El Rio Grande Restaurant

(212) 867-0922

160 E 38th St
New York, NY 10016 40.7486 -73.9772

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Neighborhoods: Murray Hill, Midtown

ARKRESTAURANTS.COM

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants, Marketing Consultants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Happy Hour, Food Delivery, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Southwestern, Mexican

Other Locations:

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About El Rio Grande Restaurant

Featured Review

Justin Hartung

Contributor

In Short – In the summer, hordes of after-work drinkers pack the patio of this Tex-Mex restaurant, which is housed on the second floor of an office building. In winter, tables are crammed into the two dining rooms, dubbed Texas and Mexico. Ceilings are high, and the floor is carpeted. The menu, aside from few surprises like swordfish, offers the usual taco, burrito and enchilada fare. A truly grande margarita selection includes offbeat flavors like wilderberry and pomegranate.

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Find your inner mariachi singer at karaoke night, on Mondays from 7pm to 10pm.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Means the food drinks service and ambiance are great or else we wouldn't keep coming back.”
  2. “Reasonably priced and a great atmosphere for a good time or a small party.”
  3. “It is an upscale place that has good ambiance for a date as well as a low noise level for a business meeting.”
  4. “Yes, we NY'ers like good food and ambience, but we are much more likely to return to a place that treats us well.”
  5. “Nice chill atmosphere, the short wait is enough for a cocktail and the food is worth the wait.”
drinks
93.75% positive
  1. “The drinks are the strongest I've ever had, but they don't tase like a good margarita should.”
  2. “The food here is soso but its a great place to go for drinks after work - For some reason, this place always has flies around the bar area which bothers me a bit but during the warmer months the outdoor space is bumping - Margaritas arent bad and creep up”
  3. “All the previous reviews were right: the food is great, and the drinks are powerful.”
  4. “If you go for drinks with work buddies, definitely DEFINITELY order a couple of steak nachos.”
  5. “am ok with paying that when i am out at night at a nice bar or lounge, or a club.”
  6. “Means the food drinks service and ambiance are great or else we wouldn't keep coming back.”
  7. “before I even got a drink, that this place was one big frat party.”
  8. “Look out though, they're great drinks, but ther bill creeps up on you and you'll find yourslef drunkenly convincing your friends to cover your tab.”
  9. “but they have a slew of different margarita flavors and 2 sizes for the lethal drinks, which is great for the tequila-shy.”
  10. “In the summer the outside space is great if you can stand the huge crowds and long waits at the bar, get there early to really enjoy the space.”
  11. “The food is terrible, but if you stick to the bar and just have apps you'll be fine.”
  12. “Good food, good drinks”
food quality
86.42999649047852% positive
  1. “Means the food drinks service and ambiance are great or else we wouldn't keep coming back.”
  2. “We had a couple other small dishes & the guacamole which is every bit as good as Rosa for less money.”
  3. “The Carnitas were tender and the sauce was delicious.”
  4. “its the prefect place to go with a few friends or family and eat cheap great mexican food where you can relax and just have a good time.”
  5. “The green tomatilla sauce that is offered free at the table is DELICIOUS and not offered at any other Mexican restaurant I know of in NY.”
  6. “good food, horrible service”
  7. “Never tried to food, but it's a good place to tie one on before heading out.”
  8. “The food is terrible, but if you stick to the bar and just have apps you'll be fine.”
  9. “They have fantastic nachos, good chips and salsa, and wonderful entrees.”
  10. “Free chips with very tasty cilantro-y salsa as well as guacamole salsa.”
  11. “At the bartender's suggestion, I had the shrimp fajitas (he said the shrimp dishes were the best).”
  12. “The food here is soso but its a great place to go for drinks after work - For some reason, this place always has flies around the bar area which bothers me a bit but during the warmer months the outdoor space is bumping - Margaritas arent bad and creep up”
  13. “This is a great place, perfect happy hour spot during warm weather with it's outside patio and great mexican food.”
  14. “They use nice big pieces of steak and the nachos are done individually so it's not a big mound of stuff thrown together like some places.”
  15. “The food was decent, I had the skirt steak.”
  16. “The warm tortilla chips, guacamole and spicy salsa you get at the beginning of the meal in place of bread.”
  17. “This is by far one of my favorite mexican food spots in Manhattan.”
  18. “Interesting bison with wings suspended from the ceiling.”
  19. “The food was not good, its hard to mess up nachos and guac.”
  20. “The margaritas were just as tasty, but not quite as strong.”
  21. “Good food, good drinks”
  22. “The frozen margaritas are really delicious and strong with many flavors to choose from, the tortillas are homeade, the steak is tender and julicy and the guac is to die for.”
  23. “They have outdoor seating (although I think you need to order food).”
  24. “All the previous reviews were right: the food is great, and the drinks are powerful.”
