This place is amazing. Wife had the Pork chop and is still talking about it. I had the Skirt stake and the flavor was fantastic. Very friendly staff. A wonderful find if your in Carmel. Will definitely be back. read more

The only thing better than the food at Rio Grill was the service! Elbert our waiter was really knowledgeable of all the ingredients in each dish and made our evening fun. The bartender Alana was super friendly, mixed great drinks and made us fresh coffee at the bar. The artichoke appetizer was cooked perfectly and the calamari was crispy and tender. We loved the chicken pasta along with the chicken salad. That salad dressing should be sold by the bottle! We can't wait to go back. Thanks for a great night out! read more

I love their ribs and was so happy I could get them to go. And they were as good as when i eat there! What a nice treat during this crazy time. read more

What a great choice to celebrate our anniversary. Even with the Covid restrictions, they have managed to create a nice ambiance outside with plenty of heaters to keep you comfortable. We had a reservation and were escorted without delay to our table. Our waiter, Augustin, greeted us warmly and was attentive throughout our stay. My husband started with a green salad which was dressed lightly and sprinkled with walnuts. I chose their creamy soup special which was thick and tasty topped with pumpkin seeds. For our main course we chose the pumpkin seed crusted salmon with crispy green beans and sweet potato crusted wedges and chicken fried raw ahi over very thin noodles and crispy vegetables. Both were delicious. Dessert brought us a delectable flourless chocolate cake and an amazing ice cream "sandwich " which in no way describes the delicacy. Please see the pictures for the eye watering details. In a final note, Chef Eduardo came by to check in and chat about our dining experience. Lovely experience read more

Rio Grill - Top is pumpkin seed crusted salmon. The lower is chicken fried raw ahi. - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

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A friend recommended Rio as we were staying in Carmel Valley. When we arrived, the hostess wished us Happy Anniversary and our table had been decorated with rose petals. Our server Jackie was the highlight of the experience. She was attentive and laid back at the same time. We started with cocktails and being a tequila lover, I highly recommend the Rio Classico-Delicious! We ordered the Mahi Mahi and Pork Chop and really enjoyed them. Thank you Jackie and Thank you Rio Grill for a great dinner. read more

We had a wonderful dinner Saturday night out on the patio. My husband ordered the seafood stew to which he claims was the best Cioppino he had ever had! I had the pork belly with the sweet sauce and added a side of polenta tots. OMG... heaven! We then splurged with a dessert---Pumpkin cheesecake! YUM!!! I must give a shout out to our server Alana. She went above and beyond and I would give her 10 stars!!! We will most decidedly be eating here again! read more

We recently hosted our son's "rehearsal dinner" in the Rio Grill's Santa Fe Room. What a fantastic spot. We had nixed a traditional sit-down dinner in favor of drinks, hors oeuvres, and dessert. We assumed people would drop by for a little while since many guests were just arriving in town that day. However, almost everyone stayed the entire time -- and really seemed to enjoy themselves. The decor is informal and fun -- whimsical paintings, bright ceramic peppers, and a cathedral ceiling made of lumber recycled from an old barn. Chelsey and Iris were our very helpful servers. When we arrived the serving tables were set with white linen and some dinky, white tapers. The servers agreed with me that the candles had to go. They whisked away the candles and added the butcher block paper and crayons which we had ordered -- plus some colorful confetti which added to the cheer. Guests were soon using the crayons to write their good wishes to the soon-to-be bride and groom. We had a variety of appetizers. Most were staged on platters set throughout the room, and a few were passed. The favorites were the coconut shrimp and the southwestern spring rolls. We ordered all three options on mini desserts: ollie tarts, lemon bars, and ginger cookies. All were tasty, but at least one guest wondered where the chocolate was. Being a chocolate fan, I had to agree. But all in all the Santa Fe Room was a festive setting that, along with the tasty food, made for a memorable evening for family and friends of the couple. read more

