a recent visit to Denver. Really well done all around. Outstanding service, friendly staff, great food. We had the Chicken Parm and a Calzone at our table. The food was fresh, served hot, great flavor.
(5)Tanner C.
Great ambiance, and great food! Their house speciality, Caramelized Onion and Asiago Ravioli was superb! Putting this place on the must go back list!
(5)C S.
Quaint little Italian restaurant in the heart of Brighton. First time here with the Mrs. and it was very good. Homemade Lasagna & Pinocchio's pasta with sausage & peppers, s ide salad with ranch dressing was awesome, portions were perfect wine a little pricy but overall....really good! We'll be back for sure.... I'd even say it could be the best Italian restaurant in B town.
(4)Derek I.
Have eaten here in the past (over a year ago) and everything was good. Ordered take out recently and was disappointed in the quality and value. I know it's hard to present well in a to go box, but come on... I'll try to attach some pictures of: $9 Caprese Salad (tomatoes with no taste), $7 Artichoke dip (looked/tasted like plastic), $13 Lasagna (do I need to explain?)
(1)Michelle S.
The Pizza and Calzones are my favorite. The appetizers are great as well. The toasted ravioli and artichoke dish are my favorites. Love the Pinocchio Spaghetti! Restaurant is always clean and the service is always spot on We are fans! Keep up the good work!
(4)Nick R.
The pizza here is one of the best! as a fat kid I know what I'm talking about:) I would recommend this place to anybody
(5)C. S.
My husband surprised me and took me here for my birthday on a weeknight as neither of us had ever been there and it's pretty close to us. When we were first seated the waitress put us directly next to a loud four-person group, whilst the rest of the tables were just about empty which seemed odd to me. They were kind enough to move us after we requested a different table, and from there we greatly enjoyed our dining experience. First of all I LOVE the quaint atmosphere of the place with the cute picnic tablecloths (small tables) and fresh tiger lilies at every table. They were playing classic tunes like Sinatra all night while we were there which was a huge plus for me and helped set a quiet, romantic mood. We ordered the breadstick appetizer which itself is unseasoned plain bread however the marinara sauce that it came with was to die for. We cleaned out the small bowl that the sauce arrived in, it was just so good. I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo while my husband ordered the Hot & Spicy Calzone, both came with high quality garden salads that used a variety of greens instead of just the typical 'iceberg lettuce' salads that I've seen at so many other Italian restaurants. The plating of the pasta was very nice looking and it had a light, creamy taste although the sauce was a bit on the runny side. The chicken in the pasta was delicious. My husband's calzone however was fantastic and massive, a huge round thing for only $9 which was a steal. We both agreed that my alfredo was "good" but his calzone was just amazing. I ended up stealing a few bites out of it and dipping it into the delicious marinara sauce it came with. I had also gotten a Raspberry Italian Soda with my meal and that was reallllllly really good. It had that light sweet and creamy flavor that was just a perfect compliment to all of the salty Italian food we were eating. I highly recommend it. Overall I would recommend this place for a cozy romantic night of tasty Italian food, I know the husband and I will definitely be back. Most dishes on the menu are anywhere from $9-$14 with large portions, and I think it's a great affordable deal for the high quality of food.
(4)Heather H.
I am a local & used to go all the time. I will never eat here again & I will tell everyone I know never to eat here. I would put -10 on here, but Yelp won't let me.
(1)Chelsea K.
I cant for the life of me understand how people could have a bad experience here at Pinocchios. We dined here for the 4th or 5th time last night. I highly recommend the Carmelized Onion and Asiago Ravioli - it was FANTASTIC! Their balsamic spinach salad was amazing and as always, their bread sticks were delightful :) Service was spectacular.
(5)Sean S.
It'sa pretty terrible. Lika chef Boyardeea! Lots of greasy, runny, limp noodle dishes just like yo mamma never served.
(2)Michael C.
Decent service, decent food. Good couples and family ambience and one of the nicer places to go in Brighton. The children's menu has enough variety to please most kids. On the critical side, the food is a little salty even for Italian fare, and the mixed drinks are pricey considering the mediocre quality.
(3)Matt S.
