4. Restaurants

Uncle Julio’s Bethesda Row

4870 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD, 20814
  • (301) 656-2981
  • Store is closed

Uncle Julio’s Bethesda Row Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Soup & Salad
  • Tex-Mex Classics
  • Uncle Julios Favorites
  • Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Uncle Julio’s Bethesda Row

  • Appetizers
  • Soup & Salad
  • Tex-Mex Classics
  • Uncle Julios Favorites
  • Desserts

Visit below restaurant in Bethesda for healthy meals suggestion.

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels ( 7107 Democracy Blvd )

  • Rebby H.

    This was one of my favorite restaurants growing up, and the place I always meet my friends when we're back in town! I've lived in Texas, so I think I have the authority to say this is some pretty good Mexican food. It may be pricier than Texas, but the quality is great. Anything with shrimp is great, and the queso and guacamole are both fantastic. You can't go wrong with any of the fajita options, and my friends and I often split a 1-person serving, which is plenty of food and a great deal for 2. The restaurant definitely does get loud, though!

    (5)

  • Ashley B.

    Uncle Julios is great if you want a nice chain Mexican food experience that isn't as small as Guapos. Prices are a little steep, but my mango shrimp tacos were delicious. My friend took me here for their frozen sangria/margarita swirlys - not for the faint of heart! Bartender was a little inattentive/rude, but not much to do about that.

    (3)

  • Loring P.

    Total upscale Mexican restaurant on Bethesda Row. Reminds me of that fine authentic dining I experienced on a recent trip to Acapulco. Exotic variety of bar drinks, excellent selection of appetizers, incredible variety of main courses to select from, and some amazing desserts. For our main course, red snapper and a chicken fajita dish were served quite hot, and incredibly fragrant. The snapper was fork tender and moist despite being grilled on mesquite wood! The chicken fajitas were delicioso (oops, wrong culture) :-) I highly recommend dining here if you are in the mood for fine Mexican cuisine. I'll be back soon too.

    (5)

  • Caroline K.

    Ah, I remember when this place opened. It's become a Bethesda staple. A lot of families come here so there are always kids running around. It's loud in the main dining room. If you're of age, I would strongly recommend sitting in the bar area, ordering yourself a margarita (or a swirl, if you're feeling ambitious) and eat the awesome chips they bring you. It's a much more pleasant experience. The seating outside is nice too. Don't come in on a Friday or Saturday because you will have to wait a while for a table and it will be super loud and hectic. The entree portions are big. I've started getting the tacos because they're a more manageable portion size, and they're fresh and not covered with melted cheese like everything else.

    (3)

  • Lena W.

    *Homer Simpson drool face* I'm a fan of Uncle Julio's catering, so I was really excited to check out the restaurant. A group of coworkers and I came for lunch on a Wednesday. We were seated immediately and were shocked that it was so empty. That didn't last long, however, since the lunch crowd hit and it was packed by 12:30pm. I have to rave about the chips & salsa that are complimentary. The chips are so GOOD! I'm used to this being a mediocre addition to the meal, but we were all digging in to the chips. The salsa held its own, as well. They have a great lunch menu with prices that are pretty reasonable. Luckily, the portions are a good match. I definitely felt like I got my money's worth. Everyone else raved about the fajitas. I've had that before and can attest to the greatness! I thought our server was attentive, but not overly friendly. It wasn't enough to make me feel like I had bad service, but she definitely just me the bare minimum.

    (4)

  • Missy J.

    I don't play when it comes to margaritas and Mexican food. I stopped in Tuesday night for happy hour while my phone was getting fixed at Apple. I was in the mood for a margarita and made sure to ask whether they could make one with fresh lime juice. I don't do sour mix. The bartender told me they can do either. The margarita was great! I believe the HH deal is $1.25 or $2.00 off drinks - I can't remember. The drink prices are already pretty reasonable. I had the Patron margarita with fresh lime, which was only $10 or $11 full price. The chips and salsa were also good (although not as good as my beloved Oyamel). I peeped the menu, which looked impressive. They have lots of interesting options. Even different kinds of guac with queso fresco. I couldn't eat a lot of the dishes listed, but it all looked pretty solid.

    (4)

  • Rhianna B.

    I don't know why Uncle Julio's doesn't have better ratings! I think the food is fresh and delicious. The drinks are very good too. I've always had good service there. The only negative things are the location--parking is difficult and you always have to pay for it--and the price. They are more expensive than nearby Mexican restaurants (think Guapo's). My suggestion is to get an entree meant for one person and split it. They have fajitas which are priced differently for one vs two people, but honestly I don't think the amount of food is that different. The entrees for one person are sufficient to share and there's no charge for sharing a dish. The drinks are expensive, but they're fairly strong. My advice: don't get "the swirl" (a mix of sangria and frozen margarita). Although they advertise it as their signature drink, it's gross when it starts melting.

    (4)

  • Chris P.

    Uncle Julio's is my go to restaurant whenever I'm home in the DC area! I love going there. The food is always consistent, quick and delicious! Yes, it's not fine dining but it's hella good comfort food. I always get the fajita platter with friends when we come here. You can never go wrong with Rio Grande!

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    Rio grande has a typical Mexican feel with a large space and decorations, along with a bar right when you walk in and some nice outdoor seating. I sat down and we got chips and salsa. One of the biggest let downs I had here was when I asked for a spicy salsa they didn't have any, or even any spicy hot sauce, which I thought was strange because we were at a Mexican restaurant. Next we got the table side guacamole which was really good and totally worth getting, the guy also lets you customize it if you want more cilantro or jalapeños. Lastly we got the steak fajitas for two which was a bit pricey (the fajitas for one were still $22) but very good. The steak was cooked medium rare, the tortillas were fresh and warm, and the guacamole and salsa weren't skimped on at all.

    (3)

  • K T.

    Our favorite, local Mexican restaurant. The best Queso in town. Guacamole is excellent and fresh. Great service every time we dine here. Outdoor dining is nice but loud due to the proximity of Arlington Road.

    (5)

  • Irene A.

    I've been here a bunch of times. I've been coming here since it was named rio grande so it's been a good 8 years. It's been around in Bethesda for a long time and it's always been amazing. The good: Love the beef fajitas and ceviche. It's always my go to when coming here! For desert I love the Cajeta. The bad Nada!

    (4)

  • Michael H.

    Excellent Tex-Mex and excellent service can make for a great evening whether you dine inside or out. The enchiladas with beef or the really good cheese and onion are my first choices. But the fish tacos and frajitas are also good. The chips and salsa are just right. Having dined here often I never particularly wanted to " write a review" , BUT last evening we had the most amazing server named Sara. She is beautiful, kind and so very attentive - truly wonderful. She is the reason I will return even sooner!

    (5)

  • Hannah S.

    We enjoyed a wonderful lunch so much that we decided to return for supper later in the week! Definitely worth the drive from DC-area. The queso is very unique (includes chunks of fajita steak and is topped with pico. The homemade tortillas are soft and delectable!

    (5)

  • Renu K.

    This place get 5 stars just based on their customer service. In this day and age, good customer service is hard to find. This place has the most attentive and helpful people working here. The food is really good too. My husband and I love coming here. It's a great night out when all you want is a good meal and a great margarita and call it a night. We will keep coming here and leaving with a smile. I don't consider the food to be truly authentic mexican food though. It is definitely Commercial Americanized mexican food but it's fresh and good quality food. Love it!!!

    (5)

  • Ben D.

    The service was slow and we constantly had to remind our water of our requests multiple times. The atmosphere was very loud, we could not hear each other speak. The food was alright but nothing unique. The restaurant was definitely family-oriented.

    (2)

  • Anthony J.

    Noisy!!! We were about to be seated at a table with food in the seat, noticeably and the hostess still proceeded to seat is there. Food was good.

    (3)

  • paul l.

    oh rio grande... what happened to you??? i remember the olden days when you were like chevy's... basic fun middle class fare. now after 7 years, i go back, and you've pulled a ruby tuesdays... trying to be all upscale. what happened to those killer nachos? the mountain sized ones... they are not basically like a plate of appetizers. i was so utterly disappointed. having said that. they food is not bad. so i give it a two stars. but honestly. who wants to pay that much for mexican unless you're at rick bayless' place in chitown?

    (2)

  • Art P.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Bethesda. I'm surprised to see so many low ratings. For Tex-Mex I feel like its perfect. The chips and salsa are so good its hard not to fill up before you get actual food. Make sure to try the con queso sauce with the chips, really good. I always get the fajitas here because the steak is just so delicious. Sometimes I go for the lobster combo as well but the steak is definitely what keeps me coming back. It has a buttery goodness and every fajita I make tastes perfect. If you go with two people, the chicken/steak fajita combo is the perfect amount of food for two people. If you each order your own fajita order I think that is way to much food in my opinion. Maybe that is why I see complaints about expensive prices. The food comes in huge portions so if you order sensibly and share dishes you will leave feeling stuffed but not broke. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • John B.

    Great food, nice prices, great service, and just plain fun! I go here all the time, and it has never been worse than good. The servers are always very polite and helpful. I always order the chicken fajitas which are delicious. The guacamole and salsa are fresh, and delicious. The fajitas are just a tad better in the Gaithersburg location. Overall: AWESOME! Best Mexican food around.

    (5)

  • XY Z.

    Way too loud! Like loud on a level of you can't even hear the person one foot across the table from you. Always crowded with kids and people pushing past spilling things on you. Food is dry, Austin Grill is a better vibe...

    (1)

  • Jeff G.

    This restaurant is a bit on the loud side, but it does the best Tex-Mex impression I've seen in DC. Margaritas are tasty (buy frozen!) and the salsa is legit. Plus, the cheese enchiladas are quite good (a true testimate to any restaurant that would pass itself off as Tex-Mex).

    (3)

  • John W.

    The fajitas, skirt steak, and salsa are all very good, but it's the margaritas that really make this place great. It can get crowded (for good reason), so don't go there at peak restaurant times expecting to get a table right away. Then again, there are far worse things than having to pass away the time enjoying their chips & salsa and margaritas.

    (5)

  • Alexis G.

    This is pretty standard Mexican fare, but the salsa and guacamole are really good and the staff is more than friendly. One thing I would suggest is THE SWIRL! It's a fruity margarita drink and it's absolutely excellent. A bit strong though, so make sure someone else is driving.

    (4)

  • Denise C.

    hahahahaahahahahaahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahaah­hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaha­hahahahahahahahahahah lol to america! rio grande my heart out when we're drunk on sangria!

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    Generally I like Uncle Julio's. It's "family friendly" (i.e., super loud Friday and Saturday early evening), the service is passable, and the food is good for what it is: decent, tasty, overpriced Tex-Mex. I would give it three stars for all of this. However, in this review, I am writing in protest against the aggravating experience I just had (ergo, 1 star). I asked my wife to swing by and pick up some chips and queso since she was going to be across the street at the Giant. She r eturned home with a bag of chips, a container of salsa, and a small container of queso ... for $17!! I mean, please! $17 bucks for chips, queso, and salsa? The queso is quite tasty, and I'm from Houston, where restaurants live and die on the reputation of their queso. That said, I'm steamed about the niggardly portion of queso the Bethesda Uncle Julio's served and their ridiculous overpricing. I'm all for making a profit, and clearly the queso is how they do it. I'm guessing an 80% profit margin on take-out queso/salsa/chips. Think about what $17 could buy you at any other casual restaurant and you will understand why this is the last time I will be patronizing Uncle Julio's ... at least for a while. Three stars for Uncle Julio's, minus two stars for the queso ripoff. There, I feel better now :-)

    (1)

  • Phu V.

    I dunno if the food has changed much but I remember going to the Arlington Location about 7 years ago and it being fantastic. Maybe my tastes have evolved or the quality has dropped but it has definitely dropped a few notches since then. I'd rate it slightly above a good TGI friday's or applebee's which isn't bad but it is pretty forgettable. All in all I probably wouldn't ever suggest eating here but if someone wants to go than I"m not gonna complain.

    (3)

  • Nelson A.

    Mexican food in a loud atmosphere with plenty of chotchky on the walls. Fajitas are usually good, but I might skip it for one of the other various restaurants in Bethesda.

    (2)

  • T C.

    I wouldn't say this is the best Mexican food in DC (by any means), but I do find myself there quite often. The service is usually pretty good, they don't skimp on portions, and it's always crowded. My wife and I usually order the shrimp quesadillas and then split fajitas. That is usually plenty of food for both of us.

    (3)

  • Michael F.

    This is a great restaurant! Great food! THE for the best restaurant in bethesda. Why do you think its filled to the brim EVERY SINGLE NIGHT? The chips and salsa, crispy, homemade, so thin, so delicious. The salsa, homemade and unique with the slow roasted tomatoes. The meat, that sizzling, lean, perfectly cooked mouth watering steak. And the nicely seasoned juicy chicken. The tortillas made in front of you, hot and fluffy. The caramelized onions, sweet and crunchy. The tamales, hot and filled with meat and flavor. The nachos, dripping with cheese, beans and steak served with the best guacamole and sour cream. The margaritas, strawberry daiquiri and great drinks. Best of all, the friendly waiters and bartenders who can become instant friends. This is the place to go to the bar bring some friends, get a drink and some steak nachos and watch a sports game on there 3 big flat-screen tv's. GO TO RIO GRANDE BETHESDA!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • april g.

    I give Rio Grande 4 stars not because it's the best place I've ever eaten, but because it consistently satisfies. It's the type of weeknight, I don't feel like cooking, want some good food and a margarita type of place. To start, the chips and salsa are addictive. I always struggle to not eat too many chips before my meal comes. The steak quesadilla is big, and really good, although it's hard to mess up a quesadilla. I tend to get the veggie fajitas most of the time, which are delicious...zuchinis, potatoes, asparagus, onions, bell peppers....and it comes with guacamole and these great flour tortillas. I've also had the carne asada, which is a better piece of meat than the meat that comes with the fajitas. The beef and chicken fajitas can be a little dry and hard to chew. It's very family friendly so it's usually load with a lot of yelling kids, but if you sit out on the patio on a nice night, it's great. You can also sit at the bar and watch the tv.

    (4)

  • Ginny H.

    I have been eating at Uncle Julio's (originally called Rio Grande Cafe) for over 20 years, back from when it first opened in Bethesda on Fairmont Ave. We used to go twice a week for about 7 years, including after I had two babies. After that, we still went regularly, about every other week for many years. Except for a couple of times, we always ordered the chicken and beef fajitas, with extra beans and rice, plus cheese. They are the BEST. And of course, margaritas on the rocks, no salt. We always split a single order, and it was a great deal for amazing food. The experience we had at Rio Grande is forever a part of my life and my kids' childhood. I have to say, the restaurant, before it moved to Bethesda Ave., was honest and real. The problem now is that it transformed into "Uncle Julio's" with the exact same formula decor as the Gaithersburg location (and I'm sure the other locations) with ridiculously long and annoying waits to get in. Plus it's too loud and crowded once you get in. It's really not worth that wait or hassle. Also, I hate the question, "Have you eaten here before?" What does it matter? I don't care for the rush about everything. I also am not fond of having to repeat sentences because I can't be heard above the noise. That said, I still love the food - it's so consistent, and I continue to order the beef/chicken fajitas to this day (just went last night, in fact). The salsa is the BEST. The tortillas are made onsite and I've really never experienced a restaurant to have such consistency for this long a period. That is the reason I'm giving this 4 stars. However, may have been a nice touch for the management to *ever* recognize my face and that I have been such a loyal customer. Never happened after all these years. Oh well, the world we live in. So, with such success, I would ask the owners to open another location in Bethesda, Kensington or Rockville so guests don't have to deal with the horrific Bethesda Ave. parking hassles and crowds. We do not enjoy visiting downtown Bethesda, and have not gone to the restaurant very much over the past few years as the crowds have mounted there (ps I am a native Bethesdan). Would be nice to find new locations to enjoy this landmark and classic Tex-Mex restaurant.

    (4)

  • Laura E.

    I've visited uncle Julio's several times, great for happy hour, the swirls get the job done fast, their food is okay, I've had authentic Mexican food and it doesn't compare, but I don't think uncle Julio's claims to be that. I always have a great time and the service is always great!

    (4)

  • Miles B.

    They have amazing steak fajitas. I've been here about a dozen times and they're always amazing.

    (5)

  • Kelly K.

    I never ate here so I can't comment on the food, but the frozen sangria is the best drink around. It's tasty and strong! I've always had good service and they are quick with the chip refills. The salsa and guacamole are also good.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey T.

    how i love myself a swirl and chips/salsa after a long day at work. There food is just okay, nothing to brag about but definitively edible. In reality, I consider this place more a bar than a restaurant. They have a fun and boisterous happy hour crowd. Their swirls with a shot of grand marnier are very good.

    (4)

  • Gary E.

    I feel it necessary to address some of the other reviews of this place. Number one - don't compare it to traditional Mexican from Southern California. It's TEX Mex. TEX. See the big red neon t-e-x there? They didn't put that there for decor... Number two - peppers and onions on your fajitas. If there aren't enough ASK FOR THEM. Personally, I prefer that my fajitas include mucho meat, as opposed to fried garnish - but experience has taught me that if you ask the servers for ANYTHING, they will get it for you with a smile. Number three - outrageous prices. Maybe I've started running in different circles, but if you can get a massive amount of fajita goodness for $16, combined with complimentary and bottomless (not to mention, probably the best) chips and salsa - I don't see that as outrageous. Especially when folks are saying that you can get it SO much cheaper at Lauriol Plaza or Cactus Cantina (which, for the record, were opened by former Rio Grande employees who "borrowed" many of Uncle Julio's recipes) when it's maybe $2-3 cheaper and not as good. Jesus - if you think two bucks is the difference between a "rip off" and "much better" then you shouldn't be eating out. Look, the bottom line is that like any restaurant that's big and popular, it has it's issues. Yes, it's crowded on weekend nights, and yes they have some sort of psychotic kid magnet. And when the place is packed, it takes longer than usual for orders to go back and forth. But the food is excellent - I got off the plane and made a beeline STRAIGHT for this place after I dropped my bags off - and the Jalisco (beef fajitas with three broiled shrimp) was a lot more than even a fatty like me could handle. It was perfectly cooked, every side and alteration I asked for was spot on first time, the manager stopped by to make sure everything was okay, and I never once had to even consider asking for a fresh drink. I love this place, and it's one of the few dining experiences I miss from DC.

    (4)

  • M. L.

    I ordered the nachos with the fajita meat and the beef was very undercooked. Service wasn't great and place gets really packed on the weekends.

    (2)

  • Phi N.

    Started off with cheese and guac. Then went with the ceviche and the chipotle salmon. Cheese and guac were amazing like always... Ceviche was a little small, but tasty. As for the salmon, it was really good. I highly recommend this order. I also got to try my friend's fajita steak. mmmMM. It was cooked to perfection. Everyone seems to order that layered drink, but don't fall for it! It's gross... hahah.

    (4)

  • Bridget M.

    I wasn't expecting authentic Mexican food, and, therefore, I wasn't let down. That being said, the food is still decent (and served in big portions), and the service is above average. Our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful when we had questions about the menu, and she went out of her way to keep our chips flowing and glasses filled. My order, the fajitas especial--their specialty--were pretty good, although the pico could have been better. My friend ordered the tamales and wasn't too impressed. Overall, though, I would go back.

    (3)

  • Allison P.

    It's a 3.8. And I rounded up. I've been going to Rio Grande for nearly two decades. I will say, I preferred the old location better. But, this one is just fine. It's not the best Mexican establishment (and based on price - I would recommend Guapos in Bethesda or Chevys ANYWHERE) but it's good. I LOVE Rio chips. Thin and salty. The fajitas are very good as are the combo platters (Juanitas, Benitos) and the enchiladas. Really, the food is good and even my appetite can't eat enough (amateur move - eating too many chips to start) to clean the plate. I bring leftovers home. The drinks are good - though not terribly cheap. It's a tradition with my friends to go to Rio for chips, food and swirls. If I lived in Bethesda, I probably wouldn't go to Rio every week but I go when I'm in town and the girls want to get together. I have no reservations recommending this place. On that word - make reservations. But on a busy night, don't expect them to have their act together to seat you immediately. Service could probably get a little better / sharper.

    (4)

  • Maria M.

    It's OK. The service was nice, the food was nice. The outdoor seating was nice. It's just that... well, nothing really popped out at me for me to say that this place is extraordinary. The free/endless chips and salsa was good. Thin and crunchy chips with pretty good salsa with little to no kick. We ordered cheese and guacamole too for our chips... both were ok. I ordered their special.. shrimp stuffed with crab. I guess I just imagined them to be bigger when the waitress was describing it to me. But it's basically 4 medium sized shrimps with about a 1.5 tablespoons of crab on top of it. All served on top of rice and vegetables. It tasted ok. My husband and friends shared chicken and steak fajitas and seemed to be enjoying it. So maybe go that route next time? Bottom line: not a bad experience. Maybe next time, I'll try the fajitas =)

    (3)

  • Michael B.

    Ok so I used to go here years back so I cant speak on any experience I had recently but I will say I grew up on this shizzle and it used to be and last time I checked was still really good eats. They make their tortillas in house and they are seriously paper thin, wonderfully hot and super crispy. Their salsa is oh so smokey and so tasty, I cant get enough of it. To start I always get the chili con queso, its the best queso dip I have ever had, no question. They press the tortillas right there in house on this machine and those too are off the hook which is why I used to always get the combo fajita platter thing which comes out piping hot, sizzling to be exact and tastes oh so good. Their drinks are slurp-a-licious and the tequila here flows down the pipes like cotton candy. To finish get the sopapillas you wont be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Jason C.

    This place is really subpar. Don't like the crowd (you either get people in their 50s or high schoolers yelling away about the latest garbage show on MTV). The food isn't all that great and MOST importantly, they DO NOT sell any drink by the pitcher. I think this is the ONLY Mexican restaurant I've ever seen that does this. I would REALLY like to believe that the restaurant really cares for our well-being and does this...(AHEM YEAH RIGHT). At 8-12$/glass of margarita....u'll be spending away if u start drinking here. It's DEFINITELY not worth it.

    (2)

  • Eric B.

    The chips are good, salsa isn't anything to write home about - and that's being nice about it. If you can only get half the chips and salsa combo right, it's a strikeout. Everything else stinks, enchiladas especially. You can get enchiladas like this at any Amerikan Tex-Mex suburban dump. Thanks for noth. I hear the fajitas are good. I'm going to assume that means they're like everywhere else. I'll never know because I'm not going back. Service wasn't great either. I told the server we wanted to start with two orders of enchiladas. He even confirmed with me that that meant as an appetizer. Yes, donk, I mean as our appetizer. When he came back four hours later, it was a little late to put in an entree order, so we got the check and left. I have a hard time understanding how this place gets so busy. Place stinks.

    (1)

  • Quince B.

    Truthfully I have had better, but Uncle Julio's wasn't a bad experience. The food was somewhere between average and good ( I had the chicken Tacos). Service was good, I didn't care for the dessert menu, but there's a cupcake shop just up the street that I had my eye on, so I may have been a little biased. I'd return if someone else wanted to go, but Uncle Julio's wouldn't be my first choice when I have Mexican food on my mind.

    (3)

  • Anna S.

    Should be 3.5 stars. I've been coming here since I was 4 years old, and I'm sure I'll be coming here more if I have a family of my own one day. Between the abundant melted cheese on the menu and the screamingly loud dining room, it's an ideal place to bring kids. No one does crisp, salty tortilla chips, smoky salsa, or spicy cheese enchiladas quite so well as Rio. Their frozen drinks, from the margaritas to the sangria, are great. The prices are reasonable, and the inevitable wait for a table is easy enough to navigate around with call-ahead list requests and a pretty chill atmosphere before 6pm. But there are a few big drawbacks: the dining room is as loud as a bar packed to capacity with enraged howler monkeys. There is pretty much nothing on the menu for vegetarians--the tortillas and tortilla chips are made with lard, and even the cheese enchiladas come swimming in beef. If you're a veg, you're looking at a big bowl of queso with a spoon...or maybe a salad, I guess. The wait times can get obnoxious at normal dinner hours, and if you don't like dining with little kids...move along.

    (3)

  • Wes C.

    They have great atmosphere. Good for kids. Casual. I recommend the tacos and the pulled chicken quesadillas. Try the cherry limeade and the raspberry tea. I've been there since I was one week old

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    Food and drinks are okay. Nothing special, but it's a decent place to grab happy hour with friends sometimes.

    (3)

  • Robert B.

    My family and I went here and we really enjoyed it. We are big Mexican food fans and this place was GREAT!!! The chips were served warm and the queso and quacamole dips for appetizers were tasty and fresh. The main course was perfectly cooked and out of this world. I would come back when I visit Maryland in a heartbeat.

    (4)

  • Chris R.

    Tried the fajitas here. Got combination of chicken and beef. The chicken was good but I wish I had just gotten beef. The beef just melted in my mouth. We got it to share with three people and it was about 45 bucks after we got crema and cheese. Also, the salsa they brought with the chips was amazing Super noisy in here though, I couldnt even hear what anyone at my table was saying

    (3)

  • Monica H.

    Eh, it was okay. I really enjoyed the vegetarian tamales and fajitas, and the bartenders and hosts were very friendly. Our waiter was nice, but he felt a little hovercrafty, and the sangria was too sweet and not at all what I expected. The guacamole didn't feel authentic, even if it's actually made on the premises like they said...it was too salty and mayonnaise-y. Guac don't need no mayo. I'd definitely go back if I were in the area and craving Latin American cuisine, but mostly I just wish the DC area had better cheap, delicious Mexican. Sigh.

    (3)

  • Gregory L.

    I ordered the beef fajita quesadilla and really enjoyed it. However, we came with a large party and asked if they could split the check, they only split the bill of the man who asked them to split the checks and put the rest on one other bill. It took incredibly long to sort out (over 30 minutes) and was very inefficient, and they didn't even try to fix it. The price is really expensive for Mexican food.

    (2)

  • Ausão M.

    Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Uncle Julio's--I've been to so many of their locations, including all of the ones in the DC Metro area, Casa Grande in Atlanta and the new location in Boca Raton. The Bethesda location, after going three times has left a foul taste in my mouth. I've had "Zar" as a server two of those times and every single time he has gotten our orders incorrect or tried to sneak something into our orders as an upsell we didn't ask for. Two of us ordered Pechuga de Pollo and it took three separate times for him to understand PECHUGA DE POLLO. PECHUGA DE POLLO... The manager, a few minutes after placing our orders, came over to announce that they were out of the vegetables al jardin--which we didn't order. What a failure of a server! It's really unfortunate because this is the first bad experience I have ever had in all my years of coming to Uncle Julio's restaurants. Zar was a speedy server, but not the most intelligent. I believe he should receive some additional training so as to not sour the experience for anyone else. No complaints about the food that evening, it was perfect--just like any other time--but service is 60% of the experience. Good food with bad service ruins it--no matter how good the food is! I will not return to this location.

    (2)

  • Tracy Z.

    This restaurant is so loud I could not hear my companion sitting one foot away from me. The service was horrendous - worst I've had in the area. Someone at the table ordered fajitas. The grilled veggies came out first. Ten minutes and two requests later, the grilled meet came out. Still, no tortillas. My salad came with a ramekin of oil on the side (I had requested oil and vinegar). The brisket tacos were so fatty that half was left on the plate. The noise level was ridiculous and felt like an assault. None of us will return.

    (1)

  • Dominique H.

    By far the worst service I've ever experienced!!! A friend and I decided to stop by and eat after a trip to Georgetown cupcake, we walked in and were greeted by really nice hosts who told us that we could grab a table by the bar if we didn't want to wait. I just happened to see a couple getting up and the server was clearing off the table. I asked him if it was ok to sit down and he said that it was fine and smiled. Ten minutes later we're still sitting at the table, it was never wiped off from the previous guests and we were never given menus. I decided to get menus so that we'd be prepared when our server came to greet us. However after waiting for 8-10 more minutes and watching him walk past us at least four times I had to ask him to come over and if he knew who our server would be (since I assumed it wasn't him since he kept ignoring us). He responds "Oh you're sitting here?" and says I'll get you some chips. We finally get some chips, order drinks and food, but every time we need something we had to wave him down instead of him continuing to check on us. When he brings out the food, the bowl of chips are still on the table and there's hardly any room for the plates. It's clearly uncomfortable so he tells us he'll be right back to move it. He walks past us three more times and so I have to put the bowl on the empty chair so that we can eat our food. When we're done he comes over and I ask for a box. We wait 15 more minutes for him to bring a box, but he continued to keep walking past us. It got so bad that a manager came over and asked us if we were alright. We explained the situation to him and he apologized and brought us a box and our check. He was very understanding and took a meal off even though we told him that it wouldn't be necessary. Even after seeing the manager speak to us the server never asked if we were alright, how our food was...nothing. I'm a 22 year old African American woman, and so is my friend. There was clearly some form of discrimination going on and I'm not sure if it was based off of age or race but it was blatant. The rest of the tables were well taken care of and it was clear that he simply didn't care about us as customers. I as well as my friend are servers and now how things go in restaurants for the most part so I would never complain if it wasn't absolutely necessary because I know how hard of a job it is. And because we're servers we usually over-tip, but I left nothing this time, it was that bad! I gave the restaurant 2 stars because everyone else was very nice and you never want to base a whole experience off of one person. However, his service alone will be the reason that I never come back to this location, because I wouldn't even want to risk being served by him again.

    (2)

  • Paola G.

    Best place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo- Just know that waiting time is about 2-5 hours.. blower, but the party never stops.. I love it here

    (5)

  • Damien N.

    This restaurant was very busy, the atmosphere was good. Friendly servers, the food was very good. Not a place for a romantic date, more family oriented... Good place for a drink after work or catch up with friends. I ordered the Bacon wrapped shrimp with tortillas. VERY good, I recommend!

    (3)

  • Maya C.

    My nephews and my cousins came over to visit this week. With the snow and limited parking spaces at my parent's we decided to meet at Uncle Julio's Rio Grande in Bethesda. I got there first and the staff easily accommodated a large table for 12 people. They even extended another table and had a couple of extra chairs for our coats and purses. Our large group arrived and we had enough elbow room. Loved the salsa verde and chips..We ordered large guacamole at each end and was a great starter while we waited for our dishes. The service was slow, but understandable for such a large group. Most ordered fajitas and were very pleased. I ordered the Ceviche Royale. My ceviche was fresh, not big, not small, just right! Both my parents loved the salmon they ordered. My nephew liked his enchiladas an empty plate there! and the rest loved their fajitas. Some beers, margaritas, a cran-vodka for me, and sodas for the kids (all over 16). Overall a good meal, great time and plenty of pictures. I will definitely come back as the place was very clean, all of us parked at the Giant across the street for free, bathrooms were also clean and the staff was attentive and pleasant! A win-win for a large group and we ran about $24 per person. Not bad at all!

    (4)

  • Scarlette T.

    perhaps i'm just not a fan of uncle julio's in general. i have also been to the one in rio. not all that spectacular. service is nice enough, but after being seated, i am always always waiting. for everything. even water. a server. and there's always screaming kids in this restaurant. understandably it's crowded. definitely nothing romantic about it, i'd never come here on a date. loud, rowdy, chips are so greasy they're shiny and i can see through them. ever watch that infomercial where they blend lays and it turns into liquid oil? i bet this is worse. the salsa tastes alright but this time you don't have to stick it through the blender to see it in liquid form: it's super runny and the reason that katie needs to eat it with a spoon is because it will not go on a chip. their quesadillas are decent and filling but i will not come here when i am hungry because i have no idea when i'll actually have food in front of me or if my order will be correct.

    (2)

  • M. K.

    I've given this place soooooo many chances and yet I still manage to leave unsatisfied every time. I've gotten their cheese and chicken quesadillas in the past, which were okay, but have tried the chicken fajitas during the past 4-5 visits. What do they say is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? Well....then I guess I'm not mentally stable. Each time the fajitas have disappointed me and yet, I still end up ordering them over and over again, hoping that they've improved. The beans are bland and the cut of chicken is not very good...if you like your chicken gristly and fatty, then perhaps you'd be happy with it. Also, they charge you an extra 2 DOLLARS for a dollop of sour cream and cheese! At almost $20 for the fajita platter, I expect a little more. Service was also incredibly slow and waitress looked miserable. 1 star each for their swirls (which are good) and queso (also yum). This place is more enjoyable as a HH spot where I can grab a drink or 2 and some chips without emptying my entire wallet on sub-par eats.

    (2)

  • Samantha G.

    Went here after work with about 8 or 9 others for happy hour. Super crowded and packed with little kids. Do not go here for a quiet evening- this place is loud- I mean LOUD LOUD. Our waiter (who was about 12) couldn't give us any description of any happy hour specials so he just told us "I dunno, I guess its two dollars off drinks?" Sangria (on rocks, they also have a frozen version) was saccharine sweet and nasty. Then I switched to margaritas on the rocks which were small but satisfying enough. Unlike other reviewers, I did not find the waiter accommodating at all and they would not do any of the additions/substitutions I wanted to suit my vegetarian needs. I ended up getting the veggie quesadillas. While the portion was large enough to share around, they were mushy and seriously lacking in veggies- there were just a few mushrooms and onions, the rest was cheese. They weren't toasty or crispy in the least. I did enjoy their queso dip and salsa as appetizers but the chips were nothing to write home about. The waiter also messed up our bill at the end-- so watch out.

    (2)

  • Dylan K.

    All these Rio haters just prompted me to sign up for yelp. this place is fantastic. dont be an idiot and order tacos or enchiladas. Get queso to start and a swirl to drink. Order the plato gordo if youre with a group and the guadalajara or fajitas if not. the FAJITAS and CHIPS and SWIRLS are what this place is good for. YES it gets busy on weekends around 630. Sure there are families that come to eat here because the food is universally appealing. Quit writing these awful reviews. If you are dumb and order the wrong thing just dont come back and crowd up the restaurant for everyone else. No need to give the place a bad rep.

    (5)

  • Dee B.

    My fish tacos were quite good, and I do like their salsa. Our service, however, was rather atrocious.

    (3)

  • Daniel D.

    Best TexMex Period. I've lived in San Diego, have had the "best" of El Paso and this is the most fantastic flavor I've ever had. All poor reviews from Rio Grande (or Uncle Julo's in the Dallas/FT Worth area, or Casa Grande in Atlanta, or Hacienda in Chicago) are because the reviewer has the generic "enchiladas" or anything else that is "comfortable" and isn't from the mesquite grill. There are no burritos and that pisses Americans off because that's what they expect. Branch out to one of the following dishes and if you REALLY don't like it, I'll pay for it myself: Frog's Legs Quail Ribs Fajitas (including Carne Asada strip steak) Full disclosure: I worked for them at the Atlanta, G'burg and (old) Bethesda stores over 3 years in the late 90s, but never got sick of the food. The CEO is probably one of the most passionate and genuine chefs I've met. OH and "reverse" swirl is one of the best bangs for your alcoholic buck. Salsa made fresh every morning. Guac made every 30 minutes. Chips fried fresh (literally made from unfried corn tortillas there in the store) and flour tortilla's made in the last 10 minutes...I've never found anything like it. GO now.

    (5)

  • Brittney W.

    This place was the epitamy of horrible Mexican food and service. Absolutely terrible.

    (1)

  • Tamara S.

    Went here with my boyfriend for dinner on a Sunday night and it was great! It was surprisingly busy though . . . so I would suggest doing the call ahead for a table thing -- we had to wait about 35min (which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5), but once we were seated it was wonderful! Our server was fantastic - friendly, attentive (but not too annoyingly over attentive, I'm sure you know the type), she took our order quickly and the food came out quickly after we ordered. I got these amazingly delicious brisket tacos that were out of this world! If you like Mexican, BBQ, and brisket, this is the thing to get! O.M.G. It was like heaven on a plate! And they give a generous portion too - three tacos, so I ate 2 and brought 1 home . . . now I have leftovers for another meal! My boyfriend got enchiladas. He said they were good too. I would definitely recommend this place, and will be bringing my dad here, who is also a brisket lover, because he HAS to try those BBQ brisket tacos!

    (4)

  • Nicole L.

    The restaurant had a nice outdoor area which I always walked past, it was always crowded!! We did get to sit outside it was getting a little chilly but it was not too bad. I ordered the reverse swirl after 1 drink I was feeling it wow! I ordered the La Paloma - it was a platter of quail and fajita chicken/beef. The quail was well marinated but so small there was more bones than meat. It was very average. The beef was tasty but I could tell it was fatty and covered with butter. I liked the guacamole and salsa I ate it all without wrapping it up in a tortilla. It was a lot of food for $19.

    (2)

  • Ajay R.

    Probably best for families and kids... not really good for a group of adults. Food was just okay.

    (2)

  • Melissa B.

    If I was only rating the food, I would give 4 stars. The food is fresh and flavorful. Portions are large- a fajita for one can be easily be shared between two people. The chips are thin and crisp and the salsa is delicious. Service here is inconsistent. We have had some amazing waiters/waitresses and some not so great. While the fajitas are good, we often get them first, and the corn tortillas 5 or so minutes later after the food has already cooled down. Also, this place is incredibly loud and they definitely have maxed out the amount of seating- you are lucky if you can get out of your seat without bumping into the person behind you. Teenagers tend to flock here in large groups which can get pretty annoying when you're at a table near by. I will say uncle julios is great for children and the food is consistently good. Even though the service is hit or miss, it is in my opinion the best Mexican food in the area so I will continue to eat there

    (3)

  • Bob K.

    As a frequent Mexican food eater, I was not very impressed with Uncle Julio's. It was fairly average, really, without anything special to set it apart. Perhaps in the Bethesda Row area, it stands out, but back home in Kansas City it wouldn't stand up against Taqueria Mexico, Mi Ranchito, or even Jose Peppers. We arrived in the area and were looking for something different to try. Walking past Uncle Julio's, we asked a dinner that was eating in their outside section if they would recommend it. The fellow said something like, "Of course! I eat here all the time. I have eaten here since it opened. I have eaten here since before it moved to this location." You couldn't have gotten a higher recommendation... So, we went in. It was crowded, but we were seated quickly. We had high expectations, but when I got the menu I was immediately struck by the lack of choices. The most choices were in the appetizer side. Everything else seemed to be focused on Fajitas, enchilada, and tacos. They did have a Carne Asada, the consumption of which would be a good gauge of how good a Mexican place it is, but I did not end up getting that. The chips were good, and the salsa (while not spicy by any stretch) was flavorful and quite uniform in consistency making for a mouthful of goodness with every chip. We tried the queso as an appetizer, and I personally wasn't very impressed. Our server was quite attentive, and helpful. In fact, he raised my rating from a 2 to a 3. The prices were also a little on the high side. After getting the meal, I realize that the portion size was quite large, so that might justify the price somewhat. I ordered the Chicken and Steak fajitas. Most places you get just a dusting of sides, but here I got a Cheese and cream cheese plate, a guac and pico plate, and a cup of what was supposed to be beans. Let me talk about those beans for a second. I actually didn't have any beans in my cup of beans. I id have some nice looking stewed tomatoes, and what looked like a bean soup without the beans. After calling my server over to point that out, I did, in fact, find a bean...which I then consumed. I mean it was good. So, I can't say that their "beans" are good, because I only had one. We ate fairly quickly, and I got a box for half of my fajitas. They put the queso in a nice plastic closed container, gave me a bag of tortillas, and I put the chips in a second box. I really needed a bag to carry it. So, I asked for a bag. What I got was a paper sack that I might get shopping at a department store. There was not smaller bag to be had. It was huge. I had to carry that on the metro, and it was unwieldy and a huge waste of a tree. I felt silly heading back to my hotel with that back, and equally silly heading in to work the next day carrying it. So for criticisms, I'd say that the food is average, the beans are non existent, the to go bags are obnoxiously large. In summary, the place is not one I'm really motivated to go back to. I suppose, if my options were not limited, I could get my Mex on at Uncle Julio's, but there are much better Mexican restaurants within my travel sphere, so I can't recommend this place.

