Cafe Rio

First, the staff is amazingly guest friendly. They do it with a sincerity and genuinely want you to enjoy yourself. Aces in my book, you don’t show an interest in the people who come to eat at your restaurant they won’t be coming long.
I had the salmon tacos– simply brilliant! Love a good fish taco. They have the usual table set up where you can pick and choose what you want on them– oh yeah! I also had chips salsa and guacamole. Enough chips to share. If only they served beer or a margarita to go with. Oh well can not have everything.
Open food prep and kitchen area means one thing to me cleanliness is next to everything you do. This place is orderly and crisp.
First time here won’t be the last. Why did I wait so long to find this little gem

Food is fantastic but the place has serious issues when it comes to ordering for pick up.
Called in a lunch order for the office… put on hold for 7 minutes. Placed the order for pick up at 11:05 and was told it would be ready to pick up at 11:30. Show up at 11:30 and they have not even started the order!
Waited around with multiple other people who had also ordered for pick up who had the same issue. Some of them just ended up walking out because the wait was so long. Manager says they are understaffed but no real apology. Most places would at least offer a free drink for the inconvenience.
Didn’t get out of there until 11:55. Food was delicious as always but placing a simple order over the phone for pick up and how unorganized they are is ridiculous. Total chaos inside this place and they really need some organization skills.

We decided we wanted an easy and quick meal tonight, so we ordered online from Café Rio, since it is not even a mile away from our place. We get the food back home, and my Chicken quesadilla was made with beef or pork, not chicken. We call them to tell them, they say we can come in and get a new one. Pack up all of our other food, hoping it stays warm while we have to drive back to get the new one. This whole process took almost an hour. An hour to get dinner from a place up the block. It took less time to get fondue the other night! What was supposed to be a nice and easy dinner turned into a complete mess. By the time we got back home my husbands burrito had to be warmed up again and our queso had melted through the container it was in. At this point we weren’t even that hungry anymore. Sure, they gave us a free soda and a free item next time we come in (which is more than Cappriotti’s did when they screwed up and were giving out free food to everyone but us just because their register wasn’t working) but dinner was ruined at this point. This is the second place this week to give us kind of crappy service, and like the 5^th place within the past couple months to mess things up. I think we are done eating out for awhile. On the plus side, the queso was delish!

Apparently, they are cracking down on portions. I noticed right away when the chicken went in the pan. I totally understand controlling costs and for a long time, this location had been overdoing it. That said, this is an overcompensation that feels like a slap in the face! Do the math, increase your prices or negotiate better deals with your suppliers. But never, never serve a product that does not satisfy you customer. I’ve had bad experiences here before, (mostly due to service, which has improved), but this is the first time the meal was unsatisfactory. Hope it gets better.

Menu is like Chipotle-​pick your meat, pick your style (i.e. taco, burrito, etc), except this place is waaay overpriced for average food. Seriously bland. Paid extra for a lump of guacamole the size of an M&M. Staff was friendly but I won’t be back.

Soooo excited about Café Rio having coconut shrimp everyday! I’ve been coming to either this location or the one on Sahara 4 times a week for a coconut shrimp salad. I came here today to get a little bowl of heaven and after standing in line for 20 minutes I was told by the manager they aren’t allowed to make a coconut shrimp salad. ONLY the tacos are permitted. I told her they had been up charging me for the shrimp and I’d be more then happy to comply. She said no then yelled next. I was pretty ruffled by this experience because my past ones have been pretty decent. I guess I’ll be sticking to the Sahara location even though it’s a ways from my house.

These places are everywhere. Overpriced fast food with a catchy name. Go to Taco Bell and keep your money. The food is so-​so. Nothing remarkable, I can’t name one thing that is worth mentioning. The lines are long and the workers looked bored with Americans asking questions about the menu.
The two stars go to the lady making the fresh tortillas. But, nothing else. Don’t waste your time or money.

I continue to have bad experiences here. I keep coming back because it’s close to where I work, but I’ve had enough. I can tell they have high turn over because they have different people working there all the time. Maybe if they hired the right people it would make for better customer service. The taste of the food is the only reason I gave two stars. The consistency of the quantity of the food is poor. I pay the same price for the salad, but it is pretty much all tortilla and lettuce now. Not that I need huge super sized portions, but just the standard portion I’m become used to at other locations. Lastly, because it’s a place I always enjoy, one of my friends gave me a gift card for Café Rio. When I went to pay, the girl behind the counter told me it wasn’t working and that I needed another payment method. I wish I could get some good old café rio service back.

