Service was great. The James beard winners were delicious. Love the ambiance and that you can get half orders of this. Enjoyed it very much!

We had the bacon appetizer, braised duck and goat cheese gnudi with lamb ragu entrees, and for dessert, chocolate peanut butter cheesecake and lemon blueberry budino. Everything was AMAZING!! Our server, Scott, was so professional, helpful, and friendly, and the entire staff was so classy and upscale. It is a beautiful place with fabulous food and service. I would recommend it to anyone. read more

Rioja - Lemon blueberry budino - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Best food I've had in Denver. Hands down. Came here on a Sunday night early and we were blown away. The Nude and Notable cocktail is a great way to start the meal, though my friends grabbed wine and loved the selection. We ordered the 4 course menu, as well as the Smorrebrod and the chilled carrot soup as appetizers. Complementary bread accompanied these. We were delighted by all of it. The rosemary biscuit was a favorite, but the olive sourdough and lavender sourdough were also fantastic. For entrees we ordered the artichoke tortellini, Seared Venison, and the octopus. Wow. Every dish was incredible but I think the favorite was the venison. It was the best bite of food I've had in a long time and I will be dreaming of it for many days to come. read more

See all

Easily one of the most interesting (in a good way) meals of my life. Unique flavor combos and ingredients I'd never had before while still evoking familiar dishes, would describe as Spanish Mediterranean. Ambiance is upscale to match the food, and service at the bar top was great--friendly bartender willing to chat during a slow service. James Beard award winning, this place is great for foodies or those just looking for a memorable meal! read more

Rioja - Smoked paprika fazzoletti - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

It was a warm Sunday afternoon in Denver and we were walking around the area, but then we got parched so we stopped in for a couple glasses of the house sangria. The bar is cozy, service was friendly and the sangria was refreshingly delicious. Next time we're back in Denver, we hope to enjoy some of their tasty looking food. read more

Rioja - Rioja restaurant exterior - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Fun spot on Larimer! 23 didn't have reservations but we were able to snag a patio spot. Reservations are recommended! Their red sangria was one of the best I've had. We shared a full pasta which we didn't really like. But the comp bread was good! Bone marrow was decent - similar to bone marrow elsewhere. Overall the food is decent but what makes this spot worth a visit is the patio on a nice day, bread, and sangria! read more

Rioja - Bone marrow - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This was a very pleasant experience. They were able to accommodate our large 10+ party immediately in the main dining area. This place is roomy and offers signature cocktails, mocktails and wines. The food menu is really small, but I'm assuming it allows for more efficiency. We opted for just drinks and we went to another restaurant. read more

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

Wonderful dinner. Best meal I've had in Denver. Justin, our server, very knowledgeable and kind. Cocktails tasty and well balanced. The Fideua was my absolute favorite. Love this place. read more

Service was good The expression martini was good but come on 24 dollars. What the hell?Unfortunately, on this night the food was not that great. We had the tasting menu. Starter of the open faced smoke trout way way too salty. Way. The pasta dish was just entice, but the pasta was not good. Like chewy pieces of tasteless dough. Loved the little mushrooms , the peas. The mint. Lacked other seasoning like salt. Which is weird coming off that salty trout. The venison was fine. Some weird components. Like the bitter green puree. Again this dish totally lacked salt or seasoning in the venison. The chestnut puree was also pretty bland. Didn't add anything . Best thing was the dessert of beignets. Probably too many though! Could eat 2 . read more

See all

Located in Larimer square, Rioja was a delicious brunch/dinner spot located in downtown Denver. The service was great and offered both indoor and outdoor seating. We were wanting to go for lunch, but they serve brunch on weekends until 2:00pm. read more

