The quality of the food was great. My salad tasted really good and fresh, the steak was cooked perfectly, our appetizers were tasty. I think the only issue was the overall vibe. It wasn't busy at all for a Saturday, and it's just lost its old charm and appeal. I think whoever took it over is trying to make it more upscale and we were hoping for the old Rio vibe. We wanted cheap Tex Mex with a hopping busy atmosphere, and of course their famous margaritas. The margs were the same strong recipe, and the food was very good. Our service was very slow, but friendly. Bring back the old menu and fun atmosphere! read more

Let me preface by saying, my kids love the rio. It's simple Tex mex and they know what to expect, but the last 6-8 months has made my husband and me not like the rio as much! 1. They changed the menu. A lot. No salad with shrimp. 2. For many months, no kids nachos and it was too much to ask for them to melt cheese on chips. Luckily for my daughters sake, they brought those back 3. Weird, non Mexican salads like roasted beet and iceberg wedge 4. Vegetarian items left are mostly just cheese based. Very disappointing! And tonight was the kicker: The kids wanted the rio for Mother's Day but it was a long day and I knew we couldn't go out. Their website stresses that you can order online. I went through the whole order It was very organized Until I tried to pay. It kept saying the amounts had changed and I needed to change a selection but it wouldn't tell me which item and no amount of changing it worked. So I called. I was hung up on after waiting for 5 min I called back and waited longer She took my order but it was tough to get the girl to understand what we wanted. We SLOWLY went through each item, and every item was different than online (e.g. 3 tortillas per order instead of an order of a dozen online). I kept going. We get through my list of things I had ordered. It took 7 min to order for not-so-big family. Then, she repeats the order back to me. She left out HALF of the items we had just gone through! But the total? More than the full order online. I was done! I cancelled my order. I was already hesitant that we would t get the right items since it was so hard to get her to understand. But the higher price with half of the items and less amounts for each one? No thanks! I probably can't get away with avoiding the rip bc my kids still love it, but we used to embrace it and now we look for reasons we can't go. We are actively searching for a replacement that offers good items for the whole family read more

We went for a birthday dinner last week. We were sat by the fireplace which was awesome! Very cozy and vibey. We had margaritas and mocktails. The seasonal pomegranate marg was yummy! Chips, queso, guac, salsa etc - all fantastic! Service was very slow - especially considering how slow of a night it was. Everyone ordered a variety of different things. I got the pork shank birria which was good but disappointing. It needed cheese or something else in the bowl. Felt kinda empty - like it was just a bowl of meat. Overall love the Rio and I'm sure we'll be back read more

See all

Our server Kelly was great. The food ( chicken burrito ) was excellent & the manager Chris demonstrated what a great manager should be- a real team player! Highly recommend. read more

I really love it here. Free chips & salsa to start is always a bonus. The new menu has a lot of the old Favorites but some great new additions like a striped bass, pork shank birria and the "Parilla" which includes a mix of ribs, bacon wrapped shrimp, asada quail, cheese relleno and Taquitos. I also love their seasonal desserts and the chocolate dipping sauces for their churros are insane! The food has always been out quite quickly when I visited and think the prices are quite fair given the slightly elevated cuisine. Space is huge so reservations don't seem like they typically are necessary read more

Rio on Wazee - La Parilla - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Not the Rio I remember...I was excited for some good Mexican food and was disappointed to see they changed their menu to some high end Tex-mex fare. The margarita was even more disappointing. It was hard to get down. With that being said our server was wonderful and I enjoyed the free chips and salsa. Sadly I won't be back. read more

The last 3 times I was there was for brunch. The Huevos Rancheros were excellent all 3 times. I substituted black beans for the refried beans and soft tortillas for fried tortillas . Both substitutions were good choices. They offer various forms of bloody Mary's. I skipped them. I got a traditional Bloody Mary, without fried bacon in the drink for $10. A great drink at a very good price, The interior of the dining area is modern and airy. The service was very good. Negatives?Parking downtown can be difficult and the brunch menu has a limited number of items. I'll be back soon. read more

