Rio Grande Cafe

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270 S Rio Grande St (at W 300 S)
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

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(801) 364-3302
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Rio Grande Cafe - Salt Lake City, UT
Rio Grande Cafe - Salt Lake City, UT
Reviews
( 8 )
( 3 )
( 1 )
( 6 )
( 11 )

Best

The Rio has it all. Great margaritas. Hot enchiladas. And friendly food servers.\r \r Don't miss out!

Worst

the food's not nearly as good as other mexican restaurants in town, but it's definitely not the worst. kind of tame, not very spicy, conventional dishes. but there's a lady in a...

Editorial review from Citysearch 5/23/2013

I've been coming here for years and it just keeps getting better and better. Hot, fresh food, impeccable service, and the best margarita I've ever had. Their top shelf margarita is TOO DIE FOR! Most of the staff knows me by name and has my order in the computer by the time I sit down. How can you beat that? Really just a great local hangout! more
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Editorial review from Citysearch 6/14/2012

I have been going to Rio Grande for over 25 years, took my twin daughters there when they were little girls all the time on Mom's golf night and other times.. \r I am wondering what is going on there - in the past couple of years... Seems the food has changed/, the food was good... But, was not as good as used to be. The Pork Enchaladas have changed, sauce not the same, and well, the pork seemed more grisseley and even disappointing... I truely wonder if there has been a change in ownership or Chefs or what is going on... more
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over priced bad food 4/28/2012

i have been coming to the rio grande for over 30 years and last night 4/27/2012 was the worst food ever I will never return. it is another place the mexicant employees/cooks have ruined. more
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Worst FOOD EVER! 2/27/2012

I went to lunch with my husband and I order tacos. I could not even pick up the tacos.. they were so soggy and I was very disappointed. ratings FAIL! more
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Rio always the best 7/22/2011

I worked at the Rio 1983-1985. This was and is the best basic Mexican I have had. The Taco Lady was there then and the counter. We had great times and anyone with any imagination will always have great time there. The Kharma is top-notch. I give em a 5. more
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The best around 11/16/2010

The Rio has it all. Great margaritas. Hot enchiladas. And friendly food servers.\r \r Don't miss out! more
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Rio Cafe -worst in world 6/25/2010

I've never blogged or even wished ill will to a restaurant like this. This place doesnt deserve to be in existence. The meats were runny and my wife ran to spit out the pork barbacoa after taking a bite. I thought, 'no way can it be that bad'. Well..I tried it, pouring on a bit of the golden habenero hot sauce, it brought back some college nastalgia, of the taste when you're drunk throwing up the burrito you thought would sober you up. If that's not enough to keep you from eating here.....I humbly apologize. \r ratings should one lower than eh. Pros: nice tables Cons: just plain nasty food & poor service more
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Fast, Hot, Good 2/12/2010

The Rio Grande Cafe has got all the basics of a good restaurant. The food comes out hot, it's reasonably priced, and you don't have to wait all night for it. They don't serve much in the way of mole or thick sauces, but you'll leave with a full stomach guaranteed. Staff is flexible with alterations to the menu (i.e. if you'd like a cream sauce instead of a tomato based sauce). I've been eating there for 22 years--they've been open 27--and i still love it. Pros: Reasonable price more
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It was as bad as they said it would be 12/22/2009

Bad, bad, bad. Bad service, bad food, bad parking. I'm normally not a ""whiner"" but if this review can save one person from eating horrible beans and rice and an enchilada that was closer to Italian cooking than Mexican then I'll whine away. The service was basic. No refills on the chips, even though two other people joined our party after we were seated and the original bowl of chips almost gone. I couldn't even finish my food, not because I was full but because it was awful. The people who prepared it should get a new recipe, PRONTO! I won't go back and I certainly won't recommend it to anyone. I wish I had read the reviews online before I went. I probably could have gone to the homeless shelter down the street and had a tastier meal. Cons: numerous more
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Mediocre At Best 8/19/2009

I keep wanting to like this place, because it is local and located in a great old building, but it has always disappointed. The food is average at best, and overpriced. My last lunch order was a Rio Grande Salad - composed of wilted greens, an unripe tomato, and dry mushrooms. I had to cut the cartilage off of the chicken in salad. The fajitas and enchiladas are equally bad. Won't be going back. Pros: The building the restaurant is in Cons: The food more
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Among the worst ever 5/30/2009

It started with a hostess that was unfriendly and on the verge of being rude. It continued with a waiter that didn't so much as grin much less smile. The staff as a whole made us feel we were inconveniencing them by being there. One of our party doesn't care for tomatoes or salsa and ordered a quesadilla, which on the menu was listed as chicken and cheese. When it arrived it was loaded with salsa. When we asked to exchange it for a plain chicken and cheese quesadilla the waiter argued with us and informed us that all their quesadillas are always made with salsa. In all the service was poor and unfriendly and the food was bland and lacked character. We won't be returning. Pros: Nice atmosphere Cons: Poor service and bland food more
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Mediocre Mexican 4/5/2009

