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Shells and Sauce
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
2600 E 12th AveDenver, CO 80206
Neighborhoods: Congress Park, Southeast
(303) 377-2091
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 3 pm - 10 pm
Fri 3 pm - 11 pm
Sat 10 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
120 reviews for Shells and Sauce
Review Highlights
"The patio upstairs is wonderful."
(in 8 reviews)
"Eggs carbonara for brunch is KILLER."
(in 21 reviews)
"The wine selection is great as well."
(in 7 reviews)
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120 reviews in English
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Review from Abby Q.
1/21/2012
Sooooo I don't know what my issue has been, but I've lived around the corner from Shells & Sauce for 3 years and had never been there until tonight. My foodie roommate, her husband, and I were looking for a tasty place for a late dinner, and made a reservation here through Yelp (love that, btw!).
The bread they served us was absolutely delicious. Chewy on the outside, doughy on the inside - and as for the balsamic dip that goes with it ... I think I could drink that stuff straight. LOVED it.
All of the dishes we had were great, although the gnocchi could have used some more gorgonzola. I also had "the Hendrix", which is a mixed drink consisting of Gin, St. Germain, and lime juice. Only order this drink if you can appreciate a VERY strong cocktail. It was delicious, although I did need some help to finish it.
To top it off I had a coupon for a free dessert, and we indulged in some of their lovely tiramisu.
I will be back for their pizza happy hour! Half priced gourmet pizzas after 9pm - YUMO! :) I'm so glad I finally stopped in. -
Review from Kirstie N.
Denver, CO
2/8/2012
Even with a reservation for 6:30, we waited in the very crowded restaurant for 45 minutes for a table. There is no area to wait during the colder weather, so you have to uncomfortably brush up against diners attempting to enjoy their meal.
Host was hard to catch regarding updating on our seating status. Finally got seated and the waiter asked one of our party, how are you, and when we responded that we weren't happy for the long wait, he said, "Don't blame me it's not my fault." Then he said how about a cocktail and when none of us responded in the 5 seconds he expected a response, he said, "oh, I guess not." Then I had to ask for the wine menu.
Food was good. A young person at our table ordered a pizza and they brought her pasta dish. The waiter asked if we wanted more bread, i said yes, and then he didn't bring it. They comped us for the wait by bringing three desserts of their choice, not ours. Did not ask if we wanted to be comped for a glass of wine or an appetizer just decided it would be dessert and they brought three for a table of 5. Just makes me assume they had some desserts they needed to get rid of because they weren't selling. Be warned, reservations there will do you no good, and they make no apologies. Host said, reservations don't work here, but the owner wants them.
While the food was good, it was not so good I would ever wait that long for it again. I probably won't return. -
Review from Tiffany N.
Denver, CO
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
The name Shells and Sauce reminds me of mac and cheese which is one of my favorite comfort foods and so I have wanted to try this little Italian spot for some time. Luckily I was able to do so recently with Sir Nicholas and his parents.
The four of us arrived without a reservation and were lucky enough to be squeezed in as the place was hopping. Our server was no less than gracious and entertaining which really set the mood for a lovely night out. We decided to start with a couple of salads to share per his recommendation. The salads are really large so ordering one for 2 people is totally reasonable to do - these are not the size of side salads. Then again they are not the price of side salads either. We went with a tomato and mozzarella salad and a radicchio arugula salad (candied walnuts, grape tomatoes, crispy goat cheese in a vinaigrette dressing) and both were quite satisfying for our foursome.
As for dinner I chose to order a pizza, mostly because they had a six cheese pizza on the menu and if I can get more cheese in my meal I'm game. The cheese pizza also comes with pesto and crushed red peppers and was big enough that I only ate two pieces and brought the rest home.
While we didn't save room for dessert next time I definitely will because the board that hosted the dessert names had some intriguing things written upon it and when asked to describe just one, our server practically had me drooling. I'm looking forward to going back and possibly even having brunch here next! -
Review from Christopher M.
