Rioja in Denver - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

After two and a half years, today, we finally went to one of our most praised restaurants, Rioja, for lunch. I can't find words to express our disappointment. My farro salad was lackluster, it's tomatoes were not fresh and the farro was almost raw rather than Al dente. My friend had the famous artichoke tortellinis. Now they are 7 tortellinis for $27 and 3 tortellinis for $14. I don't know about other people but 3 tortellinis on a plate for that price is outrageous. I kept asking for bread and it didn't arrive almost up until toward the end of the meal. The excuse was that it didn't come out of the oven and by that time it was Noon! The restaurant had no vibe, no personality, presentations were elementary and we have left with a promise of never to go back. I actually am incredibly sad. If downtown wants more business, the quality has to improve

Amazing FOOD‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ Amazing Atmosphere‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ Amazing service ‼️‼️‼️‼️

Great energy, great installation, limited menu, but really did great in flavourful, presentation. Extraordinary customer service.

Short rib and wild rice bowl and it was PERFECTION!! The menu is small but what they have, they make very well!! Drinks were good, nothing spectacular

So yummy! We had the short rib and rice bowl! (10/10) Ordered the wildflower fusion gin drink, it was okay (7/10)

Great food and service! Truly a Denver Gem that consistently delivers.

Excellent food and service. Very nice atmosphere. Appreciate smaller portions.

I enjoyed my meal and they always have excellent service.

Fabulous food & service. Will look forward to going again.

Always a solid meal here, I never leave disappointed. One of our top 3 favorite restaurants in Denver for over 10 years!

We were in Denver from our home in NM to see the Baltimore Orioles play the Colorado Rockies. After the game, we went to dine at Rioja’s, We arrived 15 minutes early and was offered to sit at the bar to wait for an outside patio table. At the bar, the servers asked if we wanted to order food. When we told her we were waiting for a table, it took 10 minutes for someone to ask if we wanted drinks. They seemed to “busy” themselves removing the bar ware from the dishwasher. And wiping them dry. He finally asked if we wanted drinks. I ordered the rose of granasch and my spouse had a “mocktail”. After he made the drinks another server began a conversation with us. Then we were a escorted to our table. The server for dinner was very knowledgeable and patient with us; being the first time at Rioja’s. He explained that there were two dishes for which Chef Jen won Michelin Stars, the “bacon” and artichoke Tortaloni. Both were very good, as well as the complimentary goat cheese muffins, rosemary sourdough and kalamatti olive bread. As for the main course, I enjoyed the vegetable “four square”; cold sweet corn soup, grilled peppers over hummus, goat cheese puffed pastry with green tomatoes, and the whole wheat “salad” which reminded me of tabouli (this was the least favorite. My spouse had the grilled pork chop (not as juicy as anticipated) and roasted root vegetables and brussel sprout leaves. A nice experience, but not a repeat.

We had the most amazing experience. The artichoke tortelloni is out this world. And Matty took excellent care of us. 12/10.

Fantastic place, with great service and attention to detail. The corn ravioli was amazing.

Don’t forget to get the beignet. Wish there were more vegetarian options

Everything about our experience was excellent —especially the service. We were celebrating the new job secured by someone at our table and were surprised by level of appreciation from the entire staff. The food was delicious. We loved the pasta dishes we tried, but everything else was great, too. The octopus was cooked perfectly.

Absolutely amazing restaurant. The patio in the front was perfect for an evening dinner outside. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful. The food was outstanding.... try the chicken, trust me! Drinks were pretty decent as well. Definitely recommend this place!

All I can write is - when in Denver you have to stop here. The service was phenomenal and the people are great

Incredibly precise cooking with a number of zero proof cocktails on offer to ensure everyone has a high quality time. We showed up an hour before closing but never felt rushed or that we were receiving lower quality service compared to anyone who arrived earlier. Highly recommend the braised short rib.

Top quality food and service, wines by the glass were excellent

Excellent! Staff. Food. Vibe. All fantastic. Handmade pastas were incredible and really loved our entrees too. The venison was cooked perfectly and the halibut also had great flavor. They accommodated our special request. For a table and made an effort for the birthday girl. Highly recommend for date night or if you're just looking for great food.

Waiter clearly wasn’t interested in being there. Seemed like the rest of the staff was compensating for his startling lack of energy. Food was good. No mention of the special occasion we informed them of either.

The artichoke tortilloni remains the highlight! Server Justin was great. Host stand could use some work on hospitality - not very welcoming.

