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Restaurants in Highlands

Gaetano's

4.4
2,886 Google reviews$$ · Moderate

One of 21 restaurants we've tracked near Highlands.

Things to Know

Gaetano's is an upscale Italian restaurant in Denver known for house-made pasta, tender short ribs, and authentic Italian cuisine, located in a historic space with notable Denver mob history.

This is a special-occasion destination where Chef Oscar's personal attention and pride in every dish create a memorable, elevated dining experience that feels both comforting and refined.

  • Short rib with polenta is tender, flavorful, and considered outstanding by diners
  • Chef Oscar personally visits tables, showing genuine pride in his food and guests
  • Cozy, atmospheric space with unique Denver mob history and mug shots in the bathroom
  • Staff goes above and beyond with attentive service and complimentary dessert for birthdays
  • Consistent quality — reviewers describe everything they ordered as delicious and worth repeating
  • Service can be inconsistent during busy periods, so reservations are essential and same-day availability is unlikely

Based on Google reviews · AI summarized

Hours

Monday: 4:30 – 9:00 PM

Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Thursday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Friday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

Saturday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 10:00 PM

Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM

Closed now

People Order

  • short rib with polenta
  • chicken pesto pizza
  • cheese ravioli bites
  • Tasty Treat (signature dessert)

Things To Do Nearby

What Visitors Say

C

Cody Weikel

3 months ago

We had our farewell dinner at Gaetano's before I left town and had an amazing time. The food came out hot and fresh and you could taste the quality. Our server was great and was able to answer all of our questions and make suggestions. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very cozy. They are busy for a reason! This is a unique experience with authentic Italian food.

A

Aileen Rodriguez

2 months ago

Gaetano’s was an incredible dining experience from start to finish. Our server Amber was friendly, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcome the entire evening. Chef Oscar also came by our table, which was such a nice personal touch and really showed how much pride he takes in his food and his guests. We ordered the short rib with polenta, and it was outstanding. The meat was incredibly tender and full of flavor — easily one of the best short ribs I’ve had. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the dish was comforting yet elevated. Truly a memorable meal. I’d absolutely come back and recommend this place to anyone visiting Denver.

C

Carrie Hunter

a month ago

Have been going here for years... a Denver staple you must try. Food is delicious, atmosphere is fabulous, service is hit or miss because they are so busy. Do not leave without ordering a TASTY TREAT (soooo good!) Lots of fun Denver mob history and stories here - you must make a reservation to get in (not same day) and definitely worth going once at the very least to see the mug shots in the bathroom.

T

Timothy McGuire

a month ago

Incredible place to come eat They were super busy so making a reservation was crucial Everything that we ate was so good, that I could eat that same meal over and over. We were taken care of and checked on by multiple people even people who weren’t our server or the manager. Could not have had a better experience! Thank you !

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gaetano's worth it in Highlands?

This is a special-occasion destination where Chef Oscar's personal attention and pride in every dish create a memorable, elevated dining experience that feels both comforting and refined. Known for: authentic Italian with genuine Denver character.

What should I order at Gaetano's?

Popular choices at Gaetano's include short rib with polenta, chicken pesto pizza, cheese ravioli bites, Tasty Treat (signature dessert).

What do visitors love about Gaetano's?

Short rib with polenta is tender, flavorful, and considered outstanding by diners Chef Oscar personally visits tables, showing genuine pride in his food and guests Cozy, atmospheric space with unique Denver mob history and mug shots in the bathroom Staff goes above and beyond with attentive service and complimentary dessert for birthdays Consistent quality — reviewers describe everything they ordered as delicious and worth repeating

Is there anything to know before visiting Gaetano's?

Service can be inconsistent during busy periods, so reservations are essential and same-day availability is unlikely

How expensive is Gaetano's?

Gaetano's is moderately priced, with a 4.4-star rating from 2,886 Google reviews.

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