Denver, CO
2/9/2012
I've heard nothing but good things about this restaurant so we decided to give it a try. We made a reservation but due to the size and being a busy day we waited about ten minutes for a table. Totally understandable for being a smaller place but at the end it is sooo worth the wait. Came in for dinner and the food was delicious and the service was awesome!!! We decided to sit upstairs because it is definitely quieter and a great relaxing vibe. The upstairs patio is big and it looks like a tree house. (I think I might have my birthday party there.) My whole party loved everything and I highly recommend the Shrimp Fra Diablo and the Pork Chop. The bread is the best ever too!!! We finished off by sharing some desserts for the table that the owners mom makes fresh daily. Everything just tasted so fresh and delicious. I will definitely return and highly recommend this place to everyone I know. I will now include it in my Denver Tour when friends come into town!!! LOVE IT!!!!!
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Review from Diane N.
1/8/2012
Shells and Sauce is a delicious Italian American eatery tucked into an endearing Denver neighborhood. When we arrived, the restaurant was packed, which unfortunately emphasized how uncomfortable the space was (especially if you have to stand and wait for a solid 30 mins). Nevertheless, the service was genuine, with a serious interest in getting us seated as soon as was possible. Also, the wait is nothing a tasty cocktail wouldn't fix! The dinner portions are not generous but the content is filling. The Butternut Squash Shells are a MUST HAVE.
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Review from Hanna N.
Denver, CO
12/4/2011
Stopped in a couple of nights ago for a some Italian and the food was great! The butternut squash-stuffed shells made me melt.
What threw me off was the host gentleman, who was in quite the tizzy over a glitch in their reservation system. They were overbooked, and rather than staying calm, he rushed around, snapping at staff and making guests overly stressed as well. Even though we didn't get the table we had hoped for, we were able to eat at the bar and chat with Andrew the bar tender who is FANTASTIC. He and the other waiters managed to keep their cool. He even bought us an appetizer since we didn't get a table.
So, what could have been a bummer of a night turned out great because of the awesome food and great wait staff. The host, however, could stand to take a chill pill. -
Review from Lauren B.
Denver, CO
12/26/2011
This place really isn't too bad. It's tucked away in Park Hill-a neighborhood that I always forget about-and I'm surprised more people (that I know) haven't heard of this place.
I went with a friend a few weeks ago on a Friday...without a reservation (oops) so we were told it would be a 40 minute wait, but it really was more like 20, so that was nice. The only thing about waiting though was that there isn't really a place to wait (without being at the already crowded bar), so you're pretty much just standing in people's way. And, the hostess was a little awkward and could have been a tad more friendly (especially for being a nicer place).
Service here was pretty good and the food was also pretty decent. I'm more or a straight up traditional Italian food enthusiast and this place offered a lot of fancier dishes, but they were quite tasty....ESPECIALLY for an Italian place in Colorado. -
Review from Courtney B.
Denver, CO
Updated - 1/29/2012
went in for late night duck pizza! service was better and pizza was killer!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/23/2012
Ok so we went around 9:30 for a late supper. There were 3 of us. We didn't know they had a late… Read more »
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Review from Frank M.
Denver, CO
12/7/2011
I'm from upstate NY where I believe that italian cannot be beat, prices there are cheap and food is savory and authenic. so walking into new italian especially in Denver, I was a skeptic.
But to my surprise Shells and Sauce has Great food, Nice atmosphere and inexpensive. Location is a little quaint but it has the flavor of a nice hometown authentic, locally owned. Food specials are unique and delicious. Ive visted them a couple of times ordering anything from the tortellini, Lasagna, and raviolis. All are excellent. Service is great, you can tell that the waiters are very busy but the are accommodating. The only bad part of this place is that when they are busy their one bar tender is slammed which = slow drinks. Besides that I recommend Shells and Sauce and It has become my go to Denver Italian food. -
Review from Matt Q.
