This place is so cute! We love Lily and Liam Bistro and we have been here to Upscale Rio one other time but we forget about it as it's back behind a bunch of businesses off of 528. If you know where Hot Tamales is, go behind it and hit Upscale Rio! First of all, this place has so many options of what I'd call comfort food and everything is good! They have shakes, desserts, yummy starters, mac and cheese, burgers and much more! What's my favorite thing? So many items are gluten free!! Hallelujah!! Even the burgers can be ordered with a gluten free bun! We also had a super sweet waitress! I had to go gluten free last fall and it really cut down on us eating out as most places have little to no options. Here, MOST things are gluten free!! Like what you may ask? Well, today I had chicken fried chicken, green chile gravy, mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables- a medley of corn, Lima beans ,bell peppers and red onions. They use a gluten free rice flour and the batter on the chicken was crispy and delicious!! They are also super generous with their portions so I took half of my food home and can't wait for dinner! I also had a double chocolate shake and a cold brew. They proudly brew Whispering Bean Coffee which is super tasty! My husband had the Green Chile Chicken Pot Pie and really enjoyed it and ate every bite! My mother in law had the Basic Cheddar Burger with fresh cut fries and raved about it. She also had a Key Lime Pie Shake. No photo of this, sorry! They normally have a gluten free fruit cobbler but they were out. I'll be back to try that for sure! All I know is I found a place that has super tasty gluten free options that I can't find anywhere else. I love you Upscale Rio! I'll be sharing this with all my gluten free friends! See you soon!! XOXO read more

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Excellent service. Good food. Ok atmosphere. After checking the menu here I came for lunch. I don't eat beef so I was pretty disappointed that the pulled pork want on the menu today. Today's menu was MUCH thinner than the menu photos posted. I had fish & chips and it was ok. Maybe not as good as I expect from Lilly & Liam's but close. To be fair, while Lilly & Liam's is excellent, I often have trouble finding something to eat on their menu. And I have a similar challenge at Upscale Rio. I often have that challenge in New Mexico, though. read more

Nice to see a local spot on Rio Rancho get some good attention. Came in with my son who ordered the cheeseburger. Needless to say the burger didn't last long on his plate. Burger was cooked well and was filled with flavor! I got the steak fingers after reading reviews and unfortunately they were not good. The Steak fingers were covered in oil and tasted like the oil they were cooked in may have been older. The fries, shakes and service though were good!! I'll return but I'll get a burger instead. read more

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Came for lunch with my brother on a Sunday, neither of us had been to this new location and it was a little difficult to find. Not horrible though we both found it. We both got a milkshake and the chicken strips with fries. Good fries are very important to me and they had hand cut fries that were very crispy and good. The chicken strips are also very clearly battered freshly. The milkshakes were good, I personally would probably opt out for chocolate chips next time because they were a little bitter. Service was fast and friendly, they weren't busy. read more

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We stopped in on a friday around 7pm after a movie. Only a couple tables were occupied. After eating here I can easily say this place should be packed ALL THE TIME. The menu is varied, there is something for everyone. Service was exceptional, we never needed a thing. Food was delicious and well prepared/seasoned. This will definitely be a regular spot for us. Please go show them some love. And next time we stop on a Friday I'll be thrilled if the line is out the door read more

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We went after we decided not to wait for a table across the street. Food was good. Service was good. Kitchen was slow. Ambience is a little forced somehow. Nice to have another option in the area. read more

We stopped in mid day for a late lunch, this place is not too big and could be missed. The service r was friendly and our burgers came out super fast. They were cooked perfectly pink, just like we ordered. The fries are perfectly cooked string fry style. I highly recommend also trying the berry lemonade. We didn't try the shake this time, but we heard others ordering them. We will definitely be back to try one. I noticed they are running a dinner special for the week of Valentine's Day, stop by and give them try! read more

Despite the name, Upscale Rio is more of a casual burger joint than an upscale spot --but that's not a bad thing! The burgers are solid, the fries are crispy, and it's a good place to grab a quick, satisfying bite. Just go in knowing it's more laid-back than fancy. read more

Ordered the Green Chili cheeseburger with grilled onions and the upscale sauce on the side. Burger was delicious, you can tell they freshly prepare the meat. The meat was thicccc the sauce was delicious! Glad I got it on the side to dip the fries in. Fries were thin and crispy- my fav! Service was fast and attentive, shout out for good service! I will be here asap. This is the second location, first location is in the cottonwood mall. read more

