When you walk into Rio Sabina's there are none of the regular signifiers that this is a Mexican (Southwestern) restaurant---no cacti, no sombreros, no tapestries on the adobe walls. Rio Sabina's looks like an upscale Western restaurant, rich wood, exposed brick on one wall, a brass bar with baseball on the tv. Fairly complete menu for Southwestern fare---chips and salsa on the table, fajitas, enchiladas, burgers, burritos on the menu. We were there around 5pm on a Thursday, restaurant was empty, there were a few tables in the bar area with patrons. Service was friendly and prompt. We had 4 kids with us and everything was easy. There is a kids menu with a few Southwest basics and the ubiquitous chicken fingers, but our kids ordered off the regular menu and were very happy with their enchiladas (ate 2 out of 3 that came on the plate that also had spanish rice and a choice of 2 kinds of beans). The three adults had fajitas---one steak, one the pork that was a nightly special, and one house speciality with 4 shrimp and choice of meat (chicken). The tortillas seemed homemade (probably unlikely but they were nice), and all the regular items that come with fajitas were more than adequate. Everyone ate their fill, and everyone was happy with the quality of the food. Also I had their Sauza margarita and it was great. By the time we left--around 6:15pm, the restaurant had started to fill up and felt lively and a bit noisy (no carpeting on the floor and the ceiling is pretty high). Felt like the meal was pricy for Belgrade, but the restaurant is in a really pretty building--you enter through the lobby--so maybe that's part of it. Pet peeve, menu was a large single laminated page. With the drinks at the top. I think a real folding 2 page menu would have been better, with the drink offerings on a separate t-topper. There was also no non-alcohol drink section on the menu, granted it seems to just be fountain sodas, but it still felt cheesy.
(3)
Lester A.
My wife and I stopped here after I picked her up at the airport, a mere 2 miles away. There is nothing presumptuous about this joint, but the food was tasty and satisfying. A word of warning - If you order a margarita during happy hour, they'll bring you two. Rio Sabina's is ideal for special occasions, large Groups, and doing business. Despite having a bar scene, it looked to be kid friendly during lunchtime.
(4)
Carrie M.
Great place! Food was delicious and drinks were excellent- go during happy hour and you get a large drink for the price of a small. Score! I had the fish tacos which were really good, the hubs had the chicken fajitas which were fantastic and my dad had the shrimp special (bacon wrapped) which he kept raving about. Also had the grilled avocado and sweet potato sides and they were super good too. Next time I'm back I'll get the fajitas and huckleberry mojito. Chips and salsa were also stupid good. Ugh my stomach is growling just reading this...;)
(5)
Drew S.
Good Tacos and a nice atmosphere for Belgrade Montana. Service was also good.
(4)
Mayson M.
Good atmosphere, just okay margaritas. Most of the food is mediocre and took a little while to show up. Best thing we had were the quesadillas?
(2)
C H.
Best Mexican food around. Reasonably fast service. Short wait for a table- usually. Fair pricing, won't break the bank. This is one of our favorite places to go on a Friday night. After a long work week it's nice to get a table fast, good food and drinks, good service, and not pay a ridiculous amount. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Austin B.
I give this review three stars due to the fantastic interior of the restaurant. It is inviting, colorful, and cultured. However, I found the food to be below par. Unfortunately, some of the recipes should be changed for a more authentic flavor. For the price, I expected more. Quite expensive and should consider consulting with consumers for taste tests and additional feedback.
(3)
Monique H.
Absolutely delicious! Coming from LA I was a bit worried about food in Montana, but I'm am ease fly surprised. Great happy hour specials and excellent food
(5)
Kate H.
Seated quickly. Waited on quickly. Food came out quickly. Friendly service. Food was absolutely fantastic. I had the mango cucumber salad with shrimp and my dining partner had chicken fajitas. My shrimp was seasoned fantastically. Absolutely no complaints. Superb!!
(5)
Will K.
This place is great. Staff is very friendly and the food is tasty. I got the quesadilla with beef and it was delicious. Beer was good and cold with a fair amount of local selections.
