I'm kind of shocked that this place hasn't been reviewed yet. It's right on the path that everyone takes from BART to campus. I've only been there once, so the four star rating is the result of optimism and one really good experience. My day was off to a not-so-great start. I needed coffee and something substantial for breakfast. A lot of places near my office don't open till 8 AM, which is when I need to be at work. This place was on the way, so I ducked in, disoriented, hungry, and dying for coffee. I ordered egg and cheese on a bagel and a cup of coffee. I can't remember what I paid, but I think it was pretty cheap and the coffee came in a huge cup. It was also delicious - strong, but not bitter. My egg and cheese on wheat bagel was tasty and the man who made it seemed nice, friendly, and understanding of how hard it is to think when you need coffee. I definitely want to go back: they have lots of muffins, bagels, patries, etc. A surprising variety of options available and you can even dine in if you so desire. I wasn't paying attention when I went that morning but, according to Yelp, the place is also a deli. Don't know what their lunch is like yet, but breakfast is worth trying IMO. UPDATE: they have veg-friendly lunch options, always a plus. read more

Cafe Rio is cute and conveniently located, right on Center St. It's a great place for me to stop by for a quick breakfast especially since it's on the way from my bus stop to campus. I haven't tried anything on their menu aside from the spinach pie. It's huge - bigger than my face and only about $4 or $5...I don't remember the price. It's not the best spinach pie but it's cheap, satisfying, and filling, which is the perfect combination for a breakfast for someone who is on-the-go. read more

Cafe Rio - Spinach pie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I ordered a breakfast sandwich here -- menu listed a price of $3.25 and they tried to charge me $5.75... what the hell? I find it kind of hard to believe that was a mistake. If you get overcharged here, definitely speak up. That's not ok. Reading the reviews and seeing how completely empty this place was, I feel a little bad for the couple running Cafe Rio. They probably aren't making enough money, but it's still not ok to overcharge! If you want it to cost $5.75 fair enough, but put that price on the menu and don't try to tell me the difference is "tax." The sandwich itself was fine. Pretty standard cheap breakfast fare. read more

It's OK if you need to get drinks in a pinch but wouldn't be my favorite anytime soon.

I decided to give this little cafe a try instead of waiting in line at Starbucks. One look at all their coffee prices made me want to step out and go to Starbucks instead. But nope! I decided to contribute to this mom and pop shop. A huge disappointment came from their soy latte. One regular cup of this cost me $4. This is too expensive! There was more soy milk taste than coffee. Alas, no coffee kick for me this morning. :( read more

Ugh. Don't know what to really say about this place other than DON'T GO! Ordered a sandwich and the lettuce tasted stale. Like, more than several days old stale. YECH! Only thing going for them is that they're somewhat cheap. But they're not even the cheapest option around. So it's not at all worth it, given the wealth of options available for lunch in Berkeley. read more

I agree with reviewer Anton W. I wish I had read his post before going here-- I ordered a chicken panini as well, which is not a panini, but a piece of tasteless chicken microwaved with nasty (and yet also tasteless) cheese on two insipid slices of bread. Simply gross. I am still dry-heaving. Spend your $5 anywhere else you can. read more

Wednesday, 3:45 Pm. Quickie: + Food quality - Hygiene -- Customer service + Turnaround And then...? Did I catch the folks at Cafe Rio on a bad day? The staff was rude and abrasive. ********** Stuffed my face in: 1. Hummus, tomato, cucumber on sesame bagel - Each bite was mundane; had to be the ingredients. Constructive comments: *Option to compost *Source ingredients read more

Went to eat here one morning. Food comes out fast and I was on my way to work with my partner. The man making my food DROPS A KNIFE on the floor, and uses it to cut my sandwich in half. I go to pay and ask the man if he dropped the knife he used to cut my sandwich, giving him a chance to think and be honest-- he lies and says no. I paid, I have no idea why I paid. Took my sandwich, put it on a table and left it there. Trying to send a message of "I'm still paying for it because you made it, but I'm not eating it and you know why." Don't make the same mistake I did. Watch your food being prepared if you decide to go to this place, or don't go at all if you want to eat food you can trust was handled right. read more

I'll never eat their food again. I paid $6.75 the most boring turkey "panini". They used the most generic brand wheat bread and turkey, it had lettuce and pesto, but no cheese!!! My mom made better sandwiches than this for me when I was in elementary school! The two stars I gave where for the decent falafel sandwich and chai latte I had a previous visit. But if you are interested in a sandwich, go to Sandwich Zone close by.. Same price range and 10x better! read more

Came in here to buy lotto tickets and guy is rude. He lectured me on how I better have money before I order. So I gave him my direct orders, screwed up my tickets and said I had to take them. First time in this establishment, it will definitely be my last. You would think he would be more welcoming and nicer considering the store would get a cut of any winnings. RUDE! read more

This place just sold me the worst sandwich I've ever experienced (which is an impressive feat). Maybe it's just me, but I don't like tuna - laced with mustard, mayonnaise and sweet pickles - that's so soggy it won't stay in the sandwich. Neither do I like stale bread. Maybe their other sandwiches are better, maybe it was a bad day, but if you like tuna, do not chance getting a sandwich here. I'm giving two stars instead of one because the factory-packaged bag of chips I also bought was pretty good. I am never going to buy any sandwich at this shop again. Candy bars, sure. read more

Ugh. This space was a really cute organic cafe (Soy?) for about 3 weeks during the summer of 2009. The food was really good & the owner very nice. But the cafe went out of business very quickly (without the student traffic to support it?) and the people who own the convenience store next door expanded their store to this space and called it Cafe Rio. As far as I can tell, they basically just moved a few soda coolers over and their espresso machine, and kept the design of the original cafe (which was very nice & elegant). The chip racks & soda coolers seem so out of place in there. I haven't patronized the convenience store often because the "fresh" food they sell has been moldy quite a few times (like the bagels & muffins), the espresso drinks are burnt tasting, & one of the owners once gave me the wrong amount of change after I gave her a $20 and then continued to insist that she was correct, even after I tried to correct her. Basically, it's good for junk food, gum & cigarettes. So great, they expanded their store, and now have twice the space to sell junk food. Nice work, landlord. Compared to the variety of other fresh, delicious food on that block, this is sad waste of space. read more

This place is convenient, quick, and no fuss. The couple who owns and runs the business work really hard and are super nice! They have everything you could think of, lots of drinks to choose in the fridge, yummy sandwiches, and not to mention free WiFi and a nice clean bathroom for customers! They've been in business for over twenty years, and there's a reason why! Rather give my business to then instead of boring overrated Starbucks. read more

Great little mom and pop store. Open early and open late. They have just about everything that you could possibly need or want, including beer, soda (Jones Soda too), snacks, etc. Fairly on the expensive side though, but I would much rather give my business to these hardworking people than to corporate Walgreens down the street. read more

Recently, I was in Downtown Berkeley, looking for a cafe with a hotspot so I could use the internet. To my delight, I saw a quaint cafe that was open. I gave Cafe Rio a chance, but boy, did I regret it! While I really enjoyed the attention given to me by the cashier, the food was absolutely terrible. The sandwiches were overloaded on certain condiments that I had to scrape off. The soup was definitely canned and cold. I would recommend any other cafe if possible! The only redeeming factor here is the customer service. read more

The people here are so sweet. I think the people who are always there are the owners. It seems like they might be a couple but shouldn't assume. Anyways they're always so nice and always bring my food to me even though I should probably go up and get it. Awesome 5 stars read more

I didn't want to give Starbucks my business, and Cafe Rio was the only coffee shop closest. I ordered a latte and have no complaints about the taste, though it was a bit expensive (but it probably is a really high rent here). The man behind the counter was really nice, polite, and very quiet! But he seemed really sweet. I liked the table lay out. My only complaint about the store itself is the refrigerators hum very loudly, kind of taking away from the experience. read more

It has a good menu with amazing smoothies all made with fresh fruits :) best of all the wifi speed is just amazing.

We always get the best croissant sandwiches here in the morning! They're hot, delicious, and fresh and I couldn't be happier with the amazing service we get. The owner is sweet and extremely attentive and goes above and beyond to make sure we enjoy our breakfast!! read more

The coffee was poorly prepared and tasted more like coffee flavored water. Usually small coffee shops can be gems but I would have rather gone to Starbucks any day. read more

The Yelp photo here is out of date, the place is actually now next door in a renovated place that is nicer than the old one. A very pleasant older couple seem to run it - and I eat lunch there a few times a month, always ordering the same thing: lentil soup and toasted buttered bagel. It always hits the spot - I haven't ever tried anything else there. Admittedly for sandwiches, I would probably prefer to go around the corner to EZ Stop Deli, but for soups and sodas and bagels, this place is fine, and very convenient to campus - while also usually not being that crowded. read more

This is a truly down home place. I loved it not busy high section of snacks and drinks .. fresh ingredients !! Breakfast all day awesome ! And the man who served me was SO sweet :) read more

My friend and I have been going to Cafe Rio for lunch every week for the past 2 months or so. Their food is good and prices are inexpensive. But, today when we were enjoying our lunch together, the man who runs the cafe (about 45 years old) walked over to me, tapped me on the shoulder and showed me a picture in a newspaper titled "Slut forever". He motioned to my friend and started laughing. We exchanged a glance and decided to leave immediately. I would not recommend going there, and I don't believe this is a place anyone should support or spend their time at. read more

Dropped by Cafe Rio for a bite of breakfast on my way to Berkeley; it's a small little mom-and-pop store that has a convenience store feel to it. They seem to offer a wide range of selections, and I got a "breakfast mit" (a.k.a. bagel) with egg, spinach, and mushroom. It came out piping hot, and had a decent amount of mushroom and spinach; service was friendly too (they bring the food out to you). However, the listed price was $3.25 (not including tax), and I somehow got charged $4.45 for the sandwich... reading some of the earlier reviews on Yelp, looks like that's a theme. I'd like to believe that this overcharging isn't intentional, but there seems to be a pattern here. Oh well, that's what I get for not reading the Yelp reviews first. Food is good, and you get free wifi (and plenty of spots to hang out), but definitely be cautious about what you end up getting charged. read more

Water down dirty chai for $6.50. Threw the drink away because I didn't pay for sugar water.

Wants to charge me 50 cents to buy a $1 candy. WTF.

Nothing special. As a place to study/read it's great, but there really is nothing special here besides a Bear Market-esque store and barely passable coffee. read more

This place is amazing and sustainable! They often do not have a menu online because everything is so fresh! They even will give you an actual fork instead of plastic because they don't want to waste plastic. What a wonderful place! You must check this place out, located in Preservation Park! What a treat! read more

Cafe Rio has espresso and sandwiches and bagels, and a few tables to sit at, but it's more like an AM/PM than a "cafe"-- full of refrigerated drinks, an ATM machine, racks of candy and chips. The coffee isn't very good and the place seems a little dirty... but I keep coming back for the muffins, which you can find nowhere else! When I asked the owners (a very sweet couple) where these muffins come from, the man blushed and said, "my brother makes them." I strongly suggest the Carrot Raisin Muffin. I can't figure out what the ingredients are, but they are so harmonious and delicious! read more

I needed a chocolate milkshake. Instead, my $3.50 bought a cup of milk blended with small ice shards and only the palest of chocolate coloring. It definitely didn't taste chocolatey, and it definitely didn't taste like a milkshake. read more

2 stars because this review is JUST for their cappuccino, which would otherwise deserve 1 star. I'm known by my friends as someone who will eat anyone's messed up cooking, but I literally could not get past the first sip of this. The milk could best be described as the taste of a pool cue, or maybe chalk? I've had at least ten generic airport cappuccinos and they were all a full rank above this one. I am shocked by such un-Berkeley quality. On the plus side, the cashier seemed nice. I didn't try the cappuccino until I was nearly home unfortunately. read more

Nice place for simple old fashion sandwiches, with an unusually large selection of cold drinks. It could be a little cheaper though...

This is a cute little cafe that is more than just a cafe. They have everything from sandwiches and smoothies to chips, sodas, phone cards, and even school supplies. It's family owned and not so fancy, but you get quality coffee at a reasonable price. The couple who work there are genuinely kind and always hae a smile on their face. They are always rewarding their return customers so go and try it out. I'm sure you will become a fan unless you like nasty Starbucks cofee and are on the pretentious side. read more

Ok, I go in and the place looks great. I'm really in the mood for soup. I ask his the guy at the counter if they have any soups, and he shows me a little sign saying "soup of the day...Try our delicious soups." I ask him what's his favorite and he tells me the chicken noodle, so I order it. He goes away to "get it" and all of the sudden I see him pull out a can of soup. WHAT? I thought soup of the day meant made daily, NOT from a can. I'm sorry but I wouldn't have gone there if that was the case. I wouldn't recommend the place. I wonder where the sandwiches come from read more

It was alright... got a cool meal deal thing. The sandwich was good (comes w avacado mmmm) but it was nothing i couldnt have made at home. Maybe $2.00 more than it was worth, meaning buy a loaf, some cheese and lunch meat and make one yourself. read more

This place is near Starbucks coffee, so I understand if lots of people pass by this place without noticing it, but if you don't like waiting in long lines for coffee and want a quiet place that you can relax and study, then you should try this place. They have decent breakfast and lunch options, like sandwiches and bagels. The place is ran by a couple, and you know you're supporting local business owners by getting your coffee from here rather than Starbucks. read more

Very basic mom and pop establishment. Small menu, vague pricing, average tasting food, and takes a while to get the food out because when we went in the morning for breakfast there was only one guy act as a cashier and as cook. He got pretty overwhelmed handling the customer orders and making our croissants in the kitchen. When we finally got our food I found hair in my ham and cheese... sigh.. read more

I went to this cafe only because I urgently needed a bandaid and saw through the window what looked like a convenience store counter. Now, I blame myself for not walking out the door when I knew I was being overcharged, but I was sold 2 single bandaids for $1. On top of that, I decided to buy a pack of eclipse gum and just noticed that I was totally surcharged--I was only sold half the pack (it's one of those eclipse packets that say 50% more, with two detachable halves) and this pack was sold for full price. Do NOT waste your time and money on this place, the cashier has no integrity and you will get cheated from your money. read more

Coffee was clearly watered down, the egg and cheese sandwich was soggy and plain. The service was just ok.