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Cafe Jordano
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
11068 W Jewell AveSte C9
Lakewood, CO 80232
(303) 988-6863
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
72 reviews for Cafe Jordano
Review Highlights
"Bob's Favorite"= Savannah's favorite."
(in 10 reviews)
"The garlic bread is complimentary."
(in 9 reviews)
"Desert was an espresso and tiramisu (my favorite."
(in 10 reviews)
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72 reviews in English
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Review from Tyler C.
Chicago, IL
10/20/2011
True family style place. The Specials are always special and the atmosphere is laid back.
Worth the wait. So many great things on the menu. Vegetarian dishes and Buffalo instead of veal! Creative dishes and a terrific Italian hostess as the owner. Much loved gem. -
Review from Mike E.
12/15/2011
I've been going to Cafe Jordano for the better part of 10 years now, the food is always so awesome it keeps me coming back for more. It's also cool to see that you don't have to go downtown or to a swanky neighborhood to get great food. Yes, there actually is something in Lakewood worth driving out of the city to try, even if it is in a strip mall.
I've been telling my GF for quite a while that we needed to get to Cafe Jordano and we finally were able to swing it last Friday night. I knew we were in for a wait showing up at 7pm, as they don't take reservations for parties of less than 6. No biggie, just get a glass of wine and wait it out. They said it would be 45 minutes that night but it was really just 30.
We started out with a bottle of wine, pretty much everything is less than $30 a bottle, and most around $20. We settled on a nice chianti and ordered some calamari to start us out. The portion was very large and the rings were lightly breaded, it was good but it could've used some more seasoning.
They offer either soup or salad with their meals, if you take nothing else from this review always get the soup. It's fresh, with homemade flavors that you can't get from a can/box. Only thing is once they run out it's gone, so keep that in mind if you're going later to miss the crowds. Also, ask for the garlic bread at this point, it's wicked good and you'll want to soak up the last drops of soup with it.
I got my "usual", Pollo Alla Roberts (or Bob's Favorite). It's a chicken breast that's pounded out and prepared in a wine cream sauce. Then it's topped with asparagus and three melted cheeses. It is crazy, stop the presses, over the top, ridiculously incredible! She got the Fettuccini Al Gorgonzola, it was spinach fettuccini in a cream sauce with prosciutto and gorgonzola. Very rich, and also very tasty!
The service can be a little hit or miss at times, mostly because it's so busy. I know it's like that at a lot of places that are as busy, but it is something that could use some improvement.
Do yourself a flavor favor and head to the burbs for some killer grub, you won't regret it! -
Review from Ann Marie C.
Thornton, CO
12/1/2011
I would have loved to actually try the food here but they were so rude, I wasn't even given the opportunity.
My niece & I decided to stop here to eat before a concert at The Fillmore. I read on Yelp they did not open until 5pm, and we arrived in the parking lot at 4:45. We stood outside for a few minutes when an older gentlemen approached the door and unlocked it. As he was doing so, I asked if it was possible to sit inside on the benches until 5pm so we are not standing in the cold. He said he would ask.
Now, I see what appeared to be 2 servers sitting near the bar chatting to one another and another lady in black slacks & shirt in there. I KNOW we are early, and yes, we probably could have sat in the car for 15 more minutes but I thought PERHAPS I can get a glass of wine or a cocktail while we waited for them to open up or at least sit inside with our thumb up our ass until they were ready for us BUT NO....
The lady in the black slacks approachs the door. At this point, I think she is going to open it for us and invite us in. Instead, she approached the door AND LOCKED IT. Yes, she didn't even wave us off, she just locked it. HOW EFFIN' RUDE? REALLY?
The time was 4:48. For 12 minutes, you lost a MINIMUM of $50 as I alone would have ordered the Caprese Salad and Buffalo Marsala that I eyed up on their website not to mention what my niece would order or that I would have 2 glasses of a nice wine. In addition, your servers lost out on what I would have tipped them. Why would you do something so stupid? Why so rude? She didn't even look at us when she did it. She locked it, turned away, and continued talking to the 2 servers sitting down.
I own a restaurant in Golden, and even if we weren't READY to serve people, we would at least have them get out of the cold and sit inside. What pisses me off even more is that being in the biz, I work all the time, and I finally catch a break away to enjoy a meal at another locally owned establishment and I get treated like garbage?
Even my 16 year old niece thought it was one of the rudest things she witnessed to date.
Anyway, I would LOVE to hear what the reason was for the rudeness. Like I said, I have a restaurant so I know what it's like but I also know I like to drop money on a decent meal. I guess they aren't hurting for business that they can turn money away like that.
Can't wait to tell the folks who recommended it what happened. -
Review from Leopold W.
Denver, CO
1/31/2012
Even with a reservation the wait can be really difficult - especially when you see dozens of people raving about their food mere feet away. But despite that, this place is pretty good. I've enjoyed the seafood raviolis, lasagna, and fettuchini alfredo here before and all were yummy. The service is warm, welcoming and quick despite the fact it is PACKED AT ALL TIMES.
Thank god for the bar in the waiting area - otherwise I would have never been able to wait and experience the delicious fare that is here. -
Review from Scot J.
