Cafe Rio

05/31/2008 Posted by michaeldmaxwell

This probably the most over-rated dining establishment in Utah. People raved to me about this place and maybe I expected too much. The food is ok - - sligtly above Taco Bell variety but not worth the wait if the lines are long. Everything related to the food is pretty much run-of-the mill. They get a plus for the fresh-made tortillas but you can get those now at any fast food neuvo-Mexican (Chipolte, Costa Vita, etc) If you do wait in the lines, don't plan to eat in the establishment. It is narrow and crowded with uncomfortable chairs and tables.

Pros: Fast if the line is not long. Good tortillas

Cons: Weak sauces, toppings, and fillings. Just a small step above Taco Bell. Go to Barbacoa or Chipolte for much better food

05/28/2008 Posted by ertorres

I guess to accommodate for the caucasion population in Salt Lake, this food has twisted its style so far from its mexican roots that it should switch its name to "Cafe Taco Bell". This place was pretty quick with their food, but the workers are so accustomed to what ppl (I'm guessing) want that when I ordered by Carne Asada tacos they immediately put cheese, iceburg lettuce, and tomatoes!! I was like WAIT!! This is carne asada, you need to put ONION, CILANTRO, & CHILE!! Plus a couple limes! It was pretty weird. They didn't even have cilantro! So it was kinda expensive for 4 tacos that me & my girlfriend got, but it smelled pretty good so we wern't complaining...yet. The meat was pretty soft and just melted but it didn't have that kick that carne asada should have, it wasn't marinated at all. So next time i'm going to taco bell. NOT!

Pros: Quick Service

Cons: Food, Authenticity

05/21/2008 Posted by avans

I moved to Utah about a year ago. We did not have the pleasure of having a Cafe Rio in my hometown. My husband introduced me to Cafe Rio and we have been going ever since. Cafe Rio is one of our favorite places to eat. The food is excellent, close to our home, and the service is great-especially when the line is long, the employees make it 'fun' to wait in line. Parking at this location could be a little better, but it's not a big enough issue to keep us away. We enjoy the food, customer service, and the "free meal" incentive is awesome. We take full advantage of that since we are there so often. I noticed that people were complaining about their prices...I'd like to know where you can go and get a meal that is more healthy than a fried, greasy burger with greasy french fries on the side...at some burger places you will pay $7-8 or more, so why not get a nice chicken or pork salad...it tastes much better and better for you! WE LOVE CAFE RIO!!!

Pros: great place to eat, food taste, correct orders, quick service, meal incentives, great location, large amount of food for the money.

Cons: NONE

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

07/06/2007 Posted by salbsmall

My office is between two Cafe Rio locations - Taylorsville and 33rd South. We often call in an order to one or the other to be picked up for lunch. The Taylorsville restaurant has some of the most unfriendly employees I have yet to encounter anywhere and if you have more than a couple of orders, guaranteed, they will get them wrong. Very frustrating when you go through all you have to at Cafe Rio just to get your food - parking, lines, noise then to have it wrong. The 33rd South location is just in a outrageously small building with absolutely no reasonable parking available. It is a lesson in frustration to go there and try to park. The orders are usually right, but they are never done when they tell you to arrive for pick up and more than once, I have waited up to 40 minutes for my call- in order of only two salads and watched several employees stand around while no one is helping you! Customer service is clearly not a priority at Café Rio. The food at Cafe Rio is really very good, but I have to be honest and say that everytime we consider Cafe Rio, we really weigh the actual cost of aggravation and time, not to mention their food is NOT cheap price-wise. They seem to do great business, but I think they would do unbelievably better if they improved their handling of customers from parking to actual customer service.

Pros: Tasty food

Cons: Poor customer service, poor parking

07/01/2007 Posted by spunkysunshine

If I had one word to describe Cafe Rio it would be DELICIOUS. It is very busy but I believe the staff does a great job of keeping the line going. There are numerous locations & this will soon be your favorite after just one visit.

04/05/2007 Posted by fishfreak

There are some things in life I simply do not get. I don't understand how people can be entertained by certain television shows, I don't know why certain music is popular, and above all, I can't bring myself to understand why people would be willing to wait 45 minutes to get their hands on a salad or burrito that cannot be described as anything other than average. The only way I can explain Cafe Rio's enormous fan base (and fan is certainly short for fanatic in this case) is that people are hungry when they come in, and after waiting in line for 45 minutes, watching and smelling food being prepared the entire time, they are so hungry that absolutely any meal would taste phenomenally good. But that doesn't explain why people are willing to wait that long in the first place, so I guess I'm back to square one. There are plenty of solid Mexican restaurants in the Salt Lake area, and all of them will have you fed and happy before Cafe Rio even takes your order.

Pros: Food is okay.

Cons: Wait and mob mentally surrounding the place is mind-numbing

10/05/2006 Posted by flutter

Cafe Rio is the best restaurant ever! I atually crave their food, really! I use to live in Utah and now everyday I wish there was a Cafe Rio in Chicago! The first restaurant I'm going to go to when I get back to Utah is Cafe Rio! They have something for everyone, everything there is good! My favorites are the enchiladas (1 pork, 1 beef) and tamales on thursday. It's interesting because everyone I know likes something else. Regarding the busyness and long lines, they have gotten a lot better. Now the wait is like 15 minutes. 4 out of 5 teenager's favorite restaurant!

Pros: The taste of the food, the large amount of food, service

Cons: They only have tamales on thursdays! :P

06/11/2006 Posted by eyardimci

I absolutley love the food at Cafe Rio. I am hooked on the stake fajita salads with extra pico. Everything is so fresh and tastes great at a great price. I have never been disapointed in the the many times I have eaten there. The long wait is definately worth it. I now live half way around the world, but when I come home to SLC this summer, Cafe Rio is going to be the first place I eat out at. Yum yum! I can't wait.

Pros: huge portions, fresh ingredients, friendly staff

Cons: long lines but well worth the wait