Para vicini translates roughly from Italian to “for the neighborhood.” Paravicini’s Italian Bistro isn’t located in just any Colorado Springs neighborhood. It’s located in the heart of Old Colorado City, the historic west side of Colorado Springs. Founded in 1859 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, Old Colorado City was the first permanent settlement in the region and briefly served as the first capital of the Colorado Territory. In 1917, it was annexed and incorporated into Colorado Springs. Today, the former wild-west town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and functions as a pedestrian-friendly arts and dining district.
Old Colorado City was a notoriously wild, blue-collar frontier town that famously peaked in the late 1890s with as many as 28 saloons operating 24 by 7. While neighboring Colorado Springs was founded as a strictly “dry” (alcohol-free) town, Old Colorado City embraced gambling, brothels, and alcohol. This stark contrast made it a breeding ground for crime, eccentric characters, and frontier shootouts. Among the notorious outlaws who set up camp in Old Colorado City was Robert Ford, the man who killed Jesse James. Ford was eventually run out of town after a bout with city officials over cheating at gambling.
The historic building that houses Paravicini’s Italian Bistro was built in 1895 making it 131 years old. Over its first century, the building accommodated various local Westside merchant businesses, mirroring the neighborhood’s shift from a gritty wild-west saloon town to a historic commercial shopping district. After undergoing interior restoration to preserve its old-school charm while upgrading to a modern open kitchen, Chef Franco Pisani opened Paravicini’s Italian Bistro in April 2003. The historic ambiance became a core part of the restaurant’s identity, giving it an authentic “Little Italy” or East Coast Mulberry Street (Manhattan) aesthetic.
From the moment you step inside, the restaurant treats you to old-school character. It features brick accents, an active open kitchen, and walls affectionately decorated with old black-and-white photos of Frank Sinatra and iconic entertainers. The men’s room includes framed photographs of such beauties as Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe and Janes Mansfield so if you’re a bit on the shy side, you might have a hard time getting motivated. Tables are arranged in personal space proximity to maximize the tight, cozy historic footprint, which enhances the community feel. This is a true traditional Italian trattoria where laughter, conversation, and the rich scent of garlic and bread fill the air. The atmosphere is celebratory rather than a quiet, hushed dining experience.
Arguably the most famous visitor to Old Colorado City is Food Network star Guy Fieri who has featured several of the historic neighborhood’s restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Among them was Paravicini’s Italian Bistro which first aired in an episode titled “Italian Refresh” on December 4, 2015 (Season 23, Episode 12). Fieri returned in August 2023 for a Triple D Nation episode titled “Ocean Eats and Chicken Feasts” (Season 38). The impact made from the “Mayor of Flavortown’s” visit was immediate. According to the Denver Post, Paravicini “went from making 10 arancini appetizers, which were featured on the original episode eight years ago, to 100 every night.”
Our visit was just after the lunch rush so we didn’t get to experience the babel of a full house. Conversations of a hushed tone were possible. So was interacting with our friendly server who walked us through the menu and provided recommendations. Selections range from classic red-sauce (or red gravy if you prefer) pasta dishes to upscale veal and seafood specialties. Aside from the arancini made famous on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, appetizers include such gems as Hot & Pots (spicy Italian sausage, hot peppers, spinach, potatoes, and garlic). The soups and salads section of the menu offers classics like Pasta e Fagioli, Italian Wedding Soup and new to me, Risotto Fagioli. Traditional favorites made daily include Homemade Lasagna, Penne alla Vodka (with prosciutto), Tortellini Carbonara, and Spaghetti with house-made meatballs.
