After a brief walk from the hotel around 12PM on a Sunday, we found ourselves in a nice section with shops and eateries. Outside, there appeared to be some construction going on where there'd be outdoor seating, but it was too hot anyway so we wandered on in. It wasn't busy when we arrived, 1 party visible (later I realized there was another section with customers.) Cute decor with plenty of seating. Our server immediately greeted us and seated us right away. The brunch menu wasn't too overwhelming and she went over the specials. Ultimately, we ordered the following: Artichoke tortelloni Eric's bao-nuts Gabe's chronic chicken salad sandwich Rioja Benedict Colorado lamb burger From beginning to end, all the dishes were exceptional! Everyone loved their meal! The artichoke tortelloni was enough as an appetizer for a party of 4. Apparently, we ordered a "desert" with the Eric's bao-nuts to start everything off. This in itself was so good, I'd go back just for this if I had the chance. I personally had the colorado lamb burger. I generally tend to eat light and don't finish my meals in one sitting. This definitely wasn't the case. The presentation for the burger caught my attention as well. We were so happy with our meals that we decided to get a "2nd desert", the flourless fudge torte. Man, I'm impressed. Chocolate was not too rich or sweet, loved the cherry compote. This is was a winner! Overall, it was a great lunch dining experience to start off my mother's birthday. The service, presentation and food were on point! I'll be back in the future to try out their dinner menu. Thanks Rioja! read more

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I had a wonderful dinner at Rioja last night after arriving in Denver on business. I sat outside under the cafe lights and the atmosphere could not have been more enjoyable, especially after a gentleman began serenading those in Larimer Square with a violin. Drew was a great server, very attentive and made great recommendations for a solo diner. I enjoyed a glass of Grenache rose and the half portion of Goat Cheese Gnudi. The Gnudi were the fluffiest pillows of yum and the lamb ragù made it the perfect amount of filling for a late evening meal. read more

Rioja - Goat Cheese Gnudi - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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July 28, 2026 - Denver, CO After a midday hike on the Cherry Creek Trail, we were looking for a shaded, dog-friendly patio to escape the heat. As we wandered through Larimer Square, the menu posted outside Rioja caught my eye, and we decided to stop for lunch. I'm so glad we did. The service was exceptional from start to finish. Our pup was immediately greeted with a bowl of ice water, and despite the hot afternoon, our own water glasses were never allowed to get empty. Those little touches made us feel genuinely welcome. We started with the Summer Harvest Salad ($14) with Rebel Farms greens, freekeh, crème fraîche, pistachios, and fresh herbs. The kitchen thoughtfully split it into two bowls for us, and it was one of the best salads I've ever had--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. For our entrée, we shared the Dumpling Lasagna ($18), made with duck sausage, mushroom ramen broth, egg roll dough, chili crunch, and green onions. It was unlike any lasagna I've ever tasted, wonderfully creative and absolutely delicious. Although it couldn't be plated separately, they provided extra plates so we could easily share. We couldn't resist dessert and ordered the Flourless Fudge Torte ($14) with milk chocolate ganache, cherry compote, and vanilla crème anglaise. It was every bit as decadent and delicious as it sounds, and the perfect ending to an outstanding meal. Between the exceptional food, attentive service, and welcoming patio, we left feeling pampered, well-fed, and truly appreciated. read more

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Had an *off-the-charts* delicious meal @ Rioja on Larimer Square - there's a reason it has a James Beard award: amazingly good. The server was top-tier, she knew what she was talking about: outstanding. The vibe is upscale & hip. Put this spot on your list. I also recommend reservations read more

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This is my third time here and it's been great service each time at the bar by Rachel and Joe, who were really nice. The ambiance is lovely and they have lots of soft seating and romantic booths. I had the pork belly/ bacon and it was good both times.Also had the Amish chicken and their wine list is amazing. read more

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My colleague and I had a nice brunch here. I ordered the chef's crepes that came with crab filling and she ordered a green breakfast bowl with grilled chicken added. We shared our dishes and they were a perfect combo. The food was excellent, but service was lacking. I had to ask multiple times for a second glass of grapefruit juice. We also had to wait quite a while for our check. It's worth noting that they were a James Beard Award Winner. The food was 5 solid stars, but I knocked off a star for the service. The inside of the restaurant looked cozy and tastefully decorated with white tablecloths, but it was a beautiful day so we sat outside facing the shared courtyard. read more

