This restaurant very nice! Ambiance was great not too loud where you could actually hear the other party and waiter! We sat at bar and service was excellent! The food was delicious! The waiter described each dish! Leek soup , entrees quail , halibut, salad with salmon cooked perfect! Fried octopus very tender! Drinks were good! Overall the restaurant was well worthwhile $$$ read more

TREAT YOSELF!! My friend and I were excited to dress up for a fancy dinner at Rioja. It's the perfect "special occasion" restaurant. Between the upscale dishes, classy vibe, and phenomenal service, it's no wonder Rioja is considered Michelin Star level. Well, there's of course their James Beard award. Our waiter was fun and helpful throughout the entire evening. We started with an assortment of bread. The lavender bread was the BEST, and I wish I could have taken some home. Got the Lions Tale cocktail, though I should have asked the bartender to make me something more spirit-forward. This was the closest they had. Love all the dishes we got to share, most of which were recommended by our waiter: * Seared Scallops (fregola salad, sugar snap peas, green curry, oven dried tomatoes, pea shoots) * Fresh Bacon (pork belly, cardamom, curried garbanzo bean purée) * Duck Breast (honey pistachio crust, candied olives, olive oil poached dates, radicchio, carrot-turmeric purée, five spice jus) * Artichoke Tortelloni (artichoke mousse, white truffle brodo, Manchego) I don't have individual comments because they were ALL incredible dishes. Perfect presentation, texture variety, and flavors. The menu itself isn't super comprehensive, and I love that. Specialize in a set of dishes and nail them each time. Every foodie in Denver (or passing through) should check out Rioja. Not too hard to get a reservation. I'm excited to come back again someday! read more

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Came here on a Sunday evening for dinner. Make sure you book a res! The inside is more upscale and outside is more casual. I saw people dressed in hiking clothes as well as cocktail attire. Their house bread selection is lovely. I had the goat cheese biscuit. Their wines are offered by the half or full glass. I tried the Rioja rose and red wines. Their artichoke tortellini is a must order! The full size portion comes with 5 pieces. Their octopus is good but not quite as tender as some other's. I also loved their lamb 2 ways dish. Service was excellent. Tried the angel food cake for dessert, and the presentation is beautiful. Overall, highly recommend! read more

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First impression: It's in the heart of the vibrant Larimer St area with a spacious outdoor dining area. Very friendly people as the hosts! But, the complimentary bread was served almost cold which was disappointing since the biscuits would have been better, and lavender in the sourdough more pronounced, if served at a hotter temperature. Breads were presented in such a beautiful way, though. Second half of the dining room didn't have the same ambience that the front of the house did as the front looked well decorated and had an overall better vibe/aesthetic. Am I being nit-picky? We still really enjoyed our 1st meal here, especially with our great waitress and the amazing team in sync with each other! Ordered: * fresh figs + goat cheese tart: not the most sharable size but perfect for my partner. * peach caprese: i like regular, fresh burrata more (i realized after eating this) but was delicious and refreshing with the sauce. Save some bread to dip! * vegetarian four squares: was basically 3 kinds of sautéed veggie/salad dishes + a too-sweet butternut squash soup. The past versions of this that I've seen on here looked waay better so we'll have to try again soon! * halibut w/ saffron braised fennel, olive oil poached fingerling potatoes, caldeirada sauce, baby heirloom tomatoes: sounds great but lacked complex flavor. Sides were good but could have been thought out a little better. Maybe just not my style. Halibut was cooked to perfection though which is what I care about the most! * Palmer & Co. Blanc de Blancs Champagne: was great with our meal, highly recommend. Dessert + cocktail menus look heavenly. Happy Hour menu looks quite fun, too. We might have not picked the best dishes this time so we are coming back to try some pastas! read more