Rio on Wazee - Outdoor patio - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The best margaritas downtown - hands down. This place is so fun! Highly recommend for groups, or even for a fun night out! The queso and salsa are incredible. But - the margaritas cannot be beat. Beware, as there is a limit! They sneak up on you but they are soooooo good and worth it! read more

Rio on Wazee - Chile Con Queso - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

The blackened mahi magi plate was exceptional. Soo good. My husband said the margarita was one of the best he's had. Great patio seating and lovely interior. read more

We visited after they revamped the menu and was pleasantly surprised. Drinks are still strong, and some classic favs remain, but now there are more healthy options. Everything was really flavorful. Great spot to grab a bite for someone visiting downtown Denver. read more

Rio on Wazee - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Rio on Wazee is re-vamping/re-branding just this location. New vibe, delicious new menu and cocktails! read more

See all

7 adults on a Sunday evening. Chips & Salsa tasty. Not busy at all, yet service was slow, some items were barely hot. Overall a sad experience. read more

5 stars, without hesitation. We were wandering downtown looking for tacos and Rio Grande was able to seat us right away on a Friday night. The restaurant had a delightful ambiance with low lighting and tables not too close to each other. Our server was attentive and kept our chips and fresh salsa stocked for the entirety of our meal. These were the best fajitas I've ever had (and trust me, I have had many). Fajitas for two included: beans, rice, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, and two kinds of cheese. We loved the dominant grill marks on the fajita veggies and meat, adding the most wonderful smokey flavor to everything. Our food was fresh and cooked to perfection. read more

Rio on Wazee - Fajitas for 2 - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Get the skirt steak , it's really good. I usually get it in the burrito smothered with spicy green chili

The food was short of authentic and the atmosphere was possibly for tourists. I was disappointed with the lack of flavor. While the tried to accommodate me wanting tortillas it seemed to expose the lack of knowledge about the food the say the serve. The drinks too were not as I would have expected. The service was okay but I wouldn't return or bring out of town guests. The queso however was very good beat thing we had that night. We went on Valentines and it was kinda dry atmosphere. read more

See all

The veggie/gluten-free enchiladas were absolutely delicious. The rice and beans were flavored and a really delicious way and enchilada was light, not heavy. My criticism of the spot is that they were understaffed and running around like crazy thus not paying proper attention to the tables that they were waiting. Very minor point but the chip to salsa ratio on the table was wrong. I needed to be more salsa. Thanks. read more

Try the hot salsa - you can sub the regular salsa for a spicier version. It's not terribly hot, just really flavorful. I got the shrimp Diabla this time. The portion is about 7-8 pieces cut to make them look like more. Can't go wrong with the margs here. Service is hit or miss especially when it's busy. read more

The food was pretty good. The sirloin quesadillas were filling. My water glass was empty for half of my meal. The associate took my Credit Card, brought it back and was walking away, then I had to ask for water. The atmosphere was pleasant and they were not that busy during the middle of the day on Friday. You'll have to park in a pay for parking place somewhere in order to eat here. Bathroom was clean and nice. Probably a great place to stop before a baseball game. read more

See all

Been coming to this restaurant for years and it never disappoints. The food is always great, my usual go-to is a burrito and a classic margarita. The waitresses and hosts are consistently friendly and welcoming, even when the place is insanely busy. It's downtown, so don't expect cheap drinks, but they're well made and a couple will definitely do the job. read more

Service is slow and I would give the Taquitos a 0/5. Fried to oblivion. I only at a couple and they made me so sick. Salsa was ok.

Just had lunch at the Rio. Salsa and chips were fantastic ... ordered and very much enjoyed the Queso Fundido with shrimp and crab. Outstanding! Service was excellent, too! However, the music was too damn loud and it was annoying rap music, not anything like you'd expect in a Mexican restaurant. Very, very annoying and made it difficult to talk to my wife during lunch (I turned my hearing aids way, way down, which ... ok ... identifies me as an old fart, but nevertheless, the rap music was too freakin' loud and inappropriate). Worst yet, though, is the "famous margs," as the menu describes them, were nothing like the margs we've enjoyed at the Rio for over a decade. The mix or some of the other ingredients have evidently changed. WHY??? I simply couldn't drink my margarita. HUGE disappointment, to put it mildly. read more

