Rioja

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Rioja opened in late 2004 to unprecedented fanfare -- fawned over by the press, loved up on the foodie message boards, packed from the start almost every night of the week. And it's just gotten better from there. The fare coming out of chef/owner Jennifer Jasinski's open kitchen is a jumble of Mediterranean, Spanish and loose, fusion-y concepts with handmade pastas and excellent sauces. The room is comfortable, casual and perfectly geared for the skittish Larimer Square foot traffic, full of folks who might stop in for a quick drink but wind up lingering over dinner.

Cuisine(s): European Other

Hours: Sun 10am-10pm, Mon-Tue 5pm-10pm, Wed-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri 11:30am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm

Price: $$, $$$
Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards

Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Private Party, Wheelchair Accessible, Business Dining

Serving: Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Alcohol: Full bar

Reservations: Accepted, Highly Recommended

Parking: Street, Valet

2011 | Best Free Bread

We try our very best not to fill up on bread before dinner comes, but that's no easy task at Rioja. The restaurant's given serious thought to its complimentary carbohydrate accompaniment, so it doesn't serve you stale chunks of ciabatta. Our... More >
2011 | Best Local Cookbook

The hardback cover, a photo of Jennifer Jasinski's braised artichoke and white-truffle tortelloni — a recipe that has made grown men break down in tears faster than negotiations between PETA and the Pork Board — is the first stunning glimpse into... More >
2010 | Best Expense-Account Dinner

Everything about Rioja radiates perfection, from the flavors and flourishes on the plate to the wine list and waitstaff — which is precisely the kind of faultless experience you should expect when you're celebrating an anniversary, bar mitzvah,... More >
2007 | Best Picnic on the Patio

Chef/co-owner Jen Jasinski has put up many impressive menus at Rioja. But with all her housemade pastas, salads, Colorado lamb dishes and an ever-changing pork-heavy, Mediterranean board, there's always been one delicious constant: the Rioja... More >
2006 | BEST DINNER UNDER $25

Rioja is not a cheap restaurant, by any means, but it offers two of the best meals in the city for under twenty bucks each. The first is the Rioja picnic. Just $14.50 buys you a big plate filled with everything necessary to make an antipasto... More >

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Westword Reviews and News

Sips and Snacks at Rioja

By Amber Taufen | Tue, January 10, 2012

Every Tuesday, Rioja, the Larimer Square restaurant run by Beth Gruitch and chef Jen Jasinski, hosts Sips and Snacks, which pairs tastes of selected wines with four bite-sized snacks from the k More >
Tonight: Jennifer Jasinski unleashes a seven-course feast from her new cookbook, The Perfect Bite

By Lori Midson | Wed, February 2, 2011

Last month Jennifer Jasinski, chef/owner of Rioja, Bistro Vendome and Euclid Hall, released her first cookbook, A Perfect Bite, a 186-page compendium of recipes from Rioja's' kitchen, accompan More >
The perfect post-holiday gift: Jennifer Jasinski's The Perfect Bite

By Lori Midson | Fri, January 7, 2011

"I know! Can you believe it? We finally got the book through the doors!" That was elated response from Jennifer Jasinski, the chef/owner of Rioja, Euclid Hall and Bistro Vendome, when I spoke More >
More of the same at Rioja

By Laura Shunk | Thu, October 28, 2010

After falling in love with Euclid Hall, I decided it was time to return to Rioja: Jen Jasinski and Beth Gruitch's first restaurant, the place where I sometimes take out-of-town guests but rarely go to otherwise. Still, this Larimer Square spot has... More >
In the kitchen with Jennifer Jasinski, chef of Rioja and Bistro Vendome

By Lori Midson | Fri, April 9, 2010

Jennifer Jasinksi, executive chef of Rioja and Bistro Vendome, and the subject of this week's Chef and Tell interview, recently wrote The Perfect Bite , a soon-to-be released cookbook chock-a-b More >

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User Reviews

15 User reviews

Write a Review

Elizabeth376

| Wed, May 19, 2010

One of the best restaurants for an evening out or special occasion...one of the best restaurants in Denver due to food quality and service...adventurous menu

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neecola21

| Mon, March 22, 2010

Best chef in Denver!

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Megann801

| Mon, March 15, 2010

make reservations, and worth it!

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BrettG

| Thu, February 11, 2010

Fancy food that is worth the higher price! Cool vibe in there too.

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seankwilliams

| Wed, February 10, 2010

Great Mediterranean cuisine. Cool selection of breads before the meal, too.

