Panzano is located on the ground floor of the building housing the Hotel Monaco, at 17th and Champa. Though we've done romantic weekends at that hotel a couple of times, and it's just a few blocks from my office, we'd never eaten there before.
I regret that somewhat now. It's a fine place to eat.
The service was full-court helpful and courteous, almost (but not quite) to the point of being unctuous. Water glasses never got more than half empty (and I drink a lot of water), empty dishes vanished, and we regularly had our waiter, the sommelier, and everyone but the cook stopping by our table to see how we were doing.
The food was very good, benefiting clearly from fresh, flavorful ingredients. It had a decent mix of innovation and traditional flavors. We had a mushroom crepe for appetizers (excellent flavor), both the regular and grilled caesar salad (excellent dressing), and then for our main course I had a wonderful pasta carbonara, while Margie had a nummy sauteed gnocchi with rabbit comfit and veggies and overall goodness.
Though we were both stuffed, somehow we both managed a dessert — a respectable tiramisu for myself, a chocolate pannacotta for Margie.
We had both drinks from the bar (their house cocktail selection was quite respectable), then two sampling flights of reds. The wine list is pricey but high quality and with a good array of by-the-glass and splits. Most of the choices are Italian, including a Vignamaggio chianti we decided not to bust the bank on.
The space wraps around the 17th street side of the building, and so is relatively narrow. Though tables and booths were put together tightly (including some large celebration tables), it felt more cozy than cramped, and things were well lit as well. I wouldn't call it explicitly romantic, but one could have a very nice dinner with a special someone there (and then roll home and spend the rest of the evening digesting).
We saw everything from couples to small groups to family birthdays to business folk eating there. It seemed well suited for each. There were some younger kids who seemed to be doing okay, but I wouldn't bring toddlers or babies.
I don't see it as a new most-favorite restaurant, for some reason, but I'd like to go there again, including with visiting family, and I'll definitely have it on my "some place we can do dinner" list for business visitors. And I like it better enough than some of the Italian places closer to the house that it will be a tough call to balance convenience vs. dining pleasure. #ddtb
Embedded Link
Downtown Denver Italian Restaurant & Lounge | Panzano Restaurant – Panzano
Italian Dining Central to Downtown Denver. Located near the 16th Street Mall, the award-winning Panzano, right on the corner of 17th and Champa Streets, has become a true local favorite. Exceptional N…