Denver, CO
1/27/2012
Forget about Snooze for brunch...Shells and Sauce has the best in town. Kids eat free during brunch too. Their dinner menu is always fresh and AMAZING!! We eat here at least twice a month but usually three to four times. The wait staff and management are super friendly.
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Review from Katie H.
Denver, CO
12/29/2011
Delicious. Came in last week with the man friend to celebrate a work accomplishment and had a lovely time. We live about two minutes away, on foot, so despite the snow we had no trouble getting here. I have a thing for restaurants tucked into residential neighborhoods, so I think the location is wonderful. Congress Park has a few little nooks and crannies with shops and restaurants, and I love them all.
I've noticed recently they set up an additional enclosed awning in front for the winter, which is great because when they're on a wait there aren't too many places to stand. We were able to snag a table right away. Then comes the bread. I really, really love their bread. And I love the sauce that accompanies it. It's more like a balsamic dressing and it is HEAV-EN-LY.
We've certainly made our way around the menu with how close we live and I've never been disappointed. The shells are amazing, as is the gnocchi, the crab ravioli, and the cioppino. We haven't dabbled as much in their lighter fare, but I'm excited for the summer and the chance to try some of their salads and pizza.
The service was very good, and the bartender humored my man friend's favorite request, "Just make me something good." I didn't notice any delay with our drink orders, but it was also a Wednesday.
We've yet to sit upstairs, which is a real shame as I hear it is delightful. -
Review from Mariel R.
Denver, CO
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I spotted this place a few weeks ago have been meaning to check it out ever since.
This is definitely a cute Italian neighborhood restaurant. I loved the vibe upon first entering the restaurant. There is an open kitchen, wooden tables and it seemed as if there were wine glasses glistening on every table. My boyfriend and I arrived at the restaurant around 8:30 on a Saturday and although the room seemed packed, there was no wait as we were brought to the upstairs closed-in patio. The vibe upstairs was definitely different than downstairs, but still pretty cool. There is a bar upstairs and I feel like the upstairs would be an awesome spot during the summer.
My only complaint was that the service here was a bit slow. We had to wait at 10-15 minutes to order drinks and the food took a while to come from the kitchen. Understandable as it was a Saturday night. We also had four different people filling drinks and asking us about our meal--kind of weird after waiting so long for our waitress.
The food was delicious. A hot loaf of homemade bread about the size of a bread bowl appeared with a balsamic vinaigrette-type sauce and was amazing. We split the meatball sliders appetizer-- the plate came with three and we decided to only eat one each because we were already starting to feel full from eating the entire loaf of bread. I ordered the shells stuffed with butternut squash and sweet potato and cheese in a pesto sauce. I have a weakness for butternut squash and this dish did not disappoint. My boyfriend ordered the shrimp fra diavlo. He said it was pretty good, yet the shrimp was a bit fishier than he would have liked.
The desserts all sounded great, but we were way too full to even attempt one.
This place is definitely worth a try! -
Review from CALVIN S.
Englewood, CO
12/26/2011
The food was very good, the service was great. Had to try the shells everyone raves about, yep they are good. Had the the duck confit pizza, truffle fries, and spinach salad also. We shared everything and it was all tastey. My daughter had spaghetti with the giant meatball, also good, the sauce is a very simple sauce. The only thing I didn't care for was the Fat Bastard Pinot Noir off of the cheap wine list, but they can't do anything about that other than switch brands some day; personally I find If I order a glass of wine I have never had before there's about a 50/50 chance I'm going to like it.
We will definitely be back, and next time maybe have room for dessert. -
Review from Adam S.
Woodland Park, CO
1/4/2012
I came to meet the owner to just get a concert ticket and get I bite to eat and the kitchen was closed to get ready for the new years dinner. I was kinda bummed at first. But then they made me a special meal anyway! Great wine great food and great people! 2 thumbs up in my book!
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Review from Sophie C.