Englewood, CO
12/24/2011
This is a great little family owned strip mall restaurant. The food is good and the prices are very reasonable. It is popular with the locals and can be pretty busy so be prepared for a bit of a wait. Even though I cannot necessarily say there is anything spectacular about Cafe Jordano, I'm still a fan because it is one of the few decent locally owned restaurants in southwest Lakewood.
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Review from Amy D.
8/12/2011 ROTD 9/5/2011
I could really get in trouble at Café Jordano. It's a triple threat: close to my house, reasonably priced and oh-so-delicious!
I met a date there last night and it was fabulous. I had to do a little convincing that even the though the place is located in strip mall in Lakewood it would still be great. He's a believer now.
I've been to Café Jordano three times now and each time has been fantastic. The place can get extremely crowded and busy - but that's what you get when you have great food. The owners and wait staff know (and talk with) EVERYBODY so getting a table can sometimes be a little slow, but it's worth it.
Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The food was fast, fresh and tasty. My usual go-to at Café Jordano is Bob's Favorite (chicken breast w/ asparagus and creamy cheese sauce. Sorry, let me wipe away the drool), but this time I branched out and went for the Buffalo al Jordano. Sooooo glad I switched it up. The buffalo was tender and juicy and perfectly complimented by the mushrooms and cream sauce with mustard and cognac. Ultra-rich, but very, very good. Skipped the apps and dessert and opted for a cab-sav with dinner - tasty and not too pricy. What's not to like?
My date had the seafood ravioli and was thoroughly impressed as well. Café Jordano is a neighborhood gem - makes me glad I live in that neighborhood. -
Review from Kevin S.
Lone Tree, CO
9/5/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Even though this place is 45 minutes (and sometimes over an hour depending on traffic) from my house, I have no problem getting there at least once a month for the Gnocchi.
Some of the best Italian food in Colorado. Service is usually good. Food is excellent. Be prepared to wait, especially on the weekends (sometimes an hour or longer). Sit down, grab a beer or some wine at the bar and relax while you wait for your table.
Do not forget to try the Gnocchi. It is fabulous!!!
Prices are incredibly reasonable.
This treasure is in a strip mall and is on the small side. When its crowded (most of the time), it can be noisy.
Not sure what to get? Get the Gnocchi. Yes, I highly recommend the Gnocchi.
Did I mention the Gnocchi? It is excellent... -
Review from Lily S.
11/9/2011 3 photos
Don't remember too much oustanding points about this family style place, must be because it was just OK. It's kind of small so don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table! Not sure it'll be good for big groups.
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Review from Holly G.
3/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
What can I say? This place was alright but nothing particularly outstanding in my book. I was expecting to be absolutely blown away, but unfortunately I was not.
Sure, the food was good and the wine seemed well priced but there was no atmosphere, just a big room with tables all crammed together, and the service was only okay...
They brought me the wrong food too, which is always a bummer. Five minutes passed before we could even wave anyone down to come correct it. Then I sat there for 10(ish) minutes waiting for my correct plate to arrive while the rest of my party began eating. Thats awkward. Plus, they didn't even comp us for my wrong plate or anything, nope, just "here's the bill". Hmpf, that doesn't seem quite right. -
Review from Marci A.
Golden, CO
10/14/2011
Yum!!!! I love the eggplant parm! And the penne Gorgonzola! This place is so yummy! we eat Italian almost four nights a week and this place is by far my favorite. The staff is awesome too! Love it!
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Review from Lindsay A.
East Amherst, NY
4/9/2011
Two words: Bob's Favorite.
This is my absolute favorite dish at Jordano's. I've had the lasagna (delicious, but come hungry. Its a huge portion and all the meats they use in the layers are really heavy but taste great!), chicken marsala (very good), and of course Bob's Favorite (2 thin chicken breasts covered in cream sauce with a couple stalks of asparagus).
There's something magical about the Bob's. The chicken is so melt-in-your mouth tender and that cream sauce... You've got to try it. It's amazing!!!! Trudge some of their fresh Italian bread through the sauce after you snarfle the chicken down. The deliciousness brings tears to your eyes!
And they have really good ranch dressing for the salad too.
I would definitely recommend Jordano's for the Bob's Favorite if you're ever in Lakewood. I'm an Italian from NY and i know good italian. Bob's Favorite blows me away! -
Review from Bryanne S.
Denver, CO
6/6/2011
I LOVE this restaurant. I've been to Italy and their food comes extraordinarily close to being as delicious as what I had there. The portions are huge and the price is perfect.
The atmosphere is always cozy and familial. Perfect for a first or second date. You feel at home and comfortable upon entering the place. The service is fantastic and the place is always packed. There is usually a 30 - 45 minute wait, but its worth the wait. Its the best worst-kept secret in Lakewood.
If you haven't checked it out yet, its worth the trip from, well, anywhere in the city. -
Review from Laurie S.
4/27/2011
I love this place, and wish I lived closer to eat here it is pretty awesome.
What this place is is great. The food is really pretty good, the service is ALWAYS friendly and really responsive. It can be a long wait so if your in a rush, perhaps wait until you have the time. There is a wait because this place is exceptional. The owner is there with her staff, most of which have been there for years, almost every night working to make sure its a good experience.
The value is great, good food, really good size portions and quality service. Not much else you can ask for.
