Rioja restaurant in Larimer Square, Denver

Sweet and refreshing candied mint leaves

Larimer Square in downtown Denver is packed with restaurants!  Every one looks fabulous.  We chose Rioja, named for a region of Spain famous for its wines.  The cuisine is Mediterranean influenced and offers a extensive wine list with a focus on wines of the region.  They offer half glasses, making it easy to sample a variety of wines.  The bread was amazing with a choice of four, including a lavender bread.

The vegetarian entree was so appealing two of us ordered it.  It was a four square of beet salad, toasted grapes, a tomato mushroom warm salad and a soup with coconut cream.  Another opted for spiced-rubbed lamb and the last chose the artichoke tortellini in brodo.  The entrees were great.

All the dessert choices sounded wonderful, but we settled on a lemon yuzu tart with pine nut ice cream and also on the beignets with goat cheese, fig filling.  Both were excellent. 

Our meal concluded with a complimentary candied spearmint leaves.  An overall fine meal in an attractive restaurant!

The epicenter of Denver dining - Larimer Square

The Vegetarian Foursquare

Perfectly cooked lamb

The broth was seasoned with truffle

My excellent lemon yuzu tart