I have been getting the samething for a while here, the Rio Grande Salad. It was wonderful, fresh greens with lots of veggies, marinated chicken,guac and salsa vinegrette to die for. I went last week and they've changed it. This time it was limp spring greens, with a very under done piece of warm chicken, some dried up mushrooms and scallions, and some semi green tomatoes. I always felt before that I got more than my money's worth, this time I got ripped off. I asked the waiter and he said that the Chef decided that the other salad was too much work. Sorry, but I won't be doing that again. Pros: Best Guac Cons: Crowded and Small Tables more
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This is my favorite restaurant!! 2/27/2009

Rio Grande is my husband and I's favorite retaurant! We go there for all occasions. I love the chicken tacos and my husband gets the enchiladas. I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone! It has a crazy atmosphere where you can put quarters in the juke box and pick your songs. Not to mention it's right by Gateway mall which makes for a fun evening out with dinner movies and shopping all within walking distance! The best part about it...its so inexpensive! more
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This place DOES NOT know what Mexican food is! 2/13/2009

The Rio Grande is one more Utah eating establishment that has NO CLUE on what good, authentic Mexican food should taste like. Ate here just after Christmas with my extended family, and I was disappointed once more by the bland, tasteless food being passed off as ""authentic"" Mexican cuisine.\r \r Don't waste your time or money here, folks. If you want good tasting, flavorful, Mexican food, the Red Iguana around the corner on North Temple is worth the wait. Pass on the Rio Grande. The train left the station and apparently has never returned.\r Pros: Plenty of parking Cons: Crowded, noisy, old train station more
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The definition of LAME 2/12/2009

The location is great in the old Rio Grande train station downtown. This would be a wonderful venue if someone else had the location other than the current group. Although well meaning the owners may be, their attempt at Mexican or Tex/Mex cuisine was not conceived well before opening. ""Build it and they will come"" must have been the montra before commencing on this project. They forgot any culinary talent what so ever at the door. I would suggest you go to Beto's for cheap Mexican fare or better yet Red Iguana even Blue Iguana will put this place to shame. You will be lucky if this place doesn't make you sick for days. Pros: Plenty of Parking, Location Cons: Food, Amatuer Concept more
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waste of time and money 2/6/2009

They charged us .75 cents for onions to go on top of the enchilada.\r Very Loud - RUDE Management - Told us if he gave free food away they would go out of business, with that kind of attitude it won't be long. more
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I love this restaurant despite not being typical ""authentic Mexican food"" 11/1/2008

If you only like very authentic Mexican food, like the Red Iguana , this place is probably not for you. Our friend from Mexico recommended the carnitas (I think seved only after 5), and taught us to ask for the green salsa with our chips. But I love the vegetarian burrito and the margaritas straight up, without a lot of mixer. I also love that I can get a good salad or a tostada al la carte. The chile verde is good, but not very hot. The service is a little uneven but usually adequate or better. Despite what others have written, I enjoy the decor and the great old restroom from the original train station. more
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Average Mexican Food 9/24/2008

Not a big fan of this place. So many people seem to want to go there but the food is just Ok and the prices are too high for what you get. The salsa is pretty good but that's about it. Very Overated! Pros: Good Salsa Cons: Mediocre Food for a price that is a bit too high for what you get more
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Don't waste your time or money 11/15/2007

Yes, this restaurant has been around for a long time. Yes, it's in a historic, interesting building. Other than that, it's possibly the worse service you'll ever have, very low-end gringo American Mexican, and nothing redeeming to make it truly worthwhile. Unfortunately, this restaurant has gone so far downhill over the past few years that it would be surprising if it even could make a comeback. Bottom line--don't waste your time or money on this has-been dump. \r more
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Best Margaritas 10/23/2007

The Rio Grande Cafe is one of the three oldest restaurants in Salt Lake and a very unique restaurant at that. There is truly nothing like it- A jukebox with old favorites, delicious barely-legal margaritas, ghost stories, and funky local art. They make all of their dishes from scratch, even their mouth watering chili rojo. If you have only one weekend to spend in SLC, you'd be a fool not to check it out!!! Pros: Pitchers of Margaritas more
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Menu for Rio Grande Cafe


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Kids love the decorations, grown-ups love the margaritas--a great combination for family dining.

Editorial

  • The Scene
    Crazy mobiles hang throughout the restaurant, including the notorious taco lady. The restaurant, based in the old Rio Grande train station, has maintained much of the original...

  • 6/16/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11am-2:30pm & 5pm-9:30pm Fri & Sat: 11:30am-2:30pm & 5pm-10:30pm Sun: 4pm-9pm
  • Payments: Discover, Visa, American Express, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Rio Grande
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