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What a dining establishment! Everything about this place screams class. From the service to the presentation to the food itself, everything was terrific. Our waiter was super friendly and even gave us complimentary champagne as we were there celebrating a special occasion. To start, a server comes around with a bread basket where you get to choose your choice of bread. Talk about service! For starters, we got the smoked burrata and it was phenomenal. I love how it comes with a side of salad with a honey vinaigrette which adds a nice balance to the dish. For my main, I got the wagyu tri tip and it was delicious. It's cooked perfectly medium rare and it was so tender. It comes with a skewer of shiitake mushrooms which were also terrific. The xo sauce for the wagyu was superb. I also got to try the duck breast and a part of me wishes I ordered that instead. You really can't go wrong with either choice. What a treat to be able to dine here! read more

Rioja - Smoked burrata - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Recently returned to Rioja, and service was just as excellent as the last time. The sangria was incredible and Thai chili pork chop was to DIE! The space itself was dreamy, always a great atmosphere on the patio! read more

Cold, that's all I felt having brunch here a week ago. So cold I had to ask for a blanket. So cold my coffee went from hot to... well, in a matter of minutes. So cold that the fat on my "Fresh Bacon" congealed in a matter of minutes. So cold the Artichoke Tortelloni's soup felt like I was having liquid fat. Both signature dishes tasted to me like they had the same profile - salty, but not savory. It's a shame. My girlfriend seemed to have enjoyed her benedict very much - she had three layers on, good for her. At last it was my idea to share a dessert. She picked the Peanut butter/Fudge Tort. Good choice, it's every bit as described and expected. Finally something other than salty and cold (needless to say, I didn't touch the ice cream that came with). Staff is very polite and gentle, space is clean and upscale, just cold. read more

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Amazing amazing meal at Rioja! We actually had to cancel our dinner reservation here during our Denver trip. But we were able to randomly fit them into our schedule for lunch before our flight out and we were so happy that it was fate. Everything we had was delicious! Light, fresh, balanced and the service was amazing. Definitely recommend the artichoke tortellini!! Don't care how full you are, get it!the chilled noodle dish was superb and the soba noodle dish was amazing. This place is a must visit! Great service as well. read more

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Tried the tasting menu, the Artichoke Tortelloni was the best plate I've had in Denver. If I ever come back I'm skipping the tasting menu and getting a full order of this. The tasting menu was great but seriously that was the star of the show. read more

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

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I came here on a whim with a girlfriend while we were in town for a work trip. I am SO glad we found this spot. We had the most lovely evening and the food was amazing! We shared olives, the heirloom tomato salad with stracciatella, and the bolognese. They split everything for us the fresh pasta and homemade bread (try the lavender) were AMAZING. Our server was so attentive and sweet. Huge perk- they have NA wine options. Great vibes overall! read more

We walked up to Rioja on a Saturday night without a reservation. Not a good idea but luckily for us the host staff is so welcoming and didn't make us feel bad about it. They put our names down and gave us a good estimated time. In fact, we sat earlier than the time estimated so that was even better. The ambiance is really nice. Low candlelight (even if it's not open flame). We sat outside (by request) but the inside looked really nice and cozy too. There are good heaters and flames to keep you warm and wonderful people watching. Our server and the assistant were great. We got waters right away. Our drink order was taken quickly with good suggestions. My bf got the boss hog. That's a strong pig but it was delicious. I forgot the name of mine but it tasted just like an alcoholic orange bang (or orange creamsicle drink for those of you not from Hawaii.) The bread service is great. Hard to choose but hey you can have one of each or more than that if you really want it. They had some interesting sounding specials but we decided to order off the menu and split the house salad (dates! so good with arugula, who knew?!?! Rioja did) and basically shared the duck and the octopus. The duck was freaking stellar. Perfectly cooked with nice skin. The puree was just sweet enough but savory enough to be a perfect one bite vessel. The octopus was tender and packed with flavor. We also had cheesecake for dessert. It wasn't what I was expecting and I appreciated that. It was good but not something I'd crave. I'll try something else next time. If I had any criticism, it would be that the plates are fairly small but to be honest, I think things are meant to be shared so it wasn't a big deal. read more

