Great food experience Wonderful servers Happy bar Everything is a hit on there menu Plenty of parking Enjoy read more

Went here recently and unfortunately they only had one small menu(not too small but not as big as normal) due to Covid. Otherwise food was great and delicious. read more

We had a fantastic dinner last night at Rio Grill. They have done a great job with social distancing, we felt very comfortable outside on their patio and they had plenty of heaters placed around the tables. We had the lobster ravioli special and the venison ossobuco, both of which were delicious, especially the ossobuco. Our server Alana was also excellent. Thank you! read more

I have to agree with the reviews on poor service. The last time I ate here, the food was okay. So, despite issues with the service, I didn't write a review because I didn't want to ding them. Today, I couldn't even get seated. I asked twice if they were still serving (they had seen me but didn't say anything to me). Both times, I was told yes and then the person turned their back to me. Meanwhile, an older White gentleman came in, was greeted by another worker and told he could sit anywhere. That same worker had looked me in the eye earlier -- more than once -- and said nothing to me. read more

The pork chop was good. Unfortunately, the service was horrible. We waited 10 minutes for our menus, another 15 minutes to order (after asking twice), and then one member of party didn't receive their order until AFTER everyone else's food was cleared. When the last dish was finally brought out, it was tough and we sent it back. Both the server and manager acted as if the service was beyond their control, and offered nothing beyond clearing the charge for the food that we sent back. Really?? I understand that mistakes happen, but the staff was lackadaisical, at best, about trying to correct the order and extremely slow in their response. I hope they are able to improve their customer service, but we won't be back. read more

Yesterday evening a group of 4 people went to Rio Grill, Carmel, CA. Everything about the service was rushed. Took our plated from us before we were finished. Check was given and since we still had our drinks to finish the waitress kept rushing us out of restaurant time was 8pm. Their closing time but I thought you have a paying customer a little patience would not have hurt. Most likely will never visit this restaurant food just ok greasy. To the waitress that rushed us out of restaurant I should have left 0 tip for such service. When asked why are we being rushed answer was we close at 8pm. read more

We stopped by for lunch on my wife's birthday and were met with a smiling hostess who let us pick between the lounge or restaurant seating. We chose the restaurant seating since it seemed a little more quiet. We then met our awesome waitress, Hannah. She ran down the list of specials that sounded tasty but we had already decided on what we wanted after looking over the menu earlier. My wife had the Salmon BLT and I had the BBQ Brisket Sliders. The Salmon BLT came with house potato chips that were so thin they practically melted in your mouth. The sliders came with sweet potato fries that were just as delicious. To drink, my wife had a Blood Orange Rita that was mixed perfectly and I had a Scrimshaw. Everything was great and Hannah stopped by a few times to check in on us. After lunch, we decided to share a dessert. Hannah offered her favorite, a berry pie, but suggested we try the Sweet Ancho Chile dessert. She hyped it up pretty good and it did not disappoint. She was so sweet to bring it with a candle for my wife to make a wish on. The sweet chile came with a berry flavored cream and bacon dusted churros. The churros, mixed with the cream and chile...OMG!!! If you get a chance to stop by the Rio Grill, ask for Hannah and she will take great care of you! Also try the Sweet Ancho Chile dessert, you will love it. read more

See all

Alright food but service was poor. It was New Years Eve and our waiter seemed clueless of the day. Service was slow and we had to ask for water, bread, and utensils multiple times. Will most likely not be back. read more

I can feel the passion in dishes here. Nice place with warm decoration. Was looking for some grill to get refresh. Cafes in the heart of downtown are all booked. So I drive to this mall area. And find this Rio Grill. Especially like the soup, creamy and energetic. The pork ribs are also very good not only in taste but also in the feel of chewing. A little bit longer in waiting time for dishes. But has Wi-Fi to kill time. Recommend. read more

See all

Congratulations on Best Restaurant More Than 10 Years Old!!! I'm so happy. You guys have a Kickass Chef (Cy), Great Staff (server, bartenders, managers and hostesses) and awesome ambiance. Look forward to stopping by very soon!!! read more

