Riffs Urban Fare

Wonderful dinner with 11 colleagues tonight at Riffs Urban Fare. Half of our group were visiting from big, famous foodie towns, so having them experience a fabulous meal in our smaller, but equally impressive, foodie town was quite satisfying. Appetizers were scrumptious! The buratta dish flavors were unexpected, smoky and smooth; and the grilled avocado with lump crab and pico de gallo will be a standard in my kitchen (thanks for the idea). I hade the prosciutto wrapped chicken which was light and rich at the same time. The prosciutto was more like a tender crust on the chicken and the roasted root vegetables were cooked just right. The most wonderful part however was the garlic tomato pesto broth! I needed a spoon or better yet a crusty piece of artisan bread as did not want to leave a drop behind! Alas, I did have to leave it because I had neither spoon nor bread and slurping would have been inappropriate. We of course sampled desserts. The flourless chocolate cake was a standout. However, the pumpkin crème brûlée missed the mark. It’s hard to put a new twist on such a classic. All in all the food, ambience and setting merits at 5 star review, but the service, although efficient, was a bit lackluster. Refilling of wine glasses were left up the table guests. And, well there was no bread.

The food was fantastic and perfectly paced for our group of 6 people. I highly recommend the prosciutto wrapped chicken, the hot dates, the meatballs and the Brussels. The server was also very attentive without being overbearing. It was a great experience and I look forward to going there again!

First time dining at Riffs and it was overall a great experience. We didn’t have reservations, so it did take about 50min for a table to open up, though since we weren’t in a rush we simply had some tea at Dushanbe and Riffs texted me when the table opened up, quite convenient.
The waiter and kitchen were great as they helped us select and/​or prepared dishes that would work with my date’s food allergies. We shared several of their smaller plates from the Saturday menu; arugula salad, ahi (raw), brussels sprouts and the gnocchi. All these dishes were delicious, full of well balanced flavor and very well prepared. We had the brownie and salted caramel ice cream dessert, which was a bit disappointing after how delicious the dinner was. The raspberry syrup was overpoweringly sweet and it just seemed to have too many different flavors that didn’t blend well.
Overall it was a wonderful experience, with a energetic vibe, but its its not too noisy as to prevent an evening of conversation. Most of the plates are on the smaller side, so if you’re very hungry be prepared to order several things and possibly share. Will definitely go back to try the rest of the menu.

Riffs has such an interesting menu, it is difficult to make a selection! On this visit, we called ahead for a reservation, but no tables were available to be reserved at our preferred time. Thankfully the person answering the phone told us there are sometimes tables available for walk-​ins. We took a chance and walked right in to a table for two. I just love everything about Riffs: the energy, the menu and the flawless service. Flawless.

One of my favorite spots in Boulder. Love the Brussels sprouts with chestnuts appetizer and the lamb burger with couscous. I always say I’m going to order something else but can’t help myself with the lamb. Great selection of wines by the glass and happy hour.

First time in Boulder, I tried out this little jewel and I was pleasantly surprised. Your palate will be amazed by the authentic menu that Riff’s has. There is something for everyone however, I would leave the kids at home for this venture. The food is eccentric and the drinks classic American.
I got the brussels sprouts which were awesome and a glass of white wine. If you would like small plates and tapas this is the place. Nearby shops are beautifully surrounding and people watching here is ideal. Great place overall.

I like this place and its great location on Pearl Street, especially in the summer. My wife though
is vegetarian and feels there is hardly any interesting vegetarian option for her. She is Italian, so that particular Gnocci bland does not strike her very Italian. So — sorry we have to pass.

This is a simple restaurant — burgers, salads, small plates. Nothing extraordinary. lots of nice tap beers.

With 8 of us looking for somewhere to celebrate 4 birthdays we decided that Riffs was a good choice to cover the differing needs of everyone. With its varied menu and decent wine selection it certainly had something for everyone. We also lucked out as it was Boulders First Bites week ($ 29.00 3 course). This also offered a selection of wine for $ 30.00 per bottle (3 wines). I thought we had hit the jackpot when checking in (through Unilocal) as it gave us a voucher for $ 30.00 for select wines! How good was this going to be? Not so much however.
The meals were excellent even if on the slightly small size. I know the restaurant prides itself on «right size» meals but they are kinda small! The first bites deal was the best. Most of us went with off the menu items and were generally happy with the quality, but did leave the restaurant looking for somewhere else to get a snack.
I tried to use the Unilocal voucher for a bottle of wine but was informed that I couldn’t use it as we had already bought 1 bottle through the First bites offering (one of us went that way) and we couldn’t redeem this without another also ordering off the first bites menu. Dear Restaurant — You need to show these conditions if you are going to offer a deal! So we had to order a $ 60.00 bottle instead!
Overall the food is of excellent quality, the wines are good, the staff wasn’t as helpful as they could have been (slow in service and attitude) and the location excellent. Might give it another go to see if it what was experienced is the norm or unusual.

