Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill

Mexican restaurant · Genoa

Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill

Mexican restaurant · Genoa

1

407 Sycamore Rd, Genoa, IL 60135

Photos

Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null
Rivers’ Mexican Cantina & Grill by null

Highlights

Authentic Mexican food, large margaritas, lively patio  

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407 Sycamore Rd, Genoa, IL 60135 Get directions

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$10–20

Information

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407 Sycamore Rd, Genoa, IL 60135 Get directions

+1 815 784 2017
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RiversMexican

$10–20

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reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Aug 12, 2025

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Jose Vera

Google
Very nice secluded place and still lively with lights, soft music and good taste. Plenty of parking as it is located just a short distance from Genoas busy main strip off of 23 but set back in the strip mall. It has a great patio area and plenty of indoor climate control seats. Food was fresh, good and to be able to say. The beans and rice taste just like or better than home made. Fresh soft and not heated or left out as most restaurants can some times be. The tacos are loaded with meat and there is plenty of sauce too. If drinks are your favorite, margaritas in a flight and mescal mules! I say yes, and yes!! Stop by and meet Francisco and Kristina, my 1st time there and I can say I will be back. Great host and great atmosphere, food and drinks!

Michael Anderson

Google
The building, dining area, and bathrooms are really starting to show their age and need a bit of upkeep. Holes in walls, patched areas that are not sanded or painted really draw your attention to the lack of luster. The food was typical but nothing special coupled with tables and benches that are needing some work made the experience ok, but not memorable. Hopefully this is not a trend as this is one a very few restaurants in town that are still open.

Devon Buse

Google
This is one of our favorite mexican restaurants in DeKalb County. The staff is always professional and curteous and their food doesn't dissapoint. I have not been there with their live bands, but I bet it provides a fun atmosphere out on their patio. Also, be very careful with their margaritas. Their margaritas are very big, but who would want a small margarita? Just be sure you have a dd because you are probably going to need one or you'll just have to do a dance off with a little bit of salsa and chips. If that doesn't appease your appetite, then you can ask for some hot salsa, because who would want to go mild?

Cameron

Google
Some of the worst Mexican food I’ve ever had. Maybe the standards are just low around here. 4.5 stars is shocking.

Kathryn Hoedel

Google
Never disappoints! Great food and service. Huge portions. So happy we found this place.

Elliot White

Google
The only bad thing about this place was the queso. I ordered the queso, and it came out cold the first time I told my server he was happy to take it to the kitchen to get me a new one. Then another thing I ordered a drink, and then it came in a different glass but the same straw, and the server might have touched the straw...

Rick Collingbourne

Google
Like the food here, but they never get my pickup order correct. Completely missed one of my 4 dinners tonight and they didn't seem to care. Just said sorry you can come back when we get it done but it will be a while because we're busy. Guess I go to Sycamore and DeKalb from now on.

Debra Nord

Google
The patio is nice. The skinny margarita was very good. The steak in the tacos was over cooked and dry, I would not order again. I read google reviews prior to eating here and wonder if I came on an off night.

Matthew G.

Yelp
Very good food and service was great. Neat how this is on the Florida Alabama state line.

Tanya C.

Yelp
My husband and I come in with our three kids about once a month. We have never left disappointed! The food is always delicious and each of the servers are always on point.
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Vanessa F.

Yelp
Always great, friendly service. Plenty to eat that we take some home. They are a great fit for Genoa and the surrounding towns around. The drinks are awesome too.

John D.

Yelp
I just went in with my girlfriend to get some takeout and the guy at the front wouldn't stop staring at her and when we were leaving he looked at her behind. Not only that we got the Genoa deluxe quesadillas and they are completely soggy and have little to no seasoning. definitely not worth the $40 I spent could've gone to McDonald's for better food.

T. P.

Yelp
My friend and I thought we would try this place out on a Sunday evening. We decided to sit on the patio since it was nice out. We both ordered margaritas. They are a good size and not stingy with the tequila. Our server brought out chips and salsa. The salsa had a little bit of spice, but not spicy. Although I like spicy, we thought it was a good pick to serve to accomodate most people. The tortilla chips were OK. They just reminded me of the mass produced yellow ones people buy at the store. I like more of a homemade authentic chip. I ordered an El gigante burro. It was basically just a lot of rice with some chicken in a big tortilla with queso sauce dumped over it. There was supposed to be pico de gallo and sour cream in it also, but I ate 1/2 the burrito and didn't see any. Very boring for a $17 burrito. My friend ordered the Un poco del toro burro and she liked it. Our server was nice and food came out pretty fast. I am not sure if I will be back again. For the money, there are just better places to go that have more flavor and are more authentic.
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Jen D.

Yelp
Excellent dinner on the patio last night!!!! Food was great and the staff was incredible!!!
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Kathleen L.

Yelp
Lots of tasty affordable food items on the menu! So hard to decide what to eat. The ground beef nacho appetizer is the best we have ever had! My husband devoured his El Pacifico shrimp and crab enchiladas while I ate the cheese quesadilla's appetizer as my dinner. Our 6 year old daughter is very picky and ordered a side of fries and loved them. Even though we were full, we could not resist ordering the Chimi cheesecake for dessert. OMG you have to try it!! This is a great restaurant and I highly recommend you come here to eat!

