Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

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Pros: High quality

Cons: Too much food

Posted 03/25/09

The service was poor. If its not happy hour, the margs are 6.50 a peice. Although it was strong, it wasn't very big for the 6.50 charge! The chips and salsa were ok, but we only got a few big chips and then the rest were crumbs. Our water glasses remained empty. When we asked if we could special order something, the waitress acted like it was a huge hassle and didn't want to help. Its not easy having a special diet, and its not very comfortable when you are treated like a pain. We ordered the veggie fajitas. It consisted of a large strip of squash, a couple of tomatoes grilled (not sliced to make it easy to eat), a chunk of onion grilled (again not prepared to be able to eat), and a couple of other small things, and then some dry beans. They charged almost 13 bucks for that! We didnt even eat it, we sent it back, gulped the marg, and left. Doesn't seem like our experience was the norm, but never the less we wont be back. We were in lonetree, and we went to the sushi restaurant across the sidewalk. Great service and food there!

Pros: we didnt have to wait.

Cons: everything else.

Posted 01/14/09

Got f'd up after have a few of these puppies!!!!! strong ars margs and good chips and salsa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pros: strong margs

Cons: line at the door

Posted 11/18/08

Sat on the patio for dinner and drinks and loved it. Now that the construction is done, it is perfect. Tasty margaritas, spicy good mexican food, and lots of entertaining people walking around. Try an agave martini, call your own tequila and sip away

Pros: Great people watching

Cons: always busy

Posted 08/20/08

Fun place with a good atmosphere. Pretty good food, but truly excellent margaritas. Pretty crowded on the weekends but doable if you're there early or late.

Pros: location, margaritas, social scene

Cons: parking, too crowded during prime times

Posted 08/15/08

I love to sit on their patio and have a marg after work. Consruction next door still irritates me, It looks like it's coming to an end just in time for summer. I wish they opened earlier during the day, who closes between lunch and dinner downtown?

Posted 06/02/08

I'm new to Denver and my freinds took me the Rio to start the night off. Wow was it the altitude or the margs but I had a good buzz after 2. Lots of cute girls to look at as well! Definatly the place to start your night off.

Posted 06/02/08

Do flying rouches make buzzing sounds? H-ya they do. Can you find them in Colorado? Apparently....And I saw my first one at the Rio in downtown Denver!!!! This was Mexi Restaurant has my favorite weekend starting point for strong drinks and good looking people...but since the night of May 17th, 2008 I refuse to go there. I planned my friend's bachelorette party on this night. We went to the Rio @ 9pm and of course waited for an hour and a half for a table. That part didnt bother us because we were used to the weekend wait. The horrible, embarassing, and disgusting part of that night was the huge 4 inch flying rouch we had seen flying out of the kitchen and into the dining room. The 10 person table next to us noticed it first and screamed (even the guys freaked out). They told the busser who ran and informed the manager on that night. Customers were screaming and some were getting up and leaving. We were trying to cancel our 12 person order but our server was no where to be found. After 10 mins a busser came to the back with a broom and smashed it against the wall. (This was in front of 50 customers) I was so embarassed for ever bring my best friend to such a disgusting establishment. We tried to find our server many times before our food came out. He finally came to our table after our food had been sitting there for 20 mins. He explained that he was embarassed by the problem and refused to come back to his tables until it was taken care of. He also told us that the rouch problem had been going on for a couple and the exterminator
had came 3 times without getting rid of the problem completely. I love this restaurant and honestly was sad about the rouches. Flying rouches are more commonly found in Texas and southern states......that is why I am so bothered. I just wanted to share my experience. To all those who work there, I feel so sorry for you. I hope the Rio takes care of this problem soon. The patio is my favorite in all of downtown.

Posted 05/31/08

We had a blast this past Cinco de Mayo at The Rio. They love to have fun and it shows. Have you tried the smoked chicken tacos, they are GREAT! Love the patio, the laid-back staff, and all the people. They do it right.