Out in Boulder wanting to try some new food spots! Had seen good things about Riff’s and noticed while we walked around. We got lucky with a seat at the bar, my favorite because I feel like you get an authentic feel for how a restaurant is run. We opted for a couple of drinks and couple of appies! The pea hummus and meatballs! I wish I remembered to take a picture before we devoured them! So sorry! But truly delicious! The hummus has a smoky char with the jalapeños and it’s very flavorful without being overpowering! Flatbread was grilled just right! We had enough bread to pea hummus ratio, critical in my book!
The meat-​a-​balls… Oh so yummy! Tender, seasoned to perfection! The San Marzano and cheese are just a perfect balance. I want more meatballs! The drinks were also amazing, and because we were at the bar we had several servers, all informative, friendly and welcome!
Definitely come check Riff’s out for drinks and apps or full dinner! The desserts also loomed amazing!

The service and food at Riff’s are incredible. The burger is one of the best I’ve had in my life, maybe my favorite so far in the Denver/​Boulder area. Get it with bacon, cheese, and a fried egg for $ 8 during their 3 – 6 happy hour.
My wife loves their brussels sprouts and fried chicken. It comes stacked on corn bread and smothered in amazing gravy.
Overall this is a great restaurant and our favorite for a happy hour stop on the way back to Denver after a day of hiking or visiting Estes Park.

Apart from salad there were no vegan options. They were unable to make the gnocchi vegan. So my dinner was the smallest salad I’ve ever been served as an entrée.
Dessert menu also had no vegan options and our waitress looked at me with pity and said «oh, vegan» when taking orders.

Let me preface it by saying that the FOOD IS EXCELLENT! The food absolutely deserves 5 stars without a doubt! Truly amazing food featuring best local Colorado ingredients with an international flare! I was so excited to try this excellent restaurant right in the heart of downtown based on all the stellar reviews on Unilocal!However, our less than perfect dining experience was the only reason I gave it 3 stars.
We came here last night (Saturday) for some dinner before a concert with a group with friends. Considering it was a busy Saturday in the heart of downtown, we called ahead to see if they can accommodate us and they said we might have to wait a bit for a table given that there’s 6 of us. Their website says they always leave tables for walk-​ins. Determined to give this restaurant a try, we arrived just before 6 pm to a mostly empty dining room with only a handful of customers in the back. The host said the earliest reservation is at 8:45 pm – almost 3 hours from now! And she said «West Flanders (the restaurant two doors down) is more accommodating with walk-​ins.» I thought it was unbelievable that she turned our business away! Since we told our friends to meet here, we decided to sit at the bar instead of going to a different restaurant. During our entire dinner at the bar, most of the tables remained empty until we finished our meal, which was ridiculous! I understand that they honor reservations especially on a Saturday but the group of us spent almost $ 200 on food and we didn’t even get to sit at a table!!! They could’ve easily accommodated us and sat us at a table given the empty dining room! Plus who tells their customers to try a different restaurant while the restaurant is sitting empty considering how competitive it is for restaurants to earn business in downtown??? I was definitely a first for me!
Moving on to the more enjoyable part of our dining experience – the food and service! Our waitress at the bar was exceptionally knowledgeable of the food and drinks on the menu and provided her recommendations! She was so excited to share her personal favorites on the menu! We ordered the following dishes and drinks based on her recommendations and every single one was a winner!
–DRINKS:
–Dazed & Confused with house made burnt lemon and ginger vodka: one of the best cocktails I’ve had!
–Walnut runs through it: simply delicious!
–FOOD:
–Roasted brussels sprouts & cauliflower: roasted to perfection seasoned with aromatic herbs like garlic, parsley – very flavorful!
–«gyro“seasoned lamb burger: all the wonderful flavors just dance on your tongue when you take a bite! Perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of spice. The seared kale provided a nice texture to the dish!
–Salmon potato croquettes: the light, lemony, garlic aioli perfectly complements the crunchy croquettes! Chucky pieces of salmon with mashed potatoes and sprinkles of dill fill the ball of deliciousness! It’s easier to see why this was our waitress’ favorite!
–Grilled avocado: a refreshing yet satisfying dish similar to ceviche with lots of citrus flavors. Loved the burnt lime! Perfect size for a small entrée!
While Riff’s served some of the best food I’ve tasted, the dining experience didn’t quite match the culinary talent! Having a party of 6 sitting at the bar for dinner the entire time while the rest of the restaurant is nearly empty is simply unacceptable in anyone’s book! It was a bit disappointing since I was really eager to come back for their Happy Hour. Now I have to think twice about it!

