The Colorado Buffet That Was Just Named One Of The Top All-You-Can-Eat Spots In The State

A 14-foot Mona Lisa watches over the outside of this buffet. Inside, chefs work 14 cooking stations and turn out more than 60 Italian dishes.

The restaurant is located in Northglenn Marketplace, a shopping center that has also housed an Office Depot. Now it holds a pretend Tuscan village with a cobblestone piazza, stone fountains, and flower-covered balconies.

I can’t imagine a better setting for an Italian buffet inside a shopping center.

Reader’s Digest named it the best all-you-can-eat buffet in Colorado. I like how that honor went to a place built around pasta, pizza, crepes, and a gelato bar.

It feels like the kind of win that deserves a second plate.

The real challenge is not finding something to eat. It’s figuring out where to start.

Would you head for the gnocchi first, or save room for dessert?

A State Title That Came With A Mountain Of Pasta

Reader’s Digest picked one buffet as the best all-you-can-eat spot in Colorado, and it landed on Cinzzetti’s Italian Market Restaurant. The news came out in June 2024, and it gave this Northglenn favorite some serious bragging rights.

That honor makes sense once you see the scale of the place. There are 14 cooking stations and more than 60 Italian dishes, all in one big room.

Most buffets give you trays and a sneeze guard. This one gives you a whole pretend village to wander, plate in hand.

The idea came from co-owners Robert Hauser and John Carasole. They opened the restaurant in December 2002, so it has been feeding hungry crowds for over two decades.

It also bounced back from a tough stretch. The restaurant closed for about a year during the COVID-19 pandemic and held its reopening ceremony on March 23, 2021.

That kind of staying power says a lot about a buffet. Plenty of restaurants come and go, but this one keeps the pasta flowing.

So the award isn’t a fluke from a brand-new hot spot. It’s a nod to a place that has been doing its thing for a long time.

Pretty good for a restaurant that’s been serving Italian food for more than two decades.

You May Forget You’re Eating In A Former Office Store

Three stone fountains, wrought-iron railings, and tile floors set the scene. Add grapevines, painted windows, and balconies spilling with flowers, and you’ve got a tiny Tuscan town indoors.

The heart of it all is a cobblestone piazza. The central dining area often has an open ceiling, which creates the feeling of eating outdoors.

Italian artifacts are tucked around the space too. Murals fill fake windows, so every wall seems to look out onto a sunny street.

Honestly, it’s a clever trick. You get the Italy mood without the passport line or the jet lag.

The outside gives you a hint before you even park. A 14-foot Mona Lisa mural sits on the exterior, and she’s hard to miss.

She doesn’t smile much, but she does point you toward dinner. That counts for something.

The design does more than look nice. It turns a buffet run into a little stroll, and that makes going back for seconds feel like sightseeing.

Bring someone who loves taking photos. Between the fountains and the flower boxes, they’ll have plenty to snap between bites of calamari.

Fourteen Stations Means You Need A Game Plan

Chefs cook right in front of you at every turn. That’s the big idea behind the 14 stations at Cinzzetti’s Italian Market Restaurant.

Each station has its own name and focus. You’ll find Parmesan, Rotisserie, Tavola Calda, Marchetta, Pizzeria, Fresh Made Pasta, salads, and a bakery area.

With that many choices, a little strategy helps. Try taking small scoops on your first lap so you can sample more without tapping out early.

Think of it like a market tour. You wouldn’t buy everything at the first stand, right?

The Marchetta station keeps things simple with soups. Minestrone Zuppa and Pomodoro Zuppa are both on the menu there.

Soup is a smart warm-up. It’s light enough to leave room for the heavier stuff waiting around the corner.

The Parmesan station brings the comfort food. Lasagna Bolognese, Eggplant Parmesan, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and BBQ Pulled Pork are listed on the Northglenn menu.

Here’s a tip: walk the whole loop once before grabbing a plate. Seeing every option first keeps you from filling up on one thing, then spotting your favorite dish two stations later.

Pink Sauce Gnocchi Deserves Its Own Fan Club

Famous Pink Sauce Gnocchi carries a bold name for a reason. It sits at the Fresh Made Pasta station, right alongside some very tough competition.

Farfalle Carbonara is there too. So are Chicken Marsala Pasta, Spaghetti Marinara, and Mama’s Meatballs.

There’s also a Pasta del Giorno, which means a daily pick. That keeps things a little unpredictable, in the best way.

Pasta fans should pace themselves here. It’s very easy to load up on noodles and run out of room for pizza.

Speaking of pizza, the Pizzeria station sits nearby. You can choose from Margherita, Pepperoni, Fiorentina, Vegetali, Formaggio, and a Pizza del Giorno.

Vegetali works well for anyone skipping meat. Formaggio is a safe bet for kids who just want cheese, cheese, and more cheese.

A smart move is to grab one slice instead of two. Then you can mix and match with a little gnocchi and a meatball.

Also, pay attention to the daily specials. Both the pasta and pizza stations rotate a featured option, so a repeat visit in Colorado could bring something new to your plate.

