As for me being Mexican means, I'm looking for Authentic Mexican Food. And Rio Grande is a good start.

The food was good but I went to the bathroom and while washing my hands a large piece of metal was sticking out and ripped my shirt and leggings and after telling a manager and showing him the sink and my clothes all he said was sorry. Not offering to do anything about my clothes or offering a discount on my meal just "oh sorry" and "have a good night" really !! read more

I'm definitely a fan of Acapulco down the street from here, but this may have snatched the top spot for local Mexican.....muy bueno (I took Spanish in High School...IKR... I'm showing off, sorry enough about me).. top notch vat of guacamole...quick service and huge dinner portionos (might not be Spanish) anyway the only thing keeping them from the coveted 5 stars is the cigarette smoke that seeps in from a smoking area somewhere...it's worth putting up with! read more

Where do I even begin. I wish I could give 0 stars. Bar service is non existent, I had to get up and seek someone out. Then seek someone out to place my order. Then seek someone out for a refill. Then seek someone to get my check. Then ask why it took 10 minutes to get my check. There's about 5 people in the whole restaurant and about 12 employees all busy talking to each other - many who walked by and didn't even acknowledge me. The people smoking cigarettes actually didn't bother me (after all I'm in Kentucky..). I guess the place is well ventilated which I guess is the only plus. I've never in my life given 1 star or left a $0 tip, but there's a first for everything I guess. STAY AWAY. read more

Wow, all I can say to you folks that rated this more than 2-stars is that you need a taste bud transplant. Waitress was fast and eager to please. Unfortunately she had no help from the kitchen. The salsa is barely more than tomato purée. Tasteless and bland. The chips were stale, the taco was soggy, the stuffed pepper was empty as far as I could tell. The tamale was a giant ball of cornmeal with no flavor, the enchilada was filled with CHEESE SAUCE! Not one person in our party had anything better than "meh" to say about their dish. The water tasted like sewage, and to my surprise, the waitress agreed! Avoid like plague. read more

It is what it is. Close to my Florence, Kentucky, office so that makes it really easy for me. Endless chips and salsa and TV after TV are a plus. And then the waiter gave me a remote control to the TV closest to me. I'm not sure if fast food Mexican should ever rate five stars but the service here gets it to four. read more

I understand that people have different tastes and some of the reviewers speak poorly of this place. But for me this place is simply awesome and as my wife and I were back in town we visited again. If I were forced to nitpick and find some small fault it would be the chips on this trip was slightly over cooked and the salsa had a bit too much of a tomato flavor missing the Mexican flavor. But that is about the only thing I could say against this place. When they brought out my mixed fajitas my wife and I literally started laughing. The portion they came out with was borderline ridiculous as it was HUGE. It seemed as if they had mistakenly brought us out the size for two people. The addition of tomatoes in the vegetables sets it apart from other places I have been to. The chicken, steak, and vegetables have their flavors blended smoothly together by this wonderful liquid at the bottom of the plate. I almost had to wobble out after eating because of all that food. My wife and I were filled to the brim and the bill only came out to $23. Read past the bad reviews here and see that most people rate them highly. If you are in the area do not pass this steal of a meal up! read more

This is just a place serving standard mexican-american fare. Bland, uncreative and easily found in many other locations all over this region and the country for that matter. I have been coerced into eating here a few times by others and it has never failed to disappoint. I have also found the service to be spotty at best. There are so many other places to get authentic Mexican (see La Mexicana or El Oasis) so why waste your time on this? I suppose if you really like this sort of tex-mex stuff then just go further down the road a ways on rte-18 and hit Real Fiesta.... same sort of menu but the food has a bit more depth of flavor and the specials are sometimes interesting but seriously just try one of the more authentic places, try something other than a burrito or chimichanga or the rest of the standard stuff and see what good mexican food can actually taste like..... read more

Here right now - 15 minutes to get way waited on, 2nd drink - 10 mins- wanna leave? Been trying to do that for 20 mins - gonna see how long it takes - will report back! read more

