Nearly 60 Years Later, This Littleton Italian Restaurant Is Still All About Family

Colorado has no shortage of new restaurants to try, but there’s something special about a place that generations of families have been coming back to for nearly six decades. Romano’s Italian Restaurant has been a Littleton staple since Neil and Ellie Romano opened it on South Windermere Street in 1967.

The story actually started long before Romano’s came to Colorado. Neil grew up in Manhattan, where he learned family cooking traditions from his mother, Carmela. Romano’s also traces its roots to an earlier generation, honoring grandfather Giovanni and the dedication he brought to his pushcart on the streets of New York City. Neil eventually met Ellie in Denver, and in 1967 the couple opened Romano’s as a little pizza restaurant with just three tables. Their children Sue, John and Nick grew up around the business and became the second generation to carry on what their parents started.

That family history still feels like the heart of Romano’s. The menu is filled with the kind of old-school Italian comfort food people hope to find when they walk into a neighborhood spot like this: homemade-style spaghetti with red sauce and meatballs or sausage, lasagna, chicken and eggplant parmigiana, pizza, ravioli and plenty more. Romano’s has also spent decades supporting the Littleton community, including organizations and efforts like Project Angel Heart, Be a Santa to a Senior and the Littleton Police Dog program. The family’s connection to the city even led to them being honored as part of Littleton’s Western Welcome Week festivities.

Restaurants come and go, neighborhoods change and food trends disappear almost as quickly as they arrive. Romano’s has simply kept doing what it has done since 1967: serving Italian food, taking care of families and staying connected to the Colorado community that helped make it a local institution.

Romano’s Italian Restaurant is located at 5666 S. Windermere Street in Littleton. Check out the menu, learn more about the Romano family or plan a visit at romanospizzeria.com