Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

This location is the busiest and also the worst in quality control of the local Cafe Rios. It’s not up to the caliber of other locations.

Today is my third strike. I don’t write negative reviews for local businesses (Especially now) unless the issue is ongoing, which this is. Soggy salad (half bean liquid), soggy burrito, old bad lettuce, and the beans are undercooked. How do I even return quarter eaten food from three people?

Curbside: The last couple orders were online for curbside pickup. Online to curbside needs some streamlining and quality control for improved service and fresh ingredients.

I ordered extra items (Double meat in two meals) that I was charged for all three times, but clearly didn’t have the double meat or chip strips and extra sauces etc. Employees disappeared before I checked my order both times resulting in indoor visits both times. When I’ve gone inside to gather an extra item that was missed and is on my receipt they’ve told me to get in line (defeats the purpose of curbside) and wait.

Drive through: Tried the drive through today and it was fast and seemed better than online ordering for curbside pickup because I got to check the bag first and make sure the extras were included before pulling out. But at home I realized the beans weren’t fully cooked. Soggy salads too.

Ordering in: The only way to eat here is to walk in and order and make sure you see your order as it happens. Less convenient (and nobody social distances on our side of the glass), but maybe more employees could resolve this issue?

They’re always packed and employees are working double time and are always busy.

Some potential solutions are: ensuring fully staffed at all times and increasing employee wages. A liveable wage will enhance customer experience as this results in more job satisfaction and accountability.

Café Río is a Utah staple. During COVID it’s been packed. Just pay people better to improve the service. Let’s see what happens. Plus, you’re so close! I don’t want to...

Let me start by saying I love cafe Rio, though this particular location is below average in comparison to other locations. That mainly being the portion size, I’ve been to this location multiple times but the last three experiences have been disappointing. About 6 months ago, we went through the drive thru and ordered 2 salads with extra pico, first off we were charged for extra pico and did not receive it. Secondly the portion size was smaller than a tostada, and lastly the tortilla at the bottom of the salad was not toasted and didn’t have cheese on it. Disappointed we said ok, may have been an off day. No big deal. A couple weeks go by and we say let’s get cafe Rio, keep in mind we go to the cafe Rio on 400s a lot, for dine in and door dash and it’s always good, good portion size, fresh ingredients, no complaints always a positive experience. Anyways we decided to go back to 2100s because we were in the area, same order; and we got the exact same outcome, tiny portion size, not extra pico, no cheese on a cold tortilla. And again we say that was disappointing but we’ll just accept it. Finally yesterday, 5 and a half months later we are once again in the area so we say ok let’s go to cafe Rio, I’m hungry and a salad sounds amazing right now. First off the grilled chicken is unavailable, no big deal, we’ll pay the extra dollar on both salads to get pollo asado, again order extra pico and we are charged for it, naturally. Get the order, and what do we get, a measly portion of chicken, no extra pico, the salad was below the edges on the tortilla less lettuce than a tostada, no cheese melted on the tortilla, and no silverware! And finally I said , it’s time for a review, we spent 28$ on two salads that were mediocre at best. I will not be returning to this location, 400s is the only location we will be going to in the future. Cafe Rio is a Utah staple and one of my favorite places to eat, but this location needs a...

I'm not vegan, but my partner is. After being sick for a week, and having a terrible experience at a different Cafe Rio a few days ago, and really needing a redemption salad, we came here as soon as they got home from a four hour drive. They ordered a vegetarian salad, and expanded: no cheese, no rice, both beans. The drive thru dude did fantastic, but when it was handed to us it had cheese, so we handed it back, and they handed us another bag moments later. Only when we got home and sat down to eat, did my partner notice that there was a lot of cheese in the center of their salad, which I can only assume means the line cooks took it back, COVERED IT UP with more lettuce, and handed it back. We had to go all the way back and get it remade(the manager was very kind and apologetic)we handed them the receipt, which was the correct order, and they remade it, and we should have checked it, but we assumed the third time would surely be the charm. We got home, no cheese, of course, but it had rice this time and only pinto bean, which was still wrong. After feeling exhausted from the other mistaken salads, and really just wanting to eat, they just relented, and started to eat the salad. And the rice was completely undercooked. The manager and drive thru person were kind and seemed to be doing well, but their line staff is so neglectful, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say it felt malicious. We've had an absolutely abysmal experience trying to get a simple salad. They had to NOT ADD stuff, to make this order, and I guess that is too hard. I truly do regret to say, we will deeply consider whether it worth it before going to Cafe Rio...