Pros: Great food, amazing margs

Cons: sometimes a long wait

Posted 05/06/08

I've been a fan of the Rio for years - I love their guacamole, but it will be a frosty day in hades before I ever set foot in there again. This past Friday, a group of us went there for some drinks and dinner. While the Margaritas were yummy, what happened as we were being led to our dinner table was completely disgusting. The hostess was about 3 steps ahead of me (the rest of my party was behind me,) and I watched in horror as she lept forward and stomped on something scurrying across the floor just next to our table. Thinking that my eyes had to be deceiving me, I asked her what it was that she just stepped on, and she matter-of-factly stated what it was and then said "Don't worry, I'll sweep it up." And she threw our menus on the table, went into the kitchen for a broom and dustpan, and returned to sweep it up and dumped it in the kitchen garbage. I was astonished. Not wanting to alarm those I was dining with, I said nothing (which I'm kicking myself for in hindsight.) It was very evident to me why they have this issue - we were seated with a clear view in to the kitchen, and it was absolutely filthy - chips and food remnants covered the floor. The food was okay, but not as good as it's been in past visits. I'd rather go across the street to d'Corazon and enjoy a much better meal from a cleaner kitchen. I'm telling everyone who will listen what I witnessed in the Rio.

Pros: margaritas

Cons: ambiance, service, cleanliness, wait for a table

Posted 04/29/08

I'm in my late 20's and if I want to start a night downtown, it's usually here. I'll never eat their food because it truly sux ace, but their margs are decent and do get you pretty hammered. It's crowded at night and closes at 11:00pm. Yah, that's right 11:00. Which also is pretty ghey. I wouldn't go here for anything other than happy hour drinks, or drinks to start off a night.

Posted 01/23/08

I been noticing for awhile that the margaritas have become much less potent while the prices continue to increase. The food is also getting worse - I ordered the special; pork quesidallias this week and was given super spicy chicken version. Someone else ordered the chille rellanos only to find them inedible due to the fact that the peppers were of the spiciest version imaginable - although no mention of that was included in the menu description. The queso had the consistency of water and was pretty bland.
Service was also pretty bad - our waiter told me that indeed it was pork - even though every other person at our table tried it and agreed it was chicken.
This used to be a really fun place with great drinks. It's sad that they think they can just keep cutting back and no one will notice.

Pros: good salsa

Cons: weak margaritas, bad food, bad service

Posted 01/23/07

we were seat with in a few minutes, on a saturday night, the temperture of the food was warm at best. the service was great and the management was great too. No ground beef. All steak or chicken.

Posted 01/05/07

Stong margs get the job done. Very pleased with the Mahi mahi tacos. Crowded with 20's making the rounds, loud but it's LoDo on a Friday night.. what else would you expect.

Pros: Fun atmosphere, great people watching, strong drinks

Cons: rude waitstaff and host

Posted 12/30/06

You'd think with something this busy and with the reviews I read before I went, at least the restaurant would rank up there in some category -- well, I'm trying to think, which one? It was a normal, crowded Friday night, and we had 8 people. Called ahead, no prob. Seated after everyone got there, no prob. That's where the fun ended. High prices for substandard food. Margaritas (whether or not it's true about the pure grain alcohol) were mediocre, and the wait staff acted as if they didn't care because the joint was popular anyway, so why bother? I opted for a lighter order of a guacamole chulapa, which normally would have been stuffed tortilla with guac, cheese, etc. inside or on top - maybe somewhere else it would have come with a side of beans - but it was nothing but a flat taco-like tortilla mounded with lots of shredded lettuce, a sprinkling of cheese, a small scattering of a chopped tomato slice, and a scoop of guac as small as a coffee measure. The ladies' restroom was absolutely filthy at 8:30. And the noise was greater than any I've experienced - the louder, the more fun, right? Not! Yelling at the person next to you to talk has become passe and unenjoyable. Go for a Corona and eat at the one across the street, if you want to make believe you're having fun because it's noisy. Maybe the restroom will be decent because it hasn't been used since the lunch crowd.