I would give Riff’s 4.5 stars if possible, the 0.5 star deduction resulting from two minor flaws (see below), but our experience was so lovely and enjoyable, that I don’t hesitate to round up to 5. And I give very few places a superlative rating.
We recently visited for the first time for Happy Hour as a test run, and were so pleased with the experience that we plan to return for dinner within the next week or so. We tried four food items: the crackercrusted fried oysters, salmon croquettes, meatballs, and burger with fries. The oysters were cooked perfectly (and that’s coming from an East Coast girl who was raised on fresh seafood). Just cooked through, barely warm in the middle, and so perfectly buttery tender. Yum! The bacon accent was a little strong for the delicate oysters, but being bacon lovers, we didn’t much mind. The salmon croquettes were delicious. Perfectly fried, nicely seasoned with dill, and containing tasty little chunks of moist salmon. The meatballs were, without exaggeration, the best meatballs we’ve ever had. Excellent texture and flavor, not too dense, with a good red sauce and melted cheese sauce on top. So, so good. The burger was delicious. We ordered it medium rare, but received an extremely rare verging on raw patty. (First flaw.) But the meat was so flavorful that we gobbled it down without hesitation. The bun was wonderful, and the aioli complemented the meat beautifully. The fries were very good– hot out of the fryer, crispy outside, moist inside. The house-​made pickled veggies were excellent (and I’m not generally a pickle fan).
We tried several drinks– gin and tonic, Dazed & Confused, and A Walnut Runs through It. The gin and tonic was exactly as it should be. The Dazed & Confused was delicious, the flavors expertly balanced. A Walnut Runs through It, however, was bitter (second flaw) and not pleasant to drink. So we ordered more gin and tonics and Dazed & Confuseds…
For dessert? A bananas foster brownie– brownie, caramel ice cream, and a caramelized slice of banana. Very nice. Warm, fudgy brownie with melting ice cream and rich, dense banana. Yum.
Excellent service makes Riff’s a truly good restaurant. We walked in and approached the hostess stand, where two college-​aged women were working. Seeing them, we steeled ourselves against the inevitable snottiness and attitude that such Boulder-​area hostesses seem to specialize in. (This isn’t necessarily true of young women in other parts of the country.) But to our surprise, these two young women were pleasant and efficient, and exuded not the slightest hint of negative vibe. So nice! Our server Casey (sp?) was excellent. A real professional. No hint of negative attitude and, conversely, no attempt at familiarity. He was exactly as one would wish a server to be.
If you can, get a seat in back near the little open kitchen. Great fun to watch the chef and his two assistant (?) chefs prepare food for a packed restaurant, without seeming the least bit stressed. Good job! Or, if you like people watching, sit outside in front, or in the light, bright atrium area.
(Note to Riff’s: you might consider displaying better signage out front on Pearl. We’ve walked by many, many dozens of times, and never noticed the sign, and thus not the restaurant itself either. We only saw it when we visited because we were actively looking for its address.)

While walking down Pearl Street we came across Riffs. It looked like the perfect place to have a late lunch after a long morning of hiking. Riffs is a nice big space. They have outdoor seating, but we were pretty hot and decided to eat indoors. After we were seated were told that there happy just started (it’s 3:00 — 6:00). They have some great deals during this time. I opted for the $ 7 burger and fries with an IPA to wash it down. They had a nice selection of craft beers on draft and all were $ 2 off during happy hour.
The burger came out nicely cooked with on a potato roll. I love potato rolls. It was topped with a garlic aioli and green chile. I added some blue cheese and bacon (only .50 each) and it was delightful. It definitely hit the spot.

A really nice looking large space right on main Pearl Street. Came to Boulder after a day of hiking for lunch and it was delicious here. I had the lamb «burger» which was a patty on top of a bed of couscous instead of in a bun. The meat was tender and the whole dish was flavorful — lots of spices in the meat with feta cheese and olives and a slightly spicy harissa sauce. The kitchen is mostly open so you can check out what’s going on as you walk to the bathrooms. Staff was friendly.
The menu isn’t expensive but they have an amazing happy hour from 3−6p where you can get a regular burger and fries for $ 7! (which is what my husband got) Nice bar with lots of beer/​wine/​cocktails to choose from. It was quiet during lunch but I can see this getting packed and «scene-​ish» at night. They have nice glass windows that open out to the front sitting area. One of the more nicer upscale places on Pearl St.

