Cafe Rio Pizza — Restaurant in Ruidoso

Even as I write this, I’m surprised that we gave Cafe Rio our business. As I walked inside to ask about ordering a pizza to go, I was no more than two steps in when I was QUICKLY ushered out of the restaurant, almost backwards, by a young, incredibly RUDE young woman (with the most beautiful eyes!) who was pointing her finger to the door as she marched towards me, as if to say “GET OUT!” without using the words. A pizza place with a bouncer? How unique! After ushering me outside, she pointed to the menu stuck on the far side of the window next to the entry (see photo). This wouldn't be an issue EXCEPT there are planters mounted on the wall under the windows, as well as a bench, where 3 people were seated. When I told her we couldn’t see over the people to read the small print on the Menu, she told us to GOOGLE Cafe Rio and look at the menu that way. Had I been alone, I would have had some choice words for her and walked. I'm accustomed to restaurants that are more respectful in how they treat their customers. They actually want our business and are not trying to turn it away.

Being scolded for not knowing their process was appalling to me. How dare I enter their establishment and ask to see a menu?! Cafe Rio EXPECTS that YOU KNOW, that behind the seated people on the bench, where a small window sits cracked open, that there is a menu posted on the far side of that window, and that there is someone there, inside the dark window space, ready to take one's order. Seriously? Who BLOCKS their take away window with a bench where people sit (and block it), and then sticks their menu on the OPPOSITE side of the window from where you are supposed to place your order? Much less EXPECT people to know that's where you place 'to go" orders and that there's a menu posted when there is NO sign saying "Carry Out Orders" or "To Go Orders"? Why not invest in a PLACE CARRY OUT ORDERS HERE sign to stick on the window (or write it on a piece of paper) and move the menu to the LEFT of the window where it's easier to see/read? Or what about a DO NOT ENTER (WAIT HERE is more friendly BTW) sign at the door so your customers don’t get ‘bounced’ and made to feel like crap? Or even better, mount a frame with the Menu outside the door where people can actually SEE it?! Just thoughts…

I’m told people wait in lines to eat here? SADISTS! Reminds me of an old Seinfeld episode..y’all know the one! 🥣 (at least the soup was good!).

We ordered our pizza at 3ish and were told it would be ready at 4:20pm. We arrived at 4:20pm for pick-up. At just about 5pm, after waiting in the cold, gusting winds, we received our lukewarm pizza and headed back to the cabin.

I do NOT understand all the hoopla about Cafe Rio??? The pizza was pedestrian at best (honestly, I've had better frozen pizza). Certainly not worth the long wait, or being treated as we were. Our pizza looked NOTHING like the photos we saw online either. Maybe they're nice if you eat inside and don't order to go? Also, before deciding to eat here, be sure to go to their website and read their NOTE (more like a WARNING) at the bottom of the page.

The manager/owner might consider putting the young lady working the door on Saturday afternoon (3/2/24) through some CUSTOMER SERVICE training. I would never allow an employee to treat/speak to a customer in that tone/way. Much less literally point at them, while bulldozing them out the door. That said, the young bubbly gal with shoulder length brown hair working the window was all good vibes and sunshine!

CR, if you don’t want to deal with visitors who don’t know how YOU do things, then get a big sign that reads “LOCALS ONLY”! Thankfully, our experience at other restaurants during our stay were very warm and...

⭐ Overall Experience We visited Café Rio and enjoyed good food—pizza, breadsticks, and a canzone—all were flavorful and satisfying. The pizza, thin-crust and generously portioned, matched the glowing local reputation . Breadsticks were warm, and the canzone was delicious—everything came together well.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-Friendly with Patience Café Rio typically welcomes families warmly, and most of the staff were kind and accommodating to us. We especially appreciated the relaxed vibe—no rush signs and a comfortable environment for dining out with our daughter.

😞 One Staff Interaction That Didn’t Sit Well During our meal, one staff member approached us and brusquely said we were taking too long and there was a waiting list. I was surprised—there were no posted time limits, and it felt rude, especially since our daughter has Rett Syndrome and takes longer to feed. We’ve never been asked to hurry before under similar circumstances.

❤️ Highlights Most staff were friendly and made us feel welcome. The food was great—pizza (even locals say it's among the best in Ruidoso ), breadsticks, and canzone were all standout items. The restaurant has a well-earned, solid reputation—TripAdvisor shows it ranked #5 of 58 restaurants in Ruidoso with a 4.2 average .

🔍 Insights & Suggestions

Accessibility for special needs: Families with unique needs, like slower eating due to medical conditions, deserve patience and understanding. Café Rio could benefit from a more empathetic and accommodating approach in these matters.

Communication of expectations: If turn times are a concern during busy periods, adding a gentle, visible note (“We kindly ask guests to limit their stay during peak hours if there is a wait”) would help avoid misunderstandings.

Staff training: A friendly reminder to staff—especially newer team members—that empathy is as important as efficiency could make future visits more pleasant for all guests.

📣 Summary Café Rio is a solid, family-friendly pizzeria in Ruidoso with genuinely tasty food, a welcoming atmosphere, and a loyal dining crowd. Just beware: during peak times, you might encounter pressure to wrap up quickly—something to consider if you tend to linger, especially with loved ones who require extra time.

Final Verdict: 4 ★ out of 5—great food and overall experience, but a more consistently patient and understanding staff approach would make it...

I have lived in the area for 15 years and Cafe Rio is the worst in terms of the time to get food. If you don't have an hour to wait to satisfy your hunger forget it. Once or twice a year I try again because yes the pizza is good. It is always the same story the locals agree. If you order on the phone and go pick it up it is worth it.

But forget dropping by for a slice or two or a whole pizza. You will sit outside breathing exhaust from delivery trucks/diesel trucks until they get good and ready to heat you a slice. On a pizza that should already be made!?

I think it may be marketing on their part to have a crowd stand outside on the sidewalk. Tourists mostly think it must be good because people are standing and waiting outside. But in reality it just takes an obscene amount of time to get your food. Not worth it more than a couple times a year. Definitely a tourist trap and maybe in the off season you might get a pie in an hour.

I spent many years up north where stopping in for a couple slices in most neighborhoods is the norm. Again if your order ahead and they commit to a time to pick up it is the best pizza in town. If anyone ever opens up a shop with similar pizza but yet reasonable service times they would make a killing in this town.

I have gone twice this year and am reminded why I don't do it any more and I sit outside replaying the Seinfeld Soup Ni episode in my mind. Not that anyone is a ** just that I can't believe what patrons endure for the food. It simply...