Where to Eat before or after Broncos Gamedays

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1515 Restaurant
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Range
7

Randolph's Restaurant & Bar
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Tamayo
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Old Major
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Rioja
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Coohill's
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EDGE Restaurant & Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Denver
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Guard and Grace

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Rioja

Cuisine: European, Mediterranean

Price Range: $$

10Best Says

Mediterranean influences inform the menu that includes extraordinary handmade pastas by Chef Jennifer Jasinski, who is also co-owner of the restaurant. The cavatelli is served with black truffle chicken sausage, morel mushroom, peas and spring onions, while the beet gnocchi has strawberries, hon-shimeji mushrooms, walnuts, tarragon and horseradish-fromage blanc. Among the phenomenal starter offerings are a roasted beet salad and the Rioja "picnic" plate with artisan meats, warm pine-nut-crusted goat cheese, Gorgonzola, olives, fennel salad, orange confit and almonds. It was no surprise to anyone who has had the good fortune to dine at Rioja when Jasinski became the first Denver chef to win the coveted James Beard Foundation Best Chef Southwest award in 2013. Grab a seat on the patio if the weather is nice, and enjoy people-watching as you sip a glass of wine. The impressive list features selections from Rioja, the Spanish wine region.

Address:

1431 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80202
303-820-2282

Hours:

Mon-Tue: 5pm-10pm
Wed-Thu: 11:30am-2:30pm,; 5pm-10pm
Fri: 11:30am-2:30pm,; 5pm-11pm
Sat: 10am-2:30pm,; 5pm-11pm
Sun: 10am-2:30pm,; 5pm-10pm

EXPERT TIPS BY: Becca Blond
Travel Expert

Restaurants near Sports Authority Field at Mile High: "On a sunny afternoon sit outside on the patio, as this restaurant offers some of the city's best people thanks to a middle of Larimer Square address."

Best for Restaurants near Sports Authority Field at Mile High Because: Consistently picked as one of Denver's top restaurants, it's hard to go wrong ordering at Rioja. Valet parking is another perk.

Brunch Menu
- Eye Openers
  
  Wake up Call
  
  Ancho Reyes Verde, Grey Goose "La Vanille", Dom Benedictine, espresso ($12.50)
  
  Rioja Mary
  
  Absolut peppar vodka, rioja house recipe ($10.50)
  
  Mimosa
  
  sparkling cava, fresh squeezed orange juice ($10.50)
  
  Grapefruit Granita
  
  sparkling cava ($11.50)
  
  Drunch Punch
  
  daily selection ($10.50)
  
  Afternoon Delight
  
  Contratto, grapefruit, lemon, Miquel Pons sparkling cava ($12.50)
  
  Juice Spritzers
  
  fresh squeezed juice, sparkling water ($7.00)
  
  Berry Lemonade
  
  fresh squeezed lemonade, berry purée ($5.00)
- Starters
  
  Eric's Doughnuts
  
  whipped lemon mascarpone, blueberry compote ($8.00)
  
  House Salad
  
  arugula, dates, gorgonzola, almond vinaigrette ($8.00)
  
  Fresh Bacon
  
  pork belly, cardamom, curried garbanzo bean pureé ($9.50)
  
  Rioja "Picnic"
  
  artisan meats, warm pine nut crusted goat cheese, gorgonzola, olives, fennel salad, orange confit, almonds ($19.50)
  
  Frisée Salad
  
  celery ribbons, lovage, sorrel, pickled shallot, 64º egg, smoked salmon, citrus vinaigrette ($16.00)
  
  Celery Root Soup
  
  black truffle, celery leaves, hazelnut ($13.00)
- Entrées
  The Hangover Cure
  
  braised pork belly, tater tots, scrambled eggs, cipollini onions, oyster mushrooms, avocado, Adrian's green sauce ($17.50)
  
  Sweet Potato Hash
  
  smoked salmon roulade, roasted peppers, arugula, capers, black truffle sour cream, soft scrambled eggs ($20.00)
  
  Eggs in Purgatory
  
  goat cheese grits, tomato olive ragu, baked eggs*, focaccia ($10.50)
  
  Rioja Benedict
  
  goat cheese biscuit, bacon, spinach, tomato, poached eggs*, parmesan sauce ($11.50)
  
  Omelet of the Day
  
  three eggs, potato galette, fruit
  
  Crepe of the Day
  
  Chronic Breakfast Sandwich
  
  grilled jalapeño cheddar sourdough, poblano cream cheese, scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato ($14.00)
  
