We had a good meal here, they were knowledgeable and reasonably careful. But not perfect. They changed their gloves before they made mine and my daughter's meals... but they did put my corn tortillas (for a salad shell) directly on the same grill as they were making other food. I simply didn't eat the shell, and enjoyed my salad, and felt fine. My daughter had enchiladas, and those are cooked in their own tin, so no obvious chances for cross-contamination. She also felt fine.
We did not try the chips, as they use a common fryer. And sadly, their queso also has gluten, as does one of their spicy red sauces. All is marked on their menu, which is helpful, and there are still many options.
If you are good with corn options and inform them you have an allergy and they change their gloves... then you are likely to have a good meal here. If you are very very sensitive, though, this might be a bit harder for you with the assembly line style of making your food.
— Somewhat
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Most/All
— Excellent
Asked what was GF and the employee told me the tostada, chips and nachos were GF. I ordered the tostada and my GF son ordered the nachos. Found out later after checking the nutrition facts on the website that the queso on the nachos contains wheat.
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Not Much/None
— Average
Cross contamination definitely occurred, I was sick within 10 minutes of eating here. I even got a salad thinking it would be better, still got sick.
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Not Much/None
— Poor
Okay so I have pretty severe celiac and when I first got diagnosed and didn’t know much about how things can get cross contaminated and just because it doesn’t have wheat it doesn’t mean it’s gf. I thought it would be okay to just get a salad with no tortilla and just have meat rice beans and lettuce. But I had the worst reaction after. I wouldn’t recommend cafe rio if you have celiac disease but if you have a gluten intolerance you should be fine.
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Not Much/None
— Below Average
Cafe Rio has told me that they don't use educated equipment. They even cook their corn tortillas on the same equipment as the flour. If you have celiac or a serious wheat allergy I recommend not eating here unless they change their practices.
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
Everything has gluten in it on the menu. Beans, rice, meat….. all of it has gluten in it so it’s not safe if you have celiac. I eat at Costa Vida now, as the only thing on the menu that has gluten is their flour tortillas and desserts.
— Not at all
— No gluten-free information on the menu
— Not Much/None
— Excellent