The food was amazing, unique and refreshing. I would highly recommend it.

Celebrated my girlfriend’s birthday and had a wonderful evening.The tortellino and venison was fabulous, cooked flawlessly! Will come back and visit again.

Such a classy spot - we showed up yesterday for a reservation 45m late and they understandably couldn’t sit us… the town knows what’s good and they were busy as all hell, and we show up today for a make up reservation. The hostess recognized us, the waitress Su was an absolute sweetheart, the meal was fantastic, and they threw in a dessert as a thank you for coming back! Highlights were the tortellini, as recommended by Su, the bread biscuit, the halibut, the mashed potato, and the DELICIOUS mini ice cream cone and espresso martini. Can’t wait to come back!

Very lovely menu. We had the tomato salad which was incredible and unique. The Amish chicken was good but over salted which is a bit of a disappointment for a restaurant of this caliper. Overall, a great place.

Artichoke tortellini is a must have! Our server Joe was amazing. Highly recommend for a delicious lunch!

Great food. Outside dining is a big plus!

Excellent food and truly outstanding service—maybe the best I have ever experienced in a restaurant. Special shoutout to our server Justin—ask for him if you can!

The food was fresh and prepared nicely. Very tasty and perfect portion. We were very impressed. The ambiance is beautiful and inviting.

Everything we ordered was superb! What a fine restaurant. And our meal was reasonable priced.

It was absolutely fantastic! The winner was ginger dessert !!!!!

Yet again, so amazing! We had the tortelloni, venison and short ribs and the blackberry ginger tart for dessert! On top of the amazing wine, suggestions, and cocktails this will be our go to again and again!

We don't get to go to Rioja often but we love it when we can. Great service, fantastic menu options and awesome food. Last night was no exception. Our salad, main course and dessert were all outstanding. Love this place.

Arrived 25min early but was seated right away. Was great by very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Was fortunate to get Justin as our server. Drinks were amazing and the food was even better. Highly recommend Justin and the whole staff were amazing

This restaurant bistro establishment is absolutely marvelous. Friendly service with a smile and very personable servers. Although I did not have a chance to try the food does look quite excellent and tasty . Highly recommend highly recommended when you're in the downtown Denver area

This was my second time eating at Rioja and the food, ambience and service were all excellent. However, I must draw exception to Rioja's thoroughly-misleading pricing policy which means that the (already high) prices one sees on the menu are further inflated by a 5% "Denver Minimum Wage" fee *plus* an additional 1% "Larimer Square" fee (both of which then have sales tax added). Now, I have no problem paying a generous tip for good service - but why not do the honest thing and simply increase the menu charges? You see, in the present case one really doesn't know what one is paying for. What's the 1% "Larimer Square" fee, other than a hidden price rise? And what about the extra 5% charge? Is that part of my tip, or another hidden price rise? Frankly, I would have expected better from this establishment.

Delicious food and outstanding service. Best Amish roasted chicken I’ve ever had.

Good food and impeccable service; perhaps a little pricey, but a very good overall experience nevertheless.

Pricey but great food and atmosphere

We had an excellent experience with excellent service. Highly recommend.

We enjoyed everything about our meal. The food-picnic board, the braised short rib and the goat cheese and fig beignets were amazing, but the corn ravioli was one of those dishes that you will keep thinking about and craving…wish we lived closer as we would definitely go back!

Do yourself a favor. Make a reservation and eat here. The food is Top Tier, the staff is amazing and THE FOOD IS TOP TIER! Did I mention the amazing bar with ~160 years of experience making masterpiece after masterpiece of a drink? Jeremiah is amazing! Eat here. Go.

We were at the Rioja many years before. Due to the excellent experience we came back and it was great! They made our anniversary an incredible event. Our server is a sommelier and he made a great job. The tagliatelle with homemade ragu was incredible and my wife is Italian. I can highly recommend this Restaurant. Next time in Denver we will definitely return.

Fabulous discovery. The carrot soup and artichoke tortelloni were excellent. Service was spot on — attentive but not intrusive.

We hadn’t been since prior to the pandemic. It was thoroughly enjoyable and we were celebrating a birthday. The little touches they throw in, like a staff-signed card and single-bite ice cream cones, are fun for those sorts of occasions. The food was exceptional with Thai-spiced pork chop and the venison, both highly recommended!

It’s been a few years since I have been in, and it was just as great as I remembered!

