The weekend is almost here: have you made your dinner plans yet? If you're looking to schedule a special date night or some time with friends, we've found five highly rated spots in LoDo that still have reservations available for parties of two or four at prime times (7-9pm) this Saturday and Sunday.
Rioja
1431 Larimer St.
This downtown staple from James Beard Award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski specializes in creative Mediterranean fare like pork belly with cardamom and chickpea puree and chicken with cauliflower gratin. It also offers a wide selection of handmade pastas, including artichoke tortelloni and saffron angel hair with prawns. The atmosphere is intimate and dimly lit, making it ideal for a date night or a catch-up with close friends.
For this weekend, tables for two or four are available anytime from 7:15 to 9 on Friday, with a few later tables (9:15 onward) on Saturday.
Osteria Marco
1453 Larimer St.
If you're looking for outstanding Italian fare, look no further than this popular spot. Specializing in artisan pizzas with toppings like shrimp and chorizo or wild mushrooms and robiola cheese, Osteria Marco also boasts a strong selection of housemade salumi and fresh cheeses. The butterscotch bread pudding is also a customer favorite.
Plenty of tables still remain for parties of two this weekend, including prime slots from 7-9pm on both Friday and Saturday. Parties of four can visit anytime from 7:45pm onward on Friday and 7:30pm onward on Saturday.
Vesta
1822 Blake St.
Named for the Roman goddess of the hearth, Vesta has a creative menu that rotates with the seasons. The Chinese BBQ pork belly and bread plate with a quartet of sauces are popular standbys, while current favorites include green garlic bucatini carbonara and sumac-roasted diver scallops. There's also a set of special menus for diners with restricted diets, from gluten-free to vegan. Don't miss the sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
Vesta still has tables for two after 7 on Friday and 7:15 on Saturday, and for tables of four after 7 on Friday and 7:45 on Saturday.
Bistro Vendome
1420 Larimer St.
Offering both traditional French food and a traditional French ambience, this restaurant is known for its romantic central courtyard and its reliable riffs on classic dishes like steak tartare, escargot, moules frites, and creme brulee. It's also a popular brunch destination for crepes and croissants, as well as a strong cup of French press coffee.
For dinner on Friday and Saturday, parties of two can dine from 8:15 onward, while parties of four have availability at 8:15 and 8:45 on Friday and 7:45 onward on Saturday.
The Kitchen
1530 16th St.
This farm-to-table bistro is on the pricier side, but its New American cuisine merits the heavy cash outlay. Popular dishes include the pan-seared halibut with Meyer lemon and bacon vinaigrette, the potted salmon, and the king crab with avocado. The big space is lively and convivial, with windows onto the 16th Street Mall that offer plenty of enjoyable people-watching.
The Kitchen still has a number of tables for parties of two or four on Friday, at 7:15 or 7:45-9pm. On Saturday, most tables are at 8:30pm or later.