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James beard tortellini truffle! I had a great time here at this restaurant. I used OpenTable to get me a reservation right before closing was like 30 minutes before and I arrived around 45 minutes before my before closing. Ordered a little bit. Greeted and checked in, got a seat right in the front. View was the beautiful street lights. Kyle was my server for the night and he gave me a great layout of whats were the good things to have. I already had the tortellini in mind since it was featured in James Beard awards so I got that it was really cheesy and the truffle was really powerful and then I packed a punch. It was a little bit underwhelming however, I really enjoyed the artichoke soup with chili sauce or chili and then I also really like the beignet. I think I didn't have to go with the seafood. I only had a little bit of the octopus and I was like I don't think I'm gonna get this next time but the next day it was a delicious left over for lunch. It look like a paella. Pretty elegant spot, and recommend for date night spot. Ps loved the starter bread with lavender fragrance. Also the rosemary bread was a majestic touch too! read more

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The food and dining experience was superb. My party sat outside on the patio. The menu is very well planned. Our entrees were well portioned. Dessert was absolutely delicious and fantastic! If you are in Denver, I highly recommend Rioja! read more

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I only have photos of my food and drinks, but I came here with two friends, and we had the grandest of times. This is a restaurant that exhibits superb service and phenomenal food. The restaurant is modern, sleek, open, and well lit. The service is out of this world. Everyone is falling over themselves to help you, though not in a gross way. I had two pastas (you could have either a full pasta dish or a half, and I chose to have two halves). I had the goat cheese gnudi (lamb ragu, fennel pollen, pecorino). Half portion was 14, whole 28. It was rich, meaty, and delish. I also had the mushroom pappardelle (pickled pearl onion, crispy maitake, sheep ricotta, dill). Half 18, full 29. Rich, filling, luxurious. My friend had the duck, which she loved. She can't eat red meat and it was prepared in such a way it almost made her feel like she was eating red meat again. My friend's husband had the scallops as an app (we tasted them too, they were decadent). Then he had the paella, again, a crowd pleaser. We ate every bite of all of it. We had several complex, amazing cocktails. Not the run of the mill. Ingredients that are more unique than the average spot for sure. A lot of gin and absinthe. We had one called Ecto cooler (rum, lychee, kiwi coriander shrub) that we all enjoyed immensely. It's not cheap. For all three of us, with our decadent entrees and multiple alcoholic drinks, as well as dessert and apps, was around 450 with the appropriate tip (I did tip heavy because the service was so spectacular). But I also appreciate this restaurant pays a living wage and charges a small uncharge to allow for this. Amazing experience. And on a pedestrian walkway and near clocktower cabaret, so you can have a great evening. read more

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I went for the artichoke tortellini that is talked about. Excellent! Excellent, excellent. And I don't even like Italian food that much. Melt in the mouth, excellent broth, perfect portion of dough and cheese. The drinks wer very refreshing. The sandwiches were great and so was the cucumber gazpacho. Will be back. read more

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Rioja was one of the best meals I've had in Denver. We started with the complimentary bread service, which included cornbread, olive bread, and sourdough. The Harvest Salad was fresh, balanced, and absolutely hit the spot. The standout dish, though, was the truffle tortellini. It was rich, flavorful, and easily the star of the meal. My only regret is ordering the 4-piece portion instead of the 7-piece! I loved that the restaurant offers both half and full portions of their pastas, making it easy to share and try multiple dishes. We also ordered the Thai Pork, and the kitchen was kind enough to split it onto two plates for us, which was a thoughtful touch. The service throughout the evening was attentive super attentive and friendly. We ordered all that was recommended. The three dishes we shared were the perfect amount for two people. In fact, not a single bite was left on our plates. We were so satisfied that we didn't even make it to dessert, but that's just a reason to come back. Highly recommend: Harvest Salad, Truffle Tortellini, and Thai Pork. read more

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Cam in on Saturday for an early bday dinner. I haven't been in for a bit but the service and food was just as good as I remembered. The menu item we are still talking about days later is the artichoke tortellini. It was amazingly succulent and delicious. I am trying to plan how I can get back for more! read more