This place was fantastic. The halibut was fresh and delicious and the Thai chili pork was phenomenal. Our server Jeremiah was attentive and fun too. We will definitely be back next time we are in Denver.

Rioja is truly a very good restaurant. The staff is amazing and service was excellent. The food was prepared in an exquisite manner and the flavors were wonderful. Justin our waiter was outstanding. He was knowledgeable about the menu and gave us great information so we could make our choices for dinner. Rioja is a must for a return visit.

Great food, stellar service. The wait staff is so attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly beyond belief. The syngergy in this restaurant is something you only believe exists in movies. Justin and the rest of the team ensured that we had a phenomenal time. Romantic atmosphere, great drinks, great bread service (the lavender rye is to die for). Waters were refilled within a blink of an eye. When I couldn't decide on exactly what wine to order, Justin brought out a tasting of two pairings based on my tastes--and they were both amazing with great depth. My (now) fiance proposed here and the staff created such a magical night! We left with a signed card from the staff congratulating us on our big night and it sent me to tears. Forever thankful for the memories Rioja helped to create. Will definitely come back every time we visit Denver! Cannot recommend enough! (The fresh bacon is a MUST!! Best pork belly I've had in my life and once you have it, it's obvious why it's a long-standing menu item. The Thai Chili Pork and Braised Short Rib were also phenomenal. Seriously, some of the best food I've ever had here!)

We had a lovely celebration lunch at Rioja. Prices for the lunch menu were very reasonable, and the food, service, and ambiance were excellent. We will return!

It’s been several years since I’ve been here & I don’t know why I waited so long. We were celebrating a birthday before going to see a show at DCPA. The food was excellent, I thoroughly enjoyed the venison, and our waiter, Humberto, did a great job taking care of us. I highly recommend this restaurant & will not wait very long before going back. Big thumbs up here!!

Jeremiah helped us pick all of our courses to perfection. Great eats great peeps. ✌️

That was an amazing experience! Delicious food: noodle salad, rib bowl, chicken sandwich. Detailed service, great interior. I am impressed and will be back.

Truly excellent Mediterranean style restaurant with fantastic good and service - highly recommended

One of the best meals ever. Excellent service, food cooked to perfection, and very reasonably priced. Highly recommend.

Exceptional service and food! Noise level a little on the louder side.

We had the fresh tomatoes salad, roasted octopus and an artichoke ravioli. Probably the most beautiful and delicious meal I ever ate!

Amazing flavors, presentation, and atmosphere. Octopus and venison were outstanding.

Excellent service, outstanding cuisine, excellent value. You MUST eat there!

Amazing meal. Highly recommend the heirloom tomatoe salad, artichoke tortelloni, fig and goat’s cheese beignets. The starry melon cocktail was perfect. The high level of service and food is so consistent at Rioja. One of the best restaurants downtown.

Excellent menu choices with unusual combinations, flavorful dishes, artfully presented. One of Denver's outstanding restaurants.

Every dish was unique and the teamwork from the staff was incredible. Get the octopus!

The food at Rioja is always outstanding and it is one of our favorite restaurants in Denver. The one thing that disappointed us this time was the service from our server (the support staff was great, it was just our primary server that was poor). Unfortunately I didn't get her name because this young lady really doesn't belong in a fine dining establishment...maybe a diner, but not a restaurant like Rioja. She was not very pleasant, she lacked knowledge about the menu and could not answer questions about the preparation of dishes. And, she had no interest in seeking the answers to questions we had. My advise to management is do a better job of vetting the servers they hire and improve their training when they do make a hire.

The staff at Rioja is amazing. Very attentive and welcoming. Cannot say enough about the meals we had. The artichoke tortellini is a must have! Probably the best chicken salad in Denver. Noise level was good for Sunday brunch. Great location to have a bite and stroll around downtown.

Pork chop was outstanding. Halibut was very good. Service was great. Martini is too expensive at $20.

I wish I could give them 5 stars, but the service was so spotty, so curt and mis-delivered plates, it was comical. The food was incredible, but I'd think twice before booking again on any evening they could be busy. The downstairs washroom also had a hilarious drawer of paper towels labeled "employee only towels" next to a really gross looking air dryer. Nope.

A lovely evening for my husband and myself. The food and service were great!

We are long-time fans of the "Fresh Bacon" appetizer (pork belly). And this time around we tried new dishes (for us), which were the vegetarian "Four Squares" and the halibut. Both were excellent, as was anticipated. The only detraction for me is that the wine prices seem a bit steeper than necessary. But then again, that's how it tends to go in the higher end eateries.

