Chef Andrea Frizzi Opens New Pizzeria Risica
The new Milanese-style restaurant in Denver offers a casual dining menu with no items priced above $20.
Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Chef Andrea Frizzi has officially launched his new restaurant, Risica, located at 3463 Walnut St. in the RiNo neighborhood. The opening occurred over the same weekend that the local restaurant The Greenwich closed its doors.
Why it matters
Chef Frizzi designed the concept as a Milanese pizzeria and wine bar to provide an affordable, casual alternative to the city's fine dining scene. By capping all menu items at $20, the restaurant aims to offer an accessible experience inspired by the chef's home in Milan.
The restaurant maintains a $20 maximum price for all menu items and operates daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The kitchen is anchored by a $70,000 oven featuring a rotating floor.
The players
Andrea Frizzi
He is a professional chef who serves as the founder of the new restaurant concept Risica.
The Greenwich
This is a local Denver restaurant that ended its operations during the same weekend as the opening of Risica.
The details
Risica specializes in pizza, sandwiches, and a charcuterie program featuring six meats and eight cheeses available for order by the ounce. The kitchen utilizes a specialized oven with gas flames and a rotating floor to maintain consistent cooking for all hot dishes.
Timeline
Risica opened and The Greenwich closed during the weekend of October 17-18, 2026.
Market Landscape
Risica aligns with the broader move in the hospitality sector toward fast-casual dining formats that prioritize accessibility over traditional luxury service. This shift positions the restaurant to capture a market segment that is increasingly sensitive to rising dining costs.
Local diners can access a new menu of pizza, sandwiches, and charcuterie with a fixed price cap on all items. The restaurant is open daily to provide a casual, affordable dining option in the RiNo neighborhood.
The takeaway
Diners seeking a budget-friendly meal in Denver can now visit a venue that emphasizes Milanese-style casual dining. The model demonstrates how restaurants are pivoting to value-focused pricing to maintain customer traffic in a competitive market.
Further reading
For more on the latest restaurant activity in the area, check out the Denver Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Denver Westword.
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