I genuinely cannot believe it took me this long to find Rioja. This place is it for Denver. Located on Larimer Square, the vibe alone is worth the trip - but then the food goes and makes it unforgettable. We started with the bread and whipped butter, which sounds simple but honestly set the tone for the whole meal. So, so good. From there we had the tuna tartare, artichoke tortellini, goat cheese gnudi, and the mushroom pappardelle - and I don't know where to begin. The handmade pastas are the star of the show. The pappardelle was my unexpected favorite, followed closely by the tortellini and the gnudi (genuinely a tough call between those two). The asparagus salad was fresh and delicious. The tartare was the one thing I'd say was just good rather than transcendent -- still solid, just didn't blow me away the way everything else did. Service was attentive without being overbearing, the atmosphere is elevated but not stuffy, and the menu apparently rotates often so there's always a reason to come back. Perfect for a nicer dinner with friends, bringing your parents, or just treating yourself to something special. Already thinking about my next visit. read more

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Rioja is a fancy restaurant that delivers high quality dishes and a great atmosphere. Given its downtown location, it's a perfect option for visitors staying downtown or for a fine dining experience prior to a show. We had an out-of-town friend staying in downtown Denver for a conference. We wanted to impress her, and I had been wanting to visit Rioja for some time, so we gave it a go. Everything about the experience was perfect. This includes the service, which was warm and knowledgeable. We ordered the two James Beard award dishes, the fresh bacon and the artichoke tortellini, to share between us. Both were delightful and definitely worthy of the attention. I had the mushroom pappardelle; which was appropriately rich and satisfying. We also had a round of drinks. We all enjoyed our drinks and found them to be well-balanced. My friend was delighted by this experience. Mission accomplished. read more

Rioja - Bacon - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Met an old friend (from kindergarten!) and her son for a pre-theater dinner, with my daughter. We sat outside, but did see the interior, which was lovely. There's a small, limited menu, which I always like because they're focused on doing a few items very well, as opposed to many items less well. They do not have gluten-free pasta items. All their pasta is made in-house, and the server told me that so far, efforts with 1:1 flour have not achieved the texture that they want. But they do have risotto, so I ordered that, and the tuna tartare. The tuna was wonderful!! Really delicious. Our server brought me some papadum, because the olive crackers have wheat. The flavors were perfect. The half-order of risotto was quite small, and the piece of smoked trout was small as well, but combined with the tuna, was a perfect meal. The sauce was silky. My daughter and my friend's son both had the steak, and she said it was great. It was a nice size, and perfectly cooked. My friend had the pork. She's a trained chef and a serious foodie, and mostly enjoyed her entree. The "What's up Doc" cocktail with mezcal was very, very good. My daughter had one too. A lovely dining experience! I would return, just for the tuna tartare. Service was attentive without being intrusive, and I really appreciated the papadum. read more

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10/10 would absolutely recommend. Joe we love you thank you for amazing service! We had it all, the lamb burger, the donuts, the tortellini, the chicken salad sandwich, Benedict's and the best margaritas in Denver. The food, the service - I couldn't have asked for a better experience after a prior evening letdown. I'm not a chicken lover but the chicken salad sandwich was phenomenal. It was well balanced and the focaccia delic. My absolute favorite were the donuts, I could swim in that compote. Every dish was spot on and I'd absolutely return. Thanks for the Texas inspired margaritas Joe read more

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All of it. Rioja is one of the best restaurants in Denver and it has been for the past nearly 20 years. Location, food, and ambience are all top notch read more

Had a really nice dinner at Rioja in Denver. The atmosphere felt warm and romantic without being stuffy, and the service was friendly and very attentive the whole night. We started with a couple of great cocktails, then shared the Fresh Bacon (which totally lived up to the hype), butternut squash ravioli and artichoke tortelloni, a soup pasta, all were flavorful and well prepared without feeling overly heavy. The steak was cooked perfectly and flavorful, accompanied by a complex green sauce. Dessert was a highlight. The cheesecake was excellent, and the fig beignets were warm, light, and a fun way to end the meal. It's not a cheap night out, (we paid $188 with tip and shared everything) but everything felt thoughtfully done and worth it for a special dinner. Would definitely go back. read more

