Rio Cafe

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £9 (lunch)
   £9 (evening meal)
• House wine: £9.99 per bottle

• High point: Design your own knickerbocker glory dessert
• Low point: Off the beaten track location
• Food served: Mon-Sun 9am-7.30pm
• Bar open: Sun-Thu 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-midnight
• Open since: 2006
• Also offers: Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Wheelchair access, Take away

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

Tucked away from the main West End thrust, this fairly new haven of kitschy decor has proved incredibly popular, thanks largely to its brunch menu - although this is not the Rio Cafe's only attraction. Mustard-coloured mock-croc booths, coloured tea lights and a bar displaying large jars of traditional sweets alongside the drink selections lend an air of a tastefully done 1950s Happy Days diner. The steak pie contains a generous helping of tender braised chunks in a delicious gravy with a mound of creamy mash. A wonderfully meaty textured cheeseburger proves to be another winning option, with an ample mixed salad dressed in a mustard vinaigrette with chunky chips as accompaniments. For those on a budget, there is a £2 early