Cafe Rio
Salt Lake City, UT 84109-2107
Phone: (801) 463-7250
- Price:
- $
- Best of Citysearch:
- Cheap Eats 2004, Mexican Food 2004
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Editorial Review for Cafe Rio – by Peter Behle
The Scene
Bright and airy in a brand-new building--smack next to longtime SLC favorite, Cafe Silvestre. You'll wait a while to order and get your food, but there's plenty of room to sit down and eat. The process is confusing for first-timers: wait, wait, wait...then yell your order. A few moments later, you've got to identify your meal again when they ask you about choice of salsa and toppings. Then wait again as the lone cashier quizzes you once more.
The Food
Everything is made to order, with a portion of the kitchen dedicated to making fresh tortillas. Meals are served in foil containers, so taking home leftovers is a breeze. Burritos are the most popular choice--shredded chicken and pork barbacoa are both can't-miss fillings. Get a burrito covered with salsa and cheese--"enchilada-style"--for an extra 95 cents. Don't skip the nicely spiced tortilla chicken soup.
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User Reviews for Cafe Rio
11/02/2007 Posted by freak78
I have lived in SoCal all my life except for the last 2 years here in Utah. When we first moved up here our realtor said once you go to Cafe Rio you will never want to return to the places you liked. So we tried it I got a burrito I could not taste it (I was not sick either) on the way home I burped in the car still couldn't taste any thing (like you wanted to know that) We never returned. Utah mexican food to me is no cilantro & spices (therefore no taste) and everything has black olives. The day any of my favs open up here in Utah I'm so there, but it would probally fold because there is too much flavor.
08/28/2007 Posted by byam
This is the best ever. Yes its busy but these ridiculous comments of waiting 45 minutes or 2 hours for pick up are huge exaggerations!! It may tops be a 20 minute wait and I know because I go 3 or 4 times a week and 2 of those are usually to-go orders which at the most I have waited 40 minutes on a weekend but I learned the trick, call early, not 5 minutes before you want the food. The longest I waited in line, also a weekend was 20 minutes the line went all the way out the door and I thought it was worth it, it moves fast. Also the customer service is great they ask at each station what I would like, people who claim they are rushed or not listened to are probably themselves not paying attention, I see it everytime I go in and I usually laugh at them cause they are the ones that complain when it was really their fault!!! Anyway yes I am an expert so trust me when I say you must go. Pay attention when you order and there will be no problems. These people are serving hundreds of people and hour so yes its fast but obviously worth it!!!!
Pros: Amazing food fun atmosphere
Cons: parking is sometimes bad but they cant help that
