What’s the Truth About Leo’s Italian Kitchen in Colorado?

You wouldn't be hard-pressed to find a lot of Coloradans that love a great Italian meal. Pasta is a comfort food, after all. How many of us have ordered delivery from Leo's Italian Kitchen?

I, for one, could order off on Italian restaurant's menu 15 times and get 15 different things, my passion for Italian runs that high. It's almost weird that I'd never even heard of Leo's until the end of 2024.

I'm not sure how I feel about them, to be honest.

What is Leo's Italian Restaurant That You'll Find in Colorado?

It was Christmastime in 2024, when my family and I had gathered for the big "family lunch" that we do; we were in the parking lot of the restaurant, doing our goodbyes, when a woman approached our group, looking for help.

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She was looking for Leo's Italian Kitchen, but seemed confused, as she was gesturing to the restaurant we had eaten at, which was not Leo's. Eventually, she seemed to believe she was in the right place, and went inside. We all just looked at each other, and blew it off.

Is Leo's Italian Kitchen Really Old Chicago?

The next day, I looked into Leo's, and yes the address they list for Loveland is indeed the same address as Old Chicago. I asked around about what that could be about, and many told me, "It's a ghost kitchen."

So, I called that Loveland Old Chicago and asked them if they had a ghost kitchen, that person categorically denied it.

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A call to the Parker, Colorado, Old Chicago (another Leo's address) shed more light on Leo's. That person told me that there is a Leo's Italian Kitchen that gives them the recipes to create for their menu items. Hmmm...

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When a person orders from Leo's Italian Kitchen on Door Dash or other food delivery apps (like my brother in Fort Colllins did to see what it's like) the food arrives in the to-go boxes that Old Chicago has, with no Leo's markings.

In other states you might find Logan's Steakhouse preparing the food items for Leo's Italian Kitchen; Logan's and Old Chicago are owned by the same parent company. That would lead one to believe that Leo's is really [Old Chicago's] operation.

My thing is, if Fortress Investment Group, owners of Old Chicago and Logan's Steakhouse, is just running a little "side hustle" business as Leo's that's fine, many restaurants do so.

I just don't like it being called a "ghost kitchen." Ghost kitchens, to me, are independent restaurants trying to get their business off the ground, or successful chefs testing out a new theme.