Posted 10/09/06

Being a seasoned drinker, my friend and I decided to get dinner and drinks. We decided we would show them 3 drink minimum!!! After eating a huge dinner and drinking margaritas with dinner, we walked out of there hammered!!! It was so awesome. We ate drank and defineately got out fill for around 50 bucks. Totally lively restaurant and lots of fun. Not a quiet atmosphere if that is what you are looking for.

Pros: Awesome margaritas.

Posted 06/28/06

Rio Grande is a great place to go for margaritas and a lively atmosphere. Unfortunately, what comes along with the lively atmosphere are lines to get in and a very loud restaurant. If you're in the right mood, Rio Grande is a great place to go for delicious margaritas and chips with queso.

Pros: great margaritas, free chips and salsa, delicious queso

Cons: waiting in line, loud atmosphere, a little expensive

Posted 04/14/06

Rio is one of my favorite lunch places! Good food and good margs. Great for group work lunches!

Pros: Downtown, Food, Margs

Posted 02/14/06

We recently went here and overall would not recomend this restaurant. The service was great and the ambience was very "mexican" but the food was awful and way overpriced. They had excellent margaritas but the overall experience was something to be remembered and forgotten. We had six (6) people in our party and three (3) were children and we still walked paying $75.00 with tip and the kids meals were free. Two (2) of us drank one (1) margarita each. If you want to spend a lot of money on awful food that is overpriced go here.

Pros: great margaritas, good ambience, nice wait staff

Cons: overpriced, bad tasting food

Posted 12/10/05

The margaritas and food are very over rated. They cater to a drunk college crowd, so I guess you need to be wasted in order to enjoy it. I know there is always a line to get into this place, but there are so many other good mexican restaurants with great margaritas so unless you are looking to meet someone, I don't recommend this place.

Cons: parking, crowded, no flavor

Posted 12/02/05

After a wonderful meal and marguaritas (WHEW!) at the one in Ft. Collins awhile back, we were pleased to hear there was one in Denver. We can't judge the lines and smoke, since we have only gone at lunch time. The food has always been excellent, and we've tried something different each time. The queso enchiladas are awesome and a bargain from the lunch menu. Service has been fast and friendly every time. The quacamole is spectacular and the chips and salsa are among the best in Denver. I'll take this food over Blue Bonnets any day!

Pros: Food, Service, Value

Posted 11/03/05

The RIO serves white trash maragaritas. The only reason folks like the margs is because the use pure grain alcohol in them to get you so drunk you cannot remember how horrible the marg actually tasted. The RIO will not serve you a top shelf marg. They will not even make you a Patron marg. They have 1 type of marg which they mix in a big bucket with nasty Jose Cuervo tequila.

Posted 08/02/05

The food was pretty decent, the service staff super great, the margaritas were ungodly bad.

The atmosphere, 'scenery' is great - overall a great place - just drink something different!

Posted 05/13/05

I love The Rio! Their margaritas are truly spectacular! The best I've had! Be careful though, because they will creep up on you! The food is pretty good, but most people come here for the margs. Chips and salsa are yummy. P.S. On the weekends there is a line just to get in!

Pros: uh, hi the Margs!, Da Margs, Dos Margaritas!

Cons: crowded on the weeken, food is okay

Posted 03/15/05

Outstanding Margs...without using expensive ingrediants. Anybody can get a great marg with top shelf stuff. The Rio uses Cuevo Gold (an average tequila) and produces the best house marg around...strong and balanced, not too sweet like most bar margs. The Rio has recently added top-shelf tequilas and other marg flavors to the list. The food is average, but the Salsa is great and the Queso del Mar is outstanding!!! Loud and friendly atmosphere with young attractive croud. Forget the dinner wait...hang at the bar. I've been to the Ft. Collins, Boulder, Denver and Greely locations (liked Boulder the best), but have not tried the newest location in Parkview...yet. Great happy hour place!!

Pros: Margs, Croud, Salsa

Cons: Wait

Posted 02/08/05

The margaritas are certainly potent, but good? Any margarita made with Jose Cuervo tequila is substandard at best. Ever notice that Mexcians don't drink Jose Cuervo tequila?

