When you think Maggiano’s Little Italy, you might think more about a dinner out with adults rather than a fun place to bring the kids. But that all changes when you book a kid’s party at the Denver Pavilions location. For $25 per child—minimum of 15 children—scout troops, teams, or any group of friends (ages five to 10) have a culinary experience…and you won’t have to clean up the kitchen.

Each kid prepares an Italian dish to take home.

During the party, a Maggiano’s chef invites kids to explore behind the scenes during a tour of the kitchen. They learn what it takes to serve a dining room full of guests and have an opportunity to ask questions. Each child also takes on the chef role and assembles a generous portion of an Italian dish they can take home to share (my son’s lasagna easily fed our family of four the next day). Kids will see how many people it takes to run a restaurant, decorate a chef’s hat, score their own Maggiano’s apron, and enjoy an Italian buffet featuring kid favorites as well as dishes that might be new to their palettes. A Little Chef’s Birthday Bash, features similar offerings, for your child’s big day.

Maggiano’s
During Maggiano’s kids’ cooking classes, kids get a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen.

“We love hosting kids’ events!” says Toniann Woodbury, banquet sales manager at Maggiano’s Pavilions.

Contact Woodbury to schedule an event for your group: denver.banquet@maggianos.com. Like their Facebook page for updates on scheduled kid’s cooking classes.

This article was originally published in December 2024.
Lydia Rueger

Lydia Rueger is an Arvada-based freelance writer, mom, and author.