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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.
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.
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.
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
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
1 month ago
This may be my new favorite restaurant on Larimer Square! We had the most wonderful time here. Our servers and the surrounding wait staff were so attentive, my water glass was never empty. Everyone here was so kind and consistently checked in on us. While the menu prices are high, the food here delivers. The snack picnic plate was beautifully arranged and had a lot of fun flavors and textures going on, this was great to share bewtween 4-5 people. We also shared the scallop crudo and this was overall just an okay dish. Appreciated the crunch of the hazelnut but would skip this dish next time. We ordered the chicken as an entree to share, and they elegantly plated our dishes separately, what you see in the pictures is only half of what our entire portion was. The chicken itself was juicy with some flavorful skin. The beans it was served on was delicious and made the dish even more hearty. This is a great spot to come with a bigger group or even just for a date night. Loved the darker ambiance and it was not too loud in here either. Would recommend! read more
11 months ago
While touring the city for the first time, we stumbled upon this restaurant and decided to go in for happy hour drinks and appetizers. We chose wisely because what a beautiful restaurant. The waiter/bartender was the absolute best. He even let us try some really good tequila which I will have to buy. I will definitely come back and I recommend everyone else going to this beautiful restaurant. read more
4 months ago
An amazing dinner at Chef Jenn's restaurant, Rioja in Denver CO. We were fortunate to have her on a cruise from Venice to Athens. The bluefin tuna appetizer with the duck entree was superb! The staff and service was above reproach This dinner with Lisa and Tim (friends from Nocatee FL) will be so memorable. read more
Visited this restaurant while traveling to Denver. What caught my eye was that it won James Beard Foundation award so I made reservations. This place has a very classy ambiance and great for a celebration (e.g. birthday, anniversary, etc). It won the James Beard award for its fresh bacon start and artichoke tortelloni. I also got the smoked liberty duck breast since love duck. The portions sizes are appropriate and would definitely recommend two entrees and a starter in order to be full. My favorite was the the artichoke tortelloni. The duck was also decked but I wished that I came with some additional carbs to balance with the meat. They serve you some bread at the beginning but I wish that they came back again since I wish that I had additional bread with the duck. I also think potatoes would go nicely with the duck. Service was excellent and felt well attended to. Overall, great restaurant, slightly on the pricey side. read more
We started with the picnic and the pork belly. The picnic was good, but I would've liked more cheeses and meats at that price point. The pork belly was crispy and flakey and the garbanzo purée was excellent. Ordered the pork chop, which was excellently seasoned and very well cooked. The sweet potatoes were a fantastic side; they were nice and crispy without being too burnt. The Brussels sprouts were good, but there weren't enough of them at all. Drinks were solid. Very accommodating for my gluten free friend. The service was very attentive. The ambiance was plain. I definitely would want to try more. Overall 4.4/5 read more
2 months ago
A-freaking-mazing. What a meal... artful, thoughtful, complex. Beautiful dining room, attentive and educated service. Chefs kiss! Best restaurant in Denver. read more
Business owner information
Beth G.
