Since 1983, Rio Grill has been the place to meet friends, enjoy cocktails, food and wine and experience great dining on the Monterey Peninsula. Our high energy restaurant is located at the mouth of the Carmel Valley in the fabulous Crossroads Shopping Village and has won numerous reader's choice awards and inspired food critics both near and far.

Menu highlights include Creative Regional California Cuisine from the wood-burning grill and oak wood burner, as well as Chef Cy's daily creations which include fresh fish, pasta, salads and sandwiches. Delicious food combined with impeccable service form the cornerstones of Rio Grill's continued success.

Lunch Menu

Start
Housemade SOUP. 6.99
Castroville ARTICHOKE marinated and fire-roasted with sun-dried tomato aioli. 9.90
EMPANADAS with smoked tri-tip, hatch green chiles and avocado crema. 8.75
Russet POTATO SKINS with jack and cheddar cheeses, chipotle sour cream and three salsas. 7.99
Dungeness CRAB CAKES with roasted red pepper-cumin vinaigrette & spicy cucumber salad. 11.95
Crispy CALAMARI with orange-sesame dipping sauce. 8.95
BUFFALO CARPACCIO with crispy capers, shallots, chile morita aioli & asiago cheese. 10.85
Grilled FLATBREAD topped with smoked chile-chickpea puree, tapenade & Cotija. 7.00
Trio of Ceviche - TUNA (Honduran), SHRIMP (Ecuadorian) and SCALLOP (Peruvian). 13.95
QUESADILLA - different every day (add avocado salsa 3.95). 8.25

Greens
ICEBERG WEDGE with garlic bread crumbs, roma tomatoes and blue cheese dressing. 8.25
AHI TUNA with arugula, tomatoes, soft boiled egg, green beans, potato and olive vinaigrette. 13.99
BUTTER LEAF with beets, tomatoes, blue cheese and roasted jalapeño-raspberry vinaigrette. 8.99
Grilled SKIRT STEAK on Mixed greens, with balsamic pear tomatoes, blue cheese and crispy shallot rings. 15.95
HEARTS OF ROMAINE with Caesar dressing, asiago cheese and housemade croutons. 8.90
Wild ARUGULA with hearts of palm, pickled onion, grapefruit and agave-pumpkin seed vinaigrette. 8.40
CHINESE CHICKEN Salad. 14.85

Sandwiches
Smoked TRI-TIP with spinach, sliced tomato, crispy shallot rings and rosemary-chile aioli. 14.95
SALMON B.L.T. with sliced avocado on herbed Focaccia. 13.85
PEANUT BUTTER AND “BELLY” with olallieberry jam and crispy cornmeal fennel fries. 12.25
Smoked CHICKEN SALAD Pita Sandwich with green apple, jicama and pinenuts. 10.95
Grilled PRAWNS Wrap with brie cheese, baby spinach, jalapeños and sun dried tomato aioli. 12.95
Wood Grilled “Certified Angus” HAMBURGER with french fries. 10.50 (add cheese .50)
(add the ”WORKS” {cheese, avocado, bacon, mushrooms and grilled onions} 4.50)
Smoked TURKEY BREAST with apple-smoked bacon, guacamole and tomato chutney. 11.95

Hot
CHICKEN Breast with New Mexico red chile gravy, cilantro rice & grilled corn-mushroom salsa. 14.25
House-Smoked Half CHICKEN with mild smoked chile butter, baby artichokes & red potatoes. 20.95
TACOS, different every day, with salad and cumin-chipotle black beans. 13.95
Half-Rack Barbecued BABY-BACK RIBS with coleslaw and cayenne potato yam cake. 19.40
Pumpkin Seed Crusted Loch Duart SALMON with chipotle-lime vinaigrette. 17.95
Mustard-Soy Marinated SKIRT STEAK with yam gratin. 18.99
Grilled PRAWNS on Penne Pasta with a leek, pea and bacon creole cream. 15.95
Tri Color FUSILLI with buffalo bolognese and grated Asiago. 14.75

DINNER MENU

BITES
Smoked Pork Belly 4.00
Blistered Chiles 4.00
House Smoked BBQ Pork Ribs 5.00
Grilled Baby Octopus 5.00
Lamb-Cotija Meatballs 6.00
Skillet Lobster Mac & Cheese 6.00

STARTERS
Housemade SOUP. 6.99
Castroville ARTICHOKE, marinated and fire-roasted with sun-dried tomato aioli. 9.90
Dungeness CRAB CAKES with roasted red pepper-cumin vinaigrette and spicy cucumber salad 11.95
EMPANADAS with smoked tri-tip, hatch green chiles and avocado crema. 8.75
BUFFALO CARPACCIO with crispy capers, shallots, chile morita aioli and asiago cheese. 10.85
Russet POTATO SKINS with jack and cheddar cheeses, chipotle sour cream and three salsas. 7.99
Trio of Ceviche - TUNA (Honduran), SHRIMP (Ecuadorian) and SCALLOP (Peruvian). 13.95
Grilled FLATBREAD with smoked chile-chickpea puree, tapenade and Cotija cheese. 8.00
QUESADILLA - different every day (add our avocado salsa 2.95). 8.50
Crispy CALAMARI with orange-sesame dipping sauce. 8.95

GREENS
ICEBERG WEDGE with garlic bread crumbs, roma tomatoes and blue cheese dressing. 8.25
MIXED GREENS with pecorino cheese, seasoned walnuts and curry vinaigrette. 7.95
BUTTER LEAF with beets, tomatoes, blue cheese & roasted jalapeño-raspberry vinaigrette. 8.60
Wild ARUGULA with hearts of palm,pickled onion, grapefruit and agave-pumpkin seed vinaigrette 8.40
HEARTS OF ROMAINE with Caesar dressing, asiago cheese and housemade croutons. 8.90
CHINESE CHICKEN Salad. 14.85

GRILL
Grilled PRAWNS on Penne Pasta with a leek, pea and bacon creole cream. 23.00
Balsamic-Chile Marinated PORK Tenderloin with honey-onion-chipotle marmalade. 19.40
Prime NEW YORK STEAK with housemade steak sauce and skillet lobster mac and cheese. 39.95
MAHI MAHI Tostada with papaya-mango salsa, cumin black beans, queso fresco & lime crema 24.00
Mustard-Soy Marinated SKIRT STEAK with yam gratin. 24.95
Wood Grilled “Certified Angus” HAMBURGER with french fries 10.50 (add cheese .50)
(add the ”WORKS” {cheese, avocado, bacon, mushrooms & grilled onions} 4.50)

Smoker
Half-rack Barbecued BABY BACK RIBS with slaw and cayenne-potato yam cake. 19.40
House-Smoked Half CHICKEN with mild-smoked chile butter, baby artichokes & red potatoes. 20.95

OVEN
CHICKEN Breast with New Mexico red chile gravy, cilantro rice & roasted corn-mushroom salsa. 22.00
Crispy PORK SHANK with red pepper-mashed potatoes, chile verde and apple-jicama slaw. 20.99
Pumpkin Seed Crusted Loch Duart SALMON with chipotle-lime vinaigrette. 23.80
Tri Color FUSILLI with buffalo bolognese and grated asiago cheese. 19.95
DUCK BREAST with squash chilaquiles, mole rojo and duck confit tamale. 27.70
Dr. Pepper Braised SHORT RIB with corn-queso fresco whipped potatoes and parsnip chips. 25.95