Pizza! 94% of Americans eat it on a regular basis, accounting for about 3 billion pies sold annually! With so many pizzerias in our area, it can be hard to decide where to go. The Macaroni Kid publishers for Aurora, Englewood-Greenwood Village-Centennial, Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock-Lone Tree, and Lakewood-Littleton joined forces and took our own families to the places we'd heard the most "buzz" about.
Here's our Top 10 List of Family-Friendly Pizzerias.
A-Town Pizza (Aurora)
I may be one of the few who lives in the Aurora area but had yet to try A-town, and it may be because I had heard so many differing opinions. That was exactly the reason I ended up trying it — because I wanted to know what it was all about! I absolutely love gourmet pizzas, and that is exactly what A-Town offers. I was a bit taken aback by the prices, so I ordered a "Missy" (tomato sauce, garlic, and fresh mozzarella finished with basil and olive oil). I was pleased when it arrived to find that it was just the right size for me and my two young children to share. I don't like too much bread on my pizza, so these Neapolitan-style pizzas are perfect for me. I enjoyed the real fresh mozzarella that tops their pizzas, but my kids didn’t enjoy that quite as much as it was more in clumps and they like the cheese to be fully spread and thick! Wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas can be difficult to get perfect, though, and I was disappointed that part of the crust was burned on the bottom. They offer wings (at approximately $1/wing) and salads as well. I did enjoy the pizza, but be prepared to pay a bit more than you may be expecting to.
Coloradough Pizza (Parker)
The Coloradough in Parker is a relatively new, small (and I mean small with only two tables inside the restaurant) pizzeria run by two brothers. This is not a fancy place with fancy pizza. It is a great take-out place that does their limited menu (pizza, wings, and salad) very well. We ordered their meat lovers pizza called "The 5280" which is piled with local Colorado-raised meats: pepperoni, Italian sausage, Canadian bacon, and bacon crumbles. The crust was flavorful, chewy, and just right. We usually get a thinner pizza but — YUMMO! — this was fantastic! The sauce was tasty with a nice mix of herbs, not too tomato-y or tart. We love great wings so we gave those a shot too. Baked (not fried) wings are my favorite and that's what they serve. They come in four different flavors; we chose the original and they were perfect ... not overcooked and moderate heat. Overall, this is a very good local place that makes such a great pizza that I think I will drive up to the north side of Parker a little more often when I am not in the mood to cook! The Aurora location just opened this month, and is already getting lots of great reviews.
Fargo's Pizza Co. (Colorado Springs)
I grew up in Manitou Springs and have great memories of visiting Fargo's as a kid, so I was really excited to take my own boys there. It is a unique family restaurant with decent pizza and a good salad bar, but it really is more about the experience than anything else. It has an Old West Saloon feel to it, both in decor and employee dress, and it has a large array of leaded and stained glass art throughout the large two-story restaurant. This place is hopping on the weekends, but the line in the lobby moves pretty quickly, and it has an arcade with vintage games to keep the kids busy while you wait. Once you're taken to your table, you have to head back up front to order your food and drinks, and then your number appears in one of the "magic mirrors" decorating the walls (and is called out as well). The salad bar has lots of options, and they even give you a small bowl in addition to your salad plate so you can keep the sweet stuff (fruit or chocolate pudding) separate.
Fiocchi’s Pizzeria and Bar (Denver)
Fiocchi’s Pizzeria & Bar has a great family atmosphere with lots of booths as well as a full bar. We went on a Friday night and they were quite busy but we got seated right away. They make everything from scratch, including their NY-Style crust and salad dressings, and had an extensive wine list and draft beer options for parents. Their menu has many tasty choices among apps, salads, pastas, hot sandwiches, and, of course, pizza! We had the Meat Lovers Pizza, Sausage and Pepper Sub, Caesar Salad, and House Salad. My husband said the Caesar was one of the best he's had (he dislikes about 8 out of 10 Caesar salads). Our kids were given pizza dough to keep themselves entertained, which they loved! Our server turned out to also be the owner, Brett, a family man himself! He has an extensive restaurant background and a deep passion for his business. Oh yeah, kids eat free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entrée, and they offer a fabulous brunch on Sundays! My family gives Fiocchi’s high ratings and definitely recommends it!
Marino's Pizzeria (Littleton)
This cute little pizzeria is owned and operated by Marino Marro, a chef born and raised in Italy, so you know this pizza is going to be authentic! It is a very popular neighborhood joint. The menu is full of a wonderful arrangement of pizzas featuring both traditional toppings such as fresh mozzarella, sausage, and pepperoni, as well as unique combinations like the "Carbonara" with bacon, egg, and black pepper. Although they offer gluten-free options, you must come for the "real thing"! Mario creates his dough from scratch with special ingredients from Italy to make his pizzas light and flavorful. Everything is baked in the wood-fired oven that can be seen from the seating area. It's a small restaurant, off the beaten path, and well worth the trip. I highly recommend it for a date night, but older kids with a sophisticated palate will also enjoy it.