Thank you so much for this wonderful feedback! We're so happy to hear…
1 year ago
We enjoyed 3 excellent dinners during along weekend in Denver. Both my wife and I agreed that Rio a was the best of them. The service in this restaurant is absolutely first rate. It's not easy for t staff for be extremely attentive to their diners while at the same time not smothering them. At Rioja they have found the goldilocks balance. We were really well cared for and yet felt left alone when we didn't need or order anything. We were seated inside at a table near the door. It was a very warm day in Denver and we needed a break from the sun. The restaurant is well appointed with nice tables, chairs and white tablecloths inside. Our meal was a bit small as it was just too hot to eat and too hot (for us) to drink alcohol. The chamomile Scallop Crudo was absolutely fantastic. The scallops were tender, sweet and beautifully presented. The house salad was a nice portion of very crisp and satisfying veges. The lettuce and other ingredients were very fresh. Our entrees included the Smoked Fazzoletti. This was such an interesting dish-both flavorful with great texture of the pasta. My wife enjoyed her Seared Halibut that was very fresh and well prepared with a wonderful sauce that did not smother the taste of the fish. We shared the Strawberry Sumac Tart. I really appreciated both the fruit flavor and that the dessert wasn't too sweet. A truly enjoyable meal. You should know that your check will include a 5% 'DMW' charge for the staff. This is before you choose to leave a tip. read more
2 years ago
Located in the heart of Larimer Square, nice spot to come to when you're shopping around or wandering in the area. We stopped in for lunch and they had plenty of seating. We ordered the short rib and wild rice bowl and Gabe's chronic chicken salad sandwich. Both came highly recommended by the waitress. We thought the short rib bowl was pretty underwhelming. It was a hunt to find many pieces of short rib inside, it was mostly filled with chunks of sweet potato and other vegetables, and we didn't think the short rib was great quality. It had kind of an off-putting flavor to it that we didn't enjoy. The chicken sandwich was pretty good, I enjoyed this one more. I liked the crunch of the nuts in the sandwich and overall it was tasty. Overall, decent meal but nothing mindblowing and prices are a bit steep. read more
2 years ago
While visiting for a conference in Denver Colorado, middle of September, several of my colleagues and I went to dinner at Rioja on a Monday evening. Rioja is located in Denver, downtown at Larimer Square. We ended up getting a table for four outside. It was pretty quiet Monday evening, but there were several live singers and musicians performing at Larimer Square. Rioja's menu is quite unique! The menu has a wide range of hand made pastas, entrees such as braised short rib, halibut, tuna, and much more! For appetizers, you can choose from soups, salads, bacon as starters! For starters, we ended up selecting the following Rioja Picnic: Artisan Meats and Cheeses, Olives, Pickled Green Tomatoes, Almonds, Tomato Jam, Crackers My colleague also asked for a Rioja house made salad. Complimentary bread was provided while eating at Rioja. We only saw one of the team members handing out bread once, after waiting about 45 minutes after placing our order. It was delicious though! The sourdough was yummy! For my entrée, I ended up selecting the Tagliatelle which was hand made pasta with beef and pork Bolognese, Basil, Parmigiano Reggiano. I had asked the waiter if it had any alcohol as I have a food allergy related to alcohol. It took about an hour and 15 minutes to find out if the Tagliatelle did not have alcohol before placing the order. The service was really slow. We ended up getting to Rioja around 5:15, and didn't leave until shortly after 9:00 P.M. The entrees took about 3 hours to arrive at the table. The salad was also missing. We had to inform the waiter that the salad never arrived with the appetizer. It also took awhile to get drink refills such as water and soda. It did seem busy inside the restaurant, but the seating outside was fairly open. The Tagliatelle was good, but it was slightly cold. The beef and pork was scrumptious. I did try mix all the ingredients to warm up the dish. The noodles tasted fresh though! You could tell it was hand made pasta! I'm not sure why the service was slow. I'm glad I got to experience Rioja though. read more
An amazing meal before a show was nothing but spectacular. Service was attentive and each plate came out in an organized and timely manner. You could really see and taste the heart that went into curating each dish. It was a lovely modern feel with good space between tables to provide a sense of privacy. This is a great choice for a special night out. read more
6 months ago
Food was great, we got all the things the server recommended. Would give them a try especially if you have the chase reserve card read more