My eyes gravitated to the Paravinci originals–Chef Pisani’s exclusive signature recipes. Standouts include Veal Giuseppe (sautéed veal scaloppini loaded with spicy sausage, cherry peppers, and Kalamata olives—hailed by Guy Fieri as a “real-deal, old-school Italian dish”) and Chicken Carsoni (chicken simmered in a roasted garlic pesto cream sauce with broccoli and mushrooms). The Land and Sea section of the menu features such comforting staples as Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Saltimbocca and Fruitti Di Mare (shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops, and calamari over pasta). High-end cuts such as the Tenderloin of Beef Voldostano (two 4 oz. filet mignons topped with prosciutto, mozzarella, and a mushroom brandy sauce) are showcased on the Steaks menu. Desserts include traditional Italian dolci including Tiramisu, Cannoli and Bada Bing Cheesecake (topped with black cherry sauce and dark chocolate), and Olive Oil Cake.
As we perused the menu, our server ferried over a cutting board atop of which was a complimentary loaf of rustic, unsliced bread served warm and topped with fresh rosemary. It’s got a thick, tough, and crunchy crust with a very tender, soft interior. Best of all, it’s is sturdy enough to hold up beautifully for wiping pasta bowls or soaking up heavy sauces. That is, if you don’t finish it before your pasta arrives. On your table, you’ll find small decanters of extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Our server recommended adding a crack of fresh black pepper to the oil dip.
Unlike a traditional plated risotto entree, Paravicini’s risotto e fagioli is classified under the “Soups & Salads” section. Pasta e fagioli has long been my very favorite Italian soup (even the version at Olive Garden), but I’d never before had this classic soup made with risotto. It proved a delicious twist on the traditional Italian peasant classic pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans) by substituting rice for the pasta, yielding a hearty, comforting tomato broth base packed with tender beans and rice grains. The hearty soup is gluten-free and would have been great for dipping the bread into had we not finished it off.
Since discovering fried artichokes at Madrid’s Mine Shaft Tavern, my Kim just can’t get enough of them. Paravicini’s artichoke fritti (lightly dusted, then deep fried. Served with a roasted garlic dipping sauce) didn’t disappoint. Baby artichokes are trimmed and cut into wedges, marinated, then enrobed in a simple batter and fried until crisp and golden brown on the outside, meltingly soft and mellow on the inside. The artichokes themselves were quite good. Not as wonderful were the artichoke leaves which had the texture of potato chips and none of the delicious “meat.”
I typically don’t order a dish featured by Guy Fieri during his restaurant visits, but the Veal Giuseppe (veal scaloppini sautéed with spicy Italian sausage, onions, hot and sweet peppers, capers, olives, garlic and olive oil) proved irresistible. Our server explained that this signature, old-school Italian entree was created by Chef Pisani and named after his grandfather. Fieri praised the dish as “real-deal“, describing the veal as delicate and tender, yet capable of holding up against the aggressive, bold flavors of the spicy sausage and hot peppers. Aggressive and bold is right! The hot peppers and spicy sausage were much more piquant than the Pueblo chile at Three Sisters Tavern. It was right up my alley. Tangy accents from the kalamata olives and capers paired well with the heat of the hot cherry peppers and sausage while the light sauce (a reduction of chicken stock and butter) helped temper the heat just enough.
The lunch menu includes seven sandwiches and one burger. My Kim’s sandwich choice was called Panini Paravicini (capocollo, salami, turkey and soppressata with Mozzarella and Provolone, baked in the oven until golden brown and the cheeses are melted). Those meats and cheeses would have made an excellent salume board, but were even better as a sandwich because Paravicini’s bread was showcased. It’s a bread that was equal to the meats and cheeses. If a sandwich has never made you swoon with sheer pleasure, you need to try this one.
There is a lot to see and do in Old Colorado City, but Paravicini’s Italian Bistro may be the highlight of any visit. It’s one of the very best Italian restaurants we’ve experienced that isn’t on the East Coast.
Paravicini’s Italian Bistro
2802 South Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
(791) 471-8200
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LATEST VISIT: 5 October 2026
# OF VISITS: 1
RATING: N/R
COST: $$$$
BEST BET: Panini Paravinci, Housemade Chips, Risotto Fagoli, Fried Artichokes, Veal Giuseppe, Bread
REVIEW #1556