Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant - West Ashley — Restaurant in Charleston

You know, it's been a really long time since I have gotten so mad at a restaurant. I have a child who is extremely weird about her food. I'm sure it has a lot to do with her disorder, she has ASD, but shes been this way her whole life. We have taugher her how to properly order her food in order to ensure that when she get it, it is correct. She ordered just a tbone steak...the lady started to ask her about the sides... and she stated I want just the steak and rice.... I asked the lady to go ahead and put the beans on the side.... Khloe got a little upset but we have this rule that you have to try everything so I always make it on the side because she doesn't like her food to really touch. So they bring her food to the table.... it has the tbone on the plate with rice...then there are all these sauteed onions and mushrooms sitting on top of her steak...on top of that there is a bed of lettuce with guacamole spilling over into her rice and tbone with a tomato on top. Now for most people it probably would not be a big deal, but for her it is...and honestly it would not have been a big deal if they had taken it back and fixed it, but when I proceeded to ask the lady to take it back and remove everything and replace the rice, she had the nerve to tell me that I could fix it and she would bring me a plate to put all the stuff she didnt want on it on...she walked away so fast I didnt even have time to respond... I was so mad, not everyone may agree with this but it is my opinion. My sister in law asked what was wrong and of course I got loud, If it was our mistake I would fix it, but it wasnt, and she was extremely clear. Couldn't be much clearer. I say it was absolute laziness! This was further proved when we received our check, and I placed my card in it and gave it to her, she proceeded to tell me that she had another table to handle and that I needed to take it up front..I'm thinking, is this chick for real??? We still had 2-1/2 pitchers of margaritas so we were going to be there a while longer...I will never go back to this...

When I moved down to Charleston a few years ago, I was concerned that finding a quality Mexican restaurant was going to be a challenge. It was one of the very first restaurants I went to when I moved down here and I was very impressed by the atmosphere, the service, and the food.

Looking at the outside of this place, you'd never know you're looking at a Mexican restaurant. My first time here, I wasn't even sure Google took me to the right place because it almost looks like a bar of sorts... that is until you go in. As soon as you enter you're hit with awesome smells and a great atmosphere. What the place lacks in looks on the outside, it makes up for on the inside.

The service is ABSOLUTELY the most notable aspect of this place. I've gone here probably once a month or more for the last 2 years and I think the longest I've ever waited for food from the time I ordered it was like 15-20 minutes, and I'm talking peak hours with the place packed. There have been times where my girlfriend and I have walked in, ordered, and the food was on the table in under 5 minutes. For a sit down restaurant with an extensive menu of items to choose from (and even mix and match), that kind of service is unheard of.

Speaking of food... the prices at this place are cheap and the food here is pretty delicious for what you're going to end up paying. You're getting a taste of Mexico and there's many tastes to choose from... seriously, the menu is pretty big compared to most Mexican restaurants I've been to.

I highly recommend this place to any one living in the West...

From the reviews I read, it seemed like a good place to eat. The outside looks welcoming and the bathroom was clean. The menu look delicious as well but when approached to be seated, our waiter was not the most friendliest and kept speaking English and Spanish even though my boyfriend or I do not speak Spanish. We were sat right next to the bathroom even though there was enough space and the other couple in the restaurant prior to us arriving was sat furthest away from the bathroom. I kept noticing that as more customers came in, they too were sat further away from us and the bathrooms. We were given salsa and chips but the salsa was a bit too warm for liking and when the food came, it looked like a microwavable Mexican meal. The tortillas were already falling apart and the food was not warm at all. For anyone wanting to try Mexican food, please go elsewhere. THIS IS NOT MEXICAN FOOD. I paid nearly $25 for a microwaved meal and rude service. Me and my boyfriend did not feel welcomed and our waiter kept starring at my boyfriend and I, it made us very uncomfortable. I dont know what their deal was but I will not be...