Taverna Laudisio wants to make it easy for guests to enjoy a night out with great food.
“It’s so difficult to go out to eat,” said Tavio Laudisio, son of longtime Boulder restaurateur Antonio Laudisio. “Everything costs a fortune.”
With Taverna Laudisio, Niwot’s newest destination for Italian cuisine, Tavio Laudisio and his dad hope to change that. That’s why their new establishment is a “taverna” instead of a more formal Italian “ristorante.”
“It’s like a watering hole,” Tavio Laudisio said, describing the atmosphere. “It’s like a place to come and have something quick, see your friends. You could come two, three times a week.”
The inside dining area of Taverna Laudisio is seen during an inside look in Niwot on June 16. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Boulder County foodies might be familiar with the Laudisio family’s former business ventures. Antonio Laudisio used to own Laudisio Ristorante Italiano and co-own The Med, which were both in Boulder. The restaurants closed in 2013 and 2020, respectively, due to economic challenges.
The family’s latest venture, Taverna Laudisio, plans to open early next month at 121 Second Ave. in Niwot. The space was most recently home to 1914 House, a contemporary American restaurant that closed two years ago because of financial constraints.
Now, Italian fare will be served at the historic building, which has an outdoor patio and intimate upstairs dining area. The layout isn’t changing much to accommodate the “taverna.” Former 1914 House owner Nick Mastronardi is leasing the Second Avenue location to the Laudisios, who have the option to buy, Tavio said. Mastronardi even kept the building’s liquor license up to date, allowing for a seamless transition.
“It’s the next chapter for the Laudisio family,” Tavio said, “and being a part of the Niwot community is really exciting for us.”
Before 1914 House closed, Mastronardi expressed a desire to see the building become another dining destination in the future. The Laudisios, who live in Boulder, were frequent customers of Mastronardi’s restaurant during its eight years in operation. They said a lot of 1914 House staff are returning to work at Taverna Laudisio, including the bar manager, several waiters and executive chef Justin Hirshfield.
“This is a full-circle situation for me,” said Hirshfield, who will also be Taverna Laudisio’s executive chef.
Antonio Laudisio, who is 85, called Niwot a “beautiful little town.” His menu will feature approachable dishes, such as pizza, alongside favorites from his previous restaurants.
Bags of pizza flour sit on a counter during an inside look at Taverna Laudisio in Niwot on June 16. (Joel Solis/Staff Photographer)
Since Laudisio Ristorante Italiano and The Med shut their doors, Antonio has been focusing on his catering service, Laudisio Mobile, which brings pizza and paella to parties and private events. Catering will continue, but he hopes having a physical eatery again will be an asset for Niwot.
“We’ve always had a sense of community involvement,” Antonio Laudisio said. “Essentially, that’s what this is. It’s more, ‘What does the community, right now, need?’”
Deborah Fowler, president of the Niwot Business Association, listed a couple of Niwot’s other Italian choices: Cimmini’s at 300 Second Ave. and Fortezza Ristorante at 7916 Niwot Road.
“We’ve got some great Italian options here — all different price points, all different types of food,” Fowler said. “So, we’re covering the whole of Italy in one town.”
Those interested in dining at Taverna Laudisio are asked to check social media and the catering website, laudisiomobile.com, for details about opening day and business hours.
Dining and Cooking