On our first night in Denver, we ate at Rioja in Laramie Square, and were impressed. The dining area and bar were fabulous in design between the modern art hanging on the dark gray walls and the curtain of Edison lighting draped around the bar area. The restaurant and bar has outdoor seating as well with nouveau wooden tables and metal seating if you want to people watch those walking and hanging around Laramie Square. When we went the street was closed off to traffic, which was nice to see only people walking about as opposed to cars rushing back and forth. The bar was well stocked with an selected array of spirits where the bartenders made excellent cocktails such as the Lion's Tail and the Nude & Notable. The former was made with Old Forester bourbon, St. Elizabeth all spice dram, lime juice, and sage simple - my favorite of the two. The other was made with Union mezcal, Aperol, spiced honey, and lemon juice. The kitchen makes fresh biscuits at the start of the meal that includes whipped butter made from scratch with Himalayan sea salt. Probably my favorite order of the meal was the fresh bacon, comprising tantalizing pork belly, cardamom, and curried garbanzo bean purée that was savory deliciousness. It melted in your mouth and sent my senses into outer space with every bite. The seared venison was addition tasty, served with wild mushrooms, braised red cabbage, bitter greens, and huckleberry venison jus. My wife enjoyed the halibut with its serving of summer vegetables and herbs, Calabrian chile broth, and black olives. Rioja is fabulous. We would return the next time we are in downtown Denver, especially in CBD. read more
1 year ago
Cool spot off Larimer square that offers a nice brunch on the weekends. Definitely feels more like a dinner place or an after work cocktail speakeasy type place. The space is rather large... perfect for a buy out but only appears to have two bathrooms. The food, service and atmosphere were all solid. I ordered the potato salmon gallete and we shared a beignet off the dessert menu. It was interesting to see that the beginner was stuffed with goat cheese. I wish it was dusted with less sugar (that's become a recent gripe of mine). But all in all it was good and I would be curious to try some of the other items on the menu. Cocktails felt a little pricey. I love their contraption on the tables for dispensing pink salt. To get this spot up to five stars I would expect a little more vibrant y in the flavors profiles, spice perhaps? read more
1 year ago
Service was impeccable! Ambiance was laid back but well considered. Limited menu options but so creative. Photo is of a lentil stew. Favorite was dessert. The tiny beignets were worth every calorie and the sorbet/ice cream trio was bursting with flavor. Party of 6 was each well satisfied for a C note. read more
3 months ago
Delicious scallops app and steak entree, I'd eat here again. Bar tenders were super even encouraged me to do half order of fig pastry's. read more
Business owner information
Beth G.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled you…
1 year ago
5 stars all around at Rioja! I love it when you have a place on your list to try and it ends up exceeding your expectations! My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner before seeing a show. The service was so great and they gave us a celebratory glass of champagne/ non alcoholic wine for me and were so helpful with what we should order since we've never been there before. I got the artichoke tortelloni because I kept reading about it- get it!! The pork chop was also amazing! We were even torn between the dessert options so they let us try the beignets on top of us ordering one of the other desserts. I already can't wait to go back! read more
This experience was enjoyable. Eating out on the sidewalk was very nice; plenty of shade to make sure it was comfortable for guests. The hostess (I didn't get her name but she had long hair and she had a silver streak or add-in to her hair) was very attentive, communicated well, and just seemed to have the whole busy affair quite organized. Impressive. Our server, an older gentleman with a beard, tended to our table well and made sure things were as they should be. He had to come back and confirm what we had ordered because he was relying on memory for our order and he had questions. (My husband had added a couple of extras to his salad). No biggie, everything came out fine after he confirmed. The food was served quickly and accurately and was delicious. I enjoyed my entire meal. I was a little disappointed in the number of beer offerings but I made my way through it. I'd go back but I wouldn't make a special trip to do so. Very nice though and I do recommend going for anyone that is reading this review. read more
At the heart of Larimar Square, this is such an elegant and upscale place to dine. The interior of the restaurant has beautiful rustic walls with gorgeous ambiance, accompanied by modern furnishings and tableware. There's a huge bar and lots of variety of seating both indoor and outdoor. The menu is mostly French oriented. We started with the delicious artichoke tortellini filled with yummy cheese. For entree I got the Colorado Lamb burger. Visually it was stunning with egg on top, and avocado slices spread on the top piece of the soft toasted brioche. The lamb paddy was cooked so well and had a really good taste. We ended our lunch with some French baguette, which was okay but not the best kind of baguette we had. The service is good. Very friendly staff. The manager came and checked with all the tables that were dining at that time. Dishes are prepared with a decent wait time. Highly recommended spot in the area. read more