A group of 8 came to dinner last night. Here’s the Good: we made reservations so they had our table set for us. The restaurant wasn’t too busy or loud so we were able to talk to each other. I ordered the Brussels sprouts and the beef burger with cheddar cheese and bacon. Both were scrumptious and heavenly!!! I highly recommend both!
The bad: the service. Our waiter was not that great. He didn’t seem too thrilled about servicing our group. We weren’t happy about the mussels and we told him. He made this face of annoyance and said, «uh, that’s how they are. Do you want something else?» We declined and just left it alone.
The ugly: let’s go back to the mussels. They were the most ugliest mussels I’ve seen. Well, every mussel is ugly but these were the worst because they practically were the smallest, most anorexic mussels ever! When we told the waiter, obviously he said that its like that and he’s never seen it any other way. Well buddy, here’s a newsflash: obese mussels exist!!!
Anyway — due to him splitting our check and the fact that my burger and Brussels sprouts were amazing, I did give him a 15% tip.
If the service was outstanding, I’d give this place 4 stars.

Great food and great décor! Great service too! I had the «grilled never ever ny strip steak», which was cooked to perfection. My drink was filled before it was empty, so I was never parched!
For the décor, I liked the ball of string that was on the wall in the back part of the restaurant! The lighting is very different and retro. The ceiling fans are a type that I haven’t seen before. It looks like two old table fans mounted on a rotating mechanism, and looks like it would be very efficient.

This is a great spot to have lunch on a bright, sunny afternoon especially with their wonderful outdoor patio. We went here yesterday (monday afternoon) The décor and ambiance is very nice and welcoming. Our server, (chris??) was amazing and actually let us know about the happy hour M-​F from 3 pm– 6pm. how awesome is that since most want you to spend more $$ instead of saving? all the servers were helpful and made us felt welcome even though we stayed there for 3 – 4 hours.
We ordered the burger and grilled red trout. The burger was delicious but my red trout was even better. It was filling but didn’t bring you into a food coma and the red trout was placed on a bed of potatoes and kale with some dressing was the perfect combination! I would recommend it. We also had green peas hummus with pita bread… that was an ok app. I would prefer if they just had regular hummus.
For drinks, we had gove’t mules (their version of moscow mule but they use fresh ginger purée in it), Dazed & confused (very interesting tart drink!) and the rifarrita (like a margarita but quite strong and yummy).
We were ether for quite some time as it was not very busy on a Monday afternoon and they have free wifi, so we deeded to do some work there instead of going to a coffee shop. I mean, who doesn’t love happy hour deals with ¹⁄₃ off wine, $ 2 off beers, $ 6 cocktails and some $ 3-​$ 5 small plates!
We would go back!

First impressions are everything. Dating websites, mouthwash ads, and career counselors have all reminded us of this. In all my time playing amateur food critic, and possibly even in my entire lifetime history of dining out, I can’t remember a restaurant ever starting off so unimpressively and then righting the ship so dramatically. It was like watching a guy spinning plates on sticks where the first few plates toppled to the ground, only to magically bounce back up on top of the sticks and resume spinning.
Walking in and sitting down, the place seemed nice, not too fancy but not too casual, the kind of place CU students probably get their parents to take them. After getting our water and having our cocktail order taken, we proceeded to wait almost 15 minutes for the cocktails to arrive, then ended up giving our food orders to a different server while our original server tended to another larger table, and then waited another 15 minutes at least for our starters to arrive. All these delays did not bode well, and my usual impassive patience was starting to be tested. The boring mediocrity of my cocktail and my meatball appetizer didn’t help matters.
Act 2 was an entirely different story. After our starters were cleared, the arugula and goat cheese salad arrived promptly and was a light, fresh, and delicious second course. Our first server had recommended the pork belly special with orange prepared three ways (slices, peels, and some kind of sauce) and I can say unreservedly it was the most delicious preparation of pork belly I’ve ever tasted. Perfectly crispy and juicy and mated perfectly with sweet citrus in a taste sensation I would never have expected, and brought out the minute we finished our salad.
The difference in quality of both the food and service was night and day, disappointing to start but fabulous by the end. Some of that may have been due to the large group at the next table, which probably backed up orders in the kitchen so they’d be served all at once. In aviation they say any landing you can walk away from is a good one. In this case, any restaurant you can walk out of happy is a good one, so kudos to Riffs for pulling up out of the nosedive and landing safely.