Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

Had dinner from here delivered via Bitesquad tonight. We ordered guacamole, smoked chicken tacos, adobo chicken tacos and crispy jalapeño chips. Adobo was really not good, the chicken tasted like it had been in the fridge then heated in a microwave. Rice was flavorless and husband said smoked chicken tacos weren’t anything to write home about. The jalapeño chips weren’t crispy but that could have been from delivery. On a positive note, their salsa and chips were standard but good.

I am not a fan of the Rio, and I have dined at the Rio several different times (friend’s birthday choice for dinner, co-​worker bonding etc). I have to say, the margaritas are delicious and strong. However, the food is extremely lacking. While they have tasty chips and salsa, every time that I have attended the Rio for dinner, I have left either a) feeling sick or b) feeling as though I could have made a better dish myself. To top this off, food is generally expensive and there are better options around. The service has also been lacking when I have been at the Rio. The Rio has room for improvement.

Food wasn’t that great. Only choice was black beans, no refried beans available. I got the smoked chicken tacos, and the chicken tasted like chicken out of a can. Took almost 30 minutes from ordering to get food and when we got it, some of it was cold. The place wasn’t that busy when we were there and there was a ton of employees, so I couldn’t figure out what took so long. Just seemed like it could have been much better. The water was good.

So this place used to be the only place you came for the 3 drinks then casually go upstairs for the other 3. Now it has become quite a lovely little treat. Our server, Aaron… Such a sexy saucy man, was a delight, the spinach enchiladas and my friends shrimp tacos weren’t that great. But the margs are phenomenal. Come see Aaron and have a marg in the bar with some chips and guac. Queso didn’t look that good either. But yeah. Idk if they have improved since I used to go years back but the ice is still cold. Rock on rock on. I may be at my 3 marg limit.

Had Margs and dinner on the patio. Eric was our server and he killed it as usual. Love this place in the summer!

Very average Tex/​Mex food. Quasi-​douche crowd and not very good margaritas. If you like bland Mexican food, strawberry frozen margaritas and Maroon5 music blasting then you’ll be right at home here.

Service at lunch is atrocious. 15 min seated and not even a water or acknowledgement we exist. Go across the street or elsewhere. Place is garbage for the lunchtime crowd.

Umm… Who rated this under a Four Star? Seriously!!!
The Rio is more than just a Mexican Restaurant, it is an iconic spot (particularly in Blake Street location) for good times in Colorado. What you need to immediately know about this place is that it is world famous for their Margaritas, which may not be the very best you’ve ever had, but will absolutely be unlike anything you’ve ever had. They are also famous for the Three Margarita Limit, which can be enforced at varying levels. (More on the Margaritas shortly.)
This is a lively restaurant with an ample dining area and bar downstairs. I personally like the booths that run through the middle of the ground floor. There is also a nice patio area outside, and an upstairs bar and additional seating. I hosted my 26^th Birthday Party at the upstairs bar and it was a blast — they also are a little more lax on the Three Margarita Limit upstairs, or were back in the day anyway, provided you could handle it — which is no joke. I also hosted a catered work event for about 50 employees upstairs and it went great and they did a nice job. The Rio gets jumping, and this is ground zero for after work Margaritas if you work downtown, particularly in your twenties and thirties and particularly if you don’t have to drive afterword.
The food here is pretty down-​the-​middle New Mexican style Mexican food. Over the years I’ve had a number of dishes and you can’t really go wrong. (My theory is that Mexican food actually has to be actively bad to not be good in the first place.) The dishes are flavorful and you won’t leave hungry — but they aren’t chalk full of fillers as some Mexican food can be. That said, I am now down to one dish every time that I go, as are my Dad and his wife: Chile Rellenos (get the order with two) and a Margarita Rocks No Salt (x’s Three). They crush Chile Rellenos, particularly when you table gets three or four orders. Super big chiles and the batter is crispy and perfect, and never over-​bearing or full of grease. And the Green Chile Sauce is great — particularly since it’s not overly spicy for the folks out there who aren’t inclined towards overly spicy. The prices are pretty good too — about $ 10 – 15 for an entrée.
Alright, the Margaritas. This is what truly sets this place apart. You will not find another Margarita quite like this. I’ll dispense with the fact that you can get frozen Margaritas in several flavors — original, strawberry and mango (there may be more, I’m not sure). Don’t waste your time. Get the classic, which I prefer without salt — generally I go that route anyway, but in this case I don’t think the salt would be quite right even if that’s typically your preference. I may be wrong. The Rio’s Margarita has no cloudiness, and doesn’t have the typical flavor you would expect. It’s not exactly sweet, but there is a very mild edge to the lime and tequilla bite. They are really smooth, and they pack a wallop. No joke. There is a reason they limit you here — you can down these and not realize how much you’ve had. I am a big guy, but I’ve been out with a few folks who were smaller and seen these take their toll. The recipe is a closely guarded secret, so what I’m about to share is not official, but from my research this is probably as close as you will get if you want to try it at home:
2 oz. Cuervo Gold Tequilla
1.5 oz. DeKyper’s Triple Sec
.5 oz. Everclear
1 oz. Rose’s Lime Juice (I’ve also seen Duffy’s)
2 oz. Clear Apple Juice
Doesn’t look like a typical Margarita recipe, huh? You can Google it and you’ll come across other mixtures, but after being on this for about 12 years now, the recipe squares with what I’ve heard.
You can’t go wrong with this place. It may not be the most spectacular thing you’ll ever try, but it is absolutely worth visiting if you haven’t been and like a good time. They are coming up on their 30 Year Anniversary (they started up in Fort Collins) this year and there is a reason they’re still around. I can truly say that I’ve had a LOT of good times at The Rio, and I will keep going as long as it’s there.

