Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican — Restaurant in Menifee

Let’s start off with how I’ve never been to one these cafe rio I had seen the coming soon sign. So I figured hey why not although I’m not a fan of fake Mexican food I decided to give them a try. So I arrive place looks ok a lot of people long line which I expected. I ordered tacos and quesadillas the rice from the line looked dry and over cooked as well as some of the meat Mind you there’s like 50 people working “cooking” you would think the line would be freshly stocked and nice so be they literally just opened. The girl who started my order was nice that’s the only good thing about this place so far into the story. So I wait for my food to be “ cooked” which mean just placing the food on a grill to basically heat it up. They try to rush you as you stand there like your taking up time. I mean I’m waiting for the food, lol well everything is extra on these entrees it comes with rice beans and lettuce that’s all you get for 10 dollars a plate. Sour cream? Guacamole, cheese , yup you got it extra ! So long story short the cashier had a stank face like sweetie you have the easiest job of all the people running around behind pretending to be busy. The least you could is smile. Stay away tbh chipotle is 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000%%%% Better than this place over priced and over done glorified Mexican American taco shop. Lesson learned stay away and give chipotle another try because they are the best compared to this joint. I wish I could do zero stars but hey one star for the one girl is good I guess. It’s a no from me cafe rio thanks but no thanks. I spend $40 on 3 entrees you guys...

Never again. This was my first time there and I will never go back there or any other Cafe Rio location. I ordered nachos… the lady packed the container with chips so high up overflowing the container. I had to ask her to take half of it off then she SPRINKLES a small amount of black beans followed by a mountainous amt of cheese which was too high up to even fit in the rotating toaster. The cheese was so high up that the conveyor belt stopped and she had to use tongs to manually move it. The cheese got smeared at the top of the outside and inside the toaster— I had to stop myself from thinking about what it was scrapping against. Then comes the choice of meat, Which was also sprinkled on. Same with pico and they have TEASPOON-sized scoopers for sour cream, guacamole and sauce. Addtl scopes are highly overpriced at $2. I wanted horchata so I poured a small amt to taste, thankfully. It turned out gross and there were chunks of cinnamon and something swirling around in the big pitcher/container. I decided with raspberry tea but didn’t taste it until I left. It turned out to be watered down and unsweetened. The nachos were NOT tasty at all. I couldn’t even finish it and I was hungry. This place is a joke. Next time I want Americanized Mexican food, I’ll stick with places like Chipotle...

The meats were tasteless and greasy When the preparer made our tacos he didn't drain the meats and it soaked into the tortillas making them mushy. The make their own flour tortillas but they were overcooked and then put on s flat top grill and cooked again! We opted for the refried beans and they were very fresh but watery and not flavorful. The rice was lumpy and lukewarm. It was also lacking in the flavor department. The food was expensive and not a good value overall. It was served in a round aluminum tin which gave it even a less appealing look. I hear taco Tuesday is a good deal with $1.99 tacos, but they were not good enough to make me come back. They had plenty of staff behind the counter who were helpful and friendly, but no one out on the dining floor cleaning tables or dumping trash! We sat in a larger table next to the door and it smelled so bad of mildew, probably from using a dirty mop, that we had to move to another table. Sorry to say, we won't be back or recommending it to...