Recently celebrated a friend's birthday downtown on the Sunday before St Patrick's Day. It was about 330pm when we decided to stop at Rioja for a cocktail and small plates. We asked to be seated outside, as it was an OK afternoon and we had been inside most of the day. Our hostess moved several street side / gutter tables together to accommodate our party of 7. These were completely exposed to the wind and had no protection. Our server was pleasant and explained that the HH cheese platter would not be enough for our group and suggested we order two plates. Sure, no problem, appreciate the honesty. Our cocktails were delivered promptly and met expectations. Things turned sour when the cheese platter arrived - what a disappointment! Two tiny slivers of cheese, maybe an inch long, served with two thin cracker strips and 2 slices of cucumber. We asked about the jam, which was on the cheese platter menu. Our hostess muttered something about it wasn't warm enough and she would bring it out. That never happened. For a restaurant that has been recognised by James Beard Foundation and showcases amazing presentation on their website, the cheese and meat platters were truly disappointing. The wind picked up and clouds rolled in, making it uncomfortable for those who did not have coats. While I was in the bathroom, the ladies asked to be seated inside. This apparently, was not received well - after all the hostess and server had moved tables for us. On my way out from the bathroom, I asked the hostess and our server for blankets, not knowing my friends had asked to move inside. I was told "I'll see what I can find". Our server just huffed and wondered off somewhere. A few minutes later we were given 2 small blankets. There was 7 of us. No explanation that the restaurant only has two blankets nor were we asked If we would still prefer to sit inside. Our server checked if we wanted to order more drinks or food but we were so disappointed with the experience we left. We all would have stayed longer if the cheese platter was better value and presented with care, the jam was included and more attention had been shown in regard to our comfort levels. It truly felt like it was going to be an effort to move us into the empty restaurant or bar area. We appreciate at that time of day, team members are prepping the restaurant for dinner service but the restaurant was not busy. There were two guests on the patio, two single people at the bar and a couple at a table. Tried contacting Rioja directly to share this feedback but apparently they don't return emails and/or are not interested in guest feedback. This was not the experience we were expecting from Rioja and does nothing to inspire people to dine out in Downtown Denver. read more

Eh ... pretty okay. We didn't love what they were trying to do here with the flavors, and it was fine dining priced, so keep that in mind. I'm not exactly sure who this restaurant is for? Food was fine. Wouldn't go back. read more

This is my favorite restaurant/ meal I had in Denver. I was wowed by each dish from start to finish. I was so impressed by the bread selection, notably the lavender bread. I would love to come back here and I highly recommend it! read more

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

See all

We enjoyed our dinner at Rioja tonight! We shared 3 appetizers: beets and kampachi, goat cheese tart topped with toasted hazelnuts and huckleberries, and an amazing pork belly nestled on top of a curried lava been puree. Yum! Our entrees included a spectacular octopus with chorizo puree, and delicious artichoke tortelloni. We shared desserts: hot beignets drizzled with fig sauce, and a layered chocolate mousse. Wonderful! Great service, lovely setting, a great meal! read more

See all

Great wine and food selection! Everything I tasted was superb and delicious! I enjoyed my dinner here with my gfs and the recommendations provided by the server were great! The pork belly bacon melted like butter and was so tasty. The tortellini was one I wasn't sure about since I'm not an artichoke fan, but they made that taste so great, good broth! The vibes were cozy and intimate, great place to catch up with friends or a date night! read more

See all

Absolutely loved our dinner here! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The staff was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Definitely one of the best spots in town -- can't wait to come back! read more

Fantastic start to finish! The pork belly was a great app and then I had the steak and went to heaven! The desserts were also phenomenal. Great service for our larger group. read more

Another memorable and enjoyable dinner at Rioja --which after 20 years continues to serve consistently beautiful and tasty meals. This may very well be one of Denver's very best restaurants. Rioja focuses on Mediterranean inspired food with local, fresh ingredients along with Denver's first James Beard Award winning Chef about 8 or 9 years ago and she continues to shine, innovate and impress. We started with a Cardamom spiced Pork Belly that melted in my mouth, literally. The house salad with arugula, dates and gorgonzola was sweet, spicy and delicious. The wild mushroom risotto was heavenly, hearty and satisfying. The braised short rib was juicy and filling. The chef was visible and told me that it takes several days to prepare some of the courses we had. I believe her. Clearly their attention to detail and passion for great meals remains unsurpassed. A butterscotch Budino topped off a wonderful meal. There is a nice selection of wines with some great choices by the glass. Service was exceptional, good - attentive, always there when we need her. Thanks for a wonderful memory of a phenomenal meal. read more

