The guacamole was brown!!! Manager was so rude!! Didn't even apologize! And it was my birthday!!! I will never come back to this place read more

Uncle Julio's - No one touched there guacamole!!! - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I always love Uncle Julios but my server was super rude, smart mouth and took too long. I would go somewhere else next time. 4 stars cause it is uncle julios Server gets 1 star. read more

This restaurant is in the prime location. It sits right off the lake at Rio and has tons of seating outside to enjoy the scenery - calm waters and busy side walks. The service is usually amazing here even with all the crowd. There is always a wait during the peak hours but they have enough sitting areas to have quick turnovers. You can choose to sit at the bar, in the restaurant, or out on the veranda. There are a couple of decent items for vegetarians. Firstly, you start out with the complementary chips and salsa. The Smokey salsa is unique to other Mexican restaurants and preps you up for the unique choices from the menu. The live guac, although not unique to just Uncle Julio's, has proper flavor and fresh ingredients to set itself apart. The servers are trained well to engage in humorous talks while they work to avoid any awkwardness. Really appreciate the accommodations for vegetarians as once I told the server of my diet needs, they recommended couple of dishes and assured that the food is cooked in fresh utensils. I've had many different dishes but I prefer the cheese enchiladas and cheese quesadillas. The food is good, not great, but has the right flavors. The nitrogen frozen deserts and drinks are a must try for anyone who wants to breath smoke like a dragon while eating puffs. Although the drink can be a bit sour if you don't request to sweeten it up a bit. Overall, I've come here a lot in the past and will continue to do so. So why not full 5 stars? I'd like to see some more flexibility with the menu to be able to convert some of the dishes to vegetarian dishes. Some of the sauces have animal based ingredients and so the choices are limited for vegetarians. read more

We were celebrating my boys bday party there, the place was crowded, it was great idea to make reservations. The food was great, chocolate peniata was amazing conclusion for the party. We didn't wait a lot for the food although the place was full and people were standing on line in front of the restaurant. The waiter was very nice and patient with us. Highly recommended!! read more

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I have heard a lot about this place that its a cool place. From the desserts to the drinks and food. I called to make reservations "7 people at 7pm" when I arrived the table was not ready and had to wait 10mins. We were finally seated to what seemed like a "tourist trap culinary experience" With a pricey menu was compared to most TexMex restaurants. The server was nice and helpful just a little slow. I ordered a margarita which was made with liquid nitrogen. It was good. Most of the people in my party ordered the tacoshell salad. We also got the chocalate piñata it was good. read more

Food is great here. The biggest plus for me is. That it's not a madhouse like Guapo's across the pound. You can actually hold a conversation with your table. Will keep coming back here read more

Amazing! We ordered the premium margarita kit and the nacho bar for curbside pick up. Everything was packaged amazing, portion sizes were excellent, and the food and margaritas tasted fantastic. The way they have it set up is incredible. You get to keep the shaker and the jigger that they give you, and the tequila (they give you a whole bottle) that comes with it is pretty tasty! Overall a great value for the price This will definitely be on my list of things to reorder. read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

4 of us came in for a department lunch on a Friday around 2pm... it's my first time here and the space is pretty big and decorated nicely. There was nachos and salsa served and our drink orders were taken. Our waiter was efficient and friendly. I ordered the carnitas bowl. It was pretty good. Such a lively atmosphere. We had a great time! We'll be back. read more

Uncle Julio's is a pretty typical Mexican chain. I've been to this location and one in Fairfax, VA, multiple times. The only really bad information I can give to you about this place is that it gets LOUD and CROWDED. Even if you think it won't be busy because of the timing...you are wrong. This place is always busy for some reason and forget about trying to go to the bar (unless you want to be shoulder to shoulder with a stranger). Also, all the tables seem too close together (to fit in more customers, so...more $$$ for them), so if you have a problem with being around too many other people, just skip this location. Don't go to the other Mexican place in Rio either, though, its just as crazy. Why I give this place 4 stars, though - its got solid food options and is always a stable option when going out to Rio. Sure, I wish it had more, but the entrees are great, I love the Guacamole, quesadillas, enchiladas and more. I have never been disappointed with the food or service here. The employees are all super nice and knowledgeable about their menu. If you don't get enough tortillas with your meal - just ask for more, free of charge! I also love the piñata dessert. I've never gotten it, but it looks super fun (it is way too expensive for an adult like me to be ordering)! read more

