Came in early on a Friday night, wanted a quick bite and a cocktail. Place has a few people seated but not busy since it was 5. Got a seat with the understanding we'd be out in an hour. Completely get it..can't have tables be lingered at. No problem. Placed our order and within a few minutes the manager comes to the table and says that the law requires you to purchase 2 appetizers each. First off, not true. Secondly, tacky, embarrassing and poorly handled. There are many dining options in Carmel, avoid this one. UPDATE: Gabe, if you had spent half the time thinking of how to handle our situation as you did finding this info you shared, this review would not be here. I highly encourage you to do more in educating your staff about your requirements to avoid situations like this. It was poorly handled and embarrassing. Good luck with your business. read more

This is a fabulous restaurant - amazing menu, fresh ingredients AND the best service. Our server Kelly was A+ and was on key with our interactions and fun times. read more

My go-to in Carmel for a sure thing if you're looking for great food and fun! Nice bar and menu, easy parking.

As a local, Rio Grill, Tarpy's, and Montrio used to be restaurants where you could expect good food and service. Times have changed. Went to Rio Grill, started out okay with drinks, however we had bad service with Cassandra. She forgot to fire our food order so one hour + later we were still waiting for our entrees. Most of the tables in the restaurant had left. When she took the initial order, she didn't want to answer questions about the menu and was very awkwardly rushing. She was unapologetic about her mistakes and lack of customer service. James made it better, however when the food finally arrived all entrees had a 1/4 inch of burnt char and were extremely dry. Good menu, terrible execution. Food was inedible, even the sides were gross. Sad to see food just go to complete waste. Much better restaurants on the peninsula. We were celebrating a special occasion and this was not the place to do it. read more

I've been vacationing to Monterey for the past 3 Years and one of my dinner stops is Rio Grill. This Restaurant offers the best cuisine in this city. They have a great unique menu where no matter what choice you make, you'll never make a bad choice. Spartacus who is my Waiter, have made my Dinner experience something I'll never forget. He's one of the best waiters here, and he guided me to what to drink to what to get to eat. From the Artichoke Soup to Skirt Steak dinner it was exceptional. And for the grand finale, he made a suggestion that I've never thought I'll try, a Bread Pudding with cooked Pork Belly Fat and a Double Expressotini. Out of this world. This is definitely a stop you should try. read more

Rio Grill - Double Expressotini - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

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We have been coming here for 37 years! We have NEVER had bad service or bad food!! Both have been excellent and delicious! I usually have a fish dish and my husband has the House smoked half chicken!! Yum that smoked chili butter!! From a cocktail, appetizer to the entree, or even dessert, this restaurant never fails!! read more

My fiancé and I ordered for takeout (due to COVID-19) during our mini getaway over the weekend. I'll start with the Pros and then get into the Cons. Pros: The food was absolutely delicious! We ordered the house smoked chicken and Atlantic salmon. The food was packaged with care in paper boxes, and the wait time to prepare food was reasonable (~20 minutes). Cons: The employee who took our order, Alana, was discourteous. We were handed the receipt to fill out and before we could even sign, Alana, with attitude, told us to sign. No tip was left after that type of treatment. While our experience with this employee was not a positive one, the food here was amazing and would give this restaurant another try in the future. read more

This place is so good! I highly recommend whether you're local or visiting Carmel. They have phenomenal customer service and despite the pandemic they provide their customer with best comfort levels with heaters when it's cold out. The fooood is just soo good. My favorite here has to be their Bread Pudding! Nothing like it! Definitely coming back here again with friends and family. Great spot! read more

Rio Grill - Bread pudding - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

Great food and service. My wife and I returned to Carmel after a hiatus of over 20 years. We just had to go back to the Rio Grill. We were not disappointed. Same great food and service. We loved the grilled romaine and artichokes. Skirt steak also tasty and prepared well. For dessert the Olallieberry Pie with ice cream. All great. The perfect casual place for great taste, selection and service. We hope to go back soon. read more

Even though you are next to the parking lot this is a very nice place to eat . The service was good and the food was excellent .