It's bland southwesternish style food with all the authenticity you'd expect in a mall. You can do better in Carmel. read more

The Good. The Bad. The Ugly. The Good: quality staff providing great service at one of the best bars in the Carmel area. The Bad: overcooking. Requesting halibut be "seared only" (medium-rare) proves futile (arriving overcooked and dryer than the "Carmel Rio" in late August)-- same for the bone-in fillet; medium-rare translates to medium bordering on the well-done side grandma's Sunday roast. The Ugly: over-salting. Talk about adding salt to a wound-- Ouch! TOO MUCH SALT to an overcooked wound makes Rio Grill a great place for older taste buds-- foodie quality it is not. Consumers will give restaurants a second chance for bad food, but never for bad service; so until their "second chance" on the kitchen, I will enjoy continue to enjoy The Good: great bar and serving staff (albeit working handicapped by The Bad and The Ugly). read more

We've enjoyed this restaurant in the past and we're excited to try their food again. After waiting a while on hold for someone to take our order, we were suddenly told that they were not taking takeout orders tonight. Very strange and disappointing when we were just about to order and had been waiting. read more

We decided to give this place a try after going to mass at the Carmel Mission. There was a total of 8 of us. Although, we had no reservations, they were able to seat us after 5 minutes wait. The Rio Grill is located on the corner of a strip mall right off Highway 1. The ambiance was fine, and the service was decent. My first impression was that this is a fine dining restaurant so I thought.....oh oh....must be very expensive. After looking at their specials board with the items and prices, I felt that the prices were fair. We all ordered different items and decided to share. So, I got to sample the following: House smoked chicken, Hangar steak and eggs special, Caramelized banana sundae, Mocha flan, Roasted banana cake, Ollalieberry pie, Chicken & Waffles, Smoked Salmon, and Half rack of ribs. Of course, I tried the desserts last! I was not impressed with any of those entrees or desserts I tasted. Although nothing tasted bad, there was also nothing that told me I've got to come back here again! Well, I would not return here again on future trips to Carmel. That should not stop you from coming here, though, and deciding for yourself!! About half of our group really liked the place and would come back. I'm just not one of them. read more

Spent a wonderful evening in early April seated outside at Rio Grill with plenty of heaters to keep you warm. The staff were very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable and there was even live music. The Ahi Tuna wonton chips were amazing for an appetizer and highly recommended as is the fire-roasted artichoke. Both were presented attractively and tasted amazing. Main course was the Diver scallops with fettuccini which were prepared perfectly and also tasted amazing. Thank you to Rio Grill for the wonderful evening and fantastic food. read more

I had my wedding reception here at the Rio Grill a little over a month ago, but unfortunately it was a big disappointment. I had other reception venue options, but had picked this venue because it sounded really good, but am regretting that choice. It wasn't at all how they made it sound. Here are the reasons why: - There was not enough food for the amount of guests we had told them. There were only 2-3 small plates of small bites and they were eaten before all the guests had arrived. There wasn't enough coffee and tea, and the drinks hadn't been replenished. - Because of the lack of food, most guests just got tables in the restaurant, and ordered their own food - they weren't even in the banquet room which we had paid extra for. - We did not receive an itemized receipt for our reception, and it still cost a lot despite things being very below average with a paltry amount of food. - There was no server taking special coffee orders which had also been discussed prior to the event. - There was not really a good place for dancing as they had made it sound. It was a disservice to our guests who travelled really far to come to our wedding and a huge embarrassment. I don't like giving low reviews for businesses, but this was a big deal so feel that it might be helpful for other brides when selecting their venues. This restaurant may have garnered high reviews for smaller parties, but they are incapable for hosting larger parties like weddings even though they say otherwise. read more