Took my mom to Uncle Julios to celebrate her birthday and the service and food was disappointing! The food & service did not stand up to its name! Here is a list of issues I encountered: -server was slow -did not refill drinks- had to ask -steak tacos came out over cooked -fajitas did not come with sour cream and guacamole -sour cream and cheese came out but no guacamole -another sour cream and guacamole came out at the end -another table ahead of me complained about the service -had to call the manger to address issues -took forever to get a box and the check The reason y I did not give 1 Star was bcuz the manager did try to fix the issues and checked on us. And even then everything still took forever to come out and the food was just ok. Highly disappointed, this was a special celebration and the service and food lacked so much, we just wanted to go. Will think twice before returning, did not meet the standards at all! Thumbs down read more

What can I say I'm a California guy from California that knows good Mexican food and this Mexican food isn't really that good the selection wasn't that good also but it's OK though. Service was OK they kind a lagged. read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I went for my birthday a few weeks ago, our server was attentive for the most part of the dinner and had good energy with my family. However the food really did lack in flavor, I remember Uncle Julio's having their infamous fajita platters be the star of the show which is a plate i've always gotten when I go there, but this time it wasn't really the best. Maybe that night wasn't the best day, but Uncle Julio's really has gone downhill and hopefully I go there next time to try the food once again. read more

Yeah ... no. Tried it one night Ina weekend summer 2021 the wait was 30 minutes I have the the receptionist my phone number she said let me test it, nothing came through to my phone we confirmed the number again and there was nothing she could do and she didn't offer to do anything several people were frustrated with this. So we and others just left. I went back a few months later during the week it was not bush got seated the restaurant was almost empty. Ordered was surprised I do t think they have all of the traditional Mexican items in the menu - our waitress disappeared we had to ask someone else for a refill of our water it was unbelievable. The food oh yes the food was mediocre to top it off and I'm not being mean it just was blah...it's a bi e building but some other company should take it over and a better manager and staff. Thumbs down. read more

Uncle Julio's has been my go-to place for amazing Tex-Mex food for decades. The fajitas are always extremely good and I love the frozen "swirl" of sangria and margarita they have. I usually request to go there on my birthday or some other special occasion. However, I want to note that on my most recent recent visit I was really impressed how they handled a situation with my child and a food allergy. My child ordered the Shrimp al Pastor, which is advertised on the menu as coming with a mango slaw. However, the shrimp were served what looked like chunks of pineapple as well. My husband tried a chunk to verify whether it was pineapple or mango (it was pineapple). My child is allergic to pineapple, and we pointed this out to the server. They quickly whisked her dish away, re-prepared the dish in a separate pan without pineapple, and had it back out to her with some extra mango slaw in a couple of minutes. The manager also came over to talk to us and reassure us. I was really impressed with their handling of the situation. This event also reminded me to warn my child that sometimes food labeled as "al Pastor" comes with pineapple, and that we need to remember to ask about this in the future. read more

Typical Tex-Mex or whatever they call these kinds of restaurants. Surprisingly crowded on a Monday evening, maybe because it's summer and this area is like a gathering center. Margaritas are good, service is friendly and fast, but the drinks are not particularly strong and the food is, well okay. I had the ceviche, which was pretty decent, the fish was fresh, marinade was okay and washed it down with a nice IPA. My co-worker on this business trip had beef fajitas, which looked nice, I should've tasted it. read more

Uncle Julio's - ceviche and beer - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Food Never Came Been Waiting Since 11 foh dis jaunt my ma it neva came. First I walk in sad because I only have 20$ then I sit down, and immediately my ears ruptured because of the noise. How am I outside and I can't hear myself breath. I order my Food and it came I love this restaurant so much I wish to come here every day of my life for the rest of my life. My dearest Wishes, Manny read more

