It's worth the wait. That's the first thing you need to know about Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, a chain of restaurants that started in St. George, Utah in 1997. They'll be expanding outside of the Beehive State over the next few years, but if you're visiting Utah, get to Cafe Rio. Get there now. Don't settle for the substitute ripoff chains that have tried to duplicate the formula. There's "Costa Vida," which in my house we call the "Bizarro Cafe Rio," because that's what it is--an imperfect clone that does everything backwards. They're the same price--but Cafe Rio is the original and the best.

There are 15 restaurants in the chain right now: 13 in Utah, 2 in Arizona. We've eaten at 8 locations--each time the food was fantastic, the staff was friendly, and usually--the line was at least fifteen minutes long. It's worth the wait.

I've eaten at many Mexican restaurants since meeting my wife eight years ago--she grew up in Arizona, and we're always trying to find something up north in Utah that's as good as the food she grew up with. So we sort of stumbled upon Cafe Rio in 1998, and we've been happy ever since.

Cafe Rio's food is made from scratch every day, based on recipes from the Rio Grande Valley regions of Northern Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico. They actually ship in chiles from New Mexico and Mexico to use in their foods and sauces, and that may be what gives Cafe Rio's menu that delightful kick. They hand-make their tortillas daily as well, and when you get close enough to the front of the line to see the tortilla maker hard at work, you know you've arrived.

Once you're ready to order, hopefully you've perused the menus at strategic points in the line, because it's a very "Soup Nazi" kind of ordering. You order quickly, then step aside and watch as they prepare your food in front of your eyes in a "Mexican Marketplace" style kitchen. If it's your first time through, be prepared. Although I've gotta say, the staff has always been friendly, will add to or take away from orders, and I think all of the "Soup Nazi" pressure is in my head, from being at the front of the line of patrons. It's worth the wait.

(note: I haven't reviewed many restaurants, so I'll include some of the menu and prices here--if that's an unacceptable practice, let me know in my comments or an e-mail--thanks!)

Appetizers
Pretty straightforward fare--chips and salsa, chips and fresh guacamole, chips with chile con queso. We get the chips and salsa about half the time: the chips are fresh-made, and so is the salsa--it doesn't get better than this.
Prices: $1.25 - $4.50

Burritos
Choose from beans and rice, beef, chicken, pork, or fire-grilled steak or chicken, add green chile rice, black or pinto beans, cheese, and sauce to make the best burritos ever. This is what I usually get--man, just writing this is making my mouth water. My burrito: Chicken Breast Burrito, enchilada style, with pinto beans, mild sauce, and lettuce and pico de gallo on the side.
Prices: $4.95 - $6.95

Enchiladas
Cheese, beef, chicken, pork, or fire-grilled steak or chicken; they're served with green chile rice and either black or pinto beans. The choice of sauces include San Antonio red chile (hot--too hot for me), Santa Fe green chile (medium, rich flavor), or El Paso Tomatillo (mild, and my favorite--it really brings out the flavor of the chicken or other meat).
Prices: $4.75 for one enchilada, $6.75 for two; add a dollar for the fire-grilled steak or chicken.

Tacos
Their tacos are fantastic, stuffed to overflowing, which makes them hard to eat, but you're there for your mouth, not your hands. You get the same meat choices as the other menu items, with the addition of fire-grilled salmon. These are also served with black or pinto beans and green chile rice on the side.
Prices: $4.75 for one, $6.75 for two; add a dollar for the fire-grilled steak, chicken, or salmon.

Quesadillas
These quesadillas are enormous. Toasted with cheese and your choice of meat (the same choices as the others--go for the chicken!), they're served with lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. I'm used to quesadillas as appetizers, but this is a whole meal--maybe more. Cafe Rio's tortillas are so delicious, and as part of a quesadilla, they're just...flattened-disc perfection. Prices: $6.25 - $7.95

Tostadas
A crispy mountain of food atop a corn tortilla--there's a hint of lime in the tostadas that I crave like nothing else on the menu. Okay, except my burrito. You've got the same selection of meats, with beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro and sour cream; it's served with either a creamy tomatillo (which my wife would kill for) or a cilantro-lime dressing (my personal favorite). Prices: $4.95 - $5.95

Salads and Soups
The salad is what my wife usually gets when she goes to Cafe Rio; I've honestly never had one myself, but I've picked at hers, and she gets them enough I know them backwards and forwards. These are enormous salads; enough for two meals, really. Served in a toasted tortilla topped with blended cheeses, they fill that tortilla bowl up with rice, beans, and your choice of meat. Topped off with all the good ingredients of a salad, including romaine lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, tortilla strips, cheese, and cilantro; you've got your choice again of either the creamy tomatillo (she really will--she'll kill for it) or the cilantro-lime.
Prices: $5.95 - $7.95

Desserts
Honestly, I'm so full leaving Cafe Rio that I've never ordered a dessert, but they've got a coconut caramel flan, a chocolate cheese flan, and fresh lime pie that all sound and look delicious. They've also got a "Famous Tres Leches" that I've heard is excellent, although again--can't speak from experience.
Prices: $2.95

Beverages
Cafe Rio doesn't serve alcohol (I imagine to cut down on fights in line); they have soda, milk, coffee, tea, or bottled water for $1.39. They also have a Fresh Fruit Fresca for $2.50.

They provide free small quesadillas for kids, and although we don't take our kids there with us often, it's a service appreciated by the large families we've got out here in Utah.

Cafe Rio has a take-out menu--call about 20 minutes ahead of time and stop in to pick up the food.

Their atmosphere is lively and crowded--better for a casual date or hanging out with friends than an intimate dinner--but the food is so good, you could probably get away with either.

If you live in Utah or the Phoenix area, you have no excuse. Go to Cafe Rio, and go often--they've got a Frequent Diner card that gives you one free meal for every nine meals. If you're not in Utah, if you manage a visit here anywhere from Logan (up north, by Idaho) down to St. George (down south, by Arizona), you'll find a Cafe Rio. Ask around, look it up online, you'll find it. And remember--it's worth the wait.

http://www.caferio.com



Recommended: Yes