Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

05/07/2008 Posted by Safarigirl

We had a blast this past Cinco de Mayo at The Rio. They love to have fun and it shows. Have you tried the smoked chicken tacos, they are GREAT! Love the patio, the laid-back staff, and all the people. They do it right.

Pros: Great food, amazing margs

Cons: sometimes a long wait

04/30/2008 Posted by SGP03

I've been a fan of the Rio for years - I love their guacamole, but it will be a frosty day in hades before I ever set foot in there again. This past Friday, a group of us went there for some drinks and dinner. While the Margaritas were yummy, what happened as we were being led to our dinner table was completely disgusting. The hostess was about 3 steps ahead of me (the rest of my party was behind me,) and I watched in horror as she lept forward and stomped on something scurrying across the floor just next to our table. Thinking that my eyes had to be deceiving me, I asked her what it was that she just stepped on, and she matter-of-factly stated what it was and then said "Don't worry, I'll sweep it up." And she threw our menus on the table, went into the kitchen for a broom and dustpan, and returned to sweep it up and dumped it in the kitchen garbage. I was astonished. Not wanting to alarm those I was dining with, I said nothing (which I'm kicking myself for in hindsight.) It was very evident to me why they have this issue - we were seated with a clear view in to the kitchen, and it was absolutely filthy - chips and food remnants covered the floor. The food was okay, but not as good as it's been in past visits. I'd rather go across the street to d'Corazon and enjoy a much better meal from a cleaner kitchen. I'm telling everyone who will listen what I witnessed in the Rio.

Pros: margaritas

Cons: ambiance, service, cleanliness, wait for a table

01/24/2008 Posted by mtnluvr

I'm in my late 20's and if I want to start a night downtown, it's usually here. I'll never eat their food because it truly sux ace, but their margs are decent and do get you pretty hammered. It's crowded at night and closes at 11:00pm. Yah, that's right 11:00. Which also is pretty ghey. I wouldn't go here for anything other than happy hour drinks, or drinks to start off a night.

01/24/2007 Posted by ajardine

I been noticing for awhile that the margaritas have become much less potent while the prices continue to increase. The food is also getting worse - I ordered the special; pork quesidallias this week and was given super spicy chicken version. Someone else ordered the chille rellanos only to find them inedible due to the fact that the peppers were of the spiciest version imaginable - although no mention of that was included in the menu description. The queso had the consistency of water and was pretty bland. Service was also pretty bad - our waiter told me that indeed it was pork - even though every other person at our table tried it and agreed it was chicken. This used to be a really fun place with great drinks. It's sad that they think they can just keep cutting back and no one will notice.

Pros: good salsa

Cons: weak margaritas, bad food, bad service

01/06/2007 Posted by pkmccaslin

we were seat with in a few minutes, on a saturday night, the temperture of the food was warm at best. the service was great and the management was great too. No ground beef. All steak or chicken.

12/31/2006 Posted by cornpopgirl

Stong margs get the job done. Very pleased with the Mahi mahi tacos. Crowded with 20's making the rounds, loud but it's LoDo on a Friday night.. what else would you expect.

Pros: Fun atmosphere, great people watching, strong drinks

Cons: rude waitstaff and host

10/10/2006 Posted by cwkoser

You'd think with something this busy and with the reviews I read before I went, at least the restaurant would rank up there in some category -- well, I'm trying to think, which one? It was a normal, crowded Friday night, and we had 8 people. Called ahead, no prob. Seated after everyone got there, no prob. That's where the fun ended. High prices for substandard food. Margaritas (whether or not it's true about the pure grain alcohol) were mediocre, and the wait staff acted as if they didn't care because the joint was popular anyway, so why bother? I opted for a lighter order of a guacamole chulapa, which normally would have been stuffed tortilla with guac, cheese, etc. inside or on top - maybe somewhere else it would have come with a side of beans - but it was nothing but a flat taco-like tortilla mounded with lots of shredded lettuce, a sprinkling of cheese, a small scattering of a chopped tomato slice, and a scoop of guac as small as a coffee measure. The ladies' restroom was absolutely filthy at 8:30. And the noise was greater than any I've experienced - the louder, the more fun, right? Not! Yelling at the person next to you to talk has become passe and unenjoyable. Go for a Corona and eat at the one across the street, if you want to make believe you're having fun because it's noisy. Maybe the restroom will be decent because it hasn't been used since the lunch crowd.

06/29/2006 Posted by myrealnameis

Being a seasoned drinker, my friend and I decided to get dinner and drinks. We decided we would show them 3 drink minimum!!! After eating a huge dinner and drinking margaritas with dinner, we walked out of there hammered!!! It was so awesome. We ate drank and defineately got out fill for around 50 bucks. Totally lively restaurant and lots of fun. Not a quiet atmosphere if that is what you are looking for.

Pros: Awesome margaritas.

04/15/2006 Posted by jmmo

Rio Grande is a great place to go for margaritas and a lively atmosphere. Unfortunately, what comes along with the lively atmosphere are lines to get in and a very loud restaurant. If you're in the right mood, Rio Grande is a great place to go for delicious margaritas and chips with queso.

Pros: great margaritas, free chips and salsa, delicious queso

Cons: waiting in line, loud atmosphere, a little expensive

02/15/2006 Posted by lovingcolorado

Rio is one of my favorite lunch places! Good food and good margs. Great for group work lunches!

Pros: Downtown, Food, Margs