Had you asked us to rate Rio Grill at the onset of our afternoon, I would have been mad giving it even one star. My mom and I stopped in for lunch on a Thursday and we were seated right away. The hostess told us to use the bar scan on the way in to pull the menu up on our phones (pretty common with COVID safe dining) and that someone would be with us shortly. We waited...both for our phones to load a menu (inside the rio is a verizon deadzone) and for someone to come take our drink orders. We waited, and waited....neither happened. We watched another table get seated and we watched them get service. We watched our phones spin never loading the menu. We finally went and said something to the hostess who apologized and assured us someone would be with us soon. Then we watched the tables around us receive more service while we continued to sit there. After a few more minutes we gave up and on our way out, my mom let the bartender and hostess know why we were leaving. As we got to our car, the manager came out behind us. He talked honestly of the struggles of COVID safe dining, staffing and streamlining the operation while adhering to the service quality their guests deserved. He invited us back and we accepted. We were glad we did. They took excellent care of us that afternoon and our food (artichoke appetizer, turkey sandwich and prawn wrap) was very good. It was a good reminder that everyone is trying to adapt to this COVID world and restaurants are often doing the best they can with new staff. In the end, we had a great lunch at the Rio Grill and the excellent service earned a customer for life; we will go back each time we're in Carmel. read more

We have been coming here for years and can always depend on the great food and drinks. Yes it can get loud but it's a fun atmosphere and we have no problem bringing our one year old here with us! They are always accommodating with a high chair and crayons etc. Love their chinese chicken salad, veggie pasta, pumpkin crusted salmon, and burger just to name a few. Locals favorite! read more

Rio Grill - Pumpkin crusted salmon! Yum! - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

See all

I eat here at least once a year as I come to Carmel for a dog show across the street. It's conveniently within walking distance but even if it weren't, the good food and drink are worth the stop. On my recent visit, 4 of us started in the bar for happy hour drinks. The Blood Orange Margarita has a interesting kick making it quit addicting (but one is all this gal could drink if I wanted to drive back to the bay area on this rainy night). We were early for our dinner reservations but decided to dine right where we were near the cozy fireplace.We had a really nice server who was attentive and personable (which I'd gotten his name) and he made us feel right at home. I always order the Smoked Chicken with artichokes and potatoes (which I love) but this time I thought I'd try something new: Duck Breast Chilaquiles which were fantastic! The Pork Shank was a hit at our table! Presentation was impressive and it was equally as tasty. Food is consistently good and price isn't bad for the area. It's not what you would expect in a shopping center and worth a return visit! read more

I had a spinach, shrimp, Brie & red pepper wrap yesterday. It was fabulous. So good I ate it all before taking a picture! Interesting combination the turned out great. The sweet potato fries were equally good. read more

This was the ONLY place open in the area near our hotel.. but, definitely delicious and glad we settled here to eat. We both had their amazing burger..reminded me of the Fiveten Burger truck in Oakland, which is a HUGE compliment. Even their fries were infused with garlic and rosemary. Lovely! I ate like a lumberjack and left feeling bloated and like I had gained 12 lbs in one sitting. Waiter was awesome, very attentive and just on spot. Even their ice water was delicious. read more

Do not underestimate the restaurants on the outskirts of charming Carmel-by-the-Sea. My all-time favorite sushi restaurant is Robata's in the Barnyard Village. Also tucked in between more retail shops is a fabulous spot called Rio Grill. Because I've committed to reviewing more often and despite having dined there dozens of times my girlfriend and I cleaned the slate and decided to review this experience. Entering the foyer, you get an immediate sense that the grill has seen many generations of diners. The bar area's walls are adorned with caricatures of all the locals and regulars (with some Looney Tunes thrown in for good measure). One can tell by the hairstyles that the place is well-established :) My first favorite part of the dining room is they give you crayons and your tabletop is a sheet of paper. There are two motives here. The bread is delicious and gets crumbs everywhere! You are not given a bread plate as the table becomes your plate. The next is where the crayons come in. I can't tell you how many games of tic-tac-toe and Hangman have been lost and won in that room. I think I'm developing an irrational fear that they keep my artwork for resale in other countries! My girlfriend and I really liked our server this time. We hadn't been seated more than a few minutes when Chelsea came over and riddled off a detailed list of specials that I couldn't have memorized if I had a week. We shared the artichoke appetizer and used that crumbly bread to soak up the delicious balsamic. I ended up ordering the Pumpkin Crusted Salmon and my girlfriend the Roasted Chicken with Lentils. We are both picky eaters and when our dishes arrived they were spot on. I think the sauces and reductions were the tastiest part of this meal; I even liked the lentils! I had water, iced tea, and a Pinot Noir and the staff was very good at keeping the drinks serviced even though it was a busy Friday. Often we will just sit in the bar area and haven't been pleased with the service at all. It was truly refreshing to have someone that acted like they wanted to be at work. We'll be back, but from here in we'll wait for seats in the dining area. read more