It’s about time I updated my Rio review. After reading another Unilocalers raving review about rio I found my self reminiscing about all the great times I’ve had there over the years.
If you come here you have to get a margarita. The classic house marg on the rocks is the way to go. I like mine with salt, personal preference. The chips and salsa. Oh my god so good. The queso is an excellent accompaniment to the chips and salsa as well. I really love any entrée with their steak in it (specifically the burrito with the spicy green chili, or the steak fajitas.) Portions are large and are usually enough for my boyfriend and I to share.
This place is a Denver institution and should not be missed. Even if you aren’t hungry come sit out on the patio and enjoy. Hope you love it as much as I do!

Let me preface this by saying I’m not really into tex-​mex. I recently went there on a work outing and order the Mahi tacos. Now, I knew I wouldn’t be in love with it due to the whole tex-​mex thing, but the fish was incredibly dry. I was pretty disappointed. Aside from that the rest of the food was decent. Chips and salsa and guacamole were what you’d expect.
The margaritas are of course infamous. I’ve tried their house marg and the coin marg. The coin marg is my favorite. The last time I got a house marg it tasted like cleaning solution. But that was a one time thing.
Overall, it’s a decent place for a casual meal and drinks.

Great standard for margaritas, mexi food and good vibes.
This place is made to have fun with friends.
The margs are limited to 3 per person since they are so strong.
Parking downtown Denver is… well, parking downtown. Look ahead or Lyft over to enjoy the evening safely.
Great for groups inside when it’s cold outside and outside when it’s warm and you need to breeze of spring and summer kissing your neck.

We came here in opening day night at about 8, so we knew they would be busy. We got margaritas at the bar while we waited only 30 minutes for a table. Not bad considering how busy they were!
— Service was great!
— Salsa was great and made in house — we know because we got 2 bowls and they tasted different. Good sign!
— The food was straight Tex Mex, which is what they advertise. However, it lacked any flavor. Like a lot!
— Nachos had a weird salad on them, which I have never seen, but the waitress saw our faces and was quick to make an adjustment. Sadly it still lacked flavor.
Probably won’t be back, but enjoyable experience.

We came in for happy hour and I’ve been to the one in Boulder. Boulder has ambience and staff that enjoy working.
Will not be returning to this location.
We sat down and asked about happy hour the waitress was rude. (Sad because I really wanted one of their drinks I found on happy hour in Boulder) she flat out said the happy hour sucks and not good. Left and returned with the menu slapping it on the table. We got up and left and told the hostess that the place was too loud.

