Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

Reviews 5

AL

Alex Maness

Ate here for the first time the other day. Girlfriend had a quesadilla, I had a steak burrito. Right from the start, I had issues. There were maybe (not exaggerating) thirty people working behind the counter. My girlfriend and I, along with 1 other couple, were the only people in there. Menu is to the left of the service line (think Chipotle), so when you start to order you cant see the menu anymore. So then they start expediting immediately. Again, nobody is in there except us and the other couple, but they are just slapping the food together and rushing you through even when they arent pressed for time. Honestly I dont have a problem with them rushing if they were busy, but that wasnt the case. And since I had never been there before, I didnt know what to expect. Nobody explained the menu to me or told me how to order, and it was NOT readily apparent. The images on the sign do not adequately show what the finished product will look like, in my opinion. They asked me if I wanted sauce on top of the burrito. I said no. Then they put sauce on top of the burrito. All the common burrito toppings (cheese, lettuce, salsa, etc) goes ON TOP of the burrito instead of inside it. All that they put inside was rice, beans, and meat. The tortilla, slathered in sauce, was impossible to pick up like most burritos. The cheese looked like the cheap Mexican 3 cheese blend you would find at the grocery store, rather than authentic Mexican cheese (or even good cheese in general). The sauces: they have a mild, medium, and hot. I asked for hot. The hot, apparently, is extremely mild. This isnt coming from a hot sauce snob either. It had no heat at all. It tastes like canned tomato sauce with a little spice in it. When my girlfriend requested to have some of their avocado ranch on the side, the girl behind the counter quickly poured it and put it onto our plate without informing us that it costs extra. When we got to the counter and they charged us for it, I was a bit upset and asked why nobody told us it would cost extra (this was NOT on the sign or written anywhere). The cashier ignored this and seemed confused and just looked at me wondering why I hadnt paid yet. The food comes on these flimsy tin-foil tray things which are very hard to eat on. They bend and slide around very easily. Not to compare to Chipotle again, but whereas Chipotle has those nice cardboard trays, this place basically lets you eat on a tin foil lid. For the price, I cant recommend it at all. I was excited about going here but left very disappointed. I cant, in good conscience, recommend it to anyone. Save yourself some money and go to Taco Bell or an actual sit-down Mexican restaurant.

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TE

Tess B

I should have read the reviews before I stopped here. Also I read thee "5 reviews, dont they sound like they went written by customers? I dont know, just my opinion. Let me review my visit, 1) POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE BY THE LINE: sign says 1.95 tacos ALL DAY in big letters. In not so big letters, and not so promonent, is the words only on Tuesdays. So I get to the counter and tell the server that I desire the 1.95 Taco. He begins preparation. I get to the register and Chiquita says oh thats only on tuesdays. I apologize. No...Ill still honor it, nothing substantial just empty promise. I didnt want to cause a scene, so I paid and decided to call the manager, emmanuel. I could have lived with not seeing the rest of the sign, but their attitude was horrible 2) POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OUTRIGHT DISRESPECT BY EMMANUEL THE "MANAGER" So emmanuel has an attitude from the beginning. ....mistake number one. He then wants me to return the tacos instead of giving a coupon or something. He then suggested that I should have acted up at the point of sale.....well emmanuel is a terrible manager. If he desires for me to act up in the store and cause a scene, I can, but I would not have thought that would have been his preference.. He has no customer service training, or if he does, he has not used it. One dissatisfied customer tells at least 8 people emmanuel. 3) FOOD WAS NASTY: TACOS were soggy. TACOS had no flavor. TACOS had no taste. 4) POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE PLUS NASTY FOOD EQUALS I WONT BE BACK. Friends. Use your own judgement, but if it was me, I would go elsewhere. The food will be better and you will get better customer service. Emmanuel should manage anybody because he doesnt know how the concepts of management himself.

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BE

Ben Davis

Outstanding establishment! Had never heard of this chain prior to stumbling upon the Newport News location. They say first impressions are lasting ones, and I must say that Cafe Rio delivered. Hands down, Cafe Rio is better than Moes, Qdoba, and even (dare I say it) Chipotle! Their all around better menu, customization options, and price range are what set them apart. My wife and I visited the Jefferson location when it first opened in January. Upon entry, we were greeted by enthusiastic, well-mannered, and attentive staff. We settled on the taco salad and were not disappointed. Everything was fresh, well-seasoned and flavorful!.We enjoyed the simple but casual atmosphere. Weve eaten here probably once a week since opening, an every successive experience has been on par with our first. Everything weve gotten has been prepared quickly and with fresh ingredients. The tortillas are handmade from scratch all day; always fresh and soft. The steak is my favorite: its well-seasoned and cooked just right. My wife really likes the house dressing -- its a tomatillo ranch with just a hint of lime. And dont forget the mint limeade! Goes great with the sweet pork barbacoa tacos. Weve never been disappointed here, and itd be very difficult for any reasonable person to be either. The reviewers griping about the alleged lack of flavor, ambiance, or variety are most likely entitled Yelpers and habitual complainers whod find fault in any restaurant or dish, even if prepared and served by God Himself. Try it, you wont be disappointed!

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JO

Johnny Valiant

I have been going to this restaurant since they opened. The staff are always delightful and the managers are always willing to accommodate. In reading many of the reviews, people seem to be complaining about prices and comparing the food to Moes or Chipotle. The food at Cafe Rio hands down beats them both for quality and taste, unless of course your flavor profile fits one of those with a microwaved burrito palate. As for the managers being rude, go in and ask for any of them. Tell them its your first time and see what type of treatment you get. They will go out of their way to make you feel at home each and every time you go, from samples to singing. I cant express how thrilled I was when I saw the manager motion for all the employees to all sing happy birthday to my father. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe its perception, but for those who havent been yet, give it a shot. It appears a lot of people here giving bad reviews have got butt hurt for choices they made on their own.

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MA

Maya Minor

I went here for the first time with my dad. The employees seemed annoyed and they were rushy. I ordered a shredded chicken taco with a side of rice and pinto beans. My taco was beyond bland. All I could taste was plain chicken breast and I had lettece, tomatoes, and sour cream on my taco. I also got their strawberry limemaid or whatever which was disappointing. I tried to finish my food but the rice was under cooked and the beans were dry and hard. So my dad ended up giving me some of his pork quesadilla which was really good until I found two small strands of hair in it. What also put the icing on the cake was when my dad and I went to throw away our food and the trash was just overflowing with trays stacked on trays of trash. Im not going to this location again. Needs a lot of improvement.

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