The Rio is one of my favorites and go-to's for Mexican restaurants on the front range! I've been to the Denver downtown location, as well as the Ft. Collins, Greeley, and Boulder locations many, many times. I figured it's time I leave a review! First, the free chips and house-made salsa are the best. Period. By far, my fave part of every experience. For more food, I love to order the sautéed chicken burrito with the spicy green chile! This recent visit, my critique was there was not enough green chile! Someone was holding out on me! The spiciness of the green chile as well as the salsa seem to vary some with the season of the year. I love that because it proves it is being made fresh. The margaritas are also great! I typically prefer the house frozen man-berry marg! If it's been a week, I'll go for the Ricky! This recent visit, I tried the Mile High Skinny Margarita for something less sweeter- it was a little pricey but very smooth. Throughout my visits, service is overall consistently solid, and much above average for today's world. Had very attentive, prompt, and generally friendly bar staff during this recent visit. Atmosphere of the new lodo location is not as good as the previous downtown location- could be warmer/more inviting, cozier, rustic, etc. Just seems to lack personality if that's a thing for a restaurant. However, that won't stop me from coming back and demolishing more chips and salsa! read more

Rio on Wazee - Mile High Skinny with chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Had a frozen man berry margharita and it was good. I wasn't too hungry so I got two tacos from the a la carte. The grilled skirt steak and the cilantro-lime chicken taco-- both were tasty and just the perfect bites. The free chips and salsa were nice. The salsa was very spicy. Great service, our server was very friendly and always came by to refill our orders and ask how we were doing. read more

See all

I had a mini margarita which was tasty and perfect for me. I ordered the shishito taco, steak and chicken taco... love the shishito and chicken the best!! My hunnie got the steak burrito, delicious! read more

See all

Stopped in for a quick bite and drink. Eclectic decor in this Rio restaurant downtown. Service was friendly. We were able to get a lunch special, which runs daily from 11-4pm. I selected the quesadilla combo with grilled steak and green chile soup. Neither were very spicy. Their hibiscus-infused skinny margarita was a fun take on a regular margarita. read more

See all

This is another favorite of Crystal and I! The service has been excellent. The drinks are really good I love the margaritas here. When we go to some of the events around Denver it's exciting when RIO is there because we know we will always love whatever they have. I love the empanada and tacos and there's some good non corn options for me which is great because of my allergy. The flavor in everything here is tasty and always has some good spice. It's also another place that is close to so much in Denver so it's great to pop in here even for a snack or a drink of a full meal in between going to events or fun things around Denver. It's a fun atmosphere here and has a nice vibe in the restaurant! We will be back again very soon! read more

Rio on Wazee - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

This place is really known for their drinks. People start their evening here with huge drinks at a great price. This is a great place for relaxed fun with friends. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the service was great. The chips and salsa were nice. The meat for the fajitas was over seasoned it the veggies and sides were good. I loved the grill marks on the veggies and the flavor was great. I think if the meat was not too salty, this would've been a stellar meal. It was so close. Overall this place is still a vibe and worth going for a chill Mexican food experience. read more

Rio on Wazee - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

I didn't check the reviews before coming here - but I see that my evaluation is on par. I googled places near the Capitol for a Bernie Rally. Any hoots, I sat at the bar and the bartender was lackluster and seemed downright apathetic to my presence. I ordered a margarita - it's a Mexican restaurant after all. It was honestly the worst margarita I have ever had in my life. Chili's does a better margarita. First, it was clear. Like a chardonnay. So much of our enjoyment of food does, indeed come from its aesthetic. I was so turned off by the look of it. You know there is not a drop of true lime or lemon in that thing when it is clear. And, sure enough, it was so unappetizing. I might have made a face because someone came out from the kitchen (who WAS actually friendly, unlike the bartender) - and started pouring an enormous vat of something into a container in front of me that I could not see (kind of under the counter). I asked what it was - and he explained that they make their margarita in a pre-made batch. This was good info because I now knew not to blame the bartender for such a monstrosity. But it was also bad news because - if you have the time to make it in a batch, you have the time to taste test it and make sure it is good. I can't remember what I got for food - it was drowned out by the margarita. OH! I got a taco, then one more. They are small, a la carte, and I think I got chicken and then shrimp. They weren't bad, and if I remember correctly they were pretty cheap. But, it could not make up for the horrible chardo-rita that they serve. Guys - change that margarita recipe. It has to taste like fresh lime, agave and tequila. The key highlighted ingredient being lime. And, ya, the bartender sucked too. Sat there with empty everything before he finally plunked a bill in front of me with just the perfect dose of disdain. I will be steering clear of that place. read more

