Rio Grande Social continues to be a pleasant surprise. The new building is easy to find, and finding a parking space was no trouble at all. My daughter and I arrived for dinner and were seated right away. The service was friendly and welcoming from the start. While there are plenty of TVs throughout the restaurant, it didn't feel loud, crowded, or overly busy. It struck a nice balance between being lively and comfortable, making it easy to enjoy a conversation over dinner. I ordered the Hangover Burger. The name is clever, and the portion size was impressive. It was definitely a lot of food and made for a satisfying meal. Between the convenient location, easy parking, friendly service, and relaxed atmosphere, Rio Grande Social delivered a very enjoyable dining experience. I'll be back... again! read more

Rio Grande Social - The Hangover - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We came here on a Saturday night months ago. Parking is not all that great, I wouldn't park up in front anyway with how tight the parking lot is. We parked far off and walked. We came for the food and not the drinks this evening. My girlfriend had the Kimchi Chicken Sandwich and I had the Salmon Fish & Chips. We also had pretzel fondue for an appy. The place throws off a trendy type vibe. I remember our service was a little slow and the food was very average. My girlfriend who likes everything wasnt too much of a fan of the chicken sandwich. I thought the salmon fish and chips would be interesting because I've never had salmon that way and I will never again. The portion was small, I get it, its salmon, but I can not enjoy salmon this way. We'd come back to give it another shot, but I would definitely not recommend that salmon fish and chips. read more

Rio Grande Social - Salmon Fish & Chips - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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My daughter and I sat at the bar and as busy as they were we were both promptly attended to very fast. The service was great! We both had the tacos and the corn tortillas seemed fresh and the variety of tacos was excellent. Some of the best tacos of my life!! read more

Rio grande social is always a delight to visit! We've been here several times, but the food is always so delicious, that I forget to take pictures first. Well today I remembered.... The food is always fresh and made to order. Food is quality and yummy. The service is phenomenal. Waitresses and waiters are always so friendly and even the shift manager makes frequents rounds in the restaurant to make sure everyone is happy and has what they need! The restaurant itself is wide open and filled with light... but not in an imposing way... just very welcoming and bright. If you have not been here before, check it out for yourself. You'll be back again! read more

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I had the Steak Carpaccio with a draft IPA. It was so delicious!! Service was also good.

We have driven past this place a few times and kept saying---we need to see what it is all about. ...This past Sunday we thought we would drop in and catch the last Yankee game of the season before wild card playoffs. The bar was not packed but busy. We sat at the bar and asked the staff if it would be possible to change one of the channels. They came back saying this was not possible. We had already ordered a drink and decided to put the game on the phone. The place is very open and plenty of seating. Lots of different groups and individuals. From families to friends. Bathrooms were very clean and accessible. Kitchen was open by design so you could see the happenings. We ordered the pretzel bites appetizer to snack on. They came out in a cast iron mini kettle and tray. Delicious! Just the right amount of cheese combined with the salty goodness of the pretzel bites. The rest of the menu looked just as good as our appetizer. We will be back but this time will wait for the baseball season to be over. read more

Rio Grande Social - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I wanted to love this place. The service was borderline hostile. I met a friend and hadn't ever been before. The place had plenty of open tables at lunchtime. We talked before we ordered and it irritated the waiter when we asked for more time twice. Then the GM came over and asked what we wanted without asking if we were ready to order. I randomly chose an item off the menu. We ended up paying and leaving the restaurant before the table next to us who arrived at the same time. Why were they so rude and why did they hurry us? The food was actually ok but hard to know because all I h a d was a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, and dressing. I have diarrhea today. read more

I've been coming here since they opened and I think their food and drinks really hold up! Most recently we stopped by for happy hour and they had some great pricing and options. I really loved their garlic knots- they are decadent, fried and oh so garlicky! Their nachos were LOADED with meat and cheese- it was quite the hefty serving. I really like the view of the mountains here, their parking lot can be a pain if it's busy but you do have access to the main shopping center lot which is a close walk to the restaurant. I def recommend trying it out if you haven't stopped in yet! read more