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This place was an absolute delight!!! We were visiting from Seattle and our local friends suggested this place. Hands down a 5/5 for: ambience, service, food and drinks! :D We ordered 3 appetizers (see pictures below) , 4 mains, a bottle of wine (Muriel Reserva), cocktails, and dessert (lemon and blueberries). Everything was superb. Huge compliments to the Chef for putting together all these wonderful flavors. I wouldn't change a thing. And the bread basket - wow! Lovely presentation. I had the lavender bread. Loved it! Being of Middle Eastern origins, I highly appreciated these Mediterranean flavors. Well done! If you're looking to have a delicious meal with friends/colleagues/or family, look no further! This is really such a spectacular place, well worth it! Thank you for making this a memorable evening for us. read more

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Delicious tapas place! I love the ambience here. The menu truly allows you to share as little or as much as you'd like. Their pasta dishes can all be ordered as halfs, meaning you get to taste more of their menu. The accompanied bread was also amazing. Lavender sourdough?! Insanely good. They sell it by the loaf, but you need to give them 48 hour notice. They had a truffle broth pasta. Divine. Their vegetarian platter was truly surprising. The flavors, the combination of textures, it was all spot on. Their vegetarian dish is where they shined, shows how you don't need excessive fat or expensive ingredients to create something delicious. I also got the octopus and that was amazing! Cooked to perfection, but the icing on the cake was the Spanish flavor it had to it. My fiance said it was like a "ratatouille" experience where you eat a bite and you're reminded of childhood. The desserts. Ooooh, the kiwi and kumquat Pavlova. So freaking crispy and just absolutely amazing. Give this place a chance! Make a reservation. Great wines. Outdoor seating. Amazing service. read more

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Quite simply one of the best dining experiences in Denver. Rioja always manages to be intimate and classy without being stuffy. The service is attentive and warm and contributes to the ethos of classy and inviting. The menu is so intentional and the flavors are well balanced. The bread basket at the start of the meal is such a treat and also a dilemma because they all look so good. My friend was raving about her lamb entree so I tried it and it was phenomenal and I have never enjoyed lamb before! Rioja is very small so I would advise against having a group dinner here. You're often seated very close to other diners. As may be expected, the portions are small. So, it's ideal for a special meal with one or 2 people...Rioja is a lovely dining experience and is on the all lists for a reason. read more

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We've been here a few times and unfortunately, yesterday's experience was not great. Slow service and a few bad dishes that just were poorly executed. It took our waiter close to 15 minutes to come and take our drink orders and another 15 minutes to get our drinks, they were not busy. Then after waiting 45 minutes he came out and said there was an issue in the kitchen and our bone marrow would be another 15 minutes and we could pick an appetizer on them. I like slow meals, but I don't like service that isn't on top of it. The food: -The goat cheese tart was nice, that was our freebie. -The bone marrow was nice, but nothing spectacular. The pasta: -Pea mousse ravioli- the pasta was nice, but then they put a bunch of toppings on there that were not necessary. Simplicity sometimes is the best way to go. -Squid ink pappardelle: this dish was a horrible mess, it had a fishy smell, the flavors didn't work and the shrimp was rubbery and overcooked. We sent it back. -Artichoke tortelloni: was the nice dish, a bit bland and not visually creative. The pasta was in broth almost like a soup. -The octopus: was terrible, while the sides were nice the octopus was overcooked and rubbery. There is a right way to do it and a wrong way. They redid the dish but it was no different. While we enjoyed sitting outside and then later moving indoors when it got windy, the service upfront and the two bad dishes really made this a mediocre experience. read more

