"Old Town's serious steak dinner — RARE Italian dry-ages its own beef 21 days and plates it beside house pasta and lobster risotto, under executive chef Nate since 2021."
About RARE Italian
RARE Italian opened in 2014 on South College Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins, an Italian steakhouse drawn from its owners' travels through Umbria and Tuscany. The premise is simple: serious cuts of beef, dry-aged in house for at least twenty-one days, set against a farm-to-table central-Italian menu of house pasta, house cheeses and hand-tossed pizza.
For Fort Collins' other tables, compare the seafood at Jax Fish House, the steaks at Sonny Lubick's or the seasonal cooking at Social.
The Kitchen
Executive chef Nate, who took the kitchen in March 2021, selects a seasonal menu around the in-house dry-aging programme — ribeye, filet, tenderloin and New York strip aged a minimum of twenty-one days, plus a tomahawk for the table. Around the steaks sit house-made pasta and cheeses, hand-tossed pizza and a lobster risotto that regulars single out. It is upmarket cooking; expect a steakhouse bill, with the prime cuts at the top of the range.
The Room
The room is a warm, rustic Old Town space — brick and timber, an open feel, a bar for walk-ins — that reads more relaxed than a white-tablecloth steakhouse. The Old Town address puts you in the centre of Fort Collins, and dinner runs through the evening seven days a week. It suits a celebration as easily as a serious weeknight dinner.
Best for Anniversary
Dry-aged steak and a warm Old Town room make RARE Italian a natural anniversary or celebration dinner in Fort Collins. The steakhouse format also lands a deal worth marking over dinner — a good table to close a deal — or a milestone birthday.
Not for
Not for budget diners or quick casual bites — RARE Italian is an upmarket steakhouse where the dry-aged prime cuts sit at the top of the menu, and the bill reflects it.
Frequently Asked
What is RARE Italian known for?
It is an Italian steakhouse in Old Town Fort Collins, open since 2014, known for dry-aging its own beef in house for at least 21 days and pairing it with house-made pasta, cheeses and a lobster risotto.
Who is the chef?
Nate joined RARE Italian as executive chef in March 2021, selecting a seasonal central-Italian menu around the in-house dry-aged beef.
What should I order?
The dry-aged steaks — ribeye, filet, tenderloin, New York strip and a tomahawk — are the headline; the lobster risotto and house pasta are other favourites.
How expensive is it?
It sits at upmarket steakhouse prices, with the dry-aged prime cuts at the top of the range. It is a special-occasion bill rather than a casual one.
Where is RARE Italian located?
At 101 S College Avenue in Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado, open daily for dinner.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at RARE Italian
Popular Old Town steakhouse; book ahead for weekend dinners.
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Practical Information
Address101 S College Ave, Fort Collins
NeighbourhoodOld Town Fort Collins
CuisineItalian Steakhouse
PriceUpmarket steakhouse; prime cuts at the top
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingRustic Old Town room & bar
ReservationRecommended
