New And Unique Restaurant Added To Denver’s RIÑO District

Photo courtesy of Caren Austin

Welcome back my fellow foodies. The RINO district in Denver just got a new addition, and I am so excited for it. Carne opened its doors a few weeks ago to many glowing reviews. The restaurant is a globally inspired steakhouse from the multiple James Beard Award finalist, business owner, and entrepreneur Dana Rodriguez. The dishes are inspired from Dana’s travels around the world. I love women owned businesses, and this one really piqued my interest, so off I popped to check out this new gem in RINO.

Approaching Carne is truly like an art show on the outside. The building is modern, with artsy murals and a fabulous patio. I walked in and immediately felt cozy. The restaurant is not pretentious, but welcoming, and the décor is mid-century modern with a woodsy twist. I was already in love with Carne, and I hadn’t had one bite yet. I sat down during happy hour and had a few cocktails, which were inventive and so delicious. I tried the Carne Fashioned, which is a spin on the original with a bit of chocolate bitters. Ten out of ten in my book. I was starting to get hungry, so… let’s eat!

Although Carne (which means meat in Spanish) is a steakhouse, there are many other options to explore on the menu besides beef. I decided to order a little of everything to truly taste all flavors of this global restaurant. First up was the Palmito Salad full of hearts of palm, piquillo peppers, and arugula with a lemon vinaigrette and avocado sauce. The rainbow of colors and flavors in this salad made it a perfect start to my meal.  The main courses here are served family style and are large enough to share. I decided to order the Peruvian Chicken Asado, a strip steak, and as a nod to Colorado, the Colorado Lamb. 

When ordering the steak, you can order something like a “Normie” or a “Baller” with offerings ranging from a 6 oz filet to a Sirloin Wagyu to the “Baller” Tomahawk. Sides here represent an outstanding supporting cast of flavors and are enough to share around the table. My steak was perfect, and the best part is that it is presented sliced for sharing. The sauces that you can order to accompany are a must here. My friend and I could have literally drunk the Au Poivre sauce. Other sauce options are Bearnaise, Pipian, Horseradish and the famed Chimichurri. The Chimichurri sauce has a good amount of heat on it which is out of the norm for this sauce, but that is Dana’s spin on it, and it is out of this world. 

The chicken and  lamb were seasoned perfectly and the sides of Green Faro Warm Salad and Creamy Parmesan Saffron Risotto made an excellent match to a perfect meal. The Key Lime Pie for dessert was so refreshing, and a citrusy final touch to this 5-star dinner. There are wine bottles on the wall to choose from with kitschy tags to help you pick the right one and a fabulous cocktail menu as well. The upper level of the restaurant has another bar and a cute little lounge complete with a fireplace for after dinner conversations.

Dana Rodriguez is a woman on a mission and a force in the restaurant industry. Her love of food and love of community shines so bright in Carne. The food at Carne is inspiring and so is she. Talking with her is like a master class in motivation. Carne has reasonable prices, great staff, and a killer ambiance. I left there with a full stomach, but most importantly, a full heart that just wanted to scream “Girl Power”.  Until next time my fellow foodies, eat well, drink well, and be well.