My boyfriend and I wanted to celebrate during our vacation in Colorado and found this little gem on Yelp. We made a reservation a week and a half in advance and was able to get the last inside table at 7:30pm for the night we planned to go! It's located next to Corridor 44 on Larimer St. There's only paid street parking around (but I think it's free after a specific time?) and paid lot parking. The block is closed off for pedestrians to walk on so expect to walk a little. After ordering, we were offered bread. There were three types: lavender, Parmesan, and a cheese one. I can't remember the exact names of each of them but that's the gist of what we got. LOL. we were given butter that was topped with hawaiian salt. Each of the breads were delicious! Me and my boyfriend both personally liked the Parmesan one and tried to ask for more of that when they came back but ended up saying cheese and got the one we both didn't care for... DRATS LOL. But it was okay. We still had our appetizer and main dish to finish. On a side note, one of the lavender breads had a tiny rock in it. I almost bit it but luckily found it in my mouth before I cracked a tooth! We decided to share a pasta appetizer (smaller portion) and chose the Saffron gnocchi with shrimp. The gnocchi was suuuuper good. The pasta practically melted in my mouth which confused me a bit but then hits with full flavor. Loved it sooo much! I got the Pan Seared Spanish octopus and omg. The octopus was soooo tender and flavorful with the sauce spread. The starch, which I've never tried before, was super interesting. Almost like a mochi kind of rice (asian side of me coming out). My boyfriend got the Grilled Wagyu Tri-Tip. The steak was verrryyy tender. There was a sauce spread but also a sauce medley of things which was the winner for the entire dish. There were only 6 cuts of steak but soooo good and worth it. There was also a side of grilled mushrooms and cabbage as vegetables for the dish. Overall, my experience here was amazing! Food was super different from what I'm used to and the flavors were outstanding! read more

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We booked this well in advance for our trip to Denver. Absolute nightmare getting to the restaurant by car due to traffic, but they were nice enough to hold the reservarion for a few minutes. Valet is at ocean prime. Once inside we could tell that this was a more casual type atmosphere for a restaurant of this acclaim (good for us since we had kids). Service was excellent and they helped us find options good for kids. For starters the rioja salad option w meats and cheeses was plentiful and delicious. Ginger cocktail was outstanding. Least favorite part of the meal was the bacon Kids split the pea ravioli which they enjoyed. The lamb dish was excellent and wife loved her octopus. Highlight of the meal was thin mint ice cream dessert which didn't last more than 2 minutes in the table. Loved our experience and highly recommend for a Denver style more casual fine dining experience (some folks in ball caps, sweatshirts, shorts, etc) read more

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

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This is a first class restaurant. The food is creative and delicious, the service superb, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. There were 3 in our party of 9 with celiac disease and the restaurant not only accommodated their request, they created crackers and more to please them. From start to finish a 10+ score!!! read more

A friend and I ate here last week. I'll start with the good. The place has a great vibe and ambiance. The service was really great as well. Now for the food.... I ordered the Lamb Duet. It was OK. The lamb sausage was good, the small lamb porterhouse was a bit tough, and it came with a small serving size of about 6 sugar snap peas and a panisse stick which was very dry. This dish fell flat and didn't meet the expectations I had for it. I felt the portions were very small. My friend ordered the half plate tortelloni as an app. The dish consisted of 3 tortelloni served in what seemed like a broth. My friends described it as OK, not something she would order again. She was very put off that only 3 tortelloni was served, that is an extremely small size. For her dinner she ordered the vegatable four squares which was good. We ordered dessert, the beignets for me and the ice cream for her. The beignets were served as 5 mini beignets. They were too dry for my taste. The restaurant adds on a 5% Denver Minimum Wage fee, which states on their menu is used to pay their staff the minimum wage. It is not the patrons responsibility to pay for the staffs minimum wage, I provide their wages already in the form of a tip. 5% is extreme and we were very put off by that. They also offer a discount if you pay with cash, which is essentially a penalty if you pay with a credit card. I have seen that is more casual establishments but not somewhere that is aiming to be more high end. Overall our experience fell flat and this is not somewhere we would go back to a second time. The restaurant should also reconsider their billing practices. read more

