There is a new kid in town–Cafe Rio, that opened recently on July 13 on Sudley Road in what is known as the K-Mart Shopping Center. Cafe Rio is in the old Hollywood video building, near BB&T Bank.
Cafe Rio is part of a high end chain that originated in St. George, Utah in 1997. This restaurant does not have freezers or microwaves so all food must be brought in fresh daily. The lines stretched around the building last weekend, even at 7:30. People are eager to try the new cuisine. For those who don’t have time to dine out, carry out is easy. Call the store and pick up your meal in 15 minutes. The store has 2 dedicated employees to provide excellent service for curbside.
What I found interesting is reading the Northern Virginia blogs. I read all sorts of sneering and jeering about ‘another Mexican restaurant’ opening up in KMart Shopping Center. The tone was not one of anticipating a new high end restaurant. In fact, what I was reading sounded like bloggers were anticipating a dirty spoon type of establishment. The joke is on them. I saw the lines while I battled my enemy–the BB&T ancient ATM. They were long. The line I saw reached around to the back of the building and included a diverse population. However, if pressed, I would have to say the majority of those waiting in line were Anglo. So the joke is on the nay-sayers.
The company is is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It has restaurant locations in Gilbert, Arizona; Lake Forest, Manhattan Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Oxnard, and Lakewood, California; Denver and Grand Junction, Colorado; Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Boise, Idaho; N. Decatur, Cent Gateway, Henderson, Summerlin, Maryland Parkway, and Blue Diamond, Nevada; Manassas, Virginia; and Utah.
This restaurant appears to be the second east coast location. This speaks well of Prince William County and the Greater Manassas area. We attract business and well established restaurants. I can’t wait to try it. Meanwhile, I will watch for stock to go public. Chipotle stock (CMG) is currently $327.99 a share (and no, it is not still linked to McDonalds). Chipotle, several blocks down from Cafe Rio on Sudley Road, remains popular and busy. This might be a good time to go to Chipotle to avoid the crowds before the novelty wears off of Cafe Rio. Meanwhile. this might also be a good time to thumb our noses at those bloggers who sneered about another Mexican Restaurant. Nanny Nanny Boo Boo. 
We went over there Saturday night to give it a try … but went home when we saw the line. Still plan to give it a try.
The other similar chain, Q’daba (sic) does not knock me out, Chipotle clearly has it on them, except Q’daba has nice breakfast burritos.
Thems fighting words. Q’doba has warm queso and habanero salsa AND a loyalty program. Mexican restaurants are like Chinese restaurants, one can never have too many of them.
Also, do yourself a favor and check out Pollo Campero in the general vicinity of Cafe Rio.
I’ll give Pollo Campero a shot. My wife and I were just wondering about it. We’ve also never stepped inside of Casa Chimaya and wonder how that is.
We ARE familiar with (in my order of preference) Don Pablo’s, La Tolteca, Guapo’s, Chipotle, and Taco Bell.
Casa Chimaya has always been iffy for us – sometimes great and sometimes stinko. I guess I’d say it’s worth at least one try.
Do any of these places have decent flan? La Toleca’s has been good.
Not big on the flan myself.
I just remembered my absolute favorite Mexican place, though. Picante, in Chantilly. Love the cake there. Love everything with green sauce.
Pollo Campero is a lot like Cuban fast-food places in Miami–simple, healthy and really good. Speaking of which, Manassas would be a far better place if we could get a decent Cuban sandwich here.
@Emma, the place in Haymarket that closed had really great Cuban sandwiches. Irish place, oddly enough.
Dang you Emma for making me think of a cuban sandwich. Agreed. One would be very nice right about now.
I personally like a lot of food establishments. I’d rather see more of them than housing developments. 😉
After reading these “hungry” posts, I would imagine that the next business to open in PWC might be “Pedro’s Mexican Weight Watchers Salon.”
So, we went to Cafe Rio last night. And it was REALLY good! I put it up with Picante’s food, and above Chipotle.
