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Kids love the decorations, grown-ups love the margaritas--a great combination for family dining.
(801) 364-3302
270 S Rio Grande St
Salt Lake City,
UT
84101
40.7634
-111.9042
Neighborhood: Rio Grande
Years in business
Established in 1981
Hours:
Mon-Thurs: 11:30am-2:30pm & 5pm-9:00pmFri & Sat: 11:30am-2:30pm & 5pm-10:00pmSun: 4pm-9pm
Last updated 8.23.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express , Visa , Discover , MasterCard
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
No
What People Are Saying About Rio Grande Cafe
The Owner
Rio Grande Cafe
Owner
Located in the historic Rio Grande Train Station, Rio Grande Cafe has been providing traditional Mexican flavors at affordable prices since 1981. Offering tacos, tostadas, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, quesadillas, nachos and other authentic dishes, this Mexican restaurant is great for satisfying the largest of appetites. Extensive lists of imported beers and domestic beers as well as delicious margaritas will compliment your meals perfectly, and the family friendly, fun decor of the dining room will keep your entire party entertained. For your next special event, let Rio Grande Cafe?s…
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
The Scene – Crazy mobiles hang throughout the restaurant, including the notorious taco lady. The restaurant, based in the old Rio Grande train station, has maintained much of the original architecture. The casual atmosphere and inexpensive menu make this a great place to bring kids while Mom and Dad unwind with a frosty margarita. Bringing the adults? Get a pitcher. – – The Food – It's mainstream Tex-Mex fare with good, basic flavors. The vegetable enchilada, filled with zucchini, red peppers and cheese, is consistently zesty and good. If you're looking for…
Editor's Tips
- Where To Sit:
- If you're planning a large party, Rio Grande Cafe has plenty of tables that can be arranged for group seating.
- When You Go:
- Be sure to look around the dining room to catch glimpses of local artists and their eclectic creations, all of which are for sale. From landscapes to photography, paintings to digital media, there's something for every art lover on Rio Grande Cafe's walls.
07/22/11
Rio always the best
by John Reff at Citysearch
I worked at the Rio 1983-1985. This was and is the best basic Mexican I have had. The Taco Lady was there then and the counter. We had great times and anyone with any imagination will always have great time there. The Kharma is top-notch. I give em a 5.
11/16/10
The best around
by darnest at Citysearch
The Rio has it all. Great margaritas. Hot enchiladas. And friendly food servers.
Don't miss out!
06/25/10
Rio Cafe -worst in world
by Supersayanx at Citysearch
I've never blogged or even wished ill will to a restaurant like this. This place doesnt deserve to be in existence. The meats were runny and my wife ran to spit out the pork barbacoa after taking a bite. I thought, 'no way can it be that bad'. Well..I tried it, pouring on a bit of the golden habenero hot sauce, it brought back some college nastalgia, of the taste when you're drunk throwing up the burrito you thought would sober you up. If that's not enough to keep you from eating here.....I humbly apologize.
ratings should one lower than eh.
- Pros: nice tables
- Cons: just plain nasty food & poor service
02/12/10
Fast, Hot, Good
by henderig at Citysearch
The Rio Grande Cafe has got all the basics of a good restaurant. The food comes out hot, it's reasonably priced, and you don't have to wait all night for it.
They don't serve much in the way of mole or thick sauces, but you'll leave with a full stomach guaranteed.
Staff is flexible with alterations to the menu (i.e. if you'd like a cream sauce instead of a tomato based sauce).
I've been eating there for 22 years--they've been open 27--and i still love it.
- Pros: Reasonable price
12/22/09
It was as bad as they said it would be
by lisad101 at Citysearch
Bad, bad, bad. Bad service, bad food, bad parking. I'm normally not a "whiner" but if this review can save one person from eating horrible beans and rice and an enchilada that was closer to Italian cooking than Mexican then I'll whine away.
The service was basic. No refills on the chips, even though two other people joined our party after we were seated and the original bowl of chips almost gone.
I couldn't even finish my food, not because I was full but because it was awful. The people who prepared it should get a new recipe, PRONTO!
I won't go back and I certainly won't recommend it to anyone. I wish I had read the reviews online before I went. I probably could have gone to the homeless shelter down the street and had a tastier meal.
- Pros: none
- Cons: numerous
As Seen In…
Message from Rio Grande Cafe
- Mexican Restaurant and Cuisine
- Beer Selection and Margaritas
- Catering
Located in the historic Rio Grande Train Station, Rio Grande Cafe has been providing traditional Mexican flavors at affordable prices since 1981. Offering tacos, tostadas, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, quesadillas, nachos and other authentic dishes, this Mexican restaurant is great for satisfying the largest of appetites. Extensive lists of imported beers and domestic beers as well as delicious margaritas will compliment your meals perfectly, and the family friendly, fun decor of the dining room will keep your entire party entertained.
For your next special event, let Rio Grande Cafe?s catering services provide delicious menus sure to satisfy all your guests. Lunch menus, a la carte selections and a kid?s menu assure that there?s something for everyone. Head in to dine or call out for catering from the fun, historic Rio Grande Cafe.