    (3)

  • Johanna A.

    This was our first time at this location, and I will never go back. First, although we got there before them, two groups of teenagers were seated before us. Then the large table that was seated 10 minutes after us were waited on first, and received their food first, while the three of us, on our lunch hour, waited and waited. Finally, the on duty manager came over to apologize for the "long wait" but offered us nothing to take the sting out of it. The margaritas, while tasty, were mostly ice and a total rip off. When our food finally came, almost 45 minutes after we ordered, my order was wrong. At this point, we were out of time for lunch, so two of us sent our food back uneaten and asked for our checks, while the third member of our party scarfed down as much as she could in 5 minutes. Very disappointing end to what we had looked forward to as a fun holiday lunch outing. I will stick with the Gaithersburg location in the future. :(

    (1)

  • Danny M.

    I went here on the 4th of July. It was pretty empty at approximately 11:00 p.m. I had 2 margaritas which were great! The guava and the passion fruit both have a unique taste compared to your traditional tasting margaritas. Complimentary chips and the smoked salsa with pureed tomatoes has a nice smooth kick to it as well as being addictive. Will update when I order a full entree

    (4)

  • Greg M.

    I have only sat at the bar so haven't experienced actually having a meal. Bartenders are attentive and are very pleasant people to chat with. Also I would say that they have some of the best tasting margaritas in that part of Bethesda. For price of alcohol, pretty standard for Bethesda, its on the same par as most of the other restaurants/bars. But honestly I never feel drawn to come back here, food that I have had has been good but its not enough for me to become a regular. Plus I spend most of going out money on beer rather than food, so there are other places that I prefer to drink.

    (3)

  • Jifei B.

    Went there two times. The first time my fajita steak is burnt. The second time, I ordered taco fajita steak, which is like fast food, with only shredded lettuce and tomato and a bunch of cheese in it besides the steak. They dont even have salsa. It is not a real taco and way too expensive. Don't order it.

    (1)

  • Faith B.

    First the down side--the place is loud, the tables are very close together, and unless you take metro, you'll probably have to pay for parking. Now the good news--the food is excellent. We ordered a fajita special for two that included guacamole made table side. We actually shared this between three of us... it was plenty of food. They have the best chips--super thin and crispy--and the salsa is very good. The guacamole was one of the best we've had, and the beef fajitas were very tender and flavorful. We'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Tim D.

    This was not an acceptable experience. I have been going to Uncle Julios for over a decade (it had a different name before I believe). I called ahead for a party of 7 an hour before for a 7:15PM reservation, the hostess indicated that was fine but i might have to wait 5-10 minutes. I said this was fine. I arrive at 7:15 and they tell us we now have to wait 20 minutes instead of the original "possible" 5-10. Again, I still remain calm and say that's fine. I do hear her tell others there wait was 20-30 minutes and they were walk-ins but i ignore this assuming it was just because we were a larger party. It hits 7:30PM so i go back to the hostess and ask how long till our table be ready. She indicates "It should be 7:50pm as you requested." This is when i begin to get slightly upset because she literally lied to me, I originally requested 7:15pm and I directly see that on the card and even if you add the 20 minutes quoted afterward, that is still 7:35pm. The woman admits her mistake and says "Sorry i must have wrote down the wrong time.You will get the next available table." It hits 7:50pm and we are still not seated, this is the time that she mistakenly wrote down and even then we are still not seated. Even further, we see an equally large group sit down before us. At this point, we are pretty annoyed and have the following conversation: Us: "How did that group get seated before us when you said we would get the next available table?" Hostesses:"Oh they called ahead." Us: "We did too! Over an hour and a half ago" Hostesses: "Oh sorry i mispoke." Different Hostess: "You guys are not too far off from your expected time of 7:50" Different Hostess: "Thats because I wrote down the wrong time. " Different Hostess: "Oh..." Different Hostess: "We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but there is nothing we can do. We hope to get you seated as soon as possible." In the end we get seated at 8:05pm, spent $200+, gave 18+% tip even with this service (it wasnt the waiters fault), and all of us have gone to this place since we were kids. WTF? In what world was this debacle acceptable? And for this debacle, all we get is a "We are very sorry for the inconvenience but there is nothing we can do." Never again you just lost 7 lifelong customers congratulations Uncle julios.

    (1)

  • Samuel L.

    This place has a great location and ample space. The food was outstanding! I had the carnitas tacos which were generously sized and delicious. Awesome tortilla chips and salsa to start with, beats bread and butter any day.

    (5)

  • David M.

    We went to Julio's last night as a party of four. The food was good, the service was good. They make fresh guacamole right at your table and it is incredibly good. The down side was that the music is so loud it is impossible to carry on a conversation across the table. The lighting is also very dim. The hostess had a rather extreme hairstyle, which was pretty weird. I prefer a more professional appearance in the wait staff.

    (2)

  • AJ D.

    Equivalent to eating at Taco Bell except you pay more. The service was good but odd. The server actively told us that a bunch of stuff on the menu wasn't good. Guided us to the "Crispy Taco Plate". The taco shells are not even hot and the $11 margaritas are sub-par. Hard pass.

    (2)

  • R R.

    Did not meet expectations--mediocre food. We arrived and were told we would have a 30 minute wait. We went to the bar, had very good service, and margarita's were pretty good. We were seated in less than 30-minutes....so far so good. Bar service upgraded overall rating from 1 to 2 stars. Things started going south when we sat at our table. Server was not very attentive. We had to ask for refill on spicy salsa several times....after 15 minutes we were told "the kitchen was making it." Ordered large guacamole--received small order and had to send it back. Dinner arrived. Beef and Chicken fajita's were piping hot but beef was stringy and tough. Beans and rice were enjoyable and the best part of the meal. My sister's fish tacos were literally cold. Sent them back.....manager came to the table and tried to make it right--offered to remake. We declined because it would have taken 15 minutes and all others were eating. We asked the manager for the hot salsa we ordered more than 20 minutes earlier and it arrived within a minute. Too bad out server didn't make it happen. They did comp the cold fish tacos. My son's combination Juanita's Platter was a disappointment. All-in-all, I don't know how this place stays in business. All four of our meals were sub standard. I won't go back.

    (2)

  • Ralph N.

    I usually like my tacos pink, but I'll always settle for Uncle Julio's instead. Great place! Get a swirl meltdown at the bar!

    (5)

  • Derek S.

    Ate here for a dinner meeting with guys on my team at work. We all got the chicken&streak fajitas since that seemed to be one of the most popular. The food was pretty good but not great. Service was a bit slow and lacking attention even though it wasn't that busy when we got there. We had to ask for more tortillas because they only gave enough for half a meal. And even then, we had to wait long enough for the additional a that we just continued without them. Also, drink refills didn't come very timely either. It's a chain restaurant and some of the guys have been before but another location. Reading reviews from the other locations compared to this one, I think if I was invited again, I'd hope to visit one of the others. Probably wouldn't come here by my own decision.

    (3)

  • adam f.

    This use to be our go to spot in Bethesda and we recommended to everyone. We started noticing little things that were going downhill and went less frequently. Before our last visit, the service wasn't great and the food ok (always had been so good) so we didn't go for a while. Went again and it was the same with the service. The hosts were good but our server was slow. Had to ask for refills of drinks , whole table completely empty of drinks and she only had 3-4 tables. The beef for the fajita's wasn't that great. My wife said it tasted like it was re cooked and the color was different. 1st time ever we left food on the table and didn't finish or take home. Didn't complain, just will tell people about our experience. So disappointing since we use to love this place, but for some reason it's gone downhill. Going to go have to go back to Guapos.

    (3)

  • Racquel C.

    Great spot for drinks and good food. Been coming here for years. However, there food isn't consistent. Went there recently and the diablo shrimp entree I ordered was very cold.

    (3)

  • Karen L.

    This place has mediocre Mexican food. Not terrible, but not amazing either, that's for sure. I had the fish tacos and the fish was over cooked and dry. Others had sampler type platters that had some decent elements (chicken enchiladas) and some not so decent elements (tamales). The salsa is kind of smoky tasting, not a traditional tomato/cilantro type you may be used to. I found it a little disappointing. We had to wait half a hour and it was really busy and loud. Saturday night though so that is to be expected. Next time I will probably try another restaurant since there are so many options around the area.

    (3)

  • Rocco H.

    The food was great, just wish I could say the same for the atmosphere. Horrible acoustics inside, you cannot even hear the person your sitting with. Also waited over 45 minutes for our food. The place wasn't worth the wait.

    (2)

  • Drethi C.

    If you saw the recent pictures I had posted I think you would know that this is not the most appetizing place to visit. I guess I am not kid friendly, so to begin with, they won one of Bethesda's family friendly restaurants. So was definitely very big on TONS of crying kids screaming & shouting enough to give anyone a headache after a trying friday. I guess that would ve been alright if they didn't keep telling us that our table was ready and then telling us "a couple more minutes" everytime we would attempt to get a drink, they would call and then make us wait. Finally on the third turn they sat us, by this disgusting uncleaned table that had food on the ground. I think the kids in that table were throwing the food on the floor. I understand they are kid friendly but they can most certainly mop off the floor around that table for other customers. It was really nasty to look at. Can't really comment on the food. Kind of lost my appetite, so just took it to go. The drinks were good, but overall, I just came out of the restautant with a migraine and feeling nauseus.

    (2)

  • Megan B.

    Uncle Julio's (or as I call it Rio Grande) is my favorite and has been for years. I always get their chicken fajitas. They are perfectly to die for every time. For an alcoholic drink, you can go wrong with a reverse swirl with a Grand Marnier meltdown. This is a swirl of their frozen sangria and frozen lime margarita. They taste simply delicious. Watch out for the wait times on weekends or nice summer days. It can get pretty crazy, but very worth it.

    (4)

  • Ashley C.

    I love Uncle Julio's, but I'll never sit at the bar again. My bf and I sat at the bar and waited a good 5-7 minutes for someone to approach us. Keep in mind we were the only ppl at the bar and there were about 4 bartenders behind the bar. Eventually we got served. Our bartender was rather slow until other patrons of the lighter complexion *wink* approached the bar. They were greeted immediately. Our bartender wound up ditching us and I guess we became the "community patrons" bc we had about 4 diff ppl assist us and most of the time it was after I flagged them down. Never will I sit at the bar again. At least when you're at a table the bartender doesn't know who they're making drinks for and move a little faster. *sigh*

    (3)

  • Lindsay V.

    We came here for lunch at 11:30 on a Wednesday while I was waiting for my Genuis Bar appointment at the Apple store next door. Our server was a bit shy and soft-spoken but extremely polite. Our food (chicken fajitas lunch special) came out pretty fast, but it was pretty average - nothing to write home about. They were quick to box up our food and deliver the bill so we could be on our way.

    (3)

  • Gumercindo A.

    First off - long time Uncle Julios patron but of the Gaithersburg location. The good - it's actually easy to get a table at 6pm on a Friday/Saturday! If you stroll into the Gaithersburg location at that time, you're looking at a 30-45 min wait! They also have plenty of good outdoor seating. As far as comparing the 2, that's the only area where the Bethesda location was favorable to the GBurg one. The food takes forever at the Bethesda locaton and to be honest, we've gotten the same thing at both locations and the food is actually better at the Gaithersburg one. One example - we love ordering the carne asada at the GBurg location and they cook it perfectly every time (I've been there about 30 times). The Bethesda one, otoh, we've been to 3 times and each time they manage to not cook it just right. One time we asked for a medium rare and it came back medium to well done. So we sent it back and of course they bring back a totally rare one. 2 tries and they couldn't get it right. The Gburg location is much more efficient in handling the crowds, imo. I don't know the numbers but I'm guessing that the GBurg location seats more people but they still manage to get the food out fast.

    (3)

  • Claire J.

    My boyfriend and I come here a lot for their chips and salsa. We order the food but the real star is that free appetizer. The salsa has a smokiness that's really unique, and the chips are thin and perfectly salted. Other than that I can't say anything about the food other than that while it's palatable, it's not authentic at all. Your kids will probably like it. Brunch is ok, I always get the migas. It's very loud and hard to hear your dining companions. Take it as an incentive to dine on the patio now that the weather is warming up.

    (3)

  • Chrissy G.

    While the food here is good, it is overshadowed by the quality of their margaritas. I had both the frozen and on the rocks, and was very almost no tequila in either of them. In fact, after 3 margaritas, I felt like I had been drinking lemonade, not an alcoholic beverage. A pretty big rip off considering that the special "Margarita of the Day" was $10.99! This is the second time I've been there and have experienced this. The first time I thought it was just a fluke and gave it a pass. Twice- I don't think so. I'm very disappointed.

    (2)

  • Amy W.

    One of the best restaurant in Bethesda! Service: 9/10 Food: I usually get fajitas, enchiladas, and queso. They are very consistent with their food and service Drinks: who does't like their swirl!

    (5)

  • Brinkely H.

    I regret ever eating here. Food is underwhelming. Over priced. They need to boot this place from Bethesda Row. Outside is a bug crazed habitat.

    (2)

  • Alexa M.

    I normally don't like Mexican food but this way excellent. The service was good as well. I like seeing attractive waiters too that's nice eye candy. I got the need fajita's which were to die for. My mother and I also like the guacamole. It's hard to not get full on that before the actual meal. Will come back whenever I can.

    (4)

  • Cherelle H.

    Came here for lunch one day with my coworkers, when I worked in Bethesda. Not a far walk from Wisconsin Ave. Went in and got seated immediately. (It was about 6 of us) they had lunch specials. Being a pescatarian I was excited that they had fish tacos. The 2 tacos were huge, filling and good. You also got rice and beans as a side. The atmosphere was a little hipster and loud. (It's probably fun for happy hour) The lighting was low. The chips and salsa were awesome. Reasonable prices, great for lunch.

    (4)

  • Leilani R.

    Bathrooms were in HORRIBLE shape both cleanliness and smell. I've seen bus station restrooms in better shape. I don't care how late it was or how close it was to closing, keep up the maintenance throughout the day! I have only had chips and salsa at the bar while enjoying a beverage or two. I hope the entrees make up for the bathrooms.

    (1)

  • Aaron M.

    Oh...this place. It's at its peak when its warm outside and you can sit on the patio and slurp margaritas. Actually, even better then their margaritas are their margarita and sangria swirls. You can get the meltdown Swirl which has a shot of Patron topper...does the trick pretty quickly. The food is good, about what you'd expect from a casual Mexican joint. Free chips and salsa like every Mexican restaurant north of the border. I think their enchiladas are delicious in a greasy, lots of melted cheese kind of way, but don't expect out of this world flavor. Their fish tacos are also pretty good. I would normally give 3 stars but I've always received really good service here, even when they're packed, so I'm gonna be generous and bump them up to a 4. It's just a place that's really fun.

    (4)

  • Carley M.

    I love the queso, but wish they had a better gluten free and vegan menu.

    (3)

  • j b.

    Don't even try to use an Uncle Julio's gift card here. they told me I had a zero balance on the card. I called their gift card phone number and was told the balance was $30. The manager said they could not process the payment since their payment machine said the balance was zero. when I ask how I can use the card there, he said I couldn't. and he had the gall to say that this happens "all the time". if that's so, why don't they fix the problem?

    (1)

  • Kathryn A.

    Not bad! Fish tacos tasted like the fish had just been caught. The ground beef was fresh and non-greasy. Very Tex Mex, but fresh, delicious ingredients. Have to give the salsa a thumbs down. Too much of a smoky, bacon flavor--didn't work for me. The service was quick, excellent, and we had plenty of food for the price. A lot of kids running around, but management was quick to address it. Last but not least, excellent Margaritas!

    (4)

  • Joanne L.

    The food in general is okay, but we only order the fajitas (which are fantastic), so the rest of the menu doesn't really matter. The portions are huge, the meat is juicy and tender, and the flour tortillas are always fresh and hot. They come with Spanish rice, beans, guacamole, tomatoes, and onions. We don't go anywhere else for fajitas. The free chips and salsa are also delicious, and I personally think they're the best [free] chips and salsa I've ever had at a restaurant. Drinks are good too, although a bit expensive. Normally we get the pina colada or strawberry daiquiri. Service is usually very good, although wait times can be ridiculous.

    (4)

  • B N.

    Decent enough for mid-atlantic tex mex. Hint to all of the people writing about "Mexican" food (e.g. in KS and other places): this is not Mex-Mex or Latin American food fare. It is Tex-Mex. If you want that other stuff go to Guapos.

    (3)

  • Jen F.

    I came to Uncle Julios on a Saturday night and my goodness. I felt like I was at a circus. It is loud, Mexican fiesta inside. You could have the rowdiest kids in the world and they could go by completely unnoticed. There is a bar area where you can seat yourself and get some chips and drinks while you wait for a table and then a main dining area. Expect to have a wait on a Friday/Saturday night. The service was not the greatest, but as crowded as it gets, my expectations weren't high. The server was also a little amateur. It should be an unspoken rule that you give a table of 5 at least two bowls of chips and 2 bowls of salsa. My conversation when ordering went something like this: Me: Can I have the Mexican cobb salad, but with the portabello mushroom instead of chicken? Server: Why don't you just just get the Santa Fe salad instead? (salad comes with a mushroom) Me: Because I don't want that salad...? Server: I don't think we can do that. I told the server to forget about the mushroom because this request was pretty complex (sarcasm). In the end, I did get the mushroom on my salad but I was taken aback. The food is decent. Not authentic Mexican by any means, but it's tasty. The guacamole is worth getting for an appetizer.

    (3)

  • Virtual M.

    Was there a couple of nights ago, and it seems they no longer have the special appetizers on certain days, While we still can get the Flameado, we have to ask if they can make it as it is no longer an actual menu item. The new Grande Julio margarita was really good, and the food was about normal to what we normally get, although I could tell my plate sat under the warmer for quite awhile as the plate was hot and one of my enchilada's had basically hardened to the plate. I don't really like the new salsa either... it's very watery but the spiciness is good. all in all another decent night out here, loud as usual, probably our one big turn-off that keeps us from stopping in more often.

    (3)

  • Sophia J.

    Came here with a friend , ordered the Chicken fajita quesadilla and a skinny mixed strawberry margarita, both were very good, the waitress was very nice and checked on us a few times.

    (5)

  • Maulin S.

    Good service but sucks to know that enchiladas have sauce made up of chicken broth... I ate here a month ago and our server said the green sauce is vegetarian. Today the same server said all sauces have chicken broth so our enchiladas will have queso as sauce. Very disappointed. my last time. Looks like being vegetarian is more less like unwelcoming idea for many restaurants. Such a shame!

    (2)

  • Dorothy N.

    Went here yesterday with three other friends. This place has really good food and really good service. Ask for Mike! He's a sweetheart. He was always checking on us to see if we need our drinks refreshed and chips replaced. We got the roasted corn and crab guacamole for an appetizer (so good!) I shared the tiera mar (for two) with a friend. Definitely worth it! Came with two lobster tails, and fajitas. Way more food than I could even eat. Probably coming back with family next time. Seems like a good place for groups. Saw a bunch of families with kids yesterday.

    (5)

  • Dee B.

    The first time I went I just ordered an appetizer and a drink. The first bartender to service me was friendly and attentive. Then another guy showed up and he seemed as if he didn't want to serve me at all. The food and drink were pretty good, so I thought I would go back for a meal. Bad idea. I ordered a chicken taco. Sounds simple enough right? I mean, you can whip those up at home. Well, it was awful! Absolutely disgusting. The waiter asked me when I ordered it did I want grilled chicken. So I'm thinking that it was an option. So I said yes. He never mentioned that there was an extra charge for ordering grilled chicken. I looked at my bill and there were these individual charges per taco but it didn't say what the charge was for. When I asked what the charged were for he told me that it for ordering grilled chicken. When I reminded him that he didn't inform me that there was an extra charge for the chicken he just apologized but never offered to remove the charges. I am contemplating if I will give this location another chance to piss me off.

    (2)

  • George V.

    6pm, Sunday 17 August Service was ok for a "franchise, chain" restaurant. In general the food was average but the price points were above average. The fried calamari appetizer was not acceptable. The dish was not properly fried. The coating fell off revealing greasy, rubbery rings. The restaurant staff took this item off the bill when I complained. My margarita tasted weak and watered down. So for my second drink I ordered a Manhattan with the same result. My smoked rib entry did taste good. The problem was I could taste it all night with the resulting indigestion from the sauce. There are so many nearby restaurants I would give Uncle Julios a pass.

    (1)

  • Patrick M.

    it's OK tex-mex in the heart of bethesda; expect bethesda prices & parking experience, though it isn't far from the metro or the capital crescent trail, if that's an option. this is also one of the loudest restaurants i've ever been to - ever. the only sound-absorbant surfaces in this place are the tortillas. honestly, if i'm in this neighborhood and need mexican i'll probably just go down the road to friendship heights and hit rosa mexicana instead.

    (3)

  • Kathy M.

    Uncle Julio's probably has some of the best mexican food in the area. Their tamale's are some of the best I've had and their enchiladas are delicious. Like most mexican restaurants, they serve chips & salsa as a free starter, which is delicious. Their bacon wrapped shrimp fajitas are a signature dish, but you should really be a HUGE bacon lover because it is ALOT of bacon. May be better to split this particular dish (smile). Their deserts are great, I had the cajeta (vanilla ice cream wrapped in pecans with caramel sauce (very good). But their sopapillas are not worth it - I urge you for the good of mankind to skip these. They are not appeasing.

    (4)

  • Jerry N.

    Uncle Julio's is a Bethesda stalwart that has withstood the constant flux of restaurants in the area. It isn't fancy or complicated, but what it does well it does really well: serving delicious Mexican food in a fun environment. I'm not vouching for the authenticity of the Mexican food, and I'm sure there are foodies out there that would disagree, but for my money, Uncle Julio's gets the job done. Whether it is the chips and salsa, beef/chicken fajitas, or the margaritas, we always enjoy our trips to this place. The restaurant is on the loud side, so it is very kid friendly, but that may be a deterrent for some. It is relatively pricey ($15-20 for an adult entree) but they don't skimp on food or flavor.

    (4)

  • Zi-Heng Z.

    This is like a "want to be higher end" Chevy's. I don't know if they are owned by the same company, but they are pretty much the same. I like this place, I know it's not authentic anything (not even tex-mex) but it's fills that spot between taco bell and (name a fancy Mexican place). Juanita's platter is my go to. HUGE portions. Doggie Bag it !

    (3)

  • Chris K.

    the hostesses are fantastically rude. like seriously, what-the-heck-is-wrong-with-you rude. then there's the service. we always leave feeling overcharged, and we were actually overcharged in the last visit. the waitress added a margarita to the tab that we didn't order. three times i've tried this place, and each time i leave full of hate.

    (1)

  • Martin B.

    I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this place yet! I've come to Uncle Julio's for ages, going way back to when they were in the other location near Ben & Jerry's. The food here ranges from good to so-so. As long as you stick with the good stuff, you'll be fine. The tacos, fajitas, nachos and tamales are all really good. The soft taco dinner gives you two tacos with chicken or beef (go for the beef), and the crunchy taco dinner comes with three tacos. These are pretty big, hearty tacos. I myself am not a fan of fajitas, but everyone I know who has had them seems to like them. And as I said, the tamales are also great. Three or four will definitely keep you full, but even two would probably do the job if you aren't too hungry. Chances are you won't be, because the free chips they give you (and free refills on them too!) are good. For dessert, get the sopapillas. They're these little fried puffed pastries that you dip in honey, and they will rock your world. Seriously, they're delicious. Service is alright. It can get really packed for dinner and lunch, so you may want to make a reservation. Waiters are pretty attentive and quick, but not always the friendliest. Overall a decent choice for Tex-Mex in Bethesda, far better than Austin Grill.

    (4)

  • Gary D.

    This restaurant is VERY NOISY AND YOU WILL NOT ENJOY YOUR MEAL unless you are single and wear hearing protection. We asked for the quietest table and were still in STORM OF NOISE. Food was okay but nothing to shout about (pun intended).

    (1)

  • Mike S.

    Let me start of by saying Rio Grande is Spanish, it is NOT pronounced "Rio Grand". I hear so many people say Rio Grand and it's like someone hammering a nail into my ear every time. Okay, rant over. Anyway, I have been coming here since it was at its other location near Ben and Jerry's on the other side of Bethesda and I have yet to be disappointed. I admit the quality has gone down a bit since those days but I still cannot get enough of this place. First off get a swirl (frozen margarita mixed with frozen sangria). Them junks are damn tasty! Warning: Their tortilla chips and salsa are just way too addicting. I guarantee you I could enough of those for a whole meal, which is why I need someone to go there with me to cut me off at some point. In the 20+ years, I have been coming here with my family, we get the fajitas every single time. Yes, they are that good. Get a pound of the combination of chicken and steak. I think the chicken may be better but they are both just really juicy and tasty. It comes along with pico de gallo, guac, sour cream, onions and tortillas. You may want to ask for extra tortillas depending on how much you plan on eating. There you go: swirl + fajitas = happy times. It's a proven fact.

    (5)

  • Julieth M.

    Best margaritas I've ever tried.,food it's good.,especially the Guadalajara!! Chips are fresh and the chile con queso "yum"!

    (4)

  • Rebecca E.

    This used to be one of my all time favorite Bethesda spots. I have often taken large crowds to Uncle Julio's Rio Grande so I was really looking forward to sharing a meal there with out of town friends. How incredibly dissapointing! Service was horrible and food was below par. I went with a couple of friends for a fun night out. The appetizers weren't too bad. We got the Ceviche Royale, Mexican Shrimp Cocktail. As main course we got the Plato Gordo. The shrimp had turned! It had the strong taste of almost rotten seafood. We told the waiter who could not care less. We asked him to remove the bad shrimp. Instead he handed us a plate and asked us to remove it ourselves. He never once apologized. Never offered to bring fresh shrimp. We saw the waiter again only when he came to bring the bill. We asked to see a manager but had to ask several times before one finally came. By the time he finally came we had paid our bill including full price for the rotten shrimp. The manager told us that he had smelled the shrimp and it did not smell bad! We told him we had other shrimp dishes and that they were fine and that we could really tell the difference. Again, he started by being defensive and not apologetic. He finally offered to make amends but it was too late. We had paid (over $140) and were on our way out. We did tell him we would post on Yelp. Still love their chips and salsa though! That's why they still get 2 stars.

    (2)

  • Lyly T.

    A pretty crowded place. Even though it is a big place, people like to come here for mexican food and drinks. Bar is packed during happy hour. Dinner time, I had to wait for about 20 minutes to get a table. Sat down, got drinks and free chips and salsa. Ordered a burrito and chicken enchilada. Food was pretty okay, nothing great, nothing bad. Really heavy and unhealthy food, just what I was in the mood for. Decor is very yellow and orange with punches of blue. Service was good, they were efficient and punctual on getting things.

    (3)

  • Victoria S.

    One word comes to mind: STANDARD! OK, they do keep it consistent at all locations...got to give them credit for "authentic" Mexican food with minimum service, there aren't any suprises here.

    (3)

  • Dimo J.

    My wife and I have been going to Rio Grande Cafe for years, and it is hands down one of the best places for mexicali inspired cooking in the U.S. Our favorite thing to get is the Carne Asada, which after about 30-40 times of ordering is almost always perfectly grilled and consistent. We always order it with veggies as well. After reading some of the other Yelper suggestions on here though, we may try some other things. Great meal for casual, noisy, family friendly times. Pricing is in line for a full service restaurant, but can get pricey after you incorporate drinks, apps, tax and tip. Other people have suggested Guapos, but that just comes in under expectations comparatively. Kudos to Uncle Julios! Definitely one of our family's staple restaurants to visit!

    (5)

  • Craig M.

    The food was amazing. I expected a typical Mexican restaurant, but the really took it to the next level. Thanks uncle Ju!

    (4)

  • David B.

    Overall I thought this place was pretty decent. Service was fantastic considering the size of the group (20+), and the prices were fairly reasonable and inline with most other mexican/texmex restaurants. Chips were nice and airy with good taste - not over cooked or covered in oil as you'll find in similar restaurants. Salsa was pretty unique and trended towards more of a texmex taste. My only complaint with the salsa is their serving bowls - they need to be bigger. (Not really a complaint, just wishful thinking on my part. I dug the salsa, obviously.) I ordered the beef fajitas. For once there's a place that's doesn't overcook their beef. I thought the dish was great, and would definitely order it again. Watch out for the grilled jalapeno on the side. I made the regrettable choice of eating it in one bite. 5 glasses of water later and I was still begging the waiter for water refills. Note when ordering sides (cheese, sour cream), you could easily split an order with two people. Their servings are huge.

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    Good atmosphere, ok food!

    (4)

  • Hannah C.

    i was really surprised at how good the food was here for a mexican chain restaurant. i was so skeptical of the food after reading the reviews, and being the total food snob that i am, i told my best friend that i didn't want to eat here. however, she relentlessly convinced me that their fajitas were bomb so i gave it a shot. we all ordered the plato gordo, which is a do-it-yourself fajita platter that comes with a plate full of various meats, and it was definitely filling for us four hungry girls. actually, we couldn't have more than two fajitas per person...it may have been all those chips we ate in the beginning. but in any case, they give you a lot of good food to work with in your fajita, so you end up leaving satisfied, along with tasty leftovers for the next day.

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the area. The chicken/beef fajitas are my first choice for dinners. Second choice would have to be the Ensalade Grande w/ grilled chicken and the limey dressing for lunches. The only drawback of this place is that it is to damn loud. Makes a great place to take noisy kids.

    (4)

  • Dalton D.

    I'm a spoiled San Diegan when it comes to rating Mexican food, and if this restaurant were located there it would get 1 star. So my rating is keeping in mind the location and the lack of any alternative. For those who haven't experienced anything aside from DC's lackluster amalgamation of Mexican cuisine, you will find yourselves comfortably satisfied with the marginally adapted Tex-Mex plates served here. Uncle Julio's stands well on it's own if East Coast style Tex-Mex is what you're expecting, then by all means, it's probably the best in the area. But if you've been exposed to traditional Mexican food (Baja or otherwise), you'd better temper your expectations for any Mexican restaurant in this area.

    (3)

  • Tiffany P.

    Came here for a quick dinner with my new roommate. The service was absolutely horrendous. We both ordered Margaritas and they came with salted rims but no straws - which makes it impossible to drink and enjoy because I didn't want a mouthful of salt with every sip. Not to mention, they came in a rock's glass and the HOUSE margarita was $8.95!! YIKES. It took forever to get glasses of water and again, they came with no straws. We asked the waiter for straws, he said he'd have to go get some, he left and completely disappeared. When our waiter never returned, we asked a passing waitress if we could get a couple straws and instead of just saying "Yes I'd be happy to" she looked annoyed and said she'd find our waiter and let him know. It was so rude! She did actually come back but she brought us four cocktail straws/coffee stirrers. Really? Cocktail straw for a glass of water? The food was good but the service made it hard to enjoy the meal. My roommate paid $1.99 for a side of sour cream and they basically brought her a gravy sized boat of it. You're a spanish restaurant and the only side you have of sour cream is big enough to feed an entire clan of taco eaters. You can't just bring a small ramekin of sour cream for $.50?? We were tempted to take the rest home because it cost about the same as a tub from the grocery store and she only used a spoonful! I honestly don't think I'd bother to go back.

    (2)

  • Linds F.

    For Mexican food- it is only O.K. The drinks are a bit overpriced, we ended up spending $90 on two dinners and 4 margaritas. A local Mexican restaurant should be flowing with inexpensive margaritas and cocktails. Overall- it was okay food, nothing special. Not great prices, and not a great atmosphere. Only go here if you really crave Mexican food.

    (2)

  • Izzat A.

    Finally tried this place after a long time. Had lunch on Friday with some coworkers. There was a lil bit of a wait to get seated but not too bad. Service was nice and quick. The food was good. I got the El Dorado Supreme. They have this sweet cream sauce that was very very good. I was kind of full so I didn't get a chance to finish it all but it was a generous portion. Their chicken could have been seasoned more so next time I might ask to make it spicier. All in all, a good place. I will come back.

    (3)

  • Shelby M.

    This review is for Uncle Julio's catering service. They catered our wedding with 60 guests. The food was delicious and the service fantastic. We received several compliments on the food from our guests. Germaine from the Texas office was very helpful when we were deciding on quantities and menu options. We are really happy with our experience!

    (5)

  • Terry S.

    I've been eating at Uncle Julio's (Rio Grande) for years. The food is always good. Sometimes the service is a little slow when it's crowded. It's definitely kid-friendly. The chips and salsa are awesome. Sometimes I have to stop myself. The soft chicken tacos and the beef/chicken fajitas are always good. Since I have been going here for years, the only complaint that I have is that I have noticed the portions getting smaller and the prices slowly going up. I don't mind the prices going up, but keep the portion size!

    (4)

  • Scott B.

    Food was good and you get a lot of it. Very reasonably priced. Service was prompt and unintrusive. Overall, I think this a great place to meet up with a few friends and grab a drink and dinner. The bar area also looked cool and had a couple of flat screens with the game on. The only complaint I had was the place was quite loud and given it was only about half full, I wonder how loud the place can get when it's packed.

    (4)

  • Joel P.

    I haven't had the food. Just came here for a quick drink to beat the heat. Frozen Margarita was delicious. Much like Chevy's but I would say better service. Our server's product knowledge was much appreciated, even if he did spend a little TOO much time explaining the drinks instead of taking our order. Plus he forgot to give my table our glasses of water that we requested several times. We. Were. Parched!!! haha However, it's spacious, especially the bar area which is appreciated. They are clean. I heard great things about the frozen Sangria (especially the "Meltdowns") so should I come back, I plan to try that again.

    (3)

  • Miyuki L.

    I like Uncle Julio's in general but I have only had dessert and drinks here. It is very loud in there, but thats they way it is for all of the Uncle Julio's I have been to. I had the Cajeta and it was very good. The chips and salsa were good as well. Drinks were good too. I like the location and love the convenience of the area.

    (3)

  • Ali S.

    I was stuck between a 2 and a 3, I always liked Uncle Julio's in Rio for the margaritas and the fajitas. However, they really aren't worth the wait on busy evenings. I've tried some of the other food, and it's kind of meh as I've had better mexican food at a fraction of the cost from food trucks and gas stations (taco bar). So let's talk about my experience on a friday night. I live in north bethesda, so it's about the same time length to make a trip up 270 as it is to come to downtown Bethesda. I called both restaurants, Rio had a one hour+ wait. I called Bethesda and they said 20-30 minutes, great we put our name down. So 20 minutes later we arrived at the restaurant and they had our names down and it said that we were next, the issue I think was that we were five people and most tables are designed for four. I kid you not that we waited thirty more minutes and still hadn't been called for a table, so we complained. I mean I could have been seated at Uncle Julio's in Rio and at least they didn't lie to me about the wait time. That was a really bad start to the experience, after we were seated it was a typical experience. Their twister or whatever that frozen margarita is was sub-par compared to the one I had at Lauriol Plaza, just stick to the rocks next time.

    (2)

  • Merida F.

    I came here on my quest to find the perfect margarita and discovered Sangria margaritas.... dangerous combination! Great service in any location that I have visited but I do like to frequent the one in Bethesda. I like getting the Juanita's Platter when I am hungry because it allows you to make a combination of Two enchiladas, One crispy taco, and One tamale. It is a good way to sample different items without having to commit to a whole meal.

    (5)

  • Melanie F.

    Loriel Plaza does not hold a candle to Uncle Julios! Sukkas! Everything is super fresh and juicy! Love the fajitas.

    (5)

  • Tina T.

    Order a single order of fajitas and add an order a side of double guac... I'm in food heaven. One of my guilty little pleasures, I love the fajitas there. Call in advance to reserve a table on weekend nights, Rio Grande has also introduced take away into the mix making it even easy to grab eats!

    (4)

  • Sabeen A.

    Came here for dinner one night... WOW to the portions. Huge and totally inexpensive. The food was good, the steak was GREAT, and again, the portions were gigundamundo. Definitely up's the rating a star above.

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    The overall quality of the food was excellent. The guacamole was tasty and the enchiladas were delicious. The ambiance and location were pleasant as well and you can't beat the vibe of downtown Bethesda. My main complaint is that our waiter was inattentive throughout the night and was hard to flag down. My glass was often empty and as a result of his absence the pacing of our food was poor. Also, their diet coke lacked syrup and tasted bland. I would come back again for the food but the service does give me a lot of concern.

    (2)

  • Rob B.

    I love the Guadalajara best margaritas

    (4)

  • Seth S.

    If you like really crowded, super loud restaurants with lots of kids running around then this is the place for you. Admittedly I used to love to come to this place when I was a kid (it was in a different location then) to watch the tortilla machine go to work, but now that I'm a pseudo-adult it's just too much. Apparently they're cool with kids just running around the bar area while families wait for tables. I swear the last time I went there were more 9 year olds in the bar area then there were people of drinking age. Having said that the food is pretty good and the drinks are tasty, if a little expensive.

    (2)

  • Rosser M.

    My opinion of this place has lessened over the years as the food has become more and more predictable and salty instead of flavorful. Way too loud almost any time you go, but still maybe the best chips and salsa around. I stick with take-out now and then as the staff is generally surly and indifferent. There are certainly better alternatives all over the area...parking is bad to boot.

    (3)

  • Yesy D.

    Best service EVER!!! Food is always pretty good at UJ, now thanks to Austin, this is my new fave place in Bethesda. Ask for Austin next time you go. Earned every single penny of his 70% tip!!! :-D

    (4)

  • Jed S.

    I must confess, I wholeheartedly agree with the people that say this place is very loud. It is. If you're looking for a quiet romantic meal, this is not the place for you. But the food is really, really good, and the service is outstanding-the best I've seen at a casual restaurant. Our drinks were refilled quickly, we were kept in the loop when our entrees would be ready, the waitress walked us through the menu, and the manager came to our table with free sopapillas because the waitress told him it was our first time there. So, the verdict? Great Tex-Mex food, great service for a restaurant of that pricepoint, and a less than stellar ambiance due to noise. I think the first two make up for the third.

    (4)

  • Steffany H.

    Let me start by saying I live in Phoenix for 12 years - so when it comes to Mexican food, I'm not easy to please! Can to Uncle Julio's for lunch and to me it's the same as Austin Grill, Don Pablo or any other "mexican" chain (not actually sure if it's a chain but it definitely fits the mold) I started with the tortilla soup - basically a bunch of zucchini and broth - GROSS. I sent it back because it didn't have ANY taste to it, and it's no where near what I think of when I think tortilla soup - Panera has better tortilla soup people! Then I had the grilled fish tacos - which were ehhh... nothing to get too excited about. I think if I was here for a margarita, I may have been happier. So maybe I'd consider coming back for happy hour or dinner. But I really wasn't impressed....

    (3)

  • Ms D.

    Disappointing. :-(. Fish tacos bland and gross. Salsa very drippy. Margaritas good but small side for $10 each. Won't be back. Not worth the $.

    (2)

  • Amber E.

    It was like being on an air plane that is stuffed with children. when the studurt comes over to take your order she is all our of the better snacks.

    (2)

  • Ryan R.

    Steak fajitas are probably the best thing you can get here. Occasionally the beef is tough but for the most part, the steak is juicy and tender. The ribs are nothing special; the rice and beans that some dishes come with are bland. Do not get cheese or sour cream with any of the dishes you order unless you must have them, they barely add anything to the dish. I do enjoy the chips that are served at the beginning. The place does get unbearably loud and the service is not efficient with sitting people at tables. The wait can be very very long at times.