I love this place. The owners are awesome and the food is fantastic. Eating here is like going to your Italian mother's house for dinner.
(5)Emma C.
It's always nice coming here and we always enjoy good food, though the service is usually on the slow side. Still, there's no rush from the wait staff, and they're always pleasant, accommodating, and knowledgeable about the menu. Their spaghetti has also drastically improved. I've always loved the sauce -- it's an interesting and flavorful "sweet" marinara sauce -- but it used to be really watery. The sauce has been much thicker during my last few visits, and it definitely makes a basic dish much better. (That's always my complaint with most Italian restaurants; the other pastas can be fantastic, but the basic spaghetti is always watery and there's little to no effort put into it, and I don't know why.) My only real complaint with Pinocchios? It. Is. Always. Freezing. Inside. When it's 85 degrees outside and I would rather be out there getting sunburned than be inside in what feels like the middle of Antarctica, that's not good! It's hard because of the way their vent system is set up, but when I need to run out to my car to grab a heavier, winter-y jacket so I don't sit there with my teeth chattering, you really need to ease up on the AC. Otherwise, it's a lovely Italian eatery that we always enjoy coming to. With snow boots and a parka, of course. ;)
(4)Beckie K.
My mouth is watering just thinking about this place. Their food is delicious. Their breads are seriously the greatest I've ever had! I have ordered the bread basket and pizza rolls as my meal several times, and it never disappoints.
(5)Douglas G.
Food and setting were nice. Our server belongs at Denny's on the graveyard shift. We will not be back for at least a month to ensure she's had ample time to get fired.
(3)Dave A.
Hate to do this but after getting sick others should know. I ordered a sausage sandwich for lunch yesterday. Figured it was safe enough, an Italian eatery should have a no issues with sausage. Oh how wrong I was. First it didn't even taste like Italian sausage. My grandparents came from Sicily so my expectations are low with Italian food but the sausage here was just freaking odd. The sandwich comes smothered in peppers and sauce so that kind of masked the taste but something seemed wrong. About half way through I found out why the funny taste, the meat was rancid. Seriously I must have started at the least rancid end because the last bite was sour, rotting food. Within hours I was puking. Had to leave work early and spent the night spewing from ahem both ends. Never again.
(1)Jessica B.
Always enjoy coming here. The service is always great, super quick and VERY attentive, but definitely not overbearing. The last few times I have been, we typically stay for several hours, catching up, and every server we have had is amazingly sweet and understanding. You can take your time and not be rushed!! I've had several different entrees, appetizers, and desserts and I honestly don't think you can go wrong with anything.
(4)Brooke C.
We've been here twice and both times, the food was wonderful! The service is alright which is why I gave it 4 stars. Nothing terrible, but nothing spectacular either. Nice, quaint place in town to enjoy.
(4)World T.
Sadly disappointed. I LOVE Italian food. One of my favorite restaurants is Patsy's in NW Denver. The negatives: No changing table in the restaurant, which made it difficult to change our baby's diaper (we did it upstairs on the floor .) Ordered the Rosemary Chicken and Pasta dish and it tasted like it was in a bowl of Ramen soup...yuck!! The positives: great atmosphere, quick service; the wine, peanut butter cheesecake and garlic breadsticks were all delicious!
(2)Lee S.
This was totally an accidental find. We had some business in Brighton and were driving around looking for a place grab lunch. We saw the sign, drove around the block and thought we would try it. What a pleasant surprise. The service was fast and courteous. The bread was hot and the marinara flavorful. My son enjoyed his "kid menu" meatballs. And me? The caramelized onion & asiago ravioli appetizer was like nothing I had ever tried...perfect.
(4)David T.