We had great service however the table right next to us had to continually request items (menu, water, ready to order..). The wife and I were tourists (aquarium, 17 mile drive) for the day and were getting hungry. Not wanting to overspend in Downtown Carmel or on the Monterrey Wharf, we remembered that Rio Grill had good quality food at a decent price. We drove by and saw a lot of heads in the window - a good sign for a Tuesday night. Even better, while looking at the menu at the door, the hostess came outside and asked if we had any questions. She also mentioned Happy Hour menu shuts down in 10 minutes at 6:30pm and that she had room in the lounge. Woohoo...we were in our comfort zone like the Wolf Eels in their caves at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium (Shout out to the best aquarium on the West Coast!). Our waiter was prompt and got us - 2 Beers on tap for $3/each, Truffle oil infused fries for $3, Fried artichokes for $3, Tri-tip Slider for $5, Lamb Meatballs(3) for $5. This was enough for us! Tax & tip and we were out the door for less than $30. Food was tasty for bar / American cuisins. As for the service, the waiter also checked on us a few times while the next table seemed OK with his service after ordering.... read more

Fabulous service and the food is well-presented. The food quality however is very underwhelming. My Chopped salad was basically shredded cabbage and carrots (coleslaw) served with beans and tortilla strips. I went crazy and added 3 prawns for a pricey $2.75 each. Wack. The drinks however are sensational, and again, our server was super polite, friendly and prompt. read more

Dined for lunch on on 09/07, ribs were not like I remember. Service was slow, maybe server had too many tables? Used to be one of my go to places when I visited the area. Ribs were Luke warm and chewy, have had them many times before and they were hot and tender. Not sure what happened read more

Just had a lovely meal with my husband at one of my favorite restaurants here in Pacific Grove. Our waiter Nick was very attentive and so was the Manager Spartacus. Please note they are fully compliant on Covid rules, they have outdoor dining with heaters at each table. Bus boys that only touch the plates when done. Servers bring food out themselves. And tables all 6-8 ft apart. Thank you for being open and serving wonderful food to us! read more

Went here for a date night recently and found it to be delicious, an amazing value and a real treat. Our server, Spartacus, was quite attentive and incredibly personable. I'm a classic whiskey/rye cocktail fan and I found the bar and recommendations from Spartacus to be impeccable. I highly recommend spending your time and money at Rio grill; you might just make a habit of it. Dishes and ratings (out of 5): Rio Rye 4.9 Proseco 5.0 Venus Fly Trap 4.0 Grand Manhattan 4.5 Herb Truffle Bread 4.1 Ahi Tuna 4.9 Charred Romaine Heart 5.0 Surf and Turf 4.2 Mocha Flan 5.0 Spartacus 7.5/5 read more

We go for a week stay in Carmel every year but it was our first time to order here. The fusion of southwest and Californian food is surprisingly good. We ordered the baby back ribs with smoked sweet potatoes is a bomb! Not ai much for the ribs but the smoked sweet potatoes will become my favorite. We have to try the other food in the menu next time we go there. Ordering on the phone is fast. We just picked up which was swift also. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