(5)
Shaun J.
Rio's is definitely one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever ate at in Montana. I always look forward to stopping in when I visit Belgrade, not to mention the friendly, local and courteous staff. Everything from chicken/beef fajitas, ribs, regular/strawberry margaritas, etc...are awesome and fresh!!
(5)
Gary K.
Would have been a great start but the bitch put us in a booth for little people and told us that the server wasn't here for the window seats, it wasn't two minutes later that our server came and he was also the server for the window seats.
(4)
Erin A.
The service and margs were great, but the food was terrible and came cold. As a self-proclaimed non-picky eater, this is saying a lot! My date's plate was over seasoned and mine under seasoned. Rio Sabino's is like a bad chain restaurant. I only recommend it for the drinks.
(2)
Jim B.
my wife and I had been moving into our new place, and had decided to go get a bit to eat before we passed out from exhaustion. As we were headed to one of the local drive thru burger joints, we suddenly decided to go to Rio Sabinas. We were quickly greeted and we told them we were in need of medication and some food. We were privileged to have Amber as our waitress. Top notch! We both had 22 oz. Margaritas and I head the 4 cheese chili relleno. And my wife had the Baja burrito with shrimp and avocado. Needless to say we were blown away at the whole experience. Did I mention that Amber rocks? Yes she is awesome! This is a great place to experience. We will be back again soon!
(4)
Jennifer K.
Finally! I found the best "Mexican" food in the Bozeman/Belgrade area! We stopped in for dinner Saturday and found the restaurant to be busy, but we were seated immediately. Our server Josiah was animated and funny, he was prompt to bring us everything and made our meal very enjoyable. The food was awesome! The H got a Corona while I ordered their house margarita, delicious and only $5 for a 22 oz during happy hour, can't beat that! The chips and salsa were great, two different kinds of salsa. Our meals were piping hot and awesome! We will be back for sure, this place is fantastic!
(5)
Ryan R.
I've come to Rio Sabenas many times, tried alot of different food, and have never been let down. The staff is always nice and the music is low key to where you can have a conversation at a table-
(5)
Angela P.
Cheap and huge happy hour margaritas! Don't attempt to drink 5+ of them... Or you'll make a damn fool of yourself like my friend and I did. Oh, the stories. We don't even remember the food.
(4)
Jenny H.
drank the prickly pear, which is tequila, fruity cactus puree, and fresh lime juice on the rocks, and found it to be too sour for my liking; but if you're into tang, go for it. next time i'll keep it simple with the rio rita. ate the chicken chimichanga, which is a deep fried flour tortilla filled with grilled chicken, pico de gallo and monterey jack, topped with enchilada gravy and chile con queso, served with rice and charro beans. i really enjoyed the chimichanga. it tasted fresh and all the ingredients were prominent. the beans were some of the best i've had at a tex-mex joint. i also really liked the rice, but would have liked it even more if they cut the salt in half. actually, most everything here was on the salty side as it was. the boyfriend ordered the ribs and shrimp fajita platter. the veggies were cooked perfectly and the ribs were fall off the bone tender. the only drawbacks my boyfriend mentioned were that the shrimp were a bit overcooked and the rib sauce too smokey for his liking. we both really liked the salsas served with our chips, but wished that the red sauce had a bit more substance too it. i'd eat here again for happy hour.
(3)
Jarod B.
The food is filling, the service was great and the atmosphere was lively! Perfect environment for groups and families!
(5)
Angie C.
The food is not the best but definitely go for the Happy Hour drinks! The waitstaff has always been really nice :)
(3)
Renae M.
Rio's was our monthly gathering spot for "mom's night out" for about a year. Have to go during happy hour, best deal in town. They have some creative bartenders that concocted one of my new favorite drinks with lemonade, pom juice and tequila. The chips and salsa are pretty good, but most of the food has the same flavor to me.
(3)
Justa A.