Rioja - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I came to Denver on something of a foodie tour, and I can tell you, hands down, that this restaurant had the best service of all the places I went to. The servers were attentive, bringing things before being asked, anticipating our needs, communicating with each other behind the scenes. The restaurant ambience was also so pleasant--perfect for a more intimate meal (a date, or in my case, a reunion of old friends). Where I take off one star is for the food (and I feel bad saying it, because I had a great experience overall). It was good--but not great. Let's start with the bread service. They offered three kinds of bread, all delicious and bite-sized, but it was a shame to get only a small sandwich-like slice of sourdough without much of the crust (the best part of any sourdough, I argue). I would have rather had fewer choices of bread, but a more significant chunk of the crust. My favorite course was the starter--a goat cheese tart was that was like a hug on a plate. Warm, creamy, inviting. Delicious. My friend had carrot soup, which I tried. It was too thin in texture for my taste, lacking layers of flavor. It tasted like carrot, but that was about it--it didn't make an impact. My main course was a "four plate" vegetarian taster, which sounded like fun to me. It was certainly eye-catching, but not the most original vegetarian fare. Some crispy red potatoes (good, but you can get potatoes like that anywhere), a zucchini quinoa dish (my favorite), some spaghetti with a truffle sauce on it (the spaghetti did not taste freshly made, and the truffle sauce mostly tasted of cream--you hardly tasted the truffle), and fried apricots, which had a pleasant spicy-sweet combo, but were a little too oily for my tastes. My friend had the chocolate tarte for dessert (with the candied banana on top), which was rich and delicious--this would be enjoyed by any chocolate enthusiast. To wrap this up, I'll just say that yes, my standards are pretty high, as someone who has had the privilege to dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant. I see a lot of potential here for greatness, but the food was hit and miss--some things were amazing (that goat cheese tart!), and other things lacked the punch of flavor they needed (carrot soup/pasta with truffle sauce). We had a wonderful time, in any case. read more

Rioja - Goat cheese tart--recommend! - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Guysssss this is the best meal I've had in Denver! I honestly can't begin to explain how wonderful this experience was. We made a reservation about a month ago and I definitely wasn't ready to have such an incredible experience. The service, cozy ambiance and delicious cocktails were a great start, but the food was out of this world. We had the fig and goat cheese pastry to start, and then we ordered the duck, the wagyu and the seared strip baja bass. Everything was insane! I was sad that it was my last day in Denver, otherwise I would've gone back. Pictures don't do it justice ... you just gotta try it! A+ for Rioja read more

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Fine dining vibe, amazing service, and fun decor - picnic cheese and charcuterie The meat are delicious - bread Really good and special. Server came with a basket for your choice - artichoke tortelloni The best of tonight!!!!! Melts in mouth with a rich flavor - duck breast Not impressed. Used Asian sauces on the side but the duck breast was not fully roasted and chewy. My thought was - if you are doing it the Asian way, why not just fully roast it and make it more flavorful? If you want to make fusion innovation, you can emphasize on the citrus flavor and blend in more ponzu/orange throughout your cooking. Also, personally I just don't think medium cooked duck is as nice as steaks, it's chewy - halibut Delicious. Would love a bigger portion of fish read more

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Not as good as it used to be. Skimpy portions. Not so much in the flavor department any longer. Not sure if they have someone different in the kitchen but what used to be a place with wonderfully creative food and layered flavors was not the experience we had this time. Our server wasn't up to Rioja standards either. Hardly said a word. Not friendly at all. Rarely came to see how we were doing or see if we needed anything more. We're so sad to have to cross this off of our list. (but the cocktails were really good!) read more

