March 2024Mid afternoon... Slow time in the placeOur first time to High River, and Rio Alto.The dining room is comfortable and shows creativity with its theme. Atmosphere was goodI chose to order the molé duck dish, as I had never had opportunity to try authentic mole till now. I found all of the dish to be delicious.My partner ordered 3 different tacos.The tacos, shell and fillings were cold.This made for a most unenjoyable awkward meal. One person enjoying the food and the other sitting feeling left out .Overall, this soured the experience for both of us ...ServiceThe server was unfamiliar with the menu...When we asked for recommendations , we were steered to the two most expensive items on the menu.Restaurant owners please note...Selling the food is difficult if the server has not tried it ...Also... Having a sever steer us toward the pricier items felt "coached" in what was probably a minimal training session...Had they known the items , they could ask our preferences and provide a richer experience.The server was polite, and efficient, and was tipped well for their work.They apologized for the cold tacos.Management should train their staff to alert them (management) when a customer has not enjoyed their meal .. it was not the server's fault ...Is it worth another try?Still debating .. ...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Mole
Leah Lach
Fast, homemade and cozy! The perfect stop at a little local restaurant on our road trip. Ask for the homemade hot sauce. It’s SO tasty if you like things spicy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trio Enchiladas Verdes
Hugo Laci
Mexican restaurant (not a franchise) located in a nice area of High River Downtown, serving food from Central Mexico. The food was great, flavourful, and nicely served. The owner and staff are very friendly, and the restaurant decoration makes you feel in Mexico. Prepare to spend between $20-30 pp. If you live in Calgary or Okotoks, visit High River and support local businesses. it's a short drive and you will find friendly people and nice areas for shopping and outdoor activities.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rio Alto Sombrero Platter
Kendra M
The owner and servers are very friendly. Food is amazing. Can accommodate vegan.Dietary restrictions: Vegan modifications available
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chelsea Mccarthy
Me and my boy friend just moved to high river we love going for Mexican food thought we check it out !Service was slow. we had to ask to order drinks took 10 mins just to get a menu!I asked to order the enchiladas and us the Burrito wrap since I had an allergy to corn the server said not possible asked why she just kept on trying to get me to order other things I didn’t want! She brings the owner to talk to me he does the same thing I finally convince him to do it and he seem super annoyed with me and the server did also for the rest of my dinner he also said that my special requests would interrupted his kitchen line !!!Service not friendly and not help full with accommodating for a allergy !!!!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Max Helland
Delicious, fresh, fairly priced food. Great atmosphere and decor on a cute street.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trio Enchiladas Verdes
Liz Spaargaren
I can’t say enough great things about this place. Definitely my favourite Mexican restaurant. The food is authentic and delicious, and the service is incredible. Make sure you ask about the chef specialties when you go, and try out the jalapeño margaritas. You won’t regret it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lindsay Knight
Huge RAVE to Rio Alto Mexican Restaurant here in town.On Saturday evening my surprise 40th birthday party was held there and to say they did an amazing job is an understatement!The food was constantly filling the buffet, the drinks were flowing and they didn’t miss a beat surviving us all!They also kept the music going and the party lights just made it that much better!!!Hector and his crew are beyond amazing and it was my honour to celebrate my birthday with them!We are truly lucky to have them apart of our community!Thank you Rio Alto for an incredible birthday and evening!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nielle S.
I love Rio Alto's! Wonderful food, friendly staff, good service, and great atmosphere. Their cactus, bean, and beef soft tacos are amazing.
Karen Main
We ordered out, got a drink while we were waiting. They were so sweet, the food was so fresh and delicious. The dining room is beautiful with a great atmosphere, the bathroom (womens) was beautiful. The owner is amazing, came out to chat before we left. If you haven't been, you need to go. The sopes, empandas were so delicious. The Pico de Gallo is one of my favourite dips, so delicious. Everything is delicious! Give Rio Alto a good chance, best food in High River, hands down.They offer vegetarian options as well! And how do you beat home made chips? The 5 layer dip was delicious. I didn't take pictures, just gobbled down the food.Vegetarian options: The offer vegetarian options, just talk to the staff.Kid-friendliness: They accept everyone and anyoneWheelchair accessibility: Easy access from the sidewalk. No stairs, just double doors but manageable.
Had a vegan burrito, was good but only served during lunch hours. For supper they only could serve soft tacos vegan
Updated from previous review on 2022-11-04
Adam
Great food and excellent service. Honestly just stumbled upon this place and it was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trio Enchiladas Verdes
Kat T
Only giving 1 star because I can't give 0. To start with, after our orders were taken, it took about 35 minutes to bring out the food. What we received was very small portions for the price. The kids quesadilla was 4 small individual corn tortilla folded in half, for $9. The same tortillas sell about $8 for a bag of 100 at the Latino store. The sopes were baby sized, and $14. When we asked for more salsa, they brought us a little tiny bowl with a tablespoon of salsa in it. Then, when we left, they charged us $3 for it!!! The food was average at best. Would not recommend to anyone, not worth the drive.