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in LoDo is now serving brunch on weekends 10am - 3pm (downtown Denver only) and we couldn't wait to check out their new breakfast menu. Bottomless Mimosas are available for only $22 with purchase of an entree! We arrived at Rio and were seated in a booth by the bar. The restaurant was lively as patrons enjoyed generous plates of classic Mexican fare & margaritas. The staff were awesome, and GM Matt ensured we had everything we needed while we dined. Can't decide between a Mimosa or Margarita? Rio took care of that with the Mimosarita! The Mimosarita was made with Rio's own Classic Marg, fresh-squeezed OJ, and champagne. A refreshing blend of frozen orange juice, sparkling champs & zingy tequila. The Big Tex Marg was made with Cuervo tradicional silver, orange liqueur, & fresh citrus. A solid marg with Rio's specialty blend of citrus juices served on the rocks. The Breakfast Burrito was made with scrambled eggs, jack cheese, & braised pork. A hearty dish - the warm tortilla was smothered in melty cheese & packed with piping hot ingredients. The Pancakes were made with maple cinnamon whipped butter, fresh fruit, & real maple syrup. The pancakes picked up a delicate spice from the hot maple cinnamon butter that was made flavorfully sweet from the real maple syrup. The Steak & Eggs were made with grilled skirt steak, poached eggs, roasted potatoes, refried beans, avocado cilantro chimichurri, grilled jalapeño, caramelized red onion, & handmade flour tortillas. The tender skirt steak was thinly sliced, seared, & served alongside eggs sunny side up - packed with protein and flavor. The Crab Cake Benedict was made with Atlantic Red Crab cake, poached eggs, lime-cilantro hollandaise, & roasted potatoes. A tasty variation on the classic benedict - the hollandaise, & runny poached eggs blanketed the crab cakes. The Diabla Shrimp Empanadas were made with sautéed shrimp, chile de árbol sauce, & jack cheese. The shrimp had firecracker spice and chew in texture that paired well with the crisp fried exterior of the empanada. The Chile Con Queso was made with a cheese blend and pico de gallo. My favorite queso in town - the TexMex dip was silky smooth in perfect cheesy taste. We ended our brunch with tequila shots - when at Rio! read more

See all

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants, amazing frozen margaritas and I recently discovered their shrimp empanadas and fell in love. I've started just ordering myself a full order of these instead of doing the ala Carte tacos. Service is always really great, they're generally pretty solid about keeping my chips and salsa full. The new location is pretty cute inside and the patio is nice for a happy hour - I will say road noise can be a little loud during rush hour so just keep that in mind when deciding where to sit. read more

No. No. NO. Drinks...if u want glasses with soap residue and watered down margaritas Guacamole- we had to mix Pico, hot sauce, salt, pepper, side of onion, and then ask for more peppers. This didn't even make a dent in the flavor. It's terrible. Chicken tortilla soup- decent. If you don't mind what tastes like store bought tomato soup as a base. But edible. Tacos- we got steak and chicken. The steak was full on COLD. No flavor. Vegetarian Tostada- our friend got this and was deathly ill for 3 days. Even while eating it she mentioned it was not good, but didn't want to bother staff for a take-back. Wish she did cuz poor thing was sick and missed the entire rest of our visit to Denver. The only 1 star is for the music and vibe, and our waitress was pleasant. She had a clever cat out of the bag costume that nite which was cute. I read more

