Cafe Rio

Sadly, they are now closed. Sadly, they are now closed.
Sadly, they are now closed. Sadly, they are now closed.
Sadly, they are now closed. Sadly, they are now closed.
Sadly, they are now closed. Sadly, they are now closed.

the service here was by far the WORST I have ever received. both the women working had the worst attitude problem and obviously dislike their jobs! this is not the café rio restaurant I am used to.

I love the food at Café Rio and we go here usually once every two to three weeks. However, the last three times have been terrible. The two times prior to this once we entered the restaurant 15 – 30 minutes before close and they already shut down most of the food and only had pulled chicken available, nothing else. They also gave us a nasty look like we were inconveniencing them so we left both times. I worked in fast food when I was young and as much as it pained me to cook more food near closing time we would do it because if the sign says it is open to a certain time it should be open up to that time. How does the manager allow this? If you are going to shut down the store a half hour early each night, change the hours! On this last visit, I ordered two tacos for myself (three total) and when mine were done cooking the employee asked what toppings I wanted on my two tacos, I asked for a little more shredded cheese and after she put it on she yelled to the cashier (where my wife was in the middle of paying) to charge me $ 1 for extra cheese. I was like, what? She should have told me (like any other restaurant out there) before putting on the cheese that it was $ 1 extra and let me make the decision at that time. I have had them put on a little more cheese every single time I have been there and they never charged me and I have been there at least 20+ times. When she saw me a little angry about it she didn’t even say that she will not charge me this time but will next time now that I know but just gave me a look like, too bad. As a result of these last three experiences, I will never go back to Café Rio and tell all of my friends to never go there. It is not about the $ 1, I couldn’t care less about the $ 1, it is about the principle. Very unprofessional which is unfortunate because we pick this place over Chipotle when we go to the mall. This location should take a lesson from Chipotle on how to treat customers.

When I first saw the low ratings for this restaurant I figured it was because Marylanders just didn’t «get» what Café Rio is supposed to be. And honestly I think that is sort of the problem — Café Rio comes from the land of Utah where sugary foods and sugary beverages reign supreme, which makes the barbacoa pork more relevant and delicious to that demographic. Personally, I enjoy the sweet pork set against their salad dressings and the cilantro lime rice, so until now I’ve been a fan of the chain.
That said, there seems to be a consensus here that Café Rio in Annapolis seems unrelated to the chain started in Utah. I, too, was excited to see a Western US chain make its way to Annapolis, but the experience you’ll have at this restaurant won’t mirror what you’ll find in Utah, California, Arizona, etc.
I’ve had truly inconsistent experiences here. I came when it first opened, and one of the employees said he had been transferred to this restaurant from one in Utah to help get things going. That time, the portions were generous, the particular employee was friendly and helpful, and I felt like it was in keeping with the experiences I’ve had at other Café Rio restaurants. The following two visits (months later) showed a decline. The employees were nice enough, but a barbacoa salad was a little rice, a lot of beans, normal pork, and a light sprinkle of lettuce. A wet burrito was so small it looked like a sickly enchilada!
A fourth visit yielded more generous helpings, but the crew seemed like they wished the customers would leave them the heck alone. On my most recent visit my barbacos salad was probably 3/​5ths of the ideal portion. Then the female employee who rung me up was acting odd, and kept watching me with my kids, and seemed to be hawking over me the few times I got a water refill, as if I might steal a soda or something. Then, we were one of two tables in a section eating when suddenly the lights over us go out, making our table really dimly lit. I turned to alert that same lady and she replied, «I know– I turned it off,» and then she turned away. It was really weird, ya’ll.
I’m so conflicted, because I really hope Café Rio can catch on out here. But this is not the impression of Café Rio that’s going to get East Coasters on board. Does it just not work once you cross the Mississippi River? I can’t say definitively what the problem is, but the experience here is driving me away. I’ll just have to wait for a visit back home to the West where the portions and ratios of the ingredients are better, and most employees don’t act like they’re serving a prison sentence. Sigh.

Their taco Tuesday is amazing! Definitely get the pork. They have really good tortilla chips too! I love this place. I crave it every week. The perfect date spot.

Round two! After having an awful experience the first time around, management convinced us to give them another shot. It was definitely better than the first time. The first time everything we ordered was smothered with cheese and grease. We ordered the steak burrito, steak enchiladas, and a free quesadilla for my daughter.
We told them to go light on the cheese… they listened.
It was not greasy like last time. The meals were hot and fresh.
Even though this dining experience was better, we were disappointed with the flavor. The meals were very bland.

Better than any other Mexican «fast food.» Ordered pork enchiladas with medium sauce, black beans and rice and thought it was good. Also God chips salsa and guacamole and was above average. Have previously has their sales and it is really good. Dressing is awesome.

Stopped in to try a new place. Looks like what u would get if Baja Fresh and Chipotle had a baby. New, clean restaurant. Fast service from indifferent help. Food. Typical Gringo food. I had two tacos. One Chile Beef and one Pork Barbacoa. The beef was OK though without flavor. The put on a bunch of really wet «Hot» salsa but despite the name it was flavorless and not even to the mild level of spice. The Pork on the other hand was ruined by mixing it with really sweet, really really sweet BBQ sauce. Can’t say this has no flavor. Can say I don’t like it. On the side I had pinto beans and rice. Both were also flavorless. If you need a quick lunch it fits the bill if you care about taste this won’t do.