Denver, CO
12/18/2011
Amazing food. Fabulous happy hour deal on pizza (which is soooooo tasty). Excellent service (and very kind). Terrible seating. Would earn five stars if they would get an efficiency organizer (or someone who has a mind that works that way) and redo the set up of tables and outward kitchen areas. Too crowded, bumping into people, dishes breaking, customers complaining...would be a regular if they fixed this issue. There are numerous options to do so too.
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Review from dan s.
Denver, CO
1/2/2012
My new favorite place. Been in 4 times. Everything has been very good. Solid service. Nice atmosphere. Very reasonable. Get there early or make reservations.
The only possible negative is that 1992 is calling and wants its beer list back. I drink the wine. A better Colorado beer selection might land me in an occasional seat on the upstairs patio. -
Review from Rosio W.
Denver, CO
10/14/2011
Going with 4.5 stars.
This is my fave place to go to in my neighborhood. I have lots of choices but the food is good and the service we receive here is fantastic.
We have been here for brunch, dinner, and happy hour. Brunch is great, sit out in the patio and just enjoy the day while having some great food and yummy mimosas. For Brunch, under no circumstance skip the Funnel Fries. Do not skip it, I walk down there for those fries and mimosas after we had brunch at home sometimes, so good!!
The dinner menu has some great choices and they also have app specials (all day weekdays and after brunch on weekends) that are delish! I have so many faves I would just recommend try what sounds good or ask the staff. But just to throw some out there, The Thai drummies and the Kobe sliders (not available all the time) are delish apps and for dinner the Salmon and Duck are incredible.
The service is great. The wait staff we have had has always been friendly and funny. There have been times when our order has taken a bit too long and they have always treated us right for that. Some of the staff recognize us and even remember our names at times. Knowing how hard my name is, that is impressive.
The inside is a bit crowded with tables but love the lamps they have. Outside is nice if the weather cooperates, same for upstairs patio. Upstairs is nice if you are close to the AC unit or the windows are open and it is breezy. Othewise, it is hot up there. But overall, laid back and good atmosphere.
I can not rave about this place enough, it really is fantastic! -
Review from Jessie V.
Denver, CO
12/21/2011
My new favorite italian restaurant in Denver! I went here with a friend I hadn't seen in awhile and we had the most amazing time. While we waited on our table we were offered complimentary pizza and drinks. The manager, Richard Aguirre, treated us and all the other guests like queens. And then we were seated upstairs (which is not quite as nice as the downstairs atmosphere, I highly recommend reservations even on a tuesday night), and the food was delicious! They were out of their signature dish, the stuffed shells, so we'll be back but the shrimp dish & caprese salad we ordered were delicious!
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Review from Gina B.
Minneapolis, MN
10/11/2011 1 photo
My friend and I stumbled across this place and it was a great find.
App: truffle mac n cheese-amazing!
Entree: clams and linguine with a side spinach salad....fantastic!
No room for dessert.
The large complimentary bread with balsamic sauce is tasty too. Great wine selection and nice rooftop (enclosed considering it was about 50 degrees outside). Loved this restaurant and it was a whim we found it. -
Review from christopher c.
Manhattan, NY
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I thought this place was good, not as good as Stella but pretty close.
I had a nice bottle of wine and pasta, which the portion was huge but i rather have less and have it a little more refined.
They did have a good tiramisu -
Review from kara S.
8/27/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I'll start out with a positive... The food is awesome... That's that... Servers are uber strange. Seriously weirdest service ever ****please don't bring another tables dirty dish to mine*****
oh and my glass was dirty asked the bidder for a new glass of water he seriously brought me back the same one. Second try asked the waitress same thing umm I'm sending the glass back cause it's dirty so I can tell its the same one! Ugh!
But the buffalo truffle ravioli seriously to die for!!! I mean I would go back but I think Id just sit at the awesome bar upstairs. -
Review from David S.
Denver, CO
6/26/2011
I just celebrated my birthday here this weekend. They were great at accommodating a large group of us, the service was excellent, and the food was quite good. I had a caesar salad (with anchovie, a rarity) and a huge bowl of cioppino (lots of shrimp, delightfully spicy sauce, but the fish may have been a little too firm/cooked). Most of the folks in our group enjoyed the meal.