March 2024Mid afternoon... Slow time in the placeOur first time to High River, and Rio Alto.The dining room is comfortable and shows creativity with its theme. Atmosphere was goodI chose to order the molé duck dish, as I had never had opportunity to try authentic mole till now. I found all of the dish to be delicious.My partner ordered 3 different tacos.The tacos, shell and fillings were cold.This made for a most unenjoyable awkward meal. One person enjoying the food and the other sitting feeling left out .Overall, this soured the experience for both of us ...ServiceThe server was unfamiliar with the menu...When we asked for recommendations , we were steered to the two most expensive items on the menu.Restaurant owners please note...Selling the food is difficult if the server has not tried it ...Also... Having a sever steer us toward the pricier items felt "coached" in what was probably a minimal training session...Had they known the items , they could ask our preferences and provide a richer experience.The server was polite, and efficient, and was tipped well for their work.They apologized for the cold tacos.Management should train their staff to alert them (management) when a customer has not enjoyed their meal .. it was not the server's fault ...Is it worth another try?Still debating .. ...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Mole
Fast, homemade and cozy! The perfect stop at a little local restaurant on our road trip. Ask for the homemade hot sauce. It’s SO tasty if you like things spicy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trio Enchiladas Verdes
Mexican restaurant (not a franchise) located in a nice area of High River Downtown, serving food from Central Mexico. The food was great, flavourful, and nicely served. The owner and staff are very friendly, and the restaurant decoration makes you feel in Mexico. Prepare to spend between $20-30 pp. If you live in Calgary or Okotoks, visit High River and support local businesses. it's a short drive and you will find friendly people and nice areas for shopping and outdoor activities.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rio Alto Sombrero Platter
The owner and servers are very friendly. Food is amazing. Can accommodate vegan.Dietary restrictions: Vegan modifications available
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Me and my boy friend just moved to high river we love going for Mexican food thought we check it out !Service was slow. we had to ask to order drinks took 10 mins just to get a menu!I asked to order the enchiladas and us the Burrito wrap since I had an allergy to corn the server said not possible asked why she just kept on trying to get me to order other things I didn’t want! She brings the owner to talk to me he does the same thing I finally convince him to do it and he seem super annoyed with me and the server did also for the rest of my dinner he also said that my special requests would interrupted his kitchen line !!!Service not friendly and not help full with accommodating for a allergy !!!!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Delicious, fresh, fairly priced food. Great atmosphere and decor on a cute street.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trio Enchiladas Verdes
I can’t say enough great things about this place. Definitely my favourite Mexican restaurant. The food is authentic and delicious, and the service is incredible. Make sure you ask about the chef specialties when you go, and try out the jalapeño margaritas. You won’t regret it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Huge RAVE to Rio Alto Mexican Restaurant here in town.On Saturday evening my surprise 40th birthday party was held there and to say they did an amazing job is an understatement!The food was constantly filling the buffet, the drinks were flowing and they didn’t miss a beat surviving us all!They also kept the music going and the party lights just made it that much better!!!Hector and his crew are beyond amazing and it was my honour to celebrate my birthday with them!We are truly lucky to have them apart of our community!Thank you Rio Alto for an incredible birthday and evening!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love Rio Alto's! Wonderful food, friendly staff, good service, and great atmosphere. Their cactus, bean, and beef soft tacos are amazing.
We ordered out, got a drink while we were waiting. They were so sweet, the food was so fresh and delicious. The dining room is beautiful with a great atmosphere, the bathroom (womens) was beautiful. The owner is amazing, came out to chat before we left. If you haven't been, you need to go. The sopes, empandas were so delicious. The Pico de Gallo is one of my favourite dips, so delicious. Everything is delicious! Give Rio Alto a good chance, best food in High River, hands down.They offer vegetarian options as well! And how do you beat home made chips? The 5 layer dip was delicious. I didn't take pictures, just gobbled down the food.Vegetarian options: The offer vegetarian options, just talk to the staff.Kid-friendliness: They accept everyone and anyoneWheelchair accessibility: Easy access from the sidewalk. No stairs, just double doors but manageable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef, Soft Tacos, Azteca Lasagna, 5 Layer Dip
Restaurantji Recommends
Very good food and excellent atmosphere. Not as spicy as we expected, but still great!
The service was wonderful. The food was very delicious and also came out quickly which was nice. We will definitely come back, we had a nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trio Enchiladas Verdes, Chile Relleno, Soft Tacos
Had a vegan burrito, was good but only served during lunch hours. For supper they only could serve soft tacos vegan Updated from previous review on 2022-11-04
Great food and excellent service. Honestly just stumbled upon this place and it was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trio Enchiladas Verdes
Only giving 1 star because I can't give 0. To start with, after our orders were taken, it took about 35 minutes to bring out the food. What we received was very small portions for the price. The kids quesadilla was 4 small individual corn tortilla folded in half, for $9. The same tortillas sell about $8 for a bag of 100 at the Latino store. The sopes were baby sized, and $14. When we asked for more salsa, they brought us a little tiny bowl with a tablespoon of salsa in it. Then, when we left, they charged us $3 for it!!! The food was average at best. Would not recommend to anyone, not worth the drive.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1