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This was my first time at Rioja and what an outstanding experience! I'm a Chicagoan so my standards are high...Rioja was such an invigorating Valentines weekend dinner! This spot is dripping in atmosphere and is so cozy. Their complimentary lavender sourdough and goat cheese biscuits were so tangy, buttery, and a great start. We went with the prickly pear barramundi agua chile and a half order of goat cheese gnudi as appetizers. The gnudi was heavenly and I could easily have eaten an entree size - so pillowy, and smothered in perfectly seasoned lamb ragù. The barramundi was refreshing and as a prickly pear lover the flavor was on point. For our mains we went with the pistachio crusted duck and Thai chili pork. My duck was impeccably cooked and melt-in-your-mouth. We loved the copacetic flavors of the dates and sauces on the dish! The purple veg was maybe a bit too bitter for me, but I can see how it would fit with the duck. The pork was also so juicy and the Thai inspired sauce the veggies are cooked in was excellent. For dessert we chose a valentines special- flourless fudge torte, rose scented whipped mascarpone, strawberry cava consommé. This was one of the best desserts I've ever had - every bite of the rich fudgey torte was imbued with a citrus flavor, and the carbonated cava was such a fun pairing! Every bite was like a perfect chocolate covered strawberry with a sip of sparkling wine. We truly loved this meal - the servers were all so kind and attentive too - and I'll be back soon to try out their lunch! read more

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The food was beautifully presented and full of flavor. The dining room felt elegant but still cozy, which made it perfect for a nice dinner. Our server was warm, knowledgeable, and gave great recommendations. read more

We came here with a huge party and it was a fun experience! The servers kept our waters topped up and we had a really interesting experience eating all the food. The server gave us a lot of info like telling us which food dishes were James beard award winning. The breads were yummy but very small and the server came around to distribute it to us individually. We tried the fresh bacon first -- it's basically a piece of pork belly in a garbanzo bean mush with butter / oil around it. I liked the bean mush the most, it added a lot of flavor to the pork. The pork is actually pretty similar to a piece of Kalua pork, we were eating with some Hawaiians and they thought it was just like kalua pork minus rice. I ordered the artichoke tortellini but it was extemely rich and I was a bit shocked by how creamy it was. Served with small pieces of artichoke hearts and some cheese. I found it was best if you ate it with a bit of the broth as it adds a lot of flavor that balances the super creamy tortellini. I loved the dessert-- it's basically a chocolate cake with raspberry sauce. Some of my table mates ordered the peas and carrots dessert and it looked really interesting kind of like a salad. I took off a star because they seemed to keep clearing only half the table and taking away our silverware without giving more. We found ourselves short of utensils a few times! There could also be more clear signage about where the bathroom is. read more

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We tried the mushroom pappardelle, artichoke tortelloni, Thai chili pork, the prickly pear agua chile and robiola cheesecake. Standouts for us were definitely the artichoke tortelloni and mushroom pappardelle, both were incredible and I'd absolutely recommend ordering them!!! The prickly pear agua chile was refreshing and it was my first time trying barramundi belly so that was a fun and delicious surprise. For dessert, we ordered the robiola cheesecake. It was okay very tart and the cheese flavor was a bit too strong for my personal taste. Our server did warn us how weird it may taste. Service was great. Everyone was friendly and gave solid recommendations. The overall vibe is perfect for a date night or a special celebration. I'd definitely come back! read more

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They had some amazing dishes and some slight misses, but overall good. I understand the James beard. They are famous for the artichoke tortellini, which is a must order (I think made famous from iron chef where she was a semi finalist). Also loved the chicken salad sandwich (just trust me) and the beignets. We didn't love the udon with pork belly (too sweet), the lamb burger, or the churritos (they had a weird mushy eggy texture inside, but the peppermint chocolate it came with was good). For cocktails, I loved the fire starter. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. Over all, we had a great experience here! read more