$5, 22 oz. margaritas during happy hour and they're good. My husband and I split steak quesadillas and a salad. Great meal. We'll be back
(4)
Crissy T.
We love Rio's. Is it real Mexican? No. Is it Tex Mex with a killer atmosphere & happy hour? Absolutely. The green salsa is addicting & the double margaritas for $5 are a deal & more than enough. Food can be a bit spicy sometimes. Think out if the box with this place... They put cucumbers in the pork tacos, weird but delicious!
(5)
Jewels B.
Very kid friendly with amazing food. Fajitas were cooked perfectly with Zucchini and squash. Also served with delicious flour corn tortillas made locally. Brought apples and yogurt dip for the munchkin. Will definitely visit again. Also $5 house margaritas during happy hour.
(5)
S U.
I am a fan of Rio Sabinas for it's atmosphere. It has a very positive-upbeat feel to it. I cannot speak for the one in Billings, but I suspect it emulates the one in Belgrade. It's a great place to stop and grab a bite if you are just coming in from the airport. Their margaritas are a little dangerous, so beware and have a designated driver ready! I will say I am not a fan of the food. They do try different things and I applaud them for that, but I have never encountered anything there that made me stop and go "Oh my God." I keep going back because of its conveniently located near my home, it has a great family atmosphere, albeit a loud one, and their happy hour margaritas are great at reminding me that tequila hangovers suck.
(3)
Mia F.
My boyfriend and I love this place! Food is good and staff is always friendly! Not to mention their great happy hour!
(4)
Nicorie S.
This place can be hit or miss... I've had some really good meals and good times here. I've also had a meal that wasn't so great. I usually get the saltillo shrimp and it's very good. I've tried the fried avacado tacos and I didn't like them very much - the habanero sauce overpowered the avacado, the tortillas broke and spilled everything out, and the batter on the avacado was soggy. Another downside is that they turn up their music pretty loud and their air conditioner runs pretty much all year round. Their staff is friendly though, and the bar is even better. Things that could make it better: - lower music levels so customers don't have to yell at eachother from across the table - a passion in the kitchen for consistant, quality food
(3)
Karin H.
Holy cow! My fiance and I recently moved to Bozeman, and came here on a recommendation from his coworker. We were not disappointed! $5 margarita happy hour special, which at 22oz was so big I couldn't finish it all. Our server Kylie was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. The food itself was phenomenal- the ingredients were fresh, the portions were fair for the price, not to mention it was blissfully delicious. We were there late on a Saturday afternoon before the dinner rush, so I can't really say how busy it gets in the evenings. But go for happy hour 4-7pm anyway! We will most definitely be back, especially when we have visitors from out of town. Our experience could not have been any better :)
(5)
Shelby S.
Let's just say I'm not a fan of tex-mex. I love real Mexican food but you just can't really find that in Bozeman or Montana for that matter. Tried this place again after I told myself that it's just not going to happen. It's crazy what you can get yourself to believe. Got the fish tacos and they were pretty dang delicious. Would be awesome to get three instead of two, as two just aren't that filling. It's a good thing they have the $5 22 oz. margaritas to make up for it. I guess the moral of my story is just not to expect Mexican food when ordering. Don't upset yourself. Ask for the hot sauce. It's really hot!!! But cool place. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Brodie B.
Fish tacos are tremendous. My wife and I really enjoy eating here. It's affordable for us to be able to dine and our boys (1yr & 3yr) have a decent kids menu for $1.95. We enjoy this place for our so called "date nite" even if it does involve bringing along the kids.
(4)
Joel A.
I would describe the food as very "Plain-Jane', touristy, suburban type Mexican cuisine. Nothing memorable. Crowded and loud (6pm Friday). Overpriced for the quality. Unfortunately, Rio is hereby put on the "Big R" until further notice.
(2)
Amanda C.
night was going well. food was pretty good and a lot of it on each plate. my problem was at the end of my meal when I noticed what looked like a strange piece of lettus... it was a green TWIST TIE!! that makes me question how clean the kitchen is. never again! first time shall be my last time.
