Rio Grande Cafe
231 Rio Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878
Rio Grande Cafe Menu
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Appetizers
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Soup & Salad
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Tex-Mex Classics
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Uncle Julios Favorites
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Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for Rio Grande Cafe
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Appetizers
-
Soup & Salad
-
Tex-Mex Classics
-
Uncle Julios Favorites
-
Desserts
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Address :
231 Rio Blvd
Gaithersburg, MD, 20878 - Phone (240) 632-2150
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
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.
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Ann S.
The first time I went to Rio Grande cafe, I was reminded of one of my favorite Mexican restaurants- Uncle Julio's in Ft. Worth. Well, whadaya know? RGC is part of a chain owned by Uncle Julio's. It's pretty good for Tex-Mex in this area. I'm a fan of their salsa- thin and smoky. And the swirl margaritas are yummy. The enchiladas take me back to TX, so "thumbs up" from me. Not my fave in the area, but satisfying.
(4)Alisa O.
This is the 'burbs, where latinos are serving chips and college kids serve the food. You are not having an authentic South of the Border experience here. Having said that, it's good tex-mex style food at a reasonable price. The service is friendly and prompt and the dining area is so huge that you don't have to wait long. In fact, we can get in-and-out almost as fast as Chipotle if we arrive before the main dinner push. There is a very nice patio during warmer months. We almost always get their combo (chicken and steak) fatijas. We've eaten there on a regular basis for the last three years.
(5)Guy S.
I got two words for you. Plato. Gordo. Go here with your friends and get the Gordo (bacon wrapped shrimp, ribs, chicken and steak fajitas). Mix this with their Swirls. Eat. Drink. Repeat.
(4)Kathleen M.
My 1-1/2 year old niece sometimes likes to scream at dinner--the folks at Rio Grande don't seem to care and that makes me happy. This is a very good tex-mex place that satisfies my Mexican cravings when I head to the 'hood to visit the fam--no CA, but definitely better than many places in MA. My Mom loves the frozen sangria, and I'm for anything that can get Mom to imbibe in the sauce a bit, she's more fun like that. Nice combos here that let you mix and match a bit. Last time I had some combo with a cheese enchilada, a chicken enchilda, a beef taco, and a pork tamale--the tamale was really the star in this mix. Decent fajitas, good salsa, beans have some meat in them, which is ok by me, and you can "make your own" margarita by choosing your tequila and "kicker" (like grand marnier or triple sec), if you so desire. This place is huge, so it is a good place to go with a big group--bad if you really have to go to the bathroom because navigating through all the tables to get to the ladies room in back can be quite a challenge after a few margaritas.
(4)Jennifer D.
BEST SALSA hands down. I love this restaurant. My family loves this restaurant. We eat here as often as possible when I'm in town. The frozen margaritas are great and everything I've tasted on the menu is delicious. It's a fun atmosphere, they just updated the patio seating out front, to first come, first serve. I enjoy sitting out there on nights when it's not freezing cold in the DC area. There is usually a wait on Friday & Saturday night, but you can call ahead and put your name on the waiting list. I love this place.
(4)Yoli B.
great food...chips & salsa...plato gordo!!!
(5)Elissar K.
I've given Rio/Uncle Julio's a few tries and each and every time, I've left wishing I went to Guapo's just up the street. The food is decent when it comes to quality but I was never amazed by the flavors. And in a region where Mexican food is abundant, if it's not amazing, it's just not worth it.
(2)max S.
Nothing here for vegetarians. Move along, now. If you must, get a side of veggie beans & rice, side of pico, side of cheese, side of guac, side of sour cream and chips. Only other choice is the CHEESE enchaladas. Good luck.
(1)Alan G.
Something about the salsa.....Carne asada and ceviche..love it...consistent decent service...prices could be better
(5)Aaron S.
prices were what was expected...if you are at the rio and its a nice day...its worth it to eat outside...haven't tried their drinks but overall not a bad place
(2)Chris L.
Carne asada is fantastic, If getting the enchiladas ask for flour tortilla. Shrimp brochette is great.
(5)Nicole L.