  Colorado Lamb Burger*
  
  house made mozzarella, spicy aioli, arugula salad; á la Fausto: fried egg*, chronic bacon, avocado ($14.00)
  
  Artichoke Tortelloni
  artichoke mousse, white truffle brodo, queso de mano, chervil
  
  $20.00
  
  $12.50
Lunch Menu
- Starters
  
  Rioja House Salad
  
  arugula, dates, gorgonzola, almond vinaigrette ($8.00)
  
  Kanpachi Tiradito*
  
  pickled mushroom, fresno chile, carrot, salsa verde, soy-lavender ponzu, coriander crisps ($16.00)
  
  Celery Root Soup
  
  black truffle, celery leaves, hazelnut ($13.00)
  
  Rioja "Picnic"
  
  artisan meats, warm pine nut crusted goat cheese, gorgonzola, olives, fennel salad, orange confit, almonds ($19.50)
  
  Fresh Bacon
  
  pork belly, cardamom, curried garbanzo bean purée ($9.50)
  
  Monte Enebro Cheese
  
  poached pears, port gastrique, toasted walnuts, walnut butter ($12.00)
- Chef Jen's Homemade Pastas
  Kabocha Squash Ravioli
  sage brown butter, pickled butternut squash, candied pecans
  
  $19.50
  
  $11.50
  Ricotta Gnocchi
  chestnut nage, seasonal mushrooms, thyme
  
  $20.00
  
  $10.00
  Artichoke Tortelloni
  artichoke mousse, white truffle brodo, queso de mano, chervil
  
  $20.00
  
  $12.50
  Black and White Tagliatelle
  Manila clam, duck sausage, squid, harissa, fennel, piquillo pepper, spinach, tempura lemon confit
  
  $19.00
  
  $10.50
- Sandwiches and Entrées
  
  Colorado Lamb Burger*
  
  house made mozzarella, spicy aioli, arugula salad ($13.50)
  
  Arctic Char
  
  sunchoke velouté, olive oil - apple reduction, compressed apple, celery leaves ($22.00)
  
  Frisée Salad
  
  celery ribbons, lovage, sorrel, pickled shallot, 64º egg*, smoked salmon, citrus vinaigrette ($16.00)
  
  Albacore Tuna Conserva Salad
  
  spinach, roasted potato, rainbow carrot ribbons, scallion, pommery-apple vinaigrette ($17.00)
  
  Duck Kofta
  
  curried duck sausage kebab, roasted garlic yogurt, mixed greens, house made pita ($14.00)
  
  Gabe's Chronic Chicken Sandwich
  
  focaccia, chile marinated grilled chicken, bacon, curry aioli, radicchio, celery, red onion, candied cashews, mixed greens ($14.50)
Dinner Menu
- Starters
  
  Rioja House Salad
  
  arugula, dates, gorgonzola, almond vinaigrette ($8.00)
  
  Celery Root Soup
  
  black truffle, celery leaves, hazelnut ($13.00)
  
  Kanpachi Tiradito*
  
  pickled mushroom, fresno chile, carrot, salsa verde, soy-lavender ponzu, coriander crisps ($16.00)
  
  Fresh Bacon
  
  pork belly, cardamom, curried garbanzo bean purée ($9.50)
  
  Warm Brussels Sprout Salad
  
  cauliflower, spaghetti squash, dried fruit mostarda ($12.00)
  
  Beth's Favorite Pizza
  
  blue cheese, house mozzarella, Gruyère, prosciutto, black mission fig compote, arugula, balsamic ($16.00)
  
  Rioja "Picnic"
  
  artisan meats, warm pine nut crusted goat cheese, gorgonzola, olives, fennel salad, orange confit, almonds ($19.50)
  
  Monte Enebro Cheese
  
  poached pears, port gastrique, toasted walnuts, walnut butter ($12.00)
- Chef Jen's Hand Made Pastas
  Kabocha Squash Ravioli
  sage brown butter, pickled butternut squash, candied pecans
  
  $21.00
  
  $11.50
  Ricotta Gnocchi
  chestnut nage, seasonal mushrooms, thyme
  
  $20.00
  
  $11.00
  Artichoke Tortelloni
  artichoke mousse, white truffle brodo, queso de mano, chervil
  
  $20.00
  
  $12.50
  Black and White Tagliatelle
  Manila clam, duck sausage, squid, harissa, fennel, piquillo pepper, spinach, tempura lemon confit
  