    (3)

  • A C.

    I ordered Grilled chicken Nachos for pick up. It was fast. They said it will be ready for pick up in 15 min and it was ready. However, the food was mediocre/poor and expensive. There were about 10 chips laid out in line, 1 strip of chicken on top of each chip with some cheese. It came with guacamole that tasted like the kind you can buy at a grocery store in the frozen section, and some sour cream. It was also expensive... $15 including tax and packaging fee that's automatically added.

    (1)

  • Lenny C.

    This place is not bad for a chain place of Mexican food... if this restaurant was in London or Madrid or Rome, it would probably get five stars for Mexican food. In San Diego it would barely get a one star rating. Basically the Mexican food is good, but nothing jumps or stands out once you've had Mexican food in a superb Mexican place out West. Having said that, let me tell you that their chips and salsa are absolutely out of this world. I don't know what they put in their salsa (my guess is crack), but it has an interesting side taste (I think it's heavy on the cilantro) which makes it addictive to me... Good bar as well... always full of folks seemingly just sitting around drinking and watching sports on TV.

    (3)

  • Melody C.

    An OK family restaurant. It has a nice outdoor patio for dining, and good chips and salsa, a large bar area for your wait where you can order a large frozen margarita or even just dine there at the tall 2 person tables. i had the chicken enchiladas with red sauce - kind of salty, i drank my entire diet coke by the end of the meal. food isn't anything remarkable, but it's got decent looking tacos and fajitas.

    (3)

  • Keny Ñ.

    They open early 4 the mornin rush!

    (4)

  • gwen g.

    Ok, so my friends and I go here a lot. I'm giving it four stars because I honestly haven't tasted many items on the menu, but I keep coming back for the same thing over and over again because it is soooo good. Their fajitas! I usually get the chicken and beef combo without the cheese and sour cream, which are extra if you want them by the way. Their tortillas are fresh made right when the food comes out so they are really hot and smell/taste delicious. You can get corn tortillas if you want them. The chips and salsa are really good considering most mexican restaurants don't bother too much with those. I also enjoy their skinny guava-rita, although it is a little pricy ($8) for a fairly small glass. So anyway, I keep coming back just for the fajitas. I can't really comment on anything else on the menu, but if you're down for something good go with the fajitas. I've had both outstanding and pretty mediocre service while there, but their system works pretty well for service. My only complaint is that even when the restaurant is only partially full it is so loud in there. I guess the concrete floors and the high ceilings just create a lot of echo so be prepared to have to yell a little bit to be heard, especially in the bar area.

    (4)

  • Chuck T.

    I would love to say that we ate here, but I can't. We called ahead because we had a lot of kids in our party buy were told that there was no wait, so no call ahead. We arrived 30 minutes later and were told that the wait was now 75 minutes! When you have 5 kids in tow, no food is worth a 75 minute wait.

    (1)

  • Steve W.

    I had not eatten here in a while and recently had lunch. The quality has really gone down hill. We had the steak fajitas. The steak was very chewy and not good quality. The onions were not cooked and the they were sitting in a watery soup like liquid along with the fajitas. The tortillas were kind of dry. I have had much better. Service was good and attentive, but that was about it.

    (2)

  • Chelsea M.

    Call me déclassé, but I find Mexican food to be the single cuisine whose flavors are not elevated when all dolled up. Fresh ingredients aside, an enchilada is better to me when it's extra cheesy rather than reinvented or in an emulsion, surrounded by a foam of whatever. While most people sneer at a franchised establishment, I'm thrilled to order a side of fried plantains at a restaurant with more than one location (what? even Rosa Mexicana has two). Don't get me wrong- if we were talking about fish taco stands in San Diego, I'd be all about the small business. But I'm in D.C.- times are tough. Uncle Julio's proves Mexican can be muy caliente without breaking the bank and that Cinco de Mayo really is the best holiday ever. They kept the queso, guac and salsa flowing and the steak fajitas were a dream come true. I don't know what our dessert was called, but I hope those mountains of mini sugar-dusted donuts are on the menu (we got them since it was someone's cumpleaños), because they changed my life. ¡Arriba!

    (4)

  • Jae K.

    First off, I can say the service was great. We had a really friendly and attentive server and the food came out quickly. I'm usually one of those annoying customers due to my vegan diet (I have way too many questions and substitutions), but our waiter was very helpful. For vegans and vegetarians, be warned that the rice is made with chicken stock and the vegetables are cooked with butter. There really weren't a ton of veggie options :( I do agree that a veggie burrito would be a nice addition to the menu. I settled on the veggie fajitas--a big portion. But SUPER oily. I asked for no oil but it was still crazy over-oiled. My sister got some cheese dish and it must have had a pound of cheese on it (so guys you really got to lay off of that!) Regardless, we all enjoyed our food and our "Swirl" drink. You could barely taste the alcohol, but you felt it. The way I like it. It was super sugary though. The restaurant is very spacious and can definitely accommodate large groups. Great atmosphere. Also, if it's your first time they give you a free dessert--I think a sopapilla (I couldn't try it though but my family loved it.) Really sweet and cute of them!

    (3)

  • Marie P.

    I ordered this from GrubHub for delivery. It came rather late, so it probably wasn't the best, but wow, for take-out Mexican food it was great! I would definitely order from them again. I got the shrimp quesadillas, guacamole, steak fajitas and queso. The flour tortillas for the fajitas and quesadilla were homemade (mmm), which is so good. They sent along about 2 bags worth of their house chips, plus a huge thing of salsa, Mexican rice, and tasty beans. The shrimp in the quesadilla had a delicious grilled flavor. The steak fajitas were tender and cooked nicely medium rare. They did not skimp on anything.

    (4)

  • Jonathan P.

    decent family place for american tex-mex food.

    (3)

  • Kris H.

    After a week back in the DC area me and my bf decided to get some grub before my flight back to LA. We were downtown Bethesda picking up a gift and decided to come to Unlcle Julios for a quick lunch. Automatically I didn't expect too much from this place, just because I am from southern California and know good Mexican food. But I was like what the hell, might as well give it a try. The restaurant is decorated really nice and is very spacious and clean. Our waiter Abraham/Abrahem was really nice and very attentive. He suggested meals for us and did everything with a smile. As far as the food..... eeeek! We started off with ceviche as an appitizer. It was deff. different than any ceviche I have had in the past. I am used to eating my ceviche with a tostada and it to be filled with shrimp, onion, chile, avacado, and tomato. Uncle Julios was skimped version and just bleeeeeeeeeh. For an entree I ordered the soft chicken tacos. My meal came with a side of beans and rice. I don't even know where to start. The corn tortillas reminded me of pita bread and my chicken was more cubed than breast. There was no flavor to the chicken at all. My side of rice was over cooked and my beans were... well whatever. The bf got steak tacos with the same sdes as myself. His steak looked pretty decent and he didn't seem to have a problem with it. I didn't even bother asking to try. At the end of our meal we were brought dessert (on the house, since it was our first visit) which tasted like funnel cake/churros but in a rolled up form sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon. In the middle of our donut shaped treats was warm hunny for dipping. The dessert was absolutely scrumptious. Overall Uncle Julios IS NOT authentic Mexican food and far from it!!! If you know anything about real mexican food then I suggest you stay away unless you really don't care. The service, management, and everything else was just wonderful. The food........ just a different story.

    (2)

  • christine c.

    This was my second visit to this restaurant. The location is impeccable - situated on the corner of Bethesda and Arlington, there is covered outdoor seating along Bethesda Ave but my favorite spot was the glassed in area off one side of the bar facing Arlington Blvd, with high tables and chairs and spacious. My friends and I were there mainly for a drink so we just ordered guacamole, nachos, and a chicken quesadilla. There's nothing exciting about the food, although the signature drink - the Swirl - frozen Margarita layered with home-made frozen Sangria was quite interesting and definitely worth a try. For dessert, I would recommend the flan, which is better than most, good size, light and tasty. It's a good place to hang out with friends, for the ambience and fairly good service, but not for a gourmet dining experience.

    (3)

  • Navdeep S.

    Food was aweful and expensive...

    (1)

  • Jodi A.

    i tried this mexican place which ive been too before in Arlington because its closer to where i live. I have to say....i was very disapointed. It is extremley loud and very crowded. It seems like peoples butts are litteraly in your face as your trying to eat. The servers all look like they are breaking a sweat which i guess could be good because they are working hard but also bad because i dont want sweaty people handling my food.... The fajitas are yummy and queso is definitly a must try but its just soo expensive that i cant see myself going back just to have a meal that leaves you so full you need to be rolled out of the restaurant. Suggestions, turn down the music...teach the hostesses how to crowd control and maybe lower prices? The Rio Grande in arlington is definlty better and i will go back to that one but never again to Bethesda..... oh welll im glad i tried it though.

    (2)

  • Sunshine W.

    This is my go to spot at Rio. The food is great and the music is good too! Drinks are over the excellent. For the most part, we have had good service too. They have recently started to get more francised, however the food and drinks make up for it. People can get rowdy in here. It only takes a swirl or two to start feelin' good.

    (4)

  • Duy N.

    Great fajitas and tortillas. I go here all the time.

    (4)

  • Diana M.

    Yummy fish tacos! The ceviche royale is also very delicious... small portion for the price though. It is very noisy in there which is great for large groups and families with children!

    (4)

  • Sparkely K.

    Though I will give this place another try, I was very disappointed to walk in just to order something to go, and to wait a very long time just to place my order. The process at UJRGC is to walk in and then go stand in a certain spot until someone notices you and comes over to take your order. Then you stand there until your food comes out. After what seemed like an eternity I walked out without placing an order.

    (3)

  • Jed S.

    Best Mexican restaurant in DC area for 20 years. Everything is superb including fajitas, chips, guac, tacos, enchiladas, etc. Be fat like me and split the Gordo platter with someone.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    Got invited by some work friends, so to be social, I decided to go... Driving by the place a couple times, it always seemed packed, so it definitely could be a headache. The food was pretty good, chain mexican food, which is the food I like, the menu had some pretty imaginative items, like stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon, which my date had, I had "Juanita's" something or other, which was pretty good considering. The chips are just ok, really thin and pretty fragile, the salsa was just ok too, i'm used to a chunkier salsa, or at least something that doesn't just run off your chip. I drank Corona so I can't comment on the mixed drinks. Overall it was a pretty good place to go, very loud, lots of kids, running and screaming, but I didn't really care cause I was out with friends, and didn't have to worry about keeping quiet myself. I'd recommend it.

    (4)

  • Dd'z K.

    Being from LA, it was refreshing rolling up in a Mexican food restaurant. Its funny - I go away to DC for 3 days on business and start missing the stuff! Anyways, I sit down with my new found friends and we converse about the best pick-up line we've ever heard and I just noticed that there wasn't one vato eating in the restaurant - all Caucasian. It just made me think. I'm Asian, I love Mexican food and all other ethnic foods and coming to the East Coast and seeing that made me realize how great of a country we live in. No color lines. That's just beautiful. The food there was excellent too. It's hard to find good chile rellano and tamales and they had it. Much love for this place.

    (3)

  • David R.

    This used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Great chips and salsa before your meal, and food was always terrific, but my last trip to Rio Grande was definitely not quite as satisfying due to the very poor service that was received. All and all a great stop for Mexican food in Bethesda, but may have trouble making another return trip myself due to wait and poor service on my last trip.

    (3)

  • Jay R.

    I feel like I'm in my old high school cafeteria when I eat here. Never my first choice, I go here when forced to by others. It is so loud even if it's only half full, plus the tables are so close together. The food is okay, but I often find things pretty salty, and I'm a savory type of guy. Service is okay, but I'd rather go to Pansa Llena or Fajita Coast in Silver Spring for something a lot less institutional and more friendly and neighborhood like.

    (2)

  • Sarah O.

    Rio Grande is a standard go-to as a Bethesda local. It's always decent/good and it works for the entire family. I mean who doesn't love Tex-Mex. I was pleased with our visit tonight. On such a lovely evening the outdoor seating was a perfect close to a beautiful night. The fajitas there are my favorite in town. One note, probably don't go for the shrimp fajitas, the shrimp are those little ones that come from who knows where. I wasn't pleased with my deviation from the norm there, buy only blame myself for a poor decision. Stick with the basics!

    (3)

  • Steve M.

    At first I thought all the reviews here were way off and this place deserved more stars. Then the margarita was bad, salsa was forgettable, service was poor, and most of the food on the menu was overpriced for it's quality. Skip this place and head to Guapo's, unless you need to be outside. Their patio is pretty nice after all.

    (2)

  • Michael S.

    Pretty much your standard Tex-Mex fare. Nice, relaxed yet fun atmosphere. Some of the dishes did seem pricey, especially the fish and meat ones. The salmon dish under the "Heart Healthy" section was good, but too overpriced for what came out, I thought. Quesadillas were generous and tasted OK (I think Austin Grill's is "better"). I don't think I'd come here again personally...there are better places for this cuisine. It seems like a good place for a party or families, though.

    (3)

  • Marc H.

    I've been coming here for years and I love this place; give me a chance to plead my case, I think it's a matter of ordering correctly. After many trials and tribulations I think I have what amounts to the perfect Rio Grande order (I refuse to refer to this place as Uncle Julio's, FYI, it's freakin Rio Grande). To start off, you gotta get a cup or bowl of queso; this stuff is liquid crack. Honestly, it's my favorite queso. The chips here are pretty rad after you sprinkle some salt on top of them and I'm a fan of the salsa as well. Make sure to save some of the queso for your entree.... you'll be needing that. Entree: Don't even bother looking at the menu. Enchiladas? No. Tacos? No. Chile Relleno? No. Fajitas? YES. What you're going to order is the Jalisco with Beef. The chicken is good, yes, but the beef fajitas here are better in my opinion. The three accompanying shrimp are delectable and you gotta dunk one in the butter as soon as you get it (it's gotta soak up all the delicious mexican butter for the fajita you're about to make). I always ask for a side of fresh chopped jalapenos when I order bc I like my fajitas spicy, but even if you don't a cooked jalapeno comes with teh fajitas. Time to make your fajita. Grab a warm tortilla and spread a little bit of that queso you've been saving on one half. Add some guac, pico de gallo, some of the fresh cut jalapenos, and the sauteed onions from the bottom of the sizzling fajita plate. Don't over do it now, just a little bit of each is all you need. Now, take that shrimp outta the butter (make sure to replace it with another one!), cut it in half, and place the two pieces of shrimp inside the tortilla, along with two pieces of beef. Roll it up, making sure that you've pinched the back side of the fajita so all that buttery-cheesy goodness doesn't drip out the back, and take a bite. Sit back, smile, take a sip of your margarita (rocks, salt), and relish in the fact that you've just experienced the best Rio Grande has to offer.

    (4)

  • Glory W.

    Wandered into Julio today while in Bethesda for a drink. Got the mango passion rita, on the rocks. I must say, it was a big drink, but it was worth the money. The chips are fresh, and the salsa is light. Definitely will go back if I find myself back in Bethesda.

    (5)

  • Chris N.

    Always a good place for pitchers of margaritas. The food is so-so, I would recommend sticking to the beef fajitas.

    (3)

  • Robert D.

    I love this place. I have trouble ordering anything other than Fajitas (because they are so good). (My wife likes the carne asada.) It has one of those fascinating tortilla machines-kids love to watch them being made. The salsa that comes with the chips is among the best I've ever had-smoky with just the right amount of cilantro. I have been there multiple times. Highly recommend it.

    (4)

  • John K.

    Ignore everyone else, this place rocks. I agree, I guess, that if you just want some enchiladas these can be gotten elsewhere for less without much of a discernible sacrifice in taste (though there's are excellent). What makes Rio Grande great are their entrees: the camarones diablos is my favorite (basically shrimp fajitas), quail is great, ribs are great (with excellent sauce that blends bbq and salsa well). Nachos are done the way I like 'em: not a big heap with cheese poured on but instead neatly arrayed set of chips that look like they were individually prepped. Ceviche is excellent. Tamales excellent. Really not a bad thing on the menu. Brunch specials are delicious and tasty. The premium margaritas with Patron (or whatever tequila your prefer) and Grand Marnier are the best I've had. The place is expensive, but only when compared to other Mexican restaurants. But you can come here and have a culinary adventure (or just go for the standard fare) and you are guaranteed a great meal and excellent service. And this was supposedly George H. W. Bush's favorite restaurant in D.C. I wasn't a huge fan, but I still think that's a great endorsement. -John

    (5)

  • Marianne D.

    SETTING: Weekday lunch for two. DECOR: Ignore the formal chihuahua painting, since the rest is nicer than most Mexican-style casual places in the DC area. SERVICE: With a smile. Maybe a tad long on the "first time here so let me tell you about 5 of our offerings -none of which are ever for vegetarians, by the way, at 90% of teh restaurants I visit.- but made up for by the manager nicely offering a hefty sampling of their delish "donuts" with honey. ENTREES: Veggie Quesadilla (full offer, not lunch-sized portion) is nicely sizeable, with sour cream and guacamole. VERDICT: Will return. Expecially for the outdoor seating in the Spring-Fall

    (3)

  • Jaime C.

    Not a great Mexican place. It is about as authentic as On the Border. The restaurant is always really loud and I agree with Jay that the food is salty. The salsa they bring out is always watery and a few times the chips have been stale. Last time I was there I got the simplest of Tex-Mex fare, a ground beef hard taco, but by the time it got to our table the grease from the beef had soaked through the taco shell and the seasoning wasn't fully mixed into the beef. Not a satisfying meal. Also, this may have just been my waiter, but I ordered a "regular margarita" assuming that would be the cheapest but when we got the bill they had charged me for their top shelf tequila. I asked him about it and he said, "top shelf IS their regular margarita." So make sure you are specific or you will end up with a $10 margarita.

    (2)

  • Delmar H.

    Uncle Julio's is an average Tex-Mex restaurant. The beef was chewy and the chicken was bland. It seems that people suggest sticking to the fajitas and margaritas, but I have a gut feeling those would be equally underwhelming. I am really disappointed in the service. Usually, chain restaurants harp on good service, but not this establishment. Not only did the waiter take forever to bring out our food, the waiter would just disappear anytime we needed drinks refilled. Never again.

    (2)

  • Bonnie W.

    FRESH! One good thing about this very busy Tex-mex place is that everything is fresh and the quality is usually high. On a rainy Sat. night at 7:30, we called ahead and there was no waiting when we arrived! Nothing like a good marguarita swirl or regular on the rocks or cold Dos Equis (amber or regular) to go with the incredibly wonderful chips and salsa. Spring for the fresh guacamole. We usually go with the chicken-steak fajitas for 2, last night I got the incredibly tasty shrimp version to mix it up. We shared and were incredibly happy. In fact, the steak seemed to be higher quality than we remembered. Even the bean were tasty. We will stick to the tried and true. The original Rio Grande was a bit cosier, but not much and we are happy they kept the fresh concept. Stick to the nicely seasoned fajitas. Better for you than the enchiladas anyway.

    (4)

  • Sharneen S.

    All I gotta say is...reverse swirl, topped with GM, served in a frozen mug. DUDE (drool)!!! Oh, the food is good too!! ;o) Had to write an update: if you go on a Friday after work, be ready for Romper Room!! Kids hanging in the bar area, seriously??? Really?? That's where I like to drink and be an adult! I can't be an adult when you bring your kid(s) to hang out. Please keep them in the restaurant area!!! Thanks!

    (3)

  • Alex R.

    I really like this restaurant and location, even though it's always loud, overcrowded, and overpriced. Still, IMO the best tex-mex in the area. Always get the steak fajitas, and never leave unsatisfied. Def better than Guapo's and Lauriol Plaza. In short, it is what it is. When you got nowhere else to go in Bethesda for grub, this spot is a solid move.

    (4)

  • Shaun O.

    During my return trip to DC, I went here with a friend for dinner. We were somewhat indecisive about where to go, and then she suggested going here. During my summer in Bethesda, I had always met to check it out and now I had someone who wanted-so of course I elected to go here. The first interesting story was that even in a empty restaurant, they still made us wait for a server to come and seat us. It also took about 5 minutes for a server to come and seat us. The second point that surprised me was the prices. Most of the main entrees were around $15/plate, and certainly not what I was expecting to pay. However, to their credit the servings were actually pretty large and the food wasn't too bad. Again, it just bothered me to see the prices were that steep...but then again, maybe I have been in Philly too long and forgot about the going rate in Bethesda. The service wasn't too bad, although the waiter kept checking up on us a little too periodically. It seemed like an ok ambience, as I was able to carry a conversation but I just can't imagine myself coming back too often at these prices.

    (3)

  • Angela G.

    minimal, but at least tasty vegetarian options. The warm tortilla chips that're automatically brought to the table are thin and crisp and salty and yummy. I'm not much of a drinker, and yet I really enjoyed their signature "Swirl" frozen adult beverage (swirled frozen margarita and frozen sangria). Not sure what that means though-- is it just really good, or is it just really sweet like a Slurpee with some alcohol thrown in and therefore appealing to us novice drinkers? The other folks at the table who're FAR more experienced in liquor than I all really liked their Swirls as well, so maybe it's just a really tasty beverage? Main reasons for only 3 stars: as far as veggie options go, it's overpriced... and, it's unbelievably loud. Really. I'd read this in other reviews, but was STILL surprised by the volume upon actually experiencing it... Like, so loud we couldn't hold a conversation at our table... :( Which made for a really irritating and disappointing meal... (wonder if they realize that their lights on the outside blue posts look like HRC logos? love it!)

    (3)

  • Sam G.

    I ate here with my friend and his wife who are from the area, so it was a nice treat to come here with a few exceptions. The place was packed on a Friday night, but we were able to get a table quick. We ordered our drinks and when they arrived the waiter gave me the wrong beer. I wanted the Modelo Especial, and he brought me the Modelo Nigrito. He was well aware of the drink I ordered too, so I was a little annoyed. I made him switch it out after my friend's wife pointed it out and I had already drank half of the beer. I ordered the Matamoros to take dare myself to eat the frog legs. Honestly, they were not too bad. I had my friend and his wife try them and they described it as having a "texture like tuna." It didn't taste awful, fishy or like pond water. The waiter came by trying to take my plate while I was just resting. I was obviously not finished, so I don't know what was his hurry. We ended up giving a tip around 10% due to our dissatisfaction

    (2)

  • Olivia L.

    This place kind of sucks big time. The drink specials are pretty terrible. The frozen sangria was super bitter, the classic sangria was way too sweet, and everything that came out of the frozen mixer was blended with the most hideous, cheapest liquor. The frozen drinks are strong, but not in a good way -- in a "I'm a 18 year old with a fake ID and want to get smashed immediately kind of way". We had nachos. We paid about $9 for 10 round tortilla chips (the food service kind). Our first bartender didn't offer us any chips (fresh, house made) and salsa to go with our drinks, otherwise we could have extended the utility of the nacho fixings by using the extra chips. The salsa that finally did come with the chips was good, and the free chips were good (when we finally got them), and the second (girl) bartender was cool, but ugh. I'm never going back and you should avoid the place at all costs.

    (1)

  • Patrick H.

    3.5* This place get's a bad rep, and granted, for some very good reasons, but if you buy into the notion that "Tex Mex" is a cuisine, then Uncle Julios is solid place for dinner. It's not authentic Mexican cuisine, but the food tastes good. The Good: Decent chips and warm, spicy salsa. Homemade tamales, especially pork. Tacos al Carbon - tender and beefy! Chicken Fajitas-moist and meaty! Shrimp fajitas. Ceviche Royale. Guacamole. The Bad: Can be hard to get a table in here. Service can be great one night and not so great the next. Lots of groups and kids. The Ugly: It's so damned loud! Forget about dinner conversation, you won't be able to hear the person sitting next to you.

    (3)

  • Morgan W.

    Some interesting notes about Uncle Julio's: 1. It's extremely loud. Whoever designed this establishment and didn't take into account the acoustics should be beaten like a pinata. 2. It's pretty much just like going to Chevy's, except the food is worse. The salsa and the queso dip were the only redeeming factors here. 3. You will pay outrageous prices for their crappy renditions of Tex-Mex, and that will make you sad. Why 3 stars you ask? Because the margaritas were that freakin' good. They were sour...not overly sweet like you usually get at these types of establishments. Sour + Petron + Salt = Blissfully Forgetting You're in a Bar Full of Yuppies. They also had frozen sangria, and that is enough for me to want to go back again. Our server was also great, especially considering the number of large parties he was working during our meal. If I were to go again, I would go in the middle of the afternoon just for drinks & dip. Eat your meal elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Paul T.

    Really good food. I like their choice to avoid the burrito, although I love them, the omission forces one to try other things. The ribs have a slightly sweet dry rub that really shines when paired with the chipotle sauce.

    (4)

  • Ryan M.

    My friends from California (and the ones from Mexico for that matter) may give me crap for this, but I have always loved Rio Grande. Standout dishes include the shrimp quesadillas and the fajitas. The nachos -- individually constructed on sturdy tortilla chips -- are the best I have ever had (and my nacho-eating experience is extensive). Of course, as good as it is, this Tex-Mex restaurant doesn't quite make you feel like you're in Mexico, or even Texas. The seemingly all-white racial background of the wait and host staff makes the decidedly un-PC caricature of "Uncle Julio" all the more unsettling, and then there is the fact that even the staff mispronounce the name of the restaurant as "Rio Grand." All in all, though, Rio Grande not only stacks up well against its neighbor, the appalling Austin Grill, but holds its own against Mexican fare in any region of the country, in my opinion. It's a nice option for anyone in the area in the mood for Mexican food.

    (5)

  • Sophia C.

    Ok so another year older, another year wiser. And its been 8 years since my last visit to Rio Grande?? What have I been thinking. Rio Grande, my good friend Lisa and I were fast friends throughout college and right after. We always made the trek....but life has a way of getting us off track. So now we decided to revive our Rio Grande love last night. And what love it was. My only small gripe is that there was limited stuff on the menu that had any kind of fish product. Had to do a modified dish to end up with the dish I wanted, but that in itself was a plus. Our waitress was excellent and asked us if we had any changes even before we asked. I ended up with the the veggie tortillas (can't remember the exact name on the menu) with shrimp. OK was the portion size always this large?? Not complaining at all, now I'm waiting for lunch time so I can re-heat and thrown down a day later. Man it was good!! Ok so I have another small gripe. The magaritas??? tasted like a 7-11 slurpee. I'm not a drinker by any means but when I say I tasted NO alcohol, I mean it. Since it was my birthday, we got surprised with a free dessert. And now I have a Facebook status update that ALL my facebook friends have been laughing at all night. "Sophia is in love. He's warm, comforting, with just a hint of manly sweetness. LOVE, thy name is sopas pillas!" And man, do I mean that!

    (4)

  • Timmy C.

    This place really was the loudest restaurant I have ever been to. The restaurant is very open with lots of tables and lots of families with kids. It's really the perfect storm for a noisy dinner. Despite the noise my whole party was quite pleased with both the service and the food. Of course you get chips and salsa (the salsa is perfectly spicy) which is refillable by request. We all ordered margaritas which were good but extremely over priced ($8 for about 12 oz.). I decided to punt getting another 'rita and settled with a Corona when the meal came. I decided on the Guadalajara for my entree. This was a combination fajita with shrimp wrapped in bacon. OMG this was delicious. The shrimp were cooked wonderfully and had that delicious bacon flavor to complement it. It was also served with drawn butter which I completely destroyed with every dip of the shrimp. The steak and chicken were also cooked very well and were seasoned incredibly. The fajitas also came with rice, beans, and guacamole (MMMMM!). You have the option to add sour cream and cheese for an extra cost but I don't believe that this is worth it. Everyone else in my party was equally pleased with what they ordered. Most got fajitas while one got the grilled salmon which I thought was pretty good. We were offered dessert after our meal but decided to skip it so we could go to Giffords. Overall great meal. I have to dock a star because of the price and loudness of the restaurant. That said, this place is definitely worth the trip and completely destroys any other mexican chains in our area (*cough* Donnie P's and Chevys).

    (4)

  • Jonathan M.

    So my girlfriend and I had the rare opportunity to put the nachos and margaritas of two tex-mex restaurants head to head: Austin Grill and Uncle Julio's. We had just came from Austin Grill, feeling pretty let down. Uncle Julio's was clearly the place to be; it was crazy-busy. We snagged a table by the bar and waited for awhile. Nobody came. People that grabbed tables after us were getting served. Ours even had a tip on it. So we moved to a table closer to the waitresses and were served immediately. Fantastic Margaritas! Oh my god. Really really tasty. Came in glass 1/4 the size of the "Texas" margies at Austin Grill, but about the same amount of kick. Nachos....WTF!!!!! we got like 10 chips again. Bethesda is weird. Regardless, these nachos were way tastier, mostly cause they had cumin in the beans, and it came with guacamole, and jalapenos. Austin's Grill's nachos had nothing but sour cream, and are supposed to come with jalapenos but I couldn't see or taste them. Uncle Julio's is without a doubt the winner. Don't even bother with Austin Grill. If we go back, and I think we will, I want to try their fajitas. They looked and smelled delicious. Might earn this place another star. On a side note, the singles scene in Bethesda is kind of amazing. Uncle Julio's sort of seems like where everyone starts the night before going out. My girlfriend and I want to come back and just watch the parade.

    (3)

  • Kara M.

    Awesome margarita's. Love watching them make tortillas. Great food. Amazing new-ish location.

    (4)

  • Phil M.

    Stopped by for lunch and left so full I didn't eat dinner. That's what a good mexican restaurant can do for you. This is a fun place with pretty authentic food, though the green sauce was not all that hot. The staff is very welcoming and efficient...and fast...I couldn't believe my lunch was served before I ate half the basket of chips! At any rate, this is a good place to have lunch.

    (3)

  • Melissa S.

    Everything was overpriced and we had absolutely terrible service. I can't even count the number of ways the hosting and serving staff screwed up. The food is not good enough to be worth it.

    (1)

  • Kathy T.

    This place is ok... I guess the biggest thing it has going for it, is that it's cheap. Would I prefer my fajitas with a little more onions and peppers? Yes... Would I prefer my tortilla chips to be made out of corn instead of flour? Yes... But its not a bad place to out with a big group for a reasonably priced meal. You can't go too wrong with loads of cheese and from the enchiladas and tacos... well your arteries may suffer a bit, but otherwise... Since they don't take reservations, its nice that they allow you to call ahead to place yourself on the list.

    (3)

  • Paul M.

    for a soul-less corporate chain this is actually quite a decent spot - great kids menu - fabulous portions - good atmosphere and service and prices - the thing they do with the taco maker amuses the kids - spacious inside and good for large groups ( usually Bethesda's scrums of high schoolers having the first grown up dinner as a group) the margaritas are pretty poor, and some of the menu items can be pricey, but it's decent enough in an any-port-in-a-storm kind of way

    (3)

  • Juju J.

    There is nothing special about this place. I guess I would recommend it if you have kids and you can let them run around. Food: The salsa they put on the table is quite good. I like how it comes out warm, but the chips taste stale, almost like cardboard. I had some chicken Mexican salad. The chicken was pretty decent but the rest of the salad was lame. The reason I ordered it was because they listed a lot of awesome ingredients. However, they are very stingy about putting them atop the iceberg lettuce. Thus my salad was very unflavorful and not worth the $12 pricetage. Service: The service I experienced here was not good. The waiter messed up my order by putting in a totally different dish. He didn't even apologize. The manager was nice though. I would skip this and head to another downtown Bethesda restaurant and stick with Cactus Catina, Guapo's or Loreal Plaza.

    (2)

  • Denise D.

    I love heading to this place! That may make me a know-nothing about true Mexican/Tex-Mex, but I'll be happily sucking back a Swirl and munching chips & salsa, celebrating my ignorance. (Seriously though, if anyone has a "truly authentic" joint around DC, lemme know, I'm happy to try it.... *g*) Okay, back to it. I really, really like their salsa; it tastes like someone took fresh ingredients and blended 'em, rather than popping open a jar of tomato-sauce based stuff. The spice may vary depending on who's whipping it up, but the last time I was there it was nice & spicy. And they don't mind bringing more salsa so you can top your dinner with it if you like. I usually get the quail (yeah, tiny birds. Tiny, tiny birds. Stop looking at me like that), which are served fajita-style basted with a really tasty barbecue sauce. If only I could buy that sauce at the store.... Their tortillas are light and fluffy-soft, and always warm. They usually serve two or three at a time, so if you want more, ask! Think of it as the kitchen keeping 'em warm for you. Their beef fajitas are really good too, and the beef strips are so tender you can cut 'em with a fork. The service is excellent for such a packed place. And it *is* packed during dinner-time. It can get loud in the main dining area too, so bear that in mind if you're looking for a quiet place. I've started eating in the bar area, where the chairs may be higher, but they're comfier, and there is often an open table available. During warmer months though, eating outside is the way to go, since it's quieter, and the cool adobo styling outside gets me in the mood for a margarita (not that that's hard.) Some of my friends have said it's not *really* Metro accessible, but it's less than a mile away from the Bethesda Metro. Plus, after all that food, it's nice to walk a bit. There's lots of parking in the Bethesda area if you feel like driving, but even still, there's a fight for those spaces, so make sure you add on "finding a space" time to your schedule. Oh, one last thing; if it's a nice night, skip their desserts and walk over to Gifford's by Bethesda Row Cinemas for their homemade ice cream. :)

    (5)

  • Leila T.

    Awful. It's like...taco bell with an atmosphere. The "guacamole" were chunks of unripened avacado, one 1x1mm cube of tomato, and it tasted like it didn't even have any cilantro, lime juice, onion, or FLAVOR. Fajitas were not really seasoned. Soft tacos got cold while waiting for sour cream. Enchiladas looked like a big velveeta mess. Seriously, I'd rather go to the taco bell drive through. This place makes Chevys look like Mortons. Never again.

    (1)

  • Jethro T.

    Loud and crazy. Don't come here if you plan on having a nice intimate conversation. The food was good, priced reasonably, and arrived quickly. Also, our server -- Selma -- was really nice. Apparently if you tell them it's your first time there you get one of the desserts for free, too.

    (4)

  • Thomas B.

    Do you remember Chi-Chi's (A celebration of food), then here you go. Cheese covered, baskets brimming with chips, some watery salsa, and sizzling platter of fajitas passing your table every ten minutes. Here it is...are you looking for it? Ole.

    (3)

  • Anne S.

    This is my all time favorite Tex Mex place. Delicious food, great drinks, and friendly servers. My favorite dishes are the guacamole and the pechuga de pollo (similar to fajitas, but with a plain chicken breast). The only possible downside is that it can get very loud. But because of that, it's a great place to bring kids. Make sure that they see the tortilla machine and get a piece of dough to play with!

    (5)

  • J D.

    Rio Grande is always busy. Service is somewhat slow because the place is huge and is always packed. Margaritas are good from what i've heard, and the food is quality. Ill be sure to go back.

    (4)

  • Lizi W.

    Akin to Taco Bell with overpriced weak alcohol. Would have had a more authentic experience going through drive-thru and fetching 40 ounces of Dos Equis. Everything is greasy and tasteless. They cater to their demographic well. Skip and go to Guapo's for Bethesda-Mexican.

    (1)

  • Matt B.

    The food is good. It's part of a small chain created by people who broke away from Papasitos (a Houston-based Tex-Mex chain) -- and it seems from my friends with direct experience, they copied a lot from the experience to be found in those places. It can be quite hectic. The price can seem high, but the portions are large. There are many dishes you can order in custom quantities to share. Family friendly but also a good place to go with a large group of friends.

    (3)

  • Brenda F.

    Good food but they have the same menu and the same recipes from Lauriol Plaza. This place did not wow me. I was looking for some thing different. All I thought was copycat. hahaha oh well the only good thing is that it was not crowded like Lauriol or a long wait list.

    (3)

  • Matars Z.

    Three tries, you are out. I have eaten at this place three times over the course of years. I think the guacamole is the only thing I could stand. Salty, food, boring flavors, a a few inedible entrees. To this add the most horrifying atmosphere. Noise. Kids. More Noise. More Kids. I will not be going back.

    (1)

  • Kelly S.

    I've never left this place unhappy.

    (5)

  • Charles V.

    The chips are great - just the right amount of crunch and salt. The fajitas tasty, and the margarita's are probably the best in Bethesda (though that might be damning with faint praise) But the rest of their menu is - not bad - but uninspired. Ultimately, It's just too expensive for what it is, though that is hardly unique for the area.

    (3)

  • Ronald R.

    The worst! The noise level makes it impossible to talk without yelling - thus contributing to the football game ambiance. The food was horrible. Got an underdone (requested medium-well) tough skirt steak that was greasy. Accompanying rice was ordinary at best and the tortillas were undercooked rubber. My companion's meal was less than ordinary. I was surprised at the number of families with small children at dinner-time. The preponderance of the clientele was late teens to early thirties. Better-dressed, single women were entering at 8:30 PM in packs of four. I imagine that people text one another to communicate. This may be why the Apple Store is adjacent. The waiter was a distant and phony guy. Why do people wait in line? They should offer sides of headache medicines and/or ear plugs. Hello, OSHA?

    (1)

  • Wendy K.

    This was fun! We were there on a Saturday night, pre- late movie crowd. Very busy and we were given a beeper and made our way to the bar for fresh baked tortilla chips hot and crispy with a tangy salsa. I had a Chambord Margarita, wonderful!!! My friend had a frozen Strawberry Margarita and said it was very good. The restaurant is large, 2 large seating areas. For dinner I had the Mesquite Grilled Salmon Filet- excellent - and he had Enchilata combination. Service was quick, good and we made it to the movie on time, too.

    (4)

  • Brooke B.

    Always really packed in here, at least at night time. The "Swirl" is so great--it's a mix of frozen margarita and sangria. The guac is pretty good as well, and although I like the thin chips they break off too easily in the guac.

    (3)

  • N L.

    Consistently some of the best Mexican food in the DC area, very reasonably priced, and service to please at every location. Josh at the Bethesda location is a five star server! Ask for him if your there.

    (4)

  • Renato S.

    I really like the fajitas here, steak, they're really good. Service is a little sketchy though. and it's too pricey for a 4 star rating for me.

    (3)

  • John J.

    Bottomless baskets of good chips, the dishes with shrimp were very good as was the presentation. Young, friendly staff. Good but not exceptional service.

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    the best! would never live somewhere without an uncle Julio's within a reasonable commute the only tasteeness that i would give 6 stars if i could

    (5)

  • Nick B.

    I am not from Texas. I am not from the West coast or the Southwest. If you are going to be turned off by a place because it is not "authentic" enough for you, then don't read this review. In terms of getting the best Tex-Mex food in the area (by DC standards), Uncle Julio's is my favorite. The chips are hot and fresh, and come with spicy, but tasty salsa. You'd be surprised at how many Tex-Mex places I've been where I can't even get good chips and salsa. It seems like an essential part of any Tex-Mex experience, yet many places drop the ball on that one. I'm also a big fan of the drinks here. The margaritas are good (especially The Swirl), and I always enjoy getting Sangria here. They have a decent happy hour if you can get there early enough to avoid the crowds. It's true that this place attracts a good deal of Montgomery County families with loud kids, but I think the restaurant is big enough where it isn't too much of a problem. The food is what has kept me coming back for years. Make sure you listen to their specials for the night; they usually have some interesting dishes. I was even impressed with the fried calamari they had once, and I definitely was not expecting to hear that option on there. I've had good experiences ordering fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas, and even their salads are not a bad option. If you somehow manage to save room, definitely get the sopapillas for dessert. So bad for you, but so delicious. I can always be easily persuaded to go here, and as long as I am in the area, I will continue to do so. Bring on the Swirls.