See all

Went here on a whim with a group of friends. Overall, it was hit or miss. The breads were amazing! The wine recommendation was great. Some of the dishes were excellent, like the artichoke tortellini. But other dishes were unsatisfactory, like the braised ribs with crunchy bits of gnocchi that just didn't seem to go well together. There was nothing on the dessert menu that appealed to me, which was sad. Service was generally good but they brought wrong dishes to the wrong people, and pacing was not great. It took forever for our food to come out. Not sure if they were short staffed or not that night. read more

Rioja - Wine list. Had the Barbera on the recommendation of our waitress. - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

4.5 rounded down to a 4! came here for an anniversary dinner and our waiter was so sweet, kind, and attentive. we got the Indian red lentil soup with butter chicken and IT WAS A 10/10, and we're Indian. It was really amazing, I've never tried anything like that and it was perfectly balanced. We also got the classic artichoke tortellini, which was also a 10/10. The octopus dish was 4/5. Well cooked but it could've been more flavorful, and could've had more chorizo puree. The dessert was a flop. We got the chocolate mousse and the kumquat syrup on top was way too sour, it took away from the richness of the chocolate. Left a weird taste in our mouths and didn't feel like the best way to leave off a meal, hence the 4 stars. However this was a lovely place, I would 100% come back for the lentil soup and the artichoke tortellini. The house breads were also unique flavors (lavender bread was delicious) and very fresh. I appreciated this restaurant with a cozy yet mature lively vibe. I'd come back for a special occasion. read more

See all

3.5 Stars. Great service and ambiance. The food was okay but highly over salted ( something I really dislike): The Salad, the Goat Cheese Tart, even the Gnocchi was really salty ( hey Chef lay off the Salt). Other than that the Tart was great, the complimentary bread service was awesome. Would I come back sure and probably have a table outside....but please less Salt! Am I making my point clear? read more

See all

Slowest service in Denver. Alright, now that's out of my system: overall this place is okay. There are some bright spots, there are some dull spots. The biggest issue I have is how slow and inattentive the service is. From the moment we walked in it was slow. We stood there for a few minutes before someone came and said "can I help you?". We were here on a Sunday night and it wasn't that busy. During the meal, I've never been to a restaurant that didn't ask if I wanted a refill on my drink. The drink cup from my first round sat empty on the table with the ice melting for 40 minutes until I finally flagged the server down and asked for another one. Everything came out extremely slow. We were here for two hours which is saying something because we typically spend 1-1.5 hours in any restaurant. My favorite thing here was the artichoke tortelloni. It was absolutely heaven. The fresh bacon was also very good. The complimentary bread they serve you is also to die for. The saffron fettuccine I didn't care for, pasta was way too hard and the flavor outside of the duck sausage was dull and bland. The grilled Wagyu tri-tip was over-powered by the sauce such that the flavor of the meat was hard to make out. We were here for our anniversary and were served a couple of mini ice cream cones complimentary and the ice cream was quite good. We also got the poached peaches for desert which was nothing special. Another thing that's worth pointing out is, Larimer Square and most of downtown Denver is a ghost town these days. It was quite surreal to be eating this kind of meal in an area that seems just completely abandoned. That certainly subtracts from the ambience and overall experience, even though it's not in Rioja's control. I can't say I'll be back for a lot of reasons, although I will miss that artichoke tortellini and the super cozy sofa seats we sat on. read more