Uncle Julio's - angry girl - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Been here a couple times and overall I would say the experience was great. The food was tasty. I recommend the Carne Asada and the tableside guac. The location is bomb to: you can walk around Rio afterwards. read more

Uncle Julio's - Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Our second outdoor dining experience since the pandemic happened. It was good, lots of food (a little on the pricey side). We split the Guadalajara and the fish tacos. The shrimp was amazing, and the steak was tasty too. The fish tacos were good and sizeable portions as well. read more

Uncle Julio's is the best by far. I've never had a bad experience here and I've been here 50 times. I've had their fajitas and I always ask rare or medium rare because I think it's better that way. They're amazing. Usually I get their hard shell tacos and sometimes swap the ground beef for skirt steak. It's worth it but more expensive. Their best thing oddly is their chips and salsa. I think that matters! read more

Really terrible service. Was put on hold for 10-15 minutes trying to place a to go order, but no one ever picked back up. Walked over to the restaurant and tried to place a to go order in person. Waited another 10-15 minutes and no one came to take our order despite a ton of staff walking around not doing anything. read more

This is a chain restaurant but I have generally received good service each time I have visited throughout the years. My go to meal is the lobster y fajitas which is only served Friday-Sunday. I always ask for steak instead of chicken fajitas or a combo and the lobster tail is broiled and served with melted Mexican butter. My steak has always been cooked as I specified and tender. I typically also order The Swirl which is 1/2 frozen margarita and 1/2 frozen sangria swirled together in a chilled glass. When I downloaded their app while munching on the complimentary chips and salsa, I received an offer for a free table side guacamole which we ordered as well. For dessert we ordered the chocolate pinata which you break open table side. The pinata is filled with mini churros, pineapples, strawberries and blackberries and is served with whipped cream, raspberry, chocolate and caramel sauces. read more

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After hearing so many good things about this restaurant, I felt I had to give it a try. Unfortunately my whole experience was very underwhelming. Nothing about the food was bad, but nothing was out of the norm. I got the steak and chicken fajitas. The steak was moderately seasoned as was the chicken, but the steak tasted as if it had come from a frozen food section in a supermarket. The chicken tasted a little more fresh. The chips and salsa were par. Our waiter never seemed to be fully engaged when talking to us. The only thing that saved the whole experience were the guacamole and margarita carts that rolled around. The restaurant is like el Chico's, restaurant with ok food but a decent atmosphere provides for a slightly better overall experience. The el Jefe margarita was rather interesting(pictured below). It is made with jalapeño tequila and it is quite spicy. It is served with salt and pepper on the rim. read more

Uncle Julio's - ¡El Jefe! - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Almost the worst experience with Mexican food I ever had. Fajitas were cold, chicken looked just heated and not freshly made, and portions were quite small. The last time I was here was Jan 2020 and we were super happy with the food and services. But it looks like Covid made this place to run down pretty fast. The service was still acceptable. read more

Awful customer service in the front of the house, the hosts looked and acted as if they were bored out of their minds and didn't relay any useful information sounding like robots with their "it'll only take a few minutes" for an hour and a half long wait for them to clean up one table. One female host in particular stood out with her "I don't estimate wait times" line and annoyed expression. The only reason they're getting a second star is because of our waiter Alec and his wonderful attitude, he was very attentive and made sure to get our orders out to us as soon as they were available. Definitely recommend they get better hosts that understand how to handle a dinner rush rather than these ones that clearly don't know how long "a few minutes" actually is. read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Such a fun restaurant! We sat outside with a nice view of the lake. Excellent, attentive service. Grand kids loved their fajitas kids meals. I loved my salad topped with 4 spicy, plump shrimp. Hubby pronounced the table side prepared guacamole as the best he's had. Dining was not rushed, and it was nice that the adults could have grown up conversation while keeping an eye on the little ones who played nearby. Large restaurant, but they don't take reservations, so be sure to go early. Ask to sit outside. read more

