First time visiting tonight. The food quality and taste were beyond any expectations I had! The seared venison was delicious. The real winner of the restaurant is their signature artichoke tortellini. It was divine! I have never been floored by pasta before. It was an experience to taste. I would eat dessert first and end on the tortellini! The staff was also wonderful. So attentive and accommodating of our schedule with theater tickets. I can’t wait to go back again.

We stopped by this restaurant totally unplanned and we did not regret it. The food was incredible and memorable enough that we wouldn't mind going back. I still recalled their scallops as one of the best I've had. Wait staff also seem to be quite knowledgeable. It's also very close to the 16th Street so it's easy to get to. Any drawback? Perhaps the price point. I thought it was worth it, but I can see that it could be considered pricey. Still worth the 5 stars. This is a must visit place if you spend a decent amount of time in Denver.

Service. The reservation process was easy and accessible. Our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive. Atmosphere. My husband and I sat inside at a quiet table near the kitchen and were pleased that we were comfortably able to hear each other from across the table. I was surprised to see how much TLC the establishment needed. Menus worn and marked. Paint needs touch ups, vents and light fixtures were dusty, and a lamp by our table was crooked and wobbly. Not what I'd expect at this price point, but also not immediately obvious. Outdoor seating. It's February and cold outside after dark. On the way in, I couldn't help but notice everyone sitting in the outdoor tent were wearing their winter coats, so I'm glad we were able to eat inside. Food. We had the Amish chicken and Tri-tip steak, and both were phenomenal in taste. The entrees we're beautifully presented, and so juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned. There's a full wine list with some cocktails and sherry, and shortly after arriving a server brought by an impressive bread basket. All the bread choices were delicious, particularly (IMO) the focaccia. For dessert, we ordered the caramel bourbon cheesecake and warm fig beignets. Each was delicious, sized perfectly for one person, and artistically plated. Overall, I'd recommend Rioja for an romantic dinner, a night out with friends, or a even a meal with colleagues. We saw one family with a kid, but I didn't notice any kid-friendly menu choices. Besides, I'd think kids might get restless in this elegant atmosphere. We really enjoyed the food and we would recommend it to anyone looking for an intimate meal with an elegant, savory menu.

This place is delicious! Stopped in on a pre birthday date night, was seated at the chefs table and had a great experience. Found a new favorite, and I recommend everything! But specifically the bread, gnocchi, tortellini, gazpacho, the cocktails and dessert…so, yeah, everything!

Nick was an awesome waiter. He went the extra mile to make our anniversary dinner special. The food was exceptional! I wanted to try EVERYTHING! We were so glad that the hostess made the effort to call us back when we left a voicemail. Ten stars!

Absolutely fantastic. We had such a great experience here. The food is so delicious, excellent service, an overall awesome experience from beginning to end. Highly recommend, and this is coming from someone who’s lived in Denver tried many restaurants over the past three years.

Service - our waiter was impeccable. The place has a casual vibe but the service is somewhat formal. Ambiance- funky-casual, dim lighting, white napkin, intimate seating, comfy chairs. Food- presentation was as beautiful as the taste. Portions are not huge but they are enough. You wont leave hungry. You simply MUST get the beignets!!! There is a reason they've been in the menu since 2005. Reservations recommended. Bathrooms neat and tidy.

We visited this restaurant yesterday and was fantastic. We order different dishes like rioja “picnic” , Colorado lamb burger , Rioja benedict and for my the best, duck and waffles . Excellent service and the dessert were awesome 👏🏻

Our meal at Rioja was absolutely delicious. It was a flavorful experience in every bite. We had the chicken salad sandwich, the lamb burger, and the beignets! The service was great and our waiter was very polite. Totally going back!

If you're a steak aficionado, this place is your paradise! They've got more wine and cocktail options than you can shake a fork at. Now, I'm not much of a steak enthusiast myself, but my pals gave it a standing ovation in the taste department. As for their fish, well, let's just say it swam in the "okay" waters – I'm all about that flavor fiesta. I've had fish that did the tango on my taste buds before. The drinks, however, were like a sip of happiness. My only request? Let's have a moment of silence for the missing chicken and goat appetizers. Seriously, they deserve a spot at the party! 🥩🍹

Rioja is a highly regarded restaurant located in downtown Denver that specializes in Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. The restaurant has received numerous accolades over the years, including a James Beard award for Best Chef Southwest. The menu at Rioja is creative and eclectic, featuring dishes that are both flavorful and beautifully presented. Some of the standout items include the saffron linguine with lobster, the beet salad with goat cheese and pistachios, and the pan-seared scallops with cauliflower puree. In addition to the impressive food, Rioja also boasts an extensive wine list and a selection of innovative cocktails. The atmosphere is upscale and elegant, with a warm and welcoming ambiance that makes it a great spot for a special occasion or a romantic date. While the prices at Rioja are on the higher side, the quality of the food and the overall dining experience are worth the expense. The service is top-notch, with knowledgeable and attentive staff who are happy to make recommendations and answer questions. One potential downside to Rioja is that it can be quite busy, especially on weekends and during peak dining hours. Reservations are highly recommended to ensure that you're able to get a table. Overall, Rioja is a must-visit restaurant for foodies visiting Denver who are looking for a refined and memorable dining experience. With its creative cuisine, extensive wine list, and elegant atmosphere, Rioja is sure to impress even the most discerning diners

Excellent meal and experience at Rioja. They had a lovely wine list, with a wide selection of wines by the glass (including desert wines!). I loved that they have a half glass option, allowing us to change wines with our courses. The Burrata was delicious, the selection of house baked breads was amazing, and the handmade pastas we shared were outstanding. The staff (especially our server Richard) also made the birthday in our party feel very special. Would absolutely recommend!