    (5)

  • Brian J.

    Uncle Julio's was just as good as I remember it being back on Lemmon on Dallas. The margaritas were tasty. We had a cheese dip that was really good until you got about 2/3 of the way into it. Our main dishes were fantastic. A great place to take your friends for a fun night out.

    (4)

  • michele p.

    This is my favorite Mexican food spot, and I LOVE Mexican food. The fajitas are awesome, everything is good quality. Margaritas are not a great deal but they are tasty!

    (5)

  • T.H. J.

    I literally walked into this place to get in out of the rain. It was way above average. Chain, may e, but close attention to freshness and quality.

    (4)

  • Becky T.

    The soup of the day for Fridays is shrimp and lobster soup. Chunks of shrimp and lobster in a rice and broth soup for $5.50. It was filling and had great flavor. I also got the combo fajitas. They weren't the best I've ever had or anything, but the meat was tender and cooked perfectly so that it didn't get too dry while sitting on the hot plate. Not a place to come if you're trying to have a quiet private conversation. It's way too loud for that. You gotta scream at the people across from you to be heard. My expectations were low, so they were met. Slow but really friendly service and they have a huge variety of tequilas and margaritas to choose from. They also have a frozen sangria on the menu that I'll have to try next time.

    (4)

  • Tamika J.

    During a farewell happy hour we kind of descended upon them, but they handled us well. Shout out to SETH our server who got the hang of it quite quickly and kept us all happy, full of drinks and appetizers -- even the children

    (3)

  • S. L.

    Pretty solid, though we just did the straight Tex-Mex thing, nothing fancy. The salsa is addictive and there's no way those chips can be good for you, but we enjoyed them all the same. Strawberry margaritas were super sweet and delicious. Chicken fajitas were good but oddly did not include any onions and peppers. The fish tacos (with fried fish, not grilled) were also quite good. Not as good as eating them in SoCal but pretty close! Service was a little lacking - you could tell our server was busy and rushing around but we felt a little neglected. On the plus side though, we mentioned that we were from out of town, and he told the manager, who sent us a free dessert and came out to say hello to us. Nice! And those sopapillas were RIDICULOUSLY good!! Fried dough, covered with powdered sugar, cinnamon, & honey, good Lord, yum. I'm a fan.

    (4)

  • Gregory K.

    This place isn't great, but it isn't bad, either. The fajitas are decent, the salsa is pretty good for a chain but there really isn't much else to talk about. The decor is just OK, the serving staff are all pretty friendly but there isn't anything here that says you must come here.

    (3)

  • George B.

    Much better when it was just Rio Grande...Went in with family about a month ago and had horrible service. They also ran out of Shrimp! Who does that??? The manager came out because I chose to order nothing and just have a beer (which remained empty for about 10 minutes before I had to ask another waiter for a new one). The mgr. gave the table a free dessert to share, which was a nice gesture but in no way made up for the poor service and bad attitude of our waitress. The food isn't good enough to warrant spending that kind of money when I can go to a bunch of other places in Bethesda and have better service and food.

    (1)

  • Ju L.

    Pros: Authentic Mexican. Outdoor seatting. Cons: No taco salad nor veggie burritos :( Great place for carnivores, but not so for herbivores.

    (2)

  • Angela M.

    Such good chicken fajitas. Took less than five minutes from ordering it until it got to the table. In fact, we got the fajitas before we got our chips and salsa - that was odd. Enough for 6 fajitas - great for 2 people, even 3 for under $20.

    (5)

  • F N.

    Awesome food & service! Everything we had was great. Great food and service.

    (5)

  • Ina C.

    Please, please, please don't make me eat here. I do not want to pay more than $5 for "Mexican" food in Bethesda, MD. Service was spotty, and the food was okay, but definitely not worth the price. $24 for a shrimp special? $4 for salty guac? No thank you. You're better off somewhere else in Bethesda.

    (2)

  • Jenny L.

    Love the chips, thin and crispy. Other than that nothing too great about it. Ordered the flautas, pretty good. A little pricey - who wants to pay extra $ for cheese - at a mexican place???

    (3)

  • Eric G.

    I always get the same thing here: a plain cheese Quesadilla. It's not so much that I'm not willing to be adventurous with the food. It's more that their Quesadillas are really, really good. My fellow diners are likewise always pleased. One time, the kitchen messed up an order for my sister. We notified the waitress, who apologized profusely, rushed the correction to the cooks, and had the replacement dish at our table in short order. I highly recommend this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Lucy B.

    always consistently good!

    (4)

  • Jennifer N.

    Uncle Julio's makes a mean margarita. I love margaritas on the rocks and lots of places make them watered down. Uncle Julio's makes a nice strong margarita. I was very pleased with the size and flavor of the drink compared to most happy hour drinks which I find to be very watered or taste strongly of mixer. Also, kudos to Uncle Julio's waitstaff for their attentiveness to my telling them of my food allergy. I'm allergic to corn so it is always a risky bet to go to a Mexican restaurant where corn features so prominently in so many dishes. Uncle Julio's was incredibly responsive in meeting my needs, not a single kernel of corn crossed my plate even as a garnish. I thought the prices were a tad high, but certainly in line with other DC- area restaurants of a similar nature. The customer service was outstanding all around, even the young waiter who carded me and received quite the shock when he saw I have been legally able to drink for many years!

    (3)

  • Barbara F.

    During this recent power outage, my husband and I have been trying to stay out as late as possible to avoid the heat. He wanted a strawberry margarita, & Rio Grande seemed like as good as place as any to get them. It's always so noisy and loud, and we've always found the food totally mediocre, but figured we'd sit in the bar and get the good margaritas with some ceviche. Clearly, they're so crowded, customer service takes a total back seat. We sat at a bar table with dirty dishes, they cleared most of it off, left the rest and didn't wipe the table down for about 10 minutes. Took our drink order--I ordered a mojito, but hubby wanted the margarita, so...Drinks came, no menus, no napkins, water. They did bring us good chips and OK salsa while we drank. My mojito was funny tasting and I asked if I could switch for a rita. I asked my husband to try cause I didn't want to make problems, and he agreed. Waiter was questioning me and I felt put on the spot, but he did take it back. It was so loud, noisy and we never did get menus, so we asked for the check, and our waiter "Mikey" looked at my husband when he attempted to tell him we were going to order, but after waiting about 1/2 hour, our appetites were gone. He gave us a look, said nothing, and just took our credit card. For us, service is part of the dining experience. Rio Grande gets a big fat Zero.

    (1)

  • Natalie F.

    This was probably the worst service I have ever experienced in my life. After working a 10 hour shift at AVEDA I wanted a drink and some yum yum. The waiter was rude from the beginning. After he got us our first order of drinks and brought us our food we never saw him until the he came back and asked "Are you Done?". Who the hell says that. What happened to "How is everything?" "Can I get you anything?" What an Ass. The Ceviche Rica is very good, but that's about it.

    (1)

  • Indya R.

    Surprisingly good food, just ok drinks. I have been here at least three times. It is a great day-time hangout spot, or bring the family here for dinner. It is a sizable venue, with a good-sized bar at the front, which I always sit at. Bartenders are attentive, and I mentioned the food is surprisingly good-- I have to admit I was expecting expensive, fake Mexican food, but it was satisfying so my Southern California taste buds. I would stick to regular cocktails here, such as jack n coke, the frozen drinks have never done it for me.

    (3)

  • Lorena B.

    This was the biggest disappointment I've had in a while. As you can imagine, I was super psyched to find out they have pineapple bacon (bacon!) guac on the menu. Welp, it was awful. Sure, there was plenty of bacon but the queso fresco was an odd ingredient to throw in and the guac itself was out of the bucket instead of freshly made. If you're going to charge Rosa Mexicano prices, at least make the guacamole on site! I also tried the pulled BBQ chicken quesadilla from the specials menu. Blah. It was a hearty portion and packed with chicken but there was no flavor to be found. I slathered sour cream on a couple of pieces before telling my friend to finish it. The chips and salsa are pretty good, though the salsa could use some heat. I also liked the sopapillas, which were served piping hot with cinnamon, powdered sugar, and honey. Mmmm, fried dough. The service kinda sucks too. When he did deign to speak to us, the bartender was nice enough but he spent most of the evening chatting/serving the regulars. He would walk right by even though our menus were closed/drink glasses were empty/chip bowl was empty until we literally waived him down and asked for stuff. Which reminds me, the skinny guava margarita was decent but nothing amazing. I would recommend ordering it if you're counting calories. Bethesda has too many restaurants for me to return here.

    (2)

  • Mike W.

    Loved this place! Super atmosphere that feels like old northern Mexico. Alert and attentive wait staff wasted no time and made sure we had refills on chips, sodas and iced tea, and tortillas. Nice and relaxing and fun. No hassle when we ordered a single portion of fajitas for two. The only downside - and it's not Uncle Julio's fault - is the over-strict and hyper-vigilant Montgomery County parking enforcement that will add $45 to your evening if you go one minute over the metered time. Sorry, but the local authorities cost this fine business one star.

    (4)

  • Lucas M.

    This place is terrible. For one, the food was lousy. I had the soft shell beef tacos and the meat tasted like it had been soaked in butter for three days. Now usually I like buttered food, but this was excessively salty and greasy. The rice that came with it was inedible. Rice is supposed to be mushy but this was like mesquite flavored rice crispies; so dry and crunchy. Furthermore the waiter told me that they make the flour tortillas with pig lard which explains why it was like gooey in my plate. And then I got food poisoning! For two days after eating here I was running to the bathroom to expel the dinner I had had and which I paid like $15 for. I would have given it one star, but I need to reserve that for the truly awful. That said: I am never ever going back to Uncle Julios.

    (2)

  • Parisa A.

    I went here today with a friend. There food is quite tasteless. Not the greatest food. The service was alright. My waiter was very slow which was expected since they have never been known to has the quickest service. Probably won't go back

    (3)

  • Rits M.

    Went to the post office around the corner, which is closing soon. Dealing with the post office makes me rage for a margarita so I popped in. However they did take a while so I just had a quesadilla. It was the pulled chicken and it was an app. It was huge though, two people could have eaten it. It was tasty, very tex mex-y and super salty. Made me thirstier than I was already. They serve nachos with salsa for free before the meal but the salsa wasn't very good to me and tasted kinda boring. The ambiance is nice though, like a bar- hacienda that is done up well for an American audience. Go here if you need a drink post dealing with the USPS.

    (3)

  • Jerry X.

    Taste the beef fajita which is excellent, also the stream, which marinated well, with sides of guacamole and tomatoes. One of the noticeable appetizer is the thiny crunch of home made nachos, will make you come back for more.

    (4)

  • Anne W.

    Queso to my faceo & skinny Margs! Delicious! Fajitas are my go to order, but portion is huge. I recommend sharing with a friend. They are always busy, most of the time have a wait; we usually grab a table at the bar.

    (4)

  • Jessica P.

    There are so many reasons I am incapable of objectively reviewing Rio Grande. - It's a typical overpriced chain restaurant selling casual "Mexican" fare at slightly upscale prices...BUT! It's so delicious! And Bethesda surprisingly doesn't have that much good Mexican food! And they sort of a little bit make up for being overpriced by giving you as many of those amazing thin, fresh-out-the-fryer tortilla chips and salsa as you want for free! - You can't hear anything anyone is saying more than a foot away from you unless they are shouting because of some terrible acoustic feature of the building and because there are usually a million screaming toddlers or yuppie adolescents in the vicinity...BUT! Have I mentioned that the sopapillas are my favorite of anywhere I've ever ordered them? Or that I want to sail a boat made of the tortilla chips into an ocean of Rio Grande queso and never return? - Every single time I go, I am forced to a) see someone I went to high school with; b) sit near huge family parties with aforementioned screaming toddlers; c) all of the above...BUT! I spent the night of my 21st birthday here getting smashed on very strong swirly frozen margaritas and the pictures from that night are still epic years later and MEMORIES. You know? Came here last night for a friend's birthday party and barely talked to her at all because you can't make conversation from two seats away, and the fajitas I split with Manfriend were $36, and the small, semi-strong margarita was another $9, but somehow I still felt happy and satisfied when all was said and done. I don't know that I'd actually ever recommend Rio to anyone looking for a memorable dinner spot in Bethesda, but it has a special place in my heart, like some relative you don't actually think you like all that much or go out of your way to see, but then when you do see them you're all like "I LOVE YOU, man! Pass the chips!"

    (3)

  • Marie P.

    It's a great place to take kids.... It's loud, foods decent/good an the guacamole made at tables very good. I've been here a couple times while visiting family in area. It's minutes from sisters house an she has a crazy toddler so it works great. If it was just her an I, I don't think I would beg to go here but for a family restaurant it works well.

    (3)

  • Peter L.

    I have been going to Rio for years even when they were in the Woodmont Triangle days when President Bush used to come. Well...my recent experience was a little less than great. I see the portions are getting skimpy...the slices of beef for the fajitas is getting smaller and smaller every-time I go...and it is often especially with my brood. The value is dwindling and I am looking for alternatives and that is not what you guys want. As a native Bethesdan...I hope you guys read this stuff...I truly grew up in Edgemoor when this spot was a concrete plant...please restore your prowess in the Mexican food biz otherwise I will have to go to another place. If I see a chnage then you are reading this stuff...consistency is key and I am consistently seeing the value dwindle...change my mind.

    (3)

  • A. B.

    Good vegan option! We had the vegetable fajitas (hold the dairy) and it was excellent, and big enough to share. Fresh and tasty. Exceptionally good service, too, we got refills on our salsa and chips in a timely manner. The host was very knowledgeable about what the vegetarian options were, and what we needed to do to avoid dairy.

    (5)

  • T.D. S.

    Maybe they've recently changed management due to the negative Yelp reviews, who knows- but my wife and I had a nice experience here. Got in at 9.45pm, was sitting at our table with a bowl of guac, salsa and chips by 9.50pm. Drinks came a few minutes later and were fantastic. We got what we ordered by 10. Sure, it was busy, and loud, but our waiter came by several times to check us on us. Frog legs- delish. Bacon wrapped shrimp- come on, it's bacon and shrimp, can't really go wrong with that. With two drinks a piece, our check was just under $80. The manager of the place even came by to check on us (and the rest of the tables in the place). I'll go back again- didnt have the negative experience the others on Yelp did.

    (4)

  • Luke L.

    This is the second time we've tried Uncle Julio's, and it will likely be our last. The service was terrible--the server had to reheat our queso twice she seemingly had difficulty understanding that you need chips with your queso and visa versa. The drinks were overpriced for a very low-ball, premixed margarita with barely any alcohol. The vegetables were mushy and the enchiladas were certainly nothing impressive. It was extremely loud in the restaurant, but outside seating was comfortable.

    (1)

  • Crystal C.

    We had a new waiter who forgot our table side guacamole but when the food came- it was great. The tortillas were even corn- so Telmex! Great tasting steak enchilada dinner.

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    I want to give Uncle Julio six stars for the chips and salsa. The chips are the thinnest I've found anywhere, and both the mild and medium salsas are loaded with roasted tomatoes, cilantro, onion and chipotle peppers. Maybe it's just me but I could make an entire meal of their chips and salsa. On our recent visit we all ordered the $9.95 margaritas. I expected some kind of fish bowl sized glass or maybe one of those oversize margarita glasses, something special. Nope, just a plain small rocks glass. Tasted like they put maybe an ounce of tequila in it. In short, a huge price for a small drink. I know profit is not a dirty word, but giving another ten bucks for another small drink was not gonna happen. The food deserves three, maybe three and a half stars at best. I had the Benito combo platter. Maybe I should not expect much from a combo platter. The tamale was supposed to be filled with pork; it had a few shreds; was covered in a sauce with ground beef in it, tasty. The chicken enchilada rested under a great green salsa but only had dry & boring chicken inside. The HUGE chile relleno was stuffed with cheese and topped with fresh chopped tomato, very good. We tried the flan and the coconut-covered ice-cream ball for dessert. Both pretty good but neither one is memorable. The dining room was nearly empty on the Monday night we were in Bethesda and the food came quickly, but our waiter made himself remarkably difficult to find. What's that all about? Definitely hit this place for the chips, get a beer if you don't feel all spendy on drinks.

    (4)

  • Erica R.

    God awful food. These are harsh words I do not use lightly, but are necessary in this case. I will preface this by saying I do not have pretentious taste and thoroughly enjoy solid casual tex mex, there is a place in my heart for chimichangas, fajitas and burritos. However you will not find this here. My husband and I ordered the fajitas to share and they arrived lukewarm with sides that seemed to have been left out for several hours. I also questioned when and how the meat was cooked. The only saving grace was a decent margarita. I left disappointed and my craving for Mexican unfulfilled. Maybe they were having an off night, however I will not be returning to find out. Avoid this place.

    (1)

  • Steven K.

    Used to be one of my favorites... Years ago... Came back to the area and popped in today. It was so disappointing. The quality of the food has seriously declined. It can't be that I got a bad chef because it's too big, and standardized. They're dishing out things already made for the most part. Some of the bites of chicken as well as beef in the tacos were inedible. Maybe chicken once and a while, ok, but not ground beef! (To be clear, I don't swallow things I can't chew. Sorry for that description) Salsa that came was ok, but I remember it being so good! Perhaps it was too good and they were losing money on it. Everything else, I'm truly sorry to say was just bad. Perhaps this Rio Grande (Uncle Julio's) chain was bought out, not sure, but a lot has changed for the worse.

    (2)

  • Roy B.

    After getting good and thirsty while on a segway tour in DC, a group of seven of us stopped in for a snack and some margaritas. Occupying two bar tables in the bar area, we ordered a little of this and a little of that. Quesadillas, shrimp cocktail, fajitas, you name it and we ate it. Food was decent for a mexican restaurant and the drinks were good as well. If anything needed work, it was the spotty service- I think we overwhelmed the waiter we had. He tried to remember everything- but since he didnt want to write anything down, he forgot the ceviche I really wanted. My loss I suppose. The bill was very reasonable and when we come back to the area, I'm sure we will try it again.

    (3)

  • Alfonso D.

    The service was very bad, Walter has a major attitude. The Manager offered her apologies but they were not sincere. The food however was very good.

    (1)

  • Kyle G.

    $46 for two of us to wrestle two drinks and some guacamole out of the bar wait staff. Plastic bottle tequila, mind you. And we had to fight for it. The guacamole was entirely forgettable and arrived with the ice cream scoop divots intact. Bland would be a favorable review of the smashed avocado pile. Chips were good. Chipotle pepper salsa was acceptable. My favorite part was when we had to track down a member of the wait staff to give us a check. Then track down a member of the wait staff to give them my credit card so that they could run it. Then, after copious amounts of eye contact they gave me my receipts so I could sign one and have a souvenir of a place I'll never visit again. Did not tip well, but I felt like a good human being because I doubt the wait staff would have noticed us skipping out. Or choking. Or withering on the floor. Or stealing their furniture. Or taking their daughter to the prom. You get the idea.

    (2)

  • Lawry F.

    Okay food. Pricey. So noisy it's impossible to talk and quite uncomfortable. I'm convinced they pipe in a voice track. I hear hundreds of people talking but when I scan tables nearby, no ones mouth is moving.

    (1)

  • Margaret N.

    Went here for happy hour once and they had great deals on drinks.. Ordered ceviche and it was horrible! Didn't taste or look like ceviche at all! Don't think I'll be going back anytime soon...

    (2)

  • Bella K.

    Great beef fajitas! Other stuff not so good

    (4)

  • Alexandra B.

    Everything about this place was disappointing. I'm so glad that we went on an evening when we didn't want to splurge on lots of drinks and extra food, because that would have made things even worse. After a long, strenuous day, my boyfriend, my mom, and I arrived at Uncle Julio's basically by accident. We wanted to go to another restaurant in Bethesda but had neglected to make reservations and it was a Saturday night, so you know the rest. The dining section of Uncle Julio's was packed to the walls, but there were plenty of seats in the bar area. Since we couldn't have cared less where we sat, over to the bar we went. As I said, they were fantastically busy, so it's understandable that the service was noticeably slow, but that doesn't excuse the lackluster effort made by our waiter. My mother in particular has always been a very generous tipper--as am I--and both of us agreed that 15% was more than enough for what they deserved that evening. The decor is uninspired, typical chain Mexican restaurant fare. My mother and I both ordered some fun, frozen alcoholic beverages to try to lighten the mood, and all I can say is that they tasted like they came straight out of a package. Way too sweet and otherwise no flavor....very sad. The chips and salsa were probably the best part of the meal, but that's not saying much. The salsa was at least different, with a darker color and much heavier on the heat than most local chains. The actual entrees that we ordered were just blah. Everything was drowning in cheese, probably because it otherwise had next to no flavor, and they felt the need to stick meat in everything. This is definitely a place where you need to confirm about every dish as to whether or not it's vegetarian-friendly. Between three heavy eaters, none of us was willing to take the fall and eat one of the plates of black beans that came with our meals. It's a sad day when any of us sends food back to the kitchen uneaten that's not going in a doggy bag. At this very moment, I'm looking back on that meal and really can't remember a single distinguishing quality about the food that I ate there. It was wall-to-wall disappointing and unmemorable, and then on top of that every single thing on the menu is wildly overpriced, especially for a chain Mexican restaurant. There is no question that we won't be returning to Uncle Julio's anytime soon....or maybe even ever again.

    (2)

  • Stan W.

    Large portions, fun atmosphere, but overall nothing terribly exceptional. Will have to come back to try Swirly signature drink sometime.

    (3)

  • Ariel G.

    I'm not very impressed with Uncle Julio's. The food is over priced and generally pretty bland. But that should be expected from a "Mexican" restaurant on Bethesda row: the food needs to appeal to a wide range of patrons, who probably aren't too adventurous. The chips are really good though, no complaints there. Someone else's review described it as "nothing terribly exceptional." That about sums up my feelings as well.

    (3)

  • Stephanie W.

    This place is the best tex mex place that I have tried in the DMV area. The food is standard tex mex - quesadillas, red rice, chips and queso made from velveeta (which I happen to love). This is not the type of place where you should expect your meat to be prepared to your liking. It's more of a fast, high-volume operation. They are pretty good about getting your food to you in a timely fashion and they are on top of refilling the chips that come with the table, which I think is very important. The rice is always dry, however, and their guacamole is really not good. Also, the beans are a bit soupy for my taste.

    (3)

  • Kristen B.

    This place is hardly "mexican" but still decent. It's a very americanized mexican menu. Their drinks are great, especially their sangria margarita swirl. They also will always give free chips and salsa. Their salsa is something different, I'm not sure where they get it but it has almost a smoky flavor to it. Delicious though non-traditional. It's a busy middle of the rung type restaurant (for Bethesda). Their food is good but nothing spectacular. But there is a great vibe, people are always happy, and its always busy. Good Service as well. Their chicken tortilla soup is especially fantastic. I also had their vegetarian dish of grilled veggies which was also great. The food overall is great but its barely above the quality of a nice chain place like California Tortilla Kitchen. Its good for what it is, but just don't expect it to be fine dining.

    (3)

  • Heather J.

    Rio Grande is fine. It's nothing special and it's overpriced for what it is, but it's convenient and consistent. It's super loud inside and almost always busy, but they do have a nice covered patio area outside. I usually get the chicken fajitas, which are good, but, like most of the dishes offered in their "grill" section of the menu, they're overpriced. The most recent time I ate here, I got the fish tacos. They were fine, as well, but also nothing special. The frozen swirls (frozen sangria and margarita swirled together) are quite good, and the chips and queso are good, as well. It's a good place for a casual dinner and drinks, but you won't find really great Mexican food here.

    (3)

  • Stephanie W.

    The food was okay. The service was slow and could've been much better. I went at 2:30 which was a slow time and they did not attend to me as often as they should have.

    (2)

  • Lou K.

    It's exactly what you'd expect for casual Mexican. Table side guacamole is always a good choice to start as is the queso as long as you get either a red sangria or a margarita to go with it. I like to go with the salmon but my daughter is a sucker for the carne asada. Lively music and fun atmosphere plus indoor, outdoor and bar seating options. What more could you ask for? Oh! I know the complimentary fresh made chips and salsa! Got that too.

    (5)

  • Lissa B.

    Rio Grande is my favorite restaurant in the US. It is incredible. I recommend the steak soft taco dinner which comes with two delicious tacos filled with steak that has been seasoned and cooked not too much and just perfectly, a combination of cheddar and American cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce with rice and beans soup on the side. Make sure to also get the guacamole and pico de gallo to go inside the tacos to really make them burst with flavor! A few Swirl drinks (frozen margarita and sangria swirled together) brings everything together amazingly! The restaurant itself is really noisy since there isn't any carpeting. I like sitting outside or to the right when you first walk into the restaurant. I have had several wrong orders as they keep bringing me ground beef instead of steak but I keep going back since it is THAT good!

    (5)

  • Nathan R.

    This is a family favorite for us and probably half of Bethesda. They've got the best chips and salsa in town. Staff is always friendly and accommodating to the kids. I'm a fish taco fan but enchiladas would be a recommendation as well.

    (5)

  • Liz K.

    I came to this Uncle Julio's on Valentine's day night. We didn't have a reservation (didn't think we needed one..), but we called ahead before we left the house, and when we got there we were seated in less than 10 minutes. While we were waiting, we grabbed drinks at the bar, and were also offered their chips and salsa. Then when we were seated we were offered more chips and salsa. Their chips are super addicting. I could not stop eating them even after our food came When we were seated, our server was very nice and attentive. I ordered beef and chicken fajitas and calamari as an appetizer. The calamari wasn't the best that I've had, but it was still very good. I asked for no cheese with my fajitas, and they gave me extra sour cream as a substitute without me even asking. The fajitas were very filling. I'm always pleasantly surprised by how good their pinto beans are. It was a very yummy meal, and it made a second yummy meal the next day when I ate my leftovers for lunch. I hope one day they put chimichangas on the menu.

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    I came here with a friend. My food was ok though they messed up my order slightly. The friends chicken was cold and rubbery. They remade it for him and it came out the same. I'd come back, but I'd be careful what I order and pay close attention to every detail.

    (3)

  • Katie E.

    The chips and salsa here are what keep me coming back. I eat the salsa with a spoon and usually fill myself with chips before my meal even comes. The main entrees are delicious too- I get Juanita's Platter or sometimes just a good ol' chicken quesadilla. I'd recommend the guacamole too. Best place for TexMex in the DC area.

    (5)

  • Abegail A.

    Come for the food, not the drinks. Went to Uncle Julio's last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. We made reservations before hand for 5 but the restaurant wasn't too busy on a Tuesday night at 6:30pm, so reservations weren't necessary. The tortilla chips and salsa that was brought out to the table as something to munch on was addicting! The chips were super thin and lightly salted...just how I like them. The salsa wasn't too spicy, but did have that kick to it. Watch out when you eat these or else you'll end up having no room for dinner! We got seated at 6:25pm, just in time to order a drink off their happy hour menu. On the recommendation of the server, I had the Swirl, their signature drink. I believe it was 2 parts frozen margarita to 1 part frozen sangria. The drink was okay, didn't blow me away. Was too sweet for me and didn't have much alcohol in it (I know, I know...why didn't I order a margarita on the rocks then?!). I'm glad I paid the $6 happy hour price instead of the regular $8.25. For dinner I ordered Guadalajara. For a little over $20 I got 3 grilled jumbo shrimp brochette wrapped with bacon, a jalapeno, beef fajitas, rice, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, and flour tortillas. Delicious! Although the menu stated that the shrimp was stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese, I didn't taste it. Regardless of that, the shrimp was soooooooooooo tasty! Dip it in the butter and lemon that was on the side and it melted in your mouth. The steak was very tender and had great flavor to eat. The flour tortillas were yum yum yum...I love homemade tortillas! This meal was definitely large enough to share with someone, especially if you eat a good amount of chips/salsa or have an appetizer to share. I definitely recommend this dish! I would have gave Uncle Julio's 3 stars because their drinks were not too great, but they earned an additional star for letting us bring our own birthday cake in. Although the hostess almost screwed up our surprise by asking us loudly if this was a birthday cake (hello, is this not what we just whispered to you?!) and if it needed to be refrigerated, our server brought out the cake with the candles lit after our dinner. Was a nice surprise for the birthday girl. When I'm in Bethesda and craving some good old Tex-Mex, you'll find me at Uncle Julio's.

    (4)

  • G M.

    My favorite restaurant of ALL time!!!!! I will pick this restaurant any day over any Mexican restaurant. I usually get the chicken fajitas and they are phenomenal. The chips and salsa are the best things I have ever devoured. The food never fails to disappoint me. Totally go to this restaurant if you're by one!!!

    (5)

  • Vivian H.

    Wandered in for some Mexican food. Did not realize it would be the most expensive Mexican food I've ever had. I think all the dishes are over $15, which coming from California, is ridiculous for Mexican food. Whatever. I ordered the Juarez with ribs and chicken/steak fajitas, which was thankfully a large portion and I had enough for another couple meals. And it was really good meat too. Girlfriend also took half her salad home for lunch the next day. I also tried their margarita/sangria swirl -- tasty and STRONG! I really liked their thin tortilla chips with salsa too. I would definitely come back for happy hour.. ASAP. Service was attentive, and they were good with substitutions, etc. They did make a mistake but were quick to fix the order and the manager even came to apologize.

    (3)

  • Libby F.

    This place is still hopping at happy hour after all these years. It's huge, although I usually stick to a tabletop in the bar area. I love their Swirls (half frozen sangria/half frozen margarita). They are on special at happy hour (I think $2 off). If you like fresh, chunky guacamole, then you are in luck here! I could eat it by the bucket! Their warm, house-made tortilla chips are the best in town. They are thin, crisp and salty. Their salsa is tasty too. Don't be shy about asking for free refills. Everybody does it, so you can too! The only bad thing is that the closest parking garage on Bethesda Ave. gets pretty full, and you must have a stash of coins to load into the $0.75/hr meters.

    (3)

  • Michael Q.

    Reliable tex mex food. Don't expect authentic Mexican cuisine. For tex mex the Bethesda branch and other locations in Maryland are tasty and consistent. Fajitas are particularly good with fresh tortillas and the free chips and salsa are outstanding. Noisy and can be busy on weekends and peak times. The Plato Gordo with fajitas, ribs, shrimp is a good choice for groups

    (3)

  • Ben S.

    Not a bad place. The food was good, and the service was impeccable. Interior of the restaurant is very loud, however. Part of that is attributable to its being popular, and part of it is that there is nothing at all to dampen any sounds in the restaurant. I didn't see any carpet, curtains, or anything to absorb sound waves. If you want a quieter experience at Uncle Julio's, sit outside. I went here with a friend, sat outside, and was favorably impressed. A little pricier than I would have liked, but probably would still come back (as long as I can sit outside).

    (3)

  • Oliver J.

    Meh. I've experienced better. = Sums it up perfectly. As its in the center of Bethesda... I expect better. The chips and salsa are great! I really like the salsa they give.. a smokey chipotle goodness. The chips are warm and salty. That's where the goodness ends. The service... meh. They are friendly enough, however, they were slow and forgot some basics. Forgot to bring some things out ... like the rice and beans that accompany the fajitas. By no means was it bad.... they brought them out once we reminded them. The food.... mediocre cafeteria style. I personally had the fish tacos that came with rice and means. The beans tasted fresh from a can (which isn't horrible, but not restaurant worthy). Nothing was bad per se... it was just cafeteria quality. In all fairness, the prices aren't bad for the center of Bethesda... it's probably what keeps them so packed every night of the week... but I'll certainly avoid coming back here if I can.

    (2)

  • Mark M.

    I ate at the Bar, got a seat immediately, decent mexican beer selection, not very good selection of Tequila's. I ordered the Brisket Soft Taco's and had them substitute the crispy taco's instead, this was very very good for a lunch special. The place is big and roomy, good lighting, seems like a great place for happy hour. I'll come back next time I'm in Bethesda.

    (3)

  • Cecil J.

    I will try to give this place a fair, informed, yet opinionated review. Ambiance: honestly, the atmosphere at this place is pretty good, pretty festive, definitely a happy, hang out kind of place, although no one can hear anyone else talk, at all, but there is some to be said about a boisterous cheery place. I kind of enjoyed it. Right after you sit down, you get chips and salsa, I liked that, but the corn tortilla chips are on the very oily side (approaching unpleasant), the salsa is good though, nice smoky chipotle style. Chips and salsa helped with the one star rating. This place actually tries pretty hard (I can sort of tell) to be good and please its customers. But I emphasize "try", because that's about where it ends. It is obvious that this place, or chain of restaurants has no ambition of actually becoming a special place. They aspire to be that totally average place that appeals to the general dining public looking for a decent and totally average night out experience. Uncle Julio actually comes up short of its own modest aspirations. There is nothing, absolutely nothing on its menu worth recommending. I ordered the genuine mojito (not the mexican version), and it is pretty bad, very watered down, I cannot detect rum in my drink. There is also too much ice, and I don't even think the drink was made from syrup. Others in my group had the margaritas and swirly drinks, those don't look too bad, but I cannot judge them, but based on the mojito, I can only imagine the other drinks cannot be much better. There is no beer on tap, so enough said there, only bottles. We had a large group, as in 20+, and everyone more or less ordered something different, so we covered the spectrum of entrees pretty good. The only thing that looks remotely decent is the Carne Asada, so if you are stuck in a group dining out thing, celebrating a work event, a family event, or on a date (I cannot imagine why anyone would take their date here, as you literally cannot even strain to hear anything from the person next to you), and you must order something, order the Carne Asada, at least you get a generously proportioned flank steak. They actually cooked this steak to order, and it is actually medium rare. So I guess I am a little impressed, which earned this place one star. The steak is juicy, and tasty, albeit a bit bland. All of the sides that come with (aside from guacamole, but guacammole is very hard to mess up) are horrendous. The "beans" look like they have been swimming in brown colored water for a week, totally bland, sad looking. I think the beans are worse than a below average middle school cafeteria quality. The rice is cooked, that's about it, although these days, cooked rice is no longer a guarantee. Some additional salsa came as a side, but there is nothing to write home about. Garnishing the steak was a piece of leathery "grilled" onion, and grilled jalapeño. The grilled jalapeno must have been sitting around for a while or it was grilled improperly, because it is a bit mushy in texture, not charred or crispy on the outside. The other entrees hardly resemble food that people would pay for in a restaurant, maybe hungry kids in a cafeteria, maybe. I generally make it a point to not order desert if the entree failed (although to be honest, my steak was mostly solid), as I am of the belief that good desert actually requires genuine skill and experience to prepare. Skill, I feel, is not in generous supply here on this day. But if you just want something sweet, then maybe check out their desert menu. All in all, Uncle Julio is not terrible expensive by Bethesda standard, but it did not offer good value for your money at all. There is nothing worth eating here, so feel free to skip it.

    (1)

  • L S.

    Ditch the bar and go to the dining room. Order some steak fajitas while you're at it too. You know why? I've gone to Rio Grande for over a decade but had very little experience with the bar. I would not recommend it ever. My friend and I went in around 4:30 PM today. Empty bar. Bartender did not say hello or introduced himself (a tall young guy with a diamond piercing in his left ear), just asked "What do you want?" We asked our bartender if it was happy hour and he wasn't sure. Ooookay. So the happy hour specials ($2 off beer) was pretty weak. My friend and I wanted margaritas instead. My friend doesn't like the pre-made margaritas they had so he asked if they could make a fresh one. He said no. Okay. We weren't trying to be a bunch of d*ckheads, but we were the only ones at the bar and it could keep him busy. We saw how the strawberry margaritas made--- they used the regular pre-made frozen margaritas and dump some strawberry flavoring into it. It was kind of gross. Also my glass had some old syrup on it. Like, chunks that I daintily scraped off with my fingernail. It was REALLY GROSS. That said, and I reiterate, ditch the bar and go to the dining room. I don't like to shit hard on a restaurant that I frequent so much for so long, but the service I received at my only time at their bar was really bad. I'm craving steak fajitas right now.

    (2)

  • Dennis R.

    Went here on a pretty crowded Saturday night. The wait can be pretty long, and I honestly can't say their food is worth the wait. The food generally seemed pretty bland, especially considering this place is a chain. I was particularly surprised at how slow the service was. It seemed like their was no method to the server's delivery of food/drinks to the tables and many of them looked overworked. I couldn't tell if the food or my dish (Soft Tacos) was of poor quality because of the way they served it or because they don't seem to have fresh ingredients in their dishes. There are plenty of better options in downtown Bethesda...don't waste your time on the wait here. P.S. Their call ahead system is completely useless. Don't even bother.

    (1)

  • Siggy D.

    Great drinks!! Good for happy hours. Service was very good and my meal was enjoyable. I like the atmosphere. Lots of children when I went though...

    (4)

  • L. W.

    I used to know this place as Rio Grande before it became Uncle Julio's, and I think of this place as a Bethesda staple. My friend and I love the margaritas here, and I like getting the swirl because the sangria part really does taste like sangria! I always get the same thing - the vegetable fajitas. They are reliably good because while other places might just give you peppers and onions, Uncle Julio's delivers with zucchini, squash, and portobello mushroom. It comes on a sizzling plate with guac and pico, and I always ask for refried beans (which are made with pork for all the vegetarians out there). I wouldn't say that their service is outstanding, and Uncle Julio's is pretty loud. It's very family friendly, so don't be afraid if you see lots of kids running around. The noise level isn't ideal if you want a great catch up session with a friend, but it's a fun atmosphere. The chips and salsa are delicious!

    (4)

  • Tara L.

    I like Rio Grande in the same way that I love a good pair of socks: it's comfortable. I've been here a handful of times and especially enjoy my time here when the weather warms up and I can kick back drinking frozen margaritas on the sidewalk patio. The restaurant is rather large and you have the choice of bar seating, tabletop seating around the bar, traditional indoor seating as well as outdoor seating if weather permits. I actually like the frozen sangria more than the margaritas, but that's just my personal taste. You can get the swirl and they also serve up frozen pina coladas and strawberry daquiris that you can sip in with or without booze. I usually just order light snacks, such as chips and guac or the steak quesadilla, although be warned - the quesadillas are more than enough food for two people. Prices and respectable and the environment is relaxed and pretty family friendly. Pretty safe bet for most.

    (3)

  • Stephanie S W.

    Sad excuse for Mexican. I'm from Texas and have family in Mexico and this is just as generic and blah as it gets. DC, when will you get a good Mexican place?!?!?

    (2)

  • Dan M.

    2 1/2- 3 stars This is not a review on the food. My wife and I got into town and just wanted to get a drink. We found this spot on the corner after we left another bar. We sat at the bar and received stellar service. The bartenders were fun and the place had a nice atmosphere. We had some beers and margaritas. The price was what I expected it to be. We did have chips/salsa which was good, for some reason Chili's still makes the best salsa. But, this salsa was not bad at all, it had a smoky almost bacon flavor to it.

    (3)

  • Wilson C.

    They now have table side guacamole which is amazing. Can not beat that and some swirls on the patio.

    (5)

  • Ordale A.

    The people were nice, the place was clean. The portions were large and all of the food looked fresh and nicely prepared, so this place started off with five stars. The prices were a bit high compared to somewhere like On the Border but I consider that to be "Bethesda tax." Unfortunately my debt ceiling hasn't been raised so that knocks them down to four stars. While the food looked great, it didn't taste great and they lose two more stars for that. It just seemed like everything was one spice away from being good. I had enchiladas with rice and beans and my wife had fish tacos. Everything was bland. Tex-mex is supposed to have big flavor... or pack a punch...or ring the Taco Bell...SOMETHING! It wasn't nasty, it just didn't taste like anything. Rice...enchilada...bean... they each tasted the same. When I got home, I double checked the menu online to make sure I didn't order from the "Heart Healthy" section. I didn't. The food tasted like it though. Oh well, I'm sure they'll do fine without my money.