I have read a few of the other reviews and so lets address some of the down and dirty... Someone mentioned it may not be handicap accessible, I have seen owner and staff re-arrange half the seating area to accommodate someone so this is completely untrue.
This is one of the most consistent places I have dined. Its always been a good experience. -
Review from Christina A.
Golden, CO
11/29/2011
BEST Italian restaurant in Denver hands down!! Wow! We will definitely be going back here again and again! Amazing cream sauce, amazing vodka sauce and the gnocchi...wow. LOVE! Elisa is awesome...thank you for having authentic Italian in Denver!! :)
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Review from Trou D.
St Paul, MN
8/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
First I would like to thank Lacy M. for her recommendation of Cafe Jordano, I will be forever indebted to you! The tortellini is excellent and white sauce is out of this world - - I think the best I've ever had.
First of all to help you understand how important it is for me to find perfectly delicious Tortellini, I left downtown Denver during rush hour to get to Cafe Jordano before there big rush (usually 6PM), so I finally arrived requested my dish to-go and raced home to enjoy. My drive was approx. 45 minutes and the dish was as good as when I tried it in my car (I'm not much for waiting) and when I arrived home it was still perfection, still creamy and lip smack'in good.
The staff goes out of their way to make sure everything is perfect for your food pleasure. The folks in the front were very friendly and even gave me soda water for the coffee I spilled on my shorts!
The only thing I am bummed about is that I ate it all and want more! See you tomorrow at 5PM! Give them a try and you will be hooked for life. -
Review from Savannah W.
Denver, CO
12/3/2010
Living just down the street from this phenomenal little delight, I can definitely vouch for the consistency and authenticity of their food. After a dozen or more visits over the past few years, I am always impressed with the quality of their menu.
"Bob's Favorite"= Savannah's favorite...yuuuuuuum!
Be forewarned that the restaurant is quite small and I've always had to wait. Try to arrive early or be prepared to sit with your company for a minute. Don't let the wait deter you though- grab a glass of wine from their full bar and get ready for some great Italian. -
Review from Duane M.
3/22/2011
I have a love hate relationship with this place. The fact that they will not serve Barb's Favorite on the lunch menu makes me hate it - the fact that they serve it for dinner makes me love it. All the usual Italian dishes - done well! The bread is good and the soups are terrific. Tucked away in the strip mall at Jewell and Kipling it does not strike you as a place that would serve good Italian food. Family operated, it is always a friendly and busy palce.
If you have not checked it out yet, you are missing out. -
Review from Linda G.
Denver, CO
1/30/2011
Yes in a strip mall.
So put aside any preconceived notions. Remember what yo mamma told you about not judging a book by its cover.
Enter. Be amazed at the typical bustle and long wait. Be patient. Then be seated and eat.
This is some of the best Italian food I've ever had in Denver, let alone New York City or Brooklyn. All of the recipes come from the old country and it shows.
Don't miss the minnestrone. -
Review from Joey T.
Green Bay, WI
1/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
For the past couple of years, my wife raved how good this place was and that Bill Clinton had stopped there for a meal when he was President. So when the time finally came to try out the place, I must admit that some of what she had said was true but overall I was disappointed by one important aspect to dining experience . . . the service. The food is 4 stars and the service is 2 stars at best.
The wait wasn't too bad (30 min) especially for a highly rated place like this, with the help of a nice glass of wine and fine company, the time flew by quickly when our table was open.
So our waitress sat us at our table and saw that we had wine with us, but didn't bother to tell us what the night special was, she just handed us some menus and left us. No water and no silverware. No big thingy, but it gets worse.
My wife and her aunt orders, after which the waitress starts to stare me down as to hurry my order so she can promptly leave and be never seen again.
We waited a good 15 minutes until my wife got a bit perturbed and got another waitress to get us some water and a basket of bread. The bread was something my wife had been craving for quite some time (she is pregnant) and so I was anxious in anticipation of them. Let down. The bread was over toasted, could have done it better with a $5 toaster. How can you screw up garlic bread?
As for the dishes, my wife had the Gamberi & Cozze Alla Franco which was fantastic and the best dish of the night. My aunt order the Lasagna, which also very good. I ordered the Pollo Elegante, which wasn't half bad, but I should have ordered something else.
As for the waitress, I saw two more times; once near the hostess, talking up a storm then on a telephone, and then to deliver our check. Needless to say her tip reflected the attention she afforded us. -
Review from Michael C.
Indian Hills, CO
3/3/2011
I must say Café Jordono is one of our favorite places to enjoy dinner with friends or just the two of us.
In the land of Franchised restaurants this place is a piece of strip mall heaven. Family owned and run the way it should be.
Weekends can be very very busy. Expect to wait.. That in it self should tell you something.
Have a glass of wine or a drink and enjoy the people. We have met some very nice people while waiting. ..
The Calamari is very good.
Every main dish I have had is very tasty. Love the Buffalo(Yes Buffalo), Seafood and Chicken dishes. The specials are always a treat.
Desserts, well all I can say is we never leave without getting a dessert.
Service is generally very good but they have times when some of the staff is rushed.
Overall I love going here and always have enjoyed this restaurant. We have been one of the earliest regular customers and have never ever left disappointed -
Review from Michael S.