Went here for the first time yesterday with my friend who claimed this is better than chipotle. I got the fiery chicken burrito enchilada style and chile beef burrito enchilada style to go.
The concept of the restaurant is similar to chipotle. They put the lettuce l, pico de gallo and sour cream on the side. Their tortillas are made in house. I felt like they slumped on the rice and gave too much beans. The chicken was dry, salty and bland. My fiancé enjoyed his beef burrito. Portions were huge but not too much flavor, even with all the fixings.
Their mint limeade was good though. I won’t be craving for it but I might give them another chance.

I don’t know why there are so many unhappy reviews on this place. As someone from the West Coast, I’ve been seriously missing my Café Rio. Based on the reviews, I was a little worried it wouldn’t be as good as California and Utah, but it tasted just like home! I wish I’d found out sooner that there was one out here in Maryland. Sweet pork barbacoa is on point as always!

Had been a long time customer — until today. Went for lunch, ordered Enchilada Style burrito. Went to the cashier and handed her my filled up rewards card (10 previous visits stamped on the card). Gave me a nasty look and said they no longer honor them — didn’t matter if it was filled up. She told me I would have to pay for it. Told her to keep the lunch and walked out. Guess business is so good they are willing to alienate customers. Food isn’t that good and lots of choices to go for lunch…

This place was ok. My cousin persuaded me to come since she described it as «Chipotle on crack»
The food was ok. Typical Mexican grill food.
I asked for more rice, the lady only put less than a spoonful and looked at me as if I didn’t see her. Didn’t make a big deal out of it.
It was ok, but not better than Chipotle

I enjoyed Café Rio more than Mexican Café. Coming from San Diego, California, I have high expectations for my Mexican food.
Café Rio is similar to Chipotle. You can pick and choose what goes into your burrito and it’s made right in front of you. I like that you have to option of having it enchilada style. The tortillas are fresh and delicious.
The two ladies that helped me were nice and friendly.
Overall, the food was average but I like that they make their own tortillas and the service was great.
I would return, especially since they have a pretty nifty app.

My wife has been a HUGE fan of Café Rio since she first had it in Utah a few years back. She was thrilled when we moved to Maryland and they had two of them about 30 minutes from us (one in Annapolis and one in Frederick). We come to Café Rio often — about half the time to Frederick and about half the time to this one in Annapolis. The food is typically great, but we’ve found that the service at this one just keeps getting worse and worse.
We came in today (Sunday) and the staff preparing the food acted as if we were interrupting their day. They were rude, couldn’t bother even a half-​smile and made us feel like we were just a bother. The worst part is that they forgot the cheese on our tortillas (the best part!) and I avoided saying anything because I didn’t feel like dealing with the grumpy workers. So, not only was the service bad, but the meal ended up being bad as well today.
We still love Café Rio, but we’ll be driving the extra distance to go to the one in Frederick instead. The service there is great…

Love this place! We go at least once a week. Love their Taco Tuesday deal, and the chicken tacos are absolutely delicious. The portions are generous and the variety of lemonades are tasty. The location is great and the décor is nice. If there is a line, it does seem to move slow.

Skip this restaurant the food is terrible the service is terrible. the guy checking me out complained that people were walking in, during dinner. I tried to get a quick burrito to eat while running errand the burrito was soggy and fell apart when I tried to pick it up. Save your money and go to taco bell

I am a BIG fan! Food is fantastic. Monday’s are military discount Monday’s (50% off!).
Plates are large, all the food is very fresh and you can watch them cook everything as the kitchen is open to the restaurant. It’s very casual and you can’t access the location from inside the mall. It only has an outside the mall entrance.

Décor and service was both appealing. NO line and FLAVORFUL! The selection is nice. The guacamole is not simply mashed avocado as another not to be mentioned similar restaurant. We’ll be back!
We each had a chicken enchilada and both exclaimed that the seasoning was PERFECT!
Monday night is 50% for active duty military at this locale.
The beverage selection at the drink bar is awesome and varied and make your own combos! Mint limeade? Strawberry lemonade? Thirst quenching on a hot July day.
Not sure what the comments about flavorLESS are. In comparison to another big named and similar restaurant, this foodie was pleased!

After I saw a flyer from this place with some gorgeous looking tacos, I really wanted to try it. But like some of the others, I was really underwhelmed by the taste. The sweet pork barbacoa was really oddly/​overly sweet and the tacos were just meh, as were the salsas.
The best part of this place definitely was the drink bar. I’d go back for the drinks alone, which included mint limeade, a super delicious horchata, strawberry lemonade.
Also, if you order for yourself in the restaurant, be prepared to have portions of your order shared with the whole restaurant — when I wanted extra cheese, it triggered the staff to start shouting «extra cheese» and then sing some song, as did orders of nachos. I didn’t enjoy that experience.

In town for the holidays – of course we had to stop for dinner at the new Café Rio, which, for the uninitiated, is one of the première destinations in Utah Valley. Holy crap I get excited just thinking about it. Expectations were high; unfortunately the experience (service & food) just did not deliver.
Severs who looked like they were serving prison sentences, brown guacamole, hard beans, uneven burrito fillings, wilted strawberries. It was rather unappetizing, and I was forced to take a detour to the restroom within the hour. Sigh.
For the record, these are ‘the’ things to get at Café Rio:
***PORK BURRITO, Enchilada Style, Black Beans, Medium Sauce, a side of guacamole & sour cream, and one large dressing to go with the salad
***TRES LECHES — sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. Topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
And this is how it’s ‘supposed’ to taste:
This experience tarnished the good name of Café Rio in my mind. Proprietors – clean it up!