I'd been wanting to try Rio Grill for a while, but never really could get up the nerve to go. Then I saw they were offering a prix fixe menu for Monterey Bay Restaurant Week that sounded delicious and well that finally tipped the scales and convinced me to go to Rio Grill for dinner. I started off with the bacon-wrapped scallop, served with tomatoes, bruschetta-style over toasted sourdough. I love bacon and I love scallops, so this sounded like a winning combination. Unfortunately, I was less than thrilled by this appetizer. The bread was so tough and the scallops tasted fishy--a remarkable feat considering they were wrapped in bacon. The ancho remoulade on top was nice and spicy, and the pear tomatoes were a nice touch. For my main course, I ordered the lobster ravioli. I'm not a huge fan of lobster ravioli, but I couldn't say no to a goat cheese cream sauce. Wow--this was actually quite delicious! The lobster was so flavorful, and it paired nicely with the goat cheese sauce. This dish just might have made me a fan of lobster. The corn and microgreens salad on top was the only disappointment in this dish--the corn was burnt and overwhelmed the delicate lobster ravioli and goat cheese sauce. My friends told me about the delicious duck confit tamales they serve at Rio Grill, so I decided to order a one with my dinner. Sadly, the duck didn't really taste much like duck and the masa was so rubbery. The sauce was nice, but not enough to win over the other weak components. Maybe this side needs to be paired with another flavorful entree to work? For my dessert, I ordered the olallieberry pie. What a disappointment--the berries were too tart; there was a strange, gelatinous layer at the bottom of the pie; the crust was dry and hard. I should have gone with the pumpkin cheesecake, which got rave reviews. One of my good friends goes to Rio Grill all the time, mainly because the service is so good and so welcoming. I have to wonder what happened tonight, because our service was a little hit or miss. It definitely felt like those of us at the table who were drink wine got the most attention. Our server didn't check on us very often and was forgetful with order--twice mixing up orders when the food came to the table. Rio Grill was honestly a bit of a letdown. It wasn't a bad experience, by any means, but it wasn't nearly as good as I'd expected it to be. I think of the Rio Grill/Montrio/Tarpy's empire of restaurants, Montrio is by far the best. read more

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The skirt steak was delicious. The grilled tomato wasn't what I was expecting. It was like the kitchen cut chunks of tomato and waved it over a grill. It was lukewarm and flavorless. I was hoping for something more. The sweet potato mash "thing" was surprisingly bland, and disappointing. My salad was disappointing. I don't like it when I am served one half of a romaine lettuce head, with some Cesar dressing and croutons on top...then I'm supposed to cut it up. That's why I don't order lettuce wedge salads. I can make those at home for a fraction of the cost. The free calamari appetizer (for checking in on Yelp) was the bomb. Loved the dipping sauce a lot. We eat here every few years, and we'll come back. In a few years. Not bad food, but expensive and not my top fave place. read more

Rio Grill - Boring salad chunk of lettuce. I much prefer to have my Cesar salad prepped in the kitchen and served ready to eat. - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

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There were 16 in our party and everyone was thrilled with the food, service and atmosphere. I had the short rib & I can say it was the best I've ever had. From start to finish this restaurant does not disappoint. read more

Rio Grill - Short rib (don't recall the fancy name) - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

We came in with a part of 17- they were extremely accommodating and quick to seat us for lunch!! Our waiter, Spartacus , took excellent care of us- got all of our orders correct and orders were to the right person quickly ( we had 9 kids with us :)) We appreciate the wonderful service- 10/10 would recommend! read more

My husband and I had such a fantastic experience at the Rio Grill. There was very limited seating when we arrived, so even though we had a reservation, we decided to wait for a regular table (as opposed to a high top table) to become available. They only had outdoor dining available due to COVID-19. I didn't catch the name of the host who worked with us while we waited for our table, but he was incredibly kind and made sure to let us know that he did not forget about us while we waited. We were fine waiting the 20 minutes due largely in part to the fact that my husband and I weren't starving just yet. The customer service was top notch, and the food -- well, let's just say I'm dreaming of the day when I can get the same salad I ordered that night. You heard that right... I said a SALAD. It was honestly amazing. It's been several days and I'm still not "over" it. I can't believe I didn't take a picture of it. Anyway, when we're back in the area, we will be sure that this is one of our lunch or dinner spots. read more

Delicious food and great service! Walk in, go to the bar, and ask for Taylor. You won't regret it. He's simply the best! I'd had the longest morning, and he made my day. Thank you, Taylor! Also, try the salmon ravioli! Soooo good read more