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I've heard and seen so many good things about Upscale and decided to give it a try myself. We wanted to stay local so we headed out this afternoon to try it. Located in a mini shopping area behind Hot Tamales. Parking lot is narrow so just be careful driving in and out of that area. We were greeted by friendly staff members, Michelle, was our waitress and she was very attentive and gave great service. She gave us some time to look over the menu. Even directed us to the specials menu that they change every other day. I decided to try the Chicken and Avocado Melt. I was told that this is not a sandwich, it is served over a bed of fries. I still went for it and got mine with sweet potato fries. I enjoyed it because it was flavorful. I wish I had more of the chipotle aioli because the chicken didn't have much on it. It was a little dry, so that aioli would have probably helped out. Instead, I ended up using that green salsa that was on the table. It was vinegar based, but it tasted good on the chicken. The sweet potato fries, were seasoned just right. Not too salty. My husband tried the Bacon and Bleu burger. The burger was really tasty. The patty was actually bigger than the bun. Which is pretty awesome. It was juicy too. We didn't get any dessert because we were too full to get any. But they do have a selection of desserts and shakes. I wanted to try one, but it would probably fill me up. Thank you for the good service. We will be back here again soon. read more

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If you're looking for a nice fresh burger, this place is great! The inside was friendly and not too crowded, the burger was delicious and hearty. Looking forward to trying it again!! read more

Everything was amazing. Food and customer service was amazing. The restaurant isn't fancy but cozy and welcoming. My wife and I had burgers and were not disappointed. Loved them. read more

What a pleasant surprise. We decided to try upscale Rio and not only was the food really good. The service was so friendly, nice and accommodating. That's what we need more of these days. The ambience was nice. They had several tables most were taken, which tells you that other people like the food as well. read more

Upscale Rio - Shrimp and citrus lettuce, wraps. - Burgers Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

The burgers are very good. Favorite is mushroom bacon and cheese. Bacon on burger is crisp. Cauliflower wings are good too. Simple place with good food. read more

Another solid experience here. The staff was attentive and my sloppy Joe was fantastic! Can't wait to go back

Good service, good food and love was in the air on Valentine's Day when we visited Upscale Rio! We made a reservation, but we ate our meal early before the crowd arrived around 6PM. So, about 1/3 of the tables were seated when we arrived. This is a great local place to try and splurge on getting shakes or dessert, too! read more

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Went to upscale burger for the first time and loved it! We went during lunch and though the parking lot is smaller we were able to easily find a parking. There were a lot of open tables and it was not too loud. We were quickly seated and all the servers were very friendly. My husband and I had ordered the brisket quesadilla appetizer and also both ordered the bbq smokehouse burger. The burger and quesadilla themselves were amazing. Only downside was that our appetizer came after our burgers so we didn't have a full chance to enjoy the appetizer.... However our server was new and still learning the register he explained and he was so kind that it made it no big deal. Will definitely be going back for another visit! read more

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I was excited to try this place after seeing the good reviews. Let me just say, if it was not for our friendly and attentive waitress, Destiny, I would be giving a 1 star review. Upon seeing all of the mac n cheese options I thought I would try the base mac n cheese without the fancy addition just to get a base line. It was a complete disappointment. Very bland, no flavor what so ever and so so dry. I added pepper just to be able to taste something. Do not recommend at all. I had to open the pepper shaker just to get some pepper out. They use fine ground pepper and the shaker was completely clogged. The fries were very greasy and super soggy. I like the shoestring cut but not when they are not crispy. My husband ordered the steak fingers after seeing other reviews about them being actual steak. They were an absolute grease bomb. I wish I would have taken a picture of the black plate with all of the grease from the steak fingers and fries. Yuck! We like to keep it local but this one is not for us. read more

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Oh NO... I have eaten here since they opened. I had lunch today and No chicken fried steak??? Only served for dinner. Look at this slice of cake I got to go!! Absolutely pissed... Always great Food!!! Service is mediocre. read more

Upscale Rio - Well that should be a 4" slice of Red Velvet cake. - Burgers Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

