As someone who grew up in California eating my grandma's homemade Mexican food I was throughly impressed by Rio Tomatlan. I had very low expectations coming in and was surprised by the flavor and quality of the food here. I orders a Paloma which was refreshing and made me miss summer. I also had a sope that was the perfect thickness and wasn't overwhelmed by toppings. The salsa tasted like a less spicy version of my grandma's recipe, still delicious and flavorful. The service was a bit slow just due to an event going on, and it is a bit pricy for Mexican food, but otherwise I highly recommend read more

Ambiance was lovely and welcoming.! Owner right at the door to greet us. Waitress very friendly. Food was very authentic and delicious.

Visited for my birthday dinner and it didn't disappoint. Burra Rafael for me (so good), tequila shrimp for my husband and shrimp burra for my son. My husband said the tequila shrimp was delicious but he wished he didn't have to peel his shrimp. My son's burrito was gone in 3 minutes flat so I take that as a good sign. always great staff - so friendly. read more

See all

I recommend this restaurant, but they charge you use credit card, which really aggravates us

Got to the resturaunt with some friends and we were told they had an event so they weren't seating anyone for dinner - which that is fine , but we stated we were actually coming for the event and they said oh okay - if you are hungry we will be serving food at the event. (Which we knew they were supposed to be serving food) Great we can enjoy the event anddd then eat. Well the event started 45 minutes late and we were told the kitchen was now closed. I just felt that was kinda unfair to make it a point to tell us and then close the kitchen ? Very strange and disappointing read more

We came for an early dinner and were seated quickly at a cute and cozy table. This place is a little off the Main Street so it wasn't super busy which was a plus. We ordered 2 margaritas, barbacoa tostadas and flautas de pollo. The food was seasoned and cooked well, lots of fresh ingredients and tasted authentic. I was happy to enjoy tostadas because they are not always offered in other restaurants. Service was good. read more

Rio Tomatlan - Mexican Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

See all

Coming from out of town for a girls trip, and we saw that they were having Hip Hop and R&B Bingo night. Tickets online were unfortunately sold out, but we figured we would shoot our shot and see if they would let us in. If not, at least it's a restaurant and we can get food. So when we checked in with the hostess, she seemed a little confused and had to ask a couple people what to do, but she said Bingo was sold out. Not a problem, we asked for a table anyways. She said the kitchen got super backed up so they were no longer seating customers. Little annoying, but I totally get it. However, the guy running the bingo was able to sell us tickets and we were able to get in! We were also told there would be food served during bingo. It was about 8:45 when we got there. We were told "doors open" at 9, bingo starts at 9:30. So we sit down, bingo didn't start until 10:15, which was annoying and I feel like it was even more annoying because any time we checked in at the bar if we could order food, we were constantly told no. However, we saw several people coming into the area where bingo was with menus. At one point, my friend talked to who she assumed was the chef and he said "he was done cooking for the night," but two seconds later they were walking to a table with three plates of food. Eventually (probably about 11:30pm at this point) we were given chips and salsa. Which was VERY delicious I will say. Salsa was super fresh and the chips were basic, but they filled the need for food. Then probably about a little past midnight we were given quesadillas, but this was after my friend had to be annoying and constantly ask if we could have food and that we were starving. Very disorganized and disappointing. Perhaps it was a little clustered and confusing due to the bingo event... but my biggest gripe is don't tell customers there will be food and then tell someone you're done cooking for the night... and then have food come out. I'd be willing to try again if I am ever in the area, but all in all very unimpressed. read more

Wonderful authentic Mexican restaurant we visited based on some great recommendations. All the dishes are made to order. I had a delicious trio of tacos, chicken, carnitas and barbacoa....each with their own different toppings. My other dish was sauteed fresh veggies and refried beans. You will not find everything smothered in cheese. The only cheese we saw mentioned was cotija. My friend had a chicken mole and the sauce was so flavorful. It's hard to find mole sauce, much less homemade. While some dishes come with rice or beans most of the food does not. They do offer sides of rice and beans. Our server, Katie, was excellent. Friendly and so patient with all our questions, it was our first time there. It's definitely on our list to go back. read more