This is my second review, 1st. one didn't make it. We reserved party of 8 last year 2012. When we arrived on Dec.31st. Hostess looked at us and said you don't have reservations!! This is 2nd time this has happened at this restaurant, very frustrating!! After 15 min. they shoved a bunch of chairs together and seated us. The service was rushed the whole time we sat there. Artichoke was fantastic as usual, but the rest of the food was luke warm. Won't return for New Year's Eve again. Lady with pony tail in her 50's or 60's called us on Jan. 31st. 2013 and wanted to know if we were coming cause she had us down for that night!!!! What's wrong with this women? Manager you need to straighten her out, get rid of her, or get a new computer system. How can a hostess make sooooo many mistakes? Manager get your act together with your employee's! read more

Ever since Robert's White House closed (still crying over that, all these years later....*sob*), husband and I had to find a new "staple" for a nice dinner. We found our new home away from home in Rio Grill. The food is so flavorful and having been dozens and dozens of times I can offer testimony that it is consistently delicious. We always start with the Castroville Artichoke......so wonderful and tangy with the dipping sauce. I always order the half roasted chicken with baby potatoes and artichokes. The chicken is cooked in their wood burning oven and glazed with this spicy, savory chile smoked butter and its unbelievably tasty. I always say I can never finish it and try to take some home as leftovers but somehow I manage to finish it anyway....its so good I can't stop. They have this dessert they call their "ice cream sandwich" which is one of my favorite desserts. Its nothing like those chewy ice cream sandwiches with the dark cookie crumb "bread". This is homemade - they sandwich vanilla ice cream in between two sheets of waffle-cone like sheets that are dipped in chocolate...and then they add homemade whipped cream and strawberries and chocolate fudge. Even though we are always full after dinner its hard to leave without ordering the ice cream sandwich for dessert....so yummy!!!!!! read more

Went here for dinner after a long day spent in Monterey. The atmosphere is a little strange in the sense that it feels like they can't decide if they are a simple grill type or fancy restaurant. It happened to be close to the hotel which is why we chose it. Our server was a bit pompous but I am not basing the rating on him. The husband enjoyed the iPad wine list, a nice touch. I had their special iced tea which was very good. For an appetizer we ordered the crab cakes which were good. He had the mixed greens salad which he thought was delicious. I thought it was gross, but I hate curry and it has a curry vinaigrette dressing so not surprising I didn't like it. For entrees he had a bacon wrapped sirloin medium rare that they cooked very well. My entree is the main reason for such a low rating. I had the grilled PRAWNS on penne pasta. They have it printed like that in caps on the menu. When my plate arrived it was definitely not prawns, more like cheap shrimp. It was mediocre at best and was highly overpriced at $24 for something less tasty than you could get at a chain restaurant for half the price. I don't know about anyone else but when I order a prawn dish I expect prawns, not baby shrimp. I would not recommend or go back. read more

I am only commenting on a dinner to which I was a guest, 12/23. I may try Rio Grill for lunch but not dinner after last night: Margarita, tall glass, salted (yes), with a straw. What happened to the wide mouth glass? Wasn't that good. Pork ribs. Little meat, insufficiently cooked. Palenta cake. Grilled as promised but not cooked through. Fair warning. read more