This review is solely based off the human interactions we had.
I can say I rarely come here… but it’s a beautiful day and knowing they have a patio, we ventured in.
A group getting sat before us was asked if they wanted indoor or outdoor seating and they said sure– the hosts showed no refrain in eye rolls. So when we were greeted I had my answer ready.
She sat us in the entirely shaded section and left immediately. There were plenty of other tables available in the sun, all un-​bussed. I asked a wavy haired host if we could move to a table in the sun and she snapped– I’m not even a busser, I’ll find him. Not down with the rude attitude little miss.
A manager moved us to the sun which was appreciated. There was some confusion among the servers it seemed so it took a bit to be talked to– but that’s fine– I assume the patio is freshly open, summer staff is fresh off training and everything is new to them.
Our server was friendly but it did seem that all servers had too many tables to genuinely be present.
The food runner, Sean, yeah I asked his name because he was great, was honestly the best experience we had. He was friendly and seemed truly happy to be there. We definitely let him know we appreciated him. Thanks for being you Sean!
I would give Sean a solid 5 gold stars.
The rest of the staff I’d say needs work.

I’ve been a fan of other Rio locations in the past, but will probably never go to this one again after the horrible service we experienced last night. We sat at the bar and were planning on enjoying margaritas and tacos. As we waited for our drinks, someone broke a glass, not a big deal, but my friend proceeded to tell me about his family celebrates when something like that happens. The bartender overheard us and said that anyone who does that (despite many cultures having traditions surrounding broken plates/​glasses) is a d***. More to the point he said «Italians are d***s».
Completely unprovoked, totally uncalled for, absolutely offensive.
Avoid this place!

I occasionally come here, I like the quesadillas and the queso.
It’s not he best TexMex in town and certainly not the worst.

Solid Mexican fare in downtown Denver. Reasonably priced, great food, & a fun atmosphere. Went with a large party of people & they were able to easily seat everyone quickly on a weekend.

This Mexican hit the spot! Really good, decently priced margs. I got the frozen strawberry and it was delicious. Verde chicken enchiladas were great as well. I’d definitely go back!

Besides the margs, if you’re looking for exceptional Mexican food, it’s not the best place. The chicken burrito wasn’t too bad but like I said, if it wasn’t for the margs then rio wouldn’t be rio

Three stars are for the good service, tasty drinks and nice atmosphere but the other two are missing because the food was so blaaaaaah. Do not make the mistake that we made going there to try the food. The cheese dip taste like straight up velveeta with no Mexican flare or flavor. The tacos have good ingredients but some how they taste like they have no flavor. It’s pretty hard to mess up Mexican. They obviously aren’t concentrating on the food so just be warned or heavily intoxicated so you can’t taste it anyway :)

I have eaten at the rio at least a dozen times. Overall the food is good and the margaritas are damn good. I am giving them only 3 stars based on primarily one thing. Their shit*y, rude, hostesses. This really is not an exaggeration. Every single time we have been in we have never once been greeted with a smiling face like any other host at any other restaurant. Today’s visit really put a bad taste in my mouth with the two girls at the host stand. Our server today was great, food was good as usual. I just can stand the brats you have to deal with when you first walk in. If they could get some decently friendly people at the front desk we would probably be in a little more often.

The Rio is always good. We made reservations to celebrate a friend’s birthday before heading to the Colorado Mammoth game. We had the queso and guacamole for appitizers. Both were pretty good. I liked that the guac had additional cilantro, jalepenos, and pico on the side. While most of the table had the classic margaritas, I had the strawberry margarita. Very good, not too sweet and not too strong. It was perfect! I usually get the chicken tostada but changed it up just a bit and got the steak tostada. The seasoning on the steak wasn’t very spicy, but had good flavor. Hubby got the steak burrito with hot green chile. He really liked it and I thought it was decent. Not the kind of green chile I’m used to, but it was good. The crew had the quesadilla, taquitos, and tacos and I didn’t hear any complaints from them. I did have 3 margaritas though — so maybe they did — just kidding!
The staff was awesome. Our waiter was fun, professional, and made sure we were taken care of. We never had to track him down or waited very long for drinks. And he kept the table clean which is nice when you have a big group. We will definately be back! Cheers!

My friends and I love this place! We got a seat at the bar and had their enchiladas, chips and salsa, tacos, and HUGE MARGARITAS!!! Some of the best margs I have had in awhile. Great music, fun bartenders, and lots of dancing :) I highly suggest this place for a fun night out on the town!

Today, got the steak burrito with spicy green chili and fajitas! Also, can’t forget about the unlimited chips and salsa! Always great Mexican food fix! ⁴⁄₅ stars for today’s visit because of the cleanliness of the restaurant. Wish our table had been wiped off before we were seated.