Although my dining experience had not been great, I still enjoy coming to Rio for happy hours. Rio Grande gets very crowded on Fridays. Two things I love about this place: getting my reverse swirl with a shot of grand marnier and seeing ex-boyfriends. I don't know why ex-bfs like coming here so much! Anyhow, I can care less because I just enjoy hanging out with my friends and having a few drinks so I usually ignore them. This time I had dinner - it's been over a year or more since I dined here. The guacamole was very good for a start. The waitress was very nice and prompt with her service. She told us the specials, one of them is the mole chicken. She explained to us like it's something so rare and unique. I love mole chicken and have had it many times. I decided to try that - it was pretty decent I must say. My friend wanted a margarita with apple pucker it was different and the waitress was having a hard time understanding why someone wanted that. Anyhow I didn't get the frog legs this time fearing the same outcome like my last dining experience. The waitress was also shocked I asked for a plate of jalapenos peppers and ate it all. She was very accommodating so she gave me more!!
(4)Elaine K.
Uncle Julio's (aka Rio Grande Cafe) is a fun place for Happy Hour, and the food I've tried is pretty good. I LOVE that they have beer margaritas (YUMMM), and their swirls are pretty darn tootin', too. Excellent chips and salsa. But the real reason I'm writing this review is to warn other Yelpers out there: If you know what queso is supposed to taste like, DO NOT order it here. Uncle Julio apparently thinks queso is supposed to be Campbell's broccoli cheese soup with the broccoli picked out. Gross. Granted, I've only tried it once, and one could argue it was an "off-night" -- but queso at a Mexican joint should be as reliably satisfying as your favorite warm, cheese-colored sweater. Just trust me. Stick with the salsa.
(3)Mara M.
Rio Grande is not new to me. I like the renovations however and think that the staff is very friendly, especially the bartenders. Happy Hour has great priced Margaritas. They taste fresh and not too much syrup, which I find a problem in Margarita joints. I've had the food a few times and found it too be pretty good. The shrimp is definitely my favorite. They do a great job grilling them and they are large sized shrimps.
(4)sami j.
I used to live & work up this way, and this place was definitely my go-to for the BEST margaritas! The food was always stellar and fresh, and the atmosphere is great. (We liked to sit outside with a view of the lake!) I was a big fan of the quesadillas and soft tacos, and the chips were always fresh and salted just right ... I miss this place!!
(4)Mauricio A.
Absolutely love this place. One of my good friends worked here so I use to come here all the time and get ridiculously strong drinks during happy hour for half off. However, even without the discount this place has some amazing food and really good drinks. They have a rasberry slushy type thing that has a shot of everclear in it. You can hardly taste the liquor but don't you worry, when you stand up, you'll feel it. Also, you can never go wrong with queso and chips as well as a humongous Gordo platter, which could potentially feed like four people. This place is awesome.
(5)Callie R.
This is the place. I cannot get enough of this restaurant. I have only been to their Bethesda and Gaithersburg locations, but the parent company has locations all over the US. Their chips and salsa are utterly addictive, freeflowing, and can be taken home to boot. The chips are super thin, well salted, and flavorful and the salsa is spiced but not spicy, it includes lots of roasted tomatoes giving it a really full flavor. Everything else I've had there is amazing as well. We usually order the chicken fajitas, which includes some of the best spanish rice I've ever had as well as unlimited tortillas, onions, a jalapeno, beans, and pico de gallo and guacamole. Cheese and sour cream cost extra but are not necessary. The sour cream sauce for their enchiladas is delightful, and their tamales are really excellent. They serve great frog legs for anyone who hasn't had them and all of their food is really approachable, but excellent. It all goes great with a classic margarita, or their frozen sangria. At least come here for happy hour and enjoy the chips and salsa if nothing else. They get crowded around the dinner hour, but with call ahead seating, you can put your name on the list before you leave the house
(5)Josh K.
This is my favorite Tex Mex restaurant in town. Love their fajitas and they make some very nice drinks. Their prices have drifted up over time but the portions are pretty large so we can often share 2 portions for 3 people making it much more reasonable. Service is very fast, almost too fast if you are looking to relax a bit but it is easy to ask them to slow down.
(5)Roberta L.
I got retchedly ill from eating and drinking (ice tea) the food, before even leaving the restaurant. Spoke with the manager who gave us a lot of attitude and said that I could 'not possibly have gotten sick from their food" Cleary was not concerned about customer service or satisfaction one bit. Getting ill won't make me stop going, however being told that I am lying about it certainly will.
(1)anh t.
awesome. The food is great here so expect a wait during peak times.
(5)tony c.
