Cafe Rio Fresh Modern Mexican — Restaurant in West Point

I had an extremely disappointing and humiliating experience visiting this Cafe Rio location. Originally I intended to visit a competitor but my wife asked me to go to this location instead. We are from CA and have had no problems at the locations in that state despite extremely long waits. At this location, however, I had hardly any wait but a very troubling experience while also with my daughter. I began my order with the first employee, a Male with dark hair and who wore glasses. This individual did not seem to remember or understand anything I asked him because he had to repeat and reask me several times what I requested. During the first burrito I ordered he asked what sauce I wanted and I asked to try one of the green sauces, the medium, as I wasnt sure what sauce I would get in the past. The employee scoffed at my request and repeated my words (habitually it seemed) to try the sauce as if nobody had ever asked before. I confirmed my request to try the sauce and when handing over the sauce in a cup he dropped it into my hand, the result being the sauce spilling all over the glass, counter, floor and myself. I was having a difficult time wrestling with my daughter and this mess that was created added to the problem. I asked him for napkins and he again scoffed laughing at my request for napkins and repeating my remarks. I affirmed and his response was to tell me they are somewhere in the restaurant. So, despite being mid order and trying to wrestle with my daughter I left the line to get napkins to clean up the sauce mess that was caused by this rude employee. I eventually found the napkins even after trying to ask 2 female employees speaking Spanish to each other and being ignored. I returned to the line to find the rude employee apologizing for the delay to the next customer and informing her that I had a large order. I wasnt aware that large orders were taboo at Cafe Rio restaurants. So while attempting to continue my order with this employee who still couldnt function without repeating my requests on each item multiple times, I also began trying to clean up the sauce on the floor, the glass, the counter, and myself all while my daughter was running around. At one point while I was trying to order, watch my 2 year old child, and clean up this employees mess there were at least 7 employees just standing around watching my struggle. Not a single employee apologized for the mess or helped to clean it up with a wet rag or anything of use. Finally I was able to get through the line and up to the register where I informed the cashier I was still in need of 2 nino quesadillas. It seemed that they had taken the 2 nino quesadillas that I ordered and gave them to the woman in line behind me so they needed to remake or finish the quesadillas. The cashier was helpful in that she actually performed her job and was pleasant to deal with. She even went to finish or make the 2 nino quesadillas that were forgotten about. Once I did get home to give the food to my family, my mother informed me that this establishment has many negative reviews and she also had complaints about the rice not being fully cooked either this occasion or the previous visit she had. I can confidently say that I have no interest in visiting Cafe Rio restaurants any further based on the terrible way I was treated...

It has been a while since we ordered Cafe Rio as I’m usually the only one that really wants to eat there. Tonight my wife was actually the one to suggest eating there. Then she said idk maybe we should get Costa Vida it’s closer. I didn’t feel like driving so that didn’t matter and I wanted the reward points and we chose Cafe Rio. There was a new item in the menu which my wife went with and I was excited to get my meat filled tacos I have gotten instead of the burrito just because of the amount of meat that has been on every other taco I’ve gotten from them in the past. After ordering for 3 people I was blown away how much it was. since it has been so long since we’ve eaten there I was surprised on the jump in price since last time. I figured, well they do stack the tacos with $=!+ ton of meat, it’ll be worth it. So instead of eating my breakfast bowl from Smith’s ($2.50) like I suggested and I wanted, we treated ourselves to what we thought was going to be a fulfilling tasty meal. I’m regretting that decision. In Rio’s defense the other two exited their meals. Mine…well let’s just say I’m done with Cafe Rio for a while. I got the most pathetic looking tacos I’ve ever had. Del Taco’s cheap tacos had twice as much meat in them as my tacos did. I was downright shocked when I opened up my first taco to put in the hot sauce that they charge an extra $1,49 for to find that the Doordasher must have gotten hungry and Allen my meat. No he didn’t I AA’s kidding about that. I wasn’t kidding about the disappointment I felt opening that first taco. It was fine in a few bites and I was praying my next taco would possibly have enough meat to at least give me enough energy to write this review. 😭 Now I was double disappointed and starving to boot! It may have had half a tablespoon more meat in it but it was most definitely not more appealing then the meatless taco I had just sadly eaten. So I want to thank you all for reading my novel of a review that took more energy than what I got from the two saddest tacos 🌮 I’ve ever bought. Idk if there’s a new manager there trying to save money or what but they just lost what used to be a loyal customer that chose Cafe Rio over Costa Vida every time my family would try and talk me into switching. I didn’t have to make that decision I guess, Cafe Rio made that decision when they made my sad sorry pathetic tacos. I even feel bad for the tacos because it wasn’t their faults.

On the real ice very disappointed and I really won’t be back until I have somehow forgotten this very sad dining experience. On a positive note the Atmosphere is great and the DoorDash employee was very prompt.

I took pictures of these tacos, but I’m not seeing a place where I could share my photos. But I think I painted a very clear picture of how...

UPDATE 22 Sep 2023 This Cafe Rio location must be under new ownership or new management because it's definitely improved. Over the past month I've visited 3 times and each time has been a pleasant surprise and what I expect from good old Cafe Rio. The employees seem happier, they are much more prompt and work down any lines quickly, they're generous in their portions, and the food seems to be better freshness. The employees actually shout out like "old school" Cafe Rio used to and have fun. Whatever they're doing, it's a welcome change considering how underwhelming this location has been over the past 4 years since it opened. I'd definitely recommend this location a visit and another chance if you haven't been here in a while.

ORIGINAL REVIEW IN 2019 Unfortunately, this fairly new Cafe Rio location is far below expectations. We've been a few times since it's close to our home, but every time we leave disappointed. They usually aren't very busy, but they never have a sense of urgency and we often stand in line waiting at the usual ordering location while employees wander around who don't acknowledge customers. When they finally do get to taking your order, they seem untrained and don't know how to make some of their most common menu items often leaving items off that should be included. Their kitchen help struggles to keep the line supplied to serve customers coming in running out of basic ingredients. We also watched as the individual cleaning up around the restaurants emptied the trash with bare hands, which is fine but messy, but then without washing hands they restocked the utensils that people eat with. I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure that would be a health code violation. I'm not sure who is in charge at the location, but a little coaching, training, and actual supervising of staff could go a long way. It's sad to see a restaurant that our family likes so much go down...