  $19.00
  
  $10.50
- Entrées
  
  Vegetarian Four Squares
  
  a tasting of four seasonal dishes ($19.50)
  
  Wagyu Bavette Steak*
  
  divine pommes persillade, pear purée, mushroom conserva, red wine demi ($34.00)
  
  Spice Rubbed Lamb Loin*
  
  farro couscous, falafel, roasted garlic yogurt, strawberry-mint compote ($34.00)
  
  Arctic Char
  
  sunchoke velouté, olive oil - apple reduction, compressed apple, celery leaves ($25.00)
  
  Milk Poached Pork Tenderloin*
  
  apples, caraway cabbage, matsutake mushroom, potato latke, apple sour cream, sauce au poivre ($25.50)
  
  Georges Bank Scallops
  
  crispy sticky rice, carrot-coriander-coconut nage, gingered wild mushrooms, kaffir lime oil ($32.00)
  
  Petaluma Chicken
  
  cauliflower gratin, frisée-herb salad, tarragon-brandy jus ($29.50)
Cocktail Menu
- Cocktails
  
  Rosalinda
  
  Wheatley vodka, lavender-rosemary simple syrup, Lillet rosé, lemon ($13.50)
  
  Another Shrubbery
  
  Dulce Vida, Rocky Mountain añejo tequila, apple cider shrub, Agavero, lemon ($15.50)
  
  Alpine Fizz
  
  Bar Hill gin, turmeric tonic, honey, lemon, thyme, egg white* ($13.50)
  
  Dread Pirate Roberts
  
  Ávua Cachaça prata, kiwi, tarragon, lime ($14.50)
  
  Shari Baby
  
  Gracias a Dios espadin mezcal, Atxa Pacharán, Orleans Manzanilla sherry, agave, cinnamon, grilled orange ($15.50)
  
  A Little Off-Beet
  
  Rittenhouse rye, cranberry jam, beet juice, grenadine, lemon, salt ($15.50)
  
  The Last Prayer
  
  Dolin Blanc vermouth, Spring 44 gin, Wheatley vodka, Green Chartreuse, lime ($13.50)
  
  Winter Classic
  
  hazelnut-infused Dickel rye, Fee Brother's Aztec chocolate bitters, turbinado sugar ($13.50)
  
  No Harm, Some Fowl
  
  Suntory Toki Japanese whiskey, Averna, pomegranate molasses, Fee Brother's orange and cardamom bitters, duck fat rinse ($16.50)
  
  Red Sangria
  
  red wine, brandy, triple sec, orange juice assorted fruit ($13.50)
Dessert Menu
- Desserts
  
  Beignets
  
  Sweet goat cheese and black mission fig filled pastries, ruby port reduction. Suggested Wine Pairings: Ferreira Fine Ruby, Porto | MP ($9.50)
  
  Brandy Snap Cannoli
  
  Orange scented carnaroli rice pudding, passionfruit coulis, edible flowers. Suggested Wine Pairings: NV Cesar Florido Moscatel Sherry, Chipiona | MP ($9.50)
  
  pumpkin panna cotta
  
  maple mousseline, blood orange custard, pie crust crumbles, smoked pecan tuille. Suggested Wine Pairings: 2016 Alasia Sparkling Brachetto d'Acqui, Piedmont | MP ($9.50)
  
  Lemon Yuzu Tart
  
  Lemon yuzu sabayon, sweet corn meal sucré, pine nut brittle ice cream, lemon confit. Suggested Wine Pairings: NV Vietti Moscato d' Asti | MP ($9.50)
  
  Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte
  
  Flourless chocolate cake, peanut butter ganache, salted caramel, dulce de leche ice cream. Suggested Wine Pairings: 1987 Pedro Ximenez "PX" Gran Reserva, Cordoba| MP ($9.50)
  
  Hand-Made Ice Creams and Sorbets
  
  Lace cookie plate, choose three ice creams or sorbets ($9.18)
  
  Monte Enebro Cheese
  
  Poached pears, port gastrique, toasted walnuts, walnut butter. Suggested Wine Pairings: Henriques & Henriques 10 year Boal Maderia, Portugal | MP ($12.00)
- Port, Sherry and Madeira
  
  Grahams 10 year Tawny
  
  ($10.50)
  
  Grahams 20 year Tawny
  
  ($20.50)
  
  Grahams 40 year Tawn
  
  ($40.50)
  
