Rio Bravo, an authentic Mexican cuisine experience, is a rare shred of authenticity and true care in an era of falsity for the sake of efficiency. From the food, to the staff, to the chronological experience from the moment you walk in to the moment you finally decide “all good things must come to an end” and walk out, Rio Bravo reigns supreme in the town of Larchmont, and its citizens’ heart.
My personal experience with Rio Bravo begins with my parents, and their initial move to Larchmont. Moving from the city with 3 young kids, they craved time alone, and Thursday night was open. Why not try the Mexican restaurant in town? The rest is history. A new Thursday tradition was born. And, of course, the Rio Bravo craze could not end with Mom and Dad, and such it was passed down to us.
When walking into Rio Bravo, one is immediately struck by the environment, and I remember my first experience like it was yesterday. Just a 5 year old kid, I entered for the first time, and was bombarded with loud traditional Mexican music, statues and paintings of historical figures in the Latin world, waiters and waitresses yelling at each other in Spanish and serving the patrons with a smile nevertheless, all backed by the smell and sight of fresh, delicious, drool-worthy food.
When being greeted by the hostess and escorted to my table, I could not help but notice the particular setup of the table. Nice, cushioned chairs surrounding a round table draped in red cloth. On top of that, 4 plates, silverware, a basket of chips, and a candle. Soon after, a young lady came by and asked if we wanted Fresh Guacamole. They make sure to mention that it’s fresh every time that they ask you for it, because it really is. They make it right in front of you. Needless to say it’s the best guac I have ever had, and it’s something I look forward to every time I go there.
Next, it was time to order our main course. I saw a chicken quesadilla, and thought it was something that no restaurant could possibly get wrong, so I ordered it. And, boy, not only was I right, but they exceeded my expectations tenfold. The perfectly cooked chicken with the melty cheese, all coming together in a perfect symphony in your mouth. Wow. Also, a side note, I always put guac on top of the quesadilla (not the part where I grab it though), and it makes it much better because that guac is just so good.
As if this restaurant had not proved itself enough, I was offered a lollipop on the way out. Now, keep in mind that I was 5, so this was a huge deal. That gesture made the whole experience feel much more personalized and it sealed Rio Bravo as the place to go on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. So, all in all, you really are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check out this restaurant. It’s life changing.
