Rio 1854 - Latin Craft Kitchen

After months of hibernation, we decided to go out to eat, and in our search for new and exciting food, we found Rio 1854. The menu looked new and had a Hispanic feel but unlike many of the Hispanic restaurants around where I live, this one had a flair to it and was not just your average spot. We made this trip on Feb 8th for brunch. The location is right along the water and features its own private parking lot. As we walked in, we were greeted by the staff upon arrival. The decor gave off a clean northern feel with the warm fireplace and canoe hanging on the ceiling then the look of the lake completed it. Then the Aztec masks along the wall gave it a somewhat different vibe. Our server Veronica guided us through the menu and told us about each dish and what was recommended. I had the Venezuelan Arepa Breakfast and it was made to perfection. The plantains could have been a bit riper but they were good. The arepas were fantastic. The avocado was fresh and the eggs were not too runny and cooked to the perfect consistency. The bacon and ham were juicy and cooked well. The chorizo eggs Benedict was also cooked to perfection. The eggs were poached perfectly. The chorizo had amazing consistency and flavor and the fruit was all fresh. We washed it down with lots of prosecco and then finished it off with 2 tamales. These are not the standard tamales that you get. The masa was a little different but very tasty and well seasoned and went great with bubbles. Throughout our whole time there Veronica was amazing and kept the conversation lively telling us about other fun things on the menu as well as the location. The service was second to none and we had an amazing time. All the staff were amazing and very helpful and friendly. The service here exceeded our expectations and the attention to detail on the food and by the management is fantastic. Thank you Veronica for the amazing experience!

A wonderful & unique menu in a fantastic setting. The night started off with Meg explaining some of the details and twists of the drink offerings. We ordered the house guacamole as an appetizer with the house made tortilla chips. Not like any guac we had before - very tasty. The Serrano tiger shrimp came with great presentation and a surprising amount of heat. The Hawaii 5-O chicken and house waffle fries was especially good, the cole slaw acceptable but somewhat bland. All in all a wonderful dinner with great service. Also great views of the newly lit Stillwater Christmas tree and lift bridge.

We had the most wonderful experience dining at this beautiful restaurant right on the water in Stillwater. The view of the St. Croix River was absolutely stunning and created the perfect backdrop for our brunch. The food was fresh, clean, and full of flavor — every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented. Our friends visiting from Los Angeles were just as impressed, especially with how vibrant and delicious everything tasted. The staff was genuinely friendly and attentive, making us feel right at home. A special thank you to the owner, Luna, whose warm welcome and hospitality truly made our visit memorable. We’ll definitely be returning soon — and bringing even more friends to share in this wonderful dining experience!

We stumbled across this place while in Stillwater. We were seated promptly and the service was amazing. I ordered the seafood tower which was very tasty and my wife ordered the walleye tacos. Everything was prepared perfectly. The view of the river was stunning. This place is a must try if you are ever in the area. They have only been open since October so give them a try!

Saturday Date Night - showed up with no reservation and was seated within 5 minutes. Restaurant was moderately busy. The server was very attentive to us. The food came out in under 10 minutes of ordering with the waiter which was very impressive. The walleye tacos were excellent. Seasoned perfect, great portion size and visually nice. The Guacho sandwich was very good with a side of au Jus. the meat was cooked perfectly. The entree lacked visual appeal. The ambience didn’t necessarily represent a Latin kitchen and not much of the interior had changed from the old dock cafe. Outside of that the service was great, the food was very good and a great spot in Stillwater for a date night under $100!!

We loved it! I was never impressed with the Dock - other than the location it was nothing special. This new restaurant is special! I had The Avocado Wedge Salad and the sweet potato. It was a fabulous combination. The salad was fresh, crisp and so good. The sweet potato was baked perfectly with butter and a little goat cheese. Add a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and it was just right!

I celebrated my birthday at Rio, and it was an amazing experience! I was treated to a new signature dish that was absolutely delicious. The flavors were fantastic, and it made my special day even better. I also had the pleasure of meeting Head Chef Anthony, who is a great guy and really passionate about his food. Highly recommend this place for a lovely dining experience!"

Our first visit to Rio 1854 was for breakfast. We were so impressed that we came back the very next week to have dinner there. The food is incredibly authentic and packed with flavor. The portions are extremely generous and their location right on the St. Croix River is second to none. We can’t wait for spring to arrive so we can experience the waterfront patio, but in the meantime, we look forward to bringing our friends and family along to experience several more menu options. Don’t sleep on this new stillwater gem of a restaurant!

We have been here for dinner and breakfast. The breakfast is fantastic. We ordered the chorizo omelette and the chicken poblano eggs Benedict. We also ordered bloody Mary's which are house made and out of this world good! For dinner we ordered the grilled group tray of food. It was fun and so good. The salsas and guacamole were fantastic! And beef tallow fries that are worth trying!

Always searching for new places to try especially for breakfast. Brought my family here and was pleasantly surprised. They recently opened and still have some bugs to work out, but pretty decent place with a lovely view of the river. Service was pretty good, but at times we had to chase her down for some refills. No biggie- she was helpful although wasn't totally sure of the menu. Food ordered: Lumberjack omelet (soufflé) was huge stuffed with all kinds of goodies and a side of cilantro rice which was delicious. Waffle with really nice size sausages Simple breakfast Meat lovers breakfast Club sandwich Food was very good, but it's a bummer when it doesn't come out together and what's hot should be hit, not cold. Great menu options with plenty of variety. Would go back to try their dinner menu. New spin on the old Dock Cafe? Worth a try!!

We tried out this new restaurant. It was ok. The menu was interesting. I had the fish tacos as a meal. They were large sized but it was just a piece of deep fried fish plopped in the shell. My husband had a pasta dish with shrimp and he felt like the shrimp was undercooked. The inside doesn't look like it was really updated other than some wallpaper on one wall. Staff were friendly. I'm not sure we will make a big effort to return. We were so looking forward to something opening up here with the beautiful riverfront patio for summer evenings.

This new Latin restaurant is in the old Dock restaurant location with fantastic views of the river. Our visit there was just ok. The staff were nice and the food was decent, but not great. Very limited speciality cocktail menu. We will go back and try it for breakfast. They are newly opened, so my hope is that our "meh" experience was because they are just getting their feet wet as a new restaurant.

Dinner was great. The services was very good and the food was even better. I had the Serrano Tiger Prawn dish which had a great blend of flavor and a little heat. My wife had the Heritage Roasted Chicken which was also very flavorful. Brussel Sprout were cooked just right and had a nice lite sauce. Highly recommend giving Rio a visit you won't be disappointed...