I really question the veracity of many of the harsh reviews here because, as you all know by now, I'm picky, picky and I thought this place was just dandy for a little Italian place on the main drag in old town Brighton. I am a big city boy and I was humming the theme to Green Acres all the way but it wasn't bad at all. Cute goat farm on the way up with baby goats - ah. Friend of mine just bought a house out near Barr Lake and bribed us to come visit with a promise to buy dinner. Ended up driving another half hour to find this place but we were pretty surprised (lower expectations in the boondocks perhaps). Pros: - Clean and pretty place - lots of parking. Friendly greeting by a staff of healthy looking country girls. Not a skinny jeaned, greasy haired, tattooed, pierced, surly hipster waitress in sight. Refreshing! Service throughout was terrific. - Simple basic American Italian menu (entrees around $12-$14 and includes a salad.) Also, a roster of sandwiches, pizzas and flatbreads. Good bang for the $$. - Full bar and serviceable wine list - I think the most expensive bottle was $30. - Salads are pretty basic but fresh and accompanied by warm tasty fresh bread sticks. You can upgrade to Caesar or Antipasto salads for a buck or two. - Food was as good or better than we expected. I had manicotti (spinach and ricotta filled) with a rather thick red sauce and sauteed Italian sausage) - $13.95 Their red sauce is a little heavy on the tomato paste for me. Other dishes sampled were a classic spaghetti carbonara and the asiago, grilled onion and spicy sausage ravioli in a tomato cream sauce. I was out ordered because both were better than mine. - Dessert was actually the star of the show. All made in house and excellent. The real standout was the Kentucky Bourbon Pie - ooh baby. Absolutely save room. Cons: - It's probably an hour drive or more depending on traffic from downtown Denver so unless I'm out that way again (unlikely) it won't be a frequent destination. - Crowd skewed older/country/suburban (OK for us but if you're looking for a lively scene this ain't it). Sound track was mid-century crooners (Ella, Frank, Dean, etc.) - I'm quite sure they don't make any of their pasta from scratch but I wouldn't expect that they would. And, frankly, unless you really know what you are doing, good dry pasta is probably better than fresh 90% of the time. - Parm is powdered in jar - ick. So, if you ever happen to find yourself out there, God help you - at least you know that you won't starve to death. Maybe just a solid 3-3.5 stars in Denver (although we've discussed the dearth of even mediocre red sauce joints here before) but for where it is and what it is I'm cool with 4 stars.
(4)K G.
Had a wonderful dinner. Especially loved the toasted ravioli and balsamic green bean appetizers. Enjoyed chatting with the owner as she mingled with guests. Very sweet lady. Eat local when you travel. Makes for great experiences!
(4)Rick S.
Food and service were both great. Haley (our server) was terrific. Was a busy afternoon, but we got awesome service. The Cesar salad was fresh, crisp, and delicious. We ordered the spaghetti and the lasagna. Both were flavorful and a good portion size. The soft breadsticks were fresh and hot. We will be back. Glad to support a local business.
(4)Cielo G.
Italian in Brighton; what a novel idea! Pleasant atmosphere. Varied menu. Didn't bring any bread and oil/vinegar to begin with. Salads were included and fresh. Entrées were tasty and well presented. Gluten free and whole wheat pasta are available, which should be the standard instead of the typical white wheat.
(4)Jesseca T.
I joined my mom/dad and brother/sister-in-law/niece here this past Friday for dinner to celebrate my mom's bday . Total cost, for 5 adults, was $204 (including 20% tip). We had: two apps: garlic cheese bread and asparagus with balsamic reduction - hard to mess up garlic and cheese, and the asparagus was good Salads all around: $1 upgrade for spinach and caesar- do it, both are worth it (spinach salad had little chunks of smooth chevre and a nice balsamic drizzle over it) 6 glasses of red wine total - nice selection of reds by the glass for reasonable prices (NOT $14/glass) two desserts Calzone- pesto- yum! crispy yet chewy on inside, fresh, generous with cheese and sundried tomatoes Fettucine with shrimp X2 chicken something for bro and mom They were very generous with the homemade bread sticks that come on the side of the salads, and with the portions of the entrees (we had three to-go boxes) Owner stopped by to say hi, introduced her daughter, who happened to be our awesome and highly personable waitress. This was a very nice meal close to home for everyone, with good service and reasonable prices. I'd go back and I'd make a reservation again because they were jammed (and we ate early -resy was at 6:30) . Good find with quality food.
(4)Andrea H.
Tried this out while in town visiting. Food was good. Service was comparable to most dine in restaurants. We had several orders of the bread sticks, which were delicious. Pasta was good, sauce lacked the homemade taste, that I love so much. Was hoping for quality Italian but this was good in its own rite.
