After a rough few years and a literal run-in with the pavement, chef Andrea Frizzi is gearing up for a comeback in River North with Risica, a Milanese-inspired pizzeria and wine bar that aims to be big on flavor and relatively easy on the wallet.
Frizzi, best known for longtime Denver favorite Il Posto, is bringing his next act to a ground floor space in the Edit at River North. The plan is wood-fired pies, Italian small plates, and a casual neighborhood feel as the long delayed project finally inches toward opening this summer.
Menu, hours and prices
According to The Denver Post, Risica will center on pizzas and shareable plates, with Frizzi keeping everything under $20. Wine by the glass is expected to land mostly in the $8 to $12 range.
The Post reports that once it is up and running, Risica will open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and will toss in some crowd-pleasing promos, including $1 oysters on Tuesdays. Frizzi told the paper he feels “like a phoenix rising from the ashes” as he readies what he clearly expects to be a rebound.
Lease, space and oven
Curated Commercial Real Estate notes that Frizzi signed a 10-year NNN lease for the space at 3463 Walnut Street. The restaurant will span about 2,166 square feet inside, with another 477 square feet of patio space for outdoor dining.
The space was delivered in grey shell condition, so Frizzi has been building it out essentially from scratch. Curated Commercial Real Estate also points out that the kitchen will revolve around a Mugnaini oven built on a Valoriani core, a setup that should give those pizzas some serious firepower.
Risica currently lists the Walnut Street address and teases an “Opening soon” banner on its website.
Frizzi's comeback and delays
The road to Risica has not exactly been smooth. Frizzi signed the lease in fall 2024, but he told The Denver Post he had to hit pause several times as costs kept climbing.
He said he has spent in the high six figures on the project and that his initial budget jumped by about $300,000. On top of the financial stress, the Post reports that Frizzi was in a Vespa accident that left him with 17 screws and a metal plate in his shoulder. While recovering and trying to keep the project afloat, he has been doing catering gigs to help cover expenses as he pushes Risica toward the finish line.
Where Risica fits in RiNo
Even with the stops and starts, Risica has not slipped under the radar. Westword tagged the restaurant as one of Denver’s most anticipated openings, pointing to Frizzi’s track record at Il Posto and Vero.
With approachable prices, a prime ground-floor spot in the Edit building, and a chef locals already know, Risica is positioned to slide in as a regular hangout for RiNo residents and nearby workers once those ovens finally light up.
