Vince M.
Yelp
What a great bbq restaurant right here in Denver!
I took my two sons to Riot BBQ for lunch, as I'd read good things about the new restaurant that had taken over AJ's Pit BBQ just off Evans and Bannock. We unfortunately arrived about an hour later than anticipated, and missed out on trying their burnt ends (as with most BBQ places I've tried, once they run out, there are out for the day). All their proteins are priced by the 1/2 pound and from my experience, the prices are reasonable for good barbecue.
We had a pound of the brisket, a 1/2 pound of the smoked turkey breast, a 1/2 pound of the pork rubs Al pastor, and 2 sides (pit beans and Mac and cheese). Lots of drink choices (sodas, Mexican soft drinks, and beer and cocktails) are also available.
Seating is open picnic style, with an outside patio to the rear. There was a large parking lot out front (west side) that had a lot of open spaces (not sure if tied to the light rail station parking or not, but I didn't have any issue parking for a hour to eat).
To the food... the brisket was fantastic! Even without sauce, it had great flavor and juiciness. There are multiple sauces available, with my favorite being the Colorado Gold (more of a mustard sauce, if my taste buds were correct). The sweet/savory was tasty too.
Next I tried the smoked turkey with some Alabama white sauce. Tasty, but a little dry.
The pork ribs were outstanding! I was able to have 2, as my boys made a trade for extra brisket. Their loss in my book! No sauce needed, as the al pastor took this pork rib to the next level!
The sides were decent. Pit beans had a little kick - Mac and cheese is hard to screw up!
Staff was friendly and attentive. I'm glad to see this spot thriving again!
I definitely will return to Riot BBQ in the near future. I hope you get the chance to swing by and try this spot soon. Get there early though, as this place is definitely popular (even on a Wednesday afternoon!).