Rioja Larimer Square Patio

Absolutely loved it here! The food was just amazing as well as the presentation. We sat outside and the ambience was wonderful. They're was even a gentleman who comes out on his own each night and plays his violin in the Square which can be heard while dining outside. It was a great touch. Staff was very knowledgeable and attentive. The bread selection was so hard to just pick 2. I had the lavender and honey and a cheese combo, served with some salted butter... Yummy! I had the asparagus salad, which just let me say, was just moth watering. The ingredients all went together so well. Opted for the smaller serving of the stuffed artichoke dish (definitely wanted to save room for dessert) and the only thing I was disappointed about was that I only ordered the smaller portion! 🤣 Can't even begin to describe the delectable taste of this dish. Already looking forward to getting back there to have this again! And then dessert did not disappoint, chocolate peanut butter torte was actually light and oh so tasty, it was a perfect ending to an absolutely delicious meal. The whole experience was excellent.

The reviews seem to be right for this one. Veggie dishes were the stars and service could certainly be improved. The artichoke tortellini is a winner. We also loved the asparagus salad and Burundi. Steak was good enough but kind of tough and the knives were not sufficient for cutting. The bread service was great, those little biscuits and the lavender bread coupled with the salted butter mmm mmm mmmm. We also enjoyed the bottle of wine. Just think the service could be more punctual & warmer.

We visited for a birthday dinner with a party of four and overall had a very enjoyable experience. To start, we shared two half pasta, and the mushroom ravioli was the clear favorite at the table. The bread service was also excellent, with a great selection, and we appreciated that you can ask for more than one piece at a time. For entrées, we ordered the Thai chili pork, seafood fideuà, grilled steak, and Amish chicken. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend the Thai chili pork. We requested it medium rare, but it arrived well done and dry. The steak and Amish chicken were both okay, and the seafood fideuà was decent, though none of the entrées really stood out. On the positive side, the portions were generous and we left completely stuffed. A nice touch was the complimentary mini ice cream cones they brought out to help celebrate the birthday. Combined with the excellent service from our waiter and waitresses and the pleasant outdoor seating area, it made for a memorable evening. While the food was somewhat mixed, the service, atmosphere, and thoughtful birthday gesture elevated the experience. Because of that, I'm giving it 5 stars.

Larimer Square couldn’t be cuter - take a little time to walk around either before or after your fabulous meal at Rioja. I picked this restaurant because I’m a Top Chef fan and Chef Jennifer Jasinski did not disappoint. The food was exceptional. We shared the fresh bacon which was simply amazing. There were four of us and I confess I wanted more. I ordered the asparagus salad to go with a full order of the artichoke tortelloni. Both were wonderful, but that tortelloni is something I’ll be dreaming about - just luscious and so tasty, velvety inside and that broth! Spectacular. Others at my table had the artichoke soup, Rioja house salad, goat cheese gnudi (I’d go back for that, too - just pillows of deliciousness), and the Thai chili pork. Everything was so good. The breads were also delicious and we shared an ice cream trio for desert with the crisp on the bottom and the candied pine nut ice cream being the stars. If you’re in the area, you’re seriously missing out if you haven’t been to Rioja.

6 months later and I am STILL thinking about the meal I had here on 10/31/2025. I was passing through town during a cross-country move and ended up sitting alone at the bar. I truly cannot rave about this restaurant enough. It was the first day of their new winter menu and everything was incredible, but what really made the experience was the service. I’m vegetarian and every staff member and person in the kitchen seemed fully aware and accommodating. The bread service alone was amazing. I had just wanted to treat myself to a nice dinner to celebrate such a huge life change, and I’m so glad I decided to walk in last minute. The two bartenders who took care of me went completely above and beyond. (Evening giving me dining recommendations for the city I was traveling to the next day). The food was so good I even ordered an extra entrée to take back to my hotel. At one point while waiting for the restroom, a random server even walked me downstairs to show me additional bathrooms which was really kind given the busy Friday night service. Seriously, this place blew my mind. Easily one of the best restaurant experiences I’ve had in the past two years.