One of our all time favorites has added a very nice outdoor patio area. Tables are nicely spaced, and the food is great like always. Hope the Crossroads allows the patio seating to be a permanent addition! read more

I went to Rio Grill last week and I got to say it's some of the best service I've ever had. First I'd like to say the ambiance is absolutely amazing and the vibes are a 10/10. My waitress was Sierra and she was such a nice little lady such a kind soul. Honestly if I could marry her off to my son I'd offer her family at least two Goats and a sheep she was that nice of a girl. Would definitely love to come again when I visit beautiful city of Carmel again. read more

My friend and I had the privilege to have the best lunch ever 4/10/22 at the Rio Grill. Gabe De La Vega made the reservation for us, and James, the manager on Sunday, welcomed us. The server was wonderful and also the bus boy. The beautiful food was prepared to perfection. We loved the lettuce wedge salad. The steak, potatoes and green beans delish. I've been going there since they opened many years ago. This lunch is the most memorable that I've had in over five years. Thank you for being open during these challenging times! Kat Marlowe read more

Very delicious food but most important, very kids friendly. As soon as we enter the restaurant, my 2 year old got crayons and stuff for coloring. They have many options for the kids menu, we ordered the chicken with potatoes and green beans, super healthy and delicious. The green beans were out of this world. The personnel is super friendly and they don't get mad if your toddler gets out of the chair and walk. Ambiance is amazing, I loved this place and I will definitely come back. read more

I grew up in Carmel and Rio Grill has always been a staple restaurant in the area. I was excited to try the latest dishes since I hadn't been in a while. Highlights: The veggie risotto was phenomenal and all our appetizers were delicious. The mahi mahi was cooked well. Nick our server was very nice and the rest of the waitstaff was very courteous. We also tried a couple of their cocktails (which they are known for) and they were well crafted and delicious. Watch out for: A lot of items (meat and veggies) had a smoked flavor. The veggies were a little aldente and one of our dishes was a bit of a let down. Overall the food was excellent (fresh, well seasoned and cooked well) the service was good. As a local I would definitely come here again for a night out! read more

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One of my favorites. Have been going there for 25+ years. They have a little something for everyone there.

Excellent service from Augustine! Our drinks were always full, and he had such a friendly, accommodating way about him. Rio has always had wonderful food and awesome staff and it seems the new owners are keeping that spirit alive! 10/10 would recommend Rio, Tarpy's, and Montrio on your next visit to Carmel! read more

Well well so many great things to say about Rio one of our favorite memories was levi conversation (bartender) from the great drinks to unexpected heartfelt conversations he shared with me and my partner. On top of the food being great,peaceful environment &the service was definitely top tier. Thank you Rio and a special thank you to Levi!! read more

All good things must come to an end. One of our favorites for 20 years is now a camouflaged Denny's, albeit with substantially higher prices. read more

Just arrived in Carmel & decided to have a late lunch. I ordered the special of the day, BBQ brisket tacos on blue corn tortillas fried crisp with a horseradish slaw. My SO had the braised bison short rib quesadillas. We enjoyed our meal and the service was on point. read more

I came to pick up the Olallieberry pie because it was my Thanksgiving contribution (that and leaving the house to get out of everyone's hair). I forgot that it was so busy everywhere on the day before Thanksgiving. I didn't forget but thought that Rio Grill was going to be away from the madness of the downtown bars. But no.........the place was packed and had lines out the door. That is not unusual for Rio though. Somehow they sat me right down but I was at the worst table in the house. Right where everyone turns to go down the hall to the restroom. Server was the same as the last time a few months ago. Knowledgeable and friendly. Not intrusive. Started with the deviled eggs. Tarpy's (their sister venue) has a version of this so I wanted to compare. Rio's is good. I love deviled eggs though. Then the server told me half salads are available. That's a cool thing - to have half salads and to be told about it. I love the salad with the curry vinaigrette. I don't know what it's called on the menu but it's good. I ordered the duck on his recommendation. I was surprised that it was more like a Mexican meal. The duck was covered in a mole sauce and came with a duck tamale. It was good but I just didn't read the menu close enough. It's ok. I love Mexican food. It was good. I just probably would prefer a more traditional preparation.But when in Rio, you get spicy and unexpected, laid-back creations which are nothing close to classic or traditional. I felt the crowd was too noisy so I asked my bus servce if they could swoop me up early. The server wasn't there so another guy helped me out. He carried my bag outside. Service with a smile. Love this place. It's the sister venue to Tarpy's and Montrio (I go to both spots a lot) but I have never gotten into Rio because it's too meaty. The menu is very meat-focused. But everytime I come, I like it and I like the vibe. Last Thanksgiving Eve when the guy who wasn't even my server came hustling over to take my pie to the bus with me just makes me think I'll be back again. Rio's growing on me. This is gonna be interesting because the chef Cy Yontz (who was named Chef of the Year 2017) just left. read more