Very nice decor. It's a tex-mex chain that's very popular in the Wash. DC area. The food is pretty good quality at above average prices. (But you do get your money's worth) Most of the time, I always get their steak fajitas. Very well favored steak served on a typical hot metal plate. Toritas are hot and unlimited (Just need to ask your server nicely). The salsa was alittle more watery but nonetheless very favorful with bits of tomato, green chilis, and cilianto. Corn chips are always hot, thin and alittle too greasy for me. Margaitas are good, but I think I've had better at smaller mom and pop shops. When in parties of 3 or more, I always get their Gordo, which is their family meal, consists of grilled shrimp, steak and chicken. Their Guac is out of the world as well. Rio Grandes serves very high quality foods and service is very good as well. Personelly I like this one when compared to their Bethesda and Reston branch. Oh yeah, I will suggest to call ahead for reservations, there's always a wait.
(4)Pavus G.
First, let me tell you where I'm coming from. I've been living around here for 20 years and have been going to Rio since it had the big arcade where the movie theater is now. On a Friday after a long week at work, I enjoy going there for a meal. And I still like walking around there on a nice Spring day. It's certainly more crowded now but this is because they've built more shops, restaurant, and hotels. If it's between Rio and that new Rockville square thing I'll take Rio any day. Rio Grade is usually good. It's packed typically and my wife and I like the fajitas. The service is usually ok but I feel it is slipping. Either the wait staff is badly trained or the management is not good or both. We ordered their salad with steak and what we got was nothing like what was described in the menu. The meat was ok but the lettuce looked like it was two days old. I took a bite (the dressing was horrible too--not chipotle at all) and after asking the waitress to take it back and bring us a different dish (it was clear to me their lettuce was not fresh) she said she had to go bring the manager. What? So I have to ask a second time as though *I* am the one that's made the mistake. And only to be met with condescension. I asked to pay for our drinks and we left. I know what kind of restaurant this is and I know it's not posh. But the prices are certainly not cheap and I expect a salad to be fresh. We left and had salads at Joe's Crab Shack across the street and that was what a salad should be. And we appreciate the friendly attitude. I'll probably go back to Rio Grande for their fajitas one day but not for a long while. Their service has left a bad taste in my mouth.
(3)Jen L.
I'm not a fan of Latin American or Mexican food, but the food here was not bad and pretty decently good. The ambiance was great and the service was top-notch, but it was probably because the server was an acquaintance of the patrons.
(3)kevin k.
another franchise. one of better mexican i know. the freshness of fruit if u order dish w fruit. the service. the tortilla. the salsa. the beef and chicken. i jst can not complain about this place at all. to top it all off, the interior with wall paper, paint, stuco, decoration. all is pleasing to my eye. it is located at the rio which is a good place to be for entertainment, movie, book, drink, sport equip. i like this location then the one in bethesda.
(4)Katie W.
We sat at the bar and got the frozen swirl cocktail, salsa, and the bbq quesadilla. Drinks were great. Bbq quesadilla tasted like it should have. I liked the guacamole. I'm not huge on the salsa. It tastes like bbq and is sort of weird, but at least it wasn't soup like guapos that's just around the corner.
(4)Carrie N.
Again, wish I could add half a star. 3 and a half stars. Ate here last night and while the chips and salsa were delicious, the rest of the food was A-OK. I got the chili con queso and it tasted a bit more velveetaish than I like. Ate it anyway. Got the chicken sour cream enchiladas. I havent eaten at Rio Grande for over ten years, so it's either that my taste buds have evolved or the quality is somehow different. The sauce's still good but not as good as years ago. I'd eat here again but I'd order something else.
(3)Alberta G.
Been here a few times. The good is always good
(4)Maria D.
Interesting. The restaurant was busy ! Our waiter was Zachary great! He was very attentive. He took my order and understood it was a separate check since I arrived late - what I appreciated was he was very polite and gave confident eye contact. You do not see this any more. It made me feel like he was on the ball in taking my order. The food wasn't good - I ordered Enchiladas with the sauce on the side however the sauce was all over my place. Zachary offered to return the plate and explained he order exactly how I wanted it. The kitchen didn't completed it right. A few other plates were not done right either. Again I don't feel like it was the waiters fault - my rice was cold and the food just tasted like Don Pablo's food. Yuk! Taco Bell taste better Not my favorite experience :(
(2)Kitty B.
Came here on Saturday because this is my favorite restaurant and wow this place has change for the worse.. I was so disappointed. I ordered what I ALWAYS order every time I come here which is the 3 chicken enchiladas with red sauce. The plating is different and they made the enchiladas smaller, and the red sauce was insanely spicy. It also doesn't come with the side salad and sour cream and guac anymore. Let's just say I was very disappointed to the point where I didn't eat it and my boyfriend did faking a smile. Now he got the bbq chicken quesadilla, this had no flavor once so ever. Service was horrible as well. Since we didn't get Alcohol or appetizers the server paid no mind to us and never even check on us. I deff do not want to come back unless I have to.