This the second time in the last few months that everything was gross. 1. Med rare does not mean burnt. 2. Quac had hard pieces and almost broke a tooth 3. Service fee of $7????? 4. Chips were stale again 5. Wraps for fajitas were not cooked ripped and honestly inedible. Last time I called in and complained. This time we won't be back agian. Makes me sad. We used to love it. But their inconsistency not good. and at this price point it should be better. read more

I came here for a work lunch last week with a group of 10 or so coworkers. We made reservations for 12:15pm the week prior. We were seated almost immediately upon checking in with the hostess -- it was good to see that they were ready for the large party. Our main waiter along with the waitstaff that attended to us were all very friendly, prompt, and courteous. They ensured that our baskets of chips, cups of salsa, and beverages were never empty. We informed them at the beginning of the meal that we'd like to split all 10ish check -- they had to problem accommodating our request. Overall, the food was just okay. This seemed to be the consensus amongst a number of my coworkers. I ordered the combo platter and choose a beef taco and chicken enchilada -- both as I mentioned earlier, were just okay. The salsa they provided with the chips was a bit more on the tomato-y side than I typically prefer. I think you get exactly what you bargain for here. For my $13 lunch entree, I was content. I wouldn't mind stopping back here for happy hour to check out their bar offerings! read more

I ordered fajitas via door dash and tortillas were missing. I called restaurant and they themselves delivered even though order placed through door dash. Crystal, the manager personally delivered them. Incredible food and great service read more

Food is always great. However, prices have gone up and food portions have gone down. For years, my husband and I have always ordered Steak Fajitas. You pay $25 for some strips of steak, guac, sour cream, cheese and tortillas. They took away the rice and beans! It's not worth the money. After 20+ years of coming here, we won't be coming back again :-( read more

If you like quality food made with quality ingredients, this isn't your place. Imagine Taco Bell food served in a somewhat nicely Mexican-inspired decorated restaurant...The sour cream was the best part of the meal. The Classic Tacos were bland, the Shrimp Fajita Quesadillas tasted like frozen, microwavable food from the local grocery store, and the accompanying guacamole clearly was not freshly made...I'm frowning just thinking about it. Honestly, I like the food at Chipotle much better. On a really positive note, the service was great and the chips and salsa were good too...I won't be coming back, however...ever. read more

Uncle Julio's - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Uncle Julio's (formerly Rio Grande) is a pretty decent family Mexican restaurant in the Rio shopping center. I used to come here frequently when I lived in the area, and had the chance to go back on a recent visit. The restaurant is easy to spot, as it is a standalone building right next to the water, but parking at Rio has traditionally been frustrating. Arrive early. Inside, the restaurant is busy, chaotic, and perhaps the loudest restaurant I've ever been in. You will be yelling to talk to the hostess, the waiter, and the other people at your table, and that just adds even more to the noise, since everyone else is yelling too. Your ears will likely be ringing for a while after you leave, too. Since there are lots of kids in the restaurant, be prepared to see lots of kids zipping back and forth, coming over to your table to stare at you, and spilling food and drinks everywhere -- nothing they can do about that, but obviously this means it's not the cleanest place. Service is decent; the hostesses are teenagers, friendly and professional but grossly inept at estimating the waiting times. The waiters are generally good enough to get by, but seem stressed, overworked, inexperienced, and unpolished. On this last visit, my server mishandled my beer on her way to the table and it fell over on her tray -- she still tried to give it to me, telling me that the foam spilling out of the top would go down if I just waited a few minutes. When I asked for a new one instead, the look on her face was of defeat, as if I'd told her that her shift had just been extended for 3 hours. Like most other corporate Mexican restaurants, Uncle Julio's brings a meager bowl of chips and salsa to the table that disappears in about 2 minutes, so you might want to plan ahead and ask the waiter for more right away. Food is typical Mexican-American fare. If you want something familiar and unlikely to disappoint, go with the fajitas and/or a quesadilla. One particularly bright spot is the fresh made-tableside guacamole, which I recommend highly. Avoid saucy dishes and the beans, as the sauces and the beans did not taste all that fresh to me. Prices are a little high, but not unreasonable. Overall, Uncle Julio's is a good place to bring your kids to let them run wild for a little bit while still having a decent meal and an adult beverage or two. But I would avoid it if you're looking for a more refined experience or a quiet spot for an intimate dinner. read more