The worst. It was never what I would term "authentic" but when they were located on Mall Road, it was a least edible. I went with my mother to the "new" location before Christmas because we were over near Houston Road. It was busy, but I can honestly ask the question, "why?" Is it because people in Florence have no tastebuds? Is it because people in Florence have no concept of what good quality food actually tastes like? I always feel like you can rarely fail at a burrito. Turns out, you can. The burrito was oversized, and stuffed with tasteless ground beef. Then there was an equally tasteless red sauce poured over the top of the burrito to make it especially soggy. Add some anemic lettuce and tomatoes as a "salad", a really unattractive "plop" of beans that resembled mud, which were also bland, and you've got Rio Grande in a nutshell. Basically, the owners of this restaurant could care less whether their food is quality--and, to note that now, in the Florence/Burlington/Union/Hebron/Mt. Zion area there are about 20 different Mexican restaurants to choose from, I think they might want to step it up. Competition is just about everywhere you turn! read more

Waited 15 minutes to have my drink order taken and another 15 (and grabbing a different server) to have my meal order taken. Meal arrived with rotten, smelly lettuce on top of boiled chicken in a tortilla that was listed as a burrito grande on the menu. Absolutely BLAND and tasteless. I have had better Mexican food at Taco Bell!!! Do yourself a favor and stay away. read more

me and my family stopped at this place for Some mexican food, me...always being observant was enjoying my rice and to see a black peice of hair on the guacamole, I removed it obviously and moved on to eating just to find another peice of hair in the beans, I was disgusted but I just ignored it as I did the other food. I end up eating the main thing on my plate, it was very delicious but I found a piece of hair in it. When I chose not to eat anymore i saw one last hair in my salsa. So if you read to the bottom of this I hope you remember this so when you go you don't have to eat any strangers hair :) read more

I can't say this place is "authentic", but man, is it delicious! The portion sizes are huge--one order of fajitas can feed at least two if not an entire family and the dinner serving of enchiladas comes with four. So come hungry, plan to share, or order something that will make good leftovers. On my most recent visit, the seating/buzzer system didn't really seem to be the most efficient, but we eventually got a table after checking with the hostess a couple of times. Table service is quick and friendly, but our orders did all come out at slightly staggered times. The queso dip that everyone raves about is certainly good (and I ate my fair share), but was much thinner than I expected so a little drippy/messy. Chips and salsa are above average. I got the Enchiladas Suizas which comes with 4 enchiladas, but no sides. A creamy, cheesy, sour cream sauce was liberally applied over the top--absolutely nothing low calorie about this dish, but it is super tasty and decadent. The green tomatillo sauce has just a mild kick and the chicken inside was a generous portion of white-meat, tender chicken. You pay up front at the hostess stand after they bring the bill to the table. All in all, one of the better Mexican experiences I've had in the area. read more

Food was typical americanized texmex. However the server was really uninformed. Our menus had a couple inconsistencies between them (one said guac was $2.99, the other $3.99) and she didn't know what the price was. When we ordered a beer she asked if we wanted short or tall but didn't know the oz differences. We would've ordered the tall if we knew. It seems like they have great deals on huge margaritas, etc. and the salsa was delicious! read more

Horrible horrible horrible!!! I recently went there for lunch last week with a few friends and all I can say is that I could have found a better use for my $9. I ordered the lunch sized portion of the chicken quesadilla and it was absolutely NASTY! Shredded canned chicken with a small sprinkle of white cheese on a tortilla. I received no toppings (sour cream, salsa, lettuce, etc.) and even after covering a piece with sour cream and salsa, I was only able to choke down about 7 bites before asking the waiter for my check. Save your money and appetite for one of the best Mexican restaurants in Northern Kentucky: El Mariachi in Hebron. Avoid this horrible excuse for a restaurant at all costs! Oh and, P.S., I loved the handwritten sign taped on the inside of the door that states "No Reservation on Saturdays." Great customer service. read more

This place is exactly everything you want from a Mexican restaurant. However, its nothing more. Just exactly what its suppose to be. The weird thing is, its a million times better than nearby Chuy's or Chili's. There is never a wait at this place, while the chain restaurants with their thinner tortilla chips & watered-down drinks always have a wait. I don't know why read more

Great place to hang out with a group! We ordered a pitcher of the sangria margarita and really enjoyed it. Wish they had put salt on the rim instead of sugar. That was a bit too sweet for my liking. Food is really good and tastes fresh. Everyone in out group enjoyed their meal. The portion size is large and most probably you'll have some left overs to take home with you. The decor is very colourful and I love the chairs!!! Each with a unique design and loads of colour. Staff is friendly but we felt the service was a tad slow. Overall I enjoyed it and would go back next time I'm in town. read more

