Rialto Café

Anytime you dine on 16^th Street Mall you are in for a treat of energy and people watching, but never should the food come at the expense of the atmosphere. Rialto fully understands this; while the location is grand, it still should not, and is not, the tipping point. With a remarkable menu of contemporary American, the food is wildly flavorful but not over the top—making it easy for a quick bite but with enough class to warrant saving it for special occasions. The selection is approachable with simple items like ahi tuna, but executed with such precision dinner is far from a mundane experience. Whether it is the perfect grilled steak, or the plethora of seafood, there is not a bad choice on the menu. Keeping pace with the high caliber cuisine is the work behind the bar. Even while the wine selection is vast it is hard to pass up one of the many signature cocktails. Beware: if you are looking for a quiet drink and want to keep to yourself, avoid happy hour here at all costs; Rialto has one of the best carousing crowds on the mall. Lunch is also on par with the restaurant's high expectations, solid yet light dishes with a quick turn around. It’s not uncommon to see tourists with suitcases getting their last taste of Denver here before hopping on a plane. Locals however, still own the scene. The patio is in high demand, and rightfully so—it is one of the best stretches of 16^th. The Sunday brunch too is a neighborhood staple; a little bubbly before dealing with Monday is never a bad thing.

See more: Denver Metro restaurants, Downtown restaurants, Central Business District restaurants, Denver Metro bars, Downtown bars, Central Business District bars, American contemporary restaurants