My family and I had a lovely dinner at Rio the other night. As a party of 7, the server took special care of each of us, answer our questions and providing suggestions based on our tastes, preferences, and dietary needs. Highlights included: 1. Margaritas. The Rio Rita (a classic) hit the spot and the Blood orange margarita was super unique! 2. Wine. We got the McIntyre Pinot Noir. It's local and delicious. 3. Appetizers. Artichoke, empanadas, and tamal. You've never had an artichoke like this before. And the empanadas and tamal have great flavor! 4. Entrees. Many choose the skirt steak (cooked exactly right and really good), but a surprising standout was the chicken! You think you don't want chicken because you cook it at home, but this chicken was not your average chicken. It's tender and juicy and full of flavor! 5. Dessert. The flan has a great mocha/chocolate taste, more like mouse than flan but delicious. Bread pudding is paired with ice cream and is a great balance of flavors. 6. Service. Our server, Elbert, was thoughtful and checked on us. He and the others who took care of us, made sure our glasses were always full and we had what we needed. 7. Ambiance. Rio has unique decor from the bar area to the dining room, it's eclectic and elegant art sets a great atmosphere for any occasion. Overall a great night at Rio Grill! read more

Food here was very good, and an upmarket feel. Service was very good; no pleasant chit chat, just very fast walking, and business like discussion of what you want. I was impressed when he sidled across to collect our credit card without breaking conversation with the people at the next table. We also got him to draw us a map of where to go next - the spectacular route 16 via Greenfield. read more

Rio Grill - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

Rio Grill should be an automatic 4 stars as soon as I walk in the door. However, experienced poor service this visit. Took an eternity to place drink orders and receive drinks. When the entrees arrived, our salad plates had yet to be cleared (we had been done for a while). During meal waiter never checked in. Also, ordered the Revolution margarita, which was terrible. No alcohol flavor, no fruit flavor; just tasted like water. I've been coming here 25 years. Hope the service issues I encountered, as well as other Yelpers, will be addressed. read more

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Simply the BEST happy hour on the peninsula! The staff knows your name, the good and drinks are good. Home away from home... read more

Rio Grill - Tiff loves the steak salad! - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

Our server Elbert was outstanding and super friendly. He talked us through the specials and had great recommendations. The food was excellent and the chef Edwardo even came out to check how everything was! Great experience and delicious food. read more

Rio Grill was super tasty and the service was amazing our server Tim kept checking in our table consistently and put a smile on our face ! And a big thank you to Alexis for remembering me and my boyfriends face and helping me out ! She was super kind and helpful and made my night even better ! I will definitely be coming back :) read more

This was a really nice restaurant with wonderful staff. The food was great and inventive. We tried the cornmeal crusted artichoke with crab which was good. We also had the artichoke on the regular menu which is wood smoked and comes in a vinaigrette and a aioli. Yummy. Then out came the raw buffalo slices with toast and salad. Really awesome!! I finished my meal with the seed crusted salmon which was cooked to perfection. I did like the green beans that came with it as they were nice and fresh but I didn't care for this bland formed sweet potato shaped form that came with also. Everything else was amazing!!! read more

Dinner with fam again. This time for my Bday. We came here for a change having eaten in most places in Monterey. Well it was worth it. I had empanadas and calamari as starters. Both were amazing. For the main course I pork chops which were great. Loved the flavor and the slight amount of garlic butter The wife had smoked pork ribs. The flavor was great. They were dry but I was told that is the way they come. Got Carmel bread pudding and it was just like Mums. The wait staff was polite and friendly. Come here for a great meal. read more

Rio Grill - The starters. - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

The Rio Grill is beauty. My omelette was beauty. Hannah is beauty. The entire experience can be summed up in one word: Beauty. read more

My wife and I were served by Alfredo. He gave great recommendations and was incredibly hospitable. My wife got the tacos of the day and I got the salmon BLT. Both were fantastic and just what we needed for a lunch out. TLDR: food was great but service was even better. read more

First time dining at Rio Grill. The menu is eclectic, everything we tried was delicious (artichoke, squid, Chinese chx salad and pork chop). Best part about the experience was the staff, especially our server Alana who was super friendly and upbeat! Excellent service and dinner all around. read more