I will give one word of advice - the photos of the rooftop patio here and on their site are a bit misleading. The place is almost fully enclosed with no AC - makes for a very warm dining experience on a hot night. Based on the photos I was expecting a little more alfresco. -
Review from Nikki S.
Denver, CO
11/17/2011
Stopped in last night for a quick glass of wine and to place a take out order.
It was about 7 pm and as such the downstairs dining room was all abuzz with energy. Not knowing that I was intending to grab some take out the hostess suggested that I head upstairs to the enclosed patio. I obliged and grabbed a seat at the bar up there. However, after waiting about 5 minutes and not getting any attention I headed back down to the dining room bar. No big deal, but they may want to add one or two more servers for the upstairs instead of having the bartender up there wait on all the tables as well.
Once back downstairs, the bartender there poured me a nice glass of thier Nebiollo and placed my order, the stuffed shells (SWOON) and a side of the pumpkin gnocchi to-go. For a place named shells and sauce I figured it was a safe assumption that their "signature" dish would not disappoint, and was I ever glad that I went with that! Sweet potato, butternut and goat cheese filling topped with a pesto cream sauce, I wish they were bigger or that 4 came in the dish, but that would just make me a fat kid so 3 it was. Good thing I ordered the side of Pumpkin Gnocchi! They were very delicious, but as it goes with take away food, Gnocchi is something that you really should enjoy in the restaurant as it rarely reheats the same. Nonetheless, it was the perfect nibble of fall flavors that I was looking for. Quick note about the side - after I left, I thought about it and it appears (based on looking at the online menu and my itimized receipt) that I was slightly overcharged for the side. The menu lists it at $4.95 and my receipt shows $5.95. Oh well, all of these tastes were worth it. Also - even if you drop in to grab take out, they always include a fresh loaf of bread and their signature dipping sauce!
Give it a try, you'll love it! -
Review from David P.
Denver, CO
8/31/2011
Great ambiance. Unfortunately the food is poor and the service is lacking. Made a reservation and sat on the patio with the wife, kids, mom and stepfather. Things started well and we had a nice bottle of wine at happy hour price. We made it clear it was our first visit. Then it went south.
I ordered the double porkchop special served with sweet potato gnochi. Wife had linguini with clams, mom had cioppino, stepfather had spaghetti and meatballs. Who cares what the kids had. We also had a calamari appetizer for the table.
Calamari was decent. But we didn't see our waiter for another half hour when he came out to apologize for the long wait for our food. The wife and I immediately recognized that he had forgotten to put in our order. 15 minutes later, our food came out, and my double chop was raw. Sent it back, and got it on my plate when everyone was already done with dinner. Even cooked, the porkchop was totally unoriginal and boring. Stepdad's meatballs were dry. Wife's linguini with clams tasted like they poured clam juice over it, and it came with a load of unopened clams. Mom's cioppino was marginal. The tiramisu we ordered for desert was soggy and really not very tasty.
Despite all the problems - which were pointed out to the staff - they didn't see fit to take anything off our $170 bill. They knew it was our first visit, but I guess they don't care if we come back. That's good, because we will not be returning. -
Review from Sarah W.
Denver, CO
4/4/2011
Shells and Sauce is just down the street from our house, so it is pretty logical choice for a quick dinner. The food here has been pretty spot on for us, which sounds pretty rare for most people on here. We haven't had anything that wasn't high quality, true Italian food. This is not the place if you are looking for Olive Garden type food, but if you want the real stuff this if for you. The meatballs are delicious, the nightly specials are amazing, and you always know that you are going to get something unique and delicious.
Most recently, we were here for my boyfriend's birthday. We had a group of 15 and they were accommodating and provided great service. We were not the only big group in the restaurant at the time but they still did a great job. -
Review from Stan S.