(2)Drew L.
A fun and energetic place but really noisy. You'll need to shout across table to talk. Food is just average and prices are above average. Expect to wait. One of my least favorite establishments but kids and younger crowds like it.
(2)Y H.
Give a fair two stars. some of the dishes are good, some are bad - I think the chief do not know how to cook their ribeye steak in medium rare. but the service sucks. Watch out the waitress spill the drinks on you then walk away without any apology and doing anything to help cleaning up the mess, the manager is truly business manor - talk to you in a manor of "something happen to you, so I have to talk to you", just did what he need to do The menu are typical Mexican food, but I think the the dishes are over priced.
(2)Travelwriter_Tom J.
5 Stars: All places should be as easy to review as this one is! Highly recommended. Go. You won't regret it. Well, this is an easy review to report. I give out 5-star ratings when merited to places across the world. And as we know, all 5-star ratings are not "equal". The rating is relative to the place (e.g. city and country), type of food, and price/performance (price & quality) relative to the locale. Some restaurants transcend location and are simply 5-star for what they do worldwide. This restaurant is on this list for me. I've been going to this restaurant for decades. Everything they serve --- from appetizers, drinks, entrees to desserts are tasty, delicious, with a unique flavor and pleasant presentation. It's always been that way. The Rio Grande Café serves THE BEST homemade chips and salsa I've ever eaten --- worldwide. As another reviewer notes, if you're not careful, you'll lose control and find out you've eaten too many of them before your entrees arrive. I love their frozen Margaritas. All variants are terrific. My favorite dishes are the Carne Asada, Plato Gordo and the Cadillac Platter when they offer it. Having said that, I've tried many other entrees and they are all soooo good. Every time we visit, my wife and I say to each other "what's there not to like about this place". We've been saying that for decades. And every time we visit a "Mexican-like" restaurant anywhere in the world, we ask "is your food Mexican or Tex-Mex?" If the latter, and we sit to eat, all are compared to the standard of excellence set by this restaurant. None have surpassed it. I no longer live in the Washington DC Metro area and one of my great regrets is not having a Rio Grande like restaurant nearby. Other restaurants in this chain under the brand name of Uncle Julio's are in Atlanta, several areas in Texas, and elsewhere. We visit the DC area now about twice a year. And we always make a point of visiting this restaurant if we can. It's that good.
(5)Meg G.
No, no, no... Glutton for punishment, I am. Coming from Texas, I already knew better. The enchiladas and tacos were okay. The two-star rating on Yelp is for "meh" - that aptly describes my meal. The salsa is really what did it in. Can I open a can of diced tomatoes, add a can of water, mix it around, and pour it in a nice saucer for your dipping pleasure? Why, don't mind if I do! Lacking flavor, sin sabor, just plain ol' terrible... but, it's the only Mexican option around, so .... here goes.... Two stars for a nice vibe in a family-style restaurant. I tried. I'm sure my Uncle Julio will disown me, now.
(2)Dan S.
Service is terrible, the manager is rude The place is so loud you cannot even hear the person beside you . The location is nice and the building is neat though . The food was ok
(1)Christine K.
The fajitas have have always been consistent here! Personally, I have always received great customer service. I always order the chicken or beef fajitas and their margaritas are also delicious. I have yet to try Guapos, which is very close to Rio Grande Cafe.
(4)April S.
I love Uncle Julios, formerly known as Rio Grande Cafe. To me and so many others it will always be The Rio. The Swirls and Camerones A La Parilla are to die for. The Swirl (Uncle Julio description: Uncle Julio's signature drink. Frozen Margarita layered with home-made frozen Sangria) have the right amount of slushy ice mixed with the right amount of alcohol. Goes down so cool, smooth and delicious. The Camerones A La Parilla (Uncle Julios description: Spicy shrimp served fajita style with rice, beans, guacamole, pico de gallo and warm flour tortillas). The shrimp has the right amount of heat that goes deliciously with the warm flour tortillas and accompanying sides. The Rio has a great view if you sit outside or if you have a window seat. In their grand back room they have a fire place to keep you warm in the winter time or a great center piece in the warmer months. I highly recommend The Rio.
(4)Jon Z.