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We stopped in for Sunday brunch and had an amazing experience. I ordered the Colorado lamb burger, which was outstanding--perfectly seasoned with house-made mozzarella, spicy aioli, oven-roasted tomatoes, a fried egg, chronic bacon, avocado, and a fresh arugula salad. Absolutely delicious. My wife had Gabe's Chronic Chicken Salad Sandwich, and the portion was huge--easily enough for two people. The flavors were great with the chili-marinated grilled chicken, curry aioli, candied cashews, and fresh focaccia. We finished with beignets and dough holes for dessert, which were warm, fluffy, and the perfect sweet ending. Great service, great food, and a fantastic Sunday brunch overall. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Walked in on Sunday afternoon hat in hand and they seated us almost immediately. Great drinks (the beet goes on was peppery and refreshing, the lion's tale was everything herby and delicious). Excellent bread and even better butter. Artichoke tortelloni was a complete experience with artichoke heart potato like chips and the goat cheese gnudi was savory and rich. The fig beignets were flavorful but I might go with the peanut butter chocolate tart next time. The table and chairs were cute comfortable and the wait staff cleaned the crumbs off the table with a plate and metal scrape. read more

Rioja - Artichoke tortelloni with a lion's tale drink peeking in the corner. - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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My daughter set up a reservation for my husband and I for brunch on Saturday, May 9th at 10:30 am, the day before Mother's Day. It was a quiet morning. One other table was seated on the lower deck. Atmosphere and food were excellent. We were blessed with two servers that day, one was in training. Everything was good. However, my daughter placed a credit card down to pay for our brunch. We did not know this and paid anyway. When I spoke to my daughter later, she seemed a bit irritated because she stated that there was a lengthy conversation to place her credit card on file in the first place. My family is from Las Vegas and works in hospitality. These type of requests are made pretty frequently, but perhaps it isn't the same in Denver. I would say that with the credit card hiccup, we would give them 4 stars. read more

Rioja - Crepe with branzino? It was delicious! - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Beautiful restaurant. Love the decor and lighting. Food was amazing. Had the spring risotto with trout. Half-size was plenty enough for me. All of our other dishes were great as well. Would love to come back to try more. read more

Rioja - Spring risotto with smoked trout - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Rioja amazed us.. we came for a mother daughter dinner and Su, our sweet, kind, and amazing recommender server was the best. She made it more of an experience. We ordered the artichoke tortellini as an appetizer, and also had the smoked paprika fazzoletti. They both were of high quality and refined taste. I appreciated the flavor, thoughtfulness of the ingredients and the presentation of each dish. We also shared a house salad which was a great starter. My mom had the smoke and mirrors cocktail which was so well balanced! I'd definitely make a reservation because they often times have long wait times on weekends. They don't make you wait if you have a reservation, though. We were seated quickly. When they preset the dishes they explain the dish really well which adds to the experience. The ambiance is fine dining. The noise level isn't too loud so you can definitely have a conversation which I appreciated. We had a really cute dessert with two mini ice cream cones. I would absolutely come back again, and I'm glad it was a recommendation given to us by a local. It was a treat! Thank you, Su! read more

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No worth thr customer service. I went here and got sick off the food and was asked to leave because I threw up in the bathroom. Its a bo for me. read more

WOW. Rioja, you have surprised me nicely! I had a reservation at a hotel nearby and the lady checking me in suggested this restaurant and I'm so glad she did! The pork belly appetizer looks simple, but tastes delicious!! The pork was so nice and tender. The meat to fat ratio was also real good. Well worth it to try once! The pasta with the crab meat, I forgot the name of.. it was so good! Love the use of real crab. The dish was tasty, but watch out for the portions. I thought the full portion was not actually that much, but could be that I just eat too much haha. The STAR of the night was definitely the Thai pork chop. OMG. I loved the flavor combination. I thought the meat was cooked to perfection. The sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts were so well seasoned I literally cleaned the plate fully. Not one veggie or bite left. This was a must order for me. For dessert, the strawberry tart with pistachio ice cream was pleasant. I loved the ice cream, huge fan! The tart was not extremely memorable to me, so I think I would pass on this in the future if I were to come back. It wasn't bad, just not memorable for me. Bonus points for them surprising me with complimentary birthday cake ice cream cones! I heard someone say Rioja has had its ups and downs with chefs changing and whatnot, but whoever the chef was on the day I was there, knocked it out of the park! Such a great meal!! read more