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 : Hipster Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Anne N.
When you walk into Rio Sabina's there are none of the regular signifiers that this is a Mexican (Southwestern) restaurant---no cacti, no sombreros, no tapestries on the adobe walls. Rio Sabina's looks like an upscale Western restaurant, rich wood, exposed brick on one wall, a brass bar with baseball on the tv. Fairly complete menu for Southwestern fare---chips and salsa on the table, fajitas, enchiladas, burgers, burritos on the menu. We were there around 5pm on a Thursday, restaurant was empty, there were a few tables in the bar area with patrons. Service was friendly and prompt. We had 4 kids with us and everything was easy. There is a kids menu with a few Southwest basics and the ubiquitous chicken fingers, but our kids ordered off the regular menu and were very happy with their enchiladas (ate 2 out of 3 that came on the plate that also had spanish rice and a choice of 2 kinds of beans). The three adults had fajitas---one steak, one the pork that was a nightly special, and one house speciality with 4 shrimp and choice of meat (chicken). The tortillas seemed homemade (probably unlikely but they were nice), and all the regular items that come with fajitas were more than adequate. Everyone ate their fill, and everyone was happy with the quality of the food. Also I had their Sauza margarita and it was great. By the time we left--around 6:15pm, the restaurant had started to fill up and felt lively and a bit noisy (no carpeting on the floor and the ceiling is pretty high). Felt like the meal was pricy for Belgrade, but the restaurant is in a really pretty building--you enter through the lobby--so maybe that's part of it. Pet peeve, menu was a large single laminated page. With the drinks at the top. I think a real folding 2 page menu would have been better, with the drink offerings on a separate t-topper. There was also no non-alcohol drink section on the menu, granted it seems to just be fountain sodas, but it still felt cheesy.
(3)Lester A.
My wife and I stopped here after I picked her up at the airport, a mere 2 miles away. There is nothing presumptuous about this joint, but the food was tasty and satisfying. A word of warning - If you order a margarita during happy hour, they'll bring you two. Rio Sabina's is ideal for special occasions, large Groups, and doing business. Despite having a bar scene, it looked to be kid friendly during lunchtime.
(4)Carrie M.
Great place! Food was delicious and drinks were excellent- go during happy hour and you get a large drink for the price of a small. Score! I had the fish tacos which were really good, the hubs had the chicken fajitas which were fantastic and my dad had the shrimp special (bacon wrapped) which he kept raving about. Also had the grilled avocado and sweet potato sides and they were super good too. Next time I'm back I'll get the fajitas and huckleberry mojito. Chips and salsa were also stupid good. Ugh my stomach is growling just reading this...;)
(5)Drew S.
Good Tacos and a nice atmosphere for Belgrade Montana. Service was also good.
(4)Mayson M.
Good atmosphere, just okay margaritas. Most of the food is mediocre and took a little while to show up. Best thing we had were the quesadillas?
(2)C H.
Best Mexican food around. Reasonably fast service. Short wait for a table- usually. Fair pricing, won't break the bank. This is one of our favorite places to go on a Friday night. After a long work week it's nice to get a table fast, good food and drinks, good service, and not pay a ridiculous amount. Definitely recommend.
(4)Austin B.
I give this review three stars due to the fantastic interior of the restaurant. It is inviting, colorful, and cultured. However, I found the food to be below par. Unfortunately, some of the recipes should be changed for a more authentic flavor. For the price, I expected more. Quite expensive and should consider consulting with consumers for taste tests and additional feedback.
(3)Monique H.
Absolutely delicious! Coming from LA I was a bit worried about food in Montana, but I'm am ease fly surprised. Great happy hour specials and excellent food
(5)Kate H.
Seated quickly. Waited on quickly. Food came out quickly. Friendly service. Food was absolutely fantastic. I had the mango cucumber salad with shrimp and my dining partner had chicken fajitas. My shrimp was seasoned fantastically. Absolutely no complaints. Superb!!
(5)Will K.