    (2)

  • Patrick H.

    3.5* This place get's a bad rep, and granted, for some very good reasons, but if you buy into the notion that "Tex Mex" is a cuisine, then Uncle Julios is solid place for dinner. It's not authentic Mexican cuisine, but the food tastes good. The Good: Decent chips and warm, spicy salsa. Homemade tamales, especially pork. Tacos al Carbon - tender and beefy! Chicken Fajitas-moist and meaty! Shrimp fajitas. Ceviche Royale. Guacamole. The Bad: Can be hard to get a table in here. Service can be great one night and not so great the next. Lots of groups and kids. The Ugly: It's so damned loud! Forget about dinner conversation, you won't be able to hear the person sitting next to you.

    (3)

  • Morgan W.

    Some interesting notes about Uncle Julio's: 1. It's extremely loud. Whoever designed this establishment and didn't take into account the acoustics should be beaten like a pinata. 2. It's pretty much just like going to Chevy's, except the food is worse. The salsa and the queso dip were the only redeeming factors here. 3. You will pay outrageous prices for their crappy renditions of Tex-Mex, and that will make you sad. Why 3 stars you ask? Because the margaritas were that freakin' good. They were sour...not overly sweet like you usually get at these types of establishments. Sour + Petron + Salt = Blissfully Forgetting You're in a Bar Full of Yuppies. They also had frozen sangria, and that is enough for me to want to go back again. Our server was also great, especially considering the number of large parties he was working during our meal. If I were to go again, I would go in the middle of the afternoon just for drinks & dip. Eat your meal elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Paul T.

    Really good food. I like their choice to avoid the burrito, although I love them, the omission forces one to try other things. The ribs have a slightly sweet dry rub that really shines when paired with the chipotle sauce.

    (4)

  • Ryan M.

    My friends from California (and the ones from Mexico for that matter) may give me crap for this, but I have always loved Rio Grande. Standout dishes include the shrimp quesadillas and the fajitas. The nachos -- individually constructed on sturdy tortilla chips -- are the best I have ever had (and my nacho-eating experience is extensive). Of course, as good as it is, this Tex-Mex restaurant doesn't quite make you feel like you're in Mexico, or even Texas. The seemingly all-white racial background of the wait and host staff makes the decidedly un-PC caricature of "Uncle Julio" all the more unsettling, and then there is the fact that even the staff mispronounce the name of the restaurant as "Rio Grand." All in all, though, Rio Grande not only stacks up well against its neighbor, the appalling Austin Grill, but holds its own against Mexican fare in any region of the country, in my opinion. It's a nice option for anyone in the area in the mood for Mexican food.

    (5)

  • Sophia C.

    Ok so another year older, another year wiser. And its been 8 years since my last visit to Rio Grande?? What have I been thinking. Rio Grande, my good friend Lisa and I were fast friends throughout college and right after. We always made the trek....but life has a way of getting us off track. So now we decided to revive our Rio Grande love last night. And what love it was. My only small gripe is that there was limited stuff on the menu that had any kind of fish product. Had to do a modified dish to end up with the dish I wanted, but that in itself was a plus. Our waitress was excellent and asked us if we had any changes even before we asked. I ended up with the the veggie tortillas (can't remember the exact name on the menu) with shrimp. OK was the portion size always this large?? Not complaining at all, now I'm waiting for lunch time so I can re-heat and thrown down a day later. Man it was good!! Ok so I have another small gripe. The magaritas??? tasted like a 7-11 slurpee. I'm not a drinker by any means but when I say I tasted NO alcohol, I mean it. Since it was my birthday, we got surprised with a free dessert. And now I have a Facebook status update that ALL my facebook friends have been laughing at all night. "Sophia is in love. He's warm, comforting, with just a hint of manly sweetness. LOVE, thy name is sopas pillas!" And man, do I mean that!

    (4)

  • Timmy C.

    This place really was the loudest restaurant I have ever been to. The restaurant is very open with lots of tables and lots of families with kids. It's really the perfect storm for a noisy dinner. Despite the noise my whole party was quite pleased with both the service and the food. Of course you get chips and salsa (the salsa is perfectly spicy) which is refillable by request. We all ordered margaritas which were good but extremely over priced ($8 for about 12 oz.). I decided to punt getting another 'rita and settled with a Corona when the meal came. I decided on the Guadalajara for my entree. This was a combination fajita with shrimp wrapped in bacon. OMG this was delicious. The shrimp were cooked wonderfully and had that delicious bacon flavor to complement it. It was also served with drawn butter which I completely destroyed with every dip of the shrimp. The steak and chicken were also cooked very well and were seasoned incredibly. The fajitas also came with rice, beans, and guacamole (MMMMM!). You have the option to add sour cream and cheese for an extra cost but I don't believe that this is worth it. Everyone else in my party was equally pleased with what they ordered. Most got fajitas while one got the grilled salmon which I thought was pretty good. We were offered dessert after our meal but decided to skip it so we could go to Giffords. Overall great meal. I have to dock a star because of the price and loudness of the restaurant. That said, this place is definitely worth the trip and completely destroys any other mexican chains in our area (*cough* Donnie P's and Chevys).

    (4)

  • Jonathan M.

    So my girlfriend and I had the rare opportunity to put the nachos and margaritas of two tex-mex restaurants head to head: Austin Grill and Uncle Julio's. We had just came from Austin Grill, feeling pretty let down. Uncle Julio's was clearly the place to be; it was crazy-busy. We snagged a table by the bar and waited for awhile. Nobody came. People that grabbed tables after us were getting served. Ours even had a tip on it. So we moved to a table closer to the waitresses and were served immediately. Fantastic Margaritas! Oh my god. Really really tasty. Came in glass 1/4 the size of the "Texas" margies at Austin Grill, but about the same amount of kick. Nachos....WTF!!!!! we got like 10 chips again. Bethesda is weird. Regardless, these nachos were way tastier, mostly cause they had cumin in the beans, and it came with guacamole, and jalapenos. Austin's Grill's nachos had nothing but sour cream, and are supposed to come with jalapenos but I couldn't see or taste them. Uncle Julio's is without a doubt the winner. Don't even bother with Austin Grill. If we go back, and I think we will, I want to try their fajitas. They looked and smelled delicious. Might earn this place another star. On a side note, the singles scene in Bethesda is kind of amazing. Uncle Julio's sort of seems like where everyone starts the night before going out. My girlfriend and I want to come back and just watch the parade.

    (3)

  • Kara M.

    Awesome margarita's. Love watching them make tortillas. Great food. Amazing new-ish location.

    (4)

  • Phil M.

    Stopped by for lunch and left so full I didn't eat dinner. That's what a good mexican restaurant can do for you. This is a fun place with pretty authentic food, though the green sauce was not all that hot. The staff is very welcoming and efficient...and fast...I couldn't believe my lunch was served before I ate half the basket of chips! At any rate, this is a good place to have lunch.

    (3)

  • Melissa S.

    Everything was overpriced and we had absolutely terrible service. I can't even count the number of ways the hosting and serving staff screwed up. The food is not good enough to be worth it.

    (1)

  • Kathy T.

    This place is ok... I guess the biggest thing it has going for it, is that it's cheap. Would I prefer my fajitas with a little more onions and peppers? Yes... Would I prefer my tortilla chips to be made out of corn instead of flour? Yes... But its not a bad place to out with a big group for a reasonably priced meal. You can't go too wrong with loads of cheese and from the enchiladas and tacos... well your arteries may suffer a bit, but otherwise... Since they don't take reservations, its nice that they allow you to call ahead to place yourself on the list.

    (3)

  • Paul M.

    for a soul-less corporate chain this is actually quite a decent spot - great kids menu - fabulous portions - good atmosphere and service and prices - the thing they do with the taco maker amuses the kids - spacious inside and good for large groups ( usually Bethesda's scrums of high schoolers having the first grown up dinner as a group) the margaritas are pretty poor, and some of the menu items can be pricey, but it's decent enough in an any-port-in-a-storm kind of way

    (3)

  • Michael S.

    Pretty much your standard Tex-Mex fare. Nice, relaxed yet fun atmosphere. Some of the dishes did seem pricey, especially the fish and meat ones. The salmon dish under the "Heart Healthy" section was good, but too overpriced for what came out, I thought. Quesadillas were generous and tasted OK (I think Austin Grill's is "better"). I don't think I'd come here again personally...there are better places for this cuisine. It seems like a good place for a party or families, though.

    (3)

  • Chuck T.

    I would love to say that we ate here, but I can't. We called ahead because we had a lot of kids in our party buy were told that there was no wait, so no call ahead. We arrived 30 minutes later and were told that the wait was now 75 minutes! When you have 5 kids in tow, no food is worth a 75 minute wait.

    (1)

  • Steve W.

    I had not eatten here in a while and recently had lunch. The quality has really gone down hill. We had the steak fajitas. The steak was very chewy and not good quality. The onions were not cooked and the they were sitting in a watery soup like liquid along with the fajitas. The tortillas were kind of dry. I have had much better. Service was good and attentive, but that was about it.

    (2)

  • Yesy D.

    Best service EVER!!! Food is always pretty good at UJ, now thanks to Austin, this is my new fave place in Bethesda. Ask for Austin next time you go. Earned every single penny of his 70% tip!!! :-D

    (4)

  • Delmar H.

    Uncle Julio's is an average Tex-Mex restaurant. The beef was chewy and the chicken was bland. It seems that people suggest sticking to the fajitas and margaritas, but I have a gut feeling those would be equally underwhelming. I am really disappointed in the service. Usually, chain restaurants harp on good service, but not this establishment. Not only did the waiter take forever to bring out our food, the waiter would just disappear anytime we needed drinks refilled. Never again.

    (2)

  • Juju J.

    There is nothing special about this place. I guess I would recommend it if you have kids and you can let them run around. Food: The salsa they put on the table is quite good. I like how it comes out warm, but the chips taste stale, almost like cardboard. I had some chicken Mexican salad. The chicken was pretty decent but the rest of the salad was lame. The reason I ordered it was because they listed a lot of awesome ingredients. However, they are very stingy about putting them atop the iceberg lettuce. Thus my salad was very unflavorful and not worth the $12 pricetage. Service: The service I experienced here was not good. The waiter messed up my order by putting in a totally different dish. He didn't even apologize. The manager was nice though. I would skip this and head to another downtown Bethesda restaurant and stick with Cactus Catina, Guapo's or Loreal Plaza.

    (2)

  • Denise D.

    I love heading to this place! That may make me a know-nothing about true Mexican/Tex-Mex, but I'll be happily sucking back a Swirl and munching chips & salsa, celebrating my ignorance. (Seriously though, if anyone has a "truly authentic" joint around DC, lemme know, I'm happy to try it.... *g*) Okay, back to it. I really, really like their salsa; it tastes like someone took fresh ingredients and blended 'em, rather than popping open a jar of tomato-sauce based stuff. The spice may vary depending on who's whipping it up, but the last time I was there it was nice & spicy. And they don't mind bringing more salsa so you can top your dinner with it if you like. I usually get the quail (yeah, tiny birds. Tiny, tiny birds. Stop looking at me like that), which are served fajita-style basted with a really tasty barbecue sauce. If only I could buy that sauce at the store.... Their tortillas are light and fluffy-soft, and always warm. They usually serve two or three at a time, so if you want more, ask! Think of it as the kitchen keeping 'em warm for you. Their beef fajitas are really good too, and the beef strips are so tender you can cut 'em with a fork. The service is excellent for such a packed place. And it *is* packed during dinner-time. It can get loud in the main dining area too, so bear that in mind if you're looking for a quiet place. I've started eating in the bar area, where the chairs may be higher, but they're comfier, and there is often an open table available. During warmer months though, eating outside is the way to go, since it's quieter, and the cool adobo styling outside gets me in the mood for a margarita (not that that's hard.) Some of my friends have said it's not *really* Metro accessible, but it's less than a mile away from the Bethesda Metro. Plus, after all that food, it's nice to walk a bit. There's lots of parking in the Bethesda area if you feel like driving, but even still, there's a fight for those spaces, so make sure you add on "finding a space" time to your schedule. Oh, one last thing; if it's a nice night, skip their desserts and walk over to Gifford's by Bethesda Row Cinemas for their homemade ice cream. :)

    (5)

  • Leila T.

    Awful. It's like...taco bell with an atmosphere. The "guacamole" were chunks of unripened avacado, one 1x1mm cube of tomato, and it tasted like it didn't even have any cilantro, lime juice, onion, or FLAVOR. Fajitas were not really seasoned. Soft tacos got cold while waiting for sour cream. Enchiladas looked like a big velveeta mess. Seriously, I'd rather go to the taco bell drive through. This place makes Chevys look like Mortons. Never again.

    (1)

  • Jethro T.

    Loud and crazy. Don't come here if you plan on having a nice intimate conversation. The food was good, priced reasonably, and arrived quickly. Also, our server -- Selma -- was really nice. Apparently if you tell them it's your first time there you get one of the desserts for free, too.

    (4)

  • Thomas B.

    Do you remember Chi-Chi's (A celebration of food), then here you go. Cheese covered, baskets brimming with chips, some watery salsa, and sizzling platter of fajitas passing your table every ten minutes. Here it is...are you looking for it? Ole.

    (3)

  • Anne S.

    This is my all time favorite Tex Mex place. Delicious food, great drinks, and friendly servers. My favorite dishes are the guacamole and the pechuga de pollo (similar to fajitas, but with a plain chicken breast). The only possible downside is that it can get very loud. But because of that, it's a great place to bring kids. Make sure that they see the tortilla machine and get a piece of dough to play with!

    (5)

  • J D.

    Rio Grande is always busy. Service is somewhat slow because the place is huge and is always packed. Margaritas are good from what i've heard, and the food is quality. Ill be sure to go back.

    (4)

  • Lizi W.

    Akin to Taco Bell with overpriced weak alcohol. Would have had a more authentic experience going through drive-thru and fetching 40 ounces of Dos Equis. Everything is greasy and tasteless. They cater to their demographic well. Skip and go to Guapo's for Bethesda-Mexican.

    (1)

  • Matt B.

    The food is good. It's part of a small chain created by people who broke away from Papasitos (a Houston-based Tex-Mex chain) -- and it seems from my friends with direct experience, they copied a lot from the experience to be found in those places. It can be quite hectic. The price can seem high, but the portions are large. There are many dishes you can order in custom quantities to share. Family friendly but also a good place to go with a large group of friends.

    (3)

  • Brenda F.

    Good food but they have the same menu and the same recipes from Lauriol Plaza. This place did not wow me. I was looking for some thing different. All I thought was copycat. hahaha oh well the only good thing is that it was not crowded like Lauriol or a long wait list.

    (3)

  • Matars Z.

    Three tries, you are out. I have eaten at this place three times over the course of years. I think the guacamole is the only thing I could stand. Salty, food, boring flavors, a a few inedible entrees. To this add the most horrifying atmosphere. Noise. Kids. More Noise. More Kids. I will not be going back.

    (1)

  • Kelly S.

    I've never left this place unhappy.

    (5)

  • Charles V.

    The chips are great - just the right amount of crunch and salt. The fajitas tasty, and the margarita's are probably the best in Bethesda (though that might be damning with faint praise) But the rest of their menu is - not bad - but uninspired. Ultimately, It's just too expensive for what it is, though that is hardly unique for the area.

    (3)

  • Ronald R.

    The worst! The noise level makes it impossible to talk without yelling - thus contributing to the football game ambiance. The food was horrible. Got an underdone (requested medium-well) tough skirt steak that was greasy. Accompanying rice was ordinary at best and the tortillas were undercooked rubber. My companion's meal was less than ordinary. I was surprised at the number of families with small children at dinner-time. The preponderance of the clientele was late teens to early thirties. Better-dressed, single women were entering at 8:30 PM in packs of four. I imagine that people text one another to communicate. This may be why the Apple Store is adjacent. The waiter was a distant and phony guy. Why do people wait in line? They should offer sides of headache medicines and/or ear plugs. Hello, OSHA?

    (1)

  • Wendy K.

    This was fun! We were there on a Saturday night, pre- late movie crowd. Very busy and we were given a beeper and made our way to the bar for fresh baked tortilla chips hot and crispy with a tangy salsa. I had a Chambord Margarita, wonderful!!! My friend had a frozen Strawberry Margarita and said it was very good. The restaurant is large, 2 large seating areas. For dinner I had the Mesquite Grilled Salmon Filet- excellent - and he had Enchilata combination. Service was quick, good and we made it to the movie on time, too.

    (4)

  • Brooke B.

    Always really packed in here, at least at night time. The "Swirl" is so great--it's a mix of frozen margarita and sangria. The guac is pretty good as well, and although I like the thin chips they break off too easily in the guac.

    (3)

  • N L.

    Consistently some of the best Mexican food in the DC area, very reasonably priced, and service to please at every location. Josh at the Bethesda location is a five star server! Ask for him if your there.

    (4)

  • Renato S.

    I really like the fajitas here, steak, they're really good. Service is a little sketchy though. and it's too pricey for a 4 star rating for me.

    (3)

  • John J.

    Bottomless baskets of good chips, the dishes with shrimp were very good as was the presentation. Young, friendly staff. Good but not exceptional service.

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    the best! would never live somewhere without an uncle Julio's within a reasonable commute the only tasteeness that i would give 6 stars if i could

    (5)

  • Eric G.

    I always get the same thing here: a plain cheese Quesadilla. It's not so much that I'm not willing to be adventurous with the food. It's more that their Quesadillas are really, really good. My fellow diners are likewise always pleased. One time, the kitchen messed up an order for my sister. We notified the waitress, who apologized profusely, rushed the correction to the cooks, and had the replacement dish at our table in short order. I highly recommend this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Lucy B.

    always consistently good!

    (4)

  • Nick B.

    I am not from Texas. I am not from the West coast or the Southwest. If you are going to be turned off by a place because it is not "authentic" enough for you, then don't read this review. In terms of getting the best Tex-Mex food in the area (by DC standards), Uncle Julio's is my favorite. The chips are hot and fresh, and come with spicy, but tasty salsa. You'd be surprised at how many Tex-Mex places I've been where I can't even get good chips and salsa. It seems like an essential part of any Tex-Mex experience, yet many places drop the ball on that one. I'm also a big fan of the drinks here. The margaritas are good (especially The Swirl), and I always enjoy getting Sangria here. They have a decent happy hour if you can get there early enough to avoid the crowds. It's true that this place attracts a good deal of Montgomery County families with loud kids, but I think the restaurant is big enough where it isn't too much of a problem. The food is what has kept me coming back for years. Make sure you listen to their specials for the night; they usually have some interesting dishes. I was even impressed with the fried calamari they had once, and I definitely was not expecting to hear that option on there. I've had good experiences ordering fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas, and even their salads are not a bad option. If you somehow manage to save room, definitely get the sopapillas for dessert. So bad for you, but so delicious. I can always be easily persuaded to go here, and as long as I am in the area, I will continue to do so. Bring on the Swirls.

    (5)

  • Brian J.

    Uncle Julio's was just as good as I remember it being back on Lemmon on Dallas. The margaritas were tasty. We had a cheese dip that was really good until you got about 2/3 of the way into it. Our main dishes were fantastic. A great place to take your friends for a fun night out.

    (4)

  • michele p.

    This is my favorite Mexican food spot, and I LOVE Mexican food. The fajitas are awesome, everything is good quality. Margaritas are not a great deal but they are tasty!

    (5)

  • T.H. J.

    I literally walked into this place to get in out of the rain. It was way above average. Chain, may e, but close attention to freshness and quality.

    (4)

  • Becky T.

    The soup of the day for Fridays is shrimp and lobster soup. Chunks of shrimp and lobster in a rice and broth soup for $5.50. It was filling and had great flavor. I also got the combo fajitas. They weren't the best I've ever had or anything, but the meat was tender and cooked perfectly so that it didn't get too dry while sitting on the hot plate. Not a place to come if you're trying to have a quiet private conversation. It's way too loud for that. You gotta scream at the people across from you to be heard. My expectations were low, so they were met. Slow but really friendly service and they have a huge variety of tequilas and margaritas to choose from. They also have a frozen sangria on the menu that I'll have to try next time.

    (4)

  • Tamika J.

    During a farewell happy hour we kind of descended upon them, but they handled us well. Shout out to SETH our server who got the hang of it quite quickly and kept us all happy, full of drinks and appetizers -- even the children

    (3)

  • S. L.

    Pretty solid, though we just did the straight Tex-Mex thing, nothing fancy. The salsa is addictive and there's no way those chips can be good for you, but we enjoyed them all the same. Strawberry margaritas were super sweet and delicious. Chicken fajitas were good but oddly did not include any onions and peppers. The fish tacos (with fried fish, not grilled) were also quite good. Not as good as eating them in SoCal but pretty close! Service was a little lacking - you could tell our server was busy and rushing around but we felt a little neglected. On the plus side though, we mentioned that we were from out of town, and he told the manager, who sent us a free dessert and came out to say hello to us. Nice! And those sopapillas were RIDICULOUSLY good!! Fried dough, covered with powdered sugar, cinnamon, & honey, good Lord, yum. I'm a fan.

    (4)

  • Gregory K.

    This place isn't great, but it isn't bad, either. The fajitas are decent, the salsa is pretty good for a chain but there really isn't much else to talk about. The decor is just OK, the serving staff are all pretty friendly but there isn't anything here that says you must come here.

    (3)

  • George B.

    Much better when it was just Rio Grande...Went in with family about a month ago and had horrible service. They also ran out of Shrimp! Who does that??? The manager came out because I chose to order nothing and just have a beer (which remained empty for about 10 minutes before I had to ask another waiter for a new one). The mgr. gave the table a free dessert to share, which was a nice gesture but in no way made up for the poor service and bad attitude of our waitress. The food isn't good enough to warrant spending that kind of money when I can go to a bunch of other places in Bethesda and have better service and food.

    (1)

  • Ju L.

    Pros: Authentic Mexican. Outdoor seatting. Cons: No taco salad nor veggie burritos :( Great place for carnivores, but not so for herbivores.

    (2)

  • Angela M.

    Such good chicken fajitas. Took less than five minutes from ordering it until it got to the table. In fact, we got the fajitas before we got our chips and salsa - that was odd. Enough for 6 fajitas - great for 2 people, even 3 for under $20.

    (5)

  • F N.

    Awesome food & service! Everything we had was great. Great food and service.

    (5)

  • Ina C.

    Please, please, please don't make me eat here. I do not want to pay more than $5 for "Mexican" food in Bethesda, MD. Service was spotty, and the food was okay, but definitely not worth the price. $24 for a shrimp special? $4 for salty guac? No thank you. You're better off somewhere else in Bethesda.

    (2)

  • Jenny L.

    Love the chips, thin and crispy. Other than that nothing too great about it. Ordered the flautas, pretty good. A little pricey - who wants to pay extra $ for cheese - at a mexican place???

    (3)

  • Jennifer N.

    Uncle Julio's makes a mean margarita. I love margaritas on the rocks and lots of places make them watered down. Uncle Julio's makes a nice strong margarita. I was very pleased with the size and flavor of the drink compared to most happy hour drinks which I find to be very watered or taste strongly of mixer. Also, kudos to Uncle Julio's waitstaff for their attentiveness to my telling them of my food allergy. I'm allergic to corn so it is always a risky bet to go to a Mexican restaurant where corn features so prominently in so many dishes. Uncle Julio's was incredibly responsive in meeting my needs, not a single kernel of corn crossed my plate even as a garnish. I thought the prices were a tad high, but certainly in line with other DC- area restaurants of a similar nature. The customer service was outstanding all around, even the young waiter who carded me and received quite the shock when he saw I have been legally able to drink for many years!

    (3)

  • Barbara F.

    During this recent power outage, my husband and I have been trying to stay out as late as possible to avoid the heat. He wanted a strawberry margarita, & Rio Grande seemed like as good as place as any to get them. It's always so noisy and loud, and we've always found the food totally mediocre, but figured we'd sit in the bar and get the good margaritas with some ceviche. Clearly, they're so crowded, customer service takes a total back seat. We sat at a bar table with dirty dishes, they cleared most of it off, left the rest and didn't wipe the table down for about 10 minutes. Took our drink order--I ordered a mojito, but hubby wanted the margarita, so...Drinks came, no menus, no napkins, water. They did bring us good chips and OK salsa while we drank. My mojito was funny tasting and I asked if I could switch for a rita. I asked my husband to try cause I didn't want to make problems, and he agreed. Waiter was questioning me and I felt put on the spot, but he did take it back. It was so loud, noisy and we never did get menus, so we asked for the check, and our waiter "Mikey" looked at my husband when he attempted to tell him we were going to order, but after waiting about 1/2 hour, our appetites were gone. He gave us a look, said nothing, and just took our credit card. For us, service is part of the dining experience. Rio Grande gets a big fat Zero.

    (1)

  • Natalie F.

    This was probably the worst service I have ever experienced in my life. After working a 10 hour shift at AVEDA I wanted a drink and some yum yum. The waiter was rude from the beginning. After he got us our first order of drinks and brought us our food we never saw him until the he came back and asked "Are you Done?". Who the hell says that. What happened to "How is everything?" "Can I get you anything?" What an Ass. The Ceviche Rica is very good, but that's about it.

    (1)

  • paul l.

    oh rio grande... what happened to you??? i remember the olden days when you were like chevy's... basic fun middle class fare. now after 7 years, i go back, and you've pulled a ruby tuesdays... trying to be all upscale. what happened to those killer nachos? the mountain sized ones... they are not basically like a plate of appetizers. i was so utterly disappointed. having said that. they food is not bad. so i give it a two stars. but honestly. who wants to pay that much for mexican unless you're at rick bayless' place in chitown?

    (2)

  • Art P.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Bethesda. I'm surprised to see so many low ratings. For Tex-Mex I feel like its perfect. The chips and salsa are so good its hard not to fill up before you get actual food. Make sure to try the con queso sauce with the chips, really good. I always get the fajitas here because the steak is just so delicious. Sometimes I go for the lobster combo as well but the steak is definitely what keeps me coming back. It has a buttery goodness and every fajita I make tastes perfect. If you go with two people, the chicken/steak fajita combo is the perfect amount of food for two people. If you each order your own fajita order I think that is way to much food in my opinion. Maybe that is why I see complaints about expensive prices. The food comes in huge portions so if you order sensibly and share dishes you will leave feeling stuffed but not broke. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • John B.

    Great food, nice prices, great service, and just plain fun! I go here all the time, and it has never been worse than good. The servers are always very polite and helpful. I always order the chicken fajitas which are delicious. The guacamole and salsa are fresh, and delicious. The fajitas are just a tad better in the Gaithersburg location. Overall: AWESOME! Best Mexican food around.

    (5)

  • XY Z.

    Way too loud! Like loud on a level of you can't even hear the person one foot across the table from you. Always crowded with kids and people pushing past spilling things on you. Food is dry, Austin Grill is a better vibe...

    (1)

  • Jeff G.

    This restaurant is a bit on the loud side, but it does the best Tex-Mex impression I've seen in DC. Margaritas are tasty (buy frozen!) and the salsa is legit. Plus, the cheese enchiladas are quite good (a true testimate to any restaurant that would pass itself off as Tex-Mex).

    (3)

  • John W.

    The fajitas, skirt steak, and salsa are all very good, but it's the margaritas that really make this place great. It can get crowded (for good reason), so don't go there at peak restaurant times expecting to get a table right away. Then again, there are far worse things than having to pass away the time enjoying their chips & salsa and margaritas.

    (5)

  • Alexis G.

    This is pretty standard Mexican fare, but the salsa and guacamole are really good and the staff is more than friendly. One thing I would suggest is THE SWIRL! It's a fruity margarita drink and it's absolutely excellent. A bit strong though, so make sure someone else is driving.

    (4)

  • Denise C.

    hahahahaahahahahaahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahaah­hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaha­hahahahahahahahahahah lol to america! rio grande my heart out when we're drunk on sangria!

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    Generally I like Uncle Julio's. It's "family friendly" (i.e., super loud Friday and Saturday early evening), the service is passable, and the food is good for what it is: decent, tasty, overpriced Tex-Mex. I would give it three stars for all of this. However, in this review, I am writing in protest against the aggravating experience I just had (ergo, 1 star). I asked my wife to swing by and pick up some chips and queso since she was going to be across the street at the Giant. She r eturned home with a bag of chips, a container of salsa, and a small container of queso ... for $17!! I mean, please! $17 bucks for chips, queso, and salsa? The queso is quite tasty, and I'm from Houston, where restaurants live and die on the reputation of their queso. That said, I'm steamed about the niggardly portion of queso the Bethesda Uncle Julio's served and their ridiculous overpricing. I'm all for making a profit, and clearly the queso is how they do it. I'm guessing an 80% profit margin on take-out queso/salsa/chips. Think about what $17 could buy you at any other casual restaurant and you will understand why this is the last time I will be patronizing Uncle Julio's ... at least for a while. Three stars for Uncle Julio's, minus two stars for the queso ripoff. There, I feel better now :-)

    (1)

  • Phu V.

    I dunno if the food has changed much but I remember going to the Arlington Location about 7 years ago and it being fantastic. Maybe my tastes have evolved or the quality has dropped but it has definitely dropped a few notches since then. I'd rate it slightly above a good TGI friday's or applebee's which isn't bad but it is pretty forgettable. All in all I probably wouldn't ever suggest eating here but if someone wants to go than I"m not gonna complain.

    (3)

  • Nelson A.

    Mexican food in a loud atmosphere with plenty of chotchky on the walls. Fajitas are usually good, but I might skip it for one of the other various restaurants in Bethesda.

    (2)

  • T C.

    I wouldn't say this is the best Mexican food in DC (by any means), but I do find myself there quite often. The service is usually pretty good, they don't skimp on portions, and it's always crowded. My wife and I usually order the shrimp quesadillas and then split fajitas. That is usually plenty of food for both of us.

    (3)

  • Michael F.

    This is a great restaurant! Great food! THE for the best restaurant in bethesda. Why do you think its filled to the brim EVERY SINGLE NIGHT? The chips and salsa, crispy, homemade, so thin, so delicious. The salsa, homemade and unique with the slow roasted tomatoes. The meat, that sizzling, lean, perfectly cooked mouth watering steak. And the nicely seasoned juicy chicken. The tortillas made in front of you, hot and fluffy. The caramelized onions, sweet and crunchy. The tamales, hot and filled with meat and flavor. The nachos, dripping with cheese, beans and steak served with the best guacamole and sour cream. The margaritas, strawberry daiquiri and great drinks. Best of all, the friendly waiters and bartenders who can become instant friends. This is the place to go to the bar bring some friends, get a drink and some steak nachos and watch a sports game on there 3 big flat-screen tv's. GO TO RIO GRANDE BETHESDA!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • april g.

    I give Rio Grande 4 stars not because it's the best place I've ever eaten, but because it consistently satisfies. It's the type of weeknight, I don't feel like cooking, want some good food and a margarita type of place. To start, the chips and salsa are addictive. I always struggle to not eat too many chips before my meal comes. The steak quesadilla is big, and really good, although it's hard to mess up a quesadilla. I tend to get the veggie fajitas most of the time, which are delicious...zuchinis, potatoes, asparagus, onions, bell peppers....and it comes with guacamole and these great flour tortillas. I've also had the carne asada, which is a better piece of meat than the meat that comes with the fajitas. The beef and chicken fajitas can be a little dry and hard to chew. It's very family friendly so it's usually load with a lot of yelling kids, but if you sit out on the patio on a nice night, it's great. You can also sit at the bar and watch the tv.

    (4)

  • Chelsea M.

    Call me déclassé, but I find Mexican food to be the single cuisine whose flavors are not elevated when all dolled up. Fresh ingredients aside, an enchilada is better to me when it's extra cheesy rather than reinvented or in an emulsion, surrounded by a foam of whatever. While most people sneer at a franchised establishment, I'm thrilled to order a side of fried plantains at a restaurant with more than one location (what? even Rosa Mexicana has two). Don't get me wrong- if we were talking about fish taco stands in San Diego, I'd be all about the small business. But I'm in D.C.- times are tough. Uncle Julio's proves Mexican can be muy caliente without breaking the bank and that Cinco de Mayo really is the best holiday ever. They kept the queso, guac and salsa flowing and the steak fajitas were a dream come true. I don't know what our dessert was called, but I hope those mountains of mini sugar-dusted donuts are on the menu (we got them since it was someone's cumpleaños), because they changed my life. ¡Arriba!

    (4)

  • Jae K.

    First off, I can say the service was great. We had a really friendly and attentive server and the food came out quickly. I'm usually one of those annoying customers due to my vegan diet (I have way too many questions and substitutions), but our waiter was very helpful. For vegans and vegetarians, be warned that the rice is made with chicken stock and the vegetables are cooked with butter. There really weren't a ton of veggie options :( I do agree that a veggie burrito would be a nice addition to the menu. I settled on the veggie fajitas--a big portion. But SUPER oily. I asked for no oil but it was still crazy over-oiled. My sister got some cheese dish and it must have had a pound of cheese on it (so guys you really got to lay off of that!) Regardless, we all enjoyed our food and our "Swirl" drink. You could barely taste the alcohol, but you felt it. The way I like it. It was super sugary though. The restaurant is very spacious and can definitely accommodate large groups. Great atmosphere. Also, if it's your first time they give you a free dessert--I think a sopapilla (I couldn't try it though but my family loved it.) Really sweet and cute of them!

    (3)

  • Marie P.

    I ordered this from GrubHub for delivery. It came rather late, so it probably wasn't the best, but wow, for take-out Mexican food it was great! I would definitely order from them again. I got the shrimp quesadillas, guacamole, steak fajitas and queso. The flour tortillas for the fajitas and quesadilla were homemade (mmm), which is so good. They sent along about 2 bags worth of their house chips, plus a huge thing of salsa, Mexican rice, and tasty beans. The shrimp in the quesadilla had a delicious grilled flavor. The steak fajitas were tender and cooked nicely medium rare. They did not skimp on anything.

    (4)

  • Jonathan P.

    decent family place for american tex-mex food.

    (3)

  • Kris H.

    After a week back in the DC area me and my bf decided to get some grub before my flight back to LA. We were downtown Bethesda picking up a gift and decided to come to Unlcle Julios for a quick lunch. Automatically I didn't expect too much from this place, just because I am from southern California and know good Mexican food. But I was like what the hell, might as well give it a try. The restaurant is decorated really nice and is very spacious and clean. Our waiter Abraham/Abrahem was really nice and very attentive. He suggested meals for us and did everything with a smile. As far as the food..... eeeek! We started off with ceviche as an appitizer. It was deff. different than any ceviche I have had in the past. I am used to eating my ceviche with a tostada and it to be filled with shrimp, onion, chile, avacado, and tomato. Uncle Julios was skimped version and just bleeeeeeeeeh. For an entree I ordered the soft chicken tacos. My meal came with a side of beans and rice. I don't even know where to start. The corn tortillas reminded me of pita bread and my chicken was more cubed than breast. There was no flavor to the chicken at all. My side of rice was over cooked and my beans were... well whatever. The bf got steak tacos with the same sdes as myself. His steak looked pretty decent and he didn't seem to have a problem with it. I didn't even bother asking to try. At the end of our meal we were brought dessert (on the house, since it was our first visit) which tasted like funnel cake/churros but in a rolled up form sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon. In the middle of our donut shaped treats was warm hunny for dipping. The dessert was absolutely scrumptious. Overall Uncle Julios IS NOT authentic Mexican food and far from it!!! If you know anything about real mexican food then I suggest you stay away unless you really don't care. The service, management, and everything else was just wonderful. The food........ just a different story.

    (2)

  • Jed S.

    Best Mexican restaurant in DC area for 20 years. Everything is superb including fajitas, chips, guac, tacos, enchiladas, etc. Be fat like me and split the Gordo platter with someone.

    (5)

  • christine c.

    This was my second visit to this restaurant. The location is impeccable - situated on the corner of Bethesda and Arlington, there is covered outdoor seating along Bethesda Ave but my favorite spot was the glassed in area off one side of the bar facing Arlington Blvd, with high tables and chairs and spacious. My friends and I were there mainly for a drink so we just ordered guacamole, nachos, and a chicken quesadilla. There's nothing exciting about the food, although the signature drink - the Swirl - frozen Margarita layered with home-made frozen Sangria was quite interesting and definitely worth a try. For dessert, I would recommend the flan, which is better than most, good size, light and tasty. It's a good place to hang out with friends, for the ambience and fairly good service, but not for a gourmet dining experience.

    (3)

  • Navdeep S.

    Food was aweful and expensive...

    (1)

  • Jodi A.

    i tried this mexican place which ive been too before in Arlington because its closer to where i live. I have to say....i was very disapointed. It is extremley loud and very crowded. It seems like peoples butts are litteraly in your face as your trying to eat. The servers all look like they are breaking a sweat which i guess could be good because they are working hard but also bad because i dont want sweaty people handling my food.... The fajitas are yummy and queso is definitly a must try but its just soo expensive that i cant see myself going back just to have a meal that leaves you so full you need to be rolled out of the restaurant. Suggestions, turn down the music...teach the hostesses how to crowd control and maybe lower prices? The Rio Grande in arlington is definlty better and i will go back to that one but never again to Bethesda..... oh welll im glad i tried it though.

    (2)

  • Sunshine W.

    This is my go to spot at Rio. The food is great and the music is good too! Drinks are over the excellent. For the most part, we have had good service too. They have recently started to get more francised, however the food and drinks make up for it. People can get rowdy in here. It only takes a swirl or two to start feelin' good.

    (4)

  • Duy N.

    Great fajitas and tortillas. I go here all the time.

    (4)

  • Diana M.

    Yummy fish tacos! The ceviche royale is also very delicious... small portion for the price though. It is very noisy in there which is great for large groups and families with children!

    (4)

  • Sparkely K.

    Though I will give this place another try, I was very disappointed to walk in just to order something to go, and to wait a very long time just to place my order. The process at UJRGC is to walk in and then go stand in a certain spot until someone notices you and comes over to take your order. Then you stand there until your food comes out. After what seemed like an eternity I walked out without placing an order.

    (3)

  • Brian L.

    Got invited by some work friends, so to be social, I decided to go... Driving by the place a couple times, it always seemed packed, so it definitely could be a headache. The food was pretty good, chain mexican food, which is the food I like, the menu had some pretty imaginative items, like stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon, which my date had, I had "Juanita's" something or other, which was pretty good considering. The chips are just ok, really thin and pretty fragile, the salsa was just ok too, i'm used to a chunkier salsa, or at least something that doesn't just run off your chip. I drank Corona so I can't comment on the mixed drinks. Overall it was a pretty good place to go, very loud, lots of kids, running and screaming, but I didn't really care cause I was out with friends, and didn't have to worry about keeping quiet myself. I'd recommend it.

    (4)

  • Dd'z K.

    Being from LA, it was refreshing rolling up in a Mexican food restaurant. Its funny - I go away to DC for 3 days on business and start missing the stuff! Anyways, I sit down with my new found friends and we converse about the best pick-up line we've ever heard and I just noticed that there wasn't one vato eating in the restaurant - all Caucasian. It just made me think. I'm Asian, I love Mexican food and all other ethnic foods and coming to the East Coast and seeing that made me realize how great of a country we live in. No color lines. That's just beautiful. The food there was excellent too. It's hard to find good chile rellano and tamales and they had it. Much love for this place.

    (3)

  • David R.

