Rio Rio Cantina

Doesn't Recommend

Marc H.

Joined 5 months ago

Good service, bad food.

Recommends

honestlyilltellyou

Joined 5 years ago

GREAT "TEX-MEX'. 1st off i would like to state that this restaurant is a TEX-MEX restaurant! People, read the sign..it says tex-mex! If you dont believe me, check the website. And to the person complaining about the tortillas... yes they are store bought. Have you ever worked in a big restaurant? They do not make all of their food in the restaurant. Especially tortillas! Be realistic when rating a restaurant. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, either go to Mexico or search for a Mexican mom and pop owned restaurant. I've been going to Rio Rio for the past 5 years. I eat there numerous times a year. I have had a few not so good experiences, but for the most part it has been a great restaurant. I would highly recommend the Botana plate. It’s a plate for two but can feed up to four! The shrimp is to die for! And i believe the plate is around $25. Where else on the Riverwalk can you feed that many people with just $25? I devour the cheesecake chimigangas. I hope all the bad reviews do not prevent you from eating at Rio Rio. Mind you, it is more rare for someone with a good experience to rate a restaurant versus a bad one. P.S. Queso is a must have!

Doesn't Recommend

chickenLittle

Joined 4 years ago

BARFFFFFFFFFFFFFF (0 stars). Tortillas bought from HEB, the food ordered was chile relleno, beef enchilladas and beef fajitas. ALL were tasteless! (the enchilladas tasted like Plastic)

the rice- not suppose to be crunchy. salsa tasted like tomato paste. food floating in water when brought to us. when we brought it to the waiters attention. he laughed hysterically but i dont really think he understood what we said. crusty rice stuck to silverware. and SLIME IN THE ICE MACHINE!!! oh not to mention we sat waiting for the check for 20mins. we were ready to just walk out.

stay away!!!

Doesn't Recommend

AMacapugay

Joined 4 years ago

I'd rather eat at Casa Rio. Tried this place out as the wait at Casa Rio was 45 minutes and I really craved Mexican. The food was plain and unexciting and had I not been so hungry, I probably would not have eaten so much of it. Ordered a beef fajita and they didn't provide enough tortillas and the cuts of beef were cheap and dry.

The service was also extremely poor. They had no hostess at the river level and kept a group of people standing there lost while waiting to be seated. When they tried to seat people, they were very disorganized trying to seat multiple parties in tables that were being cleared. I also waited over 10 minutes for the check after I requested it. The only positive from the dinner was the mango fruit smoothie.

I would never eat here again, nor would I recommend it to anyone else.

Doesn't Recommend

kowgurl69

Joined 4 years ago

Taco Bell tastes better. Was taken there for my bday...what a mistake, we first arrived and was told to go upstairs to be seated, went upstairs and no one was notably around to assist in seating, after tracking someone down and seated, was given menus, no silverware, inside the menu was a greasy onion stuck inside, was given a bowl of broken hard chips, salsa had No taste, when asked for hotter...(spicier) salsa, we were given microwaved salsa...so yea i guess it was hotter, ordered sweet tea that was on the menu, was given unsweet, when I told the waitress i ordered sweet tea, she passed me the sugar tray, and was told that must of just made the tea....what????...the food had NO taste, soggy, we didnt even finish the meal, and refused the box, not even good enough for my dog to snack on!!!! Paid the check...was brought back change, but no coin...was told they do not carry coin because coins weigh down the aprons....wth is that...so we didnt even get all our change back....imagine how much collected over the evening....wonder if that is considered theft???? Stay away at all costs....and to think this is a paesanos food restaurant!!!!!!!! GROSS!!!!!

Doesn't Recommend

OmidKamali

Joined 4 years ago

Never again!!! First and Last time. Chips were OK, salsa had NO taste. I had to add tabasco sauce to get some flavor out of it. I ordered the Enchilada Suizas. Large portion! Plate consisted of refried beans topped with some cheese, two enchiladas covered in sauce and stuffed with TASTELESS chicken, some mexican rice and a few large pieces of large lettuce with some corn scattered in it. Price should be cheaper for the quality of food that you get. If quantity is what you are seeking, then Rio Rio is your destination. DEFINITELY look elsewhere for quality though!!

This was my first time to the River Walk and I made a mistake by not researching what restaurants were around that area.

Doesn't Recommend

khartman4293

Joined 4 years ago

Poor service, overpriced food. Food was average.

Overpriced for quality.

Terrible service.

Would highly recommend Acenar instead of Rio Rio.

Recommends

emhprogram

Joined 5 years ago

This is a consistently very good Mexican restaurant. I am always amused by anyone who would rate a restaurant after only one visit. You have to try it on different days and try different menus items in order to really know a restaurant. I have done this at Rio Rio, and have probably eaten there more than 30 times over the past 20 years. This is absolutely one of the best on the Riverwalk! The Chiles Rellenos are wonderful and their Margaritas have a real kick to them. I have almost always had excellent service from very friendly people and am always seated where I ask to be seated as long as there are empty tables in that area. I also travel extensively in the interior areas of Mexico and I can tell you that this food at the Rio Rio still rates very good when compared to the food of that venue. People who think that all Mexican food is extremely hot and spicy are really probably only used to Tex-Mex food along the border, not real Mexican food from the most of the country. Usually the Mexican dishes themselves are not that hot and spicy - it is up to the individual diner to add the Serrano and Jalapeno peppers to your own preferred level as you build the meal in the tortilla in your hand.

Doesn't Recommend

lorileigh4114

Joined 5 years ago

Very Disappointed!. My husband and I ate here during the Fiesta as we were hoping to get some great Mexican food. My chimichanga had no flavor what so ever and the rice was equally tasteless. The chips were a little on the hard side and the salsa tasted like it probably came from a jar.... Picante would have even tasted better. I definitely wont be back here.

Doesn't Recommend

Amanda2201

Joined 5 years ago

Horrible Food....Horrible Experience. My family eats mexican food once a week at the least and this by far was the worst "mexican" food we have ever had!!!! My husband got beef fajitas and they undercooked and obviously one of the worst cuts of meat they could find since it was mostly chewy fat. My son got the chicken tenders plate and they do not even offer fries but they do dump a bag of potato chips on the side. I had a combo platter consisting of a tamale, enchilada verdes, and a bean tostada with the standard rice and beans. My beans were okay, the rice was mostly hard and crunchy, and the "highly recommended" enchiladas verdes was gross. It had maybe two small chunks of chicken and the rest was tomatoes for the filling. The service was okay until he saw we did not eat and then he quickly got an attitude and took everything off the table including my water which was the only thing good!!! Not to mention our bill was $55.00 for stuff we didn't eat!!! Save your money and go to Taco Cabana or Taco Bell..or go to a real mexican restaurant!!!!! I think they even have higher food standards than this place....Ughh just plain nasty...