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We ordered the pretzel bites with a wonderful cheese dipping sauce to share. One had the salmon with a citrus glaze on a bed of a sweet cucumber salad. Another had a classic cheese burger with crispy fries served in a cone shaped stand. Another had the rib eye steak with mashed potatoes, and a medley of broccoli and carrots. They forgot the added shrimp for the plate, but it was promptly served and was seared with a butter sauce and quickly devoured. She said it was the best shrimp she ever ate. I had the eggplant parmigiana. It was 3 thick crispy slices with a tangy tomato marinara sauce and a good size portion of spaghetti. Yum. The waitress Bridgette was attentive and did a good job. The only drawback to the night was a fat, old creepy man that kept staring at one of the females at our table. It ruined the night for her. Thankfully he left, staring again on his way out. The restaurant has no control over such circumstances, but it sure put a damper on the night out. She changed seats with one of the others at our table to be partially blocked. Sorry that he was such a dirty old man. I feel sorry for his wife, if she even noticed. read more

Had an amazing brunch at Rio Grande Social! The salmon eggs Benedict was absolutely delicious -- perfectly cooked eggs, flavorful salmon, and a great balance of flavors. The breakfast potatoes were crispy and seasoned really well, and the mimosa was the perfect brunch addition. Great atmosphere, excellent food, and friendly service. Definitely a 5-star experience and I'll be coming back! read more

Rio Grande Social - Eggs Benedict with salmon and potatoes - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Wanting to have a quick and wonderful lunch with hubby since we hadn't been back to Rio Grande Social since our Anniversary Dinner last year. Greeted and seated immediately while entering. Place looked bright, opened and comfortable. Our server arrived within minutes and took our order. Hubby had the Fish & Chips and I have to say that it was pretty darn good. After being dissatisfied with the last 3-4 fish & chip entrees at other establishments - I honestly wasn't expecting this entree to be good but to my surprise it was so delightful. It was crispy on the outside but tender on the inside as it should be. The breading was delicious and not soggy and it stayed on the fish which gave it - it's wonderful crunch. The tartar sauce and purple cabbage slaw that came with it complimented it perfectly. The only small negative was that the coleslaw was completely purple and my husband who has worked in many kitchens said that that was due to not washing properly. I opted for just the appetizer buffalo wings and a side of French Fries. The wings were very delicious and cooked perfectly. I'm not a big potato person but these French Fries were absolutely scrumptious. I love their mouthfeel and how crunchy and airy they were. They paired perfectly with my ranch. Overall we enjoyed our lunch - our server was great - the food was delicious and we would definitely return. I will say that I felt it was a little expensive at almost $50 for an entree, an appetizer, side of fries that were super tiny and 2 fountain drinks but I understand that the cost of food has become so inflated read more

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Came for a dinner anticipating something really good with how long the lines have been for the weekends. We came in on a Thursday and the service was ok for how dead the place was. The bar was pretty slow with drinks but our waitress was really good (she gets the stars for the review) Got the nachos which were alright the unmelted cheese combined with melted cheese was not an appealing look. And the pizza was just ok nothing special. Not sure what the hype was all about maybe if I come back I'll order something else and hope for better results. read more

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Okay, so I've been here twice now. What got me in was the breakfast special (free breakfast for the first 50 people each weekend in April). My dad got the smothered breakfast burrito last time with both bacon and sausage. I've tried the hangover burger and the red velvet pancakes. Both were tasty, with more than enough for leftovers to take home. Food came out quickly and staff was friendly. I can't wait to come back to try the pineapple whip for dinnertime 2025 #31 read more

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This place had been on my radar for a hot minute and glad I finally got the chance to check them out. This is a great spot for group dining and it just feels very large. We came after getting pedicures nearby, at kind of a weird time on a Sunday but the food and drinks were great. We got the pretzel bites, al pastor nachos, ceviche, and calamari. Everything was really good. I got a peach ring to drink which wasn't my favorite but it was only $5. My friend got one of the spring specials and it was really good. Overall everything was great, I'd totally come back. read more

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I have eaten here on a few occasions... I recommend going at off hours because parking is tough, spaces are cramped and you end up walking quite a distance when they are busy. The first time I went was for brunch. I had the eggs Benedict and was very happy...nice presentation, hot and tasty. Second time I went in between lunch and dinner...I thoroughly enjoyed the roasted tomato and herb salmon. Delicious! Yesterday, I again went before dinner rush. I ordered the Cajun pasta with chicken...awesome! Lots of flavor, a slight crispy crust to the chicken, fantastic! The service has always been great! Fast, friendly and on point for sure. It is very open, bright, clean with sports on numerous TV's. Love the food, love the atmosphere but truly hate the parking setup... read more

