Cafe Del Rio

Love love love the vibe of this restaurant!!! The gospel fried chicken is a must-have. I have a hard time ordering anything else when it's on the menu. The service is always excellent, and they are so personable. I recommend you make this a go-to stop on your Virginia City adventures. :)

One of the nicest restaurants in Virginia City (NV). Been going here for many years. Theme of course is Mexican food, but the atmosphere is Old Virginia City... Western mining ⛏️ town. Price range posted with wine.

The three of us had a wonderful lunch here after riding the train to Virginia City and walking around town. I bet they have never had a client order cheesecake and a bowl of beans for lunch! 😆 Our server attended us quickly and kept our drinks topped off. I enjoyed the open window so I could watch the passersby. I think this is a place locals frequent judging by the number of families inside.

UPDATE: Since my last review (about a year ago) the portions have gotten better so I don’t mind the $21 menu price. My husband and I went for my birthday brunch and it was excellent! I got the gospel chicken (see photo)! YUM!! OLD REVIEW: The portions keep getting smaller and the prices keep getting larger. Honestly the prices don’t make ANY sense. The new owners clearly do not know how to cost out a menu. Menu engineering 101. Google it.

This cute little Mexican restaurant is open later than a lot of places in Virginia City. It has a fun, charming and cute atmosphere. The food was delicious and the service exceptional! I found the prices reasonable. (especially for Virginia City.) I will definitely go back.

This Mexican food restaurant is awesome! Open later than a lot of places in in Virginia City. Great service and delicious food! The atmosphere was very pleasant. I would say the place was cute. The menu offered plenty of variety. Even the prices were good. Check it out!

Needed backup food because Gold Hill was having a private event. Definitely made the right choice here - Virginia City is full of places where you can get some variation on "sandwich" for theme park prices. This one really provided good value for the dollar and wasn't trying to convince me that Mark Twain once arm wrestled Teddy Roosevelt at the same table where I was eating with the ghost of a jilted lover. I got the Santa Fe style enchilada, would definitely get this again. All the best parts of a tostada and an enchilada, with an egg on top - what's not to like?

It was busy so it took a few minutes to be greeted at the door, but no big deal! The chili relleno was amazing. Chips & salsa were good, although I personally prefer a thinner chip. Ambiance was nice at lunch with the windows open and breeze passing through. We will return when we are in town!

The food and the service was wonderful! Staff was very friendly and efficient. Food was great. Definitely come again. The ambience is rustic but hip. Make sure you visit this place. You wont be disappointed.​

We recently dined at Cafe del Rio in Virginia City and had a pleasant experience. The restaurant offers a spacious and comfortable atmosphere, perfect for a casual meal. Our server, Hannah, was friendly and attentive, providing excellent service. She even warned us about the messy nature of the chili chicken sandwich, which was accurate but delicious. The blackened chicken, while not overly flavorful, was still enjoyable. The other dishes, including the burrito, burger, taquitos, and tacos, were well-received by our group. We also indulged in the blackberry and peach cheesecake, which was a delightful treat. Overall, Cafe del Rio is a solid choice for a meal in Virginia City. The food is good, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is inviting.

Yummy food Yummy drinks!!! Best service! Best margaritas! Great ambiance and service.

Amazing place! I enjoy coming back to a place over and over and never being disappointed, recognizing the friendly faces, and am welcomed like family. My favorite feature is their margarita bar. My favorite dishes are the little blue pot, burritos, and gospel chicken. The restaurant is in an old building with stone walls, but open window/doors, a gorgeous view. One of Virginia City favorites! Usually open after 3 Thur-Sunday. While I wish they were open all the time, I appreciate it more this way (and I would wish non-stop work for any small business owner!)

Always the last stop on Sundays when leaving VC. I need my Sunday fried chicken. Two large pieces of boneless white chicken with the perfectly seasoned crispy crunchy coating, served with real mashed potato and gravy and fresh corn and Cole slaw. Yep, from a Mexican restaurant. As many times as I have ate here, it's been years since I have tried any of their Mexican dishes. The rest of the table has, and it all looks and smells devine. And are pretty good sized portions. Staff is also friendly. The restaurant is located in one of VC's historic buildings, the Werrin Building. Originally a grocery store and rooming house. Del Rio has been serving up its authentic Southwest cuisine since 2005. I highly recommend reservations. Especially if there is an event in town. There is some street parking and they have their own small lot.

