08/19/09

Mediocre At Best

by Crestrider

I keep wanting to like this place, because it is local and located in a great old building, but it has always disappointed. The food is average at best, and overpriced. My last lunch order was a Rio Grande Salad - composed of wilted greens, an unripe tomato, and dry mushrooms. I had to cut the cartilage off of the chicken in salad. The fajitas and enchiladas are equally bad. Won't be going back.

• Pros: The building the restaurant is in
• Cons: The food

05/30/09

Among the worst ever

by Newman

It started with a hostess that was unfriendly and on the verge of being rude. It continued with a waiter that didn't so much as grin much less smile. The staff as a whole made us feel we were inconveniencing them by being there. One of our party doesn't care for tomatoes or salsa and ordered a quesadilla, which on the menu was listed as chicken and cheese. When it arrived it was loaded with salsa. When we asked to exchange it for a plain chicken and cheese quesadilla the waiter argued with us and informed us that all their quesadillas are always made with salsa. In all the service was poor and unfriendly and the food was bland and lacked character. We won't be returning.

• Pros: Nice atmosphere
• Cons: Poor service and bland food

04/06/09

Mediocre Mexican

by KSgirl

I have been getting the samething for a while here, the Rio Grande Salad. It was wonderful, fresh greens with lots of veggies, marinated chicken,guac and salsa vinegrette to die for. I went last week and they've changed it. This time it was limp spring greens, with a very under done piece of warm chicken, some dried up mushrooms and scallions, and some semi green tomatoes. I always felt before that I got more than my money's worth, this time I got ripped off. I asked the waiter and he said that the Chef decided that the other salad was too much work. Sorry, but I won't be doing that again.

• Pros: Best Guac
• Cons: Crowded and Small Tables

02/27/09

This is my favorite restaurant!!

by Sanora

Rio Grande is my husband and I's favorite retaurant! We go there for all occasions. I love the chicken tacos and my husband gets the enchiladas. I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone! It has a crazy atmosphere where you can put quarters in the juke box and pick your songs. Not to mention it's right by Gateway mall which makes for a fun evening out with dinner movies and shopping all within walking distance! The best part about it...its so inexpensive!

02/13/09

This place DOES NOT know what Mexican food is!

by SoCalBoyLivinginUtah

The Rio Grande is one more Utah eating establishment that has NO CLUE on what good, authentic Mexican food should taste like. Ate here just after Christmas with my extended family, and I was disappointed once more by the bland, tasteless food being passed off as "authentic" Mexican cuisine.

Don't waste your time or money here, folks. If you want good tasting, flavorful, Mexican food, the Red Iguana around the corner on North Temple is worth the wait. Pass on the Rio Grande. The train left the station and apparently has never returned.

• Pros: Plenty of parking
• Cons: Crowded, noisy, old train station

02/12/09

The definition of LAME

by boscoe4life

The location is great in the old Rio Grande train station downtown. This would be a wonderful venue if someone else had the location other than the current group. Although well meaning the owners may be, their attempt at Mexican or Tex/Mex cuisine was not conceived well before opening. "Build it and they will come" must have been the montra before commencing on this project. They forgot any culinary talent what so ever at the door. I would suggest you go to Beto's for cheap Mexican fare or better yet Red Iguana even Blue Iguana will put this place to shame. You will be lucky if this place doesn't make you sick for days.

• Pros: Plenty of Parking, Location
• Cons: Food, Amatuer Concept

02/06/09

waste of time and money

by rbdslc

They charged us .75 cents for onions to go on top of the enchilada.

Very Loud - RUDE Management - Told us if he gave free food away they would go out of business, with that kind of attitude it won't be long.

11/01/08

I love this restaurant despite not being typical "authentic Mexican food"

by jerisj

If you only like very authentic Mexican food, like the Red Iguana , this place is probably not for you. Our friend from Mexico recommended the carnitas (I think seved only after 5), and taught us to ask for the green salsa with our chips. But I love the vegetarian burrito and the margaritas straight up, without a lot of mixer. I also love that I can get a good salad or a tostada al la carte. The chile verde is good, but not very hot. The service is a little uneven but usually adequate or better. Despite what others have written, I enjoy the decor and the great old restroom from the original train station.

09/24/08

Average Mexican Food

by dt28000

Not a big fan of this place. So many people seem to want to go there but the food is just Ok and the prices are too high for what you get. The salsa is pretty good but that's about it. Very Overated!

• Pros: Good Salsa
• Cons: Mediocre Food for a price that is a bit too high for what you get

11/15/07

Don't waste your time or money

by alisone4

Yes, this restaurant has been around for a long time. Yes, it's in a historic, interesting building. Other than that, it's possibly the worse service you'll ever have, very low-end gringo American Mexican, and nothing redeeming to make it truly worthwhile. Unfortunately, this restaurant has gone so far downhill over the past few years that it would be surprising if it even could make a comeback. Bottom line--don't waste your time or money on this has-been dump.