I had tacos. They recommend the Pork Barbacoa, which is a little sweet. And, it was excellent, nice juicy taste. The hand-made soft shells, which you can see them spinning out and cooking, are pretty great. The rice on the side was kind of tasty too.
The Tres Leches for desert was very good. Split one of those between two people, it’s heaven.
The atmosphere was very friendly. The food preparers are working hard and singing chants. They even have a greeter out there right now.
They have coupons out where they are giving food away (free burrito with purchase of a drink), hence the crowds are big. They clearly think that if they can get people to try the food, word-of-mouth will blossom into big business. I’m pretty sure they’re right. This place manages to outdo Chipotle, dramatically. I’ll be back. Great taste to the food, and no tipping. 10 out of 10 for me.
I had one taco chile beef; my wife had one steak one chicken. None held a candle to the pork barbacoa.
@Rick,
What exactly is the pork barbacoa? I tried looking it up online and ran in to some nasty looking stuff.
No one said it was pretty! Good Mexican ain’t gonna win a beauty contest. Close your eyes and chew!
@Rick Bentley
Thanks for your most excellent review. I’m gonna make a beeline for Cafe Rio when I get back to Dulles next week 🙂
Rick gives great movie reviews too. I am going to make a beeline to Cafe Rosa as soon as the heat wave breaks and the visitors leave town.
Apparently barboacoa refers toa way of cooking meat in Mexico in marinade, akin to the term “barbeque” here. The barbacoa at Chipotle (shredded beef) is nicely spicy. The pork at Rio is more sweet. Each in their own way has a great taste I think.
Hope you enjoy it Cato.
Oh, Moon, it’s shredded pork.
I went to Cafe Rio last weekend and it was pretty good, but like a lot of restraurants it was too much food. Next time my husband and I go, we’ll split an order. I love the chicken at Pollo Campero but my fave, fave place to eat is La Flor de Puebla near the fairground. Everything is made to order and the tortas are awesome! The serving sizes are just right as well.
I ate there again today, got a burrito – heavy. Much like Chipotle. Didn’t rock my world. Unhealthy to eat a burrito that big. Had a flan too and it was pretty good.
I believe the tacos are the best option. The tacos and the deserts are what can make the place better than Chipotle. The burritos and presumably the salads are a lot like Chipotle.
Can you get the burritos without beans?
@Rick
Movie review of October Sky in honor of the end of the US manned space program?
Thanks for the tip on Flor de Puebla. If you’re a chicken fan also check out Mi Casita at the intersection of Liberia and 28. I’m the only gringo in the joint when I go, and you might have a little trouble ordering if you don’t habla but the grub will not disappoint.
I did get it without beans, it was still big and heavy.
Haven’t seen October Sky.
October Sky is a wonderful movie. I am not sure if it was made as a kid movie or not but adults like it. It is autobiographical, about Homer Hickmann who grew up in some coal town in West VA. He and his buds were fascinated with rocketry and sputnik. It is the story of 4 boys who, against all odds, pull themselves out of working the coal mines of WV. Hickman ends up working at NASA.
re burritos–Do you just tell them NO beans?
yeah, they will typically ask if you want rice and beans in it, just say no to the beans.
@Rick, good! I just like meat, cheese, salad and sour cream.
I’ve never tried Chipotle’s desserts. We’re usually too stuffed to order anything else. Do they have any? Are they any good? I’ll have to try Cafe Rio after the re-enactment stuff is over. My walking partner also gives two thumbs up to La Flor de Puebla.
La Flor is awesome b/c it’s also a bakery so the bread is fresh if you order a torta. Went to Cafe Rio today and got ONE taco. It was good, but so huge I couldn’t pick it up. I had to eat it with a fork and knife. The food is good, but suffers from “too much” as far as serving size is concerned. Oh and if anyone is looking for THE BEST arroz con leche (IMO) you can find it at Super Chicken which is next to Potbelly. I eat arroz con leche often, and Super Chicken is one of the few places where it doesn’t taste like canned vanilla pudding with 4 grains of rice. They serve it Irish style:) Warm, creamy and with tons of rice cooked al dente and only a hint of sweet.