Came here for my 21^st b-​day. The food was excellent. ⁵⁄₅. I would highly recommend the queso, guacamole, and the chile rellenos! Amazing. Salsa was pretty standard, nothing special. The margaritas were amazing as well, I didn’t get carded though. Our waiter was super friendly and I really appreciated that! I would come here every night of the week if I could :)

3 stars, mainly for the large space that’s great for accommodating groups, the strong margaritas, and nice service.
If you’re reading through the other reviews and have seen that you don’t come here for the food, I’d completely agree with that. The food was really not good. Edible, not good. I ordered the mahi tacos and found that fish to be rubbery and very much over-​cooked. The rice, albeit quite plain for a Mexican restaurant, was the best thing on the plate.
On the plus side, the margaritas are quite strong and pretty tasty. The server was also very kind and very attentive. And bonus, I got a sopapilla because it was my birthday celebration! That was pretty good, though it was much crunchier than normal sopapillas.

Went for lunch on a Tuesday. Patio seats. Good service. Fresh chips, fresh margs… nice interior décor and a great spot on Blake St. I had a quesadilla– scrumptious and very full of cheesy goodness.

4 ½ stars please.**** ½
We love this place, went with some friends the other night, lucky to get seated at a great table, great waitress, friendly, cool, & super service, all food was hot, fresh, spicy, & great.
Marq’s. Really? don’t worry the house as well as the premiums are amazing. Ok Über take me home.

I stopped in here for a meal after a work function that ran pretty late. I think I was here around 9 o’clock, by myself, and just sat at the bar. I had the crab and shrimp enchiladas which I would not say were spectacular but they were pretty tasty and did the trick at that time of night.
The service was friendly and kind, and they didn’t appear to care that I wasn’t drinking anything. People checked in on me just often enough without being intrusive.
Rio Grande in Boulder is part of my college and postcollege experience and I have a lot of happy memories there. I’ve never actually been to Rio Grande in Denver before but now I can say that the food is similar and if anything the service is better. And if the drinks in Denver are the same as the drinks in Boulder, they’re both strong and delicious! The Denver Rio Grande is actually pretty near to where I live now, so I expect I’ll be back soon and hopefully in a position to enjoy some drinks as well.

Dude. The food here is terrible. Sorry. Terrible.
3 stars for excellent and very strong Margaritas. I HEARD there is a 3 Margarita limit which sounds like a challenge to me.
I recommend MANBERRY. Which is a swirly of Mango and Strawberry. Used to be «off menu» now appears to be «on menu»
I do not recommend drinking multiple margs without SOME food so maybe just eat a lot of chips and salsa MAYBE the queso although I thought it was gross, guac if you don’t mind it bland and I guess a quesadilla if you’re feeling adventurous. But seriously I wish they had better food.

Came here for the harvest menu tasting tonight and was impressed by all the local ingredients used in each dish! And the prices are very reasonable considering the quality and creative use of seasonal ingredients.
Location: it’s conveniently located right off of 16^th Street Mall on Blake Street right across from Fresh Craft. You can either park on the street or in a garage but it’s gets busy here at dinner time and weekends.
Ambience: the décor is classy, rustic and quirky at the same time! The exposed pipes are a prominent feature in the main dinning area. It has 2 levels with a nice bar on the first level. The outdoor patio is the spot to be in the summer!
Food: I tasted everything on the harvest menu and I’m happy to report that Rio Grande did Colorado proud! And all the dishes are vegetarian even the tamales which is uncommon! The Rocky Ford melon salad with arugula was refreshing and light. The sweetness of the melon offsets the slight bitterness of the arugula and creates a flavorful adventure in your mouth! Next, the baked squash relleno was pretty good but the spicy poblano pepper kind of over powers the rest of the dish. Then there was the Olathe corn tamales which was my personal favorite – just the right amount of spice, crunch and seasoning! The creamy cheese brings together all the flavors without being greasy! To accompany all the deliciousness, there was the Palisade peach margarita with peach purée and liqueur! Last but not least the Palisade peach flan – super velvety and creamy that I thought I died and went to dessert heaven!!!
Service: the waiter was very attentive, friendly and provided his personal favorites on the menu! Definitely an A+ in my book!
Bottom line: if you like seasonal cuisine with a Mexican flare, come check out the Rio Harvest menu and make sure to get the Palisade peach margarita!

