Westminster’s 88th Avenue is an unlikely spot for an authentic Tuscan restaurant. But that’s just what you’ll find at chef-owner Mario Petit’s Mamma Mia Trattoria.

Petit, a native of Florence, captures the understated elegance of Italian cuisine in his minuscule restaurant. His big-flavored dishes—think savory homemade lasagna and chicken- and ricotta-stuffed manicotti with pesto—are satisfying but never overly thought. And charred-crust pizzas further summon the Italian countryside with fresh toppings like peppery arugula, tender prosciutto, and silky, house-made mozzarella.

Bonus: Pass on the soups, but save room for the dessert tarts with seasonal fruit.

9008 W. 88th Ave., Westminster, 303-963-5305