Rio Cafe

So so sad. Rio is closing down in mid March. So stop by and give your regards. Julie is the best. Maybe someone will buy it and continue Julie’s tradition and good food. We’ll miss you Julie.

Came here for lunch the first time today and it was very tastey. Service was very good and our waitress was attentive and friendly. We ordered chips, salsa, seafood tacos, and the shrimp quesadilla. The quesadilla was amazing, the tacos were very good and chips appeared handmade. The salsa could use some amping up as it was bland and not spicy at all but our waitress did bring us some complimentary habanero sauce and extra chips. Overall, very good and we will be back.

It wasn’t the best Mexican food we’ve had, but not horrible. My husband got a beef Borrito and I got fajitas. The beans are not a traditional refried and were bit bland as was the rice. I got corn tortillas that had a bit of a stale aftertaste. We ordered chips with salsa with our to go order but only got the salsa. The salsa was good though! Nice texture, could have been a little more spicy though.

They have very good vegetarian options! Their salsa (s) were all delicious. The only reason I gave them a 4 star is because their rice is cooked in chicken broth– so if you’re a vegetarian who chooses not to eat anything non vegetarian, they’ll substitute rice for beans = more beans!
Not that I’m complaining, our lunch just comprised of too many beans.
Customer service is good and so is the ambience.

They changed their hours :(
No hours listed on Unilocal but I checked their website and it said they are closed Sunday’s and open Monday 11 – 3.
They have a sign on the door for summer hours which states 11 – 9 Tuesday — Saturday with the Catina opening at 4pm. Closed Sunday’s and Monday’s.
We stayed in town last night (at a crappy hotel) instead of continuing on because we ate at this restaurant a few years ago and LOVED it. We wanted to try it again as we are in the area but can’t.
Very disappointed that they can’t keep their information updated.
The reason for leaving a bad review? I am hoping they see it and update their information.
(I am willing to change my review once the information is updated and I get to try their food again.)

Found this place through Unilocal and went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. We ordered the chips and salsa as its not complimentary. The chips and salsa tasted very fresh. For entrees, we got the chicken enchiladas and the Mexican scrambled eggs from the Breakfast menu. We got the Pinto beans and would have preferred the black beans but they never asked for an option. The rice was just ok.
Food was pretty bland here and we liked the fact that it was not too cheesy. But there could be a little more spice and flavor to the food.

The first stop on «Sue and Dan’s 1 year anniversary of not being married but being in a relationship» tour to Astoria took us to the Rio Café a place that Sue had eaten at many many moons (and suns) ago.
We walked in early on a sunny Saturday afternoon and were the first ones to do so. Within 15 minutes a few other people came in for lunch as well. We are leaders, not followers. We were presented with menus and took a seat at the table up front as the sun was shining and we wanted to be as close to that as possible. Sure we could have sat outside, but there were no umbrellas on the tables and sitting in the sun for a prolonged period of time isn’t something I like to do very often.
Started out with a large portion of the homemade chips and salsa ($ 3 for a very large serving). The chips were really good. Love chips and when they are homemade, even better. The salsa was really good and super fresh too.
For my main I went with the special that they had. Shrimp Fajitas ($ 11.95). I figured it might be nice to have some seafood since I was at the coast. The portion size again was very generous. The colors were really great too. Red, orange and green peppers along with the shrimp and onions as well as the re-​fried beans and rice. See my picture and know that it wasn’t altered in any way.
The food was all very good, but I think Sue and I agreed that it needed a bit more in the way of spices. I don’t cook with much salt myself and it is obviously easier to add it than take it out, but this seemed to have none whatsoever. I’m not exactly sure what happened there, but maybe that is just the way they roll here at the Rio Café.
I quite enjoyed the meal otherwise. It seems like the Rio has been around for over 5 years and that is saying something. Good Mexican in Astoria. Check it out.