Mama Louise ~ Centennial, Colorado

Latest visit: Feb 2025

First visit: sometime in 1998 (when they first opened)

And we begin the first RJG journey of 2025, and our first trip for retirement! It was planned before I retired, as one of our Official Niece's is getting married (yet another one...). However for a variety of reasons they needed to have the wedding in Mexico, and since Mrs. RJG's family roots (and the groom's family roots) are in Sonora, then its capital city Hermosillo is where the wedding was to be held. They both live near Prescott, Arizona, so it wasn't convenient for them either! Not an easy place to get to, and we needed to take an early morning flight out of Denver to make a connection in Phoenix, the one and only flight to Hermosillo per day from the USA. A perfect excuse to spend one night in Denver before heading out! And if I'm getting an open night in Denver with Mrs. RJG, then Mama Louise rises high in the charts as a dinner option. As noted below, we have a long history with the restaurant. And we were able to catch up with the owner, as he always remembers us from the early days when we dined here often (at their original location off of Arapahoe). And yes, he confirmed that 1998 was the beginning per my memory. He's likely to retire himself in the next couple of years. Will someone take over? I hope so, but the restaurant business is tough right now, so hard to say if conditions will improve by then for someone to be tempted.

We displayed absolutely no imagination with our order, going straight for the chicken parm. Still comes with a soup and salad. I supplement mine with the Pasta Louise sauce (see fresh photo to the right), and Mrs. RJG goes with the normal marinara. All of this is described below. And it's as delicious as the first day we went here some 27 years ago. I don't think I'll add it to the RJG Rotation as it's not likely we'll be here every year together for dinner (and that's the only time they're open now). 

On this visit we only had one glass of house chianti wine each, as I had other plans for the rest of the evening. To be continued...

---8/28/22 update

So I received an email from one of the non-business hotel chains I frequent. They informed me that I would forfeit my points unless I did something on the account. Some of you may remember our visit to Prescott Valley, Arizona a year ago February to tend to Mrs. RJG's Official Mom. We stayed the week at this chain that I don't use for business - because it was a much better deal. A fine hotel too. It was too much investment to let the points go, so I suggested to Mrs. RJG that we should make a date of it, and eat, drink, and spend the night in Denver at one of their hotels to maintain status. No family allowed!  So that day happened this weekend. It has been over three years since we last visited Mama Louise. Pre-pandemic. It could have been 24 years since we last went - and absolutely nothing has changed. Thank goodness. In an era when the restaurant industry seems to be in a tailspin, it's comforting to know that Mama Louise still exists in a romantic past. We both ordered the chicken parm, our favorite dish from here. Mine with Pasta Louise sauce, hers with their house red. It still comes with a simple house salad and minestrone soup. Absolutely delicious - still the best Italian restaurant in Colorado. And with Pietro's closing in Dallas, maybe in the country. Obviously we haven't been everywhere, but this is the competition for us. We also ordered a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. One difference we noted is it seems we got more chicken than in the past, and less pasta. You would think it would be the other way around! Not complaining at all - though more pasta would have been nice. I can eat those noodles without any seasonings and still love it.

The overall bill was expensive as was expected, but they were never cheap. Also they now add a surcharge if you use a credit card. Not happy about that. Cash only may make sense for $20 and under, but not for $100+ meals. Oh well - we don't go enough to warrant attention to the criticism (we didn't say a word of course). But Kent still remembered us - all these years later! Love this place.

---original 7/11/13 review

Continuing with our favorite Denver area restaurants, here is our go-to Italian place. We first started going to Mama Louise not long after they opened in the Tech Center (Arapahoe and Dayton) around 1998 or so. Prior to this there was a burrito place - I believe it was called Jalapeno's that we had eaten at a couple of times. After about a year of infrequently visiting, Mrs. RJG and I became regulars. Rarely would a week go by where we wouldn't venture up from Parker (The Pinery really) for a dinner. Usually on Friday night. Even on snow nights, we would go. Not long after we relocated back to DFW, owner Kent moved his establishment east to the Piney Creek area of Aurora (later known as Centennial). I can remember going to the original DTC location as recent as 2004 on a visit, so this must have happened shortly thereafter. The new location is a wonderfully decorated restaurant. Kent has been there since day one, and he's always pleasant and glad to see you. For years, his Mom would be by his side ensuring all was running smoothly. Apparently she had knee surgery not long ago, and is now traveling the world. So you won't see her anymore! :-) The family originally had a restaurant in Highland as far back as 1978 (I can't remember the name - but I don't think it was Mama Louise) and closed down. Kent is the son of the founder and restarted the tradition in 1998, as stated above.

I can only use the term "best" or "favorite" in relation to the places I've frequented. But what makes it so special for the RJG? Because they have the best chicken parm I've ever had. Anywhere. In the world. I like my parm crispy, and that's what you get at Mama Louise, along with an incredible seasoning mixture unlike anything I've ever had. Make sure you ask for Louise Sauce with your pasta. It's a spicy concoction made up of Italian sausage, ground beef, and tomato sauce. It's extremely flavorful and comes with a nice kick. Each meal starts with a minestrone soup, which I quite like, though it's not a traditional recipe (it's more like a noodle / bean soup with celery). This is followed by a cold iceberg lettuce salad, that is pleasantly simple with an excellent homemade Italian dressing. And they have fine desserts as well. And a decent wine list. This is also Mrs. RJG's favorite, and in a rare case of solidarity when it comes to food selection, she also loves the chicken parm. Excellent all around.

1998; 1999; 2000; 2001; 12/27/02; 7/14/04; 7/9/10; 4/17/12; 7/11/13 (new entry); 5/14/14; 7/31/19; 8/28/22; 2/5/25