We really enjoyed dinner here tonight. The worst part was the drive there, which is 100% my fault coming from the NE Foothills all the way up to Rio Rancho at 5 PM on a Wednesday. Not my brightest decision. However, once we got there, everyone was all smiles. The biggest reason for this was their shakes. Boy howdy. My husband got the dark chocolate one (with chocolate chips and ganache) and my son got the brownie one (brownie, ganache and whipped cream). These are $7 shakes and in my opinion worth every cent. The shake was obviously hand-blended, served in a huge glass and heaped with toppings. Wowza. For dinner, my son got the kid's Mac and cheese with fries, my husband got the NM Mac (Mac and cheese with a pile of green chile and chicken tenders) and I got an appetizer for my meal, the citrus shrimp lettuce wraps. After we ordered, as the boys gorged on their shakes, we listened to all of the surrounding tables ooh and ahhh over their meals. Everyone was loving their dinner tonight! Our waitress was attentive and gave us updates on the status of our order. She didn't hover, but she checked in several times. Then we got our food. Wow. The citrus shrimp were warm, covered with a citrus dressing and feta, along with fresh lettuce to wrap them in. They were delicious and the perfect amount (6 large shrimp) to eat if you want tastes of everyone else's food as well. My son was all smiles, but his was gone before I could taste. My husband was more generous and gave me a few big bites. I think the green chile was the perfect balance to the rich creamy cheese sauce. I could easily have eaten that solo for dinner, but he got 3 huge freshly breaded chicken fingers to boot. The ambience of the place was pretty low key... black and white decor with tables and a few booths. Everything was super clean. Overall, I thought we got fresh comfort food, paired with indulgent shakes in a homey atmosphere. And the tab was under $50 for the three of us (not including tip). We will definitely return. read more

We came the 1st time shortly after they opened. Our early experience was pretty good and decided to see if they got better. Today we chose Steak Fingers with fries and the Chipotle Tortilla Burger with Sweet Potato Fried. Then we added a Turtle Shake. The steak fingers were delicious - lightly fried and with batter that flaked off the beef. I was expecting gravy but it came with something more like a sauce. The tortilla burger was lightly seasoned on a tortilla - prob more than what was needed. Came with cheese, avocado and onions. We held the jalapeños. Regardless it had great flavor. Portion size was good, we left food on the plate. These guys are on the right track. read more

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Food was well prepared, service was great , atmosphere good. From casual to dressed Up if you want. Food is fresh and everything looked and tasted well read more

First time ordering food, 2nd time getting a shake. That burger was huge! They don't skimp on their toppings and the burger was great!! Fries hand cut and while they were great, eating them in the restaurant or order than extra crispy. Great with hey gave me ketchup too. Definitely going to return. read more

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Ordered take out for lunch. Two colleagues had the Ruben they both raved about it. I had the burger and it was great and cooked exactly as ordered. We called it in ahead of time I waited for about 5 minutes and out the door. Looks like they have great drinks I am going have to hit the off hours. read more

We stopped in for dinner a bit early, hence the empty dining room photo. We had the basic cheddar burger and the pulled pork sandwich - and both were fantastic. That hamburger meat had so much flavor! Their fries are the best I've ever had - honestly. And that mac & cheese? Amazing! We finished off our meal by sharing a slice of Chantilly cake - again, fantastic! Great service & great food. Upscale is going to be a weekly stop for this old retired couple. read more

Upscale Rio - Upscale Sign - Burgers Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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Today my husband Jeff invited me to lunch. We decided to try Upscale Rio. Entering in there is a small waiting area. The restaurant is clean. The decor is trendy white with blac accents. There is a young man and young woman who great you, wait on you, cash you out, and bus the tables. Checked out the bathrooms, nice and clean. Jeff ordered the beef chipolte salad. It contained avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, a few bell peppers, onion and ground beef that was medium spicy. Not only was his plate artfully decorated with the vegetables, it tasted very good. I ordered the single patty, cheddar cheese green chili burger well done, and sweet potato fries. The hamburger patty was fresh although it was pink inside, the flavor was good. They remade my burger. Honestly it is a good burger, the green chili was mild. The flavor was juicy good. The sweet potato fries have a nice crunch, soft in the middle, no need to dip into any condiments. The well done burger arrived, still juicy good, with white potato fries that are fresh, yum! Their ice tea was brown and tasted fresh brewed. They are new and had professionals working out the kinks. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable. Give them a try! read more

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Went for highly reviewed burgers & fries & was NOT disappointed!! Welcoming staff, with mom & pop cafe feel. Upscale Rio offers modest fare to exquisite dishes. Try it once & you'll likely never eat another fast food burger!! read more

We came for the milkshakes and wow! I'm already dreaming of my next one. Made with homemade ice cream!

