It’s no secret Americans love to eat out.
So much so that studies have reported that 56% of Americans say they eat out, get take out or have a meal delivered two to three times per week.
Nearly 10% of people in the study said they eat out four to six times a week with 6% saying they eat out everyday.
No matter how many times you eat out, finding new restaurants can be a challenge, especially if you’re looking for something in the downtown Greeley area.
Annie Margaret Velazquez, founder of Pinocchios Incredible Italian, and her partner in business and life, Cecil Velazquez, are helping solve the dilemma of where to eat by adding another location to its family of restaurants in northern Colorado: Pinocchios Prime.
GREELEY, CO – NOVEMBER 02:Owners Annie Margaret Velazquez, left, and Cecil Velazquez stand for a portrait in the dining room at Pinocchio’s Incredible Italian in Greeley Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. (Alex McIntyre for The Greeley Tribune)
Pinocchios Prime will open in the former location of the Greeley Chophouse, 804 Eighth St., bringing another dining option to the downtown area.
“This won’t be fine dining, but it is beautiful casual dining that you can come in shorts and a t-shirt or come dressed up for a date night,” Cecil Velazquez said. “We just want that ambiance that when people come in they feel welcome and enjoy great food, great service, great ambiance.”
The new restaurant is expected to open in mid to late January, according to Annie Margaret Velazquez.
When not working on Pinocchios Prime, the couple is busy managing its location at 905 16th St. in Greely.
If you’re looking for a cozy, welcoming atmosphere where you can enjoy a meal with friends or family, Pinocchios Incredible Italian offers that and more.
Annie Margaret Velasquez founded the original Pinocchios in 2003 in Longmont with just a $15,000 loan.
GREELEY, CO – NOVEMBER 02:A sign rests on the bar counter at Pinocchio’s Incredible Italian in Greeley Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. (Alex McIntyre for The Greeley Tribune)
“From day one when I wrote a check for food, I knew I would have to make enough to cover that check so I worked my ass off,” Annie Margaret Velazquez said. “I was cooking at night and waiting tables during the day.”
The hard work paid off when the Longmont restaurant moved to a larger building and the Pinocchios brand expanded to locations in Loveland, Brighton and then Greeley.
“We love Greeley. Everyone is friendly and there’s a sense of community and being close to the university feels nice,” Annie Margaret Velazquez said. “I just love cooking and I feel like the love shows through in the food.”
The restaurant’s menu is filled with mouth-watering appetizers like spicy toasted ravioli and Pinocchio Sticks as well as soup and salads, hand-tossed pizzas, classic Italian dishes, including Fettuccini Alfredo and homemade lasagna, as well as many other items.
“I learned a few basics — lasagna and spaghetti. And the menu just kind of evolved into what it is today,” Annie Margaret Velazquez said. “There’s traditional dishes and there’s completely original dishes.”
Cheery red checkered tablecloths, white napkins and black and white Rat Pack photos on the walls gives Pinocchios Incredible Italian an understated elegance. (Credit/Alison Hamling)
Unlike many restaurants, some sauces at Pinocchios are made to order.
“Our red sauces are made in batches for the day and our Alfredo is made to order. So if you order that dish, we make the Alfredo sauce for the dish,” Cecil Velazquez said.
The restaurant’s kids’ menu, for youngsters age 10 and younger, also features a nice variety of kid-approved dishes such as noodles and butter, pizza, and spaghetti and meatballs.
Diners can cap off their meals with a sweet treat.
Pinocchios’ dessert menu is comprised of traditional Italian Tiramisu, spumoni ice cream, Italian Lemon cake and cannoli to good ol’ American Kentucky Bourbon Pie, carrot cake and apple crisp.
For chocolate lovers, the restaurant’s Chocolate Walnut Torte, Chocolate Fudge Cake or Chocolate Bomb are sure to please your sweet tooth.
“Annie makes all of the desserts we offer,” Cecil Velazquez said. “Her cookies sell out really quick.”
French toast is thick cut and the pancakes are stacked high at Pinocchio Incredible Italian breakfasts. (Greeley Tribune file photo)
For those who are more fans of breakfast than lunch or dinner, Pinocchios offers the Early Bird menu that features a variety of traditional favorites such as pancakes and French toast, omelets, benedicts and other breakfast options.
“I thought it would be cool to do breakfast and I just did it Saturday and Sunday and the first few months nothing really happened with it,” Annie Margaret Velazquez said. “So then I started baking banana bread and practiced flipping eggs and finally it started taking off. It turns out I love cooking breakfast.”
Her love of baking definitely is a benefit for customers since most breakfast entrees come with a side of pumpkin spice bread.
“It’s turned into one of our signature things,” Annie Margaret Velazquez said.
While the Loveland location is closed due to renovations, Annie Margaret Velazquez and her team still offers catering at off-site events around the Sweetheart City.
Annie Margaret Velazquez’s Loveland, Longmont, Brighton and two Greeley locations are just the tip of the iceberg for the restaurateur.
Pinocchio linguine is a house specialty, pairing shrimp, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and chèvre cheese in white wine garlic sauce. Add sausage to make the dish heartier. (Greeley Tribune file photo)
She is open to expanding Pinocchios from Cheyenne to Colorado Springs —and anywhere in between — through the restaurant’s franchise program.
Annie Marie Velazquez first noodled with the idea of franchising Pinocchios after a location she sold began to really struggle.
“They were changing things around and I wanted Pinocchios to be a brand and it was really important to me that the integrity of the menu stays,” she explained. “Franchising also generates income for me when I am ready to stop working the long hours and retire. And, I can leave this to my kids so that they can also have an income. It’s worked out great.”
Chicken Tiamo with prosciutto and provolone is draped with brandy sage sauce and served with asiago potatoes and fresh veggies. (Greeley Tribune file photo)
While she’s open to franchising with people outside of the company, Annie Margaret Velazquez typically likes to work with helping employees purchase their own Pinocchios franchise.
“We did that in Longmont and it’s going perfectly. We are hoping to that here with the Greeley location,” she said.
People interested in having their own Pinocchio’s can submit a proposal for a franchise location by sending an email to Eatatpinocchios@gmail.com.
Greeley’s Pinocchios Incredible Italian is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is closed on Monday.
Reservations are highly encouraged and can be done by calling the restaurant at (303) 827-8945.
To learn more about Pinocchios Incredible Italian, as well as menu items, catering, locations, booking parties and more, go to Eatatpinocchios.com or call (303) 827-8945.
Dining and Cooking