See all

Not what it used to be. :( Our dishes were sloppy with a sprinkling of what look like dried out lettuce, and barely any of the white cheese. Hardly any sauce, everything was quite dry. The chicken inside my flautas was so dry. I could barely bite through them. They used to be so moist, with lots of fresh, deep, green, lettuce, shavings, and plenty of Coquita cheese and they used to be presented so beautifully. The edges of the tortillas in our appetizer were covered in crusty burnt cheese. The portions are smaller and the prices are now too high for the quality. Especially since you have to pay an extra seven dollars for a side of rice and beans.. which are tiny spoonfuls that they give you. The rice tasted awful. It used to be so good. Our service was good, dishes came out pretty quickly, and our waiter was very nice and relatively attentive. They had live music which became way too loud, especially since there was hardly anyone in the restaurant, so we were sitting in a largely empty restaurant watching a live band... It was a bit strange. The restaurant seems to have done a makeover and not for the better... Gone are the artful murals, replaced with what feels like wallpaper. It's dummed down the entire experience. They have new booths that look like they're from Denny's. We used to go down to Rio Tomatlan with such excitement, it was a real treat. This time, we left feeling like we way overspent for underwhelming food and a boring meal. Sadly, I think we will be removing this restaurant from our rotation for the foreseeable future. I know it's tough for restaurants right now and I'm not surprised about the increased prices. But I disagree that a restaurant should increase prices while also reducing quality. That's a death sentence. read more

Very fresh. Everything tasted like it had been picked/baked the same day. Portions were large. Went at lunch time and it was busy but there was no waiting. They have a unique twist on classic favorites. Give it a try. read more

Rio Tomatlan - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

Service was excellent!! However... the food.... Can only give it 9.9 out of 10!! Can't be a 10 because it's not actually IN Mexico!!! Easily the BEST Mexican food I've ever had outside of Mexico!! The mole was rich, creamy, tasty and simply WONDERFUL!! We drove more than an hour to get here and it was SOOOO worth it!!!!! read more

More authentic Mexican than most. Food is very good but be prepared to ask a lot of questions of your server (if you are picky) so you understand the menu and the ingredients. I like that they don't automatically serve chips & salsa before the meal so I don't fill up on those, but some in my group were disappointed that we had to order a small and somewhat pricey side order. My sis had the skinny margarita that she said was excellent. read more

Great food and great service! Had the mole enchiladas and others had beautiful food as well. Plates were gorgeous and attractive as well as delicious. Had fun trying all the salsas and their guacamole is delicious. Great after a full day at sonnenburg botanical gardens! Highly recommended. read more

Was in town for business and decided to come here based on a coworkers recommendation. The place itself is a little funky as far as decorations, but nicely laid out, and is pretty welcoming. That was kinda the high point unfortunately. It took quite a while just to get seats, even though we had a reservation and had checked in online. It seemed like there was confusion about who was doing what as far as serving or being the hostess. Once we sat it took quite a while for someone to come and even get drink orders. They were somehow out of iced tea, but there were other soft drinks and a margarita ordered. The margarita took at least 15 minutes to arrive, and a single bottle of warm tap water was put on the table. That was taken away to be refilled, but that refill never happened. Appetizer of some guac and pico were ordered. A basket of what seemed like bagged chips came with it, and was a fairly small portion of each. Chips weren't salted, and were not filled back up after they were gone. Pico was a pretty small serving, not enough to share IMO. Main course took at least 40 minutes, and the size of the portions was pretty sad based on the price. The two tacos were probably three bites each, and the burrito was about the size of one of those you find in the frozen food section of the grocery store. The tortillas on the tacos were soaked through to the point that it was clear they had been sitting a while to wait for delivery. The food itself tasted good. Not mind-blowing, but not awful. It was just that what was a "plate" of food left me wanting more to feel full. Our server was very friendly and apologized multiple times for the wait, which was appreciated. But it was well over $100 for three people and only one alcoholic drink at the table. Sad to say, I would have gotten a more satisfying meal at a Chipotle at a fraction of the price. I hope they can do better before the summer tourist season hits.... read more

I love the decor and ambiance, makes you feel like you're right in beautiful Mexico! The food was a little different from what we are used to in California and Nevada but still pretty good. I really was expecting chips and salsa as that is a huge part of why I love Mexican restaurants! Even if I had to pay for it and I did ask for chips and salsa but they never came as the waitress said my lunch was ready. I would have loved some pico de gallo! read more

A longstanding gem in Canandaigua and for good reason! What a special place - shoutout to Hannah, our server, who dealt with our very loud, chatty, and late group of 4 with *ease.* We went with a pitcher of the margaritas (an awesome and economical choice for us), the guac, and I ordered one of each of their tacos: chicken, barbacoa, and carnitas. All of the tacos were 5 stars, no questions asked. I loved the kick in the barbacoa and, as someone who could never have enough pickled red onion in my live, appreciated that I could add as many as I wanted to each of my tacos. The vibe here is super fun, too, and there were folks at the bar till well after close. It did take a good bit of time for entrees to come out, but our group was in zero rush and it was toward the end of the night. I can't say enough and cannot wait to go back and enjoy another round of delicious drinks and eats at Rio! read more