Their barbacoa salads are to die for. And the hand made torillas....soooo good. Their service and ambiance are nice. Nothing wrong but nothing to scream about. But you have to come for the tortillas.

3 for dinner. Made a reservation and got our seat by a window. 3 different margaritas. They were all really good. Our server was friendly and professional. The chili relleno, Ghost chicken, and enchilada were all perfectly prepared. Such a great place to eat. We come here often.

We love this place whenever we go to Virginia City. The Mexican food is great and the atmosphere is spacious yet feels quaint. The staff is so nice with a classic small town feel.

Lunch today at Cafe Del Rio in Virginia City, Nevada was amazing! We really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and sat by the window and there was a nice breeze blowing. Tables were spaced out nicely. My husband had the Gospel Chicken Salad and he said it was really good with really fresh ingredients. I had the Carnitas Tacos and they were excellent! Great food and great service- I definitely recommend.

Pretty good Mexican food for being in a tiny western themed town. We got in pretty quick on a Saturday evening in spring time. Large party, sat us at two different tables. Service was decent, nothing notable, but took care of us efficiently. I enjoyed my rice, beans, and chicken enchilada. The flavors were all good.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by Cafe Del Rio in Virginia City. Fresh tasting tex-mex that is bursting with fresh veggies and light bright flavor. (As opposed to the heavy cheesy saucy dishes at some Mexican restaurants) Very tasty beans and steak tacos, but the highlight was the fried chicken. The restaurant felt so great on a cool night with big open windows and great location on C street. Service was impeccable. A gem in the middle of an old historical town. So fun

Just okay. The atmosphere is great. Getting seated seemed to be a chore for them. The service was good overall but they were kind of indifferent except my pet peeve is that I HATE running out of water. If I ask you for a pitcher of water and you tell me you can't do that then make SURE I do t run out of water! The food...meh. Just okay and a little bland.

The food here is great - I had the little blue pot and the chicken was seasoned perfectly. My husband had the pork burrito and said it was really good. The service was quick and lovely as well. We'll be back!

I am rating it 4 stars because my dish would have been great if I hadn't selected the sweet pork for my protein selection. It was so overwhelmingly sweet and paired with the corn elotes & black beans made it almost unbearable to eat. I ended up throwing it away. I will try the carne asada next time.

Go with the fried chicken or the blue pot. Wife likes the taquitos or the pork tacos. Great service. With a vibe that gives the comfort of a small town but mixes in a south of the border escape. Good people and good food.

Only looking from outside of the building, you may get fooled. It is a pretty nice place to hang out at Virginia City, great food and location!

Well, I have never experienced something like this before. Our server seemed to just have it out for me. Maybe it's because I was the only one at the table who was not Caucasian? Maybe it's because I asked for 4 waters all around. She made a comment that the table would be crowded since we each ordered other drinks ie soda, tea, wine, cranberry juice. And then she wouldn't clear the table when I told her I was all done. TBH, she was rude. Anyway, that's the vibe I got. She addressed me last and brought my food out last and my fried chicken was double or triple fried, which means you couldn't even chew it. Tougher than jerky, my mother-in-law said, after trying it. I'd say avoid this place. Aside from My experience, the rest of my party said the food was mediocre.

We had a great dining experience. They have 8 different types of margaritas- the first 2 were great - can't wait to try the rest. Our chips were fresh. I had the enchilada stack and will be getting that again - it's awesome!!!

My family and I are visiting Virginia city from Los Angeles. With all the walking and site seeing we were starving and came to cafe del rio. The place looked cute and the menu displayed outside looked good. However when we walked in the host walked off after asking how many people were in our party. We waited for over 15 min to be seated and every time we asked for an update she was short and rude saying "your table is being set up" although we can clearly see the table is ready and no one is setting anything up. We really didn't feel welcomed and it seemed almost as if they were inconvenienced by our presence. Not once did someone smile or apologize for the wait. When we were finally seated the waitress took our order and our food took 25 min to be served. And it came to the table 2 entrees at a time so we did have to wait for everyone's meals to be served. I will say, the food was very very good. Everything we ordered, including the vegetarian enchiladas were very good. We wish the service was better.

Food was always good! Great service. Gotta try Gospel Chicken!! Fun spot in Virginia City!