Marina del Rey, CA
7/2/2010 8 photos
Thank you my fellow yelpers for recommending Cafe Jordano. The food was just as good as you had written. If the service and appetizers/sides were better it would be 5 stars, but they weren't.
We ordered three entrees and all three were outstandingly delicious. The Buffalo Marsala (yes, with real buffalo) was as flavorful as any marsala I have ever tasted (5 stars). One of the daily specials was Shrimp and Portobello Mushroom Ravioli and even though the shrimp was a little small, the truly creamy sauce and ravioli were a dream (5 stars). Finally, the Pollo Alla Gregorio (Greg's Favorite) featured a thin chicken cutlet covered with Arrabbiata sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, and bacon with the perfect level of spiciness (also 5 stars).
For dessert, we again took a cue from Yelp and shared the Tiramisu. OMG...it seriously is great: not too sweet with just the right amount of coffee flavor. Save room for the Tiramisu and you'll be glad you did so.
Ok... now for the not so good.
The service was very "rushed". We arrived about 6:00 just before the crowd, however, by the time we left at 7:00 the waiting area and outside was packed with people. Being busy is one thing, but making the customers feel rushed makes my visit feel unappreciated and me think twice about returning. At one point, a waiter actually flipped my wife's cutlery off her plate in a flicking motion as he picked it up to make room for the next dish. A simple question to her to keep her silverware or not would have sufficed.
The other disappointment was the sides/appetizers. We started with the Calamari and Marinara Sauce which turned out to just be average. Second, we had the Garlic Bread. My piece was burned on one side and didn't have butter/garlic on the other half. Then our soups arrived. We had read on Yelp how bad the salads were so we went with the daily soup. It did have a nice spice flavor, but all three of us agreed it was mediocre at best and the Olive flavor overwhelmed the other goodness in the soup.
The prices are decent and parking easy in the strip mall parking lot.
Overall, the entrees + dessert were spectacular enough to raise the overall rating of Cafe Jordano to 4 stars despite the flaws in the other food items and the service. -
Review from Brittany H.
Denver, CO
10/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
Last night Lisa H and I met up at Cafe Jordano with our honorary Denver mom and dad to celebrate their anniversary. I immediately enjoyed the space: it was bright, vibrant, and smelled like delicious Italian food.
After grabbing a bottle of wine, we waited for a table further back in the dinning room to open up, since the only ones available were right next to the door. Only a short wait later, we were seated in a comfy booth.
Water, bread, soups and salads were promptly served, followed by our entrees. I ordered cannelloni con spinaci. I enjoyed it, but I felt like it could've used a bit more spices. I'm not a cook or chef or anything close, so what it needed, I'm not too sure. But I would've liked a strong flavor.
Aside from that minor complaint, I really enjoyed Cafe Jordano. Three stars for clear potential! I would really like to get back over to this side of town and try more of their menu. -
Review from Lacey M.
Updated - 7/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
I went back again with a couple friends on a Saturday night. It was pretty busy, but the wait seemed to go fairly quickly. They definitely work hard at getting people in and out in a timely manner.
My friend and I decided to share a couple of dishes, because we couldn't make up minds! I had to get the Pollo Alla Romana again, and we also shared the Penne in Vodka sauce. The Pollo Romana was exquisite, as it was the first time. I loved the vodka sauce, which a little bacon in it that added great flavor. It was probably my favorite vodka sauce I've ever had!
I'm downgrading my rating to 4 stars for one main reason: the salad. I think I overlooked it the first time, because I was mesmerized by that fantastic cream sauce. But after a second time around, I realized how un-amazing their salad really is. I also find it unacceptable that they don't have Caesar salad, at an Italian restaurant!
That being said, the rest of the their food is to die for, and I'm sure I'll be back time and time again...but will always be a little disappointed by that salad.Listed in: ROTD
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/21/2008 ROTD 4/3/2008
I love Italian food. I think its my favorite cuisine to eat, cook, and smell. When I saw several… Read more »
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Review from Tiffany W.
Denver, CO
5/16/2010
I run so I can eat. It may sound silly (hell, even absurd to some), but I know other runners will understand. And surely other distance runners will revel in the joy that is carbo-loading. It's like a carbohydrate Christmas, only it comes more than once a year (depending on how many races I run), and I don't have to deal with the guilt of making sure everyone I know got a breadstick from me.
All that being said, I've had Cafe Jordano in the back of my mind to try since around last September. However, rarely indulging in white pasta (except under the above described circumstance), an entire semester's worth of Half-Marathon training gave the green light.
'Twas the night before Colfax, and all through house, not a creature was stirring a pot of store-bought pasta sauce because even though it would have been way cheaper and less of a wait, sometimes the creatures just don't feel like cooking ...so instead they went out.
Cafe Jordano's is clearly a "locals" place; as if being pretty out of the way of anything (unless one lives in the area) in a Safeway strip mall didn't make it clear, then the interactions between staff and guests certainly did. In fact, I had to take off a star because a group of four (who apparently knew the hostess) got seated immediately after entering, despite four or so other parties (mine included) who had already been waiting at least 20 minutes. I realize it's "all in the family" with places like this, but that's just not right. Unless they're investors in the place (and hey maybe they were?), move it to the back of the line and wait like everyone else.