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Did you read the articles about how over 50% of fish that you ordered and restaurants is mislabeled and wondered, am I eating mislabeled fish? Order the "tuna" at Uncle Julio's and find out. The red dye in the "tuna" stained my rice and I could not even finish one of them. I can find nothing good about this place other than the atmosphere if you bring a group of friends. A lively crowd of people, especially around the bar, talking, drinking, and stomaching tasteless bland food that has been frozen elsewhere and defrosted by some guy in the back. This place is literally the McDonald's of sit down Mexican restaurants. A safe menu that doesn't venture out beyond what gringos might think Mexican food should be. That pain you feel in your stomach after eating the food here is not a good thing people. It's your body trying to tell you not to eat this garbage. read more

Nothing really stood out for me here. The complimentary salsa that came with the chips was pretty good. It had a nice, smoky flavor, but it was so watery it slid right off the chip. If you order the fresh guacamole, they make it in front of you which is probably the only exciting thing about ordering it in the first place. The fajita platters they serve here are pretty standard. It has your usual choice of grilled meat (steak, chicken, etc.) and other fillings (guac, cheese, sour cream) to create your own tacos with the side of flour tortillas that come with it. The food is nothing spectacular and doesn't really stand out from the other Tex-Mex places in MoCo, but it does the trick if you don't want to walk all over Rio to find a spot to eat at. My experience here was just average. The service was okay & the food was alright. Uncle Julio's hasn't won me over yet. Maybe I just have to explore the menu a bit to find the right thing for me. read more

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Okay okay okay. I waited too long to review this place. I came twice within the past few months. The first time I came with, you guessed it correctly, a date! hahaha! Our sever on this particular day was AMAZING! She was so attentive and helpful as it was my date's first time here. She even offered us free queso because he hadn't been there before! Girl yes. Great service. I ordered their famous swirl margarita, which actually got me harder than I thought. I guess they put a little more alcohol than usual. But I wasn't complaining at all! My date had a couple beers himself as well as a house margarita. SO basic. Men. lol The queso is spot on; it came out hot and fresh, with a little jalapeno mix on top of the cheese. I do believe you can opt out of this if you aren't a spicy fanatic. For my entree I ordered the Guadalajara fajita, which was soo good! My date and I shared the bacon- wrapped shrimp that came with it. He also got the original fajitas with both chicken and steak. This particular day was so amazing. From the food to the hospitable service, It was the ending to a perfect night. The second time I came, last week, was a tad bit different, and could have been better. However, My server did pick up on the fact that I wasn't enjoying myself, and in the end, he pulled through. This particular day, I came with my family : my mother, two little (but huge) brothers, and my baby daughter. This was also their first time here. We all came so hungry, after a choral concert by one of the boys, and were ready to dig in, but wanted to remain on a budget, so we ordered the Plato Grande to Share. For five of us, we ordered the serves-3 portion, and it delivered! It came with pork ribs, steak, chicken, and bacon wrapped shrimp. It was evenly distributed (well, one of the boys did go hard on the ribs) and we were all very full after this! And I'm talking after feeding a 14 yr old 200 lb football player and a 17 yr old sky-high tall martial arts kid. We were all stuffed! We couldn't imagine ordering the feeds-four meal! But because we like to over eat (well, I do) we did get the chocolate pinata, which is so fun to do! My baby had the honor of cracking it open, and the entire family went to town! SO much chocolate!! It was beautiful to say the least. Our server this day had to train someone else, and so he didn't quite seem happy or all-together. The wrong appetizer came out and our drinks were watered down due to lack of attention to the syrup on the machine. I had to get up twice: once to get my daughter a high chair which I requested, and the second time to get new drinks. But as I stated earlier, the server did catch on. The manager came out and apologized personally, and gave us our queso for free! He even gave us a side treat for free for the trouble. I never complained to anyone, but they know when they have slacked, and thats why I like the servers here. Thank you Uncle Julio's for an unforgettable evening- both times. It was, as always, delicious, and pleasing to both parties that I attended with. I always happily send my guests to this restaurant because I know they will like it. And they always do! So just some pointers for first timers and groups: Try to do the Plato Grande to save money and eat more and Do get the chocolate pinata! Enjoy! read more

