The locally owned, family-run C' Amore Italian Restaurant at 6232 S. Parker Road has built its neighborhood identity around made-to-order Italian comfort food, house-made sauce and dough, and one particularly intriguing family recipe: peach bread pudding served warm with caramel sauce.
That alone earns our attention.
But C’Amore offers more than a memorable dessert. This is the kind of small neighborhood restaurant Pulse Eats loves finding, where the menu feels broad enough for the whole table but still carries fingerprints of the family behind it.
Start With the Comfort Classics
If your definition of Italian comfort food involves bubbling cheese and plenty of red sauce, there is no shortage of familiar territory.
The menu includes chicken parmigiana with fettuccine and marinara, spaghetti and meatballs, sausage and peppers, cheese ravioli and carbonara. Those wanting something beyond the traditional red-sauce lane can wander into dishes such as shrimp fra diavolo, risotto and seafood selections.
Pizza gets its own personality here, too. C’Amore makes its dough in-house and offers combinations ranging from a classic Margherita to the Piccante, topped with pepperoni, sausage, jalapeño and garlic, or the Milano, which combines pesto, prosciutto, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes.
For sharing, the starters include braised meatballs, crispy calamari, mussels and several takes on burrata. There is even a roasted jalapeño artichoke dip, a little Colorado-sideways turn from the expected Italian appetizer lineup.
And Then There Is Dessert
This is where we return to that peach bread pudding.
C’Amore calls it the family's famous recipe, pairing the warm bread pudding with caramel sauce. The restaurant takes that signature dessert one step further at brunch, transforming it into Peach Bread French Toast, dipped in egg and cinnamon and finished with maple syrup.
If bread pudding is not your thing, the dessert menu also includes tiramisu, mini cannoli, gelato, flourless chocolate torte and affogato.
And there is another family-business connection hiding in the wine list. C’Amore says it intentionally features wines from small family-owned Italian vineyards, which fits rather nicely for a small family-owned Centennial restaurant.
A Neighborhood Italian Night Without the Chain-Restaurant Feel
C’Amore is currently open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m., with dine-in, online ordering, catering and reservations available.
Visit C’Amore Italian Restaurant, view the menu, and make a reservation
So whether the mission is chicken parm, a prosciutto pizza, a glass of Italian wine or simply investigating whether peach bread pudding deserves its own dinner trip, C’Amore gives Centennial another locally owned table worth knowing.
Be sure to tell C’Amore Italian Restaurant that Centennial Pulse sent you!
39 Comments
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I’ll be the lone voice and say I’m not a bread pudding fan, but the tiramisu gets my vote every time.
Happy they offer catering! Used them for a work event and everyone raved about the meatballs.
Any recommendations for vegetarian dishes besides cheese ravioli?
noah_cooksThe mushroom risotto is a solid choice if you want something vegetarian and filling. I also liked their artichoke dip and burrata starters!
Totally forgot about brunch here. Hard to decide between the French Toast or a breakfast pizza!
Do they do anything special for birthdays? Thinking about taking my wife next month.
Friendly staff and the Milano pizza is our family favorite. Love that they use fresh pesto.
Sarah YoonSame here! The staff always remembers us. Haven’t tried the Milano yet but the pesto is definitely next on my list.
I miss having a place like this near my old neighborhood. Centennial folks, you’re lucky!
It’s just off Parker and easy to miss. Worth the u-turn if you’re craving pasta.
Affogato is the move for coffee lovers! Ended my meal perfectly.
Gayle StephensonAffogato is my go-to dessert there too, especially after a big meal. Hits the spot every time.
We're so glad you finished your meal on a high note, affogato is a treat for any coffee fan! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Wasn’t wowed by the gelato but honestly it’s hard to beat the main courses. That chicken parm is legit.
Wish they stayed open a little later on weekends but I get it for a family operation.
lorraine.fTotally agree. Would love to see them open till 10 at least on Fridays, but I respect that they're keeping it family focused.
The artichoke jalapeño dip was new for me and now I crave it. Spicy but not too crazy.
We're delighted you enjoyed the jalapeño artichoke dip, it's a playful twist that brings a touch of Colorado to the Italian lineup!
Glad they do online orders. Their carbonara travels way better than I expected.
Great to hear the carbonara traveled well for you, online ordering makes those Italian cravings extra easy to satisfy!
Tiramisu portion is smaller than I wished but the flavor is top notch. Next time, cannoli for me!
Thanks for sharing your take on the tiramisu, the flavor is definitely a standout, and we bet you’ll enjoy the cannoli next time too!
No chain vibes at all. The walls have old family photos and the music isn't too loud. Real nice for a date night.
Thank you for noticing the personal touch, those family photos and welcoming atmosphere are a big part of what sets C’Amore apart from chain spots.
Anybody know if they have gluten free pasta options? My kiddo loves Italian but can't do regular noodles.
Sausage and peppers is what pulled me in but stayed for the friendly service. They always remember us!
I appreciate any place that makes risotto from scratch. Can't find that at most chains around here.
Harold FinchFor sure! Their risotto actually has flavor and isn't gummy. Hard to find in Centennial, honestly.
The hours are great for us early birds. Will definitely try lunch soon!
We love that the hours work for you! Enjoy your upcoming lunch at C’Amore, there’s plenty to explore on the menu.
Heard about the bread pudding from my neighbor. Can someone confirm if it really lives up to the hype?
My mom and I always share the calamari when we go. Crispy and not greasy at all, super underrated starter.
Glad someone does homemade dough! Makes all the difference. The Margherita pizza was perfect.
Homemade dough really does make all the difference, glad you loved the Margherita pizza!
Love to see a place using family vineyard wines. Makes dinner feel more special than the usual.
We went for brunch last month and that Peach Bread French Toast is as good as it sounds, maybe better. Don't skip it.
We couldn't agree more, Peach Bread French Toast at brunch is something special! Thanks for letting others know it’s not to be missed.
Have driven by so many times and never stopped. That Piccante pizza sounds like it’s calling my name. Anyone tried it spicy?
Greg S.Yes! I asked for extra jalapeños last time and it was definitely spicy. The garlic on it is awesome too. Worth a try if you like heat!