As for the food, the garlic bread they serve is so-so. It was not warm and was pretty chewy like it had been warm, but then cooled down and served. The Dude and I had the Caprese appetizer--sliced Roma tomatoes atop discs of fresh mozz atop giant leaves of fresh basil, all drizzled with olive oil. It all paired nicely with the bread; the cheese was indeed fresh and it was a nice presentation.
For our main dishes, I selected the plain ol' spaghetti. It is usually served with meatballs or sausage, but I asked to substitute mushrooms instead and this was not a problem (thumbs up). I chose the side salad with ranch; the ranch was spot-on. The Dude got the evening special--linguini noodles with a white wine sauce (I think) and shrimp, scallops, and mussels. He chose the soup.
The service was outstanding; the portion sizes were good. I saw many-a-dessert go past our table but as I snarfed down the entire dish of spaghetti, there was no room for it afterwards. And while there was nothing particularly wrong with our food, there also wasn't anything very compelling. We both decided the place is good, but not outstanding enough to warrant the drive down there again. So for now I'll say I'll leave it to the locals. Since they get to go first anyway :P -
Review from Sarah P.
5/23/2010
I found this restaurant on Yelp. I was staying at a nearby hotel in Golden, CO and Yelp pulled up this restaurant as being close by. It was right around the corner in a local strip mall. Cafe Jordano is a quaint place with a casual atmosphere. Be prepared to wait for a table though. There is a small bar that you can get drinks as while you wait. The restaurant is family owned and operated. Our server was friendly and attentive.
The food was quite tasty. The dinner salads were good with crispy lettuce and house dressing. I ordered the chicken parmesan which came with a side of pasta. All was reasonably priced. My dining companions also enjoyed their food. Be sure to get dessert! -
Review from Nick F.
Lakewood, CO
6/11/2010
We're new to Lakewood, but have made the trek to Cafe Jordano for years because of how great it is (we love it even more now that we're closer). We've ordered a great deal off of the menu and have never been disappointed. My wife especially likes "Mark's Special," which was taken off the menu years ago, but they'll still make it for her. The dish consists of a chicken in a lemon/caper sauce that tastes fantastic. The owner told us it was taken off the menu because some thought it was too salty, but that's what you get when you toss capers in the mix. Also, never skip the bean soup if they have it that night. It's the best I've ever had.
The restaurant is also very kid friendly. The wait staff are very understanding of loud, wiggle-wormy kids. The toys they have in the back occupy my son for at least 3/4's of the meal and by that time we're ordering dessert.
Be prepared for a wait though if you come after 6:00 on any night, but it's well worth it. -
Review from Bryan M.
Lakewood, CO
3/21/2008 ROTD 1/1/2009
My wife (Lacey M.) sent me a message on Wednesday... There was a little Italian place near our house that received good Yelp! reviews that we had to try soon.
Well, I ended up not having to work, so off we went. Located in a Safeway strip mall, Cafe Jordano is very unassuming. Since Lacey and I have become avid fans of Yelp! we sit there and write our reviews in our head while we wait. Occasionally asking, "How many stars, so far?"
Cafe Jordano started off poorly in my eyes. A gossipy inattentive hostess (I think she's the boss) and the food runners were actually running. Hectic, hurried and more concerned with not running into chairs than delivering the food with a touch of patience and grace. Given, we were waiting at what is probably the height of their business. (Here's a hint, if you were open a little more than 4 hours you might not need to run as much)
The place is cute, for a strip mall Italian place. The colors are nice and the photos on the wall are well done. Some care was given to appearance.
We were then seated at the end of a 6 top, where two other people were finishing up on the other end. Not ideal seating. Plus the table only had one set of everything and no wine menu. We had to continually interrupt the other people to ask for things like pepper or red pepper flakes. Annoying. To both us and them.
The water glasses are beat up plastic mugs, the napkins are paper and the seats aren't the most comfortable. So far this place has disappointed me from top to bottom, and then the food came out.
Before the meal came out they give you choice of soup or salad. Lacey got the cream of spinach soup which sounded a little strange to me, but was great. I got a salad with (read, doused) Italian dressing. The dressing wasn't bad, and next time I know to ask for it on the side.
I got the special, Lobster Ravioli with grilled shrimp in a cream sauce with asparagus. It was effin incredible. Their cream sauce is amazing. I'm certain I took 3 years off of my life by eating it, but it was worth every second. The garlic bread is complimentary.
We ended the night with one of my favorite desserts, Tiramisu. It's light and good and obviously home made. A great portion for $5.
If it were simply the food, this place would be 5 stars - no question. If you follow the advice of other Yelpers and arrive close to when they open or close, you can likely avoid most of the things I felt were negative about Cafe Jordano. The food is incredible and a serious value. $11.50 for most of their top dishes and that includes soup or salad and garlic bread. Hard to argue with that. -
Review from Natalie M.
San Diego, CA
9/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
I went with a few friends a while back and had a great time. Very quaint little restaurant that was packed to the brim with people eating and others waiting to eat. The smell of the food hits you right when you walk in and you instantly know you are in for a treat.