Calamari, Ribs, And Rotisserie Chicken Walk Into A Buffet

Crispy is the name of the game at the Tavola Calda station. Calamari Fritti and Zucchini Fritti both land here, along with Crispy Fish with Lemon Caper Sauce.

Not everything is fried, though. Chicken Cacciatore, Glazed Carrots, and Roasted Rosemary Potatoes round things out.

The Tavola Calda station also serves dishes such as Calamari Fritti, Chicken Cacciatore, and Roasted Rosemary Potatoes.

Over at the Rotisserie station, the menu leans hearty. Tuscan Spiced Rotisserie Chicken and Honey Garlic Chicken share space with Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions.

Arancini is there as well. These are crispy rice balls, a classic Italian snack that’s fun to try if you never have.

Meatloaf Madeira might be the surprise of the bunch. It’s not what most people expect at an Italian buffet, and that’s part of the charm.

A good approach is to pair something crunchy with something saucy. Calamari next to chicken cacciatore feels balanced.

And if someone in your group is picky, this corner usually saves the day. Chicken and potatoes are hard to argue with.

Salad Lovers Get More Than A Sad Bowl Of Lettuce

Leafy greens get real respect at this buffet. The antipasto and salad area is packed with options that go far past plain lettuce.

There’s a Famous House Salad and a classic Caesar. You’ll also spot Fresh Grilled Vegetable Caprese and Fresh Beet Salad.

Quinoa Salad and Three Bean Salad add a little heartiness. Pasta Genovese brings some noodles into the mix too.

Bruschetta with Garlic Croutons is a fun starter. It gives you crunch and flavor before the bigger plates come into play.

Seasonal Fresh Fruit is a nice touch as well. It’s a light choice for kids, or for anyone who wants a breather between pasta rounds.

Fresh food like this helps balance a heavy meal. A plate of salad between lasagna and dessert can make the whole night feel easier.

Vegetarians have plenty to work with here. Combine the salads with Vegetali pizza, zucchini fritti, and soup, and you’ve got a full meal.

So don’t skip this station just because it seems healthy. Some of the brightest flavors at Cinzzetti’s Italian Market Restaurant might be hiding in a bowl of beets.

Save Room, Because The Crepes Are Made To Order

Sixteen flavors of gelato wait at the end of the line. That alone could be the whole reason some folks drive over.

But the dessert spread keeps going. Made-to-order crepes are a highlight, cooked fresh at the bakery station.

You’ll also find Fresh Cannoli, Tiramisu, and Raspberry Crostata. Budino di Pane is Italian bread pudding, and it’s a cozy pick.

Cioccolata Amore covers the chocolate crowd. Frutta del Sole, Apple Crisp, and Strawberry and Peach Crisp bring the fruit.

Piccolo Pasticceria offers small pastries. Little bites are great when you want to taste a few things without overdoing it.

Here’s a pro move: grab a crepe, then add a small scoop of gelato on the side. It turns dessert into a two-part event.

Families will love this part. Kids can choose their own gelato flavor, and adults can sneak in a cannoli without anyone judging.

Just remember to leave space. After pasta, pizza, and calamari, dessert might feel like a dare.

Still, skipping the crepe station at the best buffet in Colorado seems like a big mistake.

Weekend Brunch Brings Waffles To The Piazza

Saturday starts at 11 a.m. here, and Sunday kicks off even earlier at 10 a.m. That’s when brunch joins the Italian lineup.

Breakfast classics show up in full force. Eggs Benedict, Belgian Waffles, Pancakes, and Biscuits & Gravy are all part of the spread.

Smoked Bacon and Breakfast Sausage handle the savory side. Egg Strata and Made-to-order Omelets add more options for egg fans.

Cinnamon Rolls might tempt you first. Honestly, nobody would blame you.

The Rotisserie station gets an upgrade too. During brunch, a carved-to-order Honey Baked Ham joins the menu.

The best part is the mix. You can eat waffles and then wander over for pasta or pizza, all in one meal.

That flexibility is perfect for groups. One person wants eggs, another wants lasagna, and everyone ends up happy at the same table.

Brunch also gives you a longer day to work with. Since weekend hours run later, you can sleep in, stroll the piazza, and still catch crepes before closing.

That sounds like a solid Sunday plan in Colorado.

Big Party? Five Dining Rooms Have You Covered

More than 500 seats fill this place. Spread across five dining rooms, that’s room for a whole crowd of cousins.

Cinzzetti’s Italian Market Restaurant offers private and semi-private dining. Birthdays, anniversaries, office parties, and even weddings are all on the list.

The layout helps too. There are booths and different table setups, so small groups and big ones both fit.

You’ll find it at 281 W 104th Avenue, Northglenn, CO 80234. It sits just north of Denver, which makes it handy for folks across the metro area.

Timing matters, so check the hours. Dinner runs Monday through Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., and Friday from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

Saturday hours stretch from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday goes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For a large group, calling ahead is smart. Planning early helps the team set things up so everyone sits together.

And picture the payoff: no one fights over the menu. Grandma gets her lasagna, the kids get gelato, and you get bragging rights for picking the top buffet in Colorado.