The first time I went there I waited for about 5-10 minutes just waiting for someone to take my name. It seems they were too busy trying to resolve a complaint on someone's bill to seat anyone. I went back a week or so later on a week night and was seated right away. Typical Mexican food with no fanfare..you get the standard chips and salsa, and ordinary Mexican entrees. Nothing special but the big beers are good. I really don't have to go back though... read more

Me gusta mucho. Friendly service, good quality Americanized Mexican food, and a fun atmosphere. Cool points for Florence! The carnitas are great. Also, try the chorizo on your chicken dishes. They have standard beer selections for a Mexican restaurant and great margaritas. read more

Went back to El Rio Grande last night and ordered the carnitas. All I can say is that it was amazing! The best carnitas I've ever had anywhere. The portion was insane. A family of five could have eaten off of this huge hunk of pork. As usual, this location's chips and salsa was sub-par though. The Newport location's chips are always warm and fresh, unlike this Florence location. There is a new location opening soon on Mt. Zion Road in Florence and I hope they bring in the kitchen staff from the Newport location to train the staff at this new location. read more

Rude host. Threw down menus as if we inconvenienced him. Waitress didn't show up for a good 15 mins. Place was dirty. Food was not good. Don't recommend. read more

Just left this place. Sitting in my car after a carry out. A place we have been coming to for years. Charged $1 for carry out order and wanted to grab a beer while I waited. Not one employee spoke to me after I placed my order, nor did I get to order my beer. Prices are getting sky high, service is lackadaisical, and not to mention the charge for carry out. Last resort Mexican food dining from now on and it's a shame. Oh and the men's bathroom smelled like a full diaper. read more

I haven't ate here in over 2 years because of their pitiful service. Do yourself the favor and go to mayas or acapulco just down the road. The people here are some of the worst I have ever seen in the restaurant industry and the food is average. No reason to waste your money. Would rate 0 if possible. read more

Quick and family friendly Mexican place. Fast Fast Fast! The food is hot with large portions. You get chips with queso and salsa. You will leave full and happy. read more

Been eating here for years. It "is what it is"... decent americanized mexican at a decent price. Margaritas are good and they have drink specials Monday - Thursday. Lots of options on the new menu. Chips and salsa are tasty. On cool evenings the outside dining area is nice. On Saturday nights they have karaoke with a DJ (kinda weird if you ask me... chips, salsa and Ice Ice Baby blaring out of DJ speakers doesn't seem to go together to me) Would much rather hear a mariachi band playing or something that goes with the atmosphere. read more

One of THE WORST Mexican restaurants I have ever been to. The service was negative 1 stars and the food would have been better at Taco Bell. Took 25 minutes before the first waitress came by to take orders. Water glasses stayed empty the entire time, and had to ask for almost everything. I ended up taking my water glass up to the bar so the bartender could fill it back up. I'll never go back read more

Great value for money. I got the shrimp fajita lunch and it was delicious. Coffee could have been better.

We were regulars here, coming in every other week or so. Tonight will be the last time for a while. The chips and salsa were good but that was the highlight. The service was extremely slow. My Rio Grande fajitas were completely over cooked. It was like it had been sitting in the oven to stay warm, probably due to the slow service. My daughter's Pechuca Frita didn't have any cheese like it should. When we asked, they charged us for a bowl. They did take it off the bill after we complained. Back to the service. They were very inattentive and incredibly slow for no reason as the restaurant was almost empty. Hopefully just a bad night but it'll be awhile before we try again. read more

Don't come to this place. The workers there laced my margarita. I was so close from going to the hospital. These are very bad people.

