The Oven Pizza E Vino - Lakewood

The Oven is a charming eatery with a loyal customer base. Even though we arrived early on a Friday, a line started to form quickly. Inside, we found long communal tables that reminded me of high school lunchrooms. While the communal seating encouraged mingling and allowed us to check out what others were ordering, the space was quite cramped, accommodating around 50 diners. If you're going with a large group on a busy night, be prepared to wait for seats to be together. As the name suggests, the wood-fired ovens are the highlight of the restaurant. There are two prominently placed ovens that play a key role in their cooking process, producing delicious pizzas with a perfectly bubbly crust that evokes fond childhood memories. I could hardly wait to try their pizza. During Denver Restaurant Week, The Oven offered a four-course special for $52.80, which included a choice of salad, bread or mozzarella, a 12” pizza, and dessert. This deal also came with a bottle of either Cabernet or Chardonnay, although they were actually serving Chianti instead. For someone like me who tends to skip appetizers and desserts—especially during Lent when I wasn’t drinking alcohol—this deal didn’t fully align with my preferences. A woman at a nearby table highly recommended the Haystack Mountain Farms Goat Cheese Salad, calling it outstanding. Unfortunately, the salad included prosciutto, which clashed with my vegetarian diet. I went for the Good Earth pizza instead, topped with mozzarella, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers on a thin, quickly baked crust. While I appreciated the bubbly crust and found the pizza acceptable, I'm uncertain if I’d wait 30 minutes for it again. At $13.95 for a small 12” pizza, it seemed slightly overpriced, yet that didn’t stop the crowds from flocking to the restaurant. I'm not sure if Belmar has higher rent or if locals simply have more disposable income, but in my experience, prices here tend to be on the high side. Perhaps I’m just being a bit thrifty. The Oven has garnered accolades from Westword, The Rocky Mountain News, and 5280 Magazine, and while it is indeed a good place to eat, I’m left wondering if it’s really exceptional. I appreciate the restaurant’s dedication to local and organic produce, though the prices still feel a bit steep for the area. Owner Mark Tarbell comes from California, where such pricing might be more standard, but I suspect there are competitively priced alternatives available here that match or surpass the quality. I want to stress that I enjoy this restaurant, appreciate what it has to offer, and can accept the prices. However, the seating arrangement, perceived value, and awareness of better, more affordable options make me hesitant to return frequently. I’m not a fan of bench seating, and I know I can find equally good pizza in a more comfortable setting for less money. In summary, The Oven is a solid dining option worth checking out, but be ready to share a table, wait for a seat if you arrive late, and spend a bit more. You'll definitely want to be prepared, just like a Boy Scout.