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If you're looking for a magical meal in Denver: I wish there were an option for more than 5 stars for those exceptional culinary experiences- the ones meant to be savored both on the palate and our memories. And that was Rioja. Scene: the ambience is upscale but still lively and exciting with a nearly full house on Sunday night. I'm sorry to see that chef's table seating is still grossly underutilized, as I had a lot of fun watching chef prepare some plates and listen to the busy kitchen working the line. Drinks: There's a very solid wine list. But I indulged in the cocktails, and had to stop myself from slurping down the very well mixed lion's tail. Food: The bread course was delightful, with a biscuit, and 2 flavored breads- black olive and rosemary. The rosemary was outstanding but I'd save it for the end as not to overpower the other breads. The house salad was lovely with fresh arugula, tangy Gorgonzola and date slices, which added a sweet balance. I ordered the veggie version of their James beard winning dish- the artichoke tortelloni. It's quite possible the non veggie version with chicken broth may be quite different. I loved the individual components, including the pillowy mousse filled pasta, but the truffle eventually made the artichoke lose some of its power. Dessert: really interesting selection, but I succumbed to my constant chocolate craving. The peanut butter chocolate cheesecake did not disappoint, but I really appreciated the fun accompaniments of the excellent dark chocolate wafers and the candied peanuts. Service was fantastic and all my food arrived very quickly in spite of how busy they were. Maybe you can get equally good food somewhere else, but what made Rioja shine was the attention to detail in their presentations and the impeccable professionalism they clearly embody in their kitchen and service. This is a special place, and Denver is lucky to have Rioja! read more

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We ordered the bacon, thai chili pork and octopus. The bacon was amazing and I would rate this restaurant 5 stars if all I ate was the bacon. However, we did get 2 other dishes. The pork chop was a bit over cooked and tough and same thing with the octopus. I've eaten a lot of octopus before and this one was tough and I had high hopes. All in all, if I don't plan to come back unless I plan on ordering 5 bacons as my main and only dish. read more

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Fantastic service and excellent experience. The drinks were well crafted and the happy hour specials were also a pleasant surprise. The level of care and detail the staff provided was impressive and the best part of the visit. The Tortelloni was the overall winner from our order. read more

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The place is beautiful, but the real star is the food. I haven't had anything I didn't love - even the bread is amazing. Great spot for a cocktail, too. Their happy hour menu is on point, read more

My friend and I are big fans of Jennifer Jasinski and Rioja is her flagship restaurant. Neither of us had visited for awhile, so we went last Saturday. The place was strangely empty for a prime dining hour, which seemed odd. Anyway, the service was absolutely impeccable. Our server seemed very young (anyone under 60 seems young to me), but was extremely enthusiastic and charming. She was also awesomely knowledgeable about both the menu and the wine list and had clearly sampled all of the dishes. She had meaningful suggestions. The other staff pitched in as needed and the meal ran smoothly and seamlessly. Unfortunately things went downhill from there. We started with a shared plate of the Goat Cheese Gnudi. The extremely tender dumplings went perfectly with the delicious goat cheese stuffing which substituted for the usual ricotta. The bed of lamb ragù did not hold up to the gnudi. It was dry, flavorless, and tough. My entrée was the Smoked Duck Breast. It came with a cherry jus and braised cabbage plus mushroom and parsnip purées. Both purées were delicious, but the servings were so infinitesimal that I could have eaten them each in one bite. I had to dole them out in microscopic quantities. The jus was intensely flavored and the braised cabbage was wonderful. The duck is the star, though, and I was not thrilled with this. I do like rare steak, but I usually order duck medium. The server said the chef preferred medium rare, so I went along with that. The dish came out closer to rare. It was very hard to cut, even with a fancy knife, and there were a number of strips of connective tissue that were not rendered. The duck itself was just OK even though the accompaniments were all good. Sous vide might have been a better approach. My friend had the Seared Halibut which came in a tomato herb broth with blistered gooseberry, black olive, green chickpea, and toasted coriander. The dish looked beautiful. My friend is not one to complain, but I finally pried out of him that the halibut was so badly overcooked that several chunks were inedible. Another disappointment. This restaurant is beautiful and has been one of the top fine dining spots in town for over 20 years. We each had one drink. Our bill, with tip, was $220, not to mention the $30 for parking in the Larimer Square garage. I expect near perfection for a $250 evening. This didn't come close, although it could have been amazing. Jennifer, Jennifer, please get your eye back on the ball. read more

