03/01/09

Great Girls Night Out

by cnickolay

I called same day for a party of 15, after some confusion with another restauarant.

The owner was attentive and helpful, and my wife and her friends had a great time.

The Tapas were delicious and they loved the atmosphere and attentive service.

I'm the wife and had a whale of a time!!! Myself and my friends.

We were in a lovely room off to ourselves which was probably just as well for everyone else as we were not quiet!! Although we did have a few other diners popping their heads in to say hello and try to join the party.

The tapas were yummy, varied and plentiful and the wine was excellent. Great place for a group but I noticed lots of smaller tables too so next time when we return it may be with a few less appetities.

Thank You very much for a wonderful 40th celebration. You all gave us a glorious meal in great atmosphere and made me feel quite quite fabulous!!

We'll be back soon!

• Pros: great food and service
• Cons: need another location in Cypress!!

01/16/09

Excellent food, the best wine menu, great service and relaxing amotsphere

by lvtoeat

I have eaten at some of the most renowned Spanish tapas restaurants throughout the United States and Spain. Rioja truly stands as one of the best tapas I have ever eaten at. Anyone who says otherwise does not know what good tapas food is. I stumbled upon Rioja while on a business trip in Houston. The food was so good I went back four times in one week! They serve an excellent breakfast on the weekend also! The pork tenderloin and grilled lamb off of their low carb menu is to die for. I can not forget to mention the INCREDIBLE Spanish wine list which is one of the best I've ever seen. I tried a vertical tasting with Zumaya Crianza and Reserva---Excellent! Even my ten year old son now craves Riojas' steak and Asparagus! Excellent food, great service and relaxing amotsphere. I wish I had a Rioja in my home town!

• Pros: excellent food and wine menu
• Cons: sometimes hard to find parking space

12/15/08

San Francisco Treat

by bootprint

Crab Empanadas = Flavorless Grease

Custard/Creme Brulee = sugarwater with blowtorch

Paella = Rice -A -Roni with a bucket of seawater on top

Sangria =welch's grape juice with water and a splash of box wine

• Pros: It made me laugh
• Cons: Seafood Microwave Meals, Not Good

12/15/08

I've had better.

by NerdParts

:(

• Pros: None
• Cons: Food

11/22/08

Mediocre Food ... Services as Average

by ilovechoco

After watching Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow travel through Spain, we had major cravings for tapas. So of to Rioja we went on a Friday night. We were greeted with a "Do you have a reservation?" Little mifffed, but I let it go. We were offered a drink and chose a sangria. After we were seated, it took a few minutes for the staff to bring a menu. We ordered a bottle of wine, an asparagus appetizer, the chorizo and something else I can't remember. The asparagus was CANNED (ie soft) asparagus topped with MAYONAISE. The chorizo was lukewarm, and definitly not homemade. In order words ... we were totally disappointed ! Don't plan on going back at all. Mi Luna certainly has better tapas, and I'm willing to put up with their non-existent parking.

10/05/08

Great Customer Service

by erikalyn

Excellent Service, casual dress, great atmosphere. The gazpacho was really amazing; it was a great mixture of several fantastic flavors. The mushrooms cooked in garlic and red peppers were another really wonderful treat. The grilled Angus beef was a culinary delight, the knife went through the beef like butter and the taste was just astounding. This is a place I would definitely return to over and over again.

• Pros: Ambience, Service, Right Amount of Food,
• Cons: None

09/29/08

EXCELLENT SERVICE AND BETTER FOOD. DO NOT MISS THIS BRUNCH!!!!

by MarkANDKatie

First Of All, Let me say that Rioja has the best service. Their waitstaff was friendly and attentive. Also, I was promptly seated. The wine list was extraordinary. I went on a Sunday, and they have brunch, BOTTOMLESS Sangria and Mimosas. I sat on the patio, which was well kept, quiet and clean. I ate the award winning paella. It was excellent. I indulged in a chocolate tart for desert. This is one of the most incredible restaraunt experiences that I have had in Houston (It was like dining in Spain!) I frequent 4 and 5 star restaraunts, and I am so impressed with this place in comparison to the other places I've had dinner. I am recommending it to all of my friends and family. You must go.

• Pros: the brunch and mimosas were definately a bonus. The service was stellar. I got celebrity-like treatment.
• Cons: They could have had a more extensive dessert menu.

09/21/08

Terrible mix or seafood paella to go.

by Paraguanero

Their seafood or mix paella is the worst paella I have purchased to go in my live. I took to the restaurant my own "paellera" and they placed in this just the cooked rice. They provided 2 more containers, one of them with steamed moussels, calamary and shrimps and the second once with pieces of fish and "chorizos" (sausages).

Finally, we have to mix all together in order to show something like a "paella" to our friends.

08/22/08

SPAIN GETAWAY !!

by latinboyperez22

Rioja is the first place that comes to my mind when I want authentic spaniard food. Rioja's is an all around great place to dine with a prime location, wonderful menu, friendly staff, great wine list, wonderful sangria,and who can forget the paella and tapas. TWO THUMBS WAY UP !!!

06/13/08

Tasty Tapas

by lambowner

This restaurant so charmed me on a first visit with some ladies who lunch this spring, that I returned 4 more times over the next few weeks with my husband who agrees it is a great place for tapas. I'm not a big fan of paella, and previously hadn't found a tapas restaurant in Houston that I would return to. I mean, boiled new potatoes topped with mayo and plates like that. Here at Rioja, I love the garlic soup with a poached egg, the really flavorful, fresh grilled sardines (which were deboned at the table for my husband, but not for us girls...I guess we looked capable), and the baguette topped with serrano ham and drizzled with good quality olive oil, which nearly gave me the vapors. I did, in fact, swoon the evening I ordered the grilled baby lamb chops. And then there was the lunch when I ordered the grilled sushi grade salmon from column 3, which was quickly grilled and served quite rightly as still sushi internally, and stifled a moan since I was in polite company. Choose 3 tapas from 3 columns at lunch for $13.95. Overall about 30 choices. With the complementary bread, you will not go hungry. Lunch at Rioja for my husband and I precludes dinner that day. Some dishes we were not so fond of include the camelized egg yolk dessert, which had little flavor and the cod stuffed piquililo peppers. Being anglophiles and cheese hounds we liked the cheese plate (offered as an appetizer), and the broiled goat cheese and Romesco dip. I haven't tried the french baguette sandwiches, because I can't get past the tapas. I will try again today and persist until I reach that goal. Meantime, Viva Spain!! Viva Rioja!

• Pros: Fresh, exciting combinations at value prices
• Cons: Closed Saturday for Lunch - Boo!