The food is very good, however. The Camerones ala Diabla are awesome if you like that dish.

The place can be very busy, so if you are worried about good service make sure you tip extra well for the first round - and then continue to tip well. (Hint: this means above 15%). Servers remember good tippers.

Pros: Food, Potent Margs

Cons: Jose Cuervo Margs

Posted 02/06/05

They have very good margaritas, but also have very good food. It seems that they are packed most of the time with people looking to "see and be seen" but in the off hours it is a comfortable place to get good mexican food.

Pros: good, service

Cons: , parking

Posted 10/02/04

The Margaritias here are great! If other reviews say different they area competitor who is trying to throw you off - The food is good mexican - not too tex-mex, Not Denvers' best Mexican but far from the worst - actually quite good (and I am a niative of Solo Colo) - I highly reccommend the Rio!!!

Pros: Margs, Loacation, Food

Cons: , Service sometimes slo

Posted 07/09/04

I have had a few great margs in my day ( mostly in Santa Fe & Toas) and quite a few decent ones throughout the Denver area. When I heard that the Rio ( Denver) had "great" ones I was excited to try one. I have never been more disapointed. For starters for anyone who enjoys good tequila, you won't find it here. the best tequila they had was Cuervo Gold. You have got to be kidding! Ceurvo is gold because they add coloring to it not because it is aged like most gold tequilas . I like a marg w/a kick but After doing a little research into why the Rio's margs are so potent I was told that they put everclear in the mix. No wonder they taste so bad. The taste is heavy on alcohol (grain alcohol) and salt and and not much else.

Pros: none that I found

Posted 06/01/04

The service is average, so is the food. BUT THE MARGARITAS-- Holy cow, if you like margs go here! I do not understand why this place closes between lunch and dinner (Like 2-5pm) even on weekends!! That is inconvenient for someone in the mood for a mid-day marg on a Saturday afternoon when the kids are are at grandma's. This place is PACKED come FRI AND SAT by 6-8 pm! I like the one in Boulder better.

Pros: GREAT MARGS, GREAT MARGARITAS, GREAT MARGARHITAS

Cons: CLOSED MID DAY, CROWED, SERVICE

Posted 01/25/04

Great margaritas as everyone in Colorado knows, but the service (especially hostesses) leaves much to be desired. Some of the staff members (especially hostesses) act as if the customer owes them something. They tend to forget that although their restaurant is very popular, they still must treat their customers right! p.s. One of the best salsas in town too!

Posted 11/06/03

Althought the Rio's in the college town are better ( suggest Boulder) it is always fun to go grab a margarita after work. They are amazing and very strong ( stronger in the college towns) I highly recommend the quesadillas and the sopapillas. Great place to start the night!

Pros: Excellent Margs, Great Food

Cons: Long Wait, No Music

Posted 09/04/03

This place has the best margaritas on the planet!!! they are addicting and I have never found any marg to compare with these. Its truly amazing, if you develop a taste for them, nothing else will satisfy!

Pros: Great Margs, Fresh Food(very good), Good value

Posted 09/04/03

WORST MARGARITAS IN TOWN!!!!!! Their "top-shelf" tequila is Jose Cuervo Gold. They should start serving good tequila, but you just cant make a good margaritas with bottom-shelf tequila, and NO restaurant other than the Rio considers Jose Cuervo Gold to be anything but bottom-shelf tequila.

Pros: NONE

Cons: Jose Cuervo, Jose Cuervo, Jose Cuervo

Posted 09/04/03

I used to go to the Rio in Boulder, and hands down they had the strongest margaritas ever! They tasted great and you were cut off at 3, thats how potent they are. Wish I could replicate the recipe, the rumor was that htey were mixed 24 hours prior to serving, allowing a little fermentation to happen.

