Carne RiNo — Restaurant in Denver

If you’re looking for a standout dining experience in Denver that combines bold flavors, an upscale yet approachable atmosphere, and genuinely exceptional service, look no further than Carne Rino. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by a vibrant ambiance that’s both warm and modern. Whether you’re here for a date night, a celebration, or just treating yourself to something special, Carne Rino delivers on all fronts.

The first thing that hits you is the scent from the kitchen—smoky, savory, and undeniably appetizing. The menu is a meat lover’s dream, with expertly prepared cuts that showcase a real respect for quality ingredients. The ribeye was cooked to absolute perfection—charred just right on the outside, juicy and tender inside, and seasoned with a masterful touch. The house chimichurri added a zesty punch that elevated every bite. We also tried the short rib, which fell apart with the touch of a fork and came with a rich, deeply flavored reduction.

But what really turned a great meal into a phenomenal night was Maddi, the bartender. From the moment we sat down, she was welcoming, knowledgeable, and incredibly engaging. Maddi took the time to ask about our preferences before recommending a cocktail that turned out to be a new favorite—the kind of drink that you remember long after the glass is empty. Her balance of professionalism and friendly charm made us feel instantly at home.

It’s rare to find someone who’s not only great at their job but clearly loves what they do. Maddi’s enthusiasm for the menu, her attention to detail, and her ability to read the room and tailor the experience made her a true standout. Even as the bar filled up, she never missed a beat—every guest around us was getting the same high level of care and attention. That kind of consistency is no accident; it speaks to the culture of service that Carne Rino seems to embody.

We ended our night with the chocolate torte, which was decadent without being overly sweet, and paired beautifully with an espresso martini Maddi recommended. I’m still dreaming about both.

Carne Rino doesn’t just serve incredible food—it creates a complete experience. And with people like Maddi behind the bar, you’re guaranteed to have a night that’s as memorable for the hospitality as it is for the cuisine.

Denver is lucky to have this gem. We’ll be back...

So here's the deal. My woman and I flew into Denver yestersay for a little vacation. Neither of us had been to Denver befor, so about a month or so ago we decided to start looking into great restaurants to dine out. Carne seemed to get great social media exposure. Both of us are long time industry people, and so we rarely get Saturday nights to go to trendy spots. She's been a bartender for about 8 years and I've been a bartender for about 13 years. That being said, one month ago we made a reservation for 8pm for 2, and I specified on the reservation this was a date night. Upon arrival we were sat at a 4 top near the entrance (type of table you give to walk ins ... not a couple who's place has been held for a month). Moreover, we had sat for nearly 15 minutes and nobody even greeted us. I'd seen a host (same that sat us) walk by to sweep something up, several servers make several touches on their tables.... and we never even received water. My woman had time to go use the restroom and come back, and we still were never greeted. Like I said, I'm ITB. I understand the l place is popping off.... we in higher levels of service go by the 2 minute rule. I can tell this place only cares about influencers and coked up finance bros... because that's who was getting service preference over us. Carne is getting a 1 star average from me because we did not get to try the food... we did not receive service... and therefore my 15 minute stay gave about the worst energy we've ever felt in establishment, resulting in 1 star for atmosphere. This averages my score to 1 star. In the words of my humble partner in crime "we have to give it 1 star... because there is no option for 0 stars".

Moreover, I did even go in after we'd walked out to try giving them a second chance.... I'm not sure who I talked to. However, he seemed like this wasnt a big deal to him. I get they arent open on Sunday or Monday and we fly out Tuesday, but if you really wanted our repeat business tou should have begged us to come back in and give you a second chance. If one of my clients (I manage a high end tequila tasting room that averages 80-140 a head) I would be jumping through hoops to retain their business. You seemed like you didnt really want it, dude.

That was our experience. I hate this, I've never written a review before... but damn... y'all really...

My sister hit me up and wanted to try something new! She found the restaurant Carne and decided to give it a try. Upon entering the host told me that if I didn't have a reservation the only seats available were the bar. Little bit of a bummer as there were so many tables open and still the same tables open when we left. Thankfully they had three chairs open at the bar. Bartender was great and friendly. Got us some drinks and was patient and not pushy. However one guest at the bar made my entire party of three uncomfortable. This guest only ordered drinks and had probably 6 in the time we were enjoying each other's company at the bar. As we got our main entree my husband sitting next to this guest ordered the pork ribs and as he got some ribs on his fork the guest took the rib meat off his fork as he said "Let me try some of that." Unacceptable. The said guest was just staring at us the whole time making us all uncomfortable and was noticed by the staff too. Said guest also reached for our French fry plate several times and also said "I'm gonna try some of these too." The next time we had someone check in on us it was to offer the check and we wanted out. I spoke with the manager on duty after and I received an apology and confirmation that the guest was not a regular. Here nor there if a guest is observed (by staff) eating off of your other patrons plates that is a cue that someone needs to go. For a $200+ meal I would expect to be eating in an environment where my husband, sister and myself are not being made uncomfortable. Thanks for the apology Carne but most likely won't be returning. As for the food: Meat was good, some pieces overly salty, cauliflower needed more flavor, cream spinach was great and fries.....well so good anybody will reach onto your plate...