We stumbled upon the Rio Grill after a shop keeper recommended it as her favorite spot in Carmel and a top choice for locals. But after eating here I don't know why Carmel locals would EVER choose this restaurant over the many far more worthy establishments on the peninsula. Not only was the food horribly overpriced, it was genuinely bad food. I ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad and not only was it NOT a salad, but the chicken wasn't season well and 1/3 of the plate was carrots. My boyfriend ordered the hamburger which was not prepared well and not even seasoned. The french fries weren't even cooked all the way. To add to this bad experience, the bartender was swearing audibly and making very offensive comments within earshot. And the total for two lunches and two beers came to over $50. If you are looking to pay too much for less than mediocre food, have bad service and overall dissatisfying meal, then this restaurant is a perfect match. Otherwise I would advise going elsewhere. read more

There is a difference between relaxed service and being totally forgotten about. We experienced the latter. Came in with our 3-year old and 4-month old in regular mom and dad clothes. Our kids were quiet and good, yes we had to take turns walking (in a hall away from everyone) with the baby but we didn't pollute anyone else's experience. Our server was nice enough and took our order for drinks and appetizer. Then we didn't see her again for a long time. Another lady brought our potato skins and this was about 20 minutes in. About 15 minutes after that our server came to take our dinner order, we were nearly done with the overly crispy, greasy potato skins. The salsa served with these was great, nothing else about it was more than decent though. Our dinners came about an hour after we arrived. I ordered the mustard-soy skirt steak. It looked like a brown, twisted and slimy large intestine. You would expect something grilled to NOT be swimming in butter, but it was. I ate it anyway, and parts of it were tender but I left half of it on the plate because it was too stringy and tough to cut through with the steak knife. The yam gratin was very good, as were the green beans but again everything was saturated with butter. Husband ordered the short ribs. I guess since they were smoked they were supposed to be dry, but they were dry and flavorless. The best thing on his plate were the onions, mashed potatoes were only so-so. I was impressed by the size of the pasta with cheese and butter, it could have been shared by 4 small children. My son seemed to really like it. We ate and didn't see our server at all for a very long time. Our plates were cleared and we just waited and waited and waited. After the hour and 45 minute mark I had to take the baby to the car. I asked my husband to order the ice cream that came with my son's meal to go. Twenty minutes later he came out, finally. Pretty upset too since by this point we had waited so long to get the server to come by, let alone get his ice cream, to go, or the check! Well we opened it to find a strawberry and banana sliced up with some chocolate sauce. I was really upset now- he can't have raw bananas due to oral allergy syndrome. It would have been easier to go to Baskin Robbin and get a scoop of ice cream but I was so upset that we had such well-behaved children, were very accommodating without complaining, ate something that looked so unappetizing, and now they gave him the wrong dessert after making him wait an hour for it?! The hostess took about 5 minutes to get the cream for us and we were on our way. The ice cream was the best part of the whole evening. Whoever made that sure knew what they were doing. And the 20% tip we left was for the awesome bus boy who took care of our drinks, brought us bread (which they plop directly onto the paper tablecloth?), and checked on us frequently. Our waitress deserved about a dime of that tip. Won't return. Not for so-so food at those prices (which we were glad to pay for something worth it) and very horrible service. Horrible, horrible service. read more

This place stunk from top to bottom. A friend and I came in to dine one evening and one of the waiters just starred at us as we waited to be greeted. I asked for a table for two and he says "what???" Like this is the oddest request ever at a restaurant!? He told us to pick our own seats by the bar since the main dining room wasn't open until 5pm. I did not like the wait staff. Most of them were wearing jeans, and having audible conversations about their personal lives right out in the open next to our table. Our waiter in particular was LOUD and seemed to be rushing us a bit with his order. Guess he wanted more time to socialize. The portions we had were SMALL and not worth the price. In the end, we were overcharged on our bill for something we didn't order - perfect ending for a crappy dining experience. EDIT: Thanks, Joe - I appreciate that. I guess I caught you guys on a bad day. read more