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First and foremost... service and friendliness... We were greeted by Bridget who sat us and became our server. She was Awesome! From her idol banter to her, fantastic meal suggestions, her customer service was impeccable. We went with her suggestions of Salmon and Spinach lasagna. Both were delicious and I don't even like Lasagna! We tried the garlic knots appetizer. It was okay. Not sure that I would order that again... but I would definitely eat them if they came to the table. Lol. We followed dinner with chocolate cake for dessert. It was really good. Very moist and dark chocolate. We will definitely go back. I love the big tvs and sporting events on TV. It's all good as long as the right team is on the screen! We will definitely go back as it seems like they also have great happy hour items and specials of the day. Thanks to Bridget and staff for making this a great experience. read more

Been here a couple times and they are consistently good. Food portions are good and quality matches the price. They have a good selection of cocktails. Theire smoky old fashion has been my consistent go to. Wait service is always kind and prompt. The only question mark i have is the ambiance. High ceilings, cool decor, unoque cocktails give it an upscale vibe but the lights are so bright and the big screen TVs make it feel sports bar adjacent? I dunno, it's the only note that i would have. read more

Love the food and ambiance. Happy this restaurant is on the west side. My family loves it read more

We had the veggie tacos which were amazing. The waitstaff was very friendly and it was nice to sit out on the patio.

A great social spot for a drink and a meal. The good stuff... the restaurant is nice, clean and spacious with nice details and variety of seating options. The bar is very pretty with good options, often a drink special(s) available. The menu is small but the food quality is good, and not just for a "bar". The pretzel fondue, salmon fish n' chips, street tacos, hangover burger and pineapple whip are our favorites. Not to mention, the service is always very friendly. The other stuff... parking can be tough so you may need to park across the way. If you can, choose a soft seating area. Also, temperature runs a little cool. We've only experienced dinner but hear the breakfast is very good too. read more

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The open seating space is welcoming and I love the big windows with the perfect view of the Sandia Mountains. I think the location is great just next to cottonwood mall. The servers are all nice and on top of making sure everyone is happy. The food was delicious and the drinks are fantastic I think the prices are reasonable especially with the size of the servings. read more

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The service was fast and friendly! Everything came out fast, drinks were amazing. The Kim chi fried has a kick to it. The crab Benedict was very tasty. Parking sucks but worth the food. Inside was very nice and lots of lighting. Very comfortable for gatherings read more

Rio Grande Social - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Good food, good people, good atmosphere. Will definitely be back. Service was great. Price's comparable to other bar type restaurants.

Service has been great the 3 times Ive been and food is delicious. The drinks are good. Love the ambiance and how clean the restaurant is. read more

Rio Grande Social - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Finally got to try the new westside spot! So glad I did. Got the 505 burger with beer battered fries. I asked for grilled onions which was done with no extra charge. Burger was juicy and huge! It's a smash burger and all the flavors came together perfectly. Fries were Crispy! What more do you need... Endless drink options and a great tap variety. Lots of TVs for the games and they purchased the NFL package for the season! Ambiance was spacious and modern. Seats were comfy. I'll be back soon! read more

Rio Grande Social - 505 burger - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Like my previous review, you cannot go wrong with brunch here :) The brunch options are unique and packed with so much flavor! They start at $12 and go to $17. I admire the ambiance of the restaurant most. The enormous windows bring in beautiful natural lighting, and bring out the architecture. On Sunday morning, it was a full house, but we got seated upon arrival. Again, beware of the parking, it can be tight. read more

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First time at Rio Grande Social. I was so embarrassed for them when they brought this $15 burger out medium well. I would have been better off at Burger King so disappointed. Great ambience- will not return. read more