This once great restaurant has morphed into a below average feeding trough. Went fathers day, waited an hour and service was horrible. Ordered the cheese queso dip and when they arrived I was then informed that the tortillas machine wasn't working. Really?? Why didn't they tell me that before I ordered three cups of the dip?? The chips were paper thin and oily. (I liked the newer smaller portions of them and the watery salsa. Waited about 1/2 hour to take my food order (8 people), then waited another 1/2 for food to arrive. I ordered beef fajitas and asked for extra marinate. The fajitas came out bone dry with no juices on the plate not to mention no sign of extra marinate. I also ordered all pico de gallo, no lettuce and no guacamole. So my pico came out watery on bed of lettuce. My son was so pissed off, he said lets go to the Bethesda location. I wasn't going to traverse another 30 minutes not knowing what the crowd factor would have been. This restaurant used to be great when it first opened. Then the portions started to shrink from the amount of queso you got to the fried ice cream which used to be larger than a softball down to a tennis ball. I will never go back to this location so, don't say you haven't been warned!!! The Guapo's carry out location in Gaithersburg is 100 x's better. (Yelp should have a "0" option for places such as this)
(1)Katie D.
I'm from Texas, so this place will always be Uncle Julio's to me. I can't give it the rave reviews others are giving, but Maryland ain't exactly known for its Mexican restaurants. The swirls are always great and you can't beat this place for some half-way edible TexMex in the local area. The queso could be improved upon, but I know that they are making their tortillas and chips in house. The frog legs are great and you can't go wrong with any enchilada platter they have. When my family is feeling particularly homesick, we head over to this location (much easier parking than the Bethesda Row location).
(3)Ashley W.
My mother and sister really like this place. The decor was really cute, and pretty spacious, if you are into mexican food this would be a great place to take a large party. I saw the drink menu look pretty exciting. I ordered tacos, I got three for $9.95, my sister ordered beef and chicken soft tacos 3 for 9.95, she requested that they did not shred her beef and chicken and so they charged us .75 for the beef and for the chicken to not be shredded..wierd. She also ordered a big ol dollup of sour cream that was 1.49 extra! (we actually had no idea we were being charged for this stuff until we recieved the bill) On there menu they have soups but you can only order the soups by the day So the soup I wanted I couldnt get. =( My mom ordered some enchilladas which were really good, i mean it doesnt seem to be too hard, beef, cheese, tortilla stuff, and boom 11.99 on a plate right in front of you. Honestly I wish I ordered hers instead of mine. My tacos were dull, a little bit of beef at the bottom covered in salad and diced tomatoes, not exciting at all, I wanted like some kind of sauce to spice it up a little bit, but they only had hot sauce, which just made my dull taco, a hot dull taco. My server was nice and polite. I wont visit again, even if im not paying.
(2)Michelle H.
One regret about moving away from Gaithersburg is that I can no longer make my way over to Rio Grande whenever I want. Their food is addictive. I know this is a chain, but the food is really good. They start you off with these incredibly thin, light, crispy chips and fresh salsa. But, despite how good they are, do not fill up on them! You want to save room for the entrees. I love the Guadalajara combination platter - their sweet jumbo shrimp wrapped in salty bacon is delicious. And their fajitas, *drool.* They always come out with this incredible char on them, but really what sets it apart are the tortillas. It's almost Naan like, but softer...I can't even begin to describe them because I've never had tortillas remotely close to the ones here. Just trust me on this - once you've had them, you'll wish all tortillas were like this. At times, this place can get super crowded, but not in an obnoxious sort of way. Instead, it's lively and entertaining. The waitstaff always seems well prepared to manage the crowds, which is impressive. It's just an overall great dining experience and I now need to plan a trip out that way so I can fulfill my fajitas craving.
(4)Kat F.
This place is great for having a margarita with some friends. especially the swirls :) They've recently changed the menu. There were a couple of new things, but overall the menu is still the same. One new thing they had was their upgraded queso dip. We got a bowl of the Cowboy Queso ($7), which had BACON in it. It was delicioso!! I usually get fajita's whenever I go to any Mexican Food restaurant. Their fajita's do not disappoint at all! My boyfriend and I shared the combo chicken and steak for 1 ($19 with the onions and peppers). The chicken wasn't dry, which is a super plus for me because chicken can be hard to keep from going dry. The steak was pretty chewy, but not too hard. The beans that come with it is cooked with ground beef, which was a nice surprise. One thing about this restaurant that's really great is that they have outdoor seating nearly ALL year round. They have a built in heater system that tracks along the ceiling of the back and front patio areas, so you'll still feel pretty toasty during winter. The back patio also has a plastic curtain that can be pulled down when it rains/snows, so they really want to encourage outdoor seating.
