Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Lone Tree

Unfortunately this location just keeps going downhill and seems to be on a race to the bottom and at this point. I would have trouble recommending this location at all. Post covid value and experience have suffered and other resturants in the area offer a much better value (my neighbor Felix) even at a higher price point. We used invite friends for nights out here but now only go in for a occasional tortilla soup which my partner loves but now this even seems to be hit or miss due it it has been boiling down all day into a salty dry and unappetizing concoction. I want to say that the server offered a solution to our tortilla soup problem but after we refused other options serval times he said maybe he could just get a quesadilla for us so she didn’t have to sit there and watch me eat.. Once again, we declined and he insisted. Much to our surprise it showed up on our bill. I feel like this is due to staff under training. We would’ve much rather kept the tortilla soup on our bill that we did not eat but instead ended up with a $13 quesadilla that neither of us wanted.. I feel like this has been part of a long line of issues that we have with value and expierence. The words quesadilla never came out of our mouths, and somehow it ended up on our bill. He acted like he did us favor for removing the tortilla soup. That should have been the bare minimum. Another time where we had come in I had ordered a 2 cheese enchilada plate. I asked them to hold the rice and beans, and just bring out the enchiladas. Much to my surprise when we got our bill, I was charged for two à la cart enchiladas that combined were more than the enchilada plate. Once again poor service poor training. When I asked them about it, they acted like I was the one in the wrong. Why would I pay more for less food? It seems to be my experience here going forward and now I feel I have to watch my bill. At the price point they’re requesting for their food there should be some accountability to the customer. Please make some changes this used to be a lonetree staple. Now it's a place to grab and go tortilla soup and hope for the best......

We've been going to different Rio's since the 90's, and the salsa + margaritas have always been great. Went today, and they just raised prices again within the past 7 days since we were last there! The crazy thing is that we noticed similar hikes the time before! The food itself has always been simple, decent Mexican, but nothing amazing. The prices are feeling pretty darn unrealistic at this point, unfortunately, and just aren't worth it any more. For example, their extremely basic, underfilled chicken burrito is now $16.50. Margaritas are now $10, are relatively small, and mostly ice. Fewer and fewer people are there every time we come. The staff is still always friendly, though.

• Reply to Response From The Owner*

Thanks for replying. We love the Rio, and have stuck with it thick and thin. We've been regulars for decades. Even strongly supported the failed El Monte grill project in Fort Collins, failed Steamboat restaurant, etc. But I am 100% certain that's just not true re: not raising prices in 2023. Marg prices, happy hour deals were subtly dropped / made worse, surcharges added to certain meats on tacos, burrito prices increased, etc.

Yes, agreed - the margs pack quite a punch, and they're delicious! The Rio makes one of the best IMO. But, they've always been smaller than the competition and seem to be more and more packed with ice. Always gave it the benefit of the doubt, but now that they're $10, it's tough to justify. Can't speak to the blended or fancy ones...just the regular "on the...

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AUGUST 1, 2018 About 2:30

1ST TIME GOING TO RIO GRANDE RESTAURANT, PARK MEADOWS

We Will NEVER NEVER Go To This Restaurant Again!

My husband and I went to the "Rio" Park Meadows Restaurant, for a FUN Getaway Lunch Rendezvous. As we entered,They're was NO ONE to Greet or Seat us, and No Signs. After waiting quite a long time, And since this was our 1st time visiting the Restaurant, We approached a young Waitress, and asked if we should seat ourselves. Very RUDE and SNIPPY, Her reply was: You have to be seated by the person up front, Putting us in a Very Defensive position, and having to explain, that we waited along time and, " NO ONE WAS THERE ". Her Attitude, Indicating that we were lying.! Then we asked her if we could sit in this booth in the dining room. She replied, "You can sit in the bar. We didn't want to sit in the bar, we wanted to eat in the dining area. My husband then asked if she wanted us to leave. With no response, and this waitresses Attitude, putting us on the Defensive, On what was to be, a Fun, Enjoyable Lunch Rendezvous. Husband and I decided to leave for what we had just experienced. On our way out we did report to a waiter, and a Young lady who appeared at the hostess desk. Neither One Apologized, or acted like they Cared. We Will NEVER NEVER go back to this Restaurant Again. We Will Tell Our Family and Friends. I Guess being Insulted by Insensitive people is one's motto. The Shock affect works One...