This place is great. Staff is very friendly and the food is tasty. I got the quesadilla with beef and it was delicious. Beer was good and cold with a fair amount of local selections.
(5)Shaun J.
Rio's is definitely one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever ate at in Montana. I always look forward to stopping in when I visit Belgrade, not to mention the friendly, local and courteous staff. Everything from chicken/beef fajitas, ribs, regular/strawberry margaritas, etc...are awesome and fresh!!
(5)Gary K.
Would have been a great start but the bitch put us in a booth for little people and told us that the server wasn't here for the window seats, it wasn't two minutes later that our server came and he was also the server for the window seats.
(4)Erin A.
The service and margs were great, but the food was terrible and came cold. As a self-proclaimed non-picky eater, this is saying a lot! My date's plate was over seasoned and mine under seasoned. Rio Sabino's is like a bad chain restaurant. I only recommend it for the drinks.
(2)Jim B.
my wife and I had been moving into our new place, and had decided to go get a bit to eat before we passed out from exhaustion. As we were headed to one of the local drive thru burger joints, we suddenly decided to go to Rio Sabinas. We were quickly greeted and we told them we were in need of medication and some food. We were privileged to have Amber as our waitress. Top notch! We both had 22 oz. Margaritas and I head the 4 cheese chili relleno. And my wife had the Baja burrito with shrimp and avocado. Needless to say we were blown away at the whole experience. Did I mention that Amber rocks? Yes she is awesome! This is a great place to experience. We will be back again soon!
(4)Jennifer K.
Finally! I found the best "Mexican" food in the Bozeman/Belgrade area! We stopped in for dinner Saturday and found the restaurant to be busy, but we were seated immediately. Our server Josiah was animated and funny, he was prompt to bring us everything and made our meal very enjoyable. The food was awesome! The H got a Corona while I ordered their house margarita, delicious and only $5 for a 22 oz during happy hour, can't beat that! The chips and salsa were great, two different kinds of salsa. Our meals were piping hot and awesome! We will be back for sure, this place is fantastic!
(5)Ryan R.
I've come to Rio Sabenas many times, tried alot of different food, and have never been let down. The staff is always nice and the music is low key to where you can have a conversation at a table-
(5)Angela P.
Cheap and huge happy hour margaritas! Don't attempt to drink 5+ of them... Or you'll make a damn fool of yourself like my friend and I did. Oh, the stories. We don't even remember the food.
(4)Jenny H.
drank the prickly pear, which is tequila, fruity cactus puree, and fresh lime juice on the rocks, and found it to be too sour for my liking; but if you're into tang, go for it. next time i'll keep it simple with the rio rita. ate the chicken chimichanga, which is a deep fried flour tortilla filled with grilled chicken, pico de gallo and monterey jack, topped with enchilada gravy and chile con queso, served with rice and charro beans. i really enjoyed the chimichanga. it tasted fresh and all the ingredients were prominent. the beans were some of the best i've had at a tex-mex joint. i also really liked the rice, but would have liked it even more if they cut the salt in half. actually, most everything here was on the salty side as it was. the boyfriend ordered the ribs and shrimp fajita platter. the veggies were cooked perfectly and the ribs were fall off the bone tender. the only drawbacks my boyfriend mentioned were that the shrimp were a bit overcooked and the rib sauce too smokey for his liking. we both really liked the salsas served with our chips, but wished that the red sauce had a bit more substance too it. i'd eat here again for happy hour.
(3)Jarod B.
The food is filling, the service was great and the atmosphere was lively! Perfect environment for groups and families!
(5)Angie C.
The food is not the best but definitely go for the Happy Hour drinks! The waitstaff has always been really nice :)
(3)Renae M.
Rio's was our monthly gathering spot for "mom's night out" for about a year. Have to go during happy hour, best deal in town. They have some creative bartenders that concocted one of my new favorite drinks with lemonade, pom juice and tequila. The chips and salsa are pretty good, but most of the food has the same flavor to me.
(3)Justa A.