Where do you start on this review. The lady who took my reservation was so kind and happened to be from the same place I am. Then time comes and we are seated and treated by this gentleman and what a lovely service. So far no food. Just the service. Well the restaurant it self is cozy, has an outside seating and it's so nice. The food. Amazing. Just so good that we will be back for more. The octopus is the winner but the Amish chicken was not that far off. The deserts or the food. Which one is better can't decide. You have to try it. If there were 7 stars possible I would give 6.5 as I love octopus but it was as tender as I liked it but the others loved it. So it's me :( read more
Was really excited to try when visiting Denver but honestly was disappointed. We tried one of the weekly specials (paella) and the pork chop were way too salty. The truffle tortellini was very good! Would come back for that only. Ambiance is cute and it was easy to get a reservation. read more
Overall, this was a great dining experience due to our server, Justin. He was so kind and attentive throughout the night. Our drinks were also delicious and the atmosphere was upscale. The food, however, was hit or miss. My partner is vegetarian and was super disappointed in the four square meal. The pictures online all included pasta, salad, etc., but she was served cold soup, cold farro, watermelon salad, and shishito peppers - not much of a balanced meal. I ordered the short rib which was okay, the best part of the plate was the carrot puree and potato. For dessert, the fig beignets were delicious. I'm not sure if it was just an off night, but for the price point we expected more. read more
Rioja was our final meal on our recent trip to Breckenridge and Denver. 3 stars on yelp means the experience was OK, and that's what I would call it. Nothing bad, just nothing outstanding that would make us want to return. the restaurant is nice, with a nice fine dining feeling. We ordered quite a few dishes. For Appetizers we had the Heirloom Tomato Salad, the Pork Belly, and the Kanpachi Crudo. Of the three dishes, the Tomato salad was probably the best and I almost always like crudos, but this one was pretty bland. We had two appetizer sized pastas - The Nettle Fagiolini with mint and the Tagliatelle Bolognese. The Fagiolini is a green pasta that looks like a green bean. Interesting but bland. The Tagliatelle was tasty, but came out almost at room temperature so points off for that. For entrees we had the Braised Short Rib (dry), and the best dish of the night - The Octopus. We both felt the short rib was not good. I enjoyed the octopus more than my wife did. Bottom line is that perhaps they had a bad night. We don't come to the Denver area enough to ever make a return visit. read more
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Dinner last night was simply amazing! We decided to go to a nicer restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. We were definitely not disappointed. We had for our shared starters: artichoke tortellini and the nettle fagioloni. The artichoke tortellini light and sumptuous served in a umami rich broth. The nettle fagioloni was an unexpected treat. The pasta was nested amongst mint, crispy morel mushrooms, fresh and tender green peas and ricotta di pecorino. I didn't want to stop eating it. Bread service was lavender sourdough bread that was crunchy and chewy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside. We also have got cheese biscuits that were beyond delectable. This coming from someone who hates goat cheese. For our main we enjoyed the seared venison with a chestnut puree, red braised cabbage, bitter greens and a huckleberry venison jus. We savored every single bite. Everything about this place was wonderful. From the moment we walked in the door until the moment we walked out, we encountered impeccable service, food and cocktails. Love this place. Oh and this is a James Beard award winner! read more
4 months ago
More like a 4.5 star. Food was pretty good. I got the Tuna tartar that was great, the beets were great as well. For my main I did the duck which was good. Service was decent. I would advise against the mezzaluna, it was too rich for me. Check out if nearby. read more
We overall enjoyed our experience at Rioja. We took some family members who were in town. The appetizers and entrees were all delicious! We also really enjoyed the bread service- loved the different options of breads. My only complaint was that the service was pretty slow and they forgot about one persons entree. They did offer complimentary dessert which was appreciated. read more
