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Rio City Café - Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
Rio City Café - Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
Rio City Café - Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
Rio City Café - Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
Rio City Café - Sacramento, Sacramento, CA

Rio City Café - Sacramento

4.5
4.5
1700 Reviews
$31 to $50
Californian

Rio City Cafe is situated in beautiful historic Old Sacramento, overlooking some of the most prominent landmarks in Sacramento. The Sacramento River runs by our spacious outdoor patio, with spectacular views of the historic Tower Bridge and the Ziggurat (pyramid) building.
Rio City Cafe opened its doors in May of 1994. We display a comfortably casual setting, with indoor and outdoor seating. We can accommodate large parties and banquets, as well as private parties in our banquet room for special occasions. Or just simply enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine and the view in the outdoor cocktail area. During the colder months, enjoy the view from inside near our cozy fireplace.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sat 10:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (916) 442-8226
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    Host your event at Rio City Cafe! Whether it's business or personal, your party of 30 or more will be the talk of the town when you and our Banquet Managers create a memorable experience for your special event.
  • Private party contact
    Stephanie Miller: (916) 505-1159
  • Neighborhood
    Sacramento
  • Parking details
    Parking at Rio City Cafe is never an issue. We offer valet services Wed - Sun for a fee OR park in the Tower Bridge Garage located at Front Street and Capital Mall, bring in your parking pass and we'll validate for 2 hours FREE.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,700 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Sacramento / Sacramento Valley

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Sacramento / Sacramento Valley

    Great for scenic views

  • Sacramento / Sacramento Valley

    Californian

  • Sacramento

    Great for brunch

  • Sacramento

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Sacramento

    Great for scenic views

1,700 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We got seated early our waitress was absolutely wonderful and food was great.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Sitting outside was very comfortable with the heaters going.

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  3. JerryM

    Sacramento

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    3 of our four meals were great, the other fish dish was over cooked. Server was terrific, fun place.

    Is this helpful?

  4. JayMcK

    Baltimore

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Went for Seasonal lunch with friends. Great food & service. On the deck was fine with heaters and wind protection rolled down for comfort. Seals in the river provided entertainment. Not cheap but worth the splurge.

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 3, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was great: very attentive and helpful. The salads were very good. My meal - the vegan pizza - was good but the veggies could have been warmer. I sent it back to get warmed up. Our waiter warmed it and returned it quickly.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Portland

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Lovely views of the river. The restaurant is a bit tired looking and showing its age. Probably fits with the old town river front feel which is quaint. Server was polite and attentive at the start but as she acquired larger parties service for two seemed wain. All could be overlooked had the food been prepared according to order. I had asked for the house special filet to be prepared medium it came out blood rare . We were offered an apology but no other remedy. We left feeling extremely disappointed in such a highly regarded local favorite. We never blame servers for kitchen failures but management should at least allow for some form of tangible recognition of their failures in the back of the house. Food cannot generally be returned to the kitchen for further preparation in the post Covid era.

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  7. Tyaa

    Sacramento

    2 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Poor communication, dirty, broken glass under our table overall very disappointing.

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  8. ShaunaD

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful we enjoyed our whole evening. Thank you

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  9. Jatin

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great menu and service. Would definitely go there again.

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  10. JulieR

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our Thanksgiving dinner was great and our waiter, Davie/David was so nice. Service was great.

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  11. MonaMo

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Rio City Cafe provided a simply fantastic Thanksgiving dinner. And, as a bonus, all of the children at nearby tables were well-mannered. Our server, Mikey, was superb!!! Staff took extra care and were so courteous about my lunky walker. Only downside was no valet service.

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  12. SanJose

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I should have ordered the Thanksgiving turkey dinner because it looked delicious. Instead I got the prime rib. It looked and tasted nothing like prime rib, was tough as shoe leather, and over cooked. After complaining, they took the cost off my bill. Thank you. Service was outstanding and I’ll probably go back next year for Thanksgiving again and I’ll get the turkey. Never had a problem with lunch.

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  13. Arr2D2

    Sacramento

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We were very happy overall. The service was excellent. The presentation of the food was excellent and delicious, too.

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  14. LaurieW

    Sacramento

    59 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    59 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hubby and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving lunch here. The staff was wonderful! Very friendly and welcoming. The food was exceptional. My drink- old fashioned was superior. I have never had such a well blended drink. Sour dough app is to die for. Salad was good. The thanksgiving platter and hubbies prime rib were just delicious. It’s a definite return for us.

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  15. JulieT

    Orange County

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Rio Salad was delicious and we had great service!! Eating out in the Patio on the River was so beautiful!!

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  16. CeceliaS

    Tahoe

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    Food was the worst I’ve had in a long time. Chowder came out cold and looked like it had been sitting around for awhile. Found out it had been sitting under warmer and then learned the warmer had been “on the fritz”. The server did bring us replacement bowls which were not much warmer and tasted like they used a cup or cornstarch to make it thick and clotty. We had the shrimp starter and tasted like it had been fried the day before and warmed up under a broiler. Not going back.

    Is this helpful?

  17. MartyT

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Regardless of how good the food was, I will not return again. The restaurant fees old, unclean, sticky. The warn carpet, chipping paint, broken tiles, and wobbly tables are all so distracting. It makes me feel as if the owner does not care about the customer's experience.

    Is this helpful?

  18. DMMM

    Las Vegas

    68 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    68 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding food! We started with the calamari very tender and fried just right. We also had the sourdough cheese bread, could’ve ate just that for a meal deliciousness. I had the special 14oz ribeye cooked perfect land very tender. My wife had the Swordfish also delicious. We will be back next time we are in town.