Denver, CO
6/8/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Had the perfect brunch here.
In fact it was so good, I ordered another lunch for later :) -
Review from Ray W.
Denver, CO
8/4/2011
This was our second trip here. The first was over the winter, and then last night. It was like night and day. Or day and night. The staff is always friendly and works well together. It is a great neighborhood place for Congress Park.
The first time was what made us so excited to come back. Now the third time will decide if it is great or inconsistent as we have seen so far. Last night the food was not nearly as good as the first time. Maybe a new chef? Maybe an off night in the kitchen?
My lasagna came out cold, and my girlfriend's Seafood Cioppino dish was greasy and had quite a bit of butter. Our opinion is butter is used to cover up for a lack of skill in the kitchen.
We'll see on trip 3, so make it so Shells and Sauce or we won't be looking to bring out of town guests back again. -
Review from Caitlyn F.
Denver, CO
4/5/2011
A perfectly good excuse for a cheat day.
I was a bit skeptical when my dining compatriot suggested this place for brunch. The name elicits carb heavy notions of the dinner variety. And although the brunch menu certainly sticks to the Italian theme, I didn't have to eat pasta for breakfast.
I loved the neighborhood feel to this place. And when we arrived around 11:30 on a Saturday, we were able to sit down right away.
$3 mimosas and bloody marys have a way of cementing my affinity for an establishment. But I would have loved it even without the libations.
We shared Italian pancakes with strawberries to start. When the plate hit the table, I was immediately disappointed by the three measly strawberries that topped the cake. However, I was delighted to find strawberries and the most delectable cream (ever) baked in to the middle. Good save.
I ordered the benedict florentine (Poached eggs over spinach & pico on toasted brioche with hollandaise). The eggs were cooked exactly how I ordered them (over hard) and I loved it.
My dining buddy ordered the breakfast tacos (Corn tortillas filled with all sorts of goodness). If memory serves me--he ate the whole thing. No complaints.
The service was attentive but not overbearing. And the food came out in a timely manner.
I'll be back for brunch...I'd also like to try dinner. -
Review from alli m.
Denver, CO
10/7/2011
I really wanted to love this place-- I enjoy Italian food & it is close to my home.
Four of us dined here a few Sundays ago. Got there at 6:45pm. Slight wait but that was to be expected. The food was good. I had the chicken parm. I would go back for the food.
However the service was one of the slowest/unattentive I have ever experienced. Our appetizer (calamari) came out quickly. 45 minutes lapsed between the time the empty appetizer plate left our table until our salads arrived. After the salad it was another 20 minutes until our entrees arrived. We finally got our check at 8:30 after waiting on it for a bit.
The service may prevent me from giving this neighborhood restaurant a second chance -
Review from Anne R.
Denver, CO
10/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
i feel sad to write this, but i think this place has gone down hill.
first of all, they serve an amazingly fresh mini loaf of italian bread with dipping oil as an included starter with dinner. can't complain about that, right? a highlight of the meal, right? except, that it used to be better. the butternut squash ravioli also used to be better. what happened? someone in the kitchen started going cheap/processed with the ingredients or what?
also, the vibe just feels crappier now than it did 6 months ago. the top 40 music on top of $15 plates of mediocre food (that's mostly sodium) feels wrong. the patio has a step-up-from-Gov's Park tavern feel, which is fine if you're getting wings, and really drunk. but at this price, i don't want any grit and i'd rather hear Frank through the sound system.
if you're in the neighborhood, go to Stella's on Colfax and Steele. you'll get actually really good food for the same price and the atmosphere says "hey i care that you're eating good food!" not "hey did you know that we can charge a lot for freaking pasta?? oh look, Beyonce!"
really, what happened?Comment from Richard A. of Shells and Sauce 12/27/2011
Anne, I know it's been a while since you reviewed us, but I… More » -
Review from Alyson H.