I loved Rioja! I was in walking distance from my hotel. We hadn't made reservations but were sat down without any hesitation. I wish I remembered our waiter's name, but he had long hair and a tall gentleman. He was nice. He made the dining experience fun and he constantly came to check if we were doing alright. All the wait staff as well were incredible, couldn't ask for a better experience. The food was AMAZING. We started off with their house salad, which light and fresh. Honestly one of my favorite salads. My artichoke tortellini was tasty, the broth was actually my favorite part of the dish. We ended it with this beautiful mousse, which hit the spot! I loved the sesame cracker that came with it. I would definitely come back to Rioja again! read more
1 year ago
Went for my birthday dinner. Unfortunately, very overrated based on my first experience at rioja. Ordered lamb tartare as an app, came out with rotten mint, and a ton of a greenery that was not on the menu description. I assume they ran out of fresh mint? App reminded me of a cold tuna sandwich. On to the mains: braised short rib: good, but no vegetables at all, just a glorified hash brown rectangle. The black and white tagliatelle was the show stopper. Highly recommend. I only got one drink the entire time, because our server was MIA for a long period of our meal. By the end, our dishes sat for at least 5-10 minutes before being taken. 2 top table was too small even for 2 people. Our plates had to be shifted everywhere and condensed. Birthday cake Ice cream cones were also delicious. I think we may have caught them at a bad time, with an underwhelming seasonal menu. I had been so excited to go here, but I'm not sure I'll try it again since the bill was around $100, and I would have rather went somewhere else overall. read more
2 years ago
I came here for my birthday. It was my first time visiting this restaurant, and what a lovely experience! Our server was adorable and explained the menu well. I had the cardamom pork belly appetizer, which melted like butter under my fork. I adored the lavender sourdough bread too. I had the artichoke tortelloni for my main dish. The flavors of all the dishes were exquisite. For dessert, they had a special: raspberry mousse, frangipane, Ruby chocolate, peppercorn marshmallow. Being an adventurous eater I had to try it, and I'm glad I did. But before it came, they brought me a surprise: birthday cake ice cream and a birthday card! This place is beautiful, fun, and the food is fabulous. Every staff member I interacted with was delightful. Highly recommended and I'll be back to try something new! read more
More info about Rioja
1431 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80202
Lodo, Northwest
Directions
(303) 820-2282
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Visit Website
http://www.riojadenver.com/
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Ask the Community - Rioja
Does Rioja have private pods for those seeking to avoid COVID?
No pods or mini greenhouses. They do have tables outside on the sidewalk and in Larimer Street with propane heaters.
Is there still outside dining available that you can request at the Tim of booking your reservation?
Hello Kathy, You can request outdoor seating when making the reservation when you speak with us.… Read more
Do they offer Happy hours?
Rioja offers a daily happy hour from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Would it be terrible to bring children? We're traveling from out of state and have to bring kids.
This is not a stuffy place and the staff is very welcoming. I don't see a problem if your children are well-behaved and are adventurous eaters. However, the dinner menu is fairly expensive and even the basic items are prepared in an eclectic and… Read more
Are dogs allowed in the outdoor patio space?
Do they allow dogs on the patio?
Call to confirm, but I don't believe that's allowed in Denver. I've tried at a few restaurants on 17th and been told that I can't be on the patio with my little guy.
Do they have vegan options?
Vegetarian options, but limited vegan (typical salad offerings)
Is there a corkage fee? If so, how much is it?
When I called a few months ago they said they do not accept outside bottles. They have an amazing wine list though so you'll find a great bottle. We tried their 20+ year old Rioja and it was one of the best wines I've had.
Is there a dress code? We will be traveling from out of town and walking most of the day, not sure if we'll need to go home and change first.
No posted dress code. However, if you are a person of color and dressed casually, be prepared to be told that no tables are available even though tables are in fact available. A minute after being turned away, we called the restaurant and were told… Read more
Is this restaurant loud?
I went to Rioja on a Tuesday & there wasn't an open table in the restaurant. Although the restaurant was crowded, the noise is properly controlled through use of furniture , flooring , etc . Additional, I would not call the Rioja crowd, rowdy.… Read more
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369 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Rioja - newamerican - Updated June 2026
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