Mellow Mushroom (Denver)
When it comes to Mellow Mushroom, I'm a big fan! The first time I visited, it was just my daughter and me, and we took two seats at the counter which faces the kitchen. My daughter loved the experience of being able to watch pizzas get made. It became "our place." The counter has limited seating, but there is ample space in the restaurant. However, be prepared to wait if you're going for dinner on a weekend. Our last visit was over the Christmas holidays on a Friday evening and there was a 45-minute wait. Kindly, they provide a pager that works outside the restaurant so we were able to visit some shops and enjoy the holiday festivities. A great plus! Their menu has a nice selection of options and they feature craft beers for the adults. We had a pretzel appetizer and "Mighty Meaty" pizza. Both were delicious and we had extra slices to bring home. Mellow Mushroom has a great family atmosphere and we will continue to be repeat visitors!
Parry's Pizzeria & Bar (Castle Rock, Englewood, Greenwood Village, and Highlands Ranch)
Parry's New York Pizza is a sports bar meets craft beer bar meets pizzeria, started by two brothers who were born and raised in NY. Other than the Englewood location (which was their first and is mostly a take-and-go pizza place), all their locations serve 40-50 craft beers on tap, but the restaurant still maintains a very family-friendly feel to it. Their most popular pizzas are the "5 Burroughs," which is basically a supreme, and the "Summer of 2010" topped with pepperoni, spicy sausage, jalapeños, and peppercinis (and named after the hottest NY summer on record). They've won "Best Wings in Castle Rock" for four years in a row. The service was excellent ... fast, friendly, and attentive. We fell in love with NY-style pizza the year we lived in the Big Apple, and this pizza is as authentic as any we've found here in Colorado. These brothers are Brooklynites through and through, right down to their desserts! Their most popular one is "Fuhgidabowdit Fried Dough" and they even have one called "Sox Suck Pie"!
Pizza Fusion (Denver)
Located just a few blocks from Fillmore Auditorium on the northwest corner of Pearl and Colfax (free parking garage for customers behind the restaurant), this is my new favorite place to eat downtown. We stopped for dinner on our way home from the zoo and arrived in time for Happy Hour (Monday-Friday from 3:00-6:00 PM and Saturday from 11:00 AM-6:00 PM), when house wine, draft beer, and personal cheese or pepperoni pizzas are all just $3. We enjoyed the personal pepperoni pizza, meatball sliders (which my boys called “awesome” and “amazing”), and a house salad. Not only is the food delicious, but they use organic veggies, hormone-free meats, and all-natural cheeses, and most of it is locally-sourced too. They've got vegan and gluten-free options too (including gluten-free beer!), and lots of folks say their gluten-free crust is the best around. Great food isn't the only thing to love about them though. They hire all their employees (other than the general manager and assistant manager) through the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. The company's motto is "changing the world one pizza at a time" and they are striving to do just that.
Portofino Pizza & Pasta (Parker)
Good homemade Italian in the heart of Parker is a fitting short description for Portofino Pizza & Pasta. Located right on the heart of Mainstreet and Parker, Portofino provides a casual family-friendly dining experience. The restaurant offers more than just pizza, with a range from side and dinner salads to homemade Burrata, calzones, lasagna, chicken Parmesan, and even gluten-free pizza. My family enjoyed a little of everything — salad, pizza, lasagna, calzone, and garlic knots. The pizza and calzone had a tasty sauce and were not overly doughy. The food and the service did not disappoint and neither did the check, which was less than $50 for all of us with the tip. I have no doubt we will be back.
The Rock Wood Fired Kitchen (Highlands Ranch and Lakewood)
You enter this place and you just know you're in for a rockin' time! Once we were seated, they delivered the cutest tiny pizza box filled with dough to keep the little one busy. Nice touch! The vast menu was filled with so many options. We started with the "Skillet Shrooms" as we were told they were a house favorite, and they became a family favorite as well. I could have eaten an entire plate myself! The pizzas are wood-fired to make them extra tasty. You can get the Classic Rock with the standby pepperoni and cheese, or try one of their specialty pies like the "Revolution" (BBQ pulled pork pineapple, red and green roasted peppers, and drizzled with BBQ sauce), "Bang A Gong (grilled chicken, green peppers, onions, pineapple, cheese, and drizzled with a sweet red chili sauce), or "Stairway To Heaven" (baby arugula, diced tomatoes, prosciutto, and Parmesan cheese)! A generous gluten-free menu is also available. The atmosphere is fun, the music is loud (perfect for a noisy family of kiddos), and the food is tasty. A good spot for a fun family night out.