    Is this helpful?

  19. KrisT

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Liked the table by the fireplace! Private and cozy! Food was delicious! Our server was very responsive.

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  20. Bets

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 7, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Patio was closed in for colder weather, but still had views of river and bridge. Three of us had fish dishes which were expertly prepared. Service was outstanding—very nice staff paid attention to our needs. Will definitely go back!

    Is this helpful?

  21. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was lazy and restaurant seems dirty and tired. Definitely banking on the location. A bright spot was the service! Nice people and very attentive.

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  22. StephanieT

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time there. Megan was awesome. Very helpful and cheerful. Food fresh & hot. Excellent service and all staff very polite

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  23. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a waterside table on a beautiful Fall day. Our server turned on the patio heater so we were very comfortable. It was fun watching all the activity on the river and the boardwalk. The service was stellar and the food was served very quickly. Great lunch spot. They even validated our parking at the adjacent Tower Garage.

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  24. GaiB

    Sacramento

    27 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on October 30, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    I would love to experience say this was a good experience. I haven't been to Rio City in years and I had a good dining experience then. We were looking forward to the same experience. It is definitely a dated restaurant. I felt like the restaurant needed a good cleaning, especially the bathrooms. Our server was somewhat aloof and felt rushed. I ordered crabcakes, which were very spicy without the aioli on them. They were a brown color inside, and very mushy despite being very crispy on the outside. I love crabcakes and have never had them be brown inside. My husband ordered chicken parmesan which was very crisp and brown around the edges and dry despite the sauce, of which there was very little. My daughter's salmon ceasar was good as were the fries. Overall I would not recommend this restaurant.

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  25. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice experience overall. Beautiful venue. Food was good. Service was good but detail orientation is needed

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  26. SGolds

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was very efficient and the food was great as was the Ice tea!

    Is this helpful?

  27. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Thank you Miguel for your outstanding service. Food was delicious

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  28. GregP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 20, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, quick service. This was our third time coming here, and we’ll be back next time we come to Sacramento. I like the Old Town and river setting.

    Is this helpful?

  29. LenitaP

    Palm Springs

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place to eat. Everything we ordered was good and plenty of food. Service great too.

    Is this helpful?

  30. MariaT

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We really loved our experience! The view was lovely, the people were very nice and accommodating, they addressed all of our needs and concerns and we had a great meal. The only reason I left 4 stars under some categories was because they didn’t have many dairy-free options and my salmon was a bit raw when they brought it out but they were able to re-cook a bit longer while I ate the rest of my meal.

    Is this helpful?

  31. StanD

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 16, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We've lived in Sacramento five years. Discovered Rio City Cafe. Always take visiting friends and relatives there. We've never had a bad meal or service. Right on the river and in Olde Towne Sac.

    Is this helpful?

  32. AngelaF

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 15, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Went for my birthday with friends. Was looking forward to crab cake Benedict! They egg in too was so tiny and slightly over cooked. The crab cake was mushy and cold in the middle. Bloody Mary celery was dirty. Asked for a side of Hollandaise sauce but it never came. Server never told us her name so it was hard to grab her attention. Disappointed in quality off food for the price.

    Is this helpful?

  33. KimB

    Louisville

    20 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I highly recommend this cafe. The restaurant was located very close to the Embassy Suites where we were staying We asked to be seated in the bar area so we could watch a college football game. Dan provided excellent service. He even changed one of the tvs to the channel of the game for us. The food was all great. We had swordfish and the prime rib as our entrees. The service was very quick , especially for a busy Saturday night. We both enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere. All the staff were very friendly. We will definitely eat her again on our next visit to Sacramento

    Is this helpful?

  34. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 7, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great location on our Sac River. Lots of staff working and very friendly. Was slow for a Friday night. 3 minutes from parking garage. Food was amazing. I would suggest they get a cobweb duster out on the patio. Webs on pillars and when you look up. After eating we went in to sit at the lovely bar and I had an amazing espresso martini with whiskey in it. Highly recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  35. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on October 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Travel stop

    Is this helpful?

  36. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    70 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    70 reviews

    Dined on October 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Rio City Cafe is our go-to restaurant in Old Sacramento. The food and service are always amazing!

    Is this helpful?

  37. JulieT

    Orange County

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on October 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great good and service!! Right on the River and is great to sit outside !!

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  38. ColleenF

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely spot! Food was delicious, service was fantastic and the view of the river from the outdoor patio was perfect!

    Is this helpful?

  39. JARM

    Sacramento

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As usual, it’s such a treat to go to Rio City Cafe and sit on the patio overlooking the River. This time didn’t disappoint. We love the menu, so we try something different almost every time, and they are more than generous with portions. Thanks for seating us with a perfect view!

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  40. SusanD

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The setting & service were great and we loved our dinner choices!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Rio City Café - Sacramento offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (916) 442-8226.

Rio City Café - Sacramento is rated 4.5 stars by 1700 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Rio City Café - Sacramento

1110 Front Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Sacramento
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sat 10:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Seafood, Steak
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking at Rio City Cafe is never an issue. We offer valet services Wed - Sun for a fee OR park in the Tower Bridge Garage located at Front Street and Capital Mall, bring in your parking pass and we'll validate for 2 hours FREE.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (916) 442-8226
  • Private party facilities
    Host your event at Rio City Cafe! Whether it's business or personal, your party of 30 or more will be the talk of the town when you and our Banquet Managers create a memorable experience for your special event.
  • Private party contact
    Stephanie Miller: (916) 505-1159
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