Rio Grillpleasant findEasy to get to from Big Sur and a welcome change from overpriced stuffy resort food. Excellent service.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMHostess did not have the mostest!Hostess was obviously not in the right job for her or it was a bad day. Waitress was fantastic and so was the food.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a GREAT experience!Last minute reservation at the dinner hour and we got in! Food was great, service was AWSOME, as usual, and we had a great evening!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing!Don't the the fact that the restaurant is located in a shopping center scare you away. The food was terrific, the service knowledgable and attentive, and the wine and beer lists extensive enough to satisfy any palate.
My boyfriend, who is a chef, said his pork chop with polena and wax and green beans was probably the most perfect pork chop plate he has ever had in his life. (Actually, he can't stop talking about it!) I had penne pasta with a bison bolognaise, which was terrific as well.
We highly recommend this place, and we hope we have the occasion to return there when we come back to CA.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAs Good as I RememberI have eaten at Rio dozen times since it opened in the mid eighty's, and every time has been as good as I remember. The romaine stuffed salad we had this time was as good a dish as I've eaten in a long time. This restaurant has stood the test of time and deserves to be among my very favorites.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMLast minute findAfter finishing up a tour of Carmel and fun on the beach we were starved. Open table was a quick way to book a reservation and find a location. We were seated quickly and the service was excellent and the food was very good! Definitely on the list to return to!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMI love Rio GrillA must do on my list when I am in town visiting friends and family. After all these years they are still very consistent.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThank youIt was so refreshing to find a restaurant that has quality, unique food without the ridiculous price tag and stuck up servers. The General Manager worked side by side of his employees which we found admirable and the sign of a fantastic manager. It was my husband's bday and they made sure to make him feel special. Everyone from the hostess to manager stopped by and wished him a happy birthday. The food was delicious. My husband is a "pig" enthusiast :) but the jolly rancheros were the best pork belly item we have ever had! The cheddar biscuits amazing as well as our entrees ribs and sea bass. We also had the chocolate mousse desert at it was spectacular! I recommend EVERYONE check this place out.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMIt is on my A listEvery time I come for a day or two getta-way to this area, this restaurant is a must-do. It has never disappointed.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWent out for brunchI have enjoyed dinner here many times but I finally got to try their brunch. It was delicious. I had chicken and waffles with a chipotle honey syrup and it was amazing. The rest of my family really enjoyed their dishes as well. I will definitely return.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMRIOThe food was good, the service good and the restaurant is easy to find. Been here for many years and always good.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMWent to the Rio Grill withWent to the Rio Grill with my new Fiance and our parents to celebrate. The staff was unbelievable in helping set up the special occasion. There is no place I would rather have gone!
Thank you Rio Grill!!!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMReally, really good.The food was fantastice, GM took the time to get to know us and share the staff's passion for good food and flavors. We thoroughly enjoyed it.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMMonday dinner with the GuysExcellent choice for well prepared food and a surprisingly sophisticated wine list. I will remember this one and plan many more visits when in town.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazingParty of four, two appetizers, four different entrees, two desserts, bottle of wine and that equals an amazing dinner experience. Not a bad word to say about the entire evening.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMLively Fun SpotWe were staying in Carmel Highlands rather than in the village and looked for something casual nearby. This spot in a small shopping center turned out to be ideal. The decor set the tone as a cool place right away. The bar area walls are hand painted with fun colorful portraits of local residents and celebrities and other famous folks. Very well done - makes a short wait enjoyable. The artwork around the rest of the restaurant is also interesting and appealing, making for a great atmosphere. Luckily, the food didn't disappoint. Salads and entrees were very good and a good value at the price. Check out Rio Grill if you are in the area and want something different than typical Carmel-by -the Sea atmosphere and prices.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place. Found while onGreat place. Found while on vacation in Carmel. Menu, food and service were excellent. The. Ipad for wine, beer, alcohol and drink options was a nice touch. Double-cut Bacon appetizer and short rib entree were great. Highly recommended if you're visiting the area5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMCarmel go to RestaurantThe Rio Grill always for us has offered reasonably priced fare
which is oh so tasty with a great ambiance of decor. A must do.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWE had a wonderful time andWE had a wonderful time and would recommend Rio Grill to locals or anyone from out of town, like we were.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWent to Rio Grill based onWent to Rio Grill based on the recommnedation of one of the members of our party who had been there 20 years ago when in the area. They had liked it then, thus 12 of us headed out there after making a reservation on OpenTable. The food was great, and our server very attentive. We had a great experience for our rather large group - you never know if this will be the case when trying to feed so many people at one time.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMAfter the fantastic meal ourAfter the fantastic meal our first night in Carmel Valley, we came back again the next night! Can't say enough good things about Rio Grill. If we get within 50 miles of Rio Grill we make a point of going.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe "Candied Swine" is toThe "Candied Swine" is to die for! Just melts in your mouth!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't Skip This RestaurantThis was our second visit to Rio Grill and it will definitely be on our list to visit again when we are in the Carmel area. All restaurant staff were extremely friendly and provided outstanding customer service making us feel welcomed and appreciated. Our server was knowledgeable of menu items and offered good suggestions based on our questions. She also paid attention to the minor details making for a more pleasurable dining experience for us. Though not located in the touristy section of Carmel, it is definitely worth the short drive to experience this restaurant.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMEnergetic but great staff & foodWent for a special occasion - got seated at a very nice table and enjoyed a fantastic meal. Despite the restaurant being very full, the staff was very attentive. My dish was a little less flavorful than it has been on previous occasions but the food was still very good. It is most likely this slight drop in flavor was merely a blip on the radar as my partner's dish was delicious as were the drinks and appetizers.
The surprise was when I arrived home and had received a call from the restaurant apologizing for not taking special notice of my anniversary posted on the reservation. Very nice!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMIt had been a while sinceIt had been a while since we were in the area and we were pleased to find that we still had a great meal and outstanding service.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AM