  25. “The food is amazing and has a health-ish kick to mexican.”
  26. “Nice chill atmosphere, the short wait is enough for a cocktail and the food is worth the wait.”
  27. “highly recommend the sliced steak nachos, cooked to order!”
  28. “If you go for drinks with work buddies, definitely DEFINITELY order a couple of steak nachos.”
  29. “Yes, we NY'ers like good food and ambience, but we are much more likely to return to a place that treats us well.”
  30. “The Mexican food here is good although I have had better.”
  31. “As I continue my quest for the perfect mole sauce, El Rio comes in at the top of my list with the perfect sweetness and spice.”
  32. “Wrap it up in one of their delicious flour tortillas and you are in business.”
  33. “The food is good, but nothing tremendous, although it's tough to resist the terrific free chips and salsa.”
  34. “Appallingly bad service and food; they substituted romaine lettuce for spinach on the mushroom/spinach quesidilla; when brought to thr manager's attenetion - he said "we do that - half and half - you bit into the wrong half”
  35. “always get and share the steak nachos and the stuffed jalapenos (stuffed with big shrimp and jack cheese)”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Starting with the free chips and medley of salsas and guacamole, the rest of the menu is strictly great mexican.”
overall
96.87999725341797% positive
  1. “This has become, by far, my favorite Mexican restaurant in the city.”
  2. “This is a great place, perfect happy hour spot during warm weather with it's outside patio and great mexican food.”
  3. “If you want a good margarita check this place out.”
  4. “Never tried to food, but it's a good place to tie one on before heading out.”
  5. “good place to go with a group of dudes to try to pick up some cuties (maybe...)”
  6. “The food here is soso but its a great place to go for drinks after work - For some reason, this place always has flies around the bar area which bothers me a bit but during the warmer months the outdoor space is bumping - Margaritas arent bad and creep up”
  7. “Yes, we NY'ers like good food and ambience, but we are much more likely to return to a place that treats us well.”
  8. “This is a good place for small groups 6-8 people.”
return potential
50.0% positive
  1. “would never recommend this place, and I will never go back.”
  2. “Yes, we NY'ers like good food and ambience, but we are much more likely to return to a place that treats us well.”
service
63.15999984741211% positive
  1. “The margaritas are awesome and service is impeccable.”
  2. “He was soo rude to me, i heard another patrons say where is the customer service here.”
  3. “At the bartender's suggestion, I had the shrimp fajitas (he said the shrimp dishes were the best).”
  4. “AS YOU HAVE READ in some of the other reviews, the floor manager was weird.”
  5. “staff was rude and slow.”
  6. “Most recently went with a large group of about 14 people during the week and the service was great.”
  7. “Excellent bartender mixed scrumptious margaritas.”
  8. “The service is decent and the prices are reasonable.”
  9. “Perfect blend of well prepared frozen margaritas and great service.”
  10. “Appallingly bad service and food; they substituted romaine lettuce for spinach on the mushroom/spinach quesidilla; when brought to thr manager's attenetion - he said "we do that - half and half - you bit into the wrong half”
  11. “The service was slow, yet the amazing margaritas make it somewhat worth it.”
  12. “It's a spacious place, service is good.”
  13. “ll put it to you this way; I always appreciate it when a restaurant manager decides NOT to wear his dirty cargo pants and an army jacket at work.”
  14. “This is a good place for small groups 6-8 people.”
  15. “The margaritas were pretty good, very strong, and the service was decent.”
  16. “good food, horrible service”
  17. “Means the food drinks service and ambiance are great or else we wouldn't keep coming back.”
  18. “The staff is extremely attentive and friendly.”
  19. “was ok with this, however our waiter had a bad attitude and was bitter that he had to work on a nice day and actually serve people.”
value
95.45000076293945% positive
  1. “The service is decent and the prices are reasonable.”
  2. “Food comes in huge portions so men, you will not be left hungry.”
  3. “In the summer the outside space is great if you can stand the huge crowds and long waits at the bar, get there early to really enjoy the space.”
  4. “The prices are decent.”
  5. “We had a couple other small dishes & the guacamole which is every bit as good as Rosa for less money.”
  6. “Margaritas are cheap and strong so the perfect place to begin the night and keep your expenses low.”
  7. “The whole dinning room looked like a huge checkerboard.”
  8. “Nice chill atmosphere, the short wait is enough for a cocktail and the food is worth the wait.”
  9. “The service was slow, yet the amazing margaritas make it somewhat worth it.”
  10. “its the prefect place to go with a few friends or family and eat cheap great mexican food where you can relax and just have a good time.”
  11. “Would've liked to have slightly larger portions.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “staff was rude and slow.”
  2. “The service was slow, yet the amazing margaritas make it somewhat worth it.”
  3. “In the summer the outside space is great if you can stand the huge crowds and long waits at the bar, get there early to really enjoy the space.”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/05/10