I ended up having the Tortellini Alla Panna minus the prosciutto and it was very tasty. They serve a small house salad and bread with all their dishes, so I wasn't able to finish all of my meal and had to take some to go.
Very homemade and authentic Italian food. Defiantly a small treasure in Lakewood. -
Review from lisa o.
Jefferson, CO
9/24/2010
I am pretty sure that there is a heard of small Italian Grandmothers slaving away in the kitchen of Cafe Jordano. The scent of olive oil lingers on everything and it seems like they stuck each cheese-topped dish under the broiler for a minute to give it that perfect crust. My favorite dish is the Mediterranean Pasta which is Spinach Fettuccini in a cream sauce with feta cheese, olives, and pepperocini. The pepperocinis give the whole thing a little heat and passion.
A couple things to note is that the wait is typically rough and when you are hungry and grumpy it really sucks. Also, the alcohol is a bit expensive. Finally, I would recommend skipping the appetizers because they are not all that great and dinner will more than fill you up. But seriously, those main dishes are amazingly authentic. In fact, one of these days a little Italian lady is going to come sauntering out of their kitchen pinch my cheek and tell me that I better lick that plate clean if I want dessert. -
Review from Toni L.
12/31/2008 2 photos
Not sure why this place is loved so much, but it wasn't half bad.
Food: I went out on a limb and sprung for the buffalo royal which was basically strips of buffalo meat in a special creamy sauce (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I asked for some veggies to go along with the dish because I need a balanced diet and they catered to my desire. Yay! The entree also came with spaghetti (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and complimentary bread. I have to say that while there was a lot of food on that plate, it was a bit bland. The spaghetti sauce was tangy and yummy, but not super special in my book. I'd stay away from the buffalo dishes due to the price and the fact that buffalo meat isn't much different from beef. Also, the tiramisu here is amazing.
Service: Kind of curt, but they'll zip your food right to you.
Atmosphere: Judging from the number of heads in here, this place is super popular. It's tucked away in a strip mall with ample parking, so it has that going for it.
Synopsis: Not my favorite spot for Italian, but they do serve a killer tiramisu.Listed in: Italian Food
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Review from Christine J.
Denver, CO
6/4/2010
My friend Jenny turned me on to this restaurant for her birthday dinner and I have been back several times now. They are great about big party's and the affordability of their food and drink cannot be beat. This is a great place for homestyle italian dishes and the portions are ridiculously bigo so if you aren't hungry best to share or plan on havin' some left overs.
The best thing I can say is.....YUM. -
Review from Gitana G.
Arvada, CO
12/15/2009
I've been wanting to try Cafe Jordano for years and we finally had an occasion (birthday) to make the trip down south.
Cafe Jordano is located in a strip mall (look for the Safeway) on the SW corner of Jewell and Wadsworth. We got there at 6 p.m. on a MONDAY night and there was a 25-minute wait (the place is popular!) Everything is in one big room: bar, waiting area, hostess stand and dining room. As soon as you walk in, you see a wall with all the "awards" and write-ups about Cafe Jordano (I was still trying to sell the place to my husband.)
The family started out with the mussels (excellent) and calamari (not on the menu.) Portions were generous with the mussels and calamari. The calamari was a little bland; a little seasoning would have gone a long way here.
My son had the soup; My husband and myself had the salad (lovely vinegrette.) I ordered the seafood ravioli with white sauce (five stars!) My husband ordered the buffalo (Buffalo All Jordano) with mustard sauce (the mustard overwhelmed the entree) but my husband insisted that he enjoyed it. The kiddo ordered the shrimp/mussel/pasta dish (Gamberi & Cozze Alla Franco.) My ravioli was the best.
For dessert, my son ordered cheesecake and I had tiramisu.
When we were waiting for a table, we started talking to another diner who said he had been coming to Cafe Jordano since the very beginning and he recommended any of the dishes with the white cream sauce, especially "Pollo Alla Roberts (Bob's Favorite) $11.50 - Chicken breast in a wine cream sauce with asparagus and three melted cheeses." A good recommendation.
This place is popular for a reason; great food, good service; excellent value; family atmosphere. Upon arrival, we could see there was a large party seated (and that always backs up service.) Halfway through our meal, another large party arrived. Funny, after 8 p.m, the place was only 1/3 full. Another vote to go early or late.
Once seated, our waitress was charming although a bit rushed at times (for good reason.) There was a lot of team work going in, which is a bonus as a customer.
Order the mussels and anything with WHITE SAUCE and you will be a fan of Cafe Jordano too. -
Review from kym b.
12/6/2008
Cafe Jordano is far from classy, lurking deep within a strip mall and sporting those awful suspended ceiling tiles you used to flick pencils up into during study hall. It took every last shred of restraint to keep me from tossing my fork up there during dinner. Probably wouldn't have stuck anyhow. Forks are heavier than pencils, and my skillz are doubtlessly way rusty at this point.
However, what it lacks in ambiance, Cafe Jordano makes up for in... cream sauce. Dudes, you have no idea. A couple members of our crew ordered the Chicken Bolognese and it was MINDBLOWING the amount of gloopy, creamy, cheesy stuff covering those pieces of meat. I took photos with my phone, but they didn't come out well enough to post here. Suffice it to say, the fork stood up. No, I'm not even kidding. I wish I was. I thought it looked utterly disgusting, but apparently it's the favorite dish of of more than a few of my friends. To each his own.
