Audio By Carbonatix
So now that I’ve squared things with Rioja in this week’s re-review and detailed about a decade’s worth of history on Larimer Square, what else is there to do?
So glad you asked…
Below, find this week’s list of all the best places on Larimer Square — and why. Now, if you find yourself craving a Rioja picnic or maybe a nice bowl of Jen Jasinski’s pork belly but get turned away at the door because the wait is, like, twelve hours for a table, you’ll have this handy guide of other worthy places to visit while you wait. Bring a tent, bring a sleeping bag, bring a credit card and be prepared to camp out…
1) Osteria Marco, 1453 Larimer Street. Just below King Pig stands a door to a wonderland of porkerific fantasies. And the wine list ain’t shabby, either.
2) Bistro Vendome, 1420 Larimer Street. My suggestion? Come here for brunch (it’s also owned and run by Jen Jasinski and partner Beth Gruitch), walk across the street, make a reservation for dinner at Rioja, then come back to Vendome to sit out the wait. There’s no prettier place in Denver to do it.
3) Corridor 44, 1433 Larimer Street. Or you could try a walk-in at Rioja and, when you get turned away, console yourself with a bottle (or two) of French bubbly-wine at this champagne bar just stumbling distance away.
4) TAG, 1441 Larimer Street. For the iconoclasts, screw the crowds, forget the hype and try out the grub being offered by Troy Guard and his crew at Larimer Square’s newest restaurant.
5) Capital Grille, 1450 Larimer Street. Big, fat steaks at big, fat prices — but so worth it. Capital Grille has a tendency to pack ’em in deep on the weekends, so you might want to call ahead for a table in this room as well.
6) Gelazzi, 1411 Larimer Street. You know what would be funny? On Saturday night, hit Gelazzi, get basically any one of its 32 gelatto flavors to go, then parade your dessert up and down the sidewalk in front of the hungry diners waiting for a seat at Rioja. How long do you think it’ll be before someone offers you twenty bucks for your leftovers? Or just punches you?
1) Osteria Marco,
1453 Larimer Street. Just below King Pig stands a door to a wonderland
of porkerific fantasies. And the wine list ain’t shabby, either.
2) Bistro Vendome,
1420 Larimer Street. My suggestion? Come here for brunch (it’s also
owned and run by Jen Jasinski and partner Beth Gruitch), walk across
the street, make a reservation for dinner at Rioja, then come back to
Vendome to sit out the wait. There’s no prettier place in Denver to do
it.
3) Corridor 44,
1433 Larimer Street. Or you could try a walk-in at Rioja and, when you
get turned away, console yourself with a bottle (or two) of French
bubbly-wine at this champagne bar just stumbling distance away.
4) TAG,
1441 Larimer Street. For the iconoclasts, screw the crowds, forget the
hype and try out the grub being offered by Troy Guard and his crew at
Larimer Square’s newest restaurant.
5) Capital Grille, 1450 Larimer Street. Big, fat steaks at big, fat prices — but so
worth it. Capital Grille has a tendency to pack ’em in deep on the
weekends, so you might want to call ahead for a table in this room as
well.
6) Gelazzi, 1411 Larimer
Street. You know what would be funny? On Saturday night, hit Gelazzi,
get basically any one of its 32 gelatto flavors to go, then parade your
dessert up and down the sidewalk in front of the hungry diners waiting
for a seat at Rioja. How long do you think it’ll be before someone
offers you twenty bucks for your leftovers? Or just punches you?