Rio Grande Social - Adult burger lol. - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This was our first time visiting this restaurant / bar. We didn't know it was already opened, because we had been seeing it still being constructed. Decided to come in to try it out! This review contains experience from brunch & lunch. We visited on a Sunday morning, last week thinking that lunch was already being served. Just know that the parking lot is only one way in, so best of luck trying to find parking when you get here. Thankfully, we found a space close to the front entrance. We were greeted by friendly staff and our waitress was great as well. Like I said, I thought we were going to eat lunch, but instead it was brunch. Which wasn't that bad, although we were really looking forward to lunch. The brunch is served Saturday and Sunday's from 9am to 12 Noon. I'm sure there are other places for brunch, but this by far was the best! The brunch menu offers a little bit of all those breakfast options. It was really hard to make a decision on what to try. And their libations were pretty extensive. Offering even a $5 cocktail menu, this is a plus! We opted to try some Jack & Coke. Our waitress was great, she knew it was our first time but had to explain that the regular menu doesn't start till after 12 noon. And we for sure did not want to wait another hour to eat. It was fine to go ahead and order what they were offering on their brunch menu. She did make some suggestions that were really helpful. We decided to order the Red Velvet Pancakes and the Breakfast Taco Trio. The Red Velvet pancakes were just the pancakes, which came with this delicious cream cheese and maple syrup. It was really tasty! I think if I had ordered the Social Platter that came with the bacon or sausage hash browns and eggs I think I would've been too stuffed to eat all my pancakes. Because they were so good! I definitely recommend the Red Velvet Pancakes. The other entree we ordered was the BreBreakfast Taco Trio. This came with a bacon & cheese taco, pork belly taco and a chorizo taco. That was really flavorful and we enjoyed that too! The red and green salsa that was served with it was delicious too! We definitely want to come back and try more of the brunch menu next time! We heard good things about the other entrees on the brunch menu. So this place is definitely worth trying out! As for the lunch menu, we did try it just this past weekend. Again, it did not disappoint. We had great service! Our waitress gave us some suggestions on food and drinks. We decided to give the Rumhaven Sociallite Whip Shot, oooh that was delicious! If you've ever had Dole Whip in Hawaii this is it! Served just like a float but with rum in it. Yummy! For the food, we tried the Nachos and the Salmon Fish & Chips. Mmm, the nachos were good because it was served with the white queso! Not that yellow stuff you get at the other bars. We enjoyed the beans and roasted jalapenos. We also enjoyed the Salmon Fish & Chips. The Salmon was delicious served with a garlic lime aioli. Just thinking about it while writing this review makes me just want to go there right now and order that. LOL! All in all, both Brunch and Lunch experiences were good! I hope they continue to have this type of experience, because I would love to come back again and try more items on their menus! Thank you! read more

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The dessert was incredible loved the taste of the chocolate not to over powering as well definitely recommend. The service was quick and warm / friendly. And ambiance was not amazing but did not take away from the eating experience. read more

This was our first time going, staff was extremely friendly and professional, good service. Had fish and chips, french fries were perfect. The fish had a different taste. I would probably wouldn't get the fish again. read more

Rio Grande Social - Fish and Chips. - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This place is new, when you walk in there are TV's with games on almost everywhere. Staff was polite and sat quickly. The parking is kind of tight but can also park off to the side. There is an outdoor area for when the weather gets better. The bar has this amazing lighted table top. Have to check it out. In the restroom there are lighted and heated mirror, I would like that at my house . The food sounds great when you read the menu. The fries are battered and wish the size was larger. Burger is on par and while a lot of other smash burgers can be dry this was not. Lots of juice and great taste. read more

Rio Grande Social - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We visited the new restaurant last night. Since it was Saturday night, we arrived super early (4:55 pm). Thanks to the other Yelp reviews, we were prewarned about the bleak parking options but managed to find a parking spot just inside the lot entry. Yay! But they weren't kidding. If you can't see one early on, best to park in over flow because there is nowhere to turn around (more on this later). We went up to the hostess stand to check in and were greeted and given an accurate wait time (5-10 minutes). After a few minutes the hostess called our name and took us to a beautiful table by the large windows overlooking the valley and Sandia Mountains. Our waiter (Dominic) was friendly and knowledgeable and looked in on us throughout the meal. Props to him for making the evening fun and the meal the best it could be. We got the pineapple whip drink and a Rum and Coke (the latter off the $5.05 menu!!) for drinks and both were great for different reasons. The pineapple one was like a trip to Disney World but with booze and without the lines. The Rum and Coke is the best deal in town and it's available 24/7. We ordered the pretzel fondue which was served super fast and had about 15 hot, super light pretzel balls to dip into the accompanying cheese dip served over a warming candle. Fun and unique. We had the nachos with jerk chicken and the pork chop as our entrees. My husband poured the leftover cheese dip from the pretzels on his nachos (pro tip) while I dug into the pork chop. I have zero complaints on the chop, which rivaled some of the best chips I've ever eaten (up there with the ones from Marcellos if you can remember them). It was served with a chili peach chutney which had a decent heat along with a sweetness that complemented the pork really well. Also loved the asparagus (nice firmness after their grill) and the skin-on mashed potatoes. My husband also liked the nachos, although he would have appreciated some salsa and the refried beans were spread on the plate before they put the nachos on, which made for some complicated assembly. By far, though, the best part of the evening was the parking-watching. And by that, our beautiful view also gave us a great seat to watch the endless supply of Suburbans, minivans and large trucks try to navigate the super tight parking lot with a dead end, so they would drive all of the way up and then have to reverse all of the way out (including a sharp 90 degree turn around the building OR try to park in the multiple compact car slots which seemed to be designed for smart cars only. It was highly entertaining for us but probably not for the endless oversized car parade. Seriously, if you drive more than a subcompact, just park in the adjacent lot and save yourself the trama. Overall, my only negative feedback is the parking and the overall restaurant design, which dumps a lot of tables in a big open space without a lot of thought to creating smaller sections. Some booths would go a long way in creating some intimacy. We will definitely return and will definitely park a decent distance away! Order the pork chop! read more

