Review Jovanina's Broken Italian - Denver

I am a wedding photographer and had clients who held their wedding reception here. First of all, the decor is fantastic, the wallpaper is gorgeous & it's such a cute spot! The downstairs has dark romantic vibes. But when I tell you that the staff was impeccable I truly mean it. As a vendor I never really know how I'll be treated when I'm photographing weddings but the staff at Jovanina's were amazing. They made sure I was taken care of every step of the way & fed me the most beautiful meal. The food was fantastic. Definitely the best meal I've had while photographing a wedding and it was SO APPRECIATED. Highly highly recommend.

Great atmosphere and vibe at this restaurant. I enjoyed the lavender lemonade and the cheese plate was fun to try. The two pastas we tried were spicy hot though which was a strange unexpected taste. I kind of wished it wasn’t so spicy that’s the only reason I wouldn’t rate the food higher. I had to take a drink after every bite. But everything else was nice.

Made a reservation on a Wednesday night just to be safe because we wanted to sit downstairs. It was such a cool space and the ambience/vibe for dinner was amazing! Our waiter, Patrick, was friendly and helpful. I ordered the elk bolognese and it was delicious!! Would definitely recommend this place and would love to come back when I’m in Denver again.

My now fiance proposed to me here!! It was our first ever date spot. The staff the food the atmosphere everything was ALL I COULD EVER ASK FOR! We will forever hold this place near and dear to our hearts and will continue to come back time after time for the memories and delicious food! Thank you everyone who made this such a special night!

Jovanina's Broken Italian is one of my favorite restaurants in Denver. They continue to impress with their ever-rotating menu of seasonal dishes all incorporating the best local & regional ingredients. We arrived at Jovanina’s and were seated upstairs in the main dining room. The restaurant embodied a rustic Italian style with exposed brick walls, tall candles, and several wooden tables and chairs with simple, yet elegant designs. Jovanina's showcased their kitchen allowing diners to catch a glimpse of the chefs in action - this added to our overall experience. Our server Tiffany was professional, poised & kind - she had fabulous recommendations on the menu and knew which seasonal items to highlight. General Manager Charlie was actively supporting his team on the restaurant floor and checking in with guests to ensure their dinners were running smoothly. For cocktails I had to explore Jovanina's Summer Spritz program. I went with the Peaches & Peppers made with Fresno & Jalapeno infused Tequila, Peach, Aloe Vera Liqueur, Lime, & Prosecco. Lord have mercy - the Peaches & Peppers Spritz was everything and I sucked two down. The spritz had a refreshing bubbly juiciness that gave way to the Fresno & Jalapeno infused Tequila leaving gentle heat on the palate. For Antipasti we had the Marinated Castelvetrano Olives mad with Fresh Rosemary, Orange Zest, & Calabrian Pepper. Fabulous - the olives were meaty with lingering spice from the Calabrian pepper. For Salads & Vegetables we had the Fresh Bufala Burrata and the Oak Ember Roasted Rainbow Carrots. The Fresh Bufala Burrata was made with Cherry Tomato, Watermelon Balsamic, & Pistachio Basil Pesto. This is the best burrata I have ever had. The creamy burrata against the sweet and juicy summer melon & tomatoes made for refreshing & luxurious bites. The Oak Ember Roasted Rainbow Carrots was made with Carrot Butterscotch, Crunchy Seeds, Whipped Feta, Citrus, & Torn Mint. The colorful carrots were generously coated in sticky sweet butterscotch. For Wood Fired Pizza we had the seasonal Spring Squash Blossom made with Squash & Parmesan Puree, Zucchini, Pecorino, Mozzarella, & Fontina. Unreal; this white pizza was beautiful in presentation & taste. In the heart of the summer season, the zucchini and squash flowers were at their peak. With each bite, the tender zucchini pieces & fine golden squash blossoms gave way to hot melty cheese and the soft chew of crust. For Handmade Fresh Pasta we had the Amatriciana made with Bicicleta, Roasted Peppers, Sausage, Tomato, Marjoram, Kale. The Amatriciana was hearty with a burst of heat. Squisito! For Main Plates we had the Diver Scallop Prima Vera made with Sweet Pea Risotto, Spring Vegetables, Pea Tendrils, & Tarragon. The light buttery scallops were perfectly pan-seared. The delicate taste of the scallops was enhanced by the irresistible flavors of pesto, basil, & parmesan in the sweet pea risotto. For dessert I had the 2012 Capezzana Riserva, thanks to Jovanina’s sommelier. The Capezzana was a well-structured dessert wine that tasted of caramelized figs.

This place is now one of my favorite Italian places in Denver. They hit it out of the park during our trip there. Ask about the "I Know a Guy" special $29 for drink and entree) for drinks and food. Emily was behind the bar and was great, and her efficiency behind there didn't allow us to meet her co-worker (who looked on point also), John. We split the fennel sausage pizza and the elk bolognese pasta and both were exceptional. They did have an IPA for me, they have a chili garlic sauce in the back you should ask for. The background music was hip hop and upbeat, and we will be back for sure. See you there.

Downstairs is the way to go. So quaint, charming and perfect for a winter night. The meal was fantastic, lobster pasta and the fall salad were highlights. Amazing service as well!

Sat at the bar and ordered from the secret “I know a guy” menu. It was killer!! John, John, and Luis made the night. Awesome food and exceptional service. Truly a special place. Highly recommend.

Come for the great food, beautiful ambience, and delicious cocktails… stay for the incredible service. Charlie and his staff were beyond accommodating during my experience. The food could have been horrible, and I would still be writing a five star review — luckily, the food was also very delicious! I will recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a special dinner, and I will certainly be back myself!

Highly recommended! A warm and inviting atmosphere; service was welcoming and attentive; all of our food was excellent, hearty, and flavorful. We sat in the main-floor room, with its open kitchen and vintage-style bar, but there are two other spaces upstairs and downstairs that have a different feel and character, so we plan on going back to experience those settings. Drinks and plates were well-crafted and the staff genuinely made us feel at home. Everything made for a memorable night and we left truly impressed!