Recently went in for a dinner with some friends and was expecting "Covid" to affect the way this place ran, but absolutely not. The staff was super nice, they made us feel at home and safe, and Alana at the bar took such great care of us. I will definitely be recommending this place to my friends. A local friendly feel with a five star rating. read more

I was excited about Visiting a Carmel tradition but was told at 8:20 on a Thursday evening that they were close. Super bad customer service since everything on social media says they're open till later. Figure it out...the girl behind the bar was really rude. Wouldn't allow use to even use the restroom. Ended up At Sur Restaurant across the street - has a fabulous experience. read more

Just wanted to boast about the delicious smoked chicken family meal that me and my family had the pleasure of enjoying. It was a long day and I didn't want to cook so I called into see if there was any deals to feed a family of four. I spoke to a young lady named Alana and she recommended this family meal. And let me tell you it was very delicious and filling. I can't wait to try the other meals on another lazy day... staff was very friendly and made sure everything was there. Most definitely will be returning for a dine in to get the full dining experience. Thank you so much. read more

Had a great experience at Rio Grill! Felt very safe, as there was Covid protocol in place and they were really following it with masks, gloves, wipe downs between customers. Alana our server was awesome! Great personality and engaging! Food was fabulous with lots of flavor. Definitely would recommend! read more

Rio Grill - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

We were in town for our birthday weekend and discovered Rio Grill for the first time. We were so happy that we did - This stop has easily become one of our favorite places to eat in town! Everything that we ordered was superb. Cocktails were very well balanced and the food was unrivaled in flavors. Also worth noting, the wait staff were all especially helpful and it would not have been the same great experience without them! read more

Rio Grill - Grilled Skirt Steak - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

My husband and I hosted our son Ryan and his fiancé Joann's rehearsal dinner here last evening and what a resounding success it was! Everyone was top notch from the handsome restaurant manager, the friendly hostess, the kind and efficient bartender, the amazing banquet coordinator Kaila, and superb Christian who oversaw everything from the minute we walked in at 4:45 to set up a few things before our guests arrived at 5:00 to the moment we all left at 8:00 p.m.! Christian was fabulous in guiding me through the entire evening. The appetizers were off the charts delicious and the dinner selected by my son and his fiancé was of the highest quality and expertly prepared and served. We loved the Santa Fe room with private bar! All 37 of us had a fantastic time! We highly recommend the Rio Grill for your special occasion! read more

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I was there recently with two nieces. We had such a great time. Seated outdoors with ample heat lamps, in fact, the girls took their jackets off. The wines were great, we had the onion rings - always great. Two of us had their grilled prawns with pasta. Of course, we had several desserts. It was all terrific, the staff was fun and friendly. Rio Grill is always one of my routine favorites. read more

Did the 17-mile loop and then hit the Carmel mission, by then it was around noon and a docent suggested the Rio at The Crossroads. Well, we took her advice and good advice it was! This place is just fantastic and the food is phenomenal. I had the duck tamale in mole and what a delicious, peculiar fusion it was. I posted a photo of it, just first rate. My wife did the roasted artichoke and could not stop telling me how she would never eat another artichoke that wasn't roasted. I also had the pulled pork tacos that were served with a caesar salad--I thought that strange until I discovered how well the marriage between Mexican and Italian goes. Just a terrific meal and our server, Aaron, was just a total professional, so hard to find in a restaurant. read more

Rio Grill - At Rio Grill in Carmel having a duck tamale in mole with a dry, fruity pinot from Joyce Vineyards (Monterey) named after Submarine Canyon. - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

I don't normally post reviews but for this place I just had too! The food is amazing! Highly recommend the roasted artichoke and the veggie risotto. The service is extremely on point! I loved it so much that I've eaten here 2 days in a row! Brittany and Kat are amazing! They're friendly and on point with their service. This place is a must! Next time I'm out here in Carmel, this will definitely be a stopping point for me. read more

We enjoyed it. The food met expectations for such a large menu. The kids appreciated that there was stuff for them.