I love this place. It's got gorgeous views from the inside dining area and outdoor patio and feels tucked away from the rest of downtown, even though it's one street away from all the hustle and bustle. Service: Always exceptional. I can't believe I haven't left a review before! We always come here for big occasions because there is so much choice and we love tapas style lunch/dinner: 10/10 Food: What isn't good here!? We always get the charcuterie board, the white pizza, the paella, and other small plates:10/10. Drinks: I've tried quite a few of their cocktails and have to admit the only thing I didn't love was the Bloody Mary but that is down to personal preference. Everyone makes theirs a little different and that's okay. Regardless: 10/10. Overall, a solid 5 stars for Tapa Rio. I'll keep coming back here for sure! read more

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I wish I could actually post a review on the food but I can't. We went there yesterday in the afternoon about 2:30. It has outdoor seating and my girlfriend and I thought it would be fun to sit outside and have a drink and a snack. The inside was pretty empty with one or two parties inside. The outdoor area looks nice, although you can't see the river from it. They have some tables on a patio with shades. We were seated here and it was mostly full with one or two tables open. We waited 15 minutes with out anyone even taking a drink order. We got up and walked. I want to like the place because of the location and maybe it was just an off day but it's not like the place was even busy. read more

We didnt have any issues with finsing street parking. Cute little restaurant with outdoor seating. We didnt have any problems walking in with the 4 of us and sat immediately. It was quite with some music. Service was friendly but just a little slow. We ordered a variety of dishes including: Chorizo al Vino Tinto, Spiendini, Patatas con Aioli, Croquettes, Gambas a la Plancha, Gambas al Ajillo, Albondigas, Carne Pizza, and Paella de Carne and the Zeppole for dessert. We loved the Chorizo al Vino Tinto and the Spiendini. Both were delicious and well seasoned. The Gambas a la Plancha had a very good chimichurri sauce and the Albondigas were very flavorful. The Paella came out quickly but it wasn't my favorite. It wasn't like a traditional Paella and there were olives and red onions. Overall still ok, and the Gambas al Ajillo had a sweetness to it. The Carne Pizza was good though. My friend ordered the cocktail Purple Rain and he enjoyed it. We did like most of the items ans would definitely come back to try the other dishes. read more

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I have been to Tapa Rio a few times since my first visit 4 years ago. It never disappoints. Last night we celebrated my birthday there. I didn't want a big meal so ordering several tapas was perfect. Everything we ordered was delicious. As a group we had croquettes, Brussels Sprouts, cold potatoes (potato salad), charcuterie board one of the shrimp dishes and a pizza. The shrimp dish and the pizza stole the show. At the end my friend asked the guy that was singing to sing me the Happy Birthday song and the waiter brought out the most delicious chocolate mousse/ fudge desert. It was SO good! Definitely go! read more

Tapa Rio - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

First time visit but now I'll surely be back! Was seated right away on a Friday evening and our server was very attentive. He provided suggestions and ensured we were checked on regularly. The pitcher of red sangria was enjoyed and we had the Paella. The chimichurri sauce was so tasty and added great flavor to the dish. Live music was playing, but it wasn't over bearing and loud. Loved the outdoor area also available. Will have to go back and try some flatbread and small plate items. read more

Tapa Rio - Sangria - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Had a very disappointing Friday lunch here. Despite being the only ones in the building at noon, the food was a major letdown. The $13 Potato Gnocchi was mushy and in an overpowering sauce, while the chorizo 'medallions' were overcooked and tough. No bread was offered, and the river view was unfortunately blocked. Between the lackluster food and the constant swarm of wasps outside the glass, it wasn't an enjoyable experience. I definitely won't be back. read more

Such a great vibe here! This was my first visit and it did not disappoint. Food was 10/10 and service matched. They had live music too. The outdoor patio is awesome. So glad we found this place. We will definitely be back. read more