$5, 22 oz. margaritas during happy hour and they're good. My husband and I split steak quesadillas and a salad. Great meal. We'll be back
(4)Crissy T.
We love Rio's. Is it real Mexican? No. Is it Tex Mex with a killer atmosphere & happy hour? Absolutely. The green salsa is addicting & the double margaritas for $5 are a deal & more than enough. Food can be a bit spicy sometimes. Think out if the box with this place... They put cucumbers in the pork tacos, weird but delicious!
(5)Jewels B.
Very kid friendly with amazing food. Fajitas were cooked perfectly with Zucchini and squash. Also served with delicious flour corn tortillas made locally. Brought apples and yogurt dip for the munchkin. Will definitely visit again. Also $5 house margaritas during happy hour.
(5)S U.
I am a fan of Rio Sabinas for it's atmosphere. It has a very positive-upbeat feel to it. I cannot speak for the one in Billings, but I suspect it emulates the one in Belgrade. It's a great place to stop and grab a bite if you are just coming in from the airport. Their margaritas are a little dangerous, so beware and have a designated driver ready! I will say I am not a fan of the food. They do try different things and I applaud them for that, but I have never encountered anything there that made me stop and go "Oh my God." I keep going back because of its conveniently located near my home, it has a great family atmosphere, albeit a loud one, and their happy hour margaritas are great at reminding me that tequila hangovers suck.
(3)Mia F.
My boyfriend and I love this place! Food is good and staff is always friendly! Not to mention their great happy hour!
(4)Nicorie S.
This place can be hit or miss... I've had some really good meals and good times here. I've also had a meal that wasn't so great. I usually get the saltillo shrimp and it's very good. I've tried the fried avacado tacos and I didn't like them very much - the habanero sauce overpowered the avacado, the tortillas broke and spilled everything out, and the batter on the avacado was soggy. Another downside is that they turn up their music pretty loud and their air conditioner runs pretty much all year round. Their staff is friendly though, and the bar is even better. Things that could make it better: - lower music levels so customers don't have to yell at eachother from across the table - a passion in the kitchen for consistant, quality food
(3)Karin H.
Holy cow! My fiance and I recently moved to Bozeman, and came here on a recommendation from his coworker. We were not disappointed! $5 margarita happy hour special, which at 22oz was so big I couldn't finish it all. Our server Kylie was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. The food itself was phenomenal- the ingredients were fresh, the portions were fair for the price, not to mention it was blissfully delicious. We were there late on a Saturday afternoon before the dinner rush, so I can't really say how busy it gets in the evenings. But go for happy hour 4-7pm anyway! We will most definitely be back, especially when we have visitors from out of town. Our experience could not have been any better :)
(5)Shelby S.
Let's just say I'm not a fan of tex-mex. I love real Mexican food but you just can't really find that in Bozeman or Montana for that matter. Tried this place again after I told myself that it's just not going to happen. It's crazy what you can get yourself to believe. Got the fish tacos and they were pretty dang delicious. Would be awesome to get three instead of two, as two just aren't that filling. It's a good thing they have the $5 22 oz. margaritas to make up for it. I guess the moral of my story is just not to expect Mexican food when ordering. Don't upset yourself. Ask for the hot sauce. It's really hot!!! But cool place. Will definitely go back.
(4)Brodie B.
Fish tacos are tremendous. My wife and I really enjoy eating here. It's affordable for us to be able to dine and our boys (1yr & 3yr) have a decent kids menu for $1.95. We enjoy this place for our so called "date nite" even if it does involve bringing along the kids.
(4)Joel A.
I would describe the food as very "Plain-Jane', touristy, suburban type Mexican cuisine. Nothing memorable. Crowded and loud (6pm Friday). Overpriced for the quality. Unfortunately, Rio is hereby put on the "Big R" until further notice.
(2)Amanda C.
night was going well. food was pretty good and a lot of it on each plate. my problem was at the end of my meal when I noticed what looked like a strange piece of lettus... it was a green TWIST TIE!! that makes me question how clean the kitchen is. never again! first time shall be my last time.
(1)