See all

Overpriced, under seasoned average food then they charge 4% for using. a card? Im fine with that at a small place with tight margins but never have I heard of a place as big as this that has the potential to serve 100's of dinners a night add on a charge extra for paying the normal way most people pay, $12 for scoop of guacamole that tasted like a simply mashed avocados , with no citrus or even salt, maybe I noticed a slight whisper of garlic? We could have bought better frozen red enchiladas at Wegmans. Tacos de nada, nada flavor, mushy potatoes in an over fried shell. Mole poblano was decent but for $23 it should have came at least beans and some type of vegetable, instead in came with cheap and gluey poblano rice. Tables were so close together i felt every server and customer who walked past me brush against my back, One star for the service which was great, the other for the decor and nice presentations of the food but big plates and a sprinkling of queso fresco and a dribble of salsa matcha in no way makes this place worth the prices they charge. Go to Chipotle or Wegmans, don't wind up paying 25% more than the already high prices when you add in taxes, tip and the 4% for paying the way most people pay, Rip off. read more

Saturday night, arrived just after 5, told it would be 40 minutes, so we supplied a phone number and went to the brewery across the street. Returned 35 minutes later, expecting a table; all told, nearly an hour before we were seated. Seemed to be available spots, but maybe it was a staffing problem. When my friend ordered Shrimp a LaDiabla, she was told that for an extra $3, they would peel her shrimp, what??? Refried beans and rice are now an extra charge as well, when they used to come with the dinners. Understand that costs have increased, but those are inexpensive items, maybe $.25/lb to cook a large batch. My beer battered Tilapia tacos were tasty, but the portions were so much smaller than in previous visits. Companion's tostados were sitting in liquid, instead of what she expected. Used to love this place, going there was a treat. The food is tasty, but the experience for the price? nope.  We have other options locally, where chips and salsa are provided without charge, portions are more generous, and they'll peel your shrimp for free! read more

A relaxing Friday evening birthday dinner with my husband at Rio Tomatlan was a nice end to the week. Cocktails antes cena at the bar were good. I enjoyed the La Authentica Margarita and my husband had their well vodka & lemonade. We started with carnitas huarache as a shared appetizer. We shared the carnitas burro y tacos and the shrimp burrita. Both were spicy & delicious. If you don't like spicy food, ask your server for recommendations. The dinner portions were large and we left with leftovers. I shared it was my birthday when I made the reservation. No acknowledgment, not even verbal, was made. Easy off street parking. Good service. If you like a kick to your food, this is your place. We'll make a return trip. read more

See all

Had an okay experience here. Came on a Friday night. We were immediately seated. We decided to get the chicken enchiladas and fish tacos. The food took over 40 minutes to arrive and it wasn't super crowded. There was a bunch of staff so I think there might have been a slow down in the kitchen. Food was only okay and not worth the price in my opinion. Pretty expensive for only okay food with a long wait time. read more

Rio Tomatlan - Mexican Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

See all

Was here with a large group Friday evening. The restaurant was not full. The service was incredibly, incredibly slow. One person's drink was delivered at least 15 minutes after the others even though it was the same drink as several at the table had ordered. Some items were never delivered and yet were included in the bill even after reminding the waitress and asking her to not include them in the bill. When pointing it out the waitress oddly made it seem like it was our fault. I recognize that it can be difficult serving a large group but the overall experience was not pleasant. Will not be returning any time soon. read more

Wonderfully authentic food, excellent service and a really nice ambience. Artfully complex spices, and very knowledgeable wait staff. We'll be back! read more

The atmosphere was definitely authentic Mexican warm and inviting service was fast and prompt and great server. The food was most excellent delicious. I definitely recommend coming here. Awesome. read more

Was horrible! Was seated and we were having an early dinner, there were only four tables in the restaurant. waiter took drink order and food order at same time. Drinks took 20 minutes and one of two were wrong. That's the last time we saw him! Another server dropped off our entrees five minutes later and no one else ever came Back to our table. Had to hunt someone down just to get the check. Also I am celiac... be aware.. became ill. Horrible experience. read more

Great Mexican food and atmosphere in downtown Canandaigua. Service is fast and friendly. read more

The food is delicious, presentation is lovely, and the service is great! Nice atmosphere inside & outside. Authentic Mexican Cuisine!

Another fabulous meal!!! Melinda and JT never disappoint! Great conversation, great service, food is consistent and above and beyond! read more

See all

Wow wow wow! This place is a gem and knows how to prepare Mexican food! We started with the guacamole (REAL Guacamole) with home made chips. The avocado was fresh, salted to perfection, lime not powerfully overwhelming the dish and the onions à nice addition. I ordered salmon tacos and my friend had two small burritos. One with chicken and one with carnita. I definitely recommend carnita over chicken as the meat is more flavorful. The fish was cooked very well and herbs and spices weren't overwhelming either. The parka margaritas soooo good. Bartender knowledgeable and friendly. The Mexican music softly played the whole evening. read more