Wonderful dinner from start to finish. Beautiful dining room, excellent service and delicious food. Cocktails were nicely prepared, and nicer to drink!. My son wanted to order the Rioja Picnic, and it is a beautiful presentation, but I really wanted to get into some of the other appetizers, perhaps next trip. The plate was delicious and indeed a showstopper when it arrives at the table. The gnocchi are light, fluffy and I thought just perfect. I had the pastrami beef short rib special which was a delight. The pastrami flavors were there, but not overbearing at all The other components of the dish were nearly perfect. If I have to give any criticism, the potato mash was a tad salty for my taste but I am pretty sensitive to salt. I do wish more chefs would dial the salt back a tad. I struggle when I want everything on the dessert menu, and this was one of those cases. I skipped over the cannoli, but our server explained that it wasn't really a classic cannoli at all. Instead, a delicious tube of cookie filled with a rice pudding, I'm so glad I ordered it! Not at all what you might expect. Don't hesitate to dine here, really is a wonderful special occasion restaurant. read more

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This restaurant is one of my favorite restaurants in Denver! Perfectly ocated in Larimer Square. From the moment you walk in you realize right away the attention they pay to their service. The food...my goodness!! Did not disappoint. Although a relatively small menu, it is bursting with the most excellent blend a flavors! I had the lavender sourdough bread, the lavender haze cocktail, the tomato salad, chamomile cured Hokkaido scallop crudo, and the grilled bavette steak. The combination of ingredients is brilliant! The restaurant was full for a Tuesday and that was a reflection of the ambience they have created here. I highly recommend this restaurant as a must try in Denver. read more

The happy hour menu seems like it mostly has drinks at a discount vs food as the artichoke tortellini and house salad were the same prices. There were a few things that are only on this menu such as a hibiscus rum spritz that I didn't see on the dinner menu. Complimentary bread along with the butter (super rich, almost cheesy) was excellent. I liked the lavender sourdough the most but still enjoyed the parmesan focaccia and the goat cheese biscuit (this was the only one that came warm, not sure if intentional). We ordered and shared somewhat: - Rioja house salad: I liked the ingredients but there was too much vinaigrette - Fresh bacon: this is what they are known for and while the garbanzo puree was interesting and good, it was not enough to offset the saltiness of the pork belly. It was very salty and didn't think it was particularly tender. - Artichoke tortellini: the other thing they are known for. The full size comes with 5 pieces and the artichoke flavor is not very strong. My friend doesn't like artichokes and I couldn't convince him to try this. I really liked the white truffle broth, not very rich as you would imagine. It also comes with Manchego cheese and a white truffle slice. - Duck breast: this was served medium rare and tasted much more like steak. I would not have thought this was duck if not told. The accompaniments were good (squash puree, dates, etc.) - Hibiscus rum spritz: very refreshing and I'd get this again. Got this off happy hour menu. read more

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Chef Jennifer Jasinski (James Beard WINNER 2013) continues to produce the most consistent and delicious food in Denver! In the last 15 years, I have chosen to spend my birthdays and special occasions HERE!!! Tonight (for my birthday), we sat at the bar walking in without a reservation. We personally love sitting at the bar as the bartenders are great conversationalists, they know the menu better than most of the staff and you get the opportunity to meet a new person or two. We started out with the Beet Salad over arugula and a Goat Cheese Tart. Even if you are not a fan of beets, this dish will make you a convert. The beets are sweet and soft and not the typical earthy variety. There is a hint of maple syrup that comes through and during the winter months, it comes across as true comfort food. The Goat Cheese Tart was rich and creamy but I will be honest and state that I would not have remorse if this was not a regular fare in a month or two. House-made bread was delicious, as it has been for over a decade. My only critique here is that I love my bread warm and this comes to the table on the cold side. But the rosemary sourdough is a flavorful dream. Rioja is the restaurant that I trust to convert my "dislikes" into "likes.". There was. time I disliked cooked salmon. Done right, I love it. In general, I do not care much for lamb but tonight we ordered the lamb loin and it was spectacular. Soft, cooked with care and deeply flavorful. It had a perfect crust on the outside and was gentle, not tough. We also ordered the Duck Breast, which to me is a classic treat. Duck can be greasy at times, but the Rioja kitchen is just too talented to turn out anything less than spectacular. Being my birthday, the pastry chef made a house made birthday cake ice cream cone. It was a nice pallet cleanser that was not overly heavy. It paired well with the actual ordered dessert, the Peanut Butter Salted Caramel Cake. The restaurant is open and inviting. It is not acoustically loud, so you can actually have conversation but it maintains an upbeat vibe, unlike some of the staunchy steak houses around town. No place is perfect and to that end, I would state that since the closing of Larimer St to create a pedestrian zone, the parking is less than ideal. They offer valet for $20 but it is at the end of the block so you might as well park in one of the regional garages. Lastly, Rioja used to change the menu at least four times per year. It seems that in the last 10 years, they have settled on their standards. I would LOVE to see the daring, farm-fresh creativity return. On the other hand, Chef Jen is so incredibly consistent, why disrupt a GREAT THING? read more

