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    Rio Buffet & Bar

    1.8 (73 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Rio Buffet & Bar Photos

    RIO BUFFET & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Rio Buffet & Bar

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    Buffet bar
    Tarsha S.

    Of course I've been here a few times before in my life. However it's been a very longtime since I've been back here and my first time doing a review on this place. I will say the quality of the food is still good! The price is fair! You can dine in or get your food to go. They also have a bar area and u can sit down and have a drink. The only thing is customer service is a little dry or it could've been the time of day I visited...

    A deposit for a drink? Wtf?
    Tia W.

    I sat at the bar here. I was told not to go to the buffet but order off the menu. It took forever for my little order of wings. When the bar is packed they sit your food on the side of the bar in hopes that the busy bartender will eventually see it. Mind you, it's people everywhere breathing over your food. You have to go to the buffet side to get condiments and Napkins. When you do that, you will see random kids playing in the fruit at the fruit station. (Where are their parents???) It was in that moment I asked for my tab. I'll go for the music and drinks...food, never again. 1 star for the music and drinks. Oh wait, then you have to put deposits down on drinks!! What in the entire....nevermind.

    Policy

    This restaurant is the worst. I visited the restaurant with 3 kids (6, 7 & 9) because I did not want to eat there, they told me that I could not sit at the table with my kids while they ate. The waitress told me it's their policy " that all gatherings are not allowed to come in without a buffet order". I said we are not a gathering. I'm a parent with three kids. A gathering is defined as "an assembly or meeting. especially a social or festive one or one held for a specific purpose". She told me I could wait in the lobby but I could not enter with my kids unless I paid. This is totally unacceptable for me to leave my kids unattended not say illegal for kids under 13 to be unsupervised while in a public setting. Never will I patronize this establishment and I hope that others won't either. The establishment is not the cleanest and the staff is very rude. If I could give them a minus rating it would be -100. On 100!!!

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    3 months ago

    Low supply of food, salmon and shrimp was spoiled, service was horrible, ambience was none existent. Would not recommend this restaurant

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

    This was a good spot for the price. It's an all you can eat buffet which is great for a family.

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    4 years ago

    This is a sad excuse for a buffet place. Please closed them down and staff had no customer service or manners

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    Review Highlights - Rio Buffet & Bar

    They also have a bar area and u can sit down and have a drink.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    The Walrus Oyster & Ale House - Deviled eggs with fried oysters and smoky chipotle mayo.

    The Walrus Oyster & Ale House

    4.2(3.3k reviews)
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    I went to The Walrus Oyster & Ale House during my birthday stay this past weekend, and it was…read moreabsolutely delicious. For appetizers, I ordered the fried oyster deviled eggs, and wow... they were so good. The little fried oysters on top of the deviled eggs were such a perfect combination. Crispy, creamy, flavorful -- definitely something I would order again without hesitation. For my entrée, I had the whole grilled branzino served over a green bean and fennel salad, and let me tell you... this was hands down one of the best branzinos I've ever had. The fish was seasoned perfectly and cooked beautifully. And that green bean and fennel salad underneath? So much better than I expected. I actually considered swapping it out, and I'm so glad I didn't because it completed the dish perfectly. Every bite was delicious. I also had a cocktail called the Endless Summer -- a tequila drink with this amazing foam on top -- and it was excellent. I asked the bartender for a recommendation, and she absolutely delivered. The bartender was friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. I went by myself, sat at the bar, and genuinely enjoyed every minute of it. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere, and just an overall really enjoyable experience. I will definitely be back, and I absolutely recommend checking it out if you're at the Harbor.

    "The Gift That Keeps On Giving !!" This may be my second or third review of The Walrus Oyster & Ale…read moreHouse. And that alone shows just how consistent they are when it comes to providing outstanding service and a menu that never disappoints ( literally ) I wanted something I never personally tasted , so I tried the Branzino fish and was pleasantly surprised at how fluffy and seasoned it was. And when it comes to getting everything kicked started, you can never go wrong with the double fried chicken wings ( best in the business by a long shot ) So this coming spring and summer The Walrus Oyster & Ale House will be my favorite sit down location in the DMV area !!!! FYI: The have outside seating and a really cool happy hour !! ( you got to try the local oysters during happy hour )

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    The People's Drug - Truffle Fries

    The People's Drug

    3.9(393 reviews)
    5.9 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    It was a beautiful day, and we decided to check out a new spot for drinks and bites while soaking…read moreup some sun. We headed over to the People's Drug, where we found a cozy cafe table outside. We kicked off happy hour with some refreshing cocktails, the Bubble Buck and Gindependence Collin's, both were fantastic and refreshing. To snack on, we ordered again from the Happy Hour Specials and tried the HH Wings and Truffle Fries. No complaints, good service, drinks, tasty bites and a sunny spot made for a perfect afternoon.

    AMAZING impromptu date night find!…read more Happy Hour until 7pm with $10 cocktails and small bites ranging from $6-$8. Great indoor and outdoor seating Service was a bit slow but the staff were really friendly. I would recommend knowing what you want to eat upfront so that you can put in that order with your drinks. Happy Hour Drinks: Bubble Buck-Excellent balance of liquor, sweetness, and bitterness. Excellent drink Gindependence Collins- Perfect summer drink, recommended for anyone who doesn't want to drink heavy liquor and those monitoring their sugar intake. Excellent drink Rosie's Negroni- Perfect twist on a Negroni. Excellent drink Needless to say, all of the drinks were perfect. Happy Hour Bites Truffle Fries- this was SO good! Crispy, fresh, and bursting with truffle oil flavor. Crispy chicken wings- I'm not a wet wings lover but this sauce was undeniably delicious and the wings were beautifully prepared. Overall we loved this place and look forward to returning.

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    Franklins General Store - French Toast & Bacon

    Franklins General Store

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    I went to Franklins for a fundraiser event and it was an amazing experience. The last time I went…read morehere with my family was many years ago and it was just ok. Since then, this place was renovated and it's nicely decorated in every section and the bathrooms are clean. They've added an ice cream section with lots to choose from. The menu is very impressive with a good selection for vegetarian and gluten free options and everything looks delicious. The group I went with this time was from my church and everyone loved what they ordered. The owner of the restaurant stopped by our table and introduced himself. He was very friendly and so was the waitress and the host. I ordered a Ruben, and Moroccan lamb sliders to go. Both were delicious! Then we went to the ice cream shop, quite a treat. The following day I went back with my grandson and had more time to browse around. I ordered the beet salad with goat cheese and my grandson had the confit duck leg with lentils, carrots with citrus demi glaze. We both really enjoyed our dinner. The shop had some very unique items and some hilarious objects. There's even a section where they sell wine and beer. This is definitely an unusual and fun place to visit. I highly recommend.

    Had the biggest onion rings of my life here, wow. And they were great too with the horseradish…read moresauce. These were more savory than sweet. Followed my friend's way of eating them and used a fork and knife haha. Ordered a chicken sandwich too and it was delicious. Ask for extra sauce cause I found it a little dry but overall tasted great. Our server was really nice and friendly too. After eating, we went downstairs for some ice cream and I got the super chonk flavor (malted vanilla ice cream, fudge, peanut butter, brownie pieces). It hit the spot, tasted like real premium ice cream. Glad to have checked this spot out. I liked the family friendly ambiance and can tell it's an important part of the community.

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    ChurchKey - Tots, fries, mushroom flatbread and a glimpse of chicken sando

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    Stairs

    Rio Buffet & Bar - gastropubs - Updated May 2026

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