(4)S. O.
This place is so overpriced and the food lacks quality. I prefer Guapos over Rio Grande, it's in the same shopping center.
(1)Emily N.
I sincerely love this place. Foods always fast and delicious. I've been to Mexico more than i can count. Ever since i was a kid, we've been going there every year. But honestly, i find Rio Grande's food so good that it can be comparable. Perhaps even better? But maybe that's just because it has more of an American flare suiting my taste even more. When you enter, it's loud and lively. Around dinner time, it's packed. Especially because of it's location, it's crazy during the summer times. Reservations highly recommended. You're greeted by the hostesses which can sometimes be a hit or miss. Sometimes their friendly and sometimes you can tell that they're really annoyed that they'd take it out on you. After being seated, you get this GREAT AMAZING BOWL of chips that are as thin as paper and fried to a golden brown color. Served with the freshest, daily made salsa. To some people they'd much rather have their salsa chunky, but there salsa's rather on the thin side, liquidy yet smooth. Which is definitely up my alley. Also you might want to order the awesome queso. Quick tip: order the cup, it's pretty much the same size as the bowl but a lot cheaper. I usually order, wait i always or the beef fajitas with a side of cheese and sour cream! So good. It comes with side load of beans, rice, guacamole, salsa and sautéed onions. Which are served on a sizzling platter. Once you get yourself situated, you then create yourself a fajita with their fresh made tortillas. Usually i ask for a side of their garlic butter which comes with their "Shrimp Diablo". Another quick tip. Nice touch for myself. Though one time my friend got the chicken tamale with the sour cream sauce and let's just say, that wasn't that bad either. It was so creamy and delicious. The chicken was seasoned perfectly with the sauce that compliments it. I come here for friends birthdays all the time. Usually ordering the pound of fajitas and then splitting it. Perfect amount. Of course leaving no space for dessert sadly. But after that meal, it's really not needed. I would give them a 5 stars, but the service is sometimes not the greatest. Also it's usually very loud due to family atmosphere. A little pricy but in my books, totally worth it. I really do feel bad for the people that's had a bad experience here. I wish everyone would enjoy this place as much as my friends and i do.
(4)Amani A.
I don't know how fair my review is because I'm the biggest fan of Guapos their fajita and corn tamales are unbeatable!!! Anyhow Rio Grande is my second choice for Mex-Tex in the surrounding area.. The fajita's, chicken tacos, and queso are my favorite. I have to say though I do like their salsa and queso more than Guapos...My drink of choice is def the swirls and the pina coladas are very good as well.... I also have to say that in all my years coming here I have never had bad service
(4)Cathy F.
Loved this place when we iived nearby many years ago. Had to go on a visit back to the area. YUM. Queso, beef fajitas and margaritas. Best fajitas ever.
(4)Jennifer L.
Loved the place.Always great service
(5)Maz W.
Oh Rio. We love this place. Our kids love it. Great chips, salsa and guacamole. It's very family friendly, and the food is great, as long as you stay away from the fish, which in my opinion smells too fishy. I see people ordering it, but the few times I tried it, it just did not taste right to me. We love the BBQ chicken quesadillas, the shrimp quesadillas, the fajitas, and the nachos. The enchiladas are also good. Try the queso with chorizo. It's pretty good. Now, they keep increasing their prices. It upsets us that the kids' drinks are not included in their meals, and it actually costs quite a bit to order food and drinks for everyone if you're on a limited budget. Oh and did I mention their brunch? I think I prefer the brunch menu to the regular menu! This place is where we go for our comfort food. I just hope they stop overcharging and give families with children a break. Highly recommended!
(4)Deborah N.
The chips and salsa are amazing! I think the food and drinks prices are little high compared to other chain places, and no happy hour food specials. (Okay - I'm cheap. Or is it poor?) But the food is good and it's got a nice atmosphere for a chain restaurant in the 'burbs. Lively but not too overwhelmingly "chain" and not too overwhelmingly "restaurant" in the bar area.
(4)Chris H.
Kinda pricey but everything is good. I mainly go here for the swirls.
(4)Miyuki L.
Uncle Julio's is great and I especially LOVE this location. I love the outdoor seating option and having brunch out there. The food is consistently good and the Swirl is the bomb. My favorite is the nachos and the fajitas. I have not had service issues (knock on wood).
(5)Mukur H.