We did not even realize this establishment existed. Tried it today. You can find it up the road on the right as you drive through and past the town a quarter mile. Very quaint inside. Extremely friendly staff. Our hostess had a great sense of humor, especially when it came to making some coffee. The food was great. I had the fried chicken (something different for lunch). The wife had enchiladas. Both dishes were great. The menu is a blend of some different items, such as Mexican, sandwiches and main entrees. As for service...We were happy with it. Then again, anytime your food is prepared to order and arrives to your table hot as if you were at home, we are beyond happy. We would not hesitate to eat here the next time we get the urge to visit VC.

I didn't take any photos of Cafe Del Rio and I hate posting a mediocre review but... The food was very Americanized and frankly I wasn't excited about it. I ordered a Chile Relleno and a Carnitas taco and I'll tell you I can do better at home. The Chile Relleno, beans and rice all lacking flavor. The taco served on a flour tortilla wasn't like any Carnitas taco I've ever had. No richly simmered flavor and no char on the meat.. Atmosphere is cute and service was fine . Chips and salsa disappointing too... I had been told how good it was by a few trusted friends but I guess they have no idea what authentic Mexican food tastes like. I love Mexican food but, I found nothing to love here..

This is one of the best places to eat in VC Everything is delicious and it will not disappoint you! Church chicken my favorite

Another wonderful lunch outside of the VC hubbub with great foot, I mean really great food, tremendous views and fabulous service. Love you Sara and crew. Something you'd expect in Aspen or Telluride. Anything on the menu is good and please try the Ollita (little blue pit) OMG!!!!!! We love every thing about this place and will be planning our 22nd Anniversary here. Sorry, no pics this time, too busy eating. Do yourself the favor eat here...!

I like to eat at Cafe Del Rio when I visit Virginia City. The ambiance is very nice, the chips are crisp, the salsa is nice, and the margaritas are yum. I tried something new this time around, the vegetarian enchiladas, and it wasn't my favorite. A little weird maybe. But I had some of my kids' cheeseburgers and fries and those were sooooo good. I've also always liked what I've had in the past, so still giving it 5 stars. They also accommodated a party of 15 at the last minute with smiles on their faces and great service.

This is a cute Mexican restaurant on the main street in Virginia City. It is located in the old firehouse. They preserved two big window-doors in the main dining area that the firetrucks used to roll through. The menu is not big, but varied enough. Six of us popped in for dinner (on a busy Saturday night) and were seated very quickly. Their staff was most friendly and eager to please us. We tasted margaritas, wine and cocktails. They have a full bar and some unique concoctions. They are one of the few Mexican restaurants that still offer the free tortilla chips and salsa, which were yummy. I ordered their pork carnitas which came with rice, refried beans, guacamole, pico de gallo salsa, sour cream and tortillas. It was very good! A couple people in our group ordered the "Little Blue Pot" which is, rice, pinto beans, Pico de Gallo, avocados, Cotija cheese, tortillas and your choice of meat. Those were very tasty. I will keep this on my list of places to eat!

Had to wait for a couple minutes up front....not a big deal, as it was busy. The food was absolutely worth it! They had all the windows open which was a nice breeze but no flies. I got the chili relleno and it was amaze!

Small local joint serving up the freshest flavors. All sauces are dairy and vegan free and staff is very helpful for those with allergen concerns. Portions are HUGE so either prepare for a Togo bag or choose to share. Food menu offers a variety of Mexican dishes and a few takes on American Mexican favorites

This is a good local hang out. The space is a bit loud. I wish they could find better acoustic handling, but the service is friendly, and the food is good.

Wow what a great local eatery We made a reservation online but it did not get thru to the Restrant but we did get a confirmation The staff told us no worries got us seated in short order and what wonderful food and service. We will be back thanks

The setting is modern and comfortable as you enter. The staff greets you warmly and is most attentive. All the food is made in house. The chips are fresh as is the salsa. I had the blue pot specialty and it is a delicious mixture of steak, sauce, rice and beans; along with the freshly made tortilla. The chicken special is three pieces of white meat, mashed potatoes and corn. Enjoy a good meal here in a nice atmosphere.

The food here is wonderful. They serve delicious vegetarian options that will delight your senses! We enjoy eating here and highly recommend it to anyone looking for special a dinning experience.