The restaurant is located in a cute bustling block but not difficult to find. I had previously made a reservation on tock for a table of two. We were seated immediately near the kitchen where we could see some of the kitchen commotion. I tried the pork belly and the ravioli. Both were A+ delicious. The pork belly was so tender and light. There pork belly has a delicate infusion of flavor - it was lovely. The ravioli was beautiful. One word to describe this would be: spring. The green peas were fresh. The mushrooms were perfectly tender and earthy. The mini crunchy mushrooms gave it texture. It was a spring-tastic dish! If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely be back for more. read more

Rioja - Ravioli with mushrooms and green peas - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Amazing spot! I stopped in while downtown for a quick lunch before an interview in the area. I had a wonderful experience. While I didn't drink during my visit, the team was super passionate and knowledgeable on their cocktail and beverage program. The atmosphere is lovely, a wonderful space to consider for events. Really the reason for the review was the outstanding food. One dish, the artichoke tortelloni, caught my attention immediately on their limited post-lunch menu. It was incredible and honestly one of the best dishes I have ever had. I'm excited to return to Rioja with friends to explore more of their craft cuisine and pair some courses with their rather impressive wine-by-the-glass program. read more

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

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Had the Thai Chili Pork chop. Probably one of the best entrees I have ever had. Tons of flavor. The air conditioning is down so sit outside if you can read more

On my last night in Denver, I also had dinner here, and it was fantastic! I started with Rabbit Two Ways as my first course, a sample platter of Artichoke Mousse Tortelloni and "Fresh Bacon" for my second course, a Grilled Wagyu Tri-Tip as my third course, and chocolate Japanese "Cloud Cake" for dessert. The rabbit was served as pancetta wrapped loin and confit rabbit leg and served over a carrot puree. The rabbit was tender and delicious! The "fresh bacon" is a tender and juicy pork belly with cardamom and a curried garbanzo puree. The tortelloni was filled with artichoke-goat cheese mousse and served in a very flavorful white truffle brodo (broth). The tortelloni dish is what helped the Chef Jennifer Jasinski win the James Beard best chef award in 2013. Both of these dishes were outstanding! The grilled wagyu was well-seasoned, tender, and perfectly cooked! It was served with a skewer of grilled shitake mushrooms and pickled cabbage, which I also enjoyed for its textures and originality. The Chocolate Japanese "Cloud Cake" was described as a chocolate souffle' cake with chocolate sauce, a chocolate tuile, and topped with coffee ice cream. I told the server I didn't like coffee, so he offered two other flavors, including the fudge brownie flavor I chose. The dessert arrived as a wedge slice topped with powdered sugar, which I wasn't expecting. It wasn't as rich and decadent as I expected, so if too much "rich and decadent" scares you away from a dessert, you should feel comfortable with this. It was a nice way to end my dinner! Rioja is located in the popular Larimer Square, and has a hip vibe to it. The service and food were excellent, and I highly recommend dining here! read more

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The staff and location get 5 stars! From the hostess, to the waiter to the busboys everyone was lovely. The street is full of festive spots with loads of outdoor seating. But the martinis were small and way too much vermouth. The food and the veggie selection was bland and the pasta had fried accents on top with out much sauce or flavor. I thought they had Michelin stars? I was looking forward to this treat all week but was sadly disappointed. read more

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The food was so good! The servers were very attentive to our table and even provided a good intro to our dishes. read more

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

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Thank you for a wonderful dinner Saturday night! I had the delicious pork chops with roasted vegetables. I want to thank Justin for asking the chef for the ingredients from the fantastic Wild Rice bowl with short ribs - I sure miss this dish from your lunch menu. If I can recreate this dish even 50% it will be fantastic. Thanks again Justin!!! read more

I mean it was really good but the portion to price ratio was off for someone who really likes some grub.