At first I did not want to review a chain, but then I figured: its not a big chain and there arent too many non-chain tex-mex places in the DMV area. The chips and salsa were alright, well the chips were, but the salsa was so watery that the chip could barely hold on to any. It tasted fairly food with what seemed like fire roasted tomatoes adding a nice layer of flavor. Since, I was here with about 20+ co-workers for lunch, the service took longer than usual, as expected. Looking at the menu I see that eveything is quite expensive by tex-mex standards. Not wanting to spend $15-20 bucks on a lunch, I decided to order the chicken fajita quesadilla. One of my co-worders ordered the chicken quesadilla for about $.50 cheaper. Both were exactly the same, the only difference was that mine had onions, about 2-3 thin slices, and was supposed to have peppers, which it did not. The dish was very very mild with minimal flavor. Guac was good, but it needed a kick so I asked for hot sauce and unfortunately, they only had tobasco, which for the love of..., I had to beat the bottle to get some out. The best part of the meal was, hands down, the fruit and what seemed like a white chocolate sauce. My other co-workers enjoyed their Chipotle honey salmon and fajitas. I will not be coming back, if I do I will come for drinks and/or fajitas.
(2)Elisabeth H.
Rio Grande....a local staple this place gets packed and rightfully so. The food is great, happy hour gets packed and the reverse swirls are ahhmazing. I did have to give off one star however, because last time I went and ordered food, shrimp quesadillas to be precise; they were accompanied by a questionable looking hair. Which is enough to turn you off completely, and really, really, REALLY is a shame because I love/loved Rio Grande. The Carne Asada is perfection their skirt steak is always always good. The ceviche is fresh and light, great also. The salmon is good, the quesadillas, and the drinks. I honestly hadn't ever had a bad meal ever until hairgate. I have been back since for drinks but haven't been brave enough to try some food. I am sure I will but it will now take me twice as long now that I have to inspect each bite carefully pre-chew. I understand mistakes happen, that is not where my sadness lies but more so in the fact that it had to tarnish the wonderful Rio Grande for me and not some mediocre place I could easily write off and never return too. The burden I must bear...
(3)Kay L.
Two stars. One for their chips and salsa. They keep em coming and they're pretty good. The other star is for service. The few times I've been here, my server has been fairly kind and on top of things. Other than that, I've got nothing else. The food is bland and dry. I've given this place so many chance, yet I come out disappointed every time. I think I'll just stick to El Guapo's down the street...much more flavorful food. And whats up with the "Rio Grand"?! It's "G-R-A-N-D-E" people!! grandE!! It's bad enough that the food is so amereicanized, stop trying to change the name!
(2)Mae And T.
Steak fajitas there are SO good. But I feel like every time I go there, they have bene getting less and less tastey. BIGGEST COMPLAINT: Every time we go there, the soda tastes awful. Like watered down or there is something wrong with the machine...but we over ruled that there was something wrong with the machine because the last time we went, my boyfriend got soda and tasted exactly the same so when we told our waiter, he laughed. I think he laughed because they ARE watering it down. Or he laughed because he hears that a lot. The Bethesda one trumps this one, however. - T
(3)Chris B.
Seriously the best steak fajitas and chips and salsa on the planet. Steak comes out sizzling, medium rare and more juicy and flavor-full than any other steak Ive ever had. The camorones brochette (shrimp stuffed with monterey jack and jalapeno, wrapped in bacon) and cadillac platter( lobster and fajitas) are bangingly tastee as well. I wouldn't venture too far out of those menu items. But Rio is where I compare all other restaurants to... Its the best tex mex in the area IMO
(5)Ben M.
I love their Carne Asada, chips and salsa.
(5)Emily C.
This is one of my favorite restaurants when I come back home. I absolutely love Mexican food and this is one of my go to places. I know it isn't completely authentic but it is sooo much better than other places I''ve been to. The food is really good and the atmosphere is spacious and quiet. Their guacamole is great (TIP: if you get the guacamole, make sure to ask for no lettuce on the bottom, that way you get a lot more because the guacamole sticks to the lettuce its plated with). Other things that are worth trying are their tamales and beef fajitas. The meat for those dishes weren't dry and the amount gives you your money's worth. Their brunch is also good, if you are willing to wake up for it :) There also might be a up to an hour wait here on weekends, but I've never had to wait as long as the hostess says.
(4)Archie R.
Thin chips. Thick tortillas. Spicy jalapenos. Chunky salsa. Decent guac. Hmm...thick, thin, spicy, chunky and decent? Take those 5 adjectives and apply them to any woman and it seems to work the same. In this case, it makes for a damn fine dining experience. Pueblo.