Karen L.

Yelp
We ate inside due to the weather but the outdoor patio looks inviting and shady. The margarita was fabulous and large. The food was delicious, hot, with a variety of sides included. The tortillas are homemade! Service was outstanding and the restaurant full but quiet enough to have a peaceful meal. Service was friendly, prompt, and outstanding!
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Tom W.

Yelp
Best mexican food around. We have eaten here many times. The food and drinks are all very good.
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Luke S.

Yelp
Pollo con arroz is amazing here! My in laws moved about a year ago out this way, so when we make the trek to visit we're always looking for decent food. This place is great and better than any other Mexican food I have found way out west! The menu is massive and the prices are incredibly reasonable. They also pour a nice margarita. Their patio is large with good airflow, so I felt safe in these crazy times. We've carried out a couple times now and other than one mix up on their end it's been awesome. Rock solid spot!

Renee D.

Yelp
Such a gem for Genoa. Great food, friendly service, fun events, and they've created a great space. It's one of my go-to's.
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BM A.

Yelp
My wife and I are new in town and found out about this authentic Mexican restaurant near our home. We go there very often as their food is amazing! You can find great restaurants such as this one in small towns too. We love giving back and helping small local businesses. One thing we wish they had is delivery service or teamed up with Grubhub. If you place an order they are fast and on time for pickup. You guys rock, keep up the great work.

Sharon B.

Yelp
The food is great and the staff are very friendly and attentive. Would highly recommend.
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Phylis T.

Yelp
This was our 3rd attempt in 6 months to get in. Always packed & good reviews. I. Cannot. Understand. Why. The first attempt we made we went in & had a couple in front of us requesting a table & they were told can't get a table for a party under 6. I didn't understand that at all. You can't move chairs. So.... Us being a party of 3 left since they're not Willing to accommodate smaller party. 2nd attempt it was super busy in lobby on a Friday night & we weren't going to wait. Finally!!! Am3rd attempt 8 pm on a Tue.... Success! We get sat & immediately waited on. Soooooooooo very disappointing. The worst "Mexican" food if I dare call it that... it was blan, lacked flavor & the one thing I actually attempted to finish was the tostada (I had the combo) & had the worst after taste after every bite. My bf had tried to order a torta & requested one milanesa & was told nope! They can do chicken.... Hmm ok. Never mind- he ordered 3 steak tacos. Very blan. When we were done, he asked if we wanted to go boxes to which my bf replied yes. I said why?? We're never going to eat this again lol We threw it away in the garbage bin the second we got home in the garage. Will NOT be retuning.
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Steph B.

Yelp
The best Mexican food in DeKalb County! We are regulars and love the tri-color enchiladas, carne asada, tacos al pastor, and sopes. Quality, tasty ingredients with a very authentic taste! The staff is incredible and super responsive/friendly. We love the outdoor, covered patio with string lights-- it feels like a little taste of Mexico. Rivers' also does a ton of creative events in the community like Margaritas with my Señoritas, Cinco de Genoa, Día del Niño (children's day), holiday midnight markets with festive drinks and vendors, live music, and more!
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Josh B.

Yelp
Tried to call and make a reservation today for 9 people. They said sorry, we do not take same day reservations because we are busy. Ok I said. Still want to give you a heads up that 9 of us are coming in. We arrive and they said, sorry we closed early because it was slow. Then the host ask, well did you have a reservation? I said no, because you wouldn't let us make one. Very poor job tonight. This place used to be our go to in Genoa.
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Mark J.

Yelp
My wife and I went here on a Sunday evening and the restaurant was about half full. We were greeted and seated instantly when we entered the front door. The restaurant was clean and our server greeted us shortly after we were seated. He gave us our menus and chips and salsa to munch on before the meal. The chips and salsa were really good by the way. Slightly spicy but not hot. My wife ordered a vegetarian meal while I went with a shredded chicken burrito. Both of our meals were good and we had no complaints, however there was also really nothing special about the restaurant either. Also, if you're not familiar with the area the restaurant is hard to find. The signage is terrible and the restaurant is located on the corner of a slightly run down strip mall.
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Sarah P.

Yelp
We love River's... their food is amazing and authentic, and the service is outstanding. We will definitely return many more times in the future! We love their outdoor patio as well... I recommend sitting outside if the weather permits!
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Laura D.

Yelp
The only word I have for River's is FANTASTIC. Everytime I go here I am extremely happy. I love everything from the tacos, the chimichangas, the queso, even the churro. The elotes are fabulous as are the enchiladas. If your really looking for a treat, bring a friend or a date and order the molcahete. It's an experience. I ordered it for myself and it's really enough for three people. They even make cactus taste delicious!
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Greg C.

Yelp
Reliably really good! I've been here a dozen times and have never been disappointed. One of my favorites is Pollo and Chorizo, and I love the Chimi Cheesecake.
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Tina H.