I've been to Rioja for a casual brunch, and for a business dinner. I've enjoyed some of the best, most unique flavors in Denver here. The service is knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Whether I'm in a suit or jeans I've been treated with equal care and delighted by the menu. read more

Rioja - Chestnut soup and goat cheese tart - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

My goodness what a great dinner. The ambiance and location are awesome. Lots of cool places to stroll after or before. We made a reservation and were seated timely. Ordered a few amazing dishes. Loved the goat cheese tart as an appetizer. It was creamy and esthetically appealing as well. For entrees I'd suggest the short rib. It was so good. The pastas were good too. We will be back for sure! read more

I recently visited Rioja while in Denver for work. I loved the interior, it is very modern and upscale feeling while also being cozy and intimate. My boyfriend and I came in here unexpectedly while walking in the area, so we were dressed casually, and I was worried at first walking in that I was underdressed. This was not an issue, and we were greeted warmly and made to feel very comfortable! This is a great location if you're out around Larimer Square and need a delicious dinner or a smaller bite. The drinks we ordered were delicious! My boyfriend loved their take on the mule with the addition of turmeric and other ingredients. I enjoyed my drink a lot as well! The bread service was delicious, and the three varieties of bread were amazing. My personal favorite was the lavender, which I have not seen in a restaurant before and really enjoyed. I wasn't super hungry when we stopped in, but I ordered the house salad and really enjoyed it. My boyfriend loved the pasta dish with rabbit that he ordered. Our service was amazing, and our waiter was so friendly. Everyone from the person who greeted us to the person who brought our drinks was wonderful. When back in Denver, I can't wait to return and try some more of the menu! read more

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Finally checked out Rioja for a weekday date night. To start, this was a great place for a date night. The volume was good, lighting was dimmed but not too dark, etc. Our server was great - super attentive, had yummy recommendations, and very kind. We had plenty of others come by to give us water, bread, and take care of our plates so 5/5 for the service. Now the food. We got the goat cheese tart and fresh bacon to start which were both delicious. We also got the Ricotta gnocchi, grilled octopus, and braised lamb. While each dish was tasty, my biggest complaint is that they were all SO salty. And that's coming from me, who loves salt! The octopus was also a bit dry. We got dessert to-go and enjoyed it in our PJs. I give the food a 3/5, my partner gave it a 4/5. Our bill was pretty hefty so definitely come for a special occasion. read more

I really wanted to love Rioja. I'd wanted to dine here the last time we were in town and didn't have a chance to. My sister is vegan and this was the one restaurant I really wouldn't back down on us trying. I secured a rezzie for us and we had a nice table in the front window on a Tuesday evening. We both enjoyed a glass of red wine after trying a couple different options. Neither of us absolutely loved the red selection but made do. The green goddess salad looked soooo yummy on the menu, that we both ordered one. This salad was the most bland, zero flavor salad I've ever had in life. It really needs a revamp of some sort. The ingredients read as though it'll be very yummy but it's completely tasteless for some reason. I ordered the artichoke tortellini which apparently has been their staple for 17 years and it was the same thing, extremely bland and appeared to be floating in something resembling pasta water. I was so disappointed by the experience, since I'd looked forward to this dinner. We paid and had to have a light second dinner elsewhere since things weren't tasty and fulfilling here. I'm not sure if we ordered the wrong items, but I probably don't need to try anything else here in the future. Service and the restaurant itself were both great, but the wine and food - not great in my opinion. read more

Rioja - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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