TasteCasting :: Rialto Cafe

Round 2 of TasteCasting took us to Downtown Denver on the 16th Street Mall. We dined at the Rialto Cafe. Modeled after a 1940's art deco supper house, this place was very inviting. The staff was very courteous and the owner came out and talked to us about the history of the restaurant as well as everything we were going to be trying.

***TasteCasting Specials***
Just mention “TasteCasting Special” and receive one of these specials when you Dine before 5pm:
get 15% off your total bill
or $10 off a bottle of wine.
valid Monday-Sunday, expires on 7/15/09

We started off with 3 or the most popular appetizers: chicken empanadas($7), bruschetta($7), and calamari($10).

:: leigh :: The bruschetta was really tasty, I loved the balsamic reduction that marries all the other flavors. The bread was a little soggy underneath but they began the tasting as soon as we sat down, so they might have sat for a little while before they arrived to us. The calamari was tempura battered giving it a different, more of an Asain feel then the normal fried calamari. The garlic herb aioli was really lovely. The chicken empanada was a really good meld of flavor.
:: Mike :: the bruschetta was very flavorful and tasted great, however the bread was a little mushy underneath all of the topping (might have been pre-made to expedite the tasting.) the calamari was very good and had a kind of Asian flair to it. the tempura was very light and did not overpower the squid. the chicken empanadas were fantastic and had a good bell pepper flavor.

Warm Roasted Chicken Salad ($12) - the tasting size pictured, entree portion is huge.
:: leigh :: this salad was really tasty. the dressing - wow! the flavor pops from the first bite. I wasn't that big of a fan of the cornbread croutons (a little too sweet for my salad taste) but the salad on the whole was really pretty awesome.
:: Mike :: this salad was awesome. the chicken was very tender and was shredded. it was topped with many goodies like dried fruits and toasted walnuts. it was dressed with a very delicate apple cider vinaigrette and corn bread croutons (these were different than any crouton I have ever had.)

Baby Spinach Salad ($9) - the tasting size pictured, entree portion is huge.
:: leigh :: this salad was also good (but did not compare to the warm chicken salad). The flavor profile was very light, the vinaigrette was a little oily for my taste but everything together in one bite provided good salty flavor (the egg counters the oily).
:: Mike :: the salad was also very tasty. it included hard boiled eggs, gorgonzola cheese, marinated red and yellow beets, and tempura artichokes (superb!)

Skillet Corn Bread (complimentary)
:: leigh :: this cornbread has a very good cinnamon undertone and is quite smooth for a cornbread, not mealy like others I've had. The brown sugar and cornflake crust topping is very sweet, like a dessert baked good.

:: Mike :: this was very sweet and had a brown sugar and corn flake crust, baked fresh and brought out in a hot/warm skillet.

Dinner Sampler clockwise from bottom right: Grilled Ahi Tuna, Gorgonzola Canneloni, Filet Mignon, Braised Short Ribs, and Salmon.

Grilled Ahi Tuna ($26)*
:: leigh :: I was surprised that I liked the wasabi whipped potatoes - they had good flavor and were not too spicy for me to enjoy. the Asian vegetable slaw was too strong for my palette.
:: Mike :: this was my favorite, the tuna was seared perfectly and had lots of flavor. the wasabi whipped potatoes were excellent and the Asian vegetable slaw had a great clean flavor.

Gorgonzola Cannelloni ($13)
:: leigh :: the flavor of the Gorgonzola cannelloni was much stronger then a ricotta filled pasta but I found it very good. It is also gooeyer then ricotta filled - I'm not sure I could eat an entire entree of this pasta but the tasting was quite good.
:: Mike :: this dish was not my favorite of the bunch. i like filled pastas, but i did not care for the Gorgonzola filling as i am more used to ricotta fillings. it was very creamy and had a good texture and lots of flavor.

Filet Mignon ($21)
:: leigh :: my filet was pretty rare and very tender, I would have liked a little more of the red wine demi sauce that accompanied the meat.
:: Mike :: the filet was very very tender and cooked perfectly. it was seasoned well and the mashed potatoes that accompanied it were delicious.

Braised Short Ribs ($16)*
:: leigh :: This was my surprise favorite! I would not normally order short ribs (I doubt I ever have) but the tender meat and sweet pancetta-raisin compote that accompanied it were so delicious!
:: Mike :: the short ribs also had really good flavor. i think that another perfect application for this style and flavor of meat is within a pot roast including potatoes, carrots, and other veggies.

Seared Salmon ($19)

:: leigh :: the wheatberry pilaf that accompanied the salmon I found to be a little to soft. The salmon was good but I'm spoiled by Mike's salmon - others just don't compare. I did really like the dried cranberries that accompanied the fish and would like to work that into our own salmon dishes.

:: Mike :: the salmon was pretty good as well. i would never order salmon in a restaurant just because i love to make my own salmon and would rather try other things off of a menu. However, the brown butter was excellent and this is usually crusted with pistachios but the owner said that they were left off (i did not hear the reason why.)

Dessert Sampler (any single dessert $3, sampler of three $9)

:: leigh :: the praline pound cake was really delicious, It had strong almond undertones and tasted like great wedding cake, I loved the nutty crunch on top. The chocolate mousse with biscotti was really, really good - the biscotti was a soft biscotti with nice sweet flavor. The cheesecake bites were not my favorite, but I'm not a fan of fried foods. The chocolate espresso tiarmisu was very, very strong, a little to strong for my taste. The rainbow melon "sorbet" was fabulous - frozen pulverized melon that tasted so refreshingly of summer.
:: Mike :: the dessert that they let us try were clockwise from bottom: praline pound cake, melon trio? (not on menu), cheesecake bites, tiarmisu (not on menu), and in the center, chocolate mousse with biscotti. the Melon Trio was amazing! cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon pureed up and frozen then put side by side...very refreshing. the tiramisu is made in NYC and shipped, and i think while it is in route the alcohol is multiplying as it was still very prevalent.