TERRIBLE, bland food; I cant even eat it when Im drunk. The margaritas are good, however...but dont even bother with an appetizer at this joint.

TERRIBLE, bland food; I cant even eat it when Im drunk. The margaritas are good, however...but dont even bother with an appetizer at this joint.
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Located right near Pearl Street, the Rio is a favorite among the locals. The margaritas are great and the food is excellent. It can often be packed and have long waiting times, but it is well... More

Located right near Pearl Street, the Rio is a favorite among the locals. The margaritas are great and the food is excellent. It can often be packed and have long waiting times, but it is well worth the wait.
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OK, so there's alot of differing opinions about the Rio. The truth- it is one of the best places in Boulder. Nowhere else can u go for the atmosphere, overall food quality and delicious margarita.... More

OK, so there's alot of differing opinions about the Rio. The truth- it is one of the best places in Boulder. Nowhere else can u go for the atmosphere, overall food quality and delicious margarita. As a long time regular I'm going to lay out a set of rules to keep in mind if u have never been there and respond to the 'naysayers,' which is bound to happen when u serve as many people as the Rio does. 1- the price. u can be in and out with a margarita and entree for under 20$. Try that anywhere else in Boulder that isn't a dive inside like Juanita's. 2- to the one who complained about a chicken bone in her enchilada. This isn't taco bell, they use real chickens, which have bones. Did u know that? 3- The trick to the Rio is keeping things simple. Its high volume and cheap, so u cant expect "Frasca-like" service. Also the waitstaff is mostly college kids looking to pay their bills and have a good time while they work. I have met so many people that come every week, alot of families, because they know the faces and love the prices. Anywhere else in town you will pay 8$ and up for a margarita that has less tequila. Did you know the Rio's has 3 shots of alcohol? Hence the 3 limit. 4- The rooftop patio is one of the best on earth. Problem is there is no kitchen or bar on the roof so things take longer, plus they have a whole downstairs with hundreds of hungry, thirsty people. How to avoid that? Grab a drink downstairs and carry it up, or order extra when the waiter "finally" arrives. Be patient, u are lucky to be served in such a beautiful place! 5- Cinco de Mayo at the Rio trumps any other Cinco party. Menu tips- Bobby Flay isn't cooking, got it? -Guacamole is amazing. Simple, delicious, no unnecessary ingredients. -Burrito de Carne smothered in Green/spicy or ranchero sauce. So good, especially w/ a margarita! -Cheese queso appetizer -Enchiladas,Tostadas,Chicken Salads,Fajitas -Agave Martini on the rocks= Top shelf margarita for 8-9$! Pros: Awesome food, margaritas and service. Rooftop patio, "Garage" seats. Cons: Can get a busy on weekends, but worth the wait!
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I've been here numerous times and have yet to have a bad experience. There margs are tasty, if you like them strong. Being a vegetarian I love the fajitas and nachos. Granted it's not the best... More

I've been here numerous times and have yet to have a bad experience. There margs are tasty, if you like them strong. Being a vegetarian I love the fajitas and nachos. Granted it's not the best mexican food out there, but it's got average prices and a nice atmosphere. Also seating area outdoors - perfect for the hot summer nights! Another good place is Tahona!
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I really enjoy the food here, though I think the margaritas are a bit overrated. They put extra shots in them so it'll put over the top faster than normal.

I really enjoy the food here, though I think the margaritas are a bit overrated. They put extra shots in them so it'll put over the top faster than normal.
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The margaritas are definitely worth going there, but the food is a different story. I refuse to eat there since I found a 3 in. chicken bone in my enchilada. Go for a margarita and chips and salsa,... More

The margaritas are definitely worth going there, but the food is a different story. I refuse to eat there since I found a 3 in. chicken bone in my enchilada. Go for a margarita and chips and salsa, anything more than that is a gamble. Pros: Margaritas, Service Cons: Parking, Food
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This place ROCKS! Literally, the margs are the best and the food is amazing. Their food is fresh and they don't use any lard in any recipe. Their salsa is heavenly and when you sit on the rooftop,... More

This place ROCKS! Literally, the margs are the best and the food is amazing. Their food is fresh and they don't use any lard in any recipe. Their salsa is heavenly and when you sit on the rooftop, sip a marg and eat a healthy Salad, nothing beats The Rio. The servers are laid-back and friendly. Tahona is a joke compared to this place Pros: Mexican, Margs, Service Cons: Parking
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If you think that Azteca is actually good Mexican food, than you might like this place. Otherwise, if you own a tongue, please stay way. Cheap margaritas are ok, but if you want real good Latin... More

If you think that Azteca is actually good Mexican food, than you might like this place. Otherwise, if you own a tongue, please stay way. Cheap margaritas are ok, but if you want real good Latin food, check out Centro or Tahona Tequila Bar. Pros: margaritas Cons: bland food
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I am not from Boulder and was taken here by my friend and wow. I am now Rio obsessed. Their margaritas really are as amazing as they and everyone else says, and the food was fantastic. It's a... More

I am not from Boulder and was taken here by my friend and wow. I am now Rio obsessed. Their margaritas really are as amazing as they and everyone else says, and the food was fantastic. It's a really fun place to eat and get ridiculous, haha. If I lived there, it would be a bit dangerous for me... Pros: Margaritas, Ambience
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Unfortunately, I have eaten at the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant 3 times. Each time was worse than the last. I don't know how it stays in business. On my second and third visits I tried to... More

Unfortunately, I have eaten at the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant 3 times. Each time was worse than the last. I don't know how it stays in business. On my second and third visits I tried to convince my friends to choose another restaurant (Boulder has MANY) but they wanted to try this one. The wait staff seemed to be waiting for other jobs and ignored every table they had. We had to get up to find them to ask for more water. After a 45 min. wait, our food arrived with the appetizers and everything was OLD and COLD. I see from the reviews that some enjoy the ambiance but, you can't eat the decor. This restaurant is the first place I have ever left less than a 20% gratuity - the service WAS that bad. Yes, we did tell the management of the poor service and food quality but they had obviously heard it many times before and did nothing other than a quick, "Sorry about that." Save yourself the unsavory experience and dine elsewhere! Pros: Interesting location Cons: Food and service was unbelievably POOR. Taco Bell has better of both?!?
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