(4)Mr. H.
Ugh! This place is really hard to break down. I am going to start with the food. As far as authentic Mexican food is concerned, this is about as authentic as it gets. You've got all the traditional Mexican and Tex-mex foods as well as some surprises...matamoros (frog legs!) and cerviche (raw, marinated seafood) and like Tyronne Biggums might say, it tastes as good as it smells..delicious! Hm hm HMMM! On the one hand, it's pretty much the only place in the Washingtonian that's pretty much slammed (lingo = busy) any time of the day. So when your waits are weeded (lingo = have too many tables) all the time you don't really expect prompt and attentive service. Well, I've never gotten prompt or attentive service anytime I've been there. So I suggest if you want to enjoy Rio food, order it to go, and go spend your tip money somewhere else.
(2)Paula N.
I had the frog legs and they tasted like chicken soaked in seawater. I didn't finish them, but I did finish my steak. I got my order to go, and while they packaged it really nicely, they forgot serving utensils so I was eating my beans and rice with a chip. No bueno, Tio Julio, no bueno.
(2)Duy N.
This is my fajita's joint. My girlfriend and I go here frequently. The chips are thin and crispy and the salsa is pretty good too. Be careful not to fill up on chips. I always go for the chicken, steak, or combination fajitas. She sometimes get's the tamales. The quality of food is pretty consistent. The place is always packed. In terms of the wait, there's often a ~20-30 min wait at night on weekends. The wait for food can vary sometimes, but generally is not that long.
(5)John K.
Great Fajita's. Steak isn't too dry and the chicken is very juicy. You'll pretty much have loosen you belt one notch when you leave this place. The nacho appetizers were very good, but we wouldn't recommend ordering them since it'll only prevent you from finishing the main course. Our waitress was very nice. My friend had never been to Rio Grande before so at the end of the dinner, they brought out these little fried dough deserts covered in powdered sugar and cinnamon that you dip in honey. On the house of course. Very good, but we really couldn't finish it after our meal. As for the drinks, ask the bartender for a drink that is a layering of margarita - frozen sangria - margarita - frozen sangria with a shot of Patron at the top. Kind of expensive, but that drink will hit you pretty good.
(4)David M.
Chips are good, nice and thin and are paired with a nice salsa. I had the shrimp stuffed with cheese and jalapenos. It is just OK and does not really hit home. Had the mexican shrimp cocktail which was OK. They brought out the entrees just after the appetizer. The manager came over and apologized and said he would check back with us. He never did though it was a nice gesture to acknowledge their faux paux. If I returned, I would try something different.
(3)Janet H.
Came here again the other day for lunch with a bunch of co-workers. I really like how this place is great for seating large parties comfortably. LOVE their chips and salsa! We kept getting refills.. basket after basket.. you just can't stop eating them! We also got the chile con queso and guacamole to go with the chips. I love guacamole! yumm! I think I can eat just that for my meal =P I got their combination fajitas again. It's as good as the past few times and I was happy. I can never finish the whole thing because there's so much meat! I would definitely recommend the fajitas.. I think it's one of their best item on the menu. It also come with a side of rice and beans. So much food! Co-worker ordered a grilled salmon and it looked really juicy and declious.. and not to mention, huge piece of salmon! For Mexican food, this is probably the only place I would go to in the area! =) Prices are very affordable.. and you can even go walk off your meal around the lake or walk to Target and shop... or get a cup of coffee at Starbucks.. yup! HH is great there too as I have mentioned in my previous review. get their queso and/or quacamole!! sooo good! *thumbs up* =)
(4)Joan K.
WE LOVE THIS PLACE. It's not authentic and it gets really busy, but it's our go-to place when we can't decide what to eat. So comforting and satisfying. I really enjoy their Classic Margarita (who am i kidding? I enjoy any margarita.) Their chips and salsa are great! The salsa is not like your typical pico de gallo but like all of it blended up with a nice smokiness. The chips are so thin, light and crispy. We usually kill two baskets of chips because we always order a cup of the queso dip (the main attraction for us). So we finish one while we wait for the queso, and one with the queso. By the time we finish that, and our steak fajitas we're stuffed. And as an ex-restaurant manager I'm consistently impressed by the way this place runs like a well-oiled machine. Service isn't fabulous but it's quick, fair and consistent. One of these days I'm going to remember to use that call-ahead seating number so we don't have to fight for a seat at one of the bar tables while we wait for a table.
(5)