4 Best Restaurants in South Central Colorado, Colorado

This popular restaurant has a heavy Italian focus, but the chefs here aren't afraid to mix things up, whipping out such creative concoctions as crawfish and blue cheese pizza. The owner also hosts food and wine pairings.

The aroma of garlic and tomato sauce saturates this tiny, unpretentious eatery. Pastas, including standards like ravioli with homemade sauce and penne rigate with luscious meatballs, are consistently excellent. If you don't have time for a sit-down lunch, stop at the deli counter for sandwiches or take-outs of imported cheeses and olives.

Named for the proprietor's grandmother, Paravicini lives up to its Italian name, which translates to "for the neighborhood." Locals of all ages gather in the colorful and well-lit space that provides a balance of fun and romance to sip glasses of wine and share the family-style salad, fresh bread, and heaping piles of noodles. Pasta reigns on this traditional Italian menu highlighting classic and surf-and-turf options.

With stunning views of Cheyenne Lake and the main hotel, this "restaurant of the lake" features an open kitchen and cozy lounge. Smaller portions allow guests to try a variety of authentic Italian dishes from antipasti and wood-fired pizzas to lasagna and house-made sausage. Ask your server or the house sommelier which of the restaurant's 150 selections of wine to pair with each course.