Yelp
Good enchiladas and Guacamole. We recently moved to the area and this place is good and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. Prices are decent as well.

Chris R.

Yelp
Stopped in to this new restaurant last night for a quick taste. Great service and yummy food. All the things you'd like to see from a Mexican restaurant were there - Tasty Guacamole, large portions and great margaritas. Everything we had was really good, but the Chile Relleno was the star of the plate for my tastebuds. I think these guys are doing a great job and you should stop in. I will definitely be a repeat customer.
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Micaela C.

Yelp
This place is not what I was looking for but I'm glad I stayed to eat. I came in just trying to have a drink and this place was not offering just sitting at the bar. I sat down anyways because it was going to start to rain and glad I did because I ordered the Carne azada and it was the best one I have ever had. Except what I make lol but definitely recommend it.

Diane D.

Yelp
We dined here as restaurants began to open up again at the beginning of the summer. We had always heard great things and decided it would be worth trying for a date night out. We went for an early dinner, but were disappointed when it took what felt like forever for anyone to notice that we were there to seat us (mind you no one else was there - we were the only customers). This was the first time I went in a restaurant and felt like I was the inconvenience. The food was okay but not the best compared to others in the area. Not sure we'll be back, but hope others don't have to experience this!
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Joe B.

Yelp
Love this place. We visit Rivers at least a couple times a month. ALWAYS a tasty meal. Prices are quite reasonable for food and wine. Staff very courteous too.
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Meg C.

Yelp
No good! No flavor! No class! Upon entering was not even greeted. All nachos are lame and lack substance. Unless you like chips, meat, cheese and NO seasoning. Disappointed in the food and the service. Definitely no need to return.
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Patti R.

Yelp
Okay food, atmosphere is nice. Serving size decent, friendly waitstaff, very clean. Just didn't feel like it was really authentic, but for a small town this is a nice establishment. Pricing is is fair, I would say expensive but not entirely cheap either.
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Christine P.

Yelp
Good food, hearty portions and attentive service. I had a steak chimichanga, and my husband had a Genoa burro with chorizo, minus the mushrooms. We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Rachel K.

Yelp
We are always greeted by friendly staff when we go to River's. They have plenty of room to seat our family of 5. We are excited to try the patio in the summer. We have yet to find anything on the menu that's not worth trying. Their chips and salsa are addicting and their margaritas make it a perfect outing for mom and dad.
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Steve F.

Yelp
Very good Mexican food and a great atmosphere. The service was great and the food is very fairly priced. Will be going there frequently.

Jeff B.

Yelp
Let me start by saying wow! This little restaurant tucked away in Genoa is a Hidden Gem. Great service great food and pricing accordingly. Hostess was quick to get us seated, server got the chips and the drink order was taken as soon as we sat down. The menu is quite extensive, from vegetarian plates to carnivore delights. I picked the Carne Borracha $15.00. Steak prepared with lime and cooked with onions and jalapeno peppers served with rice beans and house salad. My dining partner had the Los Gemelos $12.00. Twin burros loaded with beef tips and beans topped with red sauce lettuce queso guac and sour cream. Portions were huge, check out the pics. Got our order within 15 minutes of placing food order. No complaints about flavor or taste. This is definitely a repeat restaurant. This place certainly earned my 5 stars.

Jakob J.

Yelp
River's is an amazing place to eat. We were greeted at the front door and seated at the patio. They had heaters set up to keep everyone warm. The service was amazing. super kind and welcoming. The food was packed with flavor, i'm big on Mexican food and I gotta say Rivers does it right! 100% recommend:)

Kiely G.

Yelp
Food was decent, big portions but the salsa was not up to par and the elote wasn't made very well. Chilaquiles were alright, but it was just average... nothing amazing. The food overall wasn't seasoned much, not much flavor
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D L.

Yelp
My husband had the fajitas and I ordered poblano chills both we super delicious! The food was fresh, hot and authentic. They served us complimentary chips and salsa, the chips were warm and the salsa was spiced just right. The staff was really friendly and the service was outstanding. We will definitely be back!
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Nick B.

Yelp
Excellent food. Excellent service. So excited there's a great Mexican Food restaurant in Genoa!!

Karen R.

Yelp
Best Mexican food around!!!!! We have gone to several since moving just outside the area and after several failed attempts, we have now found our go to place! Great food!
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Brandon S.

Yelp
food is good, a little pricey but not horrible, but i like take out and if your gonna offer take out please invest in an online menu, or if you have one make it easier to find, not everyone has a facebook account or a tweeter and i shouldnt have to set one up just to view menus

Kirk K.

Yelp
Bland. That's about all I can say about Rivers'. I've never been to a Mexican restaurant where the food didn't have flavor. All was served hot and promptly. The margaritas tasted like they were from a pre-mixed bottle. Service was very good.

Jay Y.

Yelp
This is a great little spot for Mexican food. The family and I have been here several times since they opened and have never been disappointed. The staff is friendly and helpful and the food is delicious! While the prices are a bit high, I think it is worth it.