    This used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Great chips and salsa before your meal, and food was always terrific, but my last trip to Rio Grande was definitely not quite as satisfying due to the very poor service that was received. All and all a great stop for Mexican food in Bethesda, but may have trouble making another return trip myself due to wait and poor service on my last trip.

    (3)

  • Jay R.

    I feel like I'm in my old high school cafeteria when I eat here. Never my first choice, I go here when forced to by others. It is so loud even if it's only half full, plus the tables are so close together. The food is okay, but I often find things pretty salty, and I'm a savory type of guy. Service is okay, but I'd rather go to Pansa Llena or Fajita Coast in Silver Spring for something a lot less institutional and more friendly and neighborhood like.

    (2)

  • Sarah O.

    Rio Grande is a standard go-to as a Bethesda local. It's always decent/good and it works for the entire family. I mean who doesn't love Tex-Mex. I was pleased with our visit tonight. On such a lovely evening the outdoor seating was a perfect close to a beautiful night. The fajitas there are my favorite in town. One note, probably don't go for the shrimp fajitas, the shrimp are those little ones that come from who knows where. I wasn't pleased with my deviation from the norm there, buy only blame myself for a poor decision. Stick with the basics!

    (3)

  • Marc H.

    I've been coming here for years and I love this place; give me a chance to plead my case, I think it's a matter of ordering correctly. After many trials and tribulations I think I have what amounts to the perfect Rio Grande order (I refuse to refer to this place as Uncle Julio's, FYI, it's freakin Rio Grande). To start off, you gotta get a cup or bowl of queso; this stuff is liquid crack. Honestly, it's my favorite queso. The chips here are pretty rad after you sprinkle some salt on top of them and I'm a fan of the salsa as well. Make sure to save some of the queso for your entree.... you'll be needing that. Entree: Don't even bother looking at the menu. Enchiladas? No. Tacos? No. Chile Relleno? No. Fajitas? YES. What you're going to order is the Jalisco with Beef. The chicken is good, yes, but the beef fajitas here are better in my opinion. The three accompanying shrimp are delectable and you gotta dunk one in the butter as soon as you get it (it's gotta soak up all the delicious mexican butter for the fajita you're about to make). I always ask for a side of fresh chopped jalapenos when I order bc I like my fajitas spicy, but even if you don't a cooked jalapeno comes with teh fajitas. Time to make your fajita. Grab a warm tortilla and spread a little bit of that queso you've been saving on one half. Add some guac, pico de gallo, some of the fresh cut jalapenos, and the sauteed onions from the bottom of the sizzling fajita plate. Don't over do it now, just a little bit of each is all you need. Now, take that shrimp outta the butter (make sure to replace it with another one!), cut it in half, and place the two pieces of shrimp inside the tortilla, along with two pieces of beef. Roll it up, making sure that you've pinched the back side of the fajita so all that buttery-cheesy goodness doesn't drip out the back, and take a bite. Sit back, smile, take a sip of your margarita (rocks, salt), and relish in the fact that you've just experienced the best Rio Grande has to offer.

    (4)

  • Glory W.

    Wandered into Julio today while in Bethesda for a drink. Got the mango passion rita, on the rocks. I must say, it was a big drink, but it was worth the money. The chips are fresh, and the salsa is light. Definitely will go back if I find myself back in Bethesda.

    (5)

  • Chris N.

    Always a good place for pitchers of margaritas. The food is so-so, I would recommend sticking to the beef fajitas.

    (3)

  • Robert D.

    I love this place. I have trouble ordering anything other than Fajitas (because they are so good). (My wife likes the carne asada.) It has one of those fascinating tortilla machines-kids love to watch them being made. The salsa that comes with the chips is among the best I've ever had-smoky with just the right amount of cilantro. I have been there multiple times. Highly recommend it.

    (4)

  • John K.

    Ignore everyone else, this place rocks. I agree, I guess, that if you just want some enchiladas these can be gotten elsewhere for less without much of a discernible sacrifice in taste (though there's are excellent). What makes Rio Grande great are their entrees: the camarones diablos is my favorite (basically shrimp fajitas), quail is great, ribs are great (with excellent sauce that blends bbq and salsa well). Nachos are done the way I like 'em: not a big heap with cheese poured on but instead neatly arrayed set of chips that look like they were individually prepped. Ceviche is excellent. Tamales excellent. Really not a bad thing on the menu. Brunch specials are delicious and tasty. The premium margaritas with Patron (or whatever tequila your prefer) and Grand Marnier are the best I've had. The place is expensive, but only when compared to other Mexican restaurants. But you can come here and have a culinary adventure (or just go for the standard fare) and you are guaranteed a great meal and excellent service. And this was supposedly George H. W. Bush's favorite restaurant in D.C. I wasn't a huge fan, but I still think that's a great endorsement. -John

    (5)

  • Marianne D.

    SETTING: Weekday lunch for two. DECOR: Ignore the formal chihuahua painting, since the rest is nicer than most Mexican-style casual places in the DC area. SERVICE: With a smile. Maybe a tad long on the "first time here so let me tell you about 5 of our offerings -none of which are ever for vegetarians, by the way, at 90% of teh restaurants I visit.- but made up for by the manager nicely offering a hefty sampling of their delish "donuts" with honey. ENTREES: Veggie Quesadilla (full offer, not lunch-sized portion) is nicely sizeable, with sour cream and guacamole. VERDICT: Will return. Expecially for the outdoor seating in the Spring-Fall

    (3)

  • Jaime C.

    Not a great Mexican place. It is about as authentic as On the Border. The restaurant is always really loud and I agree with Jay that the food is salty. The salsa they bring out is always watery and a few times the chips have been stale. Last time I was there I got the simplest of Tex-Mex fare, a ground beef hard taco, but by the time it got to our table the grease from the beef had soaked through the taco shell and the seasoning wasn't fully mixed into the beef. Not a satisfying meal. Also, this may have just been my waiter, but I ordered a "regular margarita" assuming that would be the cheapest but when we got the bill they had charged me for their top shelf tequila. I asked him about it and he said, "top shelf IS their regular margarita." So make sure you are specific or you will end up with a $10 margarita.

    (2)

  • Steve M.

    At first I thought all the reviews here were way off and this place deserved more stars. Then the margarita was bad, salsa was forgettable, service was poor, and most of the food on the menu was overpriced for it's quality. Skip this place and head to Guapo's, unless you need to be outside. Their patio is pretty nice after all.

    (2)

  • Bonnie W.

    FRESH! One good thing about this very busy Tex-mex place is that everything is fresh and the quality is usually high. On a rainy Sat. night at 7:30, we called ahead and there was no waiting when we arrived! Nothing like a good marguarita swirl or regular on the rocks or cold Dos Equis (amber or regular) to go with the incredibly wonderful chips and salsa. Spring for the fresh guacamole. We usually go with the chicken-steak fajitas for 2, last night I got the incredibly tasty shrimp version to mix it up. We shared and were incredibly happy. In fact, the steak seemed to be higher quality than we remembered. Even the bean were tasty. We will stick to the tried and true. The original Rio Grande was a bit cosier, but not much and we are happy they kept the fresh concept. Stick to the nicely seasoned fajitas. Better for you than the enchiladas anyway.

    (4)

  • Sharneen S.

    All I gotta say is...reverse swirl, topped with GM, served in a frozen mug. DUDE (drool)!!! Oh, the food is good too!! ;o) Had to write an update: if you go on a Friday after work, be ready for Romper Room!! Kids hanging in the bar area, seriously??? Really?? That's where I like to drink and be an adult! I can't be an adult when you bring your kid(s) to hang out. Please keep them in the restaurant area!!! Thanks!

    (3)

  • Alex R.

    I really like this restaurant and location, even though it's always loud, overcrowded, and overpriced. Still, IMO the best tex-mex in the area. Always get the steak fajitas, and never leave unsatisfied. Def better than Guapo's and Lauriol Plaza. In short, it is what it is. When you got nowhere else to go in Bethesda for grub, this spot is a solid move.

    (4)

  • Shaun O.

    During my return trip to DC, I went here with a friend for dinner. We were somewhat indecisive about where to go, and then she suggested going here. During my summer in Bethesda, I had always met to check it out and now I had someone who wanted-so of course I elected to go here. The first interesting story was that even in a empty restaurant, they still made us wait for a server to come and seat us. It also took about 5 minutes for a server to come and seat us. The second point that surprised me was the prices. Most of the main entrees were around $15/plate, and certainly not what I was expecting to pay. However, to their credit the servings were actually pretty large and the food wasn't too bad. Again, it just bothered me to see the prices were that steep...but then again, maybe I have been in Philly too long and forgot about the going rate in Bethesda. The service wasn't too bad, although the waiter kept checking up on us a little too periodically. It seemed like an ok ambience, as I was able to carry a conversation but I just can't imagine myself coming back too often at these prices.

    (3)

  • Angela G.

    minimal, but at least tasty vegetarian options. The warm tortilla chips that're automatically brought to the table are thin and crisp and salty and yummy. I'm not much of a drinker, and yet I really enjoyed their signature "Swirl" frozen adult beverage (swirled frozen margarita and frozen sangria). Not sure what that means though-- is it just really good, or is it just really sweet like a Slurpee with some alcohol thrown in and therefore appealing to us novice drinkers? The other folks at the table who're FAR more experienced in liquor than I all really liked their Swirls as well, so maybe it's just a really tasty beverage? Main reasons for only 3 stars: as far as veggie options go, it's overpriced... and, it's unbelievably loud. Really. I'd read this in other reviews, but was STILL surprised by the volume upon actually experiencing it... Like, so loud we couldn't hold a conversation at our table... :( Which made for a really irritating and disappointing meal... (wonder if they realize that their lights on the outside blue posts look like HRC logos? love it!)

    (3)

  • Sam G.

    I ate here with my friend and his wife who are from the area, so it was a nice treat to come here with a few exceptions. The place was packed on a Friday night, but we were able to get a table quick. We ordered our drinks and when they arrived the waiter gave me the wrong beer. I wanted the Modelo Especial, and he brought me the Modelo Nigrito. He was well aware of the drink I ordered too, so I was a little annoyed. I made him switch it out after my friend's wife pointed it out and I had already drank half of the beer. I ordered the Matamoros to take dare myself to eat the frog legs. Honestly, they were not too bad. I had my friend and his wife try them and they described it as having a "texture like tuna." It didn't taste awful, fishy or like pond water. The waiter came by trying to take my plate while I was just resting. I was obviously not finished, so I don't know what was his hurry. We ended up giving a tip around 10% due to our dissatisfaction

    (2)

  • Olivia L.

    This place kind of sucks big time. The drink specials are pretty terrible. The frozen sangria was super bitter, the classic sangria was way too sweet, and everything that came out of the frozen mixer was blended with the most hideous, cheapest liquor. The frozen drinks are strong, but not in a good way -- in a "I'm a 18 year old with a fake ID and want to get smashed immediately kind of way". We had nachos. We paid about $9 for 10 round tortilla chips (the food service kind). Our first bartender didn't offer us any chips (fresh, house made) and salsa to go with our drinks, otherwise we could have extended the utility of the nacho fixings by using the extra chips. The salsa that finally did come with the chips was good, and the free chips were good (when we finally got them), and the second (girl) bartender was cool, but ugh. I'm never going back and you should avoid the place at all costs.

    (1)

  • Lawry F.

    Okay food. Pricey. So noisy it's impossible to talk and quite uncomfortable. I'm convinced they pipe in a voice track. I hear hundreds of people talking but when I scan tables nearby, no ones mouth is moving.

    (1)

  • Margaret N.

    Went here for happy hour once and they had great deals on drinks.. Ordered ceviche and it was horrible! Didn't taste or look like ceviche at all! Don't think I'll be going back anytime soon...

    (2)

  • Bella K.

    Great beef fajitas! Other stuff not so good

    (4)

  • Alexandra B.

    Everything about this place was disappointing. I'm so glad that we went on an evening when we didn't want to splurge on lots of drinks and extra food, because that would have made things even worse. After a long, strenuous day, my boyfriend, my mom, and I arrived at Uncle Julio's basically by accident. We wanted to go to another restaurant in Bethesda but had neglected to make reservations and it was a Saturday night, so you know the rest. The dining section of Uncle Julio's was packed to the walls, but there were plenty of seats in the bar area. Since we couldn't have cared less where we sat, over to the bar we went. As I said, they were fantastically busy, so it's understandable that the service was noticeably slow, but that doesn't excuse the lackluster effort made by our waiter. My mother in particular has always been a very generous tipper--as am I--and both of us agreed that 15% was more than enough for what they deserved that evening. The decor is uninspired, typical chain Mexican restaurant fare. My mother and I both ordered some fun, frozen alcoholic beverages to try to lighten the mood, and all I can say is that they tasted like they came straight out of a package. Way too sweet and otherwise no flavor....very sad. The chips and salsa were probably the best part of the meal, but that's not saying much. The salsa was at least different, with a darker color and much heavier on the heat than most local chains. The actual entrees that we ordered were just blah. Everything was drowning in cheese, probably because it otherwise had next to no flavor, and they felt the need to stick meat in everything. This is definitely a place where you need to confirm about every dish as to whether or not it's vegetarian-friendly. Between three heavy eaters, none of us was willing to take the fall and eat one of the plates of black beans that came with our meals. It's a sad day when any of us sends food back to the kitchen uneaten that's not going in a doggy bag. At this very moment, I'm looking back on that meal and really can't remember a single distinguishing quality about the food that I ate there. It was wall-to-wall disappointing and unmemorable, and then on top of that every single thing on the menu is wildly overpriced, especially for a chain Mexican restaurant. There is no question that we won't be returning to Uncle Julio's anytime soon....or maybe even ever again.

    (2)

  • Stan W.

    Large portions, fun atmosphere, but overall nothing terribly exceptional. Will have to come back to try Swirly signature drink sometime.

    (3)

  • Ariel G.

    I'm not very impressed with Uncle Julio's. The food is over priced and generally pretty bland. But that should be expected from a "Mexican" restaurant on Bethesda row: the food needs to appeal to a wide range of patrons, who probably aren't too adventurous. The chips are really good though, no complaints there. Someone else's review described it as "nothing terribly exceptional." That about sums up my feelings as well.

    (3)

  • Stephanie W.

    This place is the best tex mex place that I have tried in the DMV area. The food is standard tex mex - quesadillas, red rice, chips and queso made from velveeta (which I happen to love). This is not the type of place where you should expect your meat to be prepared to your liking. It's more of a fast, high-volume operation. They are pretty good about getting your food to you in a timely fashion and they are on top of refilling the chips that come with the table, which I think is very important. The rice is always dry, however, and their guacamole is really not good. Also, the beans are a bit soupy for my taste.

    (3)

  • Kristen B.

    This place is hardly "mexican" but still decent. It's a very americanized mexican menu. Their drinks are great, especially their sangria margarita swirl. They also will always give free chips and salsa. Their salsa is something different, I'm not sure where they get it but it has almost a smoky flavor to it. Delicious though non-traditional. It's a busy middle of the rung type restaurant (for Bethesda). Their food is good but nothing spectacular. But there is a great vibe, people are always happy, and its always busy. Good Service as well. Their chicken tortilla soup is especially fantastic. I also had their vegetarian dish of grilled veggies which was also great. The food overall is great but its barely above the quality of a nice chain place like California Tortilla Kitchen. Its good for what it is, but just don't expect it to be fine dining.

    (3)

  • Heather J.

    Rio Grande is fine. It's nothing special and it's overpriced for what it is, but it's convenient and consistent. It's super loud inside and almost always busy, but they do have a nice covered patio area outside. I usually get the chicken fajitas, which are good, but, like most of the dishes offered in their "grill" section of the menu, they're overpriced. The most recent time I ate here, I got the fish tacos. They were fine, as well, but also nothing special. The frozen swirls (frozen sangria and margarita swirled together) are quite good, and the chips and queso are good, as well. It's a good place for a casual dinner and drinks, but you won't find really great Mexican food here.

    (3)

  • Stephanie W.

    The food was okay. The service was slow and could've been much better. I went at 2:30 which was a slow time and they did not attend to me as often as they should have.

    (2)

  • Lou K.

    It's exactly what you'd expect for casual Mexican. Table side guacamole is always a good choice to start as is the queso as long as you get either a red sangria or a margarita to go with it. I like to go with the salmon but my daughter is a sucker for the carne asada. Lively music and fun atmosphere plus indoor, outdoor and bar seating options. What more could you ask for? Oh! I know the complimentary fresh made chips and salsa! Got that too.

    (5)

  • Lissa B.

    Rio Grande is my favorite restaurant in the US. It is incredible. I recommend the steak soft taco dinner which comes with two delicious tacos filled with steak that has been seasoned and cooked not too much and just perfectly, a combination of cheddar and American cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce with rice and beans soup on the side. Make sure to also get the guacamole and pico de gallo to go inside the tacos to really make them burst with flavor! A few Swirl drinks (frozen margarita and sangria swirled together) brings everything together amazingly! The restaurant itself is really noisy since there isn't any carpeting. I like sitting outside or to the right when you first walk into the restaurant. I have had several wrong orders as they keep bringing me ground beef instead of steak but I keep going back since it is THAT good!

    (5)

  • Nathan R.

    This is a family favorite for us and probably half of Bethesda. They've got the best chips and salsa in town. Staff is always friendly and accommodating to the kids. I'm a fish taco fan but enchiladas would be a recommendation as well.

    (5)

  • Liz K.

    I came to this Uncle Julio's on Valentine's day night. We didn't have a reservation (didn't think we needed one..), but we called ahead before we left the house, and when we got there we were seated in less than 10 minutes. While we were waiting, we grabbed drinks at the bar, and were also offered their chips and salsa. Then when we were seated we were offered more chips and salsa. Their chips are super addicting. I could not stop eating them even after our food came When we were seated, our server was very nice and attentive. I ordered beef and chicken fajitas and calamari as an appetizer. The calamari wasn't the best that I've had, but it was still very good. I asked for no cheese with my fajitas, and they gave me extra sour cream as a substitute without me even asking. The fajitas were very filling. I'm always pleasantly surprised by how good their pinto beans are. It was a very yummy meal, and it made a second yummy meal the next day when I ate my leftovers for lunch. I hope one day they put chimichangas on the menu.

    (4)

  • Katie E.

    The chips and salsa here are what keep me coming back. I eat the salsa with a spoon and usually fill myself with chips before my meal even comes. The main entrees are delicious too- I get Juanita's Platter or sometimes just a good ol' chicken quesadilla. I'd recommend the guacamole too. Best place for TexMex in the DC area.

    (5)

  • Abegail A.

    Come for the food, not the drinks. Went to Uncle Julio's last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. We made reservations before hand for 5 but the restaurant wasn't too busy on a Tuesday night at 6:30pm, so reservations weren't necessary. The tortilla chips and salsa that was brought out to the table as something to munch on was addicting! The chips were super thin and lightly salted...just how I like them. The salsa wasn't too spicy, but did have that kick to it. Watch out when you eat these or else you'll end up having no room for dinner! We got seated at 6:25pm, just in time to order a drink off their happy hour menu. On the recommendation of the server, I had the Swirl, their signature drink. I believe it was 2 parts frozen margarita to 1 part frozen sangria. The drink was okay, didn't blow me away. Was too sweet for me and didn't have much alcohol in it (I know, I know...why didn't I order a margarita on the rocks then?!). I'm glad I paid the $6 happy hour price instead of the regular $8.25. For dinner I ordered Guadalajara. For a little over $20 I got 3 grilled jumbo shrimp brochette wrapped with bacon, a jalapeno, beef fajitas, rice, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, and flour tortillas. Delicious! Although the menu stated that the shrimp was stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese, I didn't taste it. Regardless of that, the shrimp was soooooooooooo tasty! Dip it in the butter and lemon that was on the side and it melted in your mouth. The steak was very tender and had great flavor to eat. The flour tortillas were yum yum yum...I love homemade tortillas! This meal was definitely large enough to share with someone, especially if you eat a good amount of chips/salsa or have an appetizer to share. I definitely recommend this dish! I would have gave Uncle Julio's 3 stars because their drinks were not too great, but they earned an additional star for letting us bring our own birthday cake in. Although the hostess almost screwed up our surprise by asking us loudly if this was a birthday cake (hello, is this not what we just whispered to you?!) and if it needed to be refrigerated, our server brought out the cake with the candles lit after our dinner. Was a nice surprise for the birthday girl. When I'm in Bethesda and craving some good old Tex-Mex, you'll find me at Uncle Julio's.

    (4)

  • G M.

    My favorite restaurant of ALL time!!!!! I will pick this restaurant any day over any Mexican restaurant. I usually get the chicken fajitas and they are phenomenal. The chips and salsa are the best things I have ever devoured. The food never fails to disappoint me. Totally go to this restaurant if you're by one!!!

    (5)

  • Vivian H.

    Wandered in for some Mexican food. Did not realize it would be the most expensive Mexican food I've ever had. I think all the dishes are over $15, which coming from California, is ridiculous for Mexican food. Whatever. I ordered the Juarez with ribs and chicken/steak fajitas, which was thankfully a large portion and I had enough for another couple meals. And it was really good meat too. Girlfriend also took half her salad home for lunch the next day. I also tried their margarita/sangria swirl -- tasty and STRONG! I really liked their thin tortilla chips with salsa too. I would definitely come back for happy hour.. ASAP. Service was attentive, and they were good with substitutions, etc. They did make a mistake but were quick to fix the order and the manager even came to apologize.

    (3)

  • Libby F.

    This place is still hopping at happy hour after all these years. It's huge, although I usually stick to a tabletop in the bar area. I love their Swirls (half frozen sangria/half frozen margarita). They are on special at happy hour (I think $2 off). If you like fresh, chunky guacamole, then you are in luck here! I could eat it by the bucket! Their warm, house-made tortilla chips are the best in town. They are thin, crisp and salty. Their salsa is tasty too. Don't be shy about asking for free refills. Everybody does it, so you can too! The only bad thing is that the closest parking garage on Bethesda Ave. gets pretty full, and you must have a stash of coins to load into the $0.75/hr meters.

    (3)

  • Michael Q.

    Reliable tex mex food. Don't expect authentic Mexican cuisine. For tex mex the Bethesda branch and other locations in Maryland are tasty and consistent. Fajitas are particularly good with fresh tortillas and the free chips and salsa are outstanding. Noisy and can be busy on weekends and peak times. The Plato Gordo with fajitas, ribs, shrimp is a good choice for groups

    (3)

  • Ben S.

    Not a bad place. The food was good, and the service was impeccable. Interior of the restaurant is very loud, however. Part of that is attributable to its being popular, and part of it is that there is nothing at all to dampen any sounds in the restaurant. I didn't see any carpet, curtains, or anything to absorb sound waves. If you want a quieter experience at Uncle Julio's, sit outside. I went here with a friend, sat outside, and was favorably impressed. A little pricier than I would have liked, but probably would still come back (as long as I can sit outside).

    (3)

  • Oliver J.

    Meh. I've experienced better. = Sums it up perfectly. As its in the center of Bethesda... I expect better. The chips and salsa are great! I really like the salsa they give.. a smokey chipotle goodness. The chips are warm and salty. That's where the goodness ends. The service... meh. They are friendly enough, however, they were slow and forgot some basics. Forgot to bring some things out ... like the rice and beans that accompany the fajitas. By no means was it bad.... they brought them out once we reminded them. The food.... mediocre cafeteria style. I personally had the fish tacos that came with rice and means. The beans tasted fresh from a can (which isn't horrible, but not restaurant worthy). Nothing was bad per se... it was just cafeteria quality. In all fairness, the prices aren't bad for the center of Bethesda... it's probably what keeps them so packed every night of the week... but I'll certainly avoid coming back here if I can.

    (2)

  • Brian C.

    I came here with a friend. My food was ok though they messed up my order slightly. The friends chicken was cold and rubbery. They remade it for him and it came out the same. I'd come back, but I'd be careful what I order and pay close attention to every detail.

    (3)

  • Cecil J.

    I will try to give this place a fair, informed, yet opinionated review. Ambiance: honestly, the atmosphere at this place is pretty good, pretty festive, definitely a happy, hang out kind of place, although no one can hear anyone else talk, at all, but there is some to be said about a boisterous cheery place. I kind of enjoyed it. Right after you sit down, you get chips and salsa, I liked that, but the corn tortilla chips are on the very oily side (approaching unpleasant), the salsa is good though, nice smoky chipotle style. Chips and salsa helped with the one star rating. This place actually tries pretty hard (I can sort of tell) to be good and please its customers. But I emphasize "try", because that's about where it ends. It is obvious that this place, or chain of restaurants has no ambition of actually becoming a special place. They aspire to be that totally average place that appeals to the general dining public looking for a decent and totally average night out experience. Uncle Julio actually comes up short of its own modest aspirations. There is nothing, absolutely nothing on its menu worth recommending. I ordered the genuine mojito (not the mexican version), and it is pretty bad, very watered down, I cannot detect rum in my drink. There is also too much ice, and I don't even think the drink was made from syrup. Others in my group had the margaritas and swirly drinks, those don't look too bad, but I cannot judge them, but based on the mojito, I can only imagine the other drinks cannot be much better. There is no beer on tap, so enough said there, only bottles. We had a large group, as in 20+, and everyone more or less ordered something different, so we covered the spectrum of entrees pretty good. The only thing that looks remotely decent is the Carne Asada, so if you are stuck in a group dining out thing, celebrating a work event, a family event, or on a date (I cannot imagine why anyone would take their date here, as you literally cannot even strain to hear anything from the person next to you), and you must order something, order the Carne Asada, at least you get a generously proportioned flank steak. They actually cooked this steak to order, and it is actually medium rare. So I guess I am a little impressed, which earned this place one star. The steak is juicy, and tasty, albeit a bit bland. All of the sides that come with (aside from guacamole, but guacammole is very hard to mess up) are horrendous. The "beans" look like they have been swimming in brown colored water for a week, totally bland, sad looking. I think the beans are worse than a below average middle school cafeteria quality. The rice is cooked, that's about it, although these days, cooked rice is no longer a guarantee. Some additional salsa came as a side, but there is nothing to write home about. Garnishing the steak was a piece of leathery "grilled" onion, and grilled jalapeño. The grilled jalapeno must have been sitting around for a while or it was grilled improperly, because it is a bit mushy in texture, not charred or crispy on the outside. The other entrees hardly resemble food that people would pay for in a restaurant, maybe hungry kids in a cafeteria, maybe. I generally make it a point to not order desert if the entree failed (although to be honest, my steak was mostly solid), as I am of the belief that good desert actually requires genuine skill and experience to prepare. Skill, I feel, is not in generous supply here on this day. But if you just want something sweet, then maybe check out their desert menu. All in all, Uncle Julio is not terrible expensive by Bethesda standard, but it did not offer good value for your money at all. There is nothing worth eating here, so feel free to skip it.

    (1)

  • L S.

    Ditch the bar and go to the dining room. Order some steak fajitas while you're at it too. You know why? I've gone to Rio Grande for over a decade but had very little experience with the bar. I would not recommend it ever. My friend and I went in around 4:30 PM today. Empty bar. Bartender did not say hello or introduced himself (a tall young guy with a diamond piercing in his left ear), just asked "What do you want?" We asked our bartender if it was happy hour and he wasn't sure. Ooookay. So the happy hour specials ($2 off beer) was pretty weak. My friend and I wanted margaritas instead. My friend doesn't like the pre-made margaritas they had so he asked if they could make a fresh one. He said no. Okay. We weren't trying to be a bunch of d*ckheads, but we were the only ones at the bar and it could keep him busy. We saw how the strawberry margaritas made--- they used the regular pre-made frozen margaritas and dump some strawberry flavoring into it. It was kind of gross. Also my glass had some old syrup on it. Like, chunks that I daintily scraped off with my fingernail. It was REALLY GROSS. That said, and I reiterate, ditch the bar and go to the dining room. I don't like to shit hard on a restaurant that I frequent so much for so long, but the service I received at my only time at their bar was really bad. I'm craving steak fajitas right now.

    (2)

  • Dennis R.

    Went here on a pretty crowded Saturday night. The wait can be pretty long, and I honestly can't say their food is worth the wait. The food generally seemed pretty bland, especially considering this place is a chain. I was particularly surprised at how slow the service was. It seemed like their was no method to the server's delivery of food/drinks to the tables and many of them looked overworked. I couldn't tell if the food or my dish (Soft Tacos) was of poor quality because of the way they served it or because they don't seem to have fresh ingredients in their dishes. There are plenty of better options in downtown Bethesda...don't waste your time on the wait here. P.S. Their call ahead system is completely useless. Don't even bother.

    (1)

  • Siggy D.

    Great drinks!! Good for happy hours. Service was very good and my meal was enjoyable. I like the atmosphere. Lots of children when I went though...

    (4)

  • L. W.

    I used to know this place as Rio Grande before it became Uncle Julio's, and I think of this place as a Bethesda staple. My friend and I love the margaritas here, and I like getting the swirl because the sangria part really does taste like sangria! I always get the same thing - the vegetable fajitas. They are reliably good because while other places might just give you peppers and onions, Uncle Julio's delivers with zucchini, squash, and portobello mushroom. It comes on a sizzling plate with guac and pico, and I always ask for refried beans (which are made with pork for all the vegetarians out there). I wouldn't say that their service is outstanding, and Uncle Julio's is pretty loud. It's very family friendly, so don't be afraid if you see lots of kids running around. The noise level isn't ideal if you want a great catch up session with a friend, but it's a fun atmosphere. The chips and salsa are delicious!

    (4)

  • Tara L.

    I like Rio Grande in the same way that I love a good pair of socks: it's comfortable. I've been here a handful of times and especially enjoy my time here when the weather warms up and I can kick back drinking frozen margaritas on the sidewalk patio. The restaurant is rather large and you have the choice of bar seating, tabletop seating around the bar, traditional indoor seating as well as outdoor seating if weather permits. I actually like the frozen sangria more than the margaritas, but that's just my personal taste. You can get the swirl and they also serve up frozen pina coladas and strawberry daquiris that you can sip in with or without booze. I usually just order light snacks, such as chips and guac or the steak quesadilla, although be warned - the quesadillas are more than enough food for two people. Prices and respectable and the environment is relaxed and pretty family friendly. Pretty safe bet for most.

    (3)

  • Stephanie S W.

    Sad excuse for Mexican. I'm from Texas and have family in Mexico and this is just as generic and blah as it gets. DC, when will you get a good Mexican place?!?!?

    (2)

  • Dan M.

    2 1/2- 3 stars This is not a review on the food. My wife and I got into town and just wanted to get a drink. We found this spot on the corner after we left another bar. We sat at the bar and received stellar service. The bartenders were fun and the place had a nice atmosphere. We had some beers and margaritas. The price was what I expected it to be. We did have chips/salsa which was good, for some reason Chili's still makes the best salsa. But, this salsa was not bad at all, it had a smoky almost bacon flavor to it.

    (3)

  • Wilson C.

    They now have table side guacamole which is amazing. Can not beat that and some swirls on the patio.

    (5)

  • Ordale A.

    The people were nice, the place was clean. The portions were large and all of the food looked fresh and nicely prepared, so this place started off with five stars. The prices were a bit high compared to somewhere like On the Border but I consider that to be "Bethesda tax." Unfortunately my debt ceiling hasn't been raised so that knocks them down to four stars. While the food looked great, it didn't taste great and they lose two more stars for that. It just seemed like everything was one spice away from being good. I had enchiladas with rice and beans and my wife had fish tacos. Everything was bland. Tex-mex is supposed to have big flavor... or pack a punch...or ring the Taco Bell...SOMETHING! It wasn't nasty, it just didn't taste like anything. Rice...enchilada...bean... they each tasted the same. When I got home, I double checked the menu online to make sure I didn't order from the "Heart Healthy" section. I didn't. The food tasted like it though. Oh well, I'm sure they'll do fine without my money.

    (2)

  • Ginny H.

    I have been eating at Uncle Julio's (originally called Rio Grande Cafe) for over 20 years, back from when it first opened in Bethesda on Fairmont Ave. We used to go twice a week for about 7 years, including after I had two babies. After that, we still went regularly, about every other week for many years. Except for a couple of times, we always ordered the chicken and beef fajitas, with extra beans and rice, plus cheese. They are the BEST. And of course, margaritas on the rocks, no salt. We always split a single order, and it was a great deal for amazing food. The experience we had at Rio Grande is forever a part of my life and my kids' childhood. I have to say, the restaurant, before it moved to Bethesda Ave., was honest and real. The problem now is that it transformed into "Uncle Julio's" with the exact same formula decor as the Gaithersburg location (and I'm sure the other locations) with ridiculously long and annoying waits to get in. Plus it's too loud and crowded once you get in. It's really not worth that wait or hassle. Also, I hate the question, "Have you eaten here before?" What does it matter? I don't care for the rush about everything. I also am not fond of having to repeat sentences because I can't be heard above the noise. That said, I still love the food - it's so consistent, and I continue to order the beef/chicken fajitas to this day (just went last night, in fact). The salsa is the BEST. The tortillas are made onsite and I've really never experienced a restaurant to have such consistency for this long a period. That is the reason I'm giving this 4 stars. However, may have been a nice touch for the management to *ever* recognize my face and that I have been such a loyal customer. Never happened after all these years. Oh well, the world we live in. So, with such success, I would ask the owners to open another location in Bethesda, Kensington or Rockville so guests don't have to deal with the horrific Bethesda Ave. parking hassles and crowds. We do not enjoy visiting downtown Bethesda, and have not gone to the restaurant very much over the past few years as the crowds have mounted there (ps I am a native Bethesdan). Would be nice to find new locations to enjoy this landmark and classic Tex-Mex restaurant.

    (4)

  • Mark M.

    I ate at the Bar, got a seat immediately, decent mexican beer selection, not very good selection of Tequila's. I ordered the Brisket Soft Taco's and had them substitute the crispy taco's instead, this was very very good for a lunch special. The place is big and roomy, good lighting, seems like a great place for happy hour. I'll come back next time I'm in Bethesda.

    (3)

  • Laura E.

    I've visited uncle Julio's several times, great for happy hour, the swirls get the job done fast, their food is okay, I've had authentic Mexican food and it doesn't compare, but I don't think uncle Julio's claims to be that. I always have a great time and the service is always great!

    (4)

  • Miles B.

    They have amazing steak fajitas. I've been here about a dozen times and they're always amazing.

    (5)

  • Kelly K.

    I never ate here so I can't comment on the food, but the frozen sangria is the best drink around. It's tasty and strong! I've always had good service and they are quick with the chip refills. The salsa and guacamole are also good.

    (4)

  • Gary E.

    I feel it necessary to address some of the other reviews of this place. Number one - don't compare it to traditional Mexican from Southern California. It's TEX Mex. TEX. See the big red neon t-e-x there? They didn't put that there for decor... Number two - peppers and onions on your fajitas. If there aren't enough ASK FOR THEM. Personally, I prefer that my fajitas include mucho meat, as opposed to fried garnish - but experience has taught me that if you ask the servers for ANYTHING, they will get it for you with a smile. Number three - outrageous prices. Maybe I've started running in different circles, but if you can get a massive amount of fajita goodness for $16, combined with complimentary and bottomless (not to mention, probably the best) chips and salsa - I don't see that as outrageous. Especially when folks are saying that you can get it SO much cheaper at Lauriol Plaza or Cactus Cantina (which, for the record, were opened by former Rio Grande employees who "borrowed" many of Uncle Julio's recipes) when it's maybe $2-3 cheaper and not as good. Jesus - if you think two bucks is the difference between a "rip off" and "much better" then you shouldn't be eating out. Look, the bottom line is that like any restaurant that's big and popular, it has it's issues. Yes, it's crowded on weekend nights, and yes they have some sort of psychotic kid magnet. And when the place is packed, it takes longer than usual for orders to go back and forth. But the food is excellent - I got off the plane and made a beeline STRAIGHT for this place after I dropped my bags off - and the Jalisco (beef fajitas with three broiled shrimp) was a lot more than even a fatty like me could handle. It was perfectly cooked, every side and alteration I asked for was spot on first time, the manager stopped by to make sure everything was okay, and I never once had to even consider asking for a fresh drink. I love this place, and it's one of the few dining experiences I miss from DC.

    (4)

  • M. L.

    I ordered the nachos with the fajita meat and the beef was very undercooked. Service wasn't great and place gets really packed on the weekends.

    (2)

  • Phi N.

    Started off with cheese and guac. Then went with the ceviche and the chipotle salmon. Cheese and guac were amazing like always... Ceviche was a little small, but tasty. As for the salmon, it was really good. I highly recommend this order. I also got to try my friend's fajita steak. mmmMM. It was cooked to perfection. Everyone seems to order that layered drink, but don't fall for it! It's gross... hahah.

    (4)

  • Bridget M.

    I wasn't expecting authentic Mexican food, and, therefore, I wasn't let down. That being said, the food is still decent (and served in big portions), and the service is above average. Our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful when we had questions about the menu, and she went out of her way to keep our chips flowing and glasses filled. My order, the fajitas especial--their specialty--were pretty good, although the pico could have been better. My friend ordered the tamales and wasn't too impressed. Overall, though, I would go back.

    (3)

  • Allison P.

    It's a 3.8. And I rounded up. I've been going to Rio Grande for nearly two decades. I will say, I preferred the old location better. But, this one is just fine. It's not the best Mexican establishment (and based on price - I would recommend Guapos in Bethesda or Chevys ANYWHERE) but it's good. I LOVE Rio chips. Thin and salty. The fajitas are very good as are the combo platters (Juanitas, Benitos) and the enchiladas. Really, the food is good and even my appetite can't eat enough (amateur move - eating too many chips to start) to clean the plate. I bring leftovers home. The drinks are good - though not terribly cheap. It's a tradition with my friends to go to Rio for chips, food and swirls. If I lived in Bethesda, I probably wouldn't go to Rio every week but I go when I'm in town and the girls want to get together. I have no reservations recommending this place. On that word - make reservations. But on a busy night, don't expect them to have their act together to seat you immediately. Service could probably get a little better / sharper.

    (4)

  • Maria M.

    It's OK. The service was nice, the food was nice. The outdoor seating was nice. It's just that... well, nothing really popped out at me for me to say that this place is extraordinary. The free/endless chips and salsa was good. Thin and crunchy chips with pretty good salsa with little to no kick. We ordered cheese and guacamole too for our chips... both were ok. I ordered their special.. shrimp stuffed with crab. I guess I just imagined them to be bigger when the waitress was describing it to me. But it's basically 4 medium sized shrimps with about a 1.5 tablespoons of crab on top of it. All served on top of rice and vegetables. It tasted ok. My husband and friends shared chicken and steak fajitas and seemed to be enjoying it. So maybe go that route next time? Bottom line: not a bad experience. Maybe next time, I'll try the fajitas =)

    (3)

  • Michael B.

    Ok so I used to go here years back so I cant speak on any experience I had recently but I will say I grew up on this shizzle and it used to be and last time I checked was still really good eats. They make their tortillas in house and they are seriously paper thin, wonderfully hot and super crispy. Their salsa is oh so smokey and so tasty, I cant get enough of it. To start I always get the chili con queso, its the best queso dip I have ever had, no question. They press the tortillas right there in house on this machine and those too are off the hook which is why I used to always get the combo fajita platter thing which comes out piping hot, sizzling to be exact and tastes oh so good. Their drinks are slurp-a-licious and the tequila here flows down the pipes like cotton candy. To finish get the sopapillas you wont be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Jason C.

    This place is really subpar. Don't like the crowd (you either get people in their 50s or high schoolers yelling away about the latest garbage show on MTV). The food isn't all that great and MOST importantly, they DO NOT sell any drink by the pitcher. I think this is the ONLY Mexican restaurant I've ever seen that does this. I would REALLY like to believe that the restaurant really cares for our well-being and does this...(AHEM YEAH RIGHT). At 8-12$/glass of margarita....u'll be spending away if u start drinking here. It's DEFINITELY not worth it.