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Large dinning area and outdoor seating. Environment seems clean, spacious, and friendly. Dishes were good and enjoyable. Only complain was bacon on the dates were a bit more charred than I like, and the churros were over sugared for my tasting, and did not like the Hershey syrup. Definitely returning and trying different plates next time. read more

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Had a yummy lunch here today! At first I thought this was a Mexican restaurant but it appears to be more of a Tex-Mex American. Options included tapas style Spanish foods like fried spicy potatoes, elote Mexican street corn pizza, caprese pizza and salad, and plenty of pastas. The cuisine was hard to nail down and there were even some Italian options. I opted for the soup of the day- a yummy shrimp and corn chowder. It was the perfect blend of sweet and savory. Good shrimp flavor with shrimp chunks! I also opted for the Mexican street corn pizza and it was very very yummy. Plenty of cheese and the crust was crunchy and not burnt. They seem to do pizzas very well. I noticed the spot was not full and they also offer outdoor seating when the weather allows it. The service was very friendly and prompt. I wouldn't come back to Fredericksburg just for this but it was an easy quick lunch spot and the prices were decent! read more

Tapa Rio - Mexican street corn pizza, caprese pizza and 1/2 the ha toast appetizer - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Fresh, tasty and healthy food at a reasonable price. Nice view too over looking woods and the Rappahannock River! The service was great too. read more

Tapa Rio - Mushroom pizza topped with arugula. Mediterranean chicken with rice, yummy - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Fire roasted ribeye with a mushroom cream sauce. I added the fried egg and side of chimichurri sauce. Drinking a Purple Rain. Vodka, lavender syrup, lemon juice, and blueberries. Absolutely delicious!!! read more

Tapa Rio - Fire roasted ribeye with a mushroom cream sauce. Drinking a Purple Rain. Vodka, lavender syrup, lemon juice, and blueberries. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Stopped in here for happy hour and had a great time. The pineapple ginger margarita was excellent. And dangerous - it tasted like fancy lemonade. We also shared a bottle of rose, which was light and crisp. Our server, Cassie, was friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely coming back to try the strawberry margarita and seafood dishes, which smelled amazing. read more

Tapa Rio - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Ordered a happy hour margarita and Cavoletti and Pequillos con Atun to start. The margarita was good but likely a sour mix was used at this price point. Both small dishes were very good. However, the Paella de Mariano served in the verde style was amazing! So full of flavors. I forgot to get a picture unfortunately. Order it! You won't be disappointed. read more

Tapa Rio - Pequillos con Atun - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Honestly this restaurant has a wonderful feel and air to it when eating inside. The berries of the rivers is also pretty awesome considering there are currently only two restaurants downtown that have this feature about them. Where I wasn't impressed was the food. The Italian/Hispanic fusion is not what we had in mind, though I've sat down and tried it a few times, I feel it's overpriced for the quality of food and service they provide. There are far better classy restaurants downtown, but do give this location a shot -it might be your style. read more

We went at lunch during the week..not many people there. The service was still excellent and the tapas were very good. Looks like a fun spot to sit on the outside patio and have cocktails. Views are exc inside and out! read more

Tapa Rio - Fettuccine Alfredo - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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We went to Tapa Rio for restaurant week and it did not dissapoint! The burrata pizzaiolo with smoked honey and toasted hazelnuts was amazing. We ordered off of the restaurant week menu and decided on the shrimp. 6 shrimp was not enough because it was DELICIOUS. Go get your stamp! read more

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Nice little tapas place by the water in Fredericksburg. Service was great and the view is really nice. I've been to Jaleo by Chef Jose Andres a few times so that's what I'm comparing this place to since they have the same/similar dishes. The dessert was the standout dish for me. We got the chocolate pots that have a drizzle of honey and toasted hazelnuts. Save room for that! read more

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Came for a quick light bite on a Sunday. Enjoyed the salad, dates and red sangria. Ate indoors, service was on spot! read more

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If you have been to other Tapas restaurants you will be greatly underwhelmed. To that point the 3 rating is mostly based on the area and reasonable expectations of this area. The food was good the Tapas selection was lacking in both quantity and creativeness of their selections. You will not see food like octopus or squid ink here. Its mostly safe, mainstream foods. But everything we tried was good. We had Tri-Colored Calvifiore or cauliflower w food coloring w a yogurt type dipping sauce that was surprisingly tasty. We had a garlic shrimp tapas which my wife felt the garlic was over powering but I didn't fell the same. Croquettes were delicious w and wo the goat cheese dip. And we had a Albóndigas (meatball) which had good blend if flavors. I recommend them all. They had plenty of veggie based Tapas which if you are a vegetarian you will be pleased. But nothing else looked interesting. We like trying different and interesting foods. Lastly, we had the Paella de Maricso (verde style). I've had authentic Spanish Paella and this isn't that, but it's also Fredericksburg so temper expectations. Though not what I've had, this was good, decent. I would try again and the verde style rice was a good compliment. If you want "real" Tapas and have time, drive to DC and check out Jaleo's. If you never tried Tapas or dont feel like the hour+ drive go here. The place is nice, nice views, servers, host. The food was a little slow coming out so I recommend ordering two or three Tapas at a time for better food flow. read more

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We went to Tapa Rio and dined on their patio. It was hot, but the music was great, service was good, and the food was wonderful. It was our first time there. We ordered the Datilles con Tocino (Dates stuffed with manchego cheese wrapped in bacon. They were heavenly!) Also the Isalata Cetriolo (salad with a coriander citrus drizzle, which was Awesome!) The Carne Pizzaiolo (flatbread with ground sausage, prosciutto, soppressata, and pepperoncini...Delicious!) and the Burrata Pizzaiolo (Creamy fresh italian cheeses with fresh basil, honey, and toasted hazelnuts...Sooo good!) Looking forward to going back. read more

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My wife and I finally was able to have a date. We were so glad that this gem I found was locally in downtown Fred'burg. The interior decor and the atmosphere was very comfortable and cozy. You had a choice for inside or outside seating. The view across the river was gorgeous to Chatham Manor and the Rappannock River. We order seven dishes and luckily they were served tapa style. Every single plate was delicious and your palate was just craving for more. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and was very helpful in making recommendations. It was a perfect date in celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary. We are already planning to make another visit in the Fall read more

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We tried Tapa Rio for the first time last night drawn buy the location near the water and bridge in Old Town Fredericksburg. The weather was lovely, and we sat on the back patio. The location and ambiance were very nice, and our waittress was pleasant. The price point was higher at about $20-$30 for most entrees. We were somewhat prepared as this was a special evening. The disappointment came in the lack of information the staff was able to provide over nutrition information and the food itself which was subpar. They offer a lot of Flatbreads which looked good as they were delivered to guests; but due to diet restrictions, we ordered the pork chop and the vegetable paella. The porck chop was bland, and the asparagus appeared to have been deep fried and looked unappetizing and tasted like grease. The same rice was used under the pork chop as in the paella, and it was dry and tasteless, and utterly contrary to the lavish menu description highlighting it. The paella serving was not ver big and consisted of a few each of items taken from a jar (olives, artichoke hearts, red peppers) and a very few sliced mushrooms and red onions all thrown on top of this rice. It was shocking just how lacking in effort, skill, and taste it was. It would be hard to justify going back though the ambiance was nice due to the lack of value considering price point and food quality. read more

First time trying here, and won't be the last! It's a cute little place with a pretty view. Our server was friendly and attentive. The food was the star. We split a few small plates and a pizza and nothing disappointed, but he dates and the cauliflower were by far our favorites! And the smoky tomato sauce in the Queso de Cabra tasted so fresh and definitely among my favorite tomato sauces I've tasted. read more

Went there with a friend for a girls night. They had live guitar music playing in the patio. The ambience was super cute. The food! It was delicious. My friend and I both are cooks and foodies and we thought everything was well seasoned and delicious. We got a few tapas and a dessert. We did the croquetas, the papatatas bravas, the albondigas and the pan con queso. For dessert we had the zeppoles. We enjoyed each bite and our server was very helpful and kind. Definitely would come back and try entrees and wine when this baby pops out! read more

This place is so unique. Love the atmosphere, the outdoor patio and the food. The food is Spanish cuisine and very good. Recommend the Paella, especially the Seafood one. Roasted cauliflower was very good too. I'll be back! read more

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| Just Right Amount of Food. | Restaurant has small plates in tapas style but also larger dishes to fill you up. | Friendly Staff. | My friend and I really liked our experience. The staff is friendly and attentive. | Dine Almost On the River. | ambiance is amazing here. Great place to sip and relax while reading a book or to even see birds diving into the river! read more

Tapa Rio - Dining on the patio with some of the sangria (white wine) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Pretty and secluded patio and attentive service but our dishes weren't up to standard. The gambas al ajillo sauce includes aioli and something else that do not compliment each other. The overriding taste was bitter. The salmon was good but the chimichurri was very salty to the point that we could not eat it. The paella de marisco was okay. Overall mediocre, not hitting the mark that they seem to be striving for. read more

Food and ambiance were great and our server was very kind as well. This review would have been 5 stars, however, there was a younger female server who was serving the table next to us and I could hear her rude comments to them the moment they sat down and then continued it towards us at the end of the evening as she chose to come over to our table and clear our plates as well. She seemed as though she was in a hurry to leave, however, that never deems it acceptable to have snarky comments towards customers, especially when they aren't even your table. Perhaps getting all the restaurant hours of operation simpatico across all platforms would assist her seemingly 'issue' with people eating at the restaurant in the future. read more

Great food and service in a warm and inviting place. The menu has small plates and large entrees depending on what style of dining you want. The Chimichuri Pescado was great; a nice piece of salmon with chimichuri marinade and steamed broccoli. There is a good selection of wines and a full bar. This place is a good choice for a dinner for two or a large group. They take reservations although they were not very busy on the Tuesday evening we visited. I would definitely recommend and look forward to returning. read more

My boyfriend took me out for drinks and Tapa Rio did not disappoint! We ordered a pitcher of sangria that was $34 dollars but they do have a happy hour menu available on the weekdays with cheaper prices! The sangria was delicious ! The service was exceptional with very polite and friendly staff. We were told this restaurant also offers reservations to watch the Fredericksburg city fireworks from their lawn with blankets and pillows available! Overall we would definitely come back for more drinks and a beautiful blissful ambiance they offer. Prices are a little more on the pricey side but considering the quality, view, and service it is well worth a visit! read more

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Food was great! Had small pizza and my friend had pasta. Tasty sauce. Service was excellent. Nice view of the river and Chatham Manor across the way. I will return! read more

Came here for lunch on Christmas Eve. The food is fine. My favorite dish was the cauliflower. The brussel sprouts were pretty good as was the pizza. The service is fine. Liked the location and that there is a parking lot right next to it. We were able to leave our car there and walk around downtown for a bit which was nice. Not sure I would go out of my way to dine here but it's a solid option if you're hungry and there's no wait to be seated. read more

I wish I could have rates this restaurant with a 3.5 but It is not allowed. I am honestly a bit disappointed but decided to give them a 3 because of 2 things : 1) the atmosphere at their outside terrace is amazing .... It has nothing to envy a restaurant in Italy .... 2) their flat pizzas, they were amazing and thanks God one of their waiters suggested it. But I gotta say that the paella was terrible, furthermore the tapa dishes I got were also not great and in my opinion overpriced. When I got the tapa dish that includes shrimp I felt as if somebody would have put a gun to my back and robbed me on the street. There were 6 pieces of shrimp and they weren't even that good. Very expensive dish. My rating is fair considering the menu they advertise. If they would advertise themselves as a place where to have a pizza and a glass of wine at a nice terrace then I would give them 5 ..... I may go back but just for that. read more

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Service was great, and ambiance was nice. But that food was the biggest waste of money and calories ever. When I tell you I tried every dish, I mean I tried every dish and it was all stuff I prob could've made at home in a microwave or convection oven. The croquettes are chicken nuggets The goat cheese is Aldi's brand. The paella is uncle ben's rice with over cooked shrimp and mussels. Speidini is overcooked gyro meat with bread and the most flavorless tahini sauce. The shrimp is ok but not 6 for $12?! The mojitos use simple syrup but are drinkable. So as for Tapas... not many options to pick Your best bet is pizza or steak.... But at $30 a steak.... You're better of at a Texas Roadhouse. SMH... don't let the looks fool you... this is Panera grade food at 3x the price. And please just go to Carl's Ice cream for dessert... you'll help a business out that actually serves a good product. I know this is harsh... but I really don't like wasting money on sub par food these days... and I know honest reviews help read more

Try a little of this and a little of that with some wine and have a great meal. The broiled brussel sprouts are recommended. read more

Tapa Rio - Great dessert. Try both sauces - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

We are always happy here, esp with the tapas and pizza. Thursdays have half-price wine and we love the Los Dos rosé. This week we had the stuffed dates, the albondigas (meatballs) and the spiedini which comes with a delish tzatziki sauce. Gorgeous day on the river. They should have more people working as the one waiter was running his legs off for the outside patio, and everyone wanted the check at once. But we enjoyed everything and will be back again for more paella! read more

Tapa Rio - Patio overlooking the Rappahannock. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Gorgeous views! The widow side tables are worth the visit alone. We noticed good looking pizzas while being seated, so we got two of them. The carne pizza was ok, but would likely try something else next time. The cypress pizza was really very good. Almost similar to a pinsa style. The one area for improvement would be a more baked center of the pie. The edges were nicely plump and tasty, but the middle was a bit flat and loose in comparison. We'll definitely go back and try some other options. read more

Tapa Rio - Caprese pizza - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

I was really wanting to give this a 1 star review but I decided to give it a 2 star because of the general manager being so helpful and understanding. My boyfriend and I arrived at 6:40PM and immediately got sat in the patio section. Our server never came to us until about 15-20 minutes after we got sat. He was very short with us. We ordered drinks, he brought them to the table quickly. Another 20 minutes go by and we have to flag someone down because he never came back to take our order. Erica is the GM of the restaurant and she took our order. At this point it is 7:50 and we still had no food, we were getting impatient. We asked several times for the status of our food but apparently there were "2 large parties" taking up the kitchens time. We asked for the check, paid for our drinks and left. Do not recommend because of the service. read more

Wow. This place is a solid option if you're looking for a light lunch or somewhere to casually snack on good food and wine while chatting or catching up on work/reading. The outdoors seating is gorgeous but even some of the seating in the inside has a great view due to the open concept windows. The service is friendly and attentive and my mojito was great. The patatas in alioli is just okay, needed some salt and smoked or Hispanic paprika maybe. The queso de cabra will be a new regular, absolutely love that romesco tomato sauce. The calabrese is good as always but the main start for me was the gambas a la plancha. Loved the green sauce and shredded manchego although i think the shrimp could've been grilled better. A slight char would've made a big difference. The cavioletti was nothing special, Brussels sprouts with romesco dip . We were so caught up that i got no photos but we'll definitely be back for dinner to try out their paella. read more

Tapa Rio - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Went here for a date night. Food was good and came out hot, waitstaff was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was dull for a weekend night. The bar wasn't open and even though they had some live music it was just ok. The kicker was that at 9 pm the waitstaff told us they were closing and we would have to leave. We still had half a pitcher of sangria left. They were actively ushering people off the deck area. Then, our sangria was poured into 2 clear cups and a piece of tape was run across the top and they wrote "alcohol" on it. Last I checked, you could not walk around with an open drink in Fredericksburg so this "solution" to get us out the door made us really uncomfortable. read more