I can't put my finger on just what it is, but the panache that used to be here, isn't here now. On the evening we visited, most all of the guests were, like us, on the older side, yet the music was loud and unpleasant, either geared to the youngish servers's taste-- or else the management was expecting a different age group than what it got. On top of that, the bar scene was very, very noisy and it seemed like the bulk of the evening's attention was on the bar crowd and not on the dinner guests. The bar sounds easily drifted into the dining room and everyone was forced to listen to the loud voices and boisterousness whether we wanted to or not. Now on to the food. The Rio Grill has been here for over 35 years, and a popular spot for sure. The menu selection used to be predictable and very enjoyable. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with our dinner, two very good salads, a salmon choice and the stuffed ancho chile choice. They entrees were good, just different. I was expecting some pleasant music such as the former management played, which lulled one into a relaxing dining experience. Instead we had the cacophony that passes for music these days that is more enjoyed by twentysomethings, none of whom were in evidence. Service was fine and timely, no complaints. I had notified the management that it was my husband's birthday when I made the reservation, but the only person who wished him a happy birthday was the hostess who showed us to our tables. As we left, no one said thank you, happy birthday, enjoy your evening, nada. Not a single employee even turned our way and wished us good night or thanked us for being there. They all looked a little strained and pushed, actually. I gave this review 3 stars because that seemed fair given the food service and the location. read more

Southwesten flair of American food. Nice stop along the way. A nice mix of your favorites. Check out their menu: http://www.riogrill.com/lunch.html It is run and managed by the same folks that have Montrio and Tarpy's Roadhouse. The House Smoked Salmon Tostada is really a unique taste. Favorite entrees include the baby back ribs and grilled prawns. Yummy, for sure . read more

I've had the pleasure of eating at Rio Grill several times over the course of the last few years, and it's definitely become an old standby for me and my family. It's pretty low-key and southwestern themed, but also kind of elegant in a very casual way (and if there's anything a Californian loves, it's downplayed chic-ness). The food is unpretentious but totally delicious- I had my first Cheeseburger in YEARS here the other night and it was everything you could dream of (if you, like me, dream of food). The waitstaff is consistently professional and helpful, which is crucial when you're dining with a large group (as is the case for me when I'm eating in Monterey). My table loved the pork shank, the half-chicken, cheeseburger, and salmon. The arugula flatbread, artichoke, and steak starters were all pretty good (the meat was a little chewy, but nothing to whine about). The wine list is awesome and the prices aren't marked up as badly as similarly upper mid-level restaurants (so now you have an excuse to order away without guilt!). Overall, Rio Grill never lets me down: great food at a great value. I plan on enjoying many more meals here in the future. read more

Rio Grill - Excellent steak - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-sea, California

See all

My Boyfriend and I went to Rio Grill for the first time- and being huge fans of Tarpy's and Montrio we expected a great meal. We were not let down! What I love most about Rio Grill is their food is very unique. They obviously have a lot of mexican influences in their dishes and they pull the flavors together perfectly. I had the duck breast which came with a rojo mole sauce, squash chiliquilas, and duck confit tamale. It was wonderful. I was so loving the tamale and chiliquilas that I did not have enough room to finish two of the duck pieces and had to take them home. The boyfriend ordered the crispy pork shank and he was in love. He described it as a semi chicharone but will all of the bad (but VERY good) stuff still on it. His dish came with a verde sauce that was incredible and fire roasted red pepper mashed potatoes. For dessert we ordered the house made "ice cream sandwich". This is two scoops of ice cream between two almond wafers that look like waffle cones. However the wafers have a very nice flavor and are a bit thicker than a typical waffle cone. The dish is topped with strawberries, chocolate sauce, and candied walnuts. YUM! I mentioned to our waiter that I would love to have a bag of just the walnuts and he said they could do that if I wanted. We tried a couple of their margaritas with our dinner- which were VERY strong. The waiter commented, "you know that when you can see through your margarita that it is a beautiful thing". At least they were totally worth their price. The only thing that I wasnt a huge fan of was our appetizer. We are big ceviche fans and they have a "trio of ceviche" on the menu. We decided to try it. In theory it was a very cool idea. They have a scallop, tuna, and shrimp ceviche prepared in three different ways. The problem with this was that they didnt serve it with any tostadas, crackers, or anything. I am sure some people would've been fine with just eating the ceviche as is- but we couldn't really stomach it and had to put it on our bread just so we could taste it. The flavors really were good...could've just been a lot better with soem tostadas! Overall service was EXCELLENT. Some of the quickest I have experienced. Our waiter was super attentive and checking in on us often without being intrusive. Great atmosphere and great food. Cant wait to go back! read more

