LoDo’s Rio Grande Is Now Rio on Wazee

Rio Grande’s Downtown Denver location is trying to draw in the foodies with a revamped menu and new name: Rio on Wazee.

The homegrown chain got its start in 1986 and quickly gained a reputation for its potent margaritas (limited to three per person). It opened its first LoDo location at 1525 Blake Street in 1999 and closed that in 2022 when the math no longer worked on repairs (the century-old building is still empty); the eatery relocated to the former Morton’s space at 1745 Wazee Street a few months later. The new location operated as a standard Rio Grande while the team began quietly building toward an updated vision.

"Like every restaurant in Colorado, we’ve had to evolve or die," says Steve Richter, COO of Rio Grande Mexican Restaurants. "We’ve been around for 39 years and we’re still kicking and thriving...what's driven our evolution over the years is looking at our marketplace, our customers that are coming in, and trying to create something that delights them."

While the margaritas are still there, Rio on Wazee has a lineup of refined new dishes that venture away from the Tex-Mex favorites the Rio has always been known for. While there are still classics like fajitas and burritos, gone from the dinner menu are items like the loaded nachos and tacos (at least, for now).

“We're really trying to appeal to the foodie crowd, the downtown Denver diner who’s tapped into the culinary scene. If someone’s coming downtown for tacos, well, they can get tacos anywhere. So the idea was, let’s give them something that wows," Richter continues. “Not that we're not super proud of all our core menu items and what we do at all the other Rios, but downtown Denver is different.”
The reason LoDo is different is largely because of the aftermath of COVID and 16th Street construction.

“When we opened in ‘99, at that time lunches were crazy because all these skyscrapers were full of people…Now that lunch business has slowed. [And] the weekend traffic…that’s dried up,” Richter adds.

Across its other locations in Fort Collins, Boulder, Greeley and Lone Tree, the classic Rio offerings remain. But in the Mile High City, where taco trucks and Michelin-starred Mexican restaurants share the spotlight, Rio on Wazee is trying to carve out its own space in the culinary conscious downtown dining scene. Executive chef Jesus Martinez led the charge in reimagining the menu, which reflects Rio’s roots and Martinez’s Northern Mexican heritage.

Standout starters include a grilled Caesar salad with house-made dressing and chile chicharrones, and a rich queso fundido layered with shiitake mushrooms, poblano rajas, and caramelized onions. Among the mains, the pork shank birria is fall-off-the-bone tender; the roasted relleno poblano, stuffed with rice and quinoa and finished with melty jack cheese is a vegetarian hit; and the Colorado Striped Bass served Veracruzana-style with tomatoes, olives, and capers brings a briny brightness to the menu.
"From the beginning, we've been a scratch kitchen, and the bar program was built on the legend of our classic margarita," Richter shares.

The beverage program has also expanded to match the upgraded dishes, featuring a newly curated wine list and fresh cocktails like the vodka hibiscus spritz, the Mint Monkey Gimlet, and the Stran-hattan. Of course, margaritas remain a top priority, including jalapeño, skinny, coin-style, and seasonal specials like watermelon in summer and blood orange in winter. The classic Rio margarita is still made with their proprietary house mix and Cuervo Gold.

The tequila list is the bar's crown jewel, with about sixty bottles featured at a time, each hand-selected rather than carrying full product lines from every brand. The team also makes annual trips to Mexico to deepen their understanding of cooking techniques and agave spirits, with the goal of better connecting with traditional Mexican processes and the people behind them.
“We’re trying to offer a more leveled-up dining experience, to give people a reason to come downtown again, something that feels special, worthy of the trip,” Richter concludes.

Rio on Wazee is located at 1745 Wazee Street, and open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Find more information at riograndemexican.com/locations/rio-on-wazee.