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| - I feel bad writing the first review, and a negative one at that. Here goes.
So I went here yesterday (3/21/11) between the end of my last class and one of my performance rehearsals seeing as I had an hour and 45 minutes to spare. At 2:30 I headed across the street, with every intention of checking out Cafe Rio, but my kryptonite, the words "Mediterranean food" caught my eye. The pull was too strong, despite my aversion to the crappy strip mall it's in.
I should have known, but against my better judgment, I went inside, even though there was a menu outside. I thought that couldn't be all the offerings - some salads and hamburgers. I thought there had to be a Mediterranean menu of some sort inside. There wasn't.
*Sigh* other than one older guy eating, I was the only customer in there. Bad sign. The owner, Maroun (like the color maroon) handed me a menu at the cash register. There was hummus, falafel, baba ganoush and dolmades. Yep, that's it, for the Mediterranean offerings. I didn't have the heart to leave, even though I really wanted to.
I ordered a combination plate which was $5.40 including tax. It came with dolmades, hummus and some other dip that wasn't too tasty. The meal came out on a Styrofoam plate, well, three actually. One for the pita bread that I heard them microwave (cringe!!!) one for the dips and dolmades, and another for the... tomato slices and...dill pickle chips? Yep. Bizarre. I ate most of it, sans pickles and the other dip that tasted like cumin.
The owner talked to me while I ordered, about school and Middle Eastern stuff. He asked me if I was Middle Eastern, a question I, and my sister, actually get somewhat frequently. For whatever reason, we get mistaken for Persian, even though if I was, I'd be the most Irish-looking Persian in existence - my sister, eh, more believable, thanks to the Indian in us. Anyway, the owner asked me if I was familiar with Middle Eastern music. I said "not really, just Greek music." He put in some super old Greek rembetika music and started telling me about when he lived over there. Then he started talking about me calling into his radio show he runs and yada yada yada.
I asked him if they get a lot of students in, and the owner told me "not yet." Honestly, I know why this place isn't getting business - it doesn't have a consistent concept. The place has cans of pop, ice cream bars, and individual bags of chips for sale. It's sort of like - just a bunch of stuff they picked up from Costco with little Sharpied signs taped to shelving, indicating prices. Either they need to do Mediterranean food, or skip it. They're right next door to 7-11 so they need to do away with the chips, pop and candy.
They need to redo the menu, and either go American or Mediterranean and serve real, HOT, entrees. Right now the menu/decor/concept is riding the fence between a conveince store and a restaurant. If this place is going to be successful, which it could be due to the location, they must remedy the offerings. I'd get rid of the disposable plates and silverware as well. This place could be good, but as is, despite the friendly owner, the food is just a miss. I was actually nauseous for 3 hours after I ate here. No bueno.
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