See all

Great food never disappoints Tasty margaritas. The wait staff were friendly and attentive. Clean restrooms (appreciate that) the vibe is warm and the booths are about more intimate. The different areas of seating are suitable for all. Wednesday nite there was a band. read more

Rio Tomatlan - Food arrives! Always delicious - Mexican Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

See all

Enchiladas Rojas & beer battered shrimp tacos. Both good but Enchiladas not warm when served. Sauce on tacos had some heat which was tasty. Enchiladas could have used a little more flavor. Margaritas were good, friendly staff, table for two was small For someone with long legs was uncomfortable.Ambience of whole restaurant was nice. I would return to try other dishes. read more

Rio Tomatlan - Mexican Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

See all

Loved this meal, great Mexican can be harder to find in the area and this was fantastic. Fresh ingredients, especially for the veg items--a diverse range of in-season vegetables, not solely peppers and onions as some places default to. Reasonably priced for the size. Takeout was served carefully and kept well. Service was friendly, quick, and knew the menu in and out to answer questions. The Sopes masa was a lot denser than I'm used to for Sopes but was still good--just heavy. The diced tomatoes on the rice weren't super fresh, otherwise things were really good. I've been mentioning this restaurant to people since I went, really enjoyed it. read more

Rio Tomatlan - Burro Rafael - Mexican Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

See all

Never had a Mexican restaurant charge for chips and salsa. We got a 1/3 c salsa and a hand full of chips. I've had better frozen food than what was served and bigger portions. Will not be going back. If I could give them a zero. Here it is! read more

Rio Tomatlan was surprisingly amazing! I love the convenient parking lot in the back and the decor was super cute. The menu looked a little more upscale than most Mexican food too. They had a special of burria quesadilla that was excellent. I got the tequila shrimp which they were able to do dairy free. It was amazing! The sauce was so unique and fresh and was a reasonable price for the amount of shrimp they give you. The rice was a bit undercooked. The waitress was also super helpful and good about allergies. The guac has sour cream in it, but she offered to make special guac that was dairy free. The guac was also super unique and came with spicy pumpkin seeds and chili crisp. We will definitely be back! read more

Good Mexican, authentic dishes. Guac is excellent and the margaritas are as well. Service is good and people are nice read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. In all honestly, I have only ever gotten the beer battered fish tacos, but they are that good. My favorite fish tacos by far. The strawberry margarita is also one of my favorites. Definitely recommend a trip here, especially if you like fish tacos! read more

See all

Outside of my marriage, there are few things that I feel committed to. But Rio has my love and commitment. My husband and I have been making the drive down to Canadiauga for a special meal for years. (We were devastated when their old space burnt, and suffered while waiting for the new space to arrive!). My favorite is the Pozole! Green or red- it is fantastic! Plenty of hominy, pork, radish and goodness! How can "soup" be so darn good!??! Everything is tasty and delicious! The Guac, burritos, the specials, the seafood, the tequila! Oh, and a great selection of local beers! The Tres Leches cake is worth not filling up on apps and entrees! Or consider taking a piece home with you. Looking forward to life together- til death do us part. read more

Rio Tomatlan - Pozole better than Peyote - Mexican Near Me - Canandaigua, New York

hands down the best food and service I have ever had at a Mexican restaurant. Highly recommend it.

Serving staff is friendly. Unfortunately, that alone does not make up for flavorless food. My sopes had large uncut pieces of zucchini as the prominent ingredient. No hint of flavor. Have had absolutely delicious meals here before. Maybe chef is on vacation? read more

Delicious and fresh Mexican food that's worth the drive! Our most recent visit was with a large party. We had reservations at 7 on a Friday night but unfortunately had to wait almost an hour to be seated. Once we sat our table ordered apps and drinks - I chose a virgin guava margarita. Being pregnant I still was craving a margarita and was happy they could accommodate. The only downside was when I received the drink I had to send it back for a new one to be made because there was lipstick all over the rim of glass that certainly wasn't mine. The staff apologized and quickly took care of it though which I was appreciative. The food definitely made up for the wait and drink mishap. We started off with the pico de Gallo, guacamole and the queso fundido which was corn tortillas with melted cheese, chorizo and pico de Gallo. They were delicious and definitely had a nice kick to them. As for entree I always love fish tacos so I chose the tilapia beer battered tacos. The fish was flaky and the tacos had cabbage, a mayo based sauce or crema and pickled onions. They hit the spot for sure and I ended up taking 2/3 of them home because I filled up on our apps (no regrets). If you're looking for authentic Mexican be sure to check this place out. Can't wait to go back for non-virgin margaritas too! read more

Very spacious restaurant. Well laid out. We opted for two specials tonight vs something off the menu. The Brisket Tacos were out of this world. I think it was the avocado sauce that put it over the top. This was an authentic dish. The chicken tamales were tasty as well. I do prefer the masa a bit more firm but the seasonings were perfect. read more

See all