(3)Shandra L.
Good food and clean, nice atmosphere. The sauces were not the best (super thin), and our appitizer "The best artichoke dip" only had one canned artichoke but pretty good for being in Brighton.
(3)Graham W.
My husband and I were craving Italian and having just moved to the Thornton/Brighton area, we didn't know much about where to go. So I got on Yelp, found this place and thought we'd give it a try. We were pleasantly surprised. We were seated promptly and a few minutes after we were seated the owner (I'm not really sure) started talking to us. It helped that we had our infant son with us and she made some recommendations from the menu. She also brought our son a breadstick, which he devoured. They were really good. I went with the Asiago carmelized onion ravioli, which was fantastic. It had a rich creamy sauce and onions and mushrooms on top. Absolutely fabulous. My husband had a combo calzone, which was also great. Both of us had salads to start - included in with the dinner - and our soda glasses never reached half full. It was a great experience - pretty crowded for a Tuesday - and a great meal. We both said we'd go back again and try something different. The menu had a lot of items we both wanted to try. Italian food is pretty scare this far North, but this place is a gem and highly recommended.
(4)Hans T.
Full disclosure: I think this place is a "Brighton 4", meaning it maybe wouldn't fare as well if the competition wasn't so, well, nonexistent. Haven't had a chance to make it to Bucchi's yet, which I believe is the only other Italian restaurant in Brighton besides a couple of pizza places. Pinocchio's is a local chain, I believe, but they do a pretty nice job of feeling small-town and welcoming. Service is friendly and casual, if a bit disorganized at times. One of the times I ate here, I had a conversation with the owner about how she had just learned to make pasta carbonara, a personal favorite. I tried it later, and it was very tasty, and a massive portion. It was maybe a little overloaded with onion, peas, and bacon, but I think I got 2 additional meals out of it. Their sandwiches and pizzas are nice, and contain some fresh ingredients you don't see at other Brighton establishments. The side salads and bread that come with entrees are nice and fresh, too. Overall, this is a decent place for a meal if you don't want to travel far or spend a lot of money. (For the record, Brighton natives have told me Pinocchio's was "too expensive", so it definitely depends on your expectations).
(4)Tanya M.
Don't know what it is about Italian in "north metro" (the suburbs) but nothing has a really unique, robust taste, and everything is far too salty. I had the clams in white sauce, and the husband had a baked ziti type dish. both were somewhat bland, and simply way too salty. the atmosphere is nice, if you are looking for a date place.
(2)Leah S.
This is FANTASTIC! All the food is fresh and homemade. The breadsticks were fresh and amazing, the Caesar salad had homemade dressing and croutons, and I'm pretty positive all of the dressings were home made. And the lemonade was amazing, not to strong and not to sweet, it was just right! The portions were Fairly large but delicious! I had a calzone and the cheese was fresh and fantastic, the meat in it was also great. My sister had the angel hair pasta with shrimp and it was great! The shrimp tasted amazing and the pasta was delicious. My dad had a sun dried tomato pesto that was absolutely fantastic. And then the desert was just amazing! The cheesecake was fresh, there was a blueberry crisp that was great, and a delicious tiramisu. Overall, there was nothing bad about this restaurant. The service was great, the people were friendly, and it was very clean! It was the best meal I've had in a while! I would definitely come back again and recommend it to anyone.
(5)Cathy K.
Atmosphere was nice, service was good, tiramisu was tasty... the rest of the food was OK. Raviolis had way too much sauce... more like ravioli soup and the veal was very over cooked. Probably won't come back.
(3)Matt S.
A welcomed addition to Brighton! Pinocchios is a gem. Friendly wait staff, owners who take time to visit with patrons... and oh yeah, the food is fantastic! Each pasta dish I've ordered has been excellent, and their pizzas are wonderful. Also, never, NEVER skip dessert. Some truly delectable creations! Also, consider renting out their upstairs for events. I've been to a wedding and reception here, and it was first rate all the way. Cannot recommend Pinocchios of Brighton highly enough.
(5)