  Ferreira Fine Ruby Port
  
  ($9.50)
  
  Ferreira Fine Tawny Port
  
  ($9.50)
  
  Henriques & Henriques 10 year Boal Madeira
  
  ($13.50)
  
  MV Cesar Florido Moscatel Sherry, Chipiona
  
  ($10.50)
- Amari and Digestifs
  
  Cynar, Italy
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Fernet Branca, Lombardy
  
  ($11.00)
  
  Chartreuse Green, France
  
  ($14.50)
  
  Chartreuse Yellow, France
  
  ($14.50)
  
  Dom Bénédictine, France
  
  ($10.50)
  
  Etna Amaro, Italy
  
  ($14.00)
  
  Pernod Anise Liqueur, France
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Romana Sambuca, Italy
  
  ($10.50)
  
  Bortolo Nardini Amaro, Italy
  
  ($11.50)
  
  Lazzaroni Amaro Liqueur, Saronno, Italy
  
  ($9.50)
  
  Averna Amaro Liqueur, Sicily, Italy
  
  ($11.50)
- Dessert Wine by the Glass
  
  2017 Cassanetta Vietti Moscato d'Asti, Piedmont
  
  ($11.50)
  
  2014 Chateau Roumieu Sauternes, France
  
  ($15.00)
  
  2016 Alasia Sparkling Brachetto d'Acqui, Piedmont
  
  ($8.00)
  
  2014 Domaine de Fenouillet Muscat, Rhone
  
  ($12.50)
  
  2013 Royal Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos, Hungary
  
  ($16.50)
  
  2009 Farniente Dolce, Napa Valley
  
  ($24.50)
  
  MV Merryvale 'Antigua' Muscat, Napa Valley
  
  ($20.50)
  
  2011 Olivares Dulce Red Monastrell, Jumilla
  
  ($14.50)
  
  2015 Inniskillin Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Niagara Peninsula
  
  ($20.50)
  
  2015 Inniskillin Cab Franc Ice Wine, Niagara Peninsula
  
  ($27.50)
  
  1987 Pedro Ximenez "Don PX" Gran Reserva, Cordoba
  
  ($14.50)
- Dessert Wine Bottles
  
  1976 Riveyrac Muscat Rivesaltes, Roussillon (375ml)
  
  ($183.00)
  
  1987 Pedro Ximenez "Don PX" Gr Res, Cordoba (375ml)
  
  ($78.50)
  
  1999 Domaine du Clos Naudin Late Harvest Chenin Blanc, Vouvray (750ml)
  
  ($94.00)
  
  2015 R. Mondavi Moscato d' Oro, Napa Valley (375ml)
  
  ($36.50)
  
  2011 Chateau D'Yquem, Sauternes (375ml)
  
  ($351.00)
Bar Menu
- Small Plates
  
  Molé Chicken Skewers
  
  lime crema, micro cilantro ($7.00)
  
  Coffee-Cocoa Rubbed Wagyu Beef
  
  cocoa-nib demi, seared cocoa-dusted trumpet mushroom ($10.00)
  
  White Chocolate Mashed Potatoes
  
  with smoked octopus and sweet soy glaze ($9.00)
  
  Chocolate Pappardelle with Braised Beef
  
  red wine cherry emulsion ($8.00)
  
  Chocolate Beignets
  
  cocoa dust and caramel ($6.00)
- A Bite Bigger
  
  Chili Chaco Pizza
  
  four-chili chocolate sauce, almonds & hazelnut, spiced citrus sausage, Honshimeji mushrooms, goat cheese ($16.00)
  
  Rioja "Picnic"
  
  artisan meats, warm pine nut crusted goat cheese, gorgonzola, olives, fennel salad, orange confit, almonds ($19.50)
- Chocolate Friendly Vino
  
  MV Cleto Chiarli Grasparossa Demi-Sec
  
  Sparkling Red Lambrusco, Emilia Romagna/Italy ($8.00)
  
  2016 Villa Maria Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
  
  ($8.00)
  
  MV "The Chocolate Shop" Infused Cabernetmerlot, WA
  
  ($8.00)
- Beer and Cocktails
  
  Wells & Young Banana Bread Brown Ale, England
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Rogue Mocha Porter, Oregon
  
  ($5.50)
  
  Mexican Chocolate Martini
  
  chili infused Tequila, Ancho Reyes Poblano, dark crème de cacao, turbinado, cinnamon ($7.50)

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