Consistently the best restaurant and dining experience in Denver. Superb in every way! The GM John stopped by to check on our table multiple times.

The staff was lovely and professional. Service was fast and the food was delicious. Celebrated our anniversary there strongly recommended

The food and service were amazing. We visited with family, and the kids' meal was excellent. We ordered the tortellini, octopus, and house salad, all of which were outstanding.

Good atmosphere and service, but food was highly** priced for small portion sizes.

Amazing variety, innovative menu and great service!

Best dinner in downtown Denver! Especially love the half size portions.

Consistently one of the best dining experiences in Downtown Denver.

Have eaten at Rioja every time in Denver. The create dishes are always exceptional… wine selection and service always top notch.

I have a nightshade allergy. They were completely accomodating and the chef made adjustments to my meal. It was delicious. The service was impeccable.

Every course a home run hit. All killer no filler. Nothing more to say.

Enjoyed an excellent tasting menu with nice wine pairings for a very reasonable price!Service was excellent.

Food was lovely and creative. Rhythm of service was a bit off. For example, we ordered a cocktail and a glass of wine. Salad and bread were delivered before it arrived. Asked to see wine by glass list again to go with entree, menu took about 5 minutes to get. there. Then another 5 minutes to get the wine. Dinner arrived in the meantime. Or, another way to put it, the kitchen was efficient, wait staff and bar were not.

We have been eating at Rioja since they opened their doors. They are consistent in all areas and strive to make each dinner experience special. The hosts are always helpful and make you feel relaxed and at home. The food is always interesting and the sauces are delicious and complement the dishes. Their bread basket is magical and its hard to choose which type to order. Give up and try them all. The deserts are unique and you can always find a tempting option. The best part is the staff always professional, warm and helpful! Humberto was lovely and answered all our questions about the wines and food menu. We always look forward to returning again.

We had a great dinner tonight. Probably the best octopus I’ve had yet. The staff were all really gracious, and knowledgeable. I really appreciate the gluten and dairy free options. Glad I was able to find something my son could enjoy. Next time I come back I’ll prob do the 4 course gluten free pairing menu. It looked fantastic

Always a pleasure to have a date night here. great food and service.

The pasta is just the best and we get the vegetarian 4 square every time as ur appetizer

It was incredible! We really loved the picnic plate, but everything was amazing.

Amazing dinner experience! Our waiter was wonderful. I highly recommend!!

Had a very pleasant business lunch here in July 2024. Sat outside on the street which was shut down for car traffic. The service was fine and the food was very good. Highly recommend the picnic appetizer.

Great service and delicious food. I recommend the fried artichoke.

Always wonderful at Rioja. Creative and delicious.

Fantastic meal. Just all around great.

Fine meal of venison with good red wine. An excellent dinning experience even after all these years. Highly reccomended. Desert fig beignets left, venison in center. Service is extraordinary, shout out to Britian.

Very disappointed in the portion size for pastas. Happy hour was great and had a few items for sharing. Price was way too high for the amount of food. Not sure we would go back.

Server forgot my soup appetizer. Otherwise he was attendtive

This is a gem of a restaurant on Larimer that is nicely situated on a road with pedestrians only. The service is outstanding. The food is incredibly good and beautifully presented. The quantity is also more than enough (i took home leftovers). Wine menu is outstanding. Be prepared to spend some money. Great overall experience in lovely setting

Everything was wonderful and we will be back for sure

Unbelievable fine dining experience. Cannot speak more highly of Rioja. Went with my girlfriend for our anniversary and they made us feel like VIPs. The suggestions from our server made it clear he knew the menu inside and out and truly gives a sh!t. The food itself was exquisite, we got the bacon,kampachi crudo,venison and octopus. Our server paired a wine with it that really hit the spot and meshed with the food. Get the beignets, you won’t regret it! 10/10 will be coming back

Creative flavor combinations, excellent service. I was not as impressed with the pork belly as I thought i would have been, but thoroughly enjoyed the pastas and the fish entree. Will definitely recommend to others.

Absolutely a wonderful experience. Exceedingly professional, friendly, and helpful staff. The food was impeccable and left nothing to be desired. This is the perfect place for a special occasion!!

Food was prepared deliciously and our sever, Donnie, knew their wines well and suggested some great pairings. We had a great time and will go back.