Not a big menu, food is very good with big portions. I ordered there salad with chicken and shredded pork combo it was amazing. Will come back again, staff was great management was on point.

The menu is not huge but what they offer is great. If I have had homemade tortillas before, I can’t remember, but these flour tortillas are the bomb! I love their salad and order the Fire Grilled Chicken meat to go in it. It is so fresh and the house vinaigrette is superb and adds so much flavor to an already tasty salad. By the time I hit the bottom of the bowl and get to the delicious flour tortilla, it’s just the icing on the cake.
My husband gets the Pork Barbacoa burrito, enchilada style, and it is so jammed packed with meat and rice and other savory items. He loves it. And if we go for a late lunch, we don’t eat dinner because the food is so filling.

Stopped in for the grilled chicken enchiladas. Blech.
All I could taste after only finishing half the order was SALT! You know, the kind of taste in your mouth that won’t go away.
The enchiladas were so heavily sauced, I guess I should have asked them to hold back on the sauce, but this being my first time to Café Rio on Lake Mead I decided to eat the dish the way they prepared it for others. The chicken was super dry even with all the added medium sauce they smothered it in. The combination of beans, rice, and sauce all created this big runny blob of salt-​laden goo.
I have to give the staff compliments for being so efficient and friendly. They deserve 4 stars for that.

Close to work and always a busy location but why is everyone always working hard and friendly. Even during the lunch rush everyone is so polite and considerate. Martin usually helps me here when I pick up my order and he makes u feel like you’re at a 5 star restaurant. Food is amazing and always fresh. They even review your order with you before you leave. Come here almost daily for lunch. Much better than other locations.

I was sooo happy when I found out they were opening right around the corner from me. We order at work from Café Rio all the time. The tortillas and the creamy Cilantro Vinaigrette my oh my are the two best things along with that sweet savory pork.
Great location, although sometimes a little too crowded but they move fairly fast.
Will go back over and over and over again!

Love Café Rio, have for years. HOWEVER, this location has the worst customer service. The workers are too busy goofing off & talking to each other when they should be listening & talking to the customers. Been to this location three times & each time they skimp on my order & flat out forget to put all the ingredients on my orders. Top it all off they overcharge for things & it takes forever for the cashier to do her job as well. I no longer go to this location. I’ll spend the extra gas and go to the one in Centennial Center or W. Sahara.
Management don’t be surprised when this Lake Mead store goes belly up if you don’t get some trained and mature employees.

Ah, it’s OK.
Apparently this new Café Rio took over what used to be a bead store (yes, a store with bead buying galore), and now it’s one of the most frequented lunch spots in that area. Located right behind McDonald’s it certainly is in the hubbub of patrons.
But come on, it’s Café Rio. It’s basically the same as the other ones around town, and a competitor to that other build your own burrito/​taco/​bowl/​salad place Chipotle. Coincidentally, right down the street on Lake Mead near In N Out Burger is a Chipotle. So it comes down to personal preference. And if you’re looking really hard, pricing and soft drinks.
I’ll admit, they make a darn fine salad. If you make it right, it’s like a burrito that internally combusted. It’s huge! And probably my go to from now on at Café Rio. A salad starts with a warm tortilla on the bottom of the tray. Then it is topped with your choice of meat (I go roast beef or pork), beans (I go black (but I sometimes go back (to pinto))), and cilantro rice. Then you get a healthy (I go heavy) portion of romaine lettuce, and any of their other sauces/​salsas. I opt for some corn, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream, and a small scoop of guacamole. Then top that bad boy with some fried tortilla strips! I also choose the creamy cilantro dressing to go with my salad. A bottle of hot sauce later, I’m in good eats land!
But this salad will set you back a hefty $ 8 –9 depending on your choice of meat. Not the cheapest option for a meal considering it doesn’t come with a drink. But does Café Rio have some good drinks! Not only is Coca-​Cola product served, you also get your choice of some Mexican classics! Horchata can be had to your refill hearts content. So, a basic meal with a drink will cost you roughly $ 10 — 11. Not the most value, but if you play it well you can get yourself a honkingly large entrée. Think extras!
Taste is OK. The tortillas at Café Rio are actually pretty good when they are warm, seems to be fresher made than Chipotle. I do like Café Rio’s creamy cilantro dressing, but I prefer Chipotle’s vinaigrette a whole lot more. Plus, Chipotle edges pricing out a tad by being $ 1 — 2 cheaper per entrée depending on what you get. But Chipotle serves no Horchata! But they do serve Corona! So really, it kinda evens out. Just boils all down to personal preference, or which one you feel like eating that day.
If you choose neither of these for some Mexican food, you will probably end up at Roberto’s. That’s not a bad choice either.
Olé!

