There’s a particular stretch of 17th Avenue, between Humboldt and Franklin, where you can find a cluster of excellent neighborhood restaurants (Olive & Finch, Humboldt Farm, Fish, Wine, etc.). In May of 2017, this two block stretch gained another killer dining option when Jason and Chris Wallenta opened up White Pie, a contemporary pizza restaurant.
White Pie is located just around the corner from the brothers’ well-known Uptown eatery, Dos Santos, and features an open and airy dining room with white washed walls and an eye-catching chandelier made of glass bottles. But the real star of the space is the semi-circle bar area encompassing the stately Acunto Napoli wood burning brick oven. Slide onto one of the barstools and you’ll have a prime vantage point to spying each and every one of White Pie’s pizzas being fired to order.
Related link: Interested in Denver’s best Italian restaurants? Check out my list.
While previously diners has to wait until dinnertime to get there hands on one of the thin crust, irregular shaped New Haven-style pizzas, White Pie recently extended hours and is now open for lunch 11am – 3pm Monday – Friday.
When in White Pie… order the White Pie.
Included on the lunch menu is the eponymous White Pie pizza, a bianca version covered with crème fraîche and mozzarella, and loaded with bacon, Crimini mushrooms, and a sunny-side up egg that goes for $16. However, if you happen to be at the restaurant on a Monday, all pizzas are sold for $10 for the entire day – a fantastic deal!
Caesar Salad appears on the lunch and dinner menus.
Those trying to balance out the carb-loading during lunch will want to order the excellent Caesar Salad ($8) made of baby gems lightly tossed in a bagna cauda sauce and sprinkled with a healthy pile of Parmesan Reggiano shavings.
If you happen to be there during Happy Hour (4-6pm Mon – Saturday; 9-10pm Sun – Thursday), be sure to inquire about the Wood Fired Veggie of the Day ($5), a favorite during my visit. If you’re lucky, it will be just as delicious as the generously sized portion of roasted cauliflower drizzled with a spicy sauce and sprinkled with pepitas I was served in a cast iron skillet.
Dinner patrons who deviate from the pizza menu will find the simple but delicious Fettuccini dish ($16) a worthwhile order. The twirled tower of pasta is coated with a flavorful slow-cooked tomato vodka basil cream sauce and accompanied by a set of neatly sliced Fior Di Latte.
Saving room for dessert is also advised, as their house-made Cannoli ($8) is not to be missed. Soft vanilla whipped ricotta spills out of the chocolate and pistachio coated shell and is an example of an Italian classic executed to perfection and a sweet way to top off what is sure to be an outstanding meal.
White Pie, 1702 Humboldt St., 303-862-5323
Please note: Financial compensation was not received for this post. I was invited by the PR firm working with White Pie to come in to sample items off the lunch, happy hour, and dinner menus. Opinions expressed here are my own.