Posted 09/04/03

Although getting a table at the Rio can take upwards of two hours on a weekend evening, the fun atmosphere and great drinks (plus incredible guac) make the wait just a bit more bearable. The seating policy is insane--you stand outside in line to put your name on the list (usually 30-45 minutes) and then you wait in the very smokey and crowded bar for a table. Even if you're planning on just drinks at the bar, you have to wait in line. If some of your party arrives first and is able to put their name on the list, you can't be seated until everyone is at least in line. If your friends are in line you can't pull them inside even though part of the group is already inside. Weekend waits are crazy, but for a good Rio experience (e.g. no lines) do weeknight happy hours.

Pros: Great drinks, decent food, fun atmosphere

Cons: no reservations, long lines, smokey

Posted 09/04/03

Rio Grande has the BEST Margaritas you'll EVER drink!! MUST try them.

Pros: Price is reasonable, Excellent Margaritas, Food is good

Cons: Definitely crowded

Posted 05/06/03

The enchiladas were the best that i've ever had, the chips and salsa were also great. The cuban style black beans and the rice were so good as well, that i've decided to come back to Denver next summer to eat at Rio Grande again, well that's not the only reason, but its a plus! P.S. I live in Michigan, if that tells you anything about the lengths i'll go to get more of this great food.

Pros: Location, Not a Long Wait

Cons: Loud, Smokey

Posted 03/09/03

Yuck.. It took a long time for us to be seated because the place was packed.. The margarita arrived warm, with hardly any ice in it at all and had too much salt. its also very strong on the alcohol which is good if you plan to get drunk, but its not very flavorful and the strong taste dulled my taste buds.. which i guess I wasn't missing much because the green chile was awful and the red chile was totally bland. Both of them were watery. The only thing I liked were the tortillas which were nicely chewey, the quacamole was chunky and fresh, and the sopapillas were light and fluffy. otherwise, the food and the whole experience was terrible..

Pros: 4 the popular crowd

Cons: way too loud

Posted 02/25/03

In the quest for an acceptable fajita- beef, chicken or shrimp, I have found my spot. Rio has some of the best fajitas in town. The menu offers many of the standard fare, and trendy people like me go there to chat with the pretty people. I enjoy being great looking and I look even better guzzling a perfect marg, eating a shrimp fajita and smoking a clove cigarette. I love this place. See you there!!!

Pros: Pretty people, Fajitas, Margs

Cons: Some ugly people, bad parking, no cig machine

Posted 02/07/03

Rio is all about the Margarita's, pure and simple! These marg's are not "Americanized" with sour mix like everywhere else you go. Just tequila, lime juice, and triple sec in a potent combo. The notion that other restaurants make margarita's like these is erroneous, because they don't! These marg's are meant to get you juiced, and as most people would testify, they do! Great "pre-party" hang out.

Pros: Margarita's

Cons: decor

Posted 02/07/03

Really delicious margaritas, and the food is great too. Service is good at the bar or in the restaurant, however beware that if you are sitting at one of the many bar tables near the window - the staff ignores you. (3 out of 3 times for me).

Pros: fun atmosphere, easy parking, great food

Cons: kitchen closes early, bar table staff

Posted 01/27/03

The Rio in Boulder is the best 10 bucks (including a tip) that you will spend on two margs to start you out with a terrific buzz and ensure a night of fuzzy silliness.

Pros: Margs, Staff

Cons: Food

Posted 01/08/03

The only good thing about this restaurant is their margaritas. The food isn't that spectacular. Ambiance is okay and this place usually gets really packed on weekends.

Pros: Margaritas

Cons: Pricey, Dry chicken

Posted 10/25/02

Rio is much too crowded in the evening, but for an early happy hour it's a great place to meet. The appetizers are tasty, and the margs are great. Nothing is worth the crowds and the waits that this place attracts, and never plan to meet someone there on a busy night, but check it out in a slow time.

Pros: good margs, great in off-times

Cons: too crowded weekends

Posted 10/14/02

There's a good reason why they cut you off at three margaritas...

Pros: Margarita's, Margarita's, Margarita's

Cons: loud, not spacious, bar stools uncomfy

Posted 09/27/02