The chips are really thin and crispy, hot. The salsa was good flavor but too runny and wound up mostly in my lap. I ordered the 3 pepper guac. Habenero, jalapeno and bell pepper. Good and spicy..needed a bit more garlic for my taste...but liked that they had a spicy version of guac! Love the patio here. It is central, and it is a good people watching area! Can be loud on weekends, but it was rather tranquil today because of the impending storm..Sandy. I come to the "Rio" to walk and for the sheer beauty of the place. It is so tranquil. I love to walk around the lake and shops. Most of the eateries have a patio with a view of something. The theme for the Rio area is it for kids...young kids...they have a mini train ride for kids and a nice playground. I was surprised that they don't try to court Build a bear or Chuckie Cheese as a tenant here. read more

Uncle Julio's - 3 pepper guac - Mexican Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I am so disappointed to write this review. For years Uncle Julio's has been our go to restaurant in Rio, but after our most recent visit that has changed. I made an online reservation for a Sunday evening, called to confirm, and spoke to Cory and he said, "I got you." Our reservation originally asked for two tables of two, when we were told to wait 5-10 minutes we told them we would take any table that was ready. We ended up waiting almost 25 minutes. During the entire time we waiting, we were constantly told they were cleaning tables and it would be 5-10 more minutes. I wouldn't have minded waiting if I didn't have a reservation or if I didn't see other parties without reservations seated before us. Including one couple who was friends with the host who loudly laughed about being able to walk in and get a table while we all waited. Not cool. The host/hostess station was disaster and a lot of folks were just standing around doing nothing, we could see clean tables empty without diners. What?!? When we were finally seated our waitress (I forgot her name) came over brought over chips and salsa and took our orders. She was friendly and polite, she did a good job. It looked as if the restaurant was short on wait staff and I felt bad for her, she was running around like crazy. Maybe pull some of the hosts/hostesses to act as runners? Help out the wait staff a little? I saw the waiter at the table next to us spill food down my jacket on the back of the chair and DID NOT SAY ANYTHING TO ME. The entire time we ate dinner we could see empty tables around us and there were many people waiting in line. Maybe I am missing something but shouldn't you be filling the tables with paying customers? The food was good. We downed the chips and salsa in no time (and got a refill). I had a margarita and shrimp tacos, both were excellent. We paid via an electronic pad at the table. I have never seen that before at a restaurant, it was easy and convenient. I hope that more restaurants follow suit. With the restaurant options in Rio and Crown I cannot justify coming back to Uncle Julios. Guapos is across the bridge and Paladar is across the street in Crown not to mention Taco Bar right up the street. I just don't see myself returning here. I would really like to give Uncle Julio's two stars (because of the food) but due to the continued customer service failures I can only give them one star. read more

Uncle Julio's knows how to *take* a reservation, but apparently doesn't know how to *honor* a reservation. For my pregnant wife and two hungry toddlers, this was a disaster. Don't plan on getting service here, because despite your best efforts, they won't seat you or feed you. You'll end up at McDonald's, too. read more

Food was bland. The tortilla chips are thin as potato chips. No draft beer at all. Only bottles. Pretty pricy for Americanized Mexican food.

Best chicken fajita! The honey chipotle chicken was amazing but they added too much bacon, which threw me off. Plate is filled with sides to make your own tacos. You will be very full. read more

Pretty average Mexican fare. I loved the table side guacamole. Went with the chicken tacos for dinner and were just ok, chicken was a bit dry. The patio was nice overlooking the lake and on a busy night our table of 5 was seated with inky about a 20 minute wait. read more