Rico’s World Kitchen — Restaurant in Buford

UPDATE 8/14/18: Went to Rico's for my favorite salad with my parents at about 1:30 today. The restaurant was maybe 25% full and the main parking lot was empty. My dad was parking the car right in front of the main window and door. My mom and I walked in first and the man who was seating asked if our whole party was there and my mom said yes. My dad was not yet in the building and was about to walk in. The man busied himself getting our menus and silverware then asked my mom AGAIN where our 3rd person was. She said, he is right there, and you could see him outside the window. The man then said, "well, we will just wait for him to get in the building." At this, my mom lost it and walked out and said we will never be visiting this restaurant again.

I remained behind because two of the waitresses that serve us regularly were shocked and concerned. I explained that this man obviously did not look out the window and see my dad or believe her. As I mentioned in my review the first time. I completely understand this policy when there is a wait, but when the restaurant is barely full, the host needs to recognize that he should look out the window and not ask a person 3 times if the whole party is there after she said yes the first time.

We were weekly customers, but unfortunately, we would prefer to be welcomed to a restaurant we are going to patronize, not given the 3rd degree about our party when the host just needs to look out the window.

I love Rico's and visit it on a weekly basis. The food is great, fresh, and their specials are always creative and delicious. I always tell people to visit when they ask me for a good restaurant in Buford.

However, nothing aggravates me more than when I go in mid afternoon, usually around 2-2:30, and I tell them my party size and they ask if my whole party is there to be sat and if not, they make me wait in the lobby. I find this infuriating because at the time I usually visit, the restaurant is usually at least 50% empty and there is plenty of space. I completely understand not seating a party until the full group is there during very busy times, but when the restaurant is mostly empty, I hate getting this kind of abrupt welcome to a restaurant that I usually really enjoy.

Overall, I recommend Rico's most of the staff is very kind and has gotten to know me and my regular group that I go with, but this is something I wish they...

Tried Rico’s for the first time and the experience was subpar. Their menu is very small, but has a nice international variety. They have Chicharrónes (Mexican pork rinds) to Lumpia (Filipino Spring Rolls) as some starters that looked good as well as BBQ Mussels. They offer specials for lunch and dinner every day on their Facebook page but we decided to go with their regular menu. We tried the Mojo Pulled Pork Sanchwich with Guava BBQ sauce and the Apricot Ham and Brie Sandwich. The Mojo Sandwich was incredibly tasty, probably one of the better pork sandwiches I had the pleasure of trying. However the Apricot Ham and Brie was over saturated with apricot preserves and lacked in flavor overall. They only put a small slice of Brie cheese and I thought more would’ve really helped the surplus of preserves we received. As the sides we got the house potato chips and the hash brown casserole. The chips were very crispy and fresh tasting and the hash browns were also good, but again lacked in flavor. We ended up using a good bit of salt and hot sauce to help enhance the flavors more. It’s quite a cute little eatery with some limited, but tasty looking stuff. But overall we were underwhelmed with the food, and especially with the service we received. The server we had wasn’t very friendly and rarely came to our table. I was halfway through my food when I finally got her attention to get some sauce because I didn’t want it getting cold. I might try it again in the future because it could just have...

We asked to sit outside on the patio when we arrived at Rico's on a Thursday afternoon about three pm but were informed by an older gentleman sitting at the bar in blue jeans that " we" re cleaning up from lunch shift" and that only inside seating was available. My friend and I adhore sitting inside the old garage turned restaurant as everyone talking echoes off the walls and each other to the point that you can't, and eventually just don't want to, talk to anyone at your table. So, stuck inside, we were informed that the lunch specials were over. We ordered from the same tired menu that has not changed in the 8 years I have lived in the area. Equally baffling that no, well, ceiling baffles are installed is why the menu remains so stale. Basically boring after eating there twice and sharing entrees. Eyeing the desserts in the case, my friend suggested something sweet might enlighten our mood. However our waitress, left over from lunch, never offered us the chance. We left an equivalently underwhelming tip for her , " I just want to get out of here" attitude. On the way to the car, we remembered why we hadn't been to Rico's in such a long time. And why we won't be back...