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Main Menu

Starters

$9.00

white miso soup
with steamed mussels, prince edward island mussels, miso broth, honshimeji mushrooms, sweet chili, cilantro

$12.50

prosciutto cannoli
crispy speck shell filled with mascarpone, ricotta, honey, thyme. compote of: poached quince, medjool dates, hazelnuts. quince reduction, micro olive leaf arugula

$9.50

roasted fall squash
roasted delicata and spaghetti squash, preserved lemon brown butter vinaigrette, warm matsutake mushrooms, micro lemon balm, crispy delicata squash chips

$9.50

fresh bacon
cardamom spiced kurobuta pork belly, madras curry scented garbanzo bean purée

$13.50

Thai scallops
lemongrass panna cotta, compressed pineapple, plantain tuille, coconut kaffir lime purée, thai red curry vinaigrette

$14.50

puttanesca flatbread
baby heirloom tomatoes, piquillo peppers, picholine olives, green onions, la quercia iowa white, parmesan, brillat-savarin cheese, basil

$12.50

tuna sashimi and tuna tartare
marinated apple and fennel, anise vinaigrette, crispy apple chips

$16.50

rioja “picnic”
a trio of artisan meats, warm pine nut crusted goat cheese, italian mountain gorgonzola, olives, truffle fennel salad, orange confit, almonds

$14.50

quartet of artisan cheese
torta peghera: apple chips, fior di noce: walnuts and castelvetrano olive, blu di lanzo: orange marmalade, buche du poitou: pear jam

Salads

$8.00

rioja house salad
baby arugula, medjool dates, gorgonzola, toasted almond vinaigrette

$6.00

hand selected young greens
extra virgin olive oil, 25 year old balsamic vinegar

$9.50

greek salad
cucumber carpaccio, tomato gelée, valbreso feta mousse, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, dehydrated onion, oregano vinaigrette

$9.50

roasted candy striped beet salad
cucumber mint vinaigrette, snow drop goat cheese, crispy beet chips, pickled red onion, micro beets, mint syrup

Chef Jen's Hands Pastas
Pastas Are Available As An Entrée Or An Appetizer Course

$19.50
$10.00

chestnut fettuccine
brussels sprouts, pancetta, red wine poached cipollini onions, sage, matsutake mushrooms, pistachios

$27.00
$14.00

pansoti and butter poached Maine lobster
stuffed “pot bellied” pasta: vanilla bean-coconut scented red lentil purée.grapefruit vinaigrette, grapefruit supremes, basil, almonds

$18.50
$11.50

artichoke tortelloni
goat cheese and artichoke mousse stuffed pasta, artichoke broth, truffle essence, queso de mano cheese, chervil

$22.00

butternut squash duck risotto
five spice lacquered duck leg confit, butternut squash-walnut risotto, organic bok choy, chai vinaigrette

Entrees

$22.00

pan roasted Petaluma chiken
house made chicken liver and quince ravioli, pomegranate brown butter sauce, roasted quince-golden raisin-watercress salad

$24.00

grilled Tasman king salmon
loaded baked potato gnocchi; crisp pancetta, cheddar curds, broccoli di cicco, sour cream nage, pickled green onions

$18.50

vegetarian four squares
a tasting of four seasonal dishes

$28.00

seared Big eye tuna
sunchokes two ways: roasted and velouté, sautéed green apples, green apple olive oil emulsion, parsley coulis

$26.00

Colorado lamb two ways
grilled t-bone, house made lamb merguez sausage, crisp couscous pillows, caramelized fennel, tomato coulis, preserved lemon yogurt

$26.00

grilled bone in Kurobuta pork chop
dubliner cheddar tater tots, grilled bacon wrapped beans, applewood smoked bacon vinaigrette, black truffle crème fraîche

$27.00

pan seared sea bass
wilted bok choy, sautéed gingered mushrooms, carrot coriander nage, lotus root chips

$32.00

braised Wagyu boneless short rib
short rib consommé, caramelized brussels sprouts, chestnut fregola croquettes, horseradish crème fraîche

Desserts
Desserts - 8.00, Cheese Plate - 14.50

orange and tamarind cheesecake
olive oil sponge cake, fresh oranges, brown sugar tuile, orange gastrique

PB&J
chilled peanut butter crème squares, white grape jelly, peanut tuile, grape sorbet

beignets
sweet goat cheese and black mission fig filled pastries, ruby port wine reduction

hazelnut tortamisu
chocolate cake, hazelnut mascarpone cream, espresso dipped lady fingers, gianduja chocolate, espresso crème anglaise

lemon-yuzu sabayon tart
pine nut cornmeal crust, lemon confit, pine nut brittle ice cream, lemoncello granita

“whopper” torte
crispy malted shortbread crust, chocolate flan, caramel mousse, malted anglaise

hand made ice creams and sorbets
lace cookie “plate” choose three ice creams or sorbets

quartet of artisan cheese
torta peghera: apple chips, fior di noce: walnuts and castelvetrano olive, blu di lanzo: orange marmalade, buche du poitou: pear jam

Looking for another city?

1431 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80202

303-820-2282 | Website

More Downtown Denver European Other Restaurants >

2011 | Best Free Bread

2011 | Best Local Cookbook

2010 | Best Expense-Account Dinner

2007 | Best Picnic on the Patio