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This used to be a solid, locals hang out. Good food. Good value. Well- I won't be coming back. Brought my family here for NYE. Ordered the $60.00 "prime bone-in ribeye". Medium rare. What was delivered was a bone with - maybe - a piece of meat that was a little thicker than cardboard. And it tasted like cardboard. And they got the sides wrong. Absolutely putrid. There are much better options in Carmel and Monterey. read more

I've been here off and on for quite a while (whenever I get a chance since I'm always working) and I must say I've never had as great customer service as I do with Alana. She is awesome! Great drink recommendations and everything. I wanna keep coming back just for her. This girl deserves a raise! Her attitude, personality, everything was top notch! If anybody goes, definitely ask for her whether it's at the bar or serving your table because she's gonna do an amazing job! Keep up the good work Alana! read more

Strawberry chocolate Negroni was amazing. I usually get it up, shaken extra icy with a sugar rim, but this Negroni is perfect as is. Blows the orange peel out the water. 10 outta 10 hands down. read more

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Posted a review on January 6, 2024 re: Been going to the Rio Grill for years. This night was very disappointing. Seated at a table in the bar, where service was minimal, at best. Venison was cold, as were the potatoes. Not busy for a Saturday night, and definitely not like the old days. I find it interesting that my review disappeared. Why? read more

I came in the other day for my birthday and I had the bone in ribeye and eggs special. The food was amazing and the drinks were delicious! I sat at the bar. Natalie the bartender was an awesome bartender and very attentive. They also had a mucisan playing in the lounge, so overall the whole experience was a perfect bday lunch!! What a gem! read more

Rio is still serving up great food and drinks with a smile. You can't go wrong with the classics like the pumpkin seed crusted salmon or the smoked chicken. Their wine and beer lists feature excellent local producers. Over the years this place has been a staple in this area and it's great to know it's still in good hands. Thanks to our server and the GM for making us feel welcome and special. We'll see you very soon! read more

Mediocre at best. Our lovely table in the bar is the only reason this isn't one star. My soup lacked flavor. My arugula salad lacked all the things listed on the menu (apples, quinoa, raisins). The server was perfunctory and infrequent. The prices were outrageous. Not worth it. read more

Rio Grill has been a favorite of ours for years!! The service is always outstanding. Gabe, Patrick, Taylor, Joe and Spartacus have all been helpful, accommodating & super friendly! The food is beyond delicious! We could live on just the artichoke alone! Love & respect how they're rolling with the punches during the pandemic... Eating at the restaurant when they could do dine-in was safe, clean and yummy as always! To-go & delivery has also been great since things shut down again. Love that they have delicious cocktails to go too! Can't wait to eat on their patio when it's ready! We highly recommend Rio Grill & will be back soon! read more

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I celebrated my bday with friends at Rio Grill on a Saturday night. The whole dinning experience is amazing - almost every single dish is delicious (prime bone-in ribeye is the highlight), the receptionist and the waiter (Elbert) are super friendly and professional. My friends and I all had a blast here. read more

A little pricey ($6.50 for a dressed up sweet potato?), but the food, service, & atmosphere made it all worthwhile. I had one of the daily specials (barbecued mahi mahi tacos with a watermelon salsa, a side arugula salad, and black beans) with a roasted sweet potato side (served with chipotle-maple honey, crema, and pine nuts), The beans could have used more seasoning, but everything else was off-the-charts delicious. Service was friendly but not obstrusive, and drink refills were plentiful. My Turbodog ale was tasty, and my buddies both polished off their smoked turkey breast with bacon sandwiches and crispy fries. Everything was served exactly as we had ordered it It wouldn't be an everyday lunch spot for me, but for special occasions & out-of-town visitors, I'd go back in an instant. read more

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This place by far is the very best that Carmel Valley has to offer. The food and the service is fantastic. My wife and I always stop here several times when we visit Carmel. We have been going here because of the great food and wonderful service. We Love this place. Patrick the manager and our waitress Patrice are the best. They will go out of the way to make sure you have a great dining experience. If you are in Carmel or Monterey you have to give the Rio Grill a try. I am sure you will be hooked like we are. The Food and Service is outstanding. Thank You Patrick,Patrice and the Rio Grill. Your the Best Pat & Steph read more