    (2)

  • Eric B.

    The chips are good, salsa isn't anything to write home about - and that's being nice about it. If you can only get half the chips and salsa combo right, it's a strikeout. Everything else stinks, enchiladas especially. You can get enchiladas like this at any Amerikan Tex-Mex suburban dump. Thanks for noth. I hear the fajitas are good. I'm going to assume that means they're like everywhere else. I'll never know because I'm not going back. Service wasn't great either. I told the server we wanted to start with two orders of enchiladas. He even confirmed with me that that meant as an appetizer. Yes, donk, I mean as our appetizer. When he came back four hours later, it was a little late to put in an entree order, so we got the check and left. I have a hard time understanding how this place gets so busy. Place stinks.

    (1)

  • Quince B.

    Truthfully I have had better, but Uncle Julio's wasn't a bad experience. The food was somewhere between average and good ( I had the chicken Tacos). Service was good, I didn't care for the dessert menu, but there's a cupcake shop just up the street that I had my eye on, so I may have been a little biased. I'd return if someone else wanted to go, but Uncle Julio's wouldn't be my first choice when I have Mexican food on my mind.

    (3)

  • Anna S.

    Should be 3.5 stars. I've been coming here since I was 4 years old, and I'm sure I'll be coming here more if I have a family of my own one day. Between the abundant melted cheese on the menu and the screamingly loud dining room, it's an ideal place to bring kids. No one does crisp, salty tortilla chips, smoky salsa, or spicy cheese enchiladas quite so well as Rio. Their frozen drinks, from the margaritas to the sangria, are great. The prices are reasonable, and the inevitable wait for a table is easy enough to navigate around with call-ahead list requests and a pretty chill atmosphere before 6pm. But there are a few big drawbacks: the dining room is as loud as a bar packed to capacity with enraged howler monkeys. There is pretty much nothing on the menu for vegetarians--the tortillas and tortilla chips are made with lard, and even the cheese enchiladas come swimming in beef. If you're a veg, you're looking at a big bowl of queso with a spoon...or maybe a salad, I guess. The wait times can get obnoxious at normal dinner hours, and if you don't like dining with little kids...move along.

    (3)

  • Wes C.

    They have great atmosphere. Good for kids. Casual. I recommend the tacos and the pulled chicken quesadillas. Try the cherry limeade and the raspberry tea. I've been there since I was one week old

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    Food and drinks are okay. Nothing special, but it's a decent place to grab happy hour with friends sometimes.

    (3)

  • Robert B.

    My family and I went here and we really enjoyed it. We are big Mexican food fans and this place was GREAT!!! The chips were served warm and the queso and quacamole dips for appetizers were tasty and fresh. The main course was perfectly cooked and out of this world. I would come back when I visit Maryland in a heartbeat.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey T.

    how i love myself a swirl and chips/salsa after a long day at work. There food is just okay, nothing to brag about but definitively edible. In reality, I consider this place more a bar than a restaurant. They have a fun and boisterous happy hour crowd. Their swirls with a shot of grand marnier are very good.

    (4)

  • Chris R.

    Tried the fajitas here. Got combination of chicken and beef. The chicken was good but I wish I had just gotten beef. The beef just melted in my mouth. We got it to share with three people and it was about 45 bucks after we got crema and cheese. Also, the salsa they brought with the chips was amazing Super noisy in here though, I couldnt even hear what anyone at my table was saying

    (3)

  • Monica H.

    Eh, it was okay. I really enjoyed the vegetarian tamales and fajitas, and the bartenders and hosts were very friendly. Our waiter was nice, but he felt a little hovercrafty, and the sangria was too sweet and not at all what I expected. The guacamole didn't feel authentic, even if it's actually made on the premises like they said...it was too salty and mayonnaise-y. Guac don't need no mayo. I'd definitely go back if I were in the area and craving Latin American cuisine, but mostly I just wish the DC area had better cheap, delicious Mexican. Sigh.

    (3)

  • Gregory L.

    I ordered the beef fajita quesadilla and really enjoyed it. However, we came with a large party and asked if they could split the check, they only split the bill of the man who asked them to split the checks and put the rest on one other bill. It took incredibly long to sort out (over 30 minutes) and was very inefficient, and they didn't even try to fix it. The price is really expensive for Mexican food.

    (2)

  • Ausão M.

    Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Uncle Julio's--I've been to so many of their locations, including all of the ones in the DC Metro area, Casa Grande in Atlanta and the new location in Boca Raton. The Bethesda location, after going three times has left a foul taste in my mouth. I've had "Zar" as a server two of those times and every single time he has gotten our orders incorrect or tried to sneak something into our orders as an upsell we didn't ask for. Two of us ordered Pechuga de Pollo and it took three separate times for him to understand PECHUGA DE POLLO. PECHUGA DE POLLO... The manager, a few minutes after placing our orders, came over to announce that they were out of the vegetables al jardin--which we didn't order. What a failure of a server! It's really unfortunate because this is the first bad experience I have ever had in all my years of coming to Uncle Julio's restaurants. Zar was a speedy server, but not the most intelligent. I believe he should receive some additional training so as to not sour the experience for anyone else. No complaints about the food that evening, it was perfect--just like any other time--but service is 60% of the experience. Good food with bad service ruins it--no matter how good the food is! I will not return to this location.

    (2)

  • Dominique H.

    By far the worst service I've ever experienced!!! A friend and I decided to stop by and eat after a trip to Georgetown cupcake, we walked in and were greeted by really nice hosts who told us that we could grab a table by the bar if we didn't want to wait. I just happened to see a couple getting up and the server was clearing off the table. I asked him if it was ok to sit down and he said that it was fine and smiled. Ten minutes later we're still sitting at the table, it was never wiped off from the previous guests and we were never given menus. I decided to get menus so that we'd be prepared when our server came to greet us. However after waiting for 8-10 more minutes and watching him walk past us at least four times I had to ask him to come over and if he knew who our server would be (since I assumed it wasn't him since he kept ignoring us). He responds "Oh you're sitting here?" and says I'll get you some chips. We finally get some chips, order drinks and food, but every time we need something we had to wave him down instead of him continuing to check on us. When he brings out the food, the bowl of chips are still on the table and there's hardly any room for the plates. It's clearly uncomfortable so he tells us he'll be right back to move it. He walks past us three more times and so I have to put the bowl on the empty chair so that we can eat our food. When we're done he comes over and I ask for a box. We wait 15 more minutes for him to bring a box, but he continued to keep walking past us. It got so bad that a manager came over and asked us if we were alright. We explained the situation to him and he apologized and brought us a box and our check. He was very understanding and took a meal off even though we told him that it wouldn't be necessary. Even after seeing the manager speak to us the server never asked if we were alright, how our food was...nothing. I'm a 22 year old African American woman, and so is my friend. There was clearly some form of discrimination going on and I'm not sure if it was based off of age or race but it was blatant. The rest of the tables were well taken care of and it was clear that he simply didn't care about us as customers. I as well as my friend are servers and now how things go in restaurants for the most part so I would never complain if it wasn't absolutely necessary because I know how hard of a job it is. And because we're servers we usually over-tip, but I left nothing this time, it was that bad! I gave the restaurant 2 stars because everyone else was very nice and you never want to base a whole experience off of one person. However, his service alone will be the reason that I never come back to this location, because I wouldn't even want to risk being served by him again.

    (2)

  • Tracy Z.

    This restaurant is so loud I could not hear my companion sitting one foot away from me. The service was horrendous - worst I've had in the area. Someone at the table ordered fajitas. The grilled veggies came out first. Ten minutes and two requests later, the grilled meet came out. Still, no tortillas. My salad came with a ramekin of oil on the side (I had requested oil and vinegar). The brisket tacos were so fatty that half was left on the plate. The noise level was ridiculous and felt like an assault. None of us will return.

    (1)

  • Paola G.

    Best place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo- Just know that waiting time is about 2-5 hours.. blower, but the party never stops.. I love it here

    (5)

  • Maya C.

    My nephews and my cousins came over to visit this week. With the snow and limited parking spaces at my parent's we decided to meet at Uncle Julio's Rio Grande in Bethesda. I got there first and the staff easily accommodated a large table for 12 people. They even extended another table and had a couple of extra chairs for our coats and purses. Our large group arrived and we had enough elbow room. Loved the salsa verde and chips..We ordered large guacamole at each end and was a great starter while we waited for our dishes. The service was slow, but understandable for such a large group. Most ordered fajitas and were very pleased. I ordered the Ceviche Royale. My ceviche was fresh, not big, not small, just right! Both my parents loved the salmon they ordered. My nephew liked his enchiladas an empty plate there! and the rest loved their fajitas. Some beers, margaritas, a cran-vodka for me, and sodas for the kids (all over 16). Overall a good meal, great time and plenty of pictures. I will definitely come back as the place was very clean, all of us parked at the Giant across the street for free, bathrooms were also clean and the staff was attentive and pleasant! A win-win for a large group and we ran about $24 per person. Not bad at all!

    (4)

  • Scarlette T.

    perhaps i'm just not a fan of uncle julio's in general. i have also been to the one in rio. not all that spectacular. service is nice enough, but after being seated, i am always always waiting. for everything. even water. a server. and there's always screaming kids in this restaurant. understandably it's crowded. definitely nothing romantic about it, i'd never come here on a date. loud, rowdy, chips are so greasy they're shiny and i can see through them. ever watch that infomercial where they blend lays and it turns into liquid oil? i bet this is worse. the salsa tastes alright but this time you don't have to stick it through the blender to see it in liquid form: it's super runny and the reason that katie needs to eat it with a spoon is because it will not go on a chip. their quesadillas are decent and filling but i will not come here when i am hungry because i have no idea when i'll actually have food in front of me or if my order will be correct.

    (2)

  • M. K.

    I've given this place soooooo many chances and yet I still manage to leave unsatisfied every time. I've gotten their cheese and chicken quesadillas in the past, which were okay, but have tried the chicken fajitas during the past 4-5 visits. What do they say is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? Well....then I guess I'm not mentally stable. Each time the fajitas have disappointed me and yet, I still end up ordering them over and over again, hoping that they've improved. The beans are bland and the cut of chicken is not very good...if you like your chicken gristly and fatty, then perhaps you'd be happy with it. Also, they charge you an extra 2 DOLLARS for a dollop of sour cream and cheese! At almost $20 for the fajita platter, I expect a little more. Service was also incredibly slow and waitress looked miserable. 1 star each for their swirls (which are good) and queso (also yum). This place is more enjoyable as a HH spot where I can grab a drink or 2 and some chips without emptying my entire wallet on sub-par eats.

    (2)

  • Samantha G.

    Went here after work with about 8 or 9 others for happy hour. Super crowded and packed with little kids. Do not go here for a quiet evening- this place is loud- I mean LOUD LOUD. Our waiter (who was about 12) couldn't give us any description of any happy hour specials so he just told us "I dunno, I guess its two dollars off drinks?" Sangria (on rocks, they also have a frozen version) was saccharine sweet and nasty. Then I switched to margaritas on the rocks which were small but satisfying enough. Unlike other reviewers, I did not find the waiter accommodating at all and they would not do any of the additions/substitutions I wanted to suit my vegetarian needs. I ended up getting the veggie quesadillas. While the portion was large enough to share around, they were mushy and seriously lacking in veggies- there were just a few mushrooms and onions, the rest was cheese. They weren't toasty or crispy in the least. I did enjoy their queso dip and salsa as appetizers but the chips were nothing to write home about. The waiter also messed up our bill at the end-- so watch out.

    (2)

  • Dylan K.

    All these Rio haters just prompted me to sign up for yelp. this place is fantastic. dont be an idiot and order tacos or enchiladas. Get queso to start and a swirl to drink. Order the plato gordo if youre with a group and the guadalajara or fajitas if not. the FAJITAS and CHIPS and SWIRLS are what this place is good for. YES it gets busy on weekends around 630. Sure there are families that come to eat here because the food is universally appealing. Quit writing these awful reviews. If you are dumb and order the wrong thing just dont come back and crowd up the restaurant for everyone else. No need to give the place a bad rep.

    (5)

  • Dee B.

    My fish tacos were quite good, and I do like their salsa. Our service, however, was rather atrocious.

    (3)

  • Daniel D.

    Best TexMex Period. I've lived in San Diego, have had the "best" of El Paso and this is the most fantastic flavor I've ever had. All poor reviews from Rio Grande (or Uncle Julo's in the Dallas/FT Worth area, or Casa Grande in Atlanta, or Hacienda in Chicago) are because the reviewer has the generic "enchiladas" or anything else that is "comfortable" and isn't from the mesquite grill. There are no burritos and that pisses Americans off because that's what they expect. Branch out to one of the following dishes and if you REALLY don't like it, I'll pay for it myself: Frog's Legs Quail Ribs Fajitas (including Carne Asada strip steak) Full disclosure: I worked for them at the Atlanta, G'burg and (old) Bethesda stores over 3 years in the late 90s, but never got sick of the food. The CEO is probably one of the most passionate and genuine chefs I've met. OH and "reverse" swirl is one of the best bangs for your alcoholic buck. Salsa made fresh every morning. Guac made every 30 minutes. Chips fried fresh (literally made from unfried corn tortillas there in the store) and flour tortilla's made in the last 10 minutes...I've never found anything like it. GO now.

    (5)

  • Brittney W.

    This place was the epitamy of horrible Mexican food and service. Absolutely terrible.

    (1)

  • Damien N.

    This restaurant was very busy, the atmosphere was good. Friendly servers, the food was very good. Not a place for a romantic date, more family oriented... Good place for a drink after work or catch up with friends. I ordered the Bacon wrapped shrimp with tortillas. VERY good, I recommend!

    (3)

  • Tamara S.

    Went here with my boyfriend for dinner on a Sunday night and it was great! It was surprisingly busy though . . . so I would suggest doing the call ahead for a table thing -- we had to wait about 35min (which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5), but once we were seated it was wonderful! Our server was fantastic - friendly, attentive (but not too annoyingly over attentive, I'm sure you know the type), she took our order quickly and the food came out quickly after we ordered. I got these amazingly delicious brisket tacos that were out of this world! If you like Mexican, BBQ, and brisket, this is the thing to get! O.M.G. It was like heaven on a plate! And they give a generous portion too - three tacos, so I ate 2 and brought 1 home . . . now I have leftovers for another meal! My boyfriend got enchiladas. He said they were good too. I would definitely recommend this place, and will be bringing my dad here, who is also a brisket lover, because he HAS to try those BBQ brisket tacos!

    (4)

  • Martin B.

    I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this place yet! I've come to Uncle Julio's for ages, going way back to when they were in the other location near Ben & Jerry's. The food here ranges from good to so-so. As long as you stick with the good stuff, you'll be fine. The tacos, fajitas, nachos and tamales are all really good. The soft taco dinner gives you two tacos with chicken or beef (go for the beef), and the crunchy taco dinner comes with three tacos. These are pretty big, hearty tacos. I myself am not a fan of fajitas, but everyone I know who has had them seems to like them. And as I said, the tamales are also great. Three or four will definitely keep you full, but even two would probably do the job if you aren't too hungry. Chances are you won't be, because the free chips they give you (and free refills on them too!) are good. For dessert, get the sopapillas. They're these little fried puffed pastries that you dip in honey, and they will rock your world. Seriously, they're delicious. Service is alright. It can get really packed for dinner and lunch, so you may want to make a reservation. Waiters are pretty attentive and quick, but not always the friendliest. Overall a decent choice for Tex-Mex in Bethesda, far better than Austin Grill.

    (4)

  • Gary D.

    This restaurant is VERY NOISY AND YOU WILL NOT ENJOY YOUR MEAL unless you are single and wear hearing protection. We asked for the quietest table and were still in STORM OF NOISE. Food was okay but nothing to shout about (pun intended).

    (1)

  • Mike S.

    Let me start of by saying Rio Grande is Spanish, it is NOT pronounced "Rio Grand". I hear so many people say Rio Grand and it's like someone hammering a nail into my ear every time. Okay, rant over. Anyway, I have been coming here since it was at its other location near Ben and Jerry's on the other side of Bethesda and I have yet to be disappointed. I admit the quality has gone down a bit since those days but I still cannot get enough of this place. First off get a swirl (frozen margarita mixed with frozen sangria). Them junks are damn tasty! Warning: Their tortilla chips and salsa are just way too addicting. I guarantee you I could enough of those for a whole meal, which is why I need someone to go there with me to cut me off at some point. In the 20+ years, I have been coming here with my family, we get the fajitas every single time. Yes, they are that good. Get a pound of the combination of chicken and steak. I think the chicken may be better but they are both just really juicy and tasty. It comes along with pico de gallo, guac, sour cream, onions and tortillas. You may want to ask for extra tortillas depending on how much you plan on eating. There you go: swirl + fajitas = happy times. It's a proven fact.

    (5)

  • Julieth M.

    Best margaritas I've ever tried.,food it's good.,especially the Guadalajara!! Chips are fresh and the chile con queso "yum"!

    (4)

  • Rebecca E.

    This used to be one of my all time favorite Bethesda spots. I have often taken large crowds to Uncle Julio's Rio Grande so I was really looking forward to sharing a meal there with out of town friends. How incredibly dissapointing! Service was horrible and food was below par. I went with a couple of friends for a fun night out. The appetizers weren't too bad. We got the Ceviche Royale, Mexican Shrimp Cocktail. As main course we got the Plato Gordo. The shrimp had turned! It had the strong taste of almost rotten seafood. We told the waiter who could not care less. We asked him to remove the bad shrimp. Instead he handed us a plate and asked us to remove it ourselves. He never once apologized. Never offered to bring fresh shrimp. We saw the waiter again only when he came to bring the bill. We asked to see a manager but had to ask several times before one finally came. By the time he finally came we had paid our bill including full price for the rotten shrimp. The manager told us that he had smelled the shrimp and it did not smell bad! We told him we had other shrimp dishes and that they were fine and that we could really tell the difference. Again, he started by being defensive and not apologetic. He finally offered to make amends but it was too late. We had paid (over $140) and were on our way out. We did tell him we would post on Yelp. Still love their chips and salsa though! That's why they still get 2 stars.

    (2)

  • Lyly T.

    A pretty crowded place. Even though it is a big place, people like to come here for mexican food and drinks. Bar is packed during happy hour. Dinner time, I had to wait for about 20 minutes to get a table. Sat down, got drinks and free chips and salsa. Ordered a burrito and chicken enchilada. Food was pretty okay, nothing great, nothing bad. Really heavy and unhealthy food, just what I was in the mood for. Decor is very yellow and orange with punches of blue. Service was good, they were efficient and punctual on getting things.

    (3)

  • Victoria S.

    One word comes to mind: STANDARD! OK, they do keep it consistent at all locations...got to give them credit for "authentic" Mexican food with minimum service, there aren't any suprises here.

    (3)

  • Dimo J.

    My wife and I have been going to Rio Grande Cafe for years, and it is hands down one of the best places for mexicali inspired cooking in the U.S. Our favorite thing to get is the Carne Asada, which after about 30-40 times of ordering is almost always perfectly grilled and consistent. We always order it with veggies as well. After reading some of the other Yelper suggestions on here though, we may try some other things. Great meal for casual, noisy, family friendly times. Pricing is in line for a full service restaurant, but can get pricey after you incorporate drinks, apps, tax and tip. Other people have suggested Guapos, but that just comes in under expectations comparatively. Kudos to Uncle Julios! Definitely one of our family's staple restaurants to visit!

    (5)

  • Nicole L.

    The restaurant had a nice outdoor area which I always walked past, it was always crowded!! We did get to sit outside it was getting a little chilly but it was not too bad. I ordered the reverse swirl after 1 drink I was feeling it wow! I ordered the La Paloma - it was a platter of quail and fajita chicken/beef. The quail was well marinated but so small there was more bones than meat. It was very average. The beef was tasty but I could tell it was fatty and covered with butter. I liked the guacamole and salsa I ate it all without wrapping it up in a tortilla. It was a lot of food for $19.

    (2)

  • Ajay R.

    Probably best for families and kids... not really good for a group of adults. Food was just okay.

    (2)

  • Craig M.

    The food was amazing. I expected a typical Mexican restaurant, but the really took it to the next level. Thanks uncle Ju!

    (4)

  • David B.

    Overall I thought this place was pretty decent. Service was fantastic considering the size of the group (20+), and the prices were fairly reasonable and inline with most other mexican/texmex restaurants. Chips were nice and airy with good taste - not over cooked or covered in oil as you'll find in similar restaurants. Salsa was pretty unique and trended towards more of a texmex taste. My only complaint with the salsa is their serving bowls - they need to be bigger. (Not really a complaint, just wishful thinking on my part. I dug the salsa, obviously.) I ordered the beef fajitas. For once there's a place that's doesn't overcook their beef. I thought the dish was great, and would definitely order it again. Watch out for the grilled jalapeno on the side. I made the regrettable choice of eating it in one bite. 5 glasses of water later and I was still begging the waiter for water refills. Note when ordering sides (cheese, sour cream), you could easily split an order with two people. Their servings are huge.

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    Good atmosphere, ok food!

    (4)

  • Hannah C.

    i was really surprised at how good the food was here for a mexican chain restaurant. i was so skeptical of the food after reading the reviews, and being the total food snob that i am, i told my best friend that i didn't want to eat here. however, she relentlessly convinced me that their fajitas were bomb so i gave it a shot. we all ordered the plato gordo, which is a do-it-yourself fajita platter that comes with a plate full of various meats, and it was definitely filling for us four hungry girls. actually, we couldn't have more than two fajitas per person...it may have been all those chips we ate in the beginning. but in any case, they give you a lot of good food to work with in your fajita, so you end up leaving satisfied, along with tasty leftovers for the next day.

    (4)

  • Tiffany P.

    Came here for a quick dinner with my new roommate. The service was absolutely horrendous. We both ordered Margaritas and they came with salted rims but no straws - which makes it impossible to drink and enjoy because I didn't want a mouthful of salt with every sip. Not to mention, they came in a rock's glass and the HOUSE margarita was $8.95!! YIKES. It took forever to get glasses of water and again, they came with no straws. We asked the waiter for straws, he said he'd have to go get some, he left and completely disappeared. When our waiter never returned, we asked a passing waitress if we could get a couple straws and instead of just saying "Yes I'd be happy to" she looked annoyed and said she'd find our waiter and let him know. It was so rude! She did actually come back but she brought us four cocktail straws/coffee stirrers. Really? Cocktail straw for a glass of water? The food was good but the service made it hard to enjoy the meal. My roommate paid $1.99 for a side of sour cream and they basically brought her a gravy sized boat of it. You're a spanish restaurant and the only side you have of sour cream is big enough to feed an entire clan of taco eaters. You can't just bring a small ramekin of sour cream for $.50?? We were tempted to take the rest home because it cost about the same as a tub from the grocery store and she only used a spoonful! I honestly don't think I'd bother to go back.

    (2)

  • Linds F.

    For Mexican food- it is only O.K. The drinks are a bit overpriced, we ended up spending $90 on two dinners and 4 margaritas. A local Mexican restaurant should be flowing with inexpensive margaritas and cocktails. Overall- it was okay food, nothing special. Not great prices, and not a great atmosphere. Only go here if you really crave Mexican food.

    (2)

  • Izzat A.

    Finally tried this place after a long time. Had lunch on Friday with some coworkers. There was a lil bit of a wait to get seated but not too bad. Service was nice and quick. The food was good. I got the El Dorado Supreme. They have this sweet cream sauce that was very very good. I was kind of full so I didn't get a chance to finish it all but it was a generous portion. Their chicken could have been seasoned more so next time I might ask to make it spicier. All in all, a good place. I will come back.

    (3)

  • Shelby M.

    This review is for Uncle Julio's catering service. They catered our wedding with 60 guests. The food was delicious and the service fantastic. We received several compliments on the food from our guests. Germaine from the Texas office was very helpful when we were deciding on quantities and menu options. We are really happy with our experience!

    (5)

  • Terry S.

    I've been eating at Uncle Julio's (Rio Grande) for years. The food is always good. Sometimes the service is a little slow when it's crowded. It's definitely kid-friendly. The chips and salsa are awesome. Sometimes I have to stop myself. The soft chicken tacos and the beef/chicken fajitas are always good. Since I have been going here for years, the only complaint that I have is that I have noticed the portions getting smaller and the prices slowly going up. I don't mind the prices going up, but keep the portion size!

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the area. The chicken/beef fajitas are my first choice for dinners. Second choice would have to be the Ensalade Grande w/ grilled chicken and the limey dressing for lunches. The only drawback of this place is that it is to damn loud. Makes a great place to take noisy kids.

    (4)

  • Dalton D.

    I'm a spoiled San Diegan when it comes to rating Mexican food, and if this restaurant were located there it would get 1 star. So my rating is keeping in mind the location and the lack of any alternative. For those who haven't experienced anything aside from DC's lackluster amalgamation of Mexican cuisine, you will find yourselves comfortably satisfied with the marginally adapted Tex-Mex plates served here. Uncle Julio's stands well on it's own if East Coast style Tex-Mex is what you're expecting, then by all means, it's probably the best in the area. But if you've been exposed to traditional Mexican food (Baja or otherwise), you'd better temper your expectations for any Mexican restaurant in this area.

    (3)

  • Scott B.

    Food was good and you get a lot of it. Very reasonably priced. Service was prompt and unintrusive. Overall, I think this a great place to meet up with a few friends and grab a drink and dinner. The bar area also looked cool and had a couple of flat screens with the game on. The only complaint I had was the place was quite loud and given it was only about half full, I wonder how loud the place can get when it's packed.

    (4)

  • Joel P.

    I haven't had the food. Just came here for a quick drink to beat the heat. Frozen Margarita was delicious. Much like Chevy's but I would say better service. Our server's product knowledge was much appreciated, even if he did spend a little TOO much time explaining the drinks instead of taking our order. Plus he forgot to give my table our glasses of water that we requested several times. We. Were. Parched!!! haha However, it's spacious, especially the bar area which is appreciated. They are clean. I heard great things about the frozen Sangria (especially the "Meltdowns") so should I come back, I plan to try that again.

    (3)

  • Miyuki L.

    I like Uncle Julio's in general but I have only had dessert and drinks here. It is very loud in there, but thats they way it is for all of the Uncle Julio's I have been to. I had the Cajeta and it was very good. The chips and salsa were good as well. Drinks were good too. I like the location and love the convenience of the area.

    (3)

  • Ali S.

    I was stuck between a 2 and a 3, I always liked Uncle Julio's in Rio for the margaritas and the fajitas. However, they really aren't worth the wait on busy evenings. I've tried some of the other food, and it's kind of meh as I've had better mexican food at a fraction of the cost from food trucks and gas stations (taco bar). So let's talk about my experience on a friday night. I live in north bethesda, so it's about the same time length to make a trip up 270 as it is to come to downtown Bethesda. I called both restaurants, Rio had a one hour+ wait. I called Bethesda and they said 20-30 minutes, great we put our name down. So 20 minutes later we arrived at the restaurant and they had our names down and it said that we were next, the issue I think was that we were five people and most tables are designed for four. I kid you not that we waited thirty more minutes and still hadn't been called for a table, so we complained. I mean I could have been seated at Uncle Julio's in Rio and at least they didn't lie to me about the wait time. That was a really bad start to the experience, after we were seated it was a typical experience. Their twister or whatever that frozen margarita is was sub-par compared to the one I had at Lauriol Plaza, just stick to the rocks next time.

    (2)

  • Merida F.

    I came here on my quest to find the perfect margarita and discovered Sangria margaritas.... dangerous combination! Great service in any location that I have visited but I do like to frequent the one in Bethesda. I like getting the Juanita's Platter when I am hungry because it allows you to make a combination of Two enchiladas, One crispy taco, and One tamale. It is a good way to sample different items without having to commit to a whole meal.

    (5)

  • Melanie F.

    Loriel Plaza does not hold a candle to Uncle Julios! Sukkas! Everything is super fresh and juicy! Love the fajitas.

    (5)

  • Tina T.

    Order a single order of fajitas and add an order a side of double guac... I'm in food heaven. One of my guilty little pleasures, I love the fajitas there. Call in advance to reserve a table on weekend nights, Rio Grande has also introduced take away into the mix making it even easy to grab eats!

    (4)

  • Sabeen A.

    Came here for dinner one night... WOW to the portions. Huge and totally inexpensive. The food was good, the steak was GREAT, and again, the portions were gigundamundo. Definitely up's the rating a star above.

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    The overall quality of the food was excellent. The guacamole was tasty and the enchiladas were delicious. The ambiance and location were pleasant as well and you can't beat the vibe of downtown Bethesda. My main complaint is that our waiter was inattentive throughout the night and was hard to flag down. My glass was often empty and as a result of his absence the pacing of our food was poor. Also, their diet coke lacked syrup and tasted bland. I would come back again for the food but the service does give me a lot of concern.

    (2)

  • Rob B.

    I love the Guadalajara best margaritas

    (4)

  • Seth S.

    If you like really crowded, super loud restaurants with lots of kids running around then this is the place for you. Admittedly I used to love to come to this place when I was a kid (it was in a different location then) to watch the tortilla machine go to work, but now that I'm a pseudo-adult it's just too much. Apparently they're cool with kids just running around the bar area while families wait for tables. I swear the last time I went there were more 9 year olds in the bar area then there were people of drinking age. Having said that the food is pretty good and the drinks are tasty, if a little expensive.

    (2)

  • Rosser M.

    My opinion of this place has lessened over the years as the food has become more and more predictable and salty instead of flavorful. Way too loud almost any time you go, but still maybe the best chips and salsa around. I stick with take-out now and then as the staff is generally surly and indifferent. There are certainly better alternatives all over the area...parking is bad to boot.

    (3)

  • Jed S.

    I must confess, I wholeheartedly agree with the people that say this place is very loud. It is. If you're looking for a quiet romantic meal, this is not the place for you. But the food is really, really good, and the service is outstanding-the best I've seen at a casual restaurant. Our drinks were refilled quickly, we were kept in the loop when our entrees would be ready, the waitress walked us through the menu, and the manager came to our table with free sopapillas because the waitress told him it was our first time there. So, the verdict? Great Tex-Mex food, great service for a restaurant of that pricepoint, and a less than stellar ambiance due to noise. I think the first two make up for the third.

    (4)

  • Steffany H.

    Let me start by saying I live in Phoenix for 12 years - so when it comes to Mexican food, I'm not easy to please! Can to Uncle Julio's for lunch and to me it's the same as Austin Grill, Don Pablo or any other "mexican" chain (not actually sure if it's a chain but it definitely fits the mold) I started with the tortilla soup - basically a bunch of zucchini and broth - GROSS. I sent it back because it didn't have ANY taste to it, and it's no where near what I think of when I think tortilla soup - Panera has better tortilla soup people! Then I had the grilled fish tacos - which were ehhh... nothing to get too excited about. I think if I was here for a margarita, I may have been happier. So maybe I'd consider coming back for happy hour or dinner. But I really wasn't impressed....

    (3)

  • Ms D.

    Disappointing. :-(. Fish tacos bland and gross. Salsa very drippy. Margaritas good but small side for $10 each. Won't be back. Not worth the $.

    (2)

  • Amber E.

    It was like being on an air plane that is stuffed with children. when the studurt comes over to take your order she is all our of the better snacks.

    (2)

  • Ryan R.

    Steak fajitas are probably the best thing you can get here. Occasionally the beef is tough but for the most part, the steak is juicy and tender. The ribs are nothing special; the rice and beans that some dishes come with are bland. Do not get cheese or sour cream with any of the dishes you order unless you must have them, they barely add anything to the dish. I do enjoy the chips that are served at the beginning. The place does get unbearably loud and the service is not efficient with sitting people at tables. The wait can be very very long at times.

    (3)

  • A C.

    I ordered Grilled chicken Nachos for pick up. It was fast. They said it will be ready for pick up in 15 min and it was ready. However, the food was mediocre/poor and expensive. There were about 10 chips laid out in line, 1 strip of chicken on top of each chip with some cheese. It came with guacamole that tasted like the kind you can buy at a grocery store in the frozen section, and some sour cream. It was also expensive... $15 including tax and packaging fee that's automatically added.

    (1)

  • Lenny C.

    This place is not bad for a chain place of Mexican food... if this restaurant was in London or Madrid or Rome, it would probably get five stars for Mexican food. In San Diego it would barely get a one star rating. Basically the Mexican food is good, but nothing jumps or stands out once you've had Mexican food in a superb Mexican place out West. Having said that, let me tell you that their chips and salsa are absolutely out of this world. I don't know what they put in their salsa (my guess is crack), but it has an interesting side taste (I think it's heavy on the cilantro) which makes it addictive to me... Good bar as well... always full of folks seemingly just sitting around drinking and watching sports on TV.

    (3)

  • Melody C.

    An OK family restaurant. It has a nice outdoor patio for dining, and good chips and salsa, a large bar area for your wait where you can order a large frozen margarita or even just dine there at the tall 2 person tables. i had the chicken enchiladas with red sauce - kind of salty, i drank my entire diet coke by the end of the meal. food isn't anything remarkable, but it's got decent looking tacos and fajitas.

    (3)

  • Keny Ñ.

    They open early 4 the mornin rush!

    (4)

  • gwen g.

    Ok, so my friends and I go here a lot. I'm giving it four stars because I honestly haven't tasted many items on the menu, but I keep coming back for the same thing over and over again because it is soooo good. Their fajitas! I usually get the chicken and beef combo without the cheese and sour cream, which are extra if you want them by the way. Their tortillas are fresh made right when the food comes out so they are really hot and smell/taste delicious. You can get corn tortillas if you want them. The chips and salsa are really good considering most mexican restaurants don't bother too much with those. I also enjoy their skinny guava-rita, although it is a little pricy ($8) for a fairly small glass. So anyway, I keep coming back just for the fajitas. I can't really comment on anything else on the menu, but if you're down for something good go with the fajitas. I've had both outstanding and pretty mediocre service while there, but their system works pretty well for service. My only complaint is that even when the restaurant is only partially full it is so loud in there. I guess the concrete floors and the high ceilings just create a lot of echo so be prepared to have to yell a little bit to be heard, especially in the bar area.

    (4)

  • Rebby H.

    This was one of my favorite restaurants growing up, and the place I always meet my friends when we're back in town! I've lived in Texas, so I think I have the authority to say this is some pretty good Mexican food. It may be pricier than Texas, but the quality is great. Anything with shrimp is great, and the queso and guacamole are both fantastic. You can't go wrong with any of the fajita options, and my friends and I often split a 1-person serving, which is plenty of food and a great deal for 2. The restaurant definitely does get loud, though!

    (5)

  • Ashley B.

    Uncle Julios is great if you want a nice chain Mexican food experience that isn't as small as Guapos. Prices are a little steep, but my mango shrimp tacos were delicious. My friend took me here for their frozen sangria/margarita swirlys - not for the faint of heart! Bartender was a little inattentive/rude, but not much to do about that.

    (3)

  • Loring P.

    Total upscale Mexican restaurant on Bethesda Row. Reminds me of that fine authentic dining I experienced on a recent trip to Acapulco. Exotic variety of bar drinks, excellent selection of appetizers, incredible variety of main courses to select from, and some amazing desserts. For our main course, red snapper and a chicken fajita dish were served quite hot, and incredibly fragrant. The snapper was fork tender and moist despite being grilled on mesquite wood! The chicken fajitas were delicioso (oops, wrong culture) :-) I highly recommend dining here if you are in the mood for fine Mexican cuisine. I'll be back soon too.

    (5)

  • Caroline K.

    Ah, I remember when this place opened. It's become a Bethesda staple. A lot of families come here so there are always kids running around. It's loud in the main dining room. If you're of age, I would strongly recommend sitting in the bar area, ordering yourself a margarita (or a swirl, if you're feeling ambitious) and eat the awesome chips they bring you. It's a much more pleasant experience. The seating outside is nice too. Don't come in on a Friday or Saturday because you will have to wait a while for a table and it will be super loud and hectic. The entree portions are big. I've started getting the tacos because they're a more manageable portion size, and they're fresh and not covered with melted cheese like everything else.

    (3)

  • Lena W.

    *Homer Simpson drool face* I'm a fan of Uncle Julio's catering, so I was really excited to check out the restaurant. A group of coworkers and I came for lunch on a Wednesday. We were seated immediately and were shocked that it was so empty. That didn't last long, however, since the lunch crowd hit and it was packed by 12:30pm. I have to rave about the chips & salsa that are complimentary. The chips are so GOOD! I'm used to this being a mediocre addition to the meal, but we were all digging in to the chips. The salsa held its own, as well. They have a great lunch menu with prices that are pretty reasonable. Luckily, the portions are a good match. I definitely felt like I got my money's worth. Everyone else raved about the fajitas. I've had that before and can attest to the greatness! I thought our server was attentive, but not overly friendly. It wasn't enough to make me feel like I had bad service, but she definitely just me the bare minimum.

    (4)

  • Missy J.

    I don't play when it comes to margaritas and Mexican food. I stopped in Tuesday night for happy hour while my phone was getting fixed at Apple. I was in the mood for a margarita and made sure to ask whether they could make one with fresh lime juice. I don't do sour mix. The bartender told me they can do either. The margarita was great! I believe the HH deal is $1.25 or $2.00 off drinks - I can't remember. The drink prices are already pretty reasonable. I had the Patron margarita with fresh lime, which was only $10 or $11 full price. The chips and salsa were also good (although not as good as my beloved Oyamel). I peeped the menu, which looked impressive. They have lots of interesting options. Even different kinds of guac with queso fresco. I couldn't eat a lot of the dishes listed, but it all looked pretty solid.

    (4)

  • Rhianna B.

    I don't know why Uncle Julio's doesn't have better ratings! I think the food is fresh and delicious. The drinks are very good too. I've always had good service there. The only negative things are the location--parking is difficult and you always have to pay for it--and the price. They are more expensive than nearby Mexican restaurants (think Guapo's). My suggestion is to get an entree meant for one person and split it. They have fajitas which are priced differently for one vs two people, but honestly I don't think the amount of food is that different. The entrees for one person are sufficient to share and there's no charge for sharing a dish. The drinks are expensive, but they're fairly strong. My advice: don't get "the swirl" (a mix of sangria and frozen margarita). Although they advertise it as their signature drink, it's gross when it starts melting.

    (4)

  • Chris P.

    Uncle Julio's is my go to restaurant whenever I'm home in the DC area! I love going there. The food is always consistent, quick and delicious! Yes, it's not fine dining but it's hella good comfort food. I always get the fajita platter with friends when we come here. You can never go wrong with Rio Grande!

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    Rio grande has a typical Mexican feel with a large space and decorations, along with a bar right when you walk in and some nice outdoor seating. I sat down and we got chips and salsa. One of the biggest let downs I had here was when I asked for a spicy salsa they didn't have any, or even any spicy hot sauce, which I thought was strange because we were at a Mexican restaurant. Next we got the table side guacamole which was really good and totally worth getting, the guy also lets you customize it if you want more cilantro or jalapeños. Lastly we got the steak fajitas for two which was a bit pricey (the fajitas for one were still $22) but very good. The steak was cooked medium rare, the tortillas were fresh and warm, and the guacamole and salsa weren't skimped on at all.

    (3)

  • K T.

    Our favorite, local Mexican restaurant. The best Queso in town. Guacamole is excellent and fresh. Great service every time we dine here. Outdoor dining is nice but loud due to the proximity of Arlington Road.

    (5)

  • Irene A.

