Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
| Address: | 2885 5600 W, West Valley City, UT 84120, USA |
| Phone: | +1 801-613-4000 |
| Site: | caferio.com |
| Rating: | 3.6 |
| Working: | 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–10PM 10:30AM–11PM 10:30AM–11PM 10:30AM–11PM 11AM–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 6
MA
Matt Pyper
It bugs me when I see people give a one-star review and start out by saying, "I love this place, but [insert rare-occurrence imperfect experience here]". Lets be honest: Cafe Rio has the best fresh-Mex food in the state, hands-down. When you go to this place as much as I do, yes, you will experience an occasion when not everyone is having a perfect day. Sometimes I get more meat than others. Yesterday my co-worker got pork instead of chicken tamales. It happens. But I wont slap a one-star review because of that. He still ate it, still enjoyed it, and will still return. One time the forks in the bin were so tightly packed that I spilled about twenty forks trying to get out my one. Oh, the shame [rolls eyes]. If you give a place less than 3 stars, you are indicating that you probably wont return. A one-star rating is generally used as a warning to others -- dont take chances with this place by walking through the doors. Be realistic, please. Now that I am through with my rant, I enthusiastically give these guys five stars. The food is simply unsurpassed. I wont say that every time has been perfect, but I am probably in their hundredth free-meal club by now. I know all the daily specials, and I have converted many a friend to the sublime truth that is Fideo Friday (one of the best items on the menu, in my humble opinion). If you havent tried it, you are (figuratively, not literally), robbing yourself of one of lifes greatest joys.
FR
Frank Mansuetto
I dont know why I come here. Its literally a 2 minute drive from my house? My wife finds their salads acceptable? I dont know. But Cafe Rio is Utahs crown jewel, I swear. Everyone just goes crazy about this place. Ive ate here multiple times and I find it to be mediocre. Its not super cheap. The baseline price of most of their meals is 8.99 which after going through their checkout process and possible getting a side of guacamole or maybe chips typically ends up being closer to the 10 to 12 dollar range...for fast food type stuff. Also, if you come here anywhere near what would be lunch or dinner, expect to wait 30 minutes on a line that Ive only experienced growing up attending public school and waiting on cafeteria lunch lines. The only other comparison is how my grandmother explains her experiences on food lines during the great depression. I find all the food to be mediocre, albeit, the serving sizes are huge and the tortillas are fresh. So if youre looking for a sloppy plate of food that weighs 4 pounds, then this isnt a bad option. Anyone trying to convince themselves that any of the items on the Cafe Rio menu are healthy, are out of their minds or downright uneducated. Maybe eating only half of their tostada with no dressing or sour cream COULD be healthy. After my second visit, Im more inclined to just go to Betos or Rancheritos down the street, pay half the price, wait half the time, and enjoy my food just as much if not more.
DO
Dolly Case
When this location first opened we were so excited! We went and it lived up to our expectations. It was wonderful! The last 3 times weve gone in, however, its been mediocre to awful. The last time we went in was the worst. I ordered the nachos and my husband ordered 2 steak tacos. The service was lacking but it was pretty busy so we would normally not worry about it at all. They didnt put their normal amount of cheese on the nachos before they put it through the melting oven, and when it came out on the other side, the chips and cheese were burnt black! I said, "Wow thats burnt!" and the guy picked out the 5-6 black chips (leaving the rest that were a dark nasty brown) and tried to hand it to me. I said, "Its still burnt." His response was, "Well, that ovens really hot." I just stood there looking at him, unsure of what to say. He slid the mess down the counter and asked, "Is there anything else?" I said, "Im not buying burnt nachos." He seemed genuinely surprised and asked, "You want me to RE-make them?!" Behind him we saw my husbands tacos come out, equally black, and said, "No thanks," and just walked out. The management at this location really need to up their game if they want to compete with all the options in the area. Cafe Rio is good and one of my top picks but when the service is that bad that often, its easier to go to Panda across the street.
TO
Todd Singleton
I love cafe rio but this location is awful. The staff is incompetent but Im the bigger a** for continuing to go. On my most recent visit I ordered online an hour in advance. When I arrived I was told I was "super early". 2 minutes early actually. After 15 minutes I asked how much longer as the place wasnt real busy but I watched people being served, I was told its almost ready. 20 minutes later and nearly losing my mind I ask again and this time for a manager. Not only did the employee not get a manager she appeared to hide. After now 45 minutes of being there another employee told me since I had come in so close to end of business they couldnt make my order because they were out of pork. I explained to this person how long I had been there she was the togo order employee and had not seen my order. I asked again for a manager and now a refund. Another 15 minutes would pass before that happened. I explained what had happened and told the manager mistakes I can accept but being lied to was ridiculous. The manager listened and apologized some what but offered nothing for my wasted time or bad experience. I only leave a review now because this is 3/3 bad experiences at this location. Go to 54th and redwood
AN
Anna Conrad
Used to love this place, but the past few months service is getting worse. Ordered online and my order wasnt ready when I went to pick up and I was 15 min later then pick up time. They screwed up my order. Gave me the wrong dressing, I asked for extra guacamole and sour cream. Didnt get either. Paid for it but didnt get it. The restaurant was dirty and the staffs customer service sucked. I will never go to this location ever again. Service gets worse every time I go there and I refuse to pay for stuff that is clearly ordered and dont receive. Called asked for a manager and was demanded to know who I was. I from Ed the person I was a dissatisfied customer. They dropped the phone on the counter and then was using bad language and when I yelled I can hear you, I was placed on hold. When the manager got in the phone he didnt really say much but Im sorry and we are training new employees and getting rid of the bad ones. For one if they were trained properly, they would know what they are doing, and two, if you are aware of poor employees, get rid of them now.
EL
Ellie Murphy
I called in an order for pick up at 9:30pm and was told that they were out of steak, so I asked for grilled chicken & I was told that they did have grilled chicken so I ended up ordering a grilled chicken quesadilla. I was told that the order would be ready by 9:50pm so I showed up to pick up my order at 9:50pm, once I arrived they hadnt even began to make my order yet & to top it off, I was informed that they were now out of grilled chicken also. So now I had to order a completely different meal & then wait for them to make it.. still. Once I finally received my order, my tortilla was as hard as a rock & my food tasted awful in general. To say the least I was disappointed with the customer service & the wait time even after I was told it would be ready once I arrived. Whats the point of calling in an order if its not ready when youre told it should be? Ive never been so unsatisfied with cafe rio until I came to this location. I do not plan on returning to this location.
