Bar Ni Modo

Name: Bar Ni Modo
Address: 1393 University Ave suite 117, Riverside, CA, United States, 92507-4446
Telephone: (951) 223-6829
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (20)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

1393 University Ave suite 117, Riverside, CA 92507-4446

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

About this restaurant

Great for creative cocktails
Hot spot
Innovative

Bar Ni Modo is tucked into the Farmhouse in Riverside, CA, dreamed up by the Arcade Coffee Roasters team—Chef Ulises Pelayo, Jesus Figueroa, and Bartender Jessica Neblina. They’re bringing Oaxaca and Mexico City flavors to the table with some remarkable cocktails and food. Think mezcal and tequila drinks, paired with dishes full of smoky, spicy flavors that mix old-school Mexican roots with a fresh twist. The name "Ni Modo" says it all—"it is what it is"—and that’s the vibe you’ll feel in this bar.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, Contemporary Mexican, Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Phone number
(951) 223-6829
Website
http://nimodo.bar/
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
1393 University Ave suite 117, Riverside, CA 92507-4446
Neighborhood
Riverside
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Counter Seating, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access

What 20 people are saying

Bar Ni Modo reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Inland Empire
Best Overall
Inland Empire
Best Food
Inland Empire
Best Service
Inland Empire
Best Ambiance
Inland Empire
Best Value
Inland Empire
Innovative
Inland Empire
Healthy
Inland Empire
Hot spot

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bar Ni Modo in Riverside offers an "elevated Mexican" dining experience with expertly curated food and drink menus that are "unlike anything else" in the area. Guests rave about the "amazing" cocktails, "juicy carnitas", and the vibrant atmosphere that transports you to Mexico City. The staff's "exceptional" service enhances this unique culinary journey.

20 Reviews

M
Mares
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Dare I say the best cocktail bar in the IE!! Food, drinks and ambiance are on point. We loved how the food is shareable. The carnitas were soft and flavorful but the salsas really took it to the next level and the quesadillas were simply delicious but what blew my mind was the roasted corn ice cream. Can’t wait to try more of the menu! The drinks not only tasted lovely, but they were fragrant. They’re also a vibe to take pics with because they’re so pretty ^.^ Our server, Aleks, was attentive and genuinely kind. Also appreciated how the manager, AJ, checked in on us. They made us feel at home and taken care of :)
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K
Kevin VIP
San Francisco Bay Area4 reviews
1.0
Dined on May 30, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
Food was terrible and overpriced. $33 for carnitas that tasted as if they were prepared hours ago and had been sitting under a heat lamp. It’s unclear to me whether they cook anything here- or just reheat food prepared else where. AND there was little flavor and no spice on either the carnitas or beef cheek. DO NOT SPEND YOUR $$$$
Bar Ni ModoResponded on June 6, 2025
Hey Kevin, we are really sorry to hear that you didn’t have a great experience. We would love the opportunity to host you again if you would give us a second chance. We would be happy to send out another carnitas plate and beef cheek tacos on us, to get a second opinion from you. Email us directly and we will make sure to take care of you on your next visit.
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B
Briana
Los Angeles1 review
5.0
Dined on May 17, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
this place is amazing! the food and drinks are so delicious, and the staff went above and beyond. Olivia was so cool to talk to and she always made sure everything was up to our expectations. definitely going back soon!
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A
Anusha VIP
London4 reviews
4.0
Dined on May 13, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Nice ambiance and cocktails but menu leaves a bit to be desired. Dishes are small and flavors are odd. For example, the Mole Negra, which is a main dish, is just a small plate of sweet mole served with a few corn tortillas. Probably won’t go back unless menu changes.
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W
Wesley
London2 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 4, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First and foremost are the vibes. Not your typical Mexican restaurant, this place wants you to enjoy a shared experience. The uplit cacti, the Spanish-speaking jams, the tiled tables - everything is subtle but very much a part of la cultura. The cocktails are sophisticated and delicious, my wife and I really loved the juicy carnitas and our quesadilla appetizer. And to top it off the service was effortless and very knowledgeable. Definitely a perfect evening for date night, we will be back soon!
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J
Jorge
Los Angeles2 reviews
3.0
Dined on May 3, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Second time around, seating was ok. Ordered rose’ and they brought a red. Mole cocktail was great. Food was decent but I felt it strayed a bit from its root flavor (aguachiles). Host was nice in the beginning and then she became a bit short and dry.
Bar Ni ModoResponded on May 14, 2025
Thanks for the feedback. We would love another chance to impress you. Please let us know when you are coming back and we promise you'll love it.
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M
Miranda
Los Angeles1 review
5.0
Dined on April 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everyone is great here! Staff is so friendly and remembers us when we dine. Drinks are great and food is incredible
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K
Karen
Orange County1 review
5.0
Dined on April 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was my first time at Bar Ni Modo, I booked a reservation for my husband and I and I’m happy I did. The cocktails were some of the best I’ve had in a long time. I tried the mole margarita which was my absolute favorite, as well as the TQM which was sooo good. My husband also liked his cafecito cocktail. To eat we ordered the Aguachiles which were decent, I wish they had more of the traditional lime/spicy flavor but they weren’t bad. We also ordered the cheek tacos which were tasty, only thing missing was salsa, and the star of the dinner was definitely the mole. The mole plate only comes with the paste so if you’re hungry I definitely recommend ordering the carnitas plate as it feeds 2-3. We will be ordering carnitas next time. The ambiance was 10/10, the music and the overall design of the place really transports you to Mexico City. We were very impressed with this restaurant and will for sure be coming back again. One of the owners Steven was super kind and talked to us a bit about the vision of the restaurant and the servers and bartenders provided excellent service. Do yourself a favor and check this place out.
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B
Beverly VIP
Los Angeles13 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The community table is a great spot for celebrations, caring and sharing great food and drinks! We went pre-show to celebrate my son’s birthday and then went to the show. It was the perfect combo!
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A
Arielle
Los Angeles2 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 24, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This place was a vibe! Great food, drinks and service. Such a great spot for riverside.
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FAQs

Bar Ni Modo is rated 4.7 stars by 20 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

1393 University Ave suite 117, Riverside, CA 92507-4446

Dining areas

Additional information

Neighborhood
Riverside
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, Contemporary Mexican, Contemporary American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Counter Seating, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access

Website
http://nimodo.bar/
Phone number
(951) 223-6829

Bar Ni Modo

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 20 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Bar Ni Modo restaurant rated?

Is Bar Ni Modo currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information