**Disclaimer** My good friend is the Manager and is the son-in-law of the owner ** Disclaimer ** After back-to-back weddings (one in Los Angeles on Friday and the other Monterey on Saturday), it was nice to sit back enjoy some kick back time with some old friends and their 2 kids. It had been 4 or 5 years since we had seen each other, so I joined them at Rio Grill. I had the Grilled Prawns on Penne Pasta with a leek, pea and bacon Creole cream and some beersks (a local Hefeweizen.) They were both excellent but I had two small complaints: 1. Add more prawns! Many restaurants get hung up on costs and sometimes it shows when you can tell you were given a prescribed amount of something. In this case it was the prawns. My buddy did tell me the dinner portion came with more but it was still no significantly more. 2. The lunch portion was quite filling but give the people some bread at lunchtime! I know it's "bad manners" but bread is good for dipping in leftover sauces. Especially when the sauce is good...which it was! My buddy's 2.5-year-old son had the waffles and which were also amazing. Overall the food was top notch. We talked quite a bit about how tough the restaurant business is and it's amazing that Rio Grill has been around so long while staying true to the Tex-Mex Americana style. The menu needs no sprucing up but the interior could use a bit of a makeover. read more

Rio Grill was recommended by a friend. We were at Point Lobos and Rio Grill was just a short drive away, so we decided to try it out. We went to Rio Grill on a Sunday afternoon and we were seated right away. They offered lunch and also brunch options. The grill is very clean but the ambiance was pretty plain. Service was very friendly and helpful when selecting food options. I highly recommend the blood orange margarita with house made spicy syrup. We also enjoyed the calamari with Asian style dipping sauce. We tried the house made tortilla soup, empanadas, and grilled shrimp wrap (so good!) The food is a bit pricey for the serving size but it's in Carmel, so I think it might be typical. I do like this restaurant but the ambiance really left something to be desired. 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up. I'll probably try other restaurants before I return. read more

Nice place, a little spendy but good food. I had the halibut special and the jolly rancheros appetizer. Both were fantastic, I mean it, fantastic. The staff was great and attentive even though it was busy. Seriously though... Jolly Rancheros. read more

Came here due to a mention in Lonely Planet's USA book. We came with fairly low expectations - we have two young kids, and have had more than enough chicken fingers-and-crayon style places, but this place blew us away. I ordered a half chicken with artichokes and red potatoes; my wife had a skirt steak salad. After living in the U.S. for 3 years, almost two in California, I honestly don't remember the last time I was so impressed by a restaurant. The portions were filling, and the dishes were creative and exciting. We look forward to returning. read more

Not that great. Wouldn't be back service was slow and noticed gave better service to others than our table. And we were a table of 8. Deserves to give better service when we are that many and in a pricy place like this. Unsatisfied. Yelp also needs to update the dollar signs on this place is a $$$ not $$. read more

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

What a huge disappointment especially after reading all the positive reviews on Yelp. First the service, well, it was slow. A pretty face and smile is nice to look at but attention before during and at the end of the meal is what we all want in a waitress. The bus boy refilled my water glass with what tasted like warm pool water. It was straight from a warm tap to my glass without touching an ice cube. A waiter serving the table next to us hit my sister with his elbow. He said "sorry", but she was in pain the entire meal and rubbing her head frequently. The food was only mediocre. Another one of my sisters got the chicken salad sandwich in a pita bread and she said it was a gooey mess and not in a good way. 4 family members got the chicken quesadilla's and the chicken was boiled. Chicken should be grilled for a quesadilla. I had the pawns in a penne pasta and thought is was pretty good, but nothing spectacular. At the expense of this meal, it was just a real disappointment. read more

The service is excellent! Everyone is knowledgeable about the specials and they describe them with great enthusiasm and are always ready to make recommendations (you can tell they eat the food too). The food is excellent and delicious! To go orders are treated with the same great service. This is one of my favorites in the area! read more