See all

Ambiance: On a pedestrian walk street full of restaurants. Outdoor and inside seating. Casual vibe. Service: Seated quickly and waiter was quick to come take my order. Food: Everything was fresh and spot on. The pork belly is a signature dish, perfectly seared on the outside and super tender on the inside. Fat was rendered fully. The octopus was grilled just right and sauce was tasty. The dessert was refreshing. Loved it and will be back. read more

See all

Pretty good meal but excessive goat cheese and Brussel sprouts in everything. Two of the three pastas tasted only of goat cheese and you could hardly taste anything else. The mushroom pappardelle was good. The pork was ok but pretty plain and quite salty. The highlight was actually the start salad. Everything was well cooked and I would return to try some other dishes. read more

One of the best restaurants Downtown Denver has to offer. Usually recommend it to anyone traveling to Denver.

Wow. Truly a tour de force on the palate. Each dish was a song written with such complexity that I have yet encountered something so unique. Yes, go here. But, alas, I could do without the GM hovering over their staff, or myself. Is this the cost of quality? read more

Get the artichoke tortellini. It was so delicious that I regret splitting one with my dining companion. Or ordering the other stuff. I think I'm going to dream about that artichoke tortellini. Lavender sourdough was also a very nice touch. Halibut entree was good but not memorable. PSA... There is a curb at the front of the restaurant that throughout my dinner I watched people trip over all night. Make sure you watch out for it... read more

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Roja is inviting like something you would find in Europe. Atmosphere alone is a reason to visit. The restaurant is expensive for what you get. I had the chicken cannelloni which had a nice flavor including some heat after burn. The cocktail ran $17 and the cannelloni was small plate size despite ordering the larger serving. I felt like a paid a lot for what I received. Then again, I did expect Rioja to offer "value meal deals" for that go somewhere else. Server staff were very professional and experienced. read more

Rioja - New American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

I was in town for a conference and was with two colleagues at lunchtime. We walked up and down the street & after being told a 90 minute wait for one place, tried Rioja and got seated immediately. The lunch menu isn't vast, but we all still had a hard time deciding. My colleagues went with a salad & I took the recommendation of the waitress and went with the chicken salad sandwich. Holy cow. That sandwich is amazing! First, the focaccia it is served on is so delicious, but then the chicken salad itself was terrific. I even gave my colleague a small piece & she said I'd better not leave a bit of that sandwich on the plate. I would love to try dinner here! read more

Made reservations for 13 people 2 weeks ago, we arrive to dinner last night for a bday dinner(temps outside were in the 90's). Everyone felt the restaurant was hot, after we ordered drinks & said we were hot, they let us know the A/C had been out for a month and didn't know when it would be fixed. Everyone was dripping sweat! We tried to stay positive for the bday but it was miserable. The restaurant should've told us when we made the reservations that the A/C is out and the owner of the building had not planned on fixing Italy this time (what we were told). No discount for no A/C, nothing. People had to get up from the table to get fresh air (cooler outside) as they were getting nauseous from the heat. Shame on Rioja for not letting us know ahead of time. Will not be back. I don't know how the staff was working. read more

Food was good; most importantly the pastas and desserts were incredible Above everything the service and staff were incredible and attentive. Over all starters, entree & desert plus cocktails and wine = 300. This was the total package read more

Every course we had here was really good. It was good value for price meaning it was expensive but it was worth it. The chef had a really good attention to detail. The wait staff were very attentive. The interior was nice as well. We would go back. read more

I have been to Rioja a number of times. The food is always excellent as is the atmosphere. Normally the service is good, but my recent visit was disappointing, not to mention frustrating. The service was terrible. My friend and I had finished our glasses of wine and wanted to order more. Our server consistently ignored us for over 20 minutes. She had the table right next to us and the table across from us, which she tended to multiple times, but refused to check on us. We finally had to ask another server to bring us more wine. When our server brought the check we put down a credit card, but she never came back. We had to have someone else run the card. Our dinner was awesome, but I would say it is the worst service I have had in many, many years. read more