Rio Grande Social - Nachos with jerk chicken. - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Been twice for breakfast in last few months and was exceptional. Breakfast buritto, red velvet pancakes, and breakfast tacos were all delicious. Daughter is obsessed with the red velvet pancakes. Great prices and service. read more

The Rio Grande Social opened on 3/13/24. I couldn't make it opening day. Came today with a friend. Loved the vibe. Initially it felt upscale to me but there was comfort as well. The bar was huge (u shaped) tons of indoor seating and a lounge area. There were high top and low top tables. There appears to be an outdoor area to come but it's still a bit cold for that. The windows are huge and you have a great view of the mountains. I only open ordered a couple beers so I have no opinion yet on the food or what appeared to be yummy dessert options. Staff are as super nice. Our waiter was attentive and polite. I wouldn't say there is a ton of parking so on nights it's busy folks will have to park elsewhere. Light fixtures were cool. I enjoyed the time I was there and will definitely return. It's new and it's local. Go check them out. read more

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Nice new addition to the west side. I had the Cacio e Pepe and a side salad. My husband had a burger. Both were very good. Salad was very fresh, loved it! Service was very good, too. Restaurant decor modern and open. My only recommendation , I would angle your furniture more. The straight line format makes it feel more cafeteria- ish. I love the gigantic windows and wonderful light filtering in. Lots of monitors with sports in the bar area. I hope this new restaurant makes it. We waited a long time for open and very excited about having a new venue on our side town! read more

Rio Grande Social - Dining area - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We have been dining here for breakfast for as long as they have served breakfast. Today I realized I had not done a review - which was a mistake. Now open at 8:30 AM seven days a week, you are really missing something by not watching for their specials. The initial specials were free breakfasts for the first fifty patrons. That lasted a month and they were the same breakfasts as on the standard menu. This past month, they have offered BOGO - again the same standard menu. The first few weeks of December (2025), we were told they will offer half-price breakfasts. We're coming back even after the specials are done with. Friendly service from a delightful staff. Some folks are put off by the sports bar ambiance for breakfast, but we don't mind since we arrive when they open and just ignore the numerous TV screens and music. Great place to enjoy a surprisingly good dining experience. I favor the Crab Cake Benedicts with beans instead of the papitas. My wife really likes the Avcado Toast but with two eggs. Highly recommended. read more

Very disappointed in my second visit here. Food took almost 45 minutes for 2 tacos and a fish and chips. Wasn't hot when it arrived. Not sure if it is under new management or they just lowered their standards. It's too bad, this one had some promise. read more

In search of more brunch places, a friend recommended us to go to Rio Grande Social. It is in a very accessible and commercial location. The place still shines as brand new with nice decor; quite loungey and comfy. Service was nice, friendly, and quick. The food had a great presentation! We ordered the avocado toast and the chilaquiles, over medium eggs, and Christmas style. I had the chilaquiles. Kudos on the over medium eggs! But both dishes required some salt to allow some flavor to come through. The salsas were quite distinguishable at that point. My friend could not finish her toast, as it kept being bland and boring. They were visually good dishes but lacking in flavors. The place is new so it is expected for things to improve and I hope they do because there is potential. read more

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We really enjoy Rio Grande Social. The food is very good. It comes out quickly and is hot!! The staff is always plentiful, friendly and accommodating. It's a very relaxing atmosphere and we are thankful that dogs are not allowed. We are dog lovers but appreciate the atmosphere without our fur babies. It's to bad that not all patrons respect that concept and feel that being rude to the sweet hostess and manager is the answer. Our commendation to the manager for dealing with the entitled and rude lady. We will be back soon for the Burqueno burger and shishito peppers!! read more

Staff and service were great! Good selection of drinks and food items. Open space that can accommodate casual or a nice dining experience. read more

Rio Grande Social - Sports Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico