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    Café at Rio

    4.3 (15 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Café at Rio Photos

    CAFÉ AT RIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Bonnie G.

    First off, this is a college cafeteria and it makes no qualms about that. Secondly, this is an amazing lunch place for foodies on a budget. Not only is it based on sustainable, local produce sourced daily, their prices are insane. I bought a huge plate of salad, fruit cup, large iced coffee and a coffee cake for barely 8 dollars. And it was all huge servings and delicious. The atmosphere is crisp and clean and decidedly modern without being too cheeky or smirky about it. You still have all the food stations you remember from state run institutions like the salad bar, the pizza bar, the hot meal bar and the deli counter. The baked goods and coffee stand is a little across the ways. I rode my bike from work, excited after reading about the cafe in Edible Phoenix that I could finally have a quick lunch place to go to that wasn't fast food. There were helpful signs around the driveway but hard to find parking for my bike. I was overwhelmed by the set up when I first got in and probably freaked out the poor employee ordering a Greek Salad at the salad stations b/c I was overwhelmed by the size of his entree. However, for $3.25, I got a huge half salad that had: quinoa, flax seed, sunflower seeds, local goat cheese, fresh cut peppers, tomatoes and spring mix with a just made cilantro dressing. Incredible. The fruit cup I bought for $1.75 tasted like real fruit, they had plenty of soy milk for my iced organic coffee and the coffee cake was delicious and huge; I shared it with 3 co-workers! It tasted truly home-made too, you could actually taste the egg, butter, milk, brown sugar, etc that made the silky textured dessert hard to resist. The phrase is over-used a lot, but considering very few people know about this place, it is truly a hidden gem and worth you getting to know it and their admirable mission. After all, you gotta love a lunch place with compost-able plates and cups!

    Tuna melt and fries.

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    Photo of Donna B.
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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Great potato soup today!! I didn't have enough room for a burger. The burgers here are the best.

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    2 years ago

    We are so lucky to have the Cafe @ Rio. The food is always great and their is a nice variety.

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    2 years ago

    Great food at great price! I love supporting a sustainable kitchen on a college campus!

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    15 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Michael H.

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

    There are many better places than this for anything. Poor hours not very good don't eat here unless you have to even than maybe just wait

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Café at Rio

    We are so lucky to have the Cafe @ Rio.

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    JL Patisserie

    JL Patisserie

    4.6
    (129 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Wow. I have no words. Right when I walked through the door I was met with the warmth and kindness…read moreof the staff. The pastries. They don't play here. The croissant; buttery, airy, soft yet crispy. You literally cannot go wrong here. You could tell everything was made with love and passion. The pastries are like crack you cannot get enough of it, quite addicting.

    I came to JL Patisserie expecting to spend five minutes picking up sourdough starter…read more Instead, I found one of the busiest--and most impressive--Saturday morning bakeries I've visited in Phoenix. After searching online, I called one of JL Patisserie's other locations to ask whether they sold sourdough starter. The employee told me to head to the South 24th Street bakery because it was the location selling fresh starter that day. As someone who's just getting into sourdough baking, I really appreciated being pointed in the right direction before making the drive. When I arrived around 7:45 on a Saturday morning, the parking lot was overflowing. After circling for several minutes I finally found a spot, only to discover a line nearly reaching the door. Normally that might discourage me, but after walking inside it became obvious why so many people were willing to wait. The first thing that surprised me was the bakery itself. From the website, I had expected something that felt a bit older. Instead, the interior was bright, clean, modern, and beautifully designed. The open bakery, sleek white finishes, updated equipment, and thoughtfully arranged displays immediately gave the space a polished feel while still feeling warm and welcoming. The pastry case was just as impressive. There were rustic artisan loaves, oversized cookies, cinnamon rolls, pecan sticky buns, savory pastries, specialty Cruffins like the Banana Dulce de Leche and Cherry Cereal, along with a seasonal drink menu featuring items like the Biscoff Cookie Cold Brew, Hawaiian Latte, and Strawberry Cloud Matcha. Everything looked fresh and intentionally displayed--it was honestly difficult to decide what to order. I originally planned to leave with only the sourdough starter, but ended up adding the Quiche Lorraine, which was excellent once I got home. The crust stayed wonderfully flaky, and the filling was rich and flavorful without feeling overly heavy. The staff made an already great experience even better. They patiently answered my beginner questions about caring for sourdough starter and never made me feel rushed, despite how busy the bakery was. My total came to roughly $22, including the quiche, sourdough starter, tax, tip, and I walked away feeling like it was an excellent value for the quality of the products and service I received. I'd especially recommend JL Patisserie for adults looking for a leisurely morning coffee or pastry, anyone interested in artisan baking, or those wanting something beyond a typical neighborhood coffee shop. Families are certainly welcome, but this is an order-at-the-counter bakery that can get quite busy on weekend mornings, so arriving early is probably your best bet. I came looking for sourdough starter and ended up finding a bakery I'll be making excuses to return to. Places like this are more than just somewhere to grab breakfast--they become part of a neighborhood, bringing people together over good food and good conversation. It's easy to see why JL Patisserie has developed such a loyal following.

    Photos
    4 Cruffins , 2 Guava & Cheese croissants, Pistachio Croissant, & an Almond Croissant
    4 Cruffins , 2 Guava & Cheese croissants, Pistachio Croissant, & an Almond Croissant
    Chocolate Pistachio crossiant
    Chocolate Pistachio crossiant
    JL Patisserie

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    Ollie Vaughn's

    Ollie Vaughn's

    4.5
    (714 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    Ollie Vaughn's is a cozy bakery meets brunch spot that is the perfect choice for a morning bite in…read morethe Phoenix area. To get here, there are parking lots nearby where you have to pay to park or street parking around the area. Inside, they have a nice setup with some seating and then an additional patio with more seating. Wifey and I ended up getting a spread consisting of the Sunny Burrito, Ham & Cheese Croissant, Lemon Bar, and a Strawberry Matcha. Everything we had was amazing and it was great fuel to start our day. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming.

    I was in the neighborhood for an early morning appointment and decided to check out Ollie's! This…read moreplace has been on my radar for a while and I'm glad I finally got to try it! There is a small lot to park in and since it was a weekday morning, I was able to grab a spot. The inside is smaller but still has a decent amount of seating options. They had a dessert case filled with so many delicious looking things and they offer breakfast/lunch items. There wasn't much of a line and I was able to order right away. The staff were nice. I decided to just get a coffee and I can't remember what I ordered, but it was good. I believe it was the brown sugar iced shaken espresso but it may have been the banana bread latte. I can't wait to come back and try the lunch or breakfast.

    Photos
    Ollie Vaughn's
    Cappuccino, blueberry almond croissant
    Cappuccino, blueberry almond croissant
    This is how they serve you water

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    This is how they serve you water
    Perfect Pear Bistro

    Perfect Pear Bistro

    4.4
    (1k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    We ordered a blackberry mojito and pear martini. The mojito wasn't to our taste, so the bartender…read morekindly swapped it for another pear martini. Afterwards, he mentioned that he tasted it and agreed about our comments- I appreciate that level of attention. Shortly after, the food arrived. Spicy pork tacos for me, and BLTA for my wife. The tacos looked a little overdressed. I was so wrong. Flavor and texture were balanced perfectly. The tortillas were firm, but again, perfectly suited to the juicy pork, that had a teriyaki vibe. Sprouts, carrot and cucumber toppings worked well, despite my expectations. The BLTA was HUGE. Great flavor. Both entrees were ordered with sweet potato fries. Unusual cut to them, but seasoned perfectly. I paired mine with chipotle aioli and ate every last one. My only complaint is that I'm only spending one evening in the Phoenix area, and won't be back soon. I would eat this food three times a week without hesitation.

    It was 115 yesterday and they had the door open which it made it insanely hot insane. I had to ask…read moreto move us to the back of the restaurant. I ordered the pesto goat cheese spread with crostini - it was way too think and hard as a rock. Very hard to bite in to. The spread needed salt. We ordered the Pacos Tacos. I took off onions and bacon. My husband had it just the way it comes. We really enjoyed those. The black beans it came with was absolutely delish My daughter and her hubby ordered the grilled cheese. My daughters came with pear spiced bread - tasted like raisin bread - none of us cared for it. Service was good. Not a place we would go back to. I do like that all salads could be turned in to a wrap. The drink menu looked fun. Cute atmosphere- you should secure a reservation.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Tomato Basil (Soup of the Moment)
    Tomato Basil (Soup of the Moment)
    Pear mule

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    Pear mule

    Café at Rio - coffee - Updated August 2026

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