Ambiance nice. Food just okay. Was sent a lettuce leaf garnish that was black along its top edge. We eat with our eyes first so this was quite unwelcome. When brought to wait staff's attention, that she could & should let the kitchen know their Quality Control was turned off, she left it on the table & walked off to... do something else? We asked another Wait person who decided he did not want to get involved & quickly disappeared. A wait person with lack of interest in her job &/or the food she served really undid my past favorable impressions of this dining establishment. Tant pis. read more

This place has some unique menu items and the chili Relleno and Caesar salad were both delicious . I'm was a little disappointed as I came for TACOS!!!! But found out TACO'S ARE ONLY FOR LUNCH!! That's in caps cuz I didn't see that anywhere . DINNER was good and I'll be back for some LUNCH TACOS!! Seems likely me a cool little spot to hang out . Food and wine both fit the bill (indicative of the photo , only wine left to take a pic ) read more

I've eaten here years ago and really enjoyed the food. I was excited to bring my daughter here. We looked both on line and menu posted on the door. Came in and were promptly seated by the very pleasant hostess. That's when it went south. You have a fly problem in back dining area at the window seating. This was beyond bad , there were to many to count and people at table behind us were swatting flies too. I was swatting and trying to hit them with my napkin. We waited for a bit for waiter to come, he was very nice. We told him flies were very bad and I'd need a new napkin because I'd been trying to kill them. His response was" weather is making them come in , weird only in this area. No offer to move nothing. No other tables away from windows were fighting flies, food arrived and it became worse.. flies won, we took a few bites and waived the wait flag , paid the bill and got up. I did tell hostess to not seat people by the window it was an awful experience. Nice staff but you need to figure out what to do. PS menu posted on line at outside the door were not the same as inside. Told not available at lunch, it was a starter and the menu did not say dinner only. read more

We have been to Rio Grill at least twice a year for many years. Although our experience has been uneven, we have generally enjoyed the food and have usually found the waitstaff to be attentive and pleasant. However, our recent dinner at Rio Grill was very disappointing. Our server was quite negligent and clearly did not care. When we would try to get his attention and ask a question, he made impersonal, sometimes snide, remarks. We are very easy going and happy people, so we know it was not our behavior that caused his inappropriate attitude. It was 45 minutes between the time we were seated until we received our main course. (We did not order an appetizer.) The restaurant was not busy at all, so the delay was probably not the kitchen. I believe it would have been longer if we had not caught the server's attention and asked about our food. We spent about 2 hours at the restaurant and had only a main course and dessert. Much of that time was spent waiting for our server to show up. While the standard menu that Rio Grill has not changed in years usually results in a consistent meal, the specials are less consistently good. This time, I ordered a special: Fettuccine with crab in a lemon, white wine, and butter sauce. These flavors should let the flavor of the crab shine. However, there were other ingredients that had strong or spicy flavors that overwhelmed the delicate crab flavor. Part of the problem was that the crab was basically tiny shreds of crab meat, with only a couple of small "pieces" of crab. We probably will not return to Rio Grill, although we live in a town nearby. read more

This cozy restaurant has left the best impressions! Hospitable hosts, delicious dishes, beautiful presentation, wide wine list and wonderful dessert. Our server, Albert was extremely knowledgeable and made great recommendations. The whole staff including the manager made us feel welcomed and gave us an amazing experience. I recommend to everyone! I would like to come back here again and again. read more

We haven't been here in years and the last time we were disappointed and swore that we wouldn't return. Today a friend suggested Rio Grill and we thought why not? We were pleasantly surprised. Our friend enjoyed potato skins with pork belly. My husband had the wedge salad with chicken breast that he shared with our dog and they both seemed pleased! The server suggested the stuffed poblano chili pepper as a vegetarian option for me. It was very tasty. We were sitting outside in the sun with our dog and we couldn't all get into the shade of one umbrella. A staff member brought and set up a 2nd umbrella because she couldn't stand seeing my husband and our dog in the midday sun. All in all, it was a lovely meal and we won't hesitate to return. read more

Best food and best service. we came to celebrate our friends birthday. Our server Cassandra was very tentative and and Andre took the Reservation and when we arrived he came to greet/welcome us and checked with us multiple times to make sure we were being taken care of. Thank you Cassandra and Andre for making our day special. read more

Excellent place. Unique bar food and happy hour items. Will go back for a full dinner one day read more

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