    I've been here a bunch of times. I've been coming here since it was named rio grande so it's been a good 8 years. It's been around in Bethesda for a long time and it's always been amazing. The good: Love the beef fajitas and ceviche. It's always my go to when coming here! For desert I love the Cajeta. The bad Nada!

    (4)

  • Michael H.

    Excellent Tex-Mex and excellent service can make for a great evening whether you dine inside or out. The enchiladas with beef or the really good cheese and onion are my first choices. But the fish tacos and frajitas are also good. The chips and salsa are just right. Having dined here often I never particularly wanted to " write a review" , BUT last evening we had the most amazing server named Sara. She is beautiful, kind and so very attentive - truly wonderful. She is the reason I will return even sooner!

    (5)

  • Hannah S.

    We enjoyed a wonderful lunch so much that we decided to return for supper later in the week! Definitely worth the drive from DC-area. The queso is very unique (includes chunks of fajita steak and is topped with pico. The homemade tortillas are soft and delectable!

    (5)

  • Renu K.

    This place get 5 stars just based on their customer service. In this day and age, good customer service is hard to find. This place has the most attentive and helpful people working here. The food is really good too. My husband and I love coming here. It's a great night out when all you want is a good meal and a great margarita and call it a night. We will keep coming here and leaving with a smile. I don't consider the food to be truly authentic mexican food though. It is definitely Commercial Americanized mexican food but it's fresh and good quality food. Love it!!!

    (5)

  • Ben D.

    The service was slow and we constantly had to remind our water of our requests multiple times. The atmosphere was very loud, we could not hear each other speak. The food was alright but nothing unique. The restaurant was definitely family-oriented.

    (2)

  • Anthony J.

    Noisy!!! We were about to be seated at a table with food in the seat, noticeably and the hostess still proceeded to seat is there. Food was good.

    (3)

  • Melissa B.

    If I was only rating the food, I would give 4 stars. The food is fresh and flavorful. Portions are large- a fajita for one can be easily be shared between two people. The chips are thin and crisp and the salsa is delicious. Service here is inconsistent. We have had some amazing waiters/waitresses and some not so great. While the fajitas are good, we often get them first, and the corn tortillas 5 or so minutes later after the food has already cooled down. Also, this place is incredibly loud and they definitely have maxed out the amount of seating- you are lucky if you can get out of your seat without bumping into the person behind you. Teenagers tend to flock here in large groups which can get pretty annoying when you're at a table near by. I will say uncle julios is great for children and the food is consistently good. Even though the service is hit or miss, it is in my opinion the best Mexican food in the area so I will continue to eat there

    (3)

  • Bob K.

    As a frequent Mexican food eater, I was not very impressed with Uncle Julio's. It was fairly average, really, without anything special to set it apart. Perhaps in the Bethesda Row area, it stands out, but back home in Kansas City it wouldn't stand up against Taqueria Mexico, Mi Ranchito, or even Jose Peppers. We arrived in the area and were looking for something different to try. Walking past Uncle Julio's, we asked a dinner that was eating in their outside section if they would recommend it. The fellow said something like, "Of course! I eat here all the time. I have eaten here since it opened. I have eaten here since before it moved to this location." You couldn't have gotten a higher recommendation... So, we went in. It was crowded, but we were seated quickly. We had high expectations, but when I got the menu I was immediately struck by the lack of choices. The most choices were in the appetizer side. Everything else seemed to be focused on Fajitas, enchilada, and tacos. They did have a Carne Asada, the consumption of which would be a good gauge of how good a Mexican place it is, but I did not end up getting that. The chips were good, and the salsa (while not spicy by any stretch) was flavorful and quite uniform in consistency making for a mouthful of goodness with every chip. We tried the queso as an appetizer, and I personally wasn't very impressed. Our server was quite attentive, and helpful. In fact, he raised my rating from a 2 to a 3. The prices were also a little on the high side. After getting the meal, I realize that the portion size was quite large, so that might justify the price somewhat. I ordered the Chicken and Steak fajitas. Most places you get just a dusting of sides, but here I got a Cheese and cream cheese plate, a guac and pico plate, and a cup of what was supposed to be beans. Let me talk about those beans for a second. I actually didn't have any beans in my cup of beans. I id have some nice looking stewed tomatoes, and what looked like a bean soup without the beans. After calling my server over to point that out, I did, in fact, find a bean...which I then consumed. I mean it was good. So, I can't say that their "beans" are good, because I only had one. We ate fairly quickly, and I got a box for half of my fajitas. They put the queso in a nice plastic closed container, gave me a bag of tortillas, and I put the chips in a second box. I really needed a bag to carry it. So, I asked for a bag. What I got was a paper sack that I might get shopping at a department store. There was not smaller bag to be had. It was huge. I had to carry that on the metro, and it was unwieldy and a huge waste of a tree. I felt silly heading back to my hotel with that back, and equally silly heading in to work the next day carrying it. So for criticisms, I'd say that the food is average, the beans are non existent, the to go bags are obnoxiously large. In summary, the place is not one I'm really motivated to go back to. I suppose, if my options were not limited, I could get my Mex on at Uncle Julio's, but there are much better Mexican restaurants within my travel sphere, so I can't recommend this place.

    (3)

  • Johanna A.

    This was our first time at this location, and I will never go back. First, although we got there before them, two groups of teenagers were seated before us. Then the large table that was seated 10 minutes after us were waited on first, and received their food first, while the three of us, on our lunch hour, waited and waited. Finally, the on duty manager came over to apologize for the "long wait" but offered us nothing to take the sting out of it. The margaritas, while tasty, were mostly ice and a total rip off. When our food finally came, almost 45 minutes after we ordered, my order was wrong. At this point, we were out of time for lunch, so two of us sent our food back uneaten and asked for our checks, while the third member of our party scarfed down as much as she could in 5 minutes. Very disappointing end to what we had looked forward to as a fun holiday lunch outing. I will stick with the Gaithersburg location in the future. :(

    (1)

  • Danny M.

    I went here on the 4th of July. It was pretty empty at approximately 11:00 p.m. I had 2 margaritas which were great! The guava and the passion fruit both have a unique taste compared to your traditional tasting margaritas. Complimentary chips and the smoked salsa with pureed tomatoes has a nice smooth kick to it as well as being addictive. Will update when I order a full entree

    (4)

  • Greg M.

    I have only sat at the bar so haven't experienced actually having a meal. Bartenders are attentive and are very pleasant people to chat with. Also I would say that they have some of the best tasting margaritas in that part of Bethesda. For price of alcohol, pretty standard for Bethesda, its on the same par as most of the other restaurants/bars. But honestly I never feel drawn to come back here, food that I have had has been good but its not enough for me to become a regular. Plus I spend most of going out money on beer rather than food, so there are other places that I prefer to drink.

    (3)

  • Jifei B.

    Went there two times. The first time my fajita steak is burnt. The second time, I ordered taco fajita steak, which is like fast food, with only shredded lettuce and tomato and a bunch of cheese in it besides the steak. They dont even have salsa. It is not a real taco and way too expensive. Don't order it.

    (1)

  • Faith B.

    First the down side--the place is loud, the tables are very close together, and unless you take metro, you'll probably have to pay for parking. Now the good news--the food is excellent. We ordered a fajita special for two that included guacamole made table side. We actually shared this between three of us... it was plenty of food. They have the best chips--super thin and crispy--and the salsa is very good. The guacamole was one of the best we've had, and the beef fajitas were very tender and flavorful. We'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Tim D.

    This was not an acceptable experience. I have been going to Uncle Julios for over a decade (it had a different name before I believe). I called ahead for a party of 7 an hour before for a 7:15PM reservation, the hostess indicated that was fine but i might have to wait 5-10 minutes. I said this was fine. I arrive at 7:15 and they tell us we now have to wait 20 minutes instead of the original "possible" 5-10. Again, I still remain calm and say that's fine. I do hear her tell others there wait was 20-30 minutes and they were walk-ins but i ignore this assuming it was just because we were a larger party. It hits 7:30PM so i go back to the hostess and ask how long till our table be ready. She indicates "It should be 7:50pm as you requested." This is when i begin to get slightly upset because she literally lied to me, I originally requested 7:15pm and I directly see that on the card and even if you add the 20 minutes quoted afterward, that is still 7:35pm. The woman admits her mistake and says "Sorry i must have wrote down the wrong time.You will get the next available table." It hits 7:50pm and we are still not seated, this is the time that she mistakenly wrote down and even then we are still not seated. Even further, we see an equally large group sit down before us. At this point, we are pretty annoyed and have the following conversation: Us: "How did that group get seated before us when you said we would get the next available table?" Hostesses:"Oh they called ahead." Us: "We did too! Over an hour and a half ago" Hostesses: "Oh sorry i mispoke." Different Hostess: "You guys are not too far off from your expected time of 7:50" Different Hostess: "Thats because I wrote down the wrong time. " Different Hostess: "Oh..." Different Hostess: "We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but there is nothing we can do. We hope to get you seated as soon as possible." In the end we get seated at 8:05pm, spent $200+, gave 18+% tip even with this service (it wasnt the waiters fault), and all of us have gone to this place since we were kids. WTF? In what world was this debacle acceptable? And for this debacle, all we get is a "We are very sorry for the inconvenience but there is nothing we can do." Never again you just lost 7 lifelong customers congratulations Uncle julios.

    (1)

  • Samuel L.

    This place has a great location and ample space. The food was outstanding! I had the carnitas tacos which were generously sized and delicious. Awesome tortilla chips and salsa to start with, beats bread and butter any day.

    (5)

  • David M.

    We went to Julio's last night as a party of four. The food was good, the service was good. They make fresh guacamole right at your table and it is incredibly good. The down side was that the music is so loud it is impossible to carry on a conversation across the table. The lighting is also very dim. The hostess had a rather extreme hairstyle, which was pretty weird. I prefer a more professional appearance in the wait staff.

    (2)

  • AJ D.

    Equivalent to eating at Taco Bell except you pay more. The service was good but odd. The server actively told us that a bunch of stuff on the menu wasn't good. Guided us to the "Crispy Taco Plate". The taco shells are not even hot and the $11 margaritas are sub-par. Hard pass.

    (2)

  • R R.

    Did not meet expectations--mediocre food. We arrived and were told we would have a 30 minute wait. We went to the bar, had very good service, and margarita's were pretty good. We were seated in less than 30-minutes....so far so good. Bar service upgraded overall rating from 1 to 2 stars. Things started going south when we sat at our table. Server was not very attentive. We had to ask for refill on spicy salsa several times....after 15 minutes we were told "the kitchen was making it." Ordered large guacamole--received small order and had to send it back. Dinner arrived. Beef and Chicken fajita's were piping hot but beef was stringy and tough. Beans and rice were enjoyable and the best part of the meal. My sister's fish tacos were literally cold. Sent them back.....manager came to the table and tried to make it right--offered to remake. We declined because it would have taken 15 minutes and all others were eating. We asked the manager for the hot salsa we ordered more than 20 minutes earlier and it arrived within a minute. Too bad out server didn't make it happen. They did comp the cold fish tacos. My son's combination Juanita's Platter was a disappointment. All-in-all, I don't know how this place stays in business. All four of our meals were sub standard. I won't go back.

    (2)

  • Ralph N.

    I usually like my tacos pink, but I'll always settle for Uncle Julio's instead. Great place! Get a swirl meltdown at the bar!

    (5)

  • Derek S.

    Ate here for a dinner meeting with guys on my team at work. We all got the chicken&streak fajitas since that seemed to be one of the most popular. The food was pretty good but not great. Service was a bit slow and lacking attention even though it wasn't that busy when we got there. We had to ask for more tortillas because they only gave enough for half a meal. And even then, we had to wait long enough for the additional a that we just continued without them. Also, drink refills didn't come very timely either. It's a chain restaurant and some of the guys have been before but another location. Reading reviews from the other locations compared to this one, I think if I was invited again, I'd hope to visit one of the others. Probably wouldn't come here by my own decision.

    (3)

  • adam f.

    This use to be our go to spot in Bethesda and we recommended to everyone. We started noticing little things that were going downhill and went less frequently. Before our last visit, the service wasn't great and the food ok (always had been so good) so we didn't go for a while. Went again and it was the same with the service. The hosts were good but our server was slow. Had to ask for refills of drinks , whole table completely empty of drinks and she only had 3-4 tables. The beef for the fajita's wasn't that great. My wife said it tasted like it was re cooked and the color was different. 1st time ever we left food on the table and didn't finish or take home. Didn't complain, just will tell people about our experience. So disappointing since we use to love this place, but for some reason it's gone downhill. Going to go have to go back to Guapos.

    (3)

  • Racquel C.

    Great spot for drinks and good food. Been coming here for years. However, there food isn't consistent. Went there recently and the diablo shrimp entree I ordered was very cold.

    (3)

  • Karen L.

    This place has mediocre Mexican food. Not terrible, but not amazing either, that's for sure. I had the fish tacos and the fish was over cooked and dry. Others had sampler type platters that had some decent elements (chicken enchiladas) and some not so decent elements (tamales). The salsa is kind of smoky tasting, not a traditional tomato/cilantro type you may be used to. I found it a little disappointing. We had to wait half a hour and it was really busy and loud. Saturday night though so that is to be expected. Next time I will probably try another restaurant since there are so many options around the area.

    (3)

  • Rocco H.

    The food was great, just wish I could say the same for the atmosphere. Horrible acoustics inside, you cannot even hear the person your sitting with. Also waited over 45 minutes for our food. The place wasn't worth the wait.

    (2)

  • Drethi C.

    If you saw the recent pictures I had posted I think you would know that this is not the most appetizing place to visit. I guess I am not kid friendly, so to begin with, they won one of Bethesda's family friendly restaurants. So was definitely very big on TONS of crying kids screaming & shouting enough to give anyone a headache after a trying friday. I guess that would ve been alright if they didn't keep telling us that our table was ready and then telling us "a couple more minutes" everytime we would attempt to get a drink, they would call and then make us wait. Finally on the third turn they sat us, by this disgusting uncleaned table that had food on the ground. I think the kids in that table were throwing the food on the floor. I understand they are kid friendly but they can most certainly mop off the floor around that table for other customers. It was really nasty to look at. Can't really comment on the food. Kind of lost my appetite, so just took it to go. The drinks were good, but overall, I just came out of the restautant with a migraine and feeling nauseus.

    (2)

  • Megan B.

    Uncle Julio's (or as I call it Rio Grande) is my favorite and has been for years. I always get their chicken fajitas. They are perfectly to die for every time. For an alcoholic drink, you can go wrong with a reverse swirl with a Grand Marnier meltdown. This is a swirl of their frozen sangria and frozen lime margarita. They taste simply delicious. Watch out for the wait times on weekends or nice summer days. It can get pretty crazy, but very worth it.

    (4)

  • Ashley C.

    I love Uncle Julio's, but I'll never sit at the bar again. My bf and I sat at the bar and waited a good 5-7 minutes for someone to approach us. Keep in mind we were the only ppl at the bar and there were about 4 bartenders behind the bar. Eventually we got served. Our bartender was rather slow until other patrons of the lighter complexion *wink* approached the bar. They were greeted immediately. Our bartender wound up ditching us and I guess we became the "community patrons" bc we had about 4 diff ppl assist us and most of the time it was after I flagged them down. Never will I sit at the bar again. At least when you're at a table the bartender doesn't know who they're making drinks for and move a little faster. *sigh*

    (3)

  • Lindsay V.

    We came here for lunch at 11:30 on a Wednesday while I was waiting for my Genuis Bar appointment at the Apple store next door. Our server was a bit shy and soft-spoken but extremely polite. Our food (chicken fajitas lunch special) came out pretty fast, but it was pretty average - nothing to write home about. They were quick to box up our food and deliver the bill so we could be on our way.

    (3)

  • Gumercindo A.

    First off - long time Uncle Julios patron but of the Gaithersburg location. The good - it's actually easy to get a table at 6pm on a Friday/Saturday! If you stroll into the Gaithersburg location at that time, you're looking at a 30-45 min wait! They also have plenty of good outdoor seating. As far as comparing the 2, that's the only area where the Bethesda location was favorable to the GBurg one. The food takes forever at the Bethesda locaton and to be honest, we've gotten the same thing at both locations and the food is actually better at the Gaithersburg one. One example - we love ordering the carne asada at the GBurg location and they cook it perfectly every time (I've been there about 30 times). The Bethesda one, otoh, we've been to 3 times and each time they manage to not cook it just right. One time we asked for a medium rare and it came back medium to well done. So we sent it back and of course they bring back a totally rare one. 2 tries and they couldn't get it right. The Gburg location is much more efficient in handling the crowds, imo. I don't know the numbers but I'm guessing that the GBurg location seats more people but they still manage to get the food out fast.

    (3)

  • Claire J.

    My boyfriend and I come here a lot for their chips and salsa. We order the food but the real star is that free appetizer. The salsa has a smokiness that's really unique, and the chips are thin and perfectly salted. Other than that I can't say anything about the food other than that while it's palatable, it's not authentic at all. Your kids will probably like it. Brunch is ok, I always get the migas. It's very loud and hard to hear your dining companions. Take it as an incentive to dine on the patio now that the weather is warming up.

    (3)

  • Chrissy G.

    While the food here is good, it is overshadowed by the quality of their margaritas. I had both the frozen and on the rocks, and was very almost no tequila in either of them. In fact, after 3 margaritas, I felt like I had been drinking lemonade, not an alcoholic beverage. A pretty big rip off considering that the special "Margarita of the Day" was $10.99! This is the second time I've been there and have experienced this. The first time I thought it was just a fluke and gave it a pass. Twice- I don't think so. I'm very disappointed.

    (2)

  • Amy W.

    One of the best restaurant in Bethesda! Service: 9/10 Food: I usually get fajitas, enchiladas, and queso. They are very consistent with their food and service Drinks: who does't like their swirl!

    (5)

  • Brinkely H.

    I regret ever eating here. Food is underwhelming. Over priced. They need to boot this place from Bethesda Row. Outside is a bug crazed habitat.

    (2)

  • Alexa M.

    I normally don't like Mexican food but this way excellent. The service was good as well. I like seeing attractive waiters too that's nice eye candy. I got the need fajita's which were to die for. My mother and I also like the guacamole. It's hard to not get full on that before the actual meal. Will come back whenever I can.

    (4)

  • Cherelle H.

    Came here for lunch one day with my coworkers, when I worked in Bethesda. Not a far walk from Wisconsin Ave. Went in and got seated immediately. (It was about 6 of us) they had lunch specials. Being a pescatarian I was excited that they had fish tacos. The 2 tacos were huge, filling and good. You also got rice and beans as a side. The atmosphere was a little hipster and loud. (It's probably fun for happy hour) The lighting was low. The chips and salsa were awesome. Reasonable prices, great for lunch.

    (4)

  • Leilani R.

    Bathrooms were in HORRIBLE shape both cleanliness and smell. I've seen bus station restrooms in better shape. I don't care how late it was or how close it was to closing, keep up the maintenance throughout the day! I have only had chips and salsa at the bar while enjoying a beverage or two. I hope the entrees make up for the bathrooms.

    (1)

  • Aaron M.

    Oh...this place. It's at its peak when its warm outside and you can sit on the patio and slurp margaritas. Actually, even better then their margaritas are their margarita and sangria swirls. You can get the meltdown Swirl which has a shot of Patron topper...does the trick pretty quickly. The food is good, about what you'd expect from a casual Mexican joint. Free chips and salsa like every Mexican restaurant north of the border. I think their enchiladas are delicious in a greasy, lots of melted cheese kind of way, but don't expect out of this world flavor. Their fish tacos are also pretty good. I would normally give 3 stars but I've always received really good service here, even when they're packed, so I'm gonna be generous and bump them up to a 4. It's just a place that's really fun.

    (4)

  • Carley M.

    I love the queso, but wish they had a better gluten free and vegan menu.

    (3)

  • j b.

    Don't even try to use an Uncle Julio's gift card here. they told me I had a zero balance on the card. I called their gift card phone number and was told the balance was $30. The manager said they could not process the payment since their payment machine said the balance was zero. when I ask how I can use the card there, he said I couldn't. and he had the gall to say that this happens "all the time". if that's so, why don't they fix the problem?

    (1)

  • Kathryn A.

    Not bad! Fish tacos tasted like the fish had just been caught. The ground beef was fresh and non-greasy. Very Tex Mex, but fresh, delicious ingredients. Have to give the salsa a thumbs down. Too much of a smoky, bacon flavor--didn't work for me. The service was quick, excellent, and we had plenty of food for the price. A lot of kids running around, but management was quick to address it. Last but not least, excellent Margaritas!

    (4)

  • Joanne L.

    The food in general is okay, but we only order the fajitas (which are fantastic), so the rest of the menu doesn't really matter. The portions are huge, the meat is juicy and tender, and the flour tortillas are always fresh and hot. They come with Spanish rice, beans, guacamole, tomatoes, and onions. We don't go anywhere else for fajitas. The free chips and salsa are also delicious, and I personally think they're the best [free] chips and salsa I've ever had at a restaurant. Drinks are good too, although a bit expensive. Normally we get the pina colada or strawberry daiquiri. Service is usually very good, although wait times can be ridiculous.

    (4)

  • B N.

    Decent enough for mid-atlantic tex mex. Hint to all of the people writing about "Mexican" food (e.g. in KS and other places): this is not Mex-Mex or Latin American food fare. It is Tex-Mex. If you want that other stuff go to Guapos.

    (3)

  • Jen F.

    I came to Uncle Julios on a Saturday night and my goodness. I felt like I was at a circus. It is loud, Mexican fiesta inside. You could have the rowdiest kids in the world and they could go by completely unnoticed. There is a bar area where you can seat yourself and get some chips and drinks while you wait for a table and then a main dining area. Expect to have a wait on a Friday/Saturday night. The service was not the greatest, but as crowded as it gets, my expectations weren't high. The server was also a little amateur. It should be an unspoken rule that you give a table of 5 at least two bowls of chips and 2 bowls of salsa. My conversation when ordering went something like this: Me: Can I have the Mexican cobb salad, but with the portabello mushroom instead of chicken? Server: Why don't you just just get the Santa Fe salad instead? (salad comes with a mushroom) Me: Because I don't want that salad...? Server: I don't think we can do that. I told the server to forget about the mushroom because this request was pretty complex (sarcasm). In the end, I did get the mushroom on my salad but I was taken aback. The food is decent. Not authentic Mexican by any means, but it's tasty. The guacamole is worth getting for an appetizer.

    (3)

  • Virtual M.

    Was there a couple of nights ago, and it seems they no longer have the special appetizers on certain days, While we still can get the Flameado, we have to ask if they can make it as it is no longer an actual menu item. The new Grande Julio margarita was really good, and the food was about normal to what we normally get, although I could tell my plate sat under the warmer for quite awhile as the plate was hot and one of my enchilada's had basically hardened to the plate. I don't really like the new salsa either... it's very watery but the spiciness is good. all in all another decent night out here, loud as usual, probably our one big turn-off that keeps us from stopping in more often.

    (3)

  • Sophia J.

    Came here with a friend , ordered the Chicken fajita quesadilla and a skinny mixed strawberry margarita, both were very good, the waitress was very nice and checked on us a few times.

    (5)

  • Maulin S.

    Good service but sucks to know that enchiladas have sauce made up of chicken broth... I ate here a month ago and our server said the green sauce is vegetarian. Today the same server said all sauces have chicken broth so our enchiladas will have queso as sauce. Very disappointed. my last time. Looks like being vegetarian is more less like unwelcoming idea for many restaurants. Such a shame!

    (2)

  • Dorothy N.

    Went here yesterday with three other friends. This place has really good food and really good service. Ask for Mike! He's a sweetheart. He was always checking on us to see if we need our drinks refreshed and chips replaced. We got the roasted corn and crab guacamole for an appetizer (so good!) I shared the tiera mar (for two) with a friend. Definitely worth it! Came with two lobster tails, and fajitas. Way more food than I could even eat. Probably coming back with family next time. Seems like a good place for groups. Saw a bunch of families with kids yesterday.

    (5)

  • Dee B.

    The first time I went I just ordered an appetizer and a drink. The first bartender to service me was friendly and attentive. Then another guy showed up and he seemed as if he didn't want to serve me at all. The food and drink were pretty good, so I thought I would go back for a meal. Bad idea. I ordered a chicken taco. Sounds simple enough right? I mean, you can whip those up at home. Well, it was awful! Absolutely disgusting. The waiter asked me when I ordered it did I want grilled chicken. So I'm thinking that it was an option. So I said yes. He never mentioned that there was an extra charge for ordering grilled chicken. I looked at my bill and there were these individual charges per taco but it didn't say what the charge was for. When I asked what the charged were for he told me that it for ordering grilled chicken. When I reminded him that he didn't inform me that there was an extra charge for the chicken he just apologized but never offered to remove the charges. I am contemplating if I will give this location another chance to piss me off.

    (2)

  • George V.

    6pm, Sunday 17 August Service was ok for a "franchise, chain" restaurant. In general the food was average but the price points were above average. The fried calamari appetizer was not acceptable. The dish was not properly fried. The coating fell off revealing greasy, rubbery rings. The restaurant staff took this item off the bill when I complained. My margarita tasted weak and watered down. So for my second drink I ordered a Manhattan with the same result. My smoked rib entry did taste good. The problem was I could taste it all night with the resulting indigestion from the sauce. There are so many nearby restaurants I would give Uncle Julios a pass.

    (1)

  • Patrick M.

    it's OK tex-mex in the heart of bethesda; expect bethesda prices & parking experience, though it isn't far from the metro or the capital crescent trail, if that's an option. this is also one of the loudest restaurants i've ever been to - ever. the only sound-absorbant surfaces in this place are the tortillas. honestly, if i'm in this neighborhood and need mexican i'll probably just go down the road to friendship heights and hit rosa mexicana instead.

    (3)

  • Kathy M.

    Uncle Julio's probably has some of the best mexican food in the area. Their tamale's are some of the best I've had and their enchiladas are delicious. Like most mexican restaurants, they serve chips & salsa as a free starter, which is delicious. Their bacon wrapped shrimp fajitas are a signature dish, but you should really be a HUGE bacon lover because it is ALOT of bacon. May be better to split this particular dish (smile). Their deserts are great, I had the cajeta (vanilla ice cream wrapped in pecans with caramel sauce (very good). But their sopapillas are not worth it - I urge you for the good of mankind to skip these. They are not appeasing.

    (4)

  • Jerry N.

    Uncle Julio's is a Bethesda stalwart that has withstood the constant flux of restaurants in the area. It isn't fancy or complicated, but what it does well it does really well: serving delicious Mexican food in a fun environment. I'm not vouching for the authenticity of the Mexican food, and I'm sure there are foodies out there that would disagree, but for my money, Uncle Julio's gets the job done. Whether it is the chips and salsa, beef/chicken fajitas, or the margaritas, we always enjoy our trips to this place. The restaurant is on the loud side, so it is very kid friendly, but that may be a deterrent for some. It is relatively pricey ($15-20 for an adult entree) but they don't skimp on food or flavor.

    (4)

  • Zi-Heng Z.

    This is like a "want to be higher end" Chevy's. I don't know if they are owned by the same company, but they are pretty much the same. I like this place, I know it's not authentic anything (not even tex-mex) but it's fills that spot between taco bell and (name a fancy Mexican place). Juanita's platter is my go to. HUGE portions. Doggie Bag it !

    (3)

  • Chris K.

    the hostesses are fantastically rude. like seriously, what-the-heck-is-wrong-with-you rude. then there's the service. we always leave feeling overcharged, and we were actually overcharged in the last visit. the waitress added a margarita to the tab that we didn't order. three times i've tried this place, and each time i leave full of hate.

    (1)

  • Indya R.

    Surprisingly good food, just ok drinks. I have been here at least three times. It is a great day-time hangout spot, or bring the family here for dinner. It is a sizable venue, with a good-sized bar at the front, which I always sit at. Bartenders are attentive, and I mentioned the food is surprisingly good-- I have to admit I was expecting expensive, fake Mexican food, but it was satisfying so my Southern California taste buds. I would stick to regular cocktails here, such as jack n coke, the frozen drinks have never done it for me.

    (3)

  • Lorena B.

    This was the biggest disappointment I've had in a while. As you can imagine, I was super psyched to find out they have pineapple bacon (bacon!) guac on the menu. Welp, it was awful. Sure, there was plenty of bacon but the queso fresco was an odd ingredient to throw in and the guac itself was out of the bucket instead of freshly made. If you're going to charge Rosa Mexicano prices, at least make the guacamole on site! I also tried the pulled BBQ chicken quesadilla from the specials menu. Blah. It was a hearty portion and packed with chicken but there was no flavor to be found. I slathered sour cream on a couple of pieces before telling my friend to finish it. The chips and salsa are pretty good, though the salsa could use some heat. I also liked the sopapillas, which were served piping hot with cinnamon, powdered sugar, and honey. Mmmm, fried dough. The service kinda sucks too. When he did deign to speak to us, the bartender was nice enough but he spent most of the evening chatting/serving the regulars. He would walk right by even though our menus were closed/drink glasses were empty/chip bowl was empty until we literally waived him down and asked for stuff. Which reminds me, the skinny guava margarita was decent but nothing amazing. I would recommend ordering it if you're counting calories. Bethesda has too many restaurants for me to return here.

    (2)

  • Mike W.

    Loved this place! Super atmosphere that feels like old northern Mexico. Alert and attentive wait staff wasted no time and made sure we had refills on chips, sodas and iced tea, and tortillas. Nice and relaxing and fun. No hassle when we ordered a single portion of fajitas for two. The only downside - and it's not Uncle Julio's fault - is the over-strict and hyper-vigilant Montgomery County parking enforcement that will add $45 to your evening if you go one minute over the metered time. Sorry, but the local authorities cost this fine business one star.

    (4)

  • Lucas M.

    This place is terrible. For one, the food was lousy. I had the soft shell beef tacos and the meat tasted like it had been soaked in butter for three days. Now usually I like buttered food, but this was excessively salty and greasy. The rice that came with it was inedible. Rice is supposed to be mushy but this was like mesquite flavored rice crispies; so dry and crunchy. Furthermore the waiter told me that they make the flour tortillas with pig lard which explains why it was like gooey in my plate. And then I got food poisoning! For two days after eating here I was running to the bathroom to expel the dinner I had had and which I paid like $15 for. I would have given it one star, but I need to reserve that for the truly awful. That said: I am never ever going back to Uncle Julios.

    (2)

  • Parisa A.

    I went here today with a friend. There food is quite tasteless. Not the greatest food. The service was alright. My waiter was very slow which was expected since they have never been known to has the quickest service. Probably won't go back

    (3)

  • Rits M.

    Went to the post office around the corner, which is closing soon. Dealing with the post office makes me rage for a margarita so I popped in. However they did take a while so I just had a quesadilla. It was the pulled chicken and it was an app. It was huge though, two people could have eaten it. It was tasty, very tex mex-y and super salty. Made me thirstier than I was already. They serve nachos with salsa for free before the meal but the salsa wasn't very good to me and tasted kinda boring. The ambiance is nice though, like a bar- hacienda that is done up well for an American audience. Go here if you need a drink post dealing with the USPS.

    (3)

  • Jerry X.

    Taste the beef fajita which is excellent, also the stream, which marinated well, with sides of guacamole and tomatoes. One of the noticeable appetizer is the thiny crunch of home made nachos, will make you come back for more.

    (4)

  • Anne W.

    Queso to my faceo & skinny Margs! Delicious! Fajitas are my go to order, but portion is huge. I recommend sharing with a friend. They are always busy, most of the time have a wait; we usually grab a table at the bar.

    (4)

  • Jessica P.

    There are so many reasons I am incapable of objectively reviewing Rio Grande. - It's a typical overpriced chain restaurant selling casual "Mexican" fare at slightly upscale prices...BUT! It's so delicious! And Bethesda surprisingly doesn't have that much good Mexican food! And they sort of a little bit make up for being overpriced by giving you as many of those amazing thin, fresh-out-the-fryer tortilla chips and salsa as you want for free! - You can't hear anything anyone is saying more than a foot away from you unless they are shouting because of some terrible acoustic feature of the building and because there are usually a million screaming toddlers or yuppie adolescents in the vicinity...BUT! Have I mentioned that the sopapillas are my favorite of anywhere I've ever ordered them? Or that I want to sail a boat made of the tortilla chips into an ocean of Rio Grande queso and never return? - Every single time I go, I am forced to a) see someone I went to high school with; b) sit near huge family parties with aforementioned screaming toddlers; c) all of the above...BUT! I spent the night of my 21st birthday here getting smashed on very strong swirly frozen margaritas and the pictures from that night are still epic years later and MEMORIES. You know? Came here last night for a friend's birthday party and barely talked to her at all because you can't make conversation from two seats away, and the fajitas I split with Manfriend were $36, and the small, semi-strong margarita was another $9, but somehow I still felt happy and satisfied when all was said and done. I don't know that I'd actually ever recommend Rio to anyone looking for a memorable dinner spot in Bethesda, but it has a special place in my heart, like some relative you don't actually think you like all that much or go out of your way to see, but then when you do see them you're all like "I LOVE YOU, man! Pass the chips!"

    (3)

  • Marie P.

    It's a great place to take kids.... It's loud, foods decent/good an the guacamole made at tables very good. I've been here a couple times while visiting family in area. It's minutes from sisters house an she has a crazy toddler so it works great. If it was just her an I, I don't think I would beg to go here but for a family restaurant it works well.

    (3)

  • Peter L.

    I have been going to Rio for years even when they were in the Woodmont Triangle days when President Bush used to come. Well...my recent experience was a little less than great. I see the portions are getting skimpy...the slices of beef for the fajitas is getting smaller and smaller every-time I go...and it is often especially with my brood. The value is dwindling and I am looking for alternatives and that is not what you guys want. As a native Bethesdan...I hope you guys read this stuff...I truly grew up in Edgemoor when this spot was a concrete plant...please restore your prowess in the Mexican food biz otherwise I will have to go to another place. If I see a chnage then you are reading this stuff...consistency is key and I am consistently seeing the value dwindle...change my mind.

    (3)

  • A. B.

    Good vegan option! We had the vegetable fajitas (hold the dairy) and it was excellent, and big enough to share. Fresh and tasty. Exceptionally good service, too, we got refills on our salsa and chips in a timely manner. The host was very knowledgeable about what the vegetarian options were, and what we needed to do to avoid dairy.

    (5)

  • T.D. S.

    Maybe they've recently changed management due to the negative Yelp reviews, who knows- but my wife and I had a nice experience here. Got in at 9.45pm, was sitting at our table with a bowl of guac, salsa and chips by 9.50pm. Drinks came a few minutes later and were fantastic. We got what we ordered by 10. Sure, it was busy, and loud, but our waiter came by several times to check us on us. Frog legs- delish. Bacon wrapped shrimp- come on, it's bacon and shrimp, can't really go wrong with that. With two drinks a piece, our check was just under $80. The manager of the place even came by to check on us (and the rest of the tables in the place). I'll go back again- didnt have the negative experience the others on Yelp did.

    (4)

  • Luke L.

    This is the second time we've tried Uncle Julio's, and it will likely be our last. The service was terrible--the server had to reheat our queso twice she seemingly had difficulty understanding that you need chips with your queso and visa versa. The drinks were overpriced for a very low-ball, premixed margarita with barely any alcohol. The vegetables were mushy and the enchiladas were certainly nothing impressive. It was extremely loud in the restaurant, but outside seating was comfortable.

    (1)

  • Crystal C.

    We had a new waiter who forgot our table side guacamole but when the food came- it was great. The tortillas were even corn- so Telmex! Great tasting steak enchilada dinner.

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    I want to give Uncle Julio six stars for the chips and salsa. The chips are the thinnest I've found anywhere, and both the mild and medium salsas are loaded with roasted tomatoes, cilantro, onion and chipotle peppers. Maybe it's just me but I could make an entire meal of their chips and salsa. On our recent visit we all ordered the $9.95 margaritas. I expected some kind of fish bowl sized glass or maybe one of those oversize margarita glasses, something special. Nope, just a plain small rocks glass. Tasted like they put maybe an ounce of tequila in it. In short, a huge price for a small drink. I know profit is not a dirty word, but giving another ten bucks for another small drink was not gonna happen. The food deserves three, maybe three and a half stars at best. I had the Benito combo platter. Maybe I should not expect much from a combo platter. The tamale was supposed to be filled with pork; it had a few shreds; was covered in a sauce with ground beef in it, tasty. The chicken enchilada rested under a great green salsa but only had dry & boring chicken inside. The HUGE chile relleno was stuffed with cheese and topped with fresh chopped tomato, very good. We tried the flan and the coconut-covered ice-cream ball for dessert. Both pretty good but neither one is memorable. The dining room was nearly empty on the Monday night we were in Bethesda and the food came quickly, but our waiter made himself remarkably difficult to find. What's that all about? Definitely hit this place for the chips, get a beer if you don't feel all spendy on drinks.

    (4)

  • Erica R.

    God awful food. These are harsh words I do not use lightly, but are necessary in this case. I will preface this by saying I do not have pretentious taste and thoroughly enjoy solid casual tex mex, there is a place in my heart for chimichangas, fajitas and burritos. However you will not find this here. My husband and I ordered the fajitas to share and they arrived lukewarm with sides that seemed to have been left out for several hours. I also questioned when and how the meat was cooked. The only saving grace was a decent margarita. I left disappointed and my craving for Mexican unfulfilled. Maybe they were having an off night, however I will not be returning to find out. Avoid this place.

    (1)

  • Steven K.

    Used to be one of my favorites... Years ago... Came back to the area and popped in today. It was so disappointing. The quality of the food has seriously declined. It can't be that I got a bad chef because it's too big, and standardized. They're dishing out things already made for the most part. Some of the bites of chicken as well as beef in the tacos were inedible. Maybe chicken once and a while, ok, but not ground beef! (To be clear, I don't swallow things I can't chew. Sorry for that description) Salsa that came was ok, but I remember it being so good! Perhaps it was too good and they were losing money on it. Everything else, I'm truly sorry to say was just bad. Perhaps this Rio Grande (Uncle Julio's) chain was bought out, not sure, but a lot has changed for the worse.

    (2)

  • Roy B.

    After getting good and thirsty while on a segway tour in DC, a group of seven of us stopped in for a snack and some margaritas. Occupying two bar tables in the bar area, we ordered a little of this and a little of that. Quesadillas, shrimp cocktail, fajitas, you name it and we ate it. Food was decent for a mexican restaurant and the drinks were good as well. If anything needed work, it was the spotty service- I think we overwhelmed the waiter we had. He tried to remember everything- but since he didnt want to write anything down, he forgot the ceviche I really wanted. My loss I suppose. The bill was very reasonable and when we come back to the area, I'm sure we will try it again.

    (3)

  • Alfonso D.

    The service was very bad, Walter has a major attitude. The Manager offered her apologies but they were not sincere. The food however was very good.

    (1)

  • Kyle G.

    $46 for two of us to wrestle two drinks and some guacamole out of the bar wait staff. Plastic bottle tequila, mind you. And we had to fight for it. The guacamole was entirely forgettable and arrived with the ice cream scoop divots intact. Bland would be a favorable review of the smashed avocado pile. Chips were good. Chipotle pepper salsa was acceptable. My favorite part was when we had to track down a member of the wait staff to give us a check. Then track down a member of the wait staff to give them my credit card so that they could run it. Then, after copious amounts of eye contact they gave me my receipts so I could sign one and have a souvenir of a place I'll never visit again. Did not tip well, but I felt like a good human being because I doubt the wait staff would have noticed us skipping out. Or choking. Or withering on the floor. Or stealing their furniture. Or taking their daughter to the prom. You get the idea.

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Very Loud
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

Uncle Julio’s Bethesda Row

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