They'll give you the standard "soup or salad?" choice and for all that is sane and holy, CHOOSE THE SOUP. In our party of twenty or so, only two of us opted for the salad instead of the creamy asparagus, potato, and red pepper soup and boy did we regret it. That soup was DA' BOMB. Lucky for us, our server was kind enough to bring us the very last cup they had left, so we could share in the deliciousness. Bonus points for that!
Other bonus points for allowing me to substitute gnocchi for pasta in one of the dishes. I can't recall the name, but it's the one with garlic, olive oil, olives, roasted red peppers, and feta. It was THE YUM... but I'm 90% sure the gnocchi were packaged and not made from scratch. I say this because I make packaged gnocchi all the time at home, and these little dudes were identical. Not that it's bad... it's just not great. Still though, all those toppings were perfect and garlicky and delish, more than making up for any prefab gnocchage.
Cafe Jordano is all over the board when it comes to ratings, but I'm content to offer up four stars because it really IS worth checking out:
5 stars for the fried calamari app (drooooool)
5 stars for the soup
5 stars for bringing us a cup to share when we were bummed that we chose the salad
1 star for the salad
4 stars for allowing substitutions (they do charge extra, though)
2 stars for prefab gnocchi
2 stars for ambiance and pencil-tossing memories
4 stars for that olive/red pepper/garlic/feta sauce
2 stars for the heart-attack-on-a-plate that is the Chicken Bolognese
And finally...
...3 weirdo stars for the women's bathroom. They've got two toilets right there, side by side in one room, with not so much as a curtain to divide them. You know, just in case you and your BFF want to play an impromptu game of battleshits. -
Review from Shannon M.
Boulder, CO
5/10/2010
Our friends had just moved to Evergreen and we wanted to find a place to have dinner... they were craving Italian and we have no idea what exists south of Superior down 93. After skulking Yelp we decided on Cafe Jordano for dinner.
Reviewers did not let us down! This place was great. We had a small wait and sat down quickly. We ordered Garlic Bread with Cheese and a side of sauce for an appetizer and each of us got a different dish for dinner. I had the Pollo Parmagiana which was flattened and lightly fried the way it should be! Everyone inhaled their food so quickly I didn't get to try any others, but the resounding silence and groans of satisfaction lead me to believe my dinner companions were happy with their choices. Each dish comes with a salad or soup and side of pasta. Chicken dishes come with to big hammered filets, so prepare for leftovers. Delicious! -
Review from Jeff S.
Belmont, CA
4/14/2010
(This is a lunch review)
It seemed like at least once a week we had to make our way to Jordano's for lunch. After you note the prices (15+ items under $8), the portion sizes, and the flavor you'll know why! Its never too crowded but there might be a 15 minute wait on occassion. In that case just prepare your excuses for the boss ("I was stuck in traffic" "I forgot to set my alarm. O' wait this is a lunch review, oops.") and wait it out, its worth it.
The red sauces generally compliment both the sweetness of the tomato as well as the spiciness of the peppers and onions. The white sauces are thick and creamy but not too cheesy. Many of the plates come with the pasta in a small dish on the side. Its a nice gesture I guess. If you want your chicken relaxing "on a bed of pasta" then pick her up yourself and lie her down in her new sheets.
I almost never order lasagna because you end up hungry when you're done. Yet, on occasion, I go for it by letting the waitstaff know, "I need a sizeable helping please." You might guess I have a reputation and they generally oblige with a giant chunk.
And THAT ladies and gentleman is finally what makes this place great. The mom and pop feel. You may notice a preteen in there bussing tables but please don't call the Protective Services. Its part of growing up in the food service as I learned from my father. One day that kid will be fixing the meals for your children.
They remember you, ask how your doing; they serve your belly and your heart. That is hard to find these days -
Review from Joseph H.
12/8/2009
This place was pretty bomb-tastic. Lunch special was egg plant Parma and chicken Parma on one dish for 7.50. Standard side of sketti to go with it. The egg plant was my fav of the 2 and I'm not quick to pass up a meat dish. Enough food for 2 adults, I ended up bringing the Sketti and chicken home for the kids and my persniketyist of eaters devoured it.
Mama had some spicy little number of Penne pasta and mushrooms, i don't recall the name but was tasty as well and also enough food for 2. We'll be back for dinner some time.
Word. -
Review from Amber L.
Denver, CO
6/10/2011
A friend of ours recommended Cafe Jordano as their favorite Italian restaurant, so we've been wanting to give it a try. It definitely lived up to our expectations, even after all their raving! We left talking about what we want to try on the menu next.
Cafe Jordano looks very unassuming from the exterior and it's location in a strip mall, but I like that it's a neighborhood restaurant and the interior has a welcoming feel. We waited about 20 minutes for a table for 2 during the dinner rush on a Friday night, and while we waited I noticed lots of regulars hugging favorite employees on their way out after their meals. Not a site I ever see at chain restaurants!