Fall has arrived at the Rio! Oh my… my first official official Unilocal event and it was a great one! My son even went as my guest and he enjoyed it so hopefully I’ll get him involved in Unilocal as well!
Okay, on to the good stuff… started the evening with a Palisade Peach Margarita. They had me at Palisade Peach! Yummy!!! Then on to the fabulous Harvest Days menu with a nice Rocky Ford Melon and Arugula Salad. Anything with Rocky Ford Canteloupe is a YES in my book. My son really liked the Baked Squash Relleno but I was hooked on the Corn Tamales, I tasted green chiles and onion and a corn masa with a very tasty sauce. So, we started with Palisade Peaches and ended with Palisade Peaches… in a Flan. Very good!
I love Rio downtown… it has an entirely different vibe than the Park Meadows Rio (which is good but I’m just a downtowner at heart). If you’ve not been for a while this new fall menu is definitely a reason to go!

To be clear, the food and drinks get a 4 – 4.5 stars. See my pics of the deliciousness! They mainly speak for themselves. I am not sure I have been here for brunch or not before, but I was pleasantly surprised. The only reason they get 3 stars is because our server was not very friendly and a bit odd. All of it could be explained by a bad hangover, which was the theory of my wife and I. Even though it was Sunday, we decided to shake off last night’s grasp on our well-​being with a mini marg each, rocks. Dev’s was Strawberry and mine was standard. I actually sort of wished I had strawberry because it really hit the spot
We started with the flautitas that were deliciously crispy and light (not something you generally say about deep friend Mexican fare). That paired with one of my favorite house salsas in town, these were a big hit. I had breakfast tacos with a tender, slow cooked steak. I was disappointed to see that only 2 tacos came with the order and ¾ of the plate was filled with black beans. The food was tasty and prices appropriately.

How does one give the Rio a less than stellar review? Must be before tasting their famous margaritas … if you have been to the Rio then you know, if not … they have more Margaritas options then … well I can’t think of that analogy, but suffice to say there are more margaritas options than anything else on the menu … oh and they will only make/​serve you 3 of them … why you might ask, well it is not because the are very very good (which they are), no it is because they are very strong, but drinking them — you would never know it.
The food at The Rio Grande is definitely good tex-​mex or American-​Mex … not completely aurhentic, but never disappointing. So, if you have never been … definitely make a point of giving them a try!
Good for singles, couples, and groups small & large. Decent prices and good appetizers.

Margaritas and atmosphere make it four stars. The food is three stars. Ok nachos. Fantastic margaritas whether it be on the rocks or frozen. Enjoy your three margaritas, have an appetizer, and enjoy the atmosphere. Oh! And they keep water at your table (plus) and free chips and salsa (plus).

I am really sad to be updating my review in a negative way. I have been going to the Rio for 16 years: first in Boulder, then for the last 8 years in Denver. I still think their margaritas are the best around, and I enjoy the atmosphere there (except when it gets too loud, crowded and noisy on a Fri. or Sat. night). But the last several times I have gone, the service has gotten progressively worse. There are just so many issues. Much of the staff seems quite young, and I don’t know if that has anything to do with their attitudes and level or service or not… but it kind-​of seems like a contributing factor.
The unfortunate things I have experienced: 1.) The times when I show up during a shift change, many of the the employees who just got off hang out in the bar, often with no regard to other guests, forming large groups at the bar, bumping into tables occupied with customers. Last time I witnessed a group of employees clearly talking about some of the other staff members in a very obvious way. That is not a good reflection on the establishment. 2.) The last time we wanted to sit on the patio, we were told we couldn’t have a table out there because they were going through a shift change. What? After all these years in business you’re not capable of seating folks just because there is a shift change? I have never heard such a thing at a restaurant. 3.) Most time the service is just really slow and bad. I have had some good servers, but overall it’s disappointing. Most times I feel like I’m being ignored. And many of the servers have a terrible attitude. On my last visit I was never even offered water; at one point I eventually got up and went to the bar to ask for some, as a couple employees were making drinks, but I was ignored there and never got any water.
Again, I hate giving it only 2 stars, as it has been a favorite spot of mine for so long. I just wish there would be some improvements in the service because I really want to keep going there.