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We wanted to catch late happy hour and early dinner here (had to catch USA soccer at 7!). Great decision, and awesome experience. Erika was our server, and was knowledgeable, personable, and energetic. She elevated our experience throughout our visit. There when we needed something without being intrusive. Fine line to walk, and she did it perfectly. There is some really good value on the happy hour, especially on the wine (and their house wine was GOOD). And always a winner in my book, craft beer was on special for happy hour (one reason our dinner choice place got the nod for happy hour also, to be honest), and that simple detail always makes me happier. We ordered a meat and cheese plate during our happy hour drinks, and it was tasty. Whatever those parmesan bread stick things were, they were AMAZING. I could have eaten a whole plate of just those. Seriously, they were NOT window dressing. I stuck with IPA's during our meal (Odell), and the wife tried a couple of drinks. She had The Beet Goes On and Time After Time. Both were solid, but the Time After Time was DELICIOUS at another level. For our entrees, the wife got the pork chop and I got the goat cheese gnudi. We both were extremely happy with our meal, and not sure who won the food battle on this night. I loved mine and finished it briskly, so I tackled some of her pork chop. It was amazing, but the most amazing thing was whatever they seasoned the outer parts with. Mouth awesomeness, I will tell you. And, before moving on, the value of the WHOLE menu was actually really good, happy hour or not. The prices were pretty modest in comparison to the high quality we got on our plates. The restaurant felt energetic while still keeping the fine dining mold. Cool bar area at the front area, smartly separated from the dining area so you can have two different worlds in the place at once. Again, Erika was a rock star as a server. I would highly recommend this place for a date night, outing, or whatever, and see you there... read more

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We had a really nice dinner here Thursday. It's an attractive space, and while it was busy, it wasn't overly loud, so you can have conversation easily. The service was attentive, and we were seated right away for our reservation. We started with the house salad, which they split for us. It was great and had delicious dates and strong gorgonzola. My BF had the steak, which he thought was really well-prepared. I had the much lauded artichoke tortellini, and they were good but didn't quite live up to the hype. Be sure to tell them if you are vegetarian, because there are some undisclosed meat products used in the food. The cauliflower bisque has lard or bacon (I forget) and the tortellini is usually prepared with chicken broth, though they can make it with veggie broth. We tried the special dessert they had for the lunar new year, a cloud cake with 5-spice ice cream, and it was great! I just wish it had more ice cream. It was a very small amount, maybe 2 tablespoons. They also offered a smaller portion of the beignets since we were interested in trying them. They were very good as well. read more

A fantastic dining experience. Rioja is great. I had a reservation for 4 and then found out some other dear friends were in town and wanted to join so I called and they were able to accommodate my group of 7, no problem! They were so gracious! We were seated at a cozy large booth in an intimate corner of the restaurant. The decor is lovely, from the main dining room to even the bathroom! We ordered some rioja picnics for the table. These were some beautiful and delicious charcuterie boards!!! I did try the lavender haze cocktail and it was beautiful and refreshing. I really enjoyed it. For my meal, I had the steak. It was really good and had a little kick to it. My love had the duck and THAT was the top tier choice for me. It was so delicious. The portions are perfect and the prices are fair. The service is spectacular. We had a wonderful dining experience and are so grateful to the Rioja team for making us feel welcome. read more

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One of the best pasta experiences I've ever had. The Artichoke Tortelloni is a must. No wonder it won a James Beard Award. The staff at Rioja were so kind and helpful. It was such a cool area to dine as well. The serving size and price was the only complaint we really had. They didn't match and I've been to equivalent restaurants. Generally a $27 pasta dish has more. read more

Rioja - Artichoke Tortelloni - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Beautiful James Beard winning restaurant on Larimar Square. We sat indoors facing the square. Joe was our waiter & today's specials had our mouths watering. The cozy restaurant with a big bar is trendy. I enjoyed watching the chefs making the bread & desserts from scratch. Trip Advisor rated Rioja as #12 out of 2,700 in Denver. We shared the pea, sunchoke salad with sugar snap peas, ahi tuna, pickled sunchokes, torn herbs, freekah, red onions, pistachios, and crème fraîche. It was fresh, crisp, divided into 2 bowls & perfect. We also shared Jay's chronic chicken salad sandwich with chili marinated, grilled chicken salad, bacon, curry, aioli, ratatouille, celery, candy, cashews, and mixed greens on focaccia. For dessert we shared the half order of House made donuts. Lunch was exceptional, 5 stars doesn't do Rioja justice! read more

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