For a change of pace Friday night, a small group of us decided to meet here for an early-ish (5:30) dinner. Upon our arrival we saw the parking lot full but plenty of parking on the street, though you'll need to watch for the errant flatlander as the streets are quite narrow. As you walk up the old wooden sidewalk, you se that this is an incredibly well maintained historical building, giving a feeling of the overall town itself. Were you to just stop in, eat and then leave, you'd have just gleaned at small look at the townspeople cheating yourself therein. Inside the decor is all about The Comstock Days, with old furniture carted across the American prairie with some brought from San Francisco via various ships around the Cape, all inside a rock brick building-formerly the firehouse amongst other uses. On the bar you'll see the infusion of the modern West with the nice variety of unusual though excellent Margaritas! Well stocked shelves stand behind it and the mixologist does it well-and she is the owner besides. There we were greeted by a delightful young lady who asked if we had a reservation (we did not). " Okay, it'll be about 15 minutes though" to which we readily agreed, knowing they were quite busy. 10 minutes later we were seated, 15 minutes later we had a dinner cocktail and 20 minutes after we walked in the door we were asked our main course choice by none other than the owner, Sarah who has been in the restaurant business doing everything from the pots and pans to now owning her an incredible place herself. Though my favorite dish is their Chile relleno, the singular dozen made per day were already served before we arrived. Their Gospel chicken however is worth the trip from anywhere in and of itself. As well, their enchiladas are thick with a tasty drizzle though the table next to us ordered the Blue Pot, a fantastic meal as well. Modern Comstock relic pictures abound with more of reminders of the time, and the diners are usually as an eclectic mix as the town itself. Sarah, her daughter and their team are up to the task in spades, to which we've never been disappointed. But don't tell anyone else about it! It's an outstanding dinner house that we locals have been fortunate to keep under wraps thus far and hope to continue doing so..

I've always liked this restaurant, but this recent visit was really disappointing. We were told they still make their own chips, but they were the worst store-bought stale chips that I've ever had. They were absolutely terrible so we sent them back. The guacamole and salsa were great though. The margaritas were great. The tacos were good. It's sad that something as simple as tortilla chips could really ruin the meal. Our waitress was great, but she assured us that they still do the chips themselves, but anybody can tell that they were store bought they were not cooked that day. The server said they were going to fire the company that's been providing them the chips soon which is a great idea because I would really like to go back there again but they really need to fix that.

I tried to do my research beforehand my friend suggested a pizza place where a review stated there are no safety measures being taken . Upon researching online the website stated limited seating , reservations only, I thought it would be a safe bet. I called and place reservations a few days ahead. When my friend and I showed up "masked up". Aside from the waitresses and one other person we were the only masks in sight. There were two waitresses manning the entire place and it seemed every table had guests. The tables didn't appear to be 6 feet apart. The drink was good, it was made with a kick. I could taste the pomegranate. To try something different I ordered the blue pot, a side of flour tortillas and in the pot were carnitas rice and beans. The carnitas were chunks and the flavoring was a little dull but I tried to make the best of it. There were chips and salsa but some of the chips appeared to be stale. We had our bill placed on the table without being offered dessert. While seated I saw a monstrous brownie that I may have ordered to make up for my meal. Definitely an experience but maybe next time I'll stick with in town eating .

Yummy food and even better deserts! The food was fresh hot and super tasty. The restaurant is cute and makes you feel like you are in mexico verse VC. The staff was amazing and friendly and the food was fantastic. We will be back for sure.

Great ambiance, very friendly and absolutely fantastic food. I had The Blue Pot. Yum!! Loved it. Going back soon.

Hands down my favorite place to eat when visiting Virginia City (and worth the drive when I'm not visiting VC!) My favorites are the house salad, the taquitos, the fried chicken dinner or salad, and the homemade cinnamon ice cream sundae! Oh yeah, and the amazing margaritas!

The price and portions are right, the food is flavorful and yummy, and you just can't beat the historic location. The cafe is so cute, decorated with bright colors and strings of lights. We got the huevos rancheros, and the beans were delicious! The chicken and waffles... I can't believe that white meat can be this juicy! BF mentioned that it was a southern style breading, which he likes. The waffle was a little pale, but big and fluffy. We got the cheesecake to go, and let me tell you, it was pure genius to use a chili sauce! I would gladly get the cheesecake again! We went for Sunday brunch on 1/5/20 and parking was easy to find since we came from the Carson City side. Service was brisk but friendly. They have high chairs! We definitely see ourselves driving to VC for a meal at this restaurant! Oh, and the views are amazing, too! On this clear day, we looked out east and could see snow-topped mountains in the distance.