Just Do It!

by shnookahs at Citysearch

theres a good reason why most of the people who have reviewed on here have mentioned the steak nachos. i had been hearing about them for many months and finally made my first visit to try these hyped up nachos. i can, without a doubt, safely say, they are one of the greatest things i have ever eaten. the scene is a restaurant with a bar, who cares if the crowd is B & T, this isn't high school, get over yourself yuppie putz. you may be able to find mexican food for half the price, but who wants to eat taco bell as a regular dinner?

  • Pros: steak nachos, margaritas, steak nachos
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/16/09

Don't do it. Just Don't.

by nyfoodexpert07 at Citysearch

Had an awful experience here. You can find much better mexican for half the price. Beware: This is big time B & T.

  • Pros: None I can think of
  • Cons: Food, Service, B & T crowd, decor
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/17/08

I LOVE THE CHILE CON QUESO!!!

by andigayle21 at Citysearch

This is by far one of my favorite mexican food spots in Manhattan. I am from Texas (land of Tex-Mex), and I haven't found chile con queso this authentic anywhere else in the city. The frozen margaritas are really delicious and strong with many flavors to choose from, the tortillas are homeade, the steak is tender and julicy and the guac is to die for. The service is decent and the prices are reasonable.

  • Pros: Awesome queso and margaritas
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/30/08

Oh mickey you're so fine!

by Euphoria at Citysearch

Was sitting outside when I saw mickies chasing each other under the tables. They were running all over the place. That alone was enough for me to get the hell outta there. I know this is NY, but to see them in plain sight, outside the subway tunnel, was enough to nix my appetite. How do you report this place?

The margaritas were served in a plastic cup and no one gave a damn about salt or no salt. Food was average, who knows if it's been blessed by the mickies. The waiter did not come to check on us. We had to walk through the kitchen and get to the bathroom, and was "greeted" by the entire male staff. WTF???

Will not return, ever.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/26/08

Steak Sensation!

by janeegibbs at Citysearch

So my friend was moving to Miami and we decided on lunch there. We all order different meals and they were all very good. The Carnitas were tender and the sauce was delicious. But The Fajitas I had were to die for. Perfectly flavored, and the meat just fell apart in my mouth. The tortillas were warm and soft. And the Strawberry Margarita I had was creamy and super strong but it was very good. The only bad thing is the waiter kept forgetting stuff we asked him to bring. But coupled with the atmosphere and food, it wasn't a big deal.

  • Pros: Delicious food and strong drinks
  • Cons: Tell your waiter twice about the need for jalapeno's

The Details on El Rio Grande Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good frozen margaritas
  • good mexican food
  • great place
  • great food drinks service
  • very tasty cilantroy salsa
  • rude staff
  • bad food
  • strong margaritas
  • bad service
  • decent prices
  • likes free chips
  • delicious tortillas
  • great lethal drinks
  • else ambiance
  • probably tasted quesediallas
  • really enjoy outside space
  • delicious green tomatilla sauce
  • fantastic sliced steak nachos
  • great mexican
  • favorite happy hour spot
  • great el rio grande
  • big t
  • nice chill atmosphere
  • love chile con queso
  • really good steak burrito