Whole group of workers all so busy goofing off that your orders will be messed up! Chairs stacked up outside so close to the door that’s it’s difficult to get in. Stingy portions compared to other Café Rios.
Will think twice before returning!

Café Rio is one of my favorite place (s)
The workers all have a happy face
Get your butt into that line
Look up and you’ll see some fresh limes
Check out the menu is has a lot of food
All of which is super good
I always order the fire grilled chicken (salad)
The reason why is cuz it’s bitchen
Fresh tortilla, tender chicken, salad, and some beans
That meal right there is fit for a Queen
I top it with some creamy cilantro
And always ask them for extra que-​eso
Ok, this is a new Café Rio and it’s semi close to my house. I legit love it, and will carb out on their fresh tortillas any day! I’m loyal to the fire grilled chicken salad (+1 $ for grilled chicken) it’s topped with your choice of beans and rice, chicken, salad, tortilla strips, queso, and cilantro with a side of guac. I get it sans pico though.
All of the items on the menu are delicious, their steak is never over cook, nor is the fire grilled chicken. Most of them items can be ordered «wet» but I never opt for that.
They have a variety of drinks including horchata, jamaica, and mint teas as well as the fountain drinks.
I really like the customer service here, the workers are all super nice even when gringas make a big deal over not having green sauce ready THAT MINUTE. Lort forbid they had to wait 3 minutes. HMPF.
Anywho, I got some bogo coupons (Rare!) so I def utilized them!
I love you CR!
Yay!

Steak burrito, enchilada style was excellent!
I got mine with the cilantro rice, black beans, steak, and hot sauce.
Even though I got their hottest hot sauce it didn’t seem spicy at all.
They put the enchilada sauce and cheese on top then send it through a little conveyor belt oven that toasts the top beautifully!
A little lettuce and pico on the side… yummy!

The good: Pork Quesdilla, chips and the Salsa.
The bad: Crappy Velveeta Cheese dip masquerading as Queso.
Definitely better than Chipotle. The quesadilla was amazing, and so big I gave half to my boyfriend. The chips were nice and fresh, and the salsa, while being REALLY watery, was flavorful. The queso though. Meh. This is actually crappy Velveeta Cheesy dip with some salsa thrown in. It’s not with $ 5. Just get the chips and salsa. It’s cheaper and tastes better. The hot sauce they gave me barely counted as mild, but they do have a nice selection of hot sauces by the drink dispenser, so I can forgive that.
The workers were nice, and quick about getting my food out. However, I did notice them completely ignore a young woman who was trying to tell them they were out of ice. Just stood there and chattered away in spanish totally oblivious to everyone around them.

Café Rio greater than Chipotle
That’s really all you need to know right? In the battle for the best burrito place in Vegas Café Rio is the big cheese– and that’s because they actually have QUESO. Creamy, delicious, liquid cheese will fix just about any problem a restaurant has. Here is a short guide to Café Rio
1. Get a burrito– yes they have other things, the other things are not as good as the burrito.
2. Sauce spicyness +1 — the sauces are all extremely mild so whatever level of spice you would usually get you probably want to kick it up a notch
3. Enchilada style– this is where they douse your burrito in sauce and cheese before toasting it. Essential.
4. Acceptable meats in order: pork, steak… thats it. They have shrimp and chicken but they are nowhere near as good so best to avoid
5. Chips and Queso– this ties the meal together. The chips are actually pretty decent and while the queso isn’t white (the holy grail of cheese dips is white queso with jalapenos) it is still by far the best option in town.
A negative reviewer laments that they put guac outside the burrito… well if you ask them to put it inside they do, not sure Café Rio should be punished for people not knowing how to order food.