Amongst the twelve of us, the dishes were somewhat hit or miss. However I was very happy with my choice- the chicken taquitos appetizer! The shredded chicken was very tasty, with soft potatoes inside, Monterrey Jack and sour cream. Crunchy outside, soft inside!!! Yummm. The margarita however, left a lot to be desired.... Headed on over to one of the saloons down the road and got a much better margarita after.

This place was really great. The server was friendly, the food was hot and tasty and the dining room is super cute. It was fun to sit by the open window and watch Virginia City go by. She even got us walking cups so we could take our drinks to go. Very thoughtful. Best Mexican food in town.

Great food and vibe here at this family-owned place. Order the blue pot with rice, beans and roasted pork. Delicious!! Make a reservation! We dined with reservations on a Saturday night and everyone enjoyed their dinner.

Holy crap, this was one of, if not, the best fried chickens I've ever had (!!!) - and I'm a fried chicken connoisseur. The chicken was juicy, tender, properly brined. The exterior was crispy, perfect density, and well-seasoned. Even the coleslaw was delicious, and I usually hate it. It was vinegary, crunchy, and the perfect consistency. Run, don't walk, to get the fried chicken here!!!!!!!!!

What a pretty cafe in a historical building. The ambiance is nice. We got seated right away and the server quickly took our drink orders and brought us chips and salsa. The cocktails looked fabulous but I tried a Tahoe brewed pilsner that was refreshing. The salsa was quite good, just the right amount of spiciness. We each ordered the Gospel Chicken which came with green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. It was all good and I had to get a box for the leftovers. I had the apricot cheesecake which was quite yummy. The cafe had families in it and it looked like coloring books for the kids were available, I don't live in the area but if I return to Virginia City I would eat here again.

This place has amazing food, friendly staff, prompt service, and overall wonderfully satisfying experience. Atmosphere is lovely as well. Kudos!!!

The food service and ambience was all very nice. The food especially was excellent my favorite place to go when I'm in Virginia City. The service was excellent. Also, I highly recommend it.

I rarely give 5 stars. Cafe Del Rio welcomed us with great food, personalized service and very attractive prices. WARNING: CASH ONLY!!! They don't take debit or credit so make sure you have ca$h. If you're already in Virginia City and didn't bring enough green, they have an ATM in the lobby. Three words for you, Gospel Fried Chicken. You need not be religious but you must like chicken. I am now addicted and wonder what the secret herbs and spices are that draw me in like a kitty to tuna. Everyone that comes to Cafe Del Rio has the same reaction, A M O R E. The quaint embracing atmosphere is clearly in line with Virginia City. Even the building itself holds a historic yet nostalgic . I've read that when the weather is nice, they open the windows and you can dine with an amazing view of the mountains. Meaning we will be back next month.

Attractive restaurant. Attentive staff. Fair prices. We only had a chicken salad this time around but as always it was fresh and well displayed. Can't miss spot.

I don't even know where to being!! It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and I heard about this little place up in Virginia city that had the best Mexican food. We made the trek up the big hill and I am so happy we did this little restaurant is fantastic!! First we were greeted at the door by a very friendly waitress, we had a corner table where we had perfect views of the very old building! The place was extremely neat and clean. To me that's the first sign that it's going to be an awesome meal! We started off with some fresh salsa and chips which we washed down with some Bloody Mary's and a few beers. I was embarrassed to admit that I really wanted to try the fried chicken, even though we were in a Mexican restaurant. We asked our waitress what she recommends and I was so happy when she said they were famous for the fried chicken!! So of course, I ordered it and I am glad I did because it was fantastic. So crunchy, moist and full of flavor served over some mashed potatoes with gravy and corn right off the cob!! My folks and sister also licked their plates!! Every was so fresh and you can tell it was made to order! The place was filling up pretty quickly, so I would maybe call ahead because of the Covid restrictions. Very affordable, open, clean and a super friendly staff. and I look forward to returning because I already picked out my next meal!! The Mahi Mahi tacos !!