Osteria Alberico aims to be your favorite neighborhood dining spot
By Jay McKinney
Photography by Casey Wilson
Let’s play Jeopardy! This is an Italian place where friends and family regularly gather for food, wine and conversation.
For a country that embraces all of the above, it may seem like it could apply to anywhere, but the correct answer in this instance is: “What is an osteria?” The word, derived from Latin, means “host” and was originally known as a place serving wine and simple foods. Known for its charm and casual atmosphere, an osteria’s typical menu features simple dishes made with local and seasonal ingredients. Today’s definition is much more expansive—especially regarding the food.
And Osteria Alberico fits the grand description and should be on every foodie’s radar. The award-winning Frasca Hospitality Group, which has an affinity for Italian cuisine, opened the restaurant in July 2024. The group’s portfolio of restaurants includes Italian favorites Frasca Food and Wine and Pizzeria Alberico in Boulder and Tavernetta on the 16th Street Mall. Osteria Alberico continues the group’s dedication to the finest flavors and service.
“The osteria in the hierarchy of Italian dining is the neighborhood spot—it’s the spot where you go a couple of times a week to get a nice bowl of pasta and have a good glass of wine,” says Russell Stippich, chef de cuisine. “But you also see your neighbors and maybe meet some people in your neighborhood that you haven’t met before. And so, we really wanted it to be in a neighborhood.”
Stippich noted that in creating Osteria Alberico’s concept, they incorporated specific components of the other restaurants. For instance, diners can opt for a simple night out with cocktails and pizza or treat themselves to a full four-course Italian meal with a sommelier-suggested bottle of wine. The osteria is for everyone and any occasion.
The four-course meal will surely surprise and delight diners, while the ambiance caters to all crowds. Instead of slow piano music, classic hits like Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” play in the background of muffled conversation. Meanwhile, the waitstaff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive, providing superior hospitality that matches the flavors coming from the kitchen.
“The fun thing about this restaurant is we’re not beholden to a certain region of Italy,” Stippich says. “We can cook food from the toe to the top of the boot, and we wanted to take an approach that was rooted in tradition and inspired by regionality. We have our own unique touches for everything, but all the dishes on the menu are things you could find in an osteria in Piedmont or Rome.”
Embracing the Italian way, Osteria Alberico sources ingredients locally as much as possible. Esoterra Culinary Garden in Boulder provides the restaurant with fresh produce and hard-to-find vegetables. Denver’s Superior Farms, a coalition of ranchers, often supplies lamb to the restaurant, as does Buckner Family Farm in Longmont. Italians are proud of their local producers, and the Frasca Hospitality Group is proud of what Colorado offers the culinary world.
Stippich is currently excited about the carne cruda, an appetizer similar to steak tartare, and he suggests pairing it with a Barolo from G.D. Vajra. As for pasta, he likes classic dishes like the bucatini all’amatriciana and recommends it with a 2020 Etna Rosso, a red wine from Sicily. For dessert, Stippich praises the budino, a pudding made with butterscotch, chocolate and cream.
Osteria Alberico
3455 S. University Blvd.
Englewood
303.970.8840
osteriaalberico.com
