Rio Grande Cafe

I lived in Texas for nine years. After this, I'm a little biased towards good mexican & tex/mex food. The residents of Utah, in general, need an education in truly good mexican food... The Rio Grande cafe is not what I would consider good mexican food - it's mediocre preparation of boring, run-of-the-mill, mexican dishes. We've tried a couple different entrees at the Rio Grande only to be disappointed. It's not that the food is really bad, it's just really plain. \r \r The ambience mirrors the food as well. There's nothing mexican about the ambience. It's a large room in the old Rio Grande train station turned into a restaurant. The decor is just plain: a few small, forgettable pictures and trinkets strewn about the walls with obnoxious fluorescent lights overhead. \r \r If this place were a diner and served really good, home-cooked, greasy-spoon type food, then the atmosphere and the food would match, but as it is, it just doesn't.\r \r The staff was appropriate to the atmosphere - mediocre. They didn't seem all that motivated about the place, but I could hardly blame them. It's all just, well, dull.\r \r I wouldn't recommend this place at all (not unless they hire me to go in and redecorate with a $10,000 budget and hire a new, innovative, mexican chef). If you do go and like it, I recommend buying a plane ticket to anywhere in Texas and trying nearly any tex/mex or mexican place and you'll be blown away. Pros: Plenty of parking Cons: Boring food, boring atmosphere, unmotivated staff more

The vegetable enchilada is addicting. There is nothing else around like it. The atmosphere is cool..set in the old Union Railroad station. The service is always interesting and the salsa is delcious. They serve whole black beans which is nice. The portions are very large and if you have extra it is near a homeless shelter so you can hand off your leftovers to someone hungry. My husband and I get out of there paying $12 bucks for dinner (chips, salsa, veg enchilada combo, side of beans). They also have a bottle of wine for $11 which is just above the liquor store price (nothing fancy). I would not suggest the margaritas unless you just have to have one with your mexican food. Pros: food. more

AFter having heard rave reviews of the RGC, I was surprised to find that its ambience and food quality were average at best, and overall, pretty subpar. Let me put it this way, they make you pay for your chips! And just after the first basket...nope, even the first basket will cost you ~$2. That's ridiculous! Anyway, that aside, the restaurant is situated in the homeless shelter district, so you feel guilty for eating your fattening dinner while people starve in the streets nearby. In sum, this restaurant reminded me of the poor culinary state of things here in Utah. When a state can't even get Mexican right, you know something's wrong. more

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 giant taco, and that ain't bad. more

The food here is delicious! The portions aren't that big, but neither are the prices. Service was a little slow, but when my meal arrived it was hot and fresh. I don't believe that the chips and salsa are free, which is one complaint I have about Rio Grande. Overall, it was a good experience. I will definately be back to try something else on their menu. Pros: Value, Free Parking, Juke Box Cons: Pay for chips/salsa more

I decided to check out the Rio Grande in place of going to my favorite Mexican place (Red Iguana). I was very dissapointed with the food. I ordered the Santa Fe Enchilada, which sounded good on the menu....it was not very good at all. My main complaint? The ENTIRE plate was covered in a THICK layer of cheese. I love cheese, but to cover EVERYTHING, and then have cheese inside the enchilada? I had a huge mound of cheese piled on my plate after I tried to salvage my meal. The chicken filling was dry, and why charge for for chips and salsa? I will never go back. Pros: Parking is good more

down town, rail station, great meal, fair prices, good service. you cant go wrong. best salsa in town. Pros: food, nice place Cons: area more

This may be my favorite place to eat in utah. Their food is excellent I have never had a better salsa and I eat a lot of salsa. The service is perfect freindly and not the fake freindliness so common in most restaurants. Nice building ample parking. Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Relaxed and freindly more

We have enjoyed the Rio Grande Cafe since first discovering it years ago, before many of the other restaurants were born. It is a comfortable, eclectic environment with a homey feel. The service is always friendly and personal. The food is excellent of taste and value. They have the best pork dishes and salsa. Should be rated in the top 3 of the top 10 Mexican Resaurants. The Coz Pros: plenty of parking, best jukebox, interesting art shows Cons: not closer to home more

When I can't decide where to go for dinner, Rio Grande never dissapoints. My favorite place a bowl the Chili Rojo with tortillas. It's a whole meal for under $6. I've been trying to duplicate the recipe in my own kitcken for years. Margaritas to die for. The State would have been making a big mistake if they had shut down Rio Grande Cafe. Pros: parking, Chili Rojo, value Cons: pay for the chips more