The Rio Room Event Venue & Catering Kitchen — Restaurant in Bend

I wrote a previous review but I decided to edit it. I want this food review to be useful for the next person who is looking for a good place to eat in Bend. First, we love tapas and have eaten in many cities with fantastic tapas restaurants. We have enjoyed flaky empanadas, fresh stuffed peppers, flavorful rice, etc. So when we saw Barrio we were pretty excited. To be fair, this place was very busy which to me is a good sign that the food would also be good. The hostess was really friendly but the interior could use some cleaning and freshening. Our seat faced the front window and the window was pretty dirty as were the walls and floor. We ordered the queso and chips and jalapeno poppers with our drinks. The queso was grainy and came with 7 chips. It was supposed to have jamon in the cheese so I was imagining bits of crispy delicious flavor. There wasn't any jamon. None. As for the poppers, we were served one cut up jalapeno and 1/2 of a tomato. The jalapeno was supposed to be filled with something but only two of the pieces had anything in them. The others were just tiny, breaded bits of jalapeno. The tomatoes had no seasoning at all. Then we ordered the chili relleno and flank steak. I have had some of the most amazing chili relleno (think fresh tasting, plump chilis filled with seasoned meat, rice and cheese). This chili was a limp, off-green wimpy, unseasoned disaster filled with mashed up light brown plantains. My steak was overcooked, under seasoned and flopped on top of corn and black beans that were so bland I didn't bother eating them. What I would have given for a salt shaker. The steak was topped with what I think was supposed to be patate fritte but they were also unseasoned and limp. Overall, this was a disaster meal. But, if you read other reviews people are loving this place so either they haven't previously experienced good tapas, went on a lucky night, or are related to the owner. BTW, the prices were ridiculous for what was served. If you read other Barrio reviews from people who shared our experience, you will notice the owner gets all snippy and defensive. Up your game and you won't get bad reviews. I won't say don't go to this place but I will say don't go there really hungry or with high...

I had high hopes for this place. I have been craving paella a lot lately and it was driving force for coming in. The place looks nice and the ambiance was great. The resto follows covid 19 guidelines; tables 6 feet apart and servers and hostess wore masks at all times. The server we had was patient and accommodating. The nachos were great and so were the churros. The tacos were nothing special though.

The paella should have been the star but sadly, it wasn't. I was very hungry and so when the food came, I piled food on my plate and on the plate for my 9 yr old son. We had ordered a medium on the paella and was supposed to be good for 2-4 people. The portions were generous but the taste was off.

I didn't realize at first because I was shoving food down my gullet. When I slowed down was when I noticed the crunching on almost every bite. I though, "Hnn... maybe they overcooked the rice a bit and that was why it was crunchy." Then when I pressed on the each grain of rice, that was when I realized it was half cooked. I told my server and she told me that was how they cook it. I was like "But it's half cooked."

I'm Asian and I grew up eating rice everyday, two to three meals a day. I know my rice and how it should be cooked. Half cooked rice is basically half raw. And it will give you an upset stomach if you eat it; worse if you eat a lot of it. Plus, I've eaten paella a lot which is why when I moved to the States, I missed it. I haven't had one in more than a dozen years. So yes, much disappointment.

I would have given the resto two stars but the server saved the day, even though she kinda tried to defend the cook.

Will I eat there again? It's a toss up. Maybe as long as I don't order...

Worth driving to bend to eat here.

Okay, I'd first off say im not a fan of latin foods. I wasn't excited to come here but our party had a individual with celiac and this was our only option. The saff was super friendly and professional. My mask broke and he provided me with a new kn95 one. The setting for the place is cute and the music selection was older songs with some reggae and ska. Ordered Paella and a bunch of other things. The ingredients were fresh and succulent. The salmon were thick cut ~1in and not those tiny filets and cooked to perfection with an amazing sear. The rock fish was even better. The paella 🥘 reminded me of the ones in Spain. The flavors were authentic and just enough crisp with out getting stuck in your teeth. I normally don't like calamari but theirs was so soft and tender. Their cauliflower bowl was super good and the sweetness was just right. I had an issue with one of my dishes and the saff handled it very well. Their homemade sodas were refreshing and I think they were great. I would say that they are most definitely not on the sweeter side. Everyone on my table said it was bitter. I personally wouldn't change it but maybe let the customers know or have an option for added sweetness.

Overall, bravo! In my opinion, of the best latin restaurants in the state of Oregon and the prices were great. If I was not 100 miles away I'd be eating here weekly. All I know is everytime im in bend, ill be coming here. Or ill be coming to bend just to eat here. Finally, the bathroom door has a foot opener so the staff dont touch the door after washing...