Denver, CO
Updated - 8/28/2011
Zero complaints about this place. The pasta is divine. The service is excellent. Sometimes there's a long wait, but the food is ALWAYS worth it. Brunch is our newest S&S conquest, and the crab cake benedict was the best thing I've ever eaten. I am so in love with it!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/12/2010
EVERYTHING was amazing! I had the stuffed shells (stuffed with goat cheese and butternut squash),… Read more »
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Review from Jordan P.
Denver, CO
3/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am reviewing their brunch, as I have not been for dinner and what else can I say - $3 mimosas and biscuits and gravy I would sell a kindey for! Delicious! I have had nothing but great service and great food everytime I have been and I know I can easily say that for all of my friends as well.
The restaurant is small but this has never prevented us from walking in and getting table. Not to mention, the menu is very reasonably priced. I am looking forward to having dinner there soon - they have a rooftop patio that looks great and will probably be even more fun in the summer. -
Review from Michelle A.
Aurora, CO
5/15/2011
Ok so I planned our group brunch at 11 am this cloudy morning. Where was my mind? I was there by 1130 am. Thought I was on time. I felt so bad but I was not fired from the planning. Good thing my friends know me. ;:()@&$?
Brunch was good. I had the crab cakes and ate half. Very tasty but rich and the 2 Bloody Marys I think filled me up. The drinks are $3.00. Not bad. The other yummy item we shared were the funnel fries. They came with a delicious berry sauce, chocolate sauce and whip cream. They were fun and good. My friend had scrambled eggs and pasta. Very different and tasty.
Our server was very good but we waited a long time for our food. It was busy this fine morning. Always nice to see a full restaurant. Love to go back when the sun is out. They have patio upstairs. -
Review from Anita I.
Denver, CO
10/24/2010
Well damn my diet all to hell.
We only stopped by this restaurant because it's close to our house, the kids were tired, hungry, and cheesy noodles always make hungry, tired kids happy.
I was kinda hoping this place would suck. Because Italian food does not really, usually go hand in hand with weight loss. But alas - this place does not suckith.
It is good. Really good. Damn good. The service was outstanding. The food, wine, kids menu, prices all rocked.
Seriously hating that I found this place. But if I'm going to blow my diet - at least it's at a locally owned restaurant that is just damn, damn good.
(but if you have some self control you could probably order the salads alone and not bust your diet. This is assuming your olfactory senses don't function properly). -
Review from Kyle H.
5/1/2011 3 Check-ins Here
It's places like Shells and Sauce that make me wonder why anybody would ever eat at an Olive Garden...
The setup is a bit weird if you've never gone before, which I hadn't. You check in downstairs, and if there is a wait for a table you can go and try and find a table upstairs. The place seems pretty busy, but we were able to get an upstairs table after maybe 15 minutes of sitting at the upstairs bar. I'm not sure how they coordinate who is where... but regardless, go upstairs if you don't want to wait for a table.
This place does have a couple minor annoyances. First, they have a big wine list but only have one glass that is less than $7. Some of the wines on the list are worth less than $10 a bottle at the store, so there is no reason to charge such obscene markups. Luckily, I don't often drink wine at restaurants. The beer on tap selection is also lacking... the place only seems to have 2 beers on tap. That is really far too few... The bottle selection is ok.
Beyond the minor alcohol related annoyances, the food here is AMAZING. The eggplant parm was cooked perfectly. I could eat it every day. The dipping sauce for the bread was also very very good. The stuffed shells were the perfect blend of sweet and savory. The only minor disappointment was the mac and cheese appetizer. It looked and sounded a bit better than it actually tasted. It didn't have much flavor. I'm not sure if it needed salt or something else, but it didn't really taste like much other than the crunchy top, which was very good. I'd recommend a different app.
I will definitely go back for the eggplant parm. -
Review from Holly G.
10/10/2010
Hmm...yep, pretty much right in the middle here.
My husband and I met some of our family here for dinner a few nights ago and since it is sort of halfway between where they live vs. where we live we decided to go for some Italian here.
I ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana and was excited to try it out at a new place (always love to order this at Italian places). I was nonplused. The eggplant was squishy and the breading was soggy as if it had been cooked hours before and then reheated. The pasta it came with was alright but everything was luke warm and I am really not a big fan of anything less than steaming food when it arrives to me at my table. The rest of my party was kind of quiet about their meals, although my husband enjoyed his lasagna and my Aunt said her ravioli was too rich with cheese plus the cream sauce it was in.
It was alright. The bread and wine were good but really how can you go wrong there? I just won't be leaving my normal standard stomping grounds to get soggy eggplant parm when I can get a crispy, fresher version a lot closer to my home. -
Review from Myra G.
Denver, CO
5/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Last night was my first Shells and Sauce experience, and after hearing rave reviews from so many other people, I was a little disappointed in the entrees. However, the appetizer, service, and atmosphere were wonderful, which bumped up the rating to 3 stars and has convinced me to give Shells & Sauce another chance.
My girlfriend and I went there to celebrate, as the restaurant is one of her favorites. We were greeted & seated promptly. Decent wine selection. Our waiter helped us select a bottle and I was extremely happy with what he recommended.
The bread and dipping sauce they bring out to start are fabulous. Warm, crispy bread and a spicy vinaigrette sauce. We ordered the calamari fritti, which came with garlic aioili and marinara. The calamari was delicious and I loved the combination of calamari, artichokes, red tomatoes, and peppers.
For dinner, we ordered (and shared) the special of the night, Wild Mushroom Ravioli and the Stuffed Shells. Both were okay, not great. My biggest pet peeve at a restaurant is when the food is too salty. I drank 4 glasses of water during dinner because of how much salt they'd used in both dishes. Beneath the salt I could taste wonderful flavors, but they were masked. Also, the mushroom ravioli was way undercooked.
It seems like I had a fluke bad experience. The girlfriend said she'd never had food like we had at Shells & Sauce. Maybe the kitchen was having an off night. But, our waiter was wonderful and made our dining experience very pleasant. So I'll give Shells & Sauce one more chance. -
Review from Jennifer W.
Denver, CO
12/28/2010
So glad we went! I have been wanting to try this place for sometime and we had the perfect opportunity when we visited the botanic gardens this weekend.
The restaurant was pretty crowded when we arrived (we didn't have reservations) and we were told we had a 45 minute wait. Unfortunately there is really nowhere to wait that is out of the way, which I would say is the restaurant's primary downfall. That being said, the hostess went out of her way to order us drinks from the bar while we waited since it was difficult to edge your way in and place an order.
Once we were seated, I have to say the food was delicious and the service was excellent. I can't wait to go back in the summer to try out the rooftop bar! -
Review from Toni D.
10/3/2010
Very cool patio on the roof top.
I drive by this place all the time and on the weekend its always super packed. I happened to go during the week pretty late and wasn't too crowded. Just a few people upstairs. Which was nice. The bartender was super friendly.
I met up with a friend at the bar and had a glass of Pinot Noir. I didn't eat dinner but my friend had dinner. Which looked delicious and served with lots of bread. I look forward to going back soon and trying out some of the food. -
Review from Katie C.
Denver, CO
10/14/2010
So I was planning a day date with my lover to the Botanic Gardens. I wanted to be extra green that day so we decide to ride our bikes... how romantic, right? After our long trek on bikes and on foot we were famished. I had heard that Shells was a good place to go and wanted to try it for myself.
It is a pretty unassuming place from the outside but the roof top patio was awesome! It was a great little get -away spot (more romance I know). So there are two things that I really enjoy in this world, booze and cheese, talk about not good for the insides: Hey-oh. To my delight they had both so I got a bloody Mary and cheesy shells. Wow! dare I say the shells may have been too cheesy?! The bloody was great and reminded me that mid morning drinking is never a bad thing. Maybe I was in a haze of love, but booze and cheese are not something you want in your belly for the ride home. ugh.
Overall Shells was a great place and I will be back again, next time without the bike.