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in town. Lots of delicious options, good queso, it is one to revisit often

Stopped in with my daughter for a late lunch. The restaurant itself reeked from cigarette smoke. We could smell it all the way through our time there. One of us ordered Mixed Fajitas for "two". It took awhile to bring it to us but it was hot and a good size portion.We also ordered a side of guacamole and a extra side of sour cream. Both side items were forgotten. We asked about it and waitress huffed and puffed as she finally brought the side items to the table. Refills were never offered or brought. We asked for a carry out container. She brought one and put our bill down and said I need to be paid now.. The food was soso. The service well lets just say we won't return because for what we paid we felt the whole experience was a little less desired.Smoke, soso food and terrible rude service is a Never to go there again. read more

This was my go to place for awhile but the service has really went down hill the last three times I went it took forever and got our orders wrong every time won't be going back. read more

If I Could give zero stars I would. We were seated by a 5 year old- which was not a big deal, she was very sweet. My brother whom I was with opened his menu and there was BLACK MOLD covering the last two pages of the menu! I lack the necessary vocabulary to describe how disgusting that was. However, we decided to give Rio the benefit of the doubt. The line was drawn when we waited 10 minutes and was never greeted by a server. Even the 5 year old was able to say, "hi" but I guess the servers were just to busy. We walked out and I hope your experience is significantly better than ours was read more

This was an absolutely awful experience. We have come here twice a week for a year and love the food and ambiance. Today we encountered a waitress who got literally our entire order wrong. When we brought this to a manager, he referred it back to the waitress. She then walked to us and handed us our check before we even started to eat our meal! My food was cold and incorrect and came about 7 mins before my fiancé's meal. Drinks were also incorrect. No one took responsibility and when a manager finally came over, he told us he would only be able to remake the food (20 minutes into our meal when we were almost finished)! No one here cares at all about the customers. This is so sad bc we have loved coming here and are locals in Florence. Just deplorable. We didn't even finish our meals bc I just wanted to leave after we had spent our entire meal dealing with different people. They then tried to charge us for the entire meal and drinks until we asked them to call the owner. Will NEVER eat here again. Really sad. read more

Walked in was greeted by hostess, she seated us right away and friendly. She gave us our menus. The waiter came while I was washing my hands and my husband gave him our drink order. Took 5 min to get chips, another 5 min after that he ask if we were ready, my husband was not. 20 min after that, nothing, he helped everyone else around us, so another 10 min and we walked to the register and said "we're leaving we had 2 drinks and nacho chips". They rang us up for it. Will never return there again bc of the waiting period. I would have given no stars but that was the lowest it would let me go read more

I stopped in with the hubster around 8 pm on a Friday night. We were on our way to Knoxville, TN on the first leg of an epic road trip that would take us to Myrtle Beach, SC, and then back to Gatlinburg, TN before returning to Madison, WI. Our server was excellent: friendly and attentive. We both ordered the Pork Chile Verde, which was, quite simply, the BEST I've ever eaten. And I'm picky. It was juicy and sublimely flavorful, delivered on a heaping plate with rice and beans: neither of us could finish. We asked our server about the pork, and he happily explained the intensive work that goes into making the dish. We are lucky that we have a good Mexican restaurant close to home, but we will happily stop by El Rio Grande again on our way to our favorite vacation destination. read more

At first, our server was happy and polite. We received our food at different times, but it was during a busy lunch hour so we understood. Upon receiving my food, instead of chorizo in my fajita, they were instead using HOT DOGS. When I asked our server to bring the manager over, he immediately changed his demeanor and went to go get the "manager". Instead of the actual manager, our server sent another server over who attempted to tell me that chorizo and hot dogs were, in fact, the same thing. I once again requested the manager and after ten minutes, he came over. The manager was extremely rude and dismissive, and when I asked why the menu said chorizo rather than hot dogs, his response was "well we don't want to put the whole recipe on there." I will not be returning to this or any other Rio Grande location. Extremely disappointed doesn't even begin to cover it. read more

El Rio Grande - "Chorizo" hot dogs. - Mexican Near Me - Florence, Kentucky

We love Rio! It is our favorite Mexican place besides Cancun off Buttermilk! The margaritas are amazing, the fajitas are above any I have ever tried (and I have tried a lot)- the service is usually pretty good. Occasionally you'll get an off waiter but we love this place so much!! read more

Use to love this place. It has gone down, and rather quickly. Noticed it about a year ago. Kept giving it more chances. Stopped going when we watched the bartender pour leftover margarita from a table back into the pre mix margarita container. So wrong and disgusting on many levels! This place use to be packed- haven't seen it like that in at least 2 years. Food has down graded also. Service could improve as well. read more

A nice out of the way Mexican place that lost certainly provide plenty of food to satisfy your hunger. We attended at lunch time and the portion size was more than enough. Service was excellent. I highly recommend the cheese sauce! read more