The service was great, our waters were always full (and I drink like a camel, so that's an accomplishment when we are dining out!), and our waitress was friendly and never hurried. The food was so delicious I forgot about the lumpy booth! I ordered Bob's Favorite and it might be one of my new favorites too! It was rich and smothered in amounts of cheese that probably shouldn't be consumed in one meal, but the wine cream sauce was so delicious that I used bread to scoop every last drop off of my plate. The chicken was incredibly moist and tender. Ask to have them serve Bob's over the pasta rather than with the marinara sauce on the side because trust me, you'll want as much of the wine cream sauce as you can get. My husband ordered Greg's Favorite and the Arrabbiata sauce had a very rich, full bodied flavor, which is what we enjoy in a red sauce! It was nice and thick, not watery or runny like you find at some Italian restaurants. Pastas average $8-9 a plate and entrees $11-12, which is a great value for the quality. If you like the soup of the day, opt for that instead of the salad, which was very fresh, but came with only one piece of tomato and one piece of cucumber. My husband had Friday's soup, clam chowder, and commented more than once about how delicious it was. The only thing that would make Cafe Jordano even better is fresh pasta, but we got spoiled during our time in Italy last summer.
We look forward to returning to Cafe Jordano regularly...whenever we need to fulfill a craving for Italian! -
Review from Matt O.
Denver, CO
8/7/2007
Decent Italian place despite being in a strip mall in Lakewood.
On the outside, it is just another restaurant in a strip mall. Inside, there seems to always be a crowd of people (as some friends that are regulars told me) and the place has a weird kind of charm to it. You can get a glass of wine at the front while you wait for your table.
You get seated and, again, it has a weird charm. The tables aren't fancy, you get paper napkins and the water glasses are plastic mugs. If this is your idea of a nice Italian place then don't ever leave Lakewood because you'll experience culture shock if you do. However, the decor and setup is not indicative of the quality of the food.
All entrees, and pasta dishes, come with a cup of soup or a salad. I ordered a chicken and pasta dish (the Romana) and it was very tasty. Relatively thick noodles, with roasted red peppers, prosciutto, and chicken in a white creamy sauce. Very good and recommendable. Same goes for Barb's Favorite and Bob's favorite (subtitles for two dishes on the menu). There is also garlic bread on the table with your meal.
If you live out there in Lakewood, then check this place out. It is good. If you live in Denver, I would say the only reason to go there is if you know someone that works there or someone that LIVES in Lakewood. There are too many great Italian places in Denver to skip out on just to go out to a strip mall. Although, I will admit that the prices are fairly reasonable...$47 for the 4 of us, not including drinks. -
Review from Karli F.
Highlands Ranch, CO
7/14/2009
This is another time I wish I could give 4.5 stars--4 is too little, but it's not quite a 5. Nevertheless...
The best cream sauce in Denver? I think it might be.
I'd read Lacey and her husband's reviews and I knew I needed to come here at some point. It finally happened when some friends suggested we meet them here for dinner (one told me he dreams of the cream sauce). It's a bit out of our way, but I was familiar with the great Yelp reviews so I accepted. It is unassuming and you could easily pass it by since it's just in a normal strip mall. But, DON'T MISS IT!
The inside is decorated nicely for what it is. The waitstaff was really friendly and kind the night we were there, but even my friends (non-yelpers) mentioned that the service can be hit or miss. It was a Saturday night at 7:45 but we were still seated right away.
Like some other reviewers said, I could close my eyes and point at something on the menu and not be disappointed. But I was trying to eat relatively healthy...so no cream sauce dish for me. I ordered the Shrimp in the tomato sauce with basil and wide noodles. It was really really good and I didn't have too much food envy watching all my friends clog their hearts with cream sauce. (just kidding). A few of us started with salads and only two ordered the soup. I should have read other reviews more carefully. ORDER THE SOUP. The salad was just boring.
I did get to sample nearly every dish on the table and I do have to say, the next time I want to throw caution to the wind (or if I've just run a marathon) I'll go back and order the Pollo Bolognese (or the chicken with asparagus or the seafood ravioli). WOW! It's funny because even though all my friends had a creamy sauce on their dish, each one tasted slightly different and had a different texture. I like that! I appreciate that they don't just slather every dish with the same old sauce.
I almost forgot to mention, we started with the mussels as an appetizer. It was a relatively small portion (I was thinking Le Central here) but they were cooked perfectly and had a nice broth to dip the garlic bread in. We also had two bottles of the DaVinci Chianti--the wine list wasn't spectacular, but who cares.
For dessert the table shared the tiramisu. Other reviewers are right--this is obviously homemade and delicious. Not too syrupy or heavy, a perfect ending to a great meal!
For six people, one appetizer for the table, two bottles of wine and one dessert the total bill was $150.00. WHAT? That's wild. But true if you choose to dine at Cafe Jordano. -
Review from Mickey P.
Denver, CO
9/17/2010
I saw all the reviews and thought this would be a cool place to go. The place was packed for a weekday. We waited about 40 minutes when we were quoted 20. I did get a drink and waited in the benches that were set aside. I thought the bar was strange how it was set up to be the most inefficient layout ever.
We got a corner table and everything seemed tight fitting. There are too many tables for it to seem comfortable. The food was ok but took for ever to come out.
All and all the experience took 2 hours and 15 minutes to get a ok meal. Defiantly nothing I would be willing to go back to.
