We had a hankerin' for burgers on Saturday night and decided to satiate the craving at Rio's Piri Piri in Tooting. There's actually a Rio's closer to us on Croydon's High Street, but we prefer Tooting for a couple reasons:
1. The dining area at the location in Tooting is always clean, whereas Croydon is hit-or-miss. The Tooting staff is far more attentive in ensuring their tables aren't littered with crumbs and ketchup smears. Score one for Tooting.
2. The burgers at the Tooting location are just better. My husband and I actually had a long, boring talk about this while we chomped. Usually the beauty of a franchise is that, no matter where you go, the staples taste the same. Sure, there are variations with specialty menu items--but the staples are steadfast. You go for a Big Mac in Westminster, and it will taste exactly the same as a Big Mac in California, Karachi, or Cuba. Not so much with Rio. Stick with Tooting and you won't be disappointed.
The burgers: We ordered two Macho Burger meals, electing to have ketchup and mayonnaise as the "flavor". Other options are BBQ and Piri Piri...but we're purists and like an unfussy burger. The Macho has two patties and is chargrilled. It's well seasoned, a little smoky, and delicious.
The chips: Hot and fresh; crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They also have a Piri Piri option, but again, we were in the mood for simpler fare.
The damage: A couple pence shy of £13.
The verdict: We'll be back...and probably very soon. read more