Our server, Joe, was the best server we have had in a long time - if not ever. He was so patient, accommodating, and knowledgeable. Not to mention, the food was incredible. Joe recommended the watermelon soup special which was to die for. Definitely try the goat cheese tart and beignets! If we didn't live on the east coast, this would be a regular spot for us for sure.

Very pleasant dining experience - atmosphere, and taste. Enjoyed the different flavor profiles and assortment of dishes. Service was very professional and warm. Will be back again for another round.

They’re happy hours misleading and they charged us full price for a house wine. The bread was great. My rare steak came out medium instead of rare I asked for. Super disappointed. We spent $400 and I left feeling bad about it. Come here if you have extra money you don’t care about.

Great atmosphere, and very professional wait staff. Cocktails were very yummy, but some of the food we ordered was incredibly salty. I had the Amish Natural Chicken that was almost inedibly salty, and the chicken itself was over cooked. Bread was fantastic, and the braised lamb with polenta that my wife ordered was delicious.

Rioja is absolutely divine!! Went in with my wife and kids for a family meal and fell in love. The handmade pastas were amazing. We didn’t dig to deep into the menu as we normally do because we got stuck repeating our first order. Ricotta Gnocchi, Black Truffle Gnocchi & Egg Yolk Ravioli. The Gnocchi was like eating fluffy little cheese pillows. It was so delicious we ordered it all a second time. Then finished up with some Beignets for desert. We were absolutely in a trance and we only took one picture of food. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The atmosphere is amazing and the wait staff was awesome. Highly recommend trying this restaurant if you’re in the Denver area.

Food was incredible! The service was fabulous and the atmosphere was amazing. I will definitely be coming back. I recommend everyone on the menu, seriously the food was to die for. Definitely try the octopus.

I really really wanted to love this place because it has been over hyped up everywhere but I feel like it was meh, like it didn't really live up to its reputation? Maybe it tried to be too hard to be "different", and in doing so it was OK? I'm not really sure how to explain it. I had the octopus, which was extremely tender however a tad salty in a few other areas of the dish itself. They have a very simple menu. Nothing else seemed too appetizing, and let me tell you, as someone who appreciates food from all over, I'm absolutely willing to try anything and have had plenty of weird, eclectic, and different dishes. After we ordered, a server appeared with a basket of an assortment of breads. I had a biscuits of sorts with butter and sea salt before the octopus appeared. Our server, Richie, was absolutely amazing. The service was excellent as well and the atmosphere was great. But overall it was OK. Not really sure I'd go back.

Oh wow! What a place. Very nice and professional service. Waiters are great at advising on choosing dishes. And the food is pure poetry. There are no words that will properly describe these flavors. simply delicious. I especially recommend the squid ink pappardelle, halibut and artochokes tortelloni. You won't regret it.

We had a reservation for our anniversary on a snowy Thursday evening. Despite the reviews, our interaction with staff was the greatest downfall. First, we waited 10 minutes to get seated as we saw staff consistently pass us. We were finally greeted by the grumpy bartender who seemed like he was forced to seat us since the hostess never appeared. The first impression was extremely unprofessional and set the tone for the night. We waited another 15 minutes for a waiter who never introduced his name and could care less about his service (Makes sense ha). The only impressive staff were those who delivered our food and bussed our table, they were kind and served us with smiles. The food was was a hit or miss depending on the dish. We ordered an appetizer beet salad (Small portion but good 4/5), artichoke ravioli (amazing, highly recommend 5/5), tagliatelle (4/5), octopus (overcooked, burnt and bitter. Do not recommend), and beignet with vanilla ice cream on the side (2/5). I will say that all of the dishes were beautifully plated and arrived in a timely manner. The wine and cocktail selection were also good. Overall, based on the staff experience, I will not be recommending this restaurant. My minimum expectation for Denver is a friendly staff.

I liked it and might visit again. Really good ambience and decent vegetarian options. The peach with burrata cheese was very unique and interesting. Don't both trying turmeric mule. The vegetarian four squares is also nice and overall it's reasonably priced for a fine dining.

We had the chefs tasting menu and it was lovely. The dessert was, of course, my favorite and my husband's was the tortellini with white truffles. All of the staff was friendly and helpful. It was a lovely place for a date night set right in the middle of historic Larimer Square. Highly recommend a visit when you're in Denver.

4.5. Rioja is a Denver staple and well worth the visit. The pork belly appetizer is stunning, I highly recommend ordering it. My strategy here is to order appetizers to share along with cocktails. The drinks are very well made and delicious. I’m not as huge a fan of the pasta main dishes.

The best meal I had in Denver. Great service. We sat outdoors under the heated tent and it was very comfortable. Food was fantastic. I dream of the artichoke tortelloni. Would love to eat here again the next time I’m in Denver.