Wonderful tacos and margaritas. We sat on the patio that is jam packed with beautiful hanging flower baskets. It feels like being in Spain. The staff was friendly and attentive. Go for lunch!! read more

I've been a fan of the Rio Grande for many, many years. I used to go to the old location downtown on Blake Street until I retired. I recently went to the new downtown location on Wazee Street and was very impressed. The food was excellent, the service was great, and the ambience was definitely a big cut above the old place. The price for my three taco lunch was very reasonable, and all three tacos were delicious. I'll be back! read more

Rio on Wazee - Three taco lunch special - delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We have gone here a couple more times since our last review and this place only gets better and better. I have changed it from a 4 to a 5. Exceptional service, amazing food, and delicious drinks! And they have been phenomenal with ryan's allergy and we really appreciate that! This place is also fun and vibrant and was an excellent way to spend part of our holiday today after going to the Fan Expo! I was full and satisfied after today's and our last visit a few weeks ago here. I would also like to mention they did a really great job at the last Brunch Festival Event we went to that was with Westward! Top Notch! The videos I added are from our experience we had today :) the bowl of green chile I got I added the sour cream and cheese and did the pork instead of chicken and it was heaven with the flour tortillas. The tacos were a true delight as well MEXICO CITY HOT CHICKEN and CARNE ASADA and a DIABLA SHRIMP EMPANADA ! Ryan got a classic margaritas and I went with a non alcoholic classic - a Coca Cola :) read more

See all

I saw this place was busy one evening so we decided to stop for lunch the next day. They were busy. The hostess, Suzy, sat about 5 groups in front of us. She then made sure each group had water, chips, salsa. I don't know if she waited on everyone but she waited on us. She also waited on other tables. She took our drink and food order and didn't write anything down. She hustled her ass off. She also provided input on food recommendations which were spot on! She also continued to seat other groups. Not once did our drinks go empty. She was probably the best waiter I have had in ages. I loved the salsa here. A little chunky with lots of flavor. The chips were not salty, which was perfect. I will say the mini marg was ok, not my favorite. But for $6.. I couldn't complain. Suzy - you deserve a raise. read more

I have never been to the downtown location even before they moved. My office always has lunch downtown somewhere for opening day of the Rockies and we decided to check out the Rio and they allowed us to make a reservation, unlike most places downtown. We were seated right away and no issues and had a server within seconds of sitting down. She amazed me with how packed the place was with how quick she was and always attentive. Your drink didn't go empty. She was on it! I went with their lunch special with the quesadilla and tortilla soup. The quesadilla was really good and had tender pieces of chicken and gooey cheese. the soup though leaved a little less to be desired. The chunks of everything were too big and otherwise the soup was watery. It is a good deal though for a lunch special. I am not sure I would go to this location again since I live south and tend to go to the Lone Tree location but otherwise this one was nice and plenty of seating and lighting. read more

Probably a 3.5, but I'll round up. 5 of us came in on a Saturday afternoon with no reservations and were seated right away. They had free chips and salsa and kept them refilled which I think every Mexican restaurant should have. I loved the chips and got some to go. Unfortunately we were there during brunch, so it was a pretty limited menu. I ordered the chilaquiles and asked for the salsa on the side because I don't like spicy. My chips were covered in the salsa and my mouth was on fire, but the server was no where to be found for water refills. She eventually brought a pitcher of water which was great. They took the dish off my bill, so did try to make it right. read more

Cary the bartender took care off. Came for only drinks, but ended up getting tacos a la cart. The Baja fish taco is amazing. Seriously the perfect fish taco. The carnitas taco I added some hot sauce but it's as delicious. Drinks were ok. The sour mix in the margs is ok, but overall a great experience. read more

Delicious queso, amazing salsa, and a friendly bartender. We stopped in for a quick bite and had a great experience, we'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. read more

Not the best Mexican food I have ever had, but the service was great for a busy Friday night. The house margarita was also pretty tasty. I got 3 tacos, and my favorite had to be the marinated pork. My friend loved the chicken fajitas. The chips and guac were delish also. Definitely make a reservation in advance! read more

Rio on Wazee - BYOT (build your own) Taco Pack - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all