We did carry out burgers. So many choices we could add/take off. They were ready quickly and tasted very good. We will definitely order from here again!! read more

A beautiful sunny Wednesday morning here in central New Mexico. And the opportunity to watch Tom Neiman and Jim Tritten report on the latest restaurant opened by the talented team of James and Megan Carrigan. Join our dynamic due report on Upscale Rio, the third establishment by James and Megan - all with different menus. Just click on the following YouTube link: https://youtu.be/F0XrvWPiEcE read more

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We found this place looking for a local eatery that wasn't a chain franchise. The hostess and waitress were personable and friendly. The menu was original and quite varied. We had an appetizer and some entrees. Mostly burgers. The burgers were tasty and my sons loved them. I had a breaded steak creation that could have used more seasoning. We were there for about an hour, reflecting the relatively speedy service. Albuquerque is an up and coming town. This Rio Rancho restaurant will do well feeding hungry customers with hot, well prepared local food. read more

It's me, I'm back with another review... why another? You ask. Because this food is worth the compliment every time. We sat watching the city, enjoying our food to the utmost. Both of us said to each other... it just tastes like who ever is cooking, really enjoys cooking. The food is ALWAYS DELICIOUS. The to go packages... THOUGHTFULLY PACKED. The shake.... ARTISTICALLY BLENDED AND BEAUTIFUL. Seriously this is a gem. Our favorite spot in Rio Rancho. I really hope it stays for a loonnngg time. It's sooo good. We got the green chile chicken Mac n cheese, sweet potato fries topped with cheddar and green Chile, the hunny got the blu cheeseburger with bacon... THE PICKLES!! Definitely made in house. So crisp. So delicious. And I enjoyed the turtle shake. I swear they make the turtles in house, not like the candy ones from the store. You can just taste the appreciation for good food and great cooking in every bite. read more

Upscale Rio - green Chile chicken Mac n cheese, sweet potato fries w/ cheddar and green Chile, the blu cheeseburger w/bacon & the turtle shake. - Burgers Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

I not impressed, First time was diffinitly forgettable. The second time was a little worse. The booth seating is pretty cramped. The tables are even worse, tables were wobbly and the chairs were even worse, they were actually very uncomfortable. Like they are trying to get you to leave as soon as you can. The place is called upscale Rio, anything but upscale. I had to use the restroom, I didn't realize that a sink can be mounted in particleboard, I don't think that it would pass a health inspection. And the decor could be described as kids club house chic. Random size pieces of recycled wood tacked up to the wall surfaces. Also not very sanitary. Maybe I'm being too critical, but I expect a little better from a Rio Rncho restaurant. At the very least, should be setting a example for what could be a better dinning experience. And the menu pricing is moderately high, for the quality of food presented. read more

Great food & wonderful service. Ordered online & had an issue with Square. It showed as ordered but when we went they hadn't received it. I talked to Dan, manager, he was so helpful. I reordered & paid over phone. Upon pickup they had included 3 desserts. The fault was all Square not the restaurant. Dan called later to tell me the change came through late & he cancelled it. Love dealing with customer oriented people. Thanks and the desserts were excellent. read more

Stopped for a milkshake date; however we were very disappointed. Their shakes used to be good, today's was quite disappointing. No evidence of ice cream, rather seemed like ice crystals and chocolate milk. What happened to change the previously decadent shakes? read more

They have fresh milkshakes. The lady who helped us was very friendly and helpful. She came by and refilled our waters and gave us extra napkins just in case the kids made a mess. I read the menu and everything looks like it's housemaid and fresh, which made the food taste excellent. Would be definitely coming back. read more

I was with a few friends getting together for a nice luncheon before Thanksgiving. The atmosphere was comfortable with many patrons enjoying their table's company. We were pleasantly greeted, quickly seated, and attentively served. Upscale Rio boasts of making everything from scratch even their ice cream, which costs $3.00 a scoop. The one diner wanted the pot pie, however, the restaurant was out. The meatloaf meal was ordered, which had a hair in it. The waitress was pleasant and took away the plate to replace with something else. I found my dish to be plain. The mashed potatoes were soupy with the chicken fried steak laid on top. Overall, this was just a filling and unappetizing meal. The collard greens side was good. The diner who got a hamburger with fries cleared her plate, and she was satisfied. A fourth order was chicken strips and fries. Barely any of this meal was eaten; I do not know why. Upscale Rio has potential to be a favorite place for casual dining. There are improvements needed like the recipies for some items. The hair in the food made me feel yucky and wondering what other problems are lurking in the kitchen. read more

Delicious hamburger and fries! Quick and friendly service. Love how they decorate the dining area. read more

Upscale Rio - Blue cheese and bacon burger - Burgers Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

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Great atmosphere tucked away in a little strip mall. Staff is super friendly, restaurant is clean and food is very well priced and delicious! Everything is made in house. read more

Upscale Rio - Green chile cheeseburger. Add condiments to your liking $10 with fries $1 additional for sweet potato - Burgers Near Me - Rio Rancho, New Mexico

This was such a pleasant find for me. I met a friend there and didn't even realize it existed. The food is delicious and tastes fresh. I've been twice now and I've enjoyed everything. Didn't love the steak fingers, but that was more of a taste preference thing and not a quality thing. The service is great. It's definitely in our permanent rotation now. read more