Roman Wolves

While RoVino down the block built its name on rotisserie chicken and Ironside chases pristine oysters, Roman Wolves went all-in on theatrical Italian with substance behind the show. The signature move—yes, the pasta wheel dish reviewers can't stop mentioning—is cacio e pepe finished tableside in a hollowed parmesan wheel, scraped and tossed until the cheese forms a molten coating. It's the kind of ritual that makes couples Instagram before they eat, but the pasta underneath actually holds up: toothy, properly salted, the cheese funk balanced instead of overwhelming.

The space reads old-world romance without the kitsch—dim lighting, exposed brick, the kind of booth seating where you lean in close not because you have to but because you want to. Jason, mentioned in nearly every five-star review, knows the menu well enough to steer you past the obvious choices toward cocktails like the Remus that actually complement the richness instead of fighting it. The espresso martini here isn't an afterthought—it's refined, properly chilled, the kind of nightcap that closes a meal instead of cutting it short.

Start with the cacio e pepe potato chips—thin, fried, dusted with the same cheese-and-pepper combination that made the pasta famous. They're addictive enough that Colorado visitors claim they think about them months later. The cocktail program runs deeper than most neighborhood Italians bother with: the Romulus balances bitter and sweet without tipping into dessert territory.

Kettner Boulevard location means you're just off the main India Street passeggiata, close enough to walk over after browsing the Mercato but removed from the heaviest foot traffic. Reservations recommended—this isn't the kind of spot where you walk in on a Friday hoping for a table. Outdoor seating available, though the interior ambience is the real draw here: candlelit, intimate, the soundtrack low enough you can actually hear your date. It's romantic without being precious, theatrical without being gimmicky, and expensive enough to feel special without requiring a second mortgage.