Redefining Elegance And Old World Cuisine
Denver, Colorado USA
Cuisine Style: Mediterranean
Average Price: $$$
Overall Rating: 5/5
Dined in: August 2013
Article updated : Febraury 2020
Article updated : Febraury 2020
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Rioja Executive Chef:
Jennifer Jasinski
Rioja Chef de Cuisine
Tim Kuklinski
Rioja is rated as one of the best restaurants in the city, located near the University of Colorado on Larimer Square in downtown Denver. The rustic brick-walled dining room looked like a place out of the 1920s with an open-air exhibition kitchen surrounded by a copper-topped bar that sets the tone for your meal to come. New aged art hung from the white sanded bricks, while booths lined the walls with tables to seat between four and eight people along the other side.
Rioja Menu:
- Delicious Beginnings
- Soups and Salads
- Chef Jen’s Hand Made Pastas
- Entrées
- Desserts
- Tasting Menus
I first heard about Rioja when I was still in Afghanistan reading the reviews from recent awards that had been given to different restaurants across the world. I knew that I would be in Denver for a few days, and when I read that Chef Jennifer Jasinski was an up and coming Midwest Chef that had just won the James Beard Award, I wanted to check the place out. Chef Jasinski was not at the restaurant on the night I visited, but that did not take away from the experience itself. I sat at the Chef’s Bar which I highly recommend if you're dining by yourself or with a smaller party, or don’t feel like waiting for a table. Reservations are highly recommended. The Chef’s Bar seats eight to ten looking directly into the kitchen so you can see the action while you enjoy your meal. The service staff was very professional, with extensive knowledge of the menu and the wines that Rioja offered, along with the history of the restaurant and the area in general.
The best part about sitting at the Chef’s Bar was that you could strike up a conversation with the cooks while you ate, as long as they were not busy of course. However, it is fun to see them work making the amuse and salad courses, talking to them about their history, the products, and so forth. Though I had not tasted any food yet, I was already impressed by the front of house manager Alaina Lingenfelter. She took the time to explain the restaurant history, cuisine, and styles in detail, as she personally escorted me to my seat. I was also an hour and a half early for my reservation, and they had no problems seating me anyway. A great show of customer service that you don't so too much of these days.
I decided on the five-course tasting menu with wine pairings and amuse courses, all of which were representative of the creativity of Chef Jasinski, Rioja, and the state of Colorado. The amuse course was a fried watermelon with a green onion sliver garnish. The first course was their fresh bacon, a Kurobuta pork belly spiced with cardamom and scented with a madras curry garbanzo bean puree. A few small bites of paradise are the best way to describe the flavors of this pork dish. It was extremely tender melting as it touched the tongue. With the dish, I had a glass of the 2012 Austrian Brunn Gruner Veltliner, a classic Gruner Veltliner according to the tasting notes with lots of apple and citrus as well as crisp with a traditional peppery hint.
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| Rioja / Kurobuta pork belly |
The second course was a marinated melon salad mixed with Asian greens, cucumber, basil, chives, balsamic Belgian endive, and a goat cheese crème, which went perfect with the Portuguese 2012 Brisa Do Mar Vinho Verde pairing which the tasting notes show as a light, delicate, slightly sparkling white wine from Portugal's most northerly vineyards. It shows spritzy white fruit flavors and a hint of fresh melon. Medium-dry and naturally low in alcohol.
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| Rioja / Melon and endive salad |
The third course was paired with a wonderful 2011 La Cana Albarino, Rias Baixas which had varietal aromas with many fine citruses and herbaceous. It was full-bodied in the mouth, silky and very fresh, combining the harmony of flavors with elegance and dignity according to the winemaker. It paired with the seared sea scallops dish, sitting on a leek custard that was spread over the plate centered with a black truffle vinaigrette, and asparagus tips, grilled baby leeks, and white grape-fine herbed compote sauce. My god, it was heaven.
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| Rioja / Seared sea scallop |
The fourth course was made up of two entrées from the house-made pasta portion of the main menu. The first dish was an artichoke tortelloni, with goat cheese and artichoke mousse stuffed pasta, artichoke broth, truffle essence, queso de mano cheese, and garnished with chervil. This was then followed by basil gnocchi with roasted chanterelle mushrooms, olive oil poached shallots, Fruition Farm’s sheep milk ricotta, and a lemon-extra virgin olive oil sage garnished with micro basil. The presentations alone were absolutely stunning. The dish was served with a 2011 ‘Grek’ Rocca di Tufo Orvidto from the Palazzone vineyards in Umbria Italy. The winemaker expresses a delicate straw color, it has a thin, inviting nose; with savory taste, light body and a finish with a fragrant fruit return.
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| Rioja / Pasta dishes |
The main entrée consisted of Colorado Lamb two ways. The first way was a grilled T-bone, followed up with a house-made lamb merguez sausage, a common sausage dish from North Africa or the Middle East. I had recently had merguez when dining at Muse in Charleston, South Carolina, so I was eager to see how the chef would prepare it compared to that experience from the previous year. Crisp couscous pillowed puff pastry started the base of the dish, with grilled baby zucchini tomato coulis, and a preserved lemon yogurt, all served with a 2009 Ramon Bilbao Reserva from Rioja, Spain. According to the tasting notes, it is ruby red in color, clean, bright with intense aromas and rich in nuances. The nose is highly intense with a strong impact and acidity to balance. Hints of licorice and menthol from the barrel aging process leave a remarkable finish. Words cannot describe the excellence of these dishes.
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| Rioja / Lamb two ways |
Dessert:
It had been a long traveling day going to Buffalo Bills Museum and Mount Evans, so the alcohol went through me, and I needed some coffee to eat dessert with. The first dessert was a fried doughnut covered in powdered sugar with a raspberry sauce, followed by a sweet fried basil leaf to finish the evening. The best part of the evening was by far how the staff took care of their guests. This is a place to add to your culinary list when traveling to the mile-high city.
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| Rioja / Fried doughnut dessert |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
European Union:
Italy:
Austria:
Spain:
Other Noteworthy Mediterranean / Spanish articles and restaurants similar to Rioja:
Mediterranean cuisine represents the foods and methods of preparation by people of the Mediterranean Basin region, primarily to the Southern European countries of Portuguese, Spanish, Provençal French, Italian, Sicilian, Greek, Cretan, and can include elements of North African and The Fertile Crescent. These areas include Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Israeli, Turkish-Ottoman, and Syrian cuisines.
Castile Restaurant Med-Latin and tapas café with 360 views at the Hotel Zamora, in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Chill Restaurant and Bar New American cuisine, tapas, and exotic cocktails in St. Pete Beach
Ecco Restaurant Seasonally inspired European fare at the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, Atlanta, Georgia
Iberian Rooster Colonial Portuguese fusion with tapas restaurant in St Petersburg, Florida
Muse Italian villa with classic Mediterranean dishes and wine bar in Charleston, South Carolina
O’Bistro A casual style bistro focusing on the Mediterranean and New American Cuisine with a small eclectic flair in St Petersburg, Florida
Table 9 Stylish modern Spanish and global cuisine at the Hilton Dubai Creek in Deira Dubai, UAE
The Garlic An old-world approach to Italian with Mediterranean classics in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Colorado restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
Pizza Republica Trendy Italian trattoria and pizza restaurant in Centennial, Colorado
The Zink Kitchen + Bar Modern and sleek American cuisine in Centennial, Colorado
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Rioja
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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10
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0
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Food quality
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10
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10
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0
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Plate presentation
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8.5
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8
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0.5
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Customer service
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6.5
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6
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0.5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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8
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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45
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42
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3
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Total percentage Before Bonus
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0.933333333333333
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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4
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0888888888888889
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Total percentage with a bonus for the final star rating
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1.02222222222222
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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5 of 5 Stars:
102% Rating with a 4 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
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Rioja Wine rating:
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7 of 10
Old World selections:
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Sicily, Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, California, New Zealand, Oregon, Washington State
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Corkage fees:
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This Restaurant charges $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant-style:
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Conservative dining
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Cuisine Style:
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American, Mediterranean, Spanish
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten-Free, Grass-Fed, Local, Non-GMO, Organic, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, But Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Smart casual or Conservative attire
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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A place for foodies, Trendy, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Rustic, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Rioja has valet or street meter parking
3 hour validated parking with $8.00 charge
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium to Loud
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Smoking:
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Rioja is a nonsmoking restaurant, with a nonsmoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€€
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Alcohol prices:
$30.00 USD
Rioja:
1431 Larimer Street
Denver, Colorado
80202
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 303 820 2282
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Online reservations
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Email Contact:
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Serving hours:
Mountain Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC-7:00)
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Lunch: Wed-Fri
11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Brunch: Sat-Sun
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Dinner: Mon-Sun
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The world's best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Farm-to-fork new American fare
Sonoma, California, USA
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Country style market & café w/craft beer
Dundee, Oregon, USA
|
Refined eatery with Lowcountry fare and Southern Brunch
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
|
Other Pictures:
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| Rioja / Dining room |
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| Rioja / Chef's bar |
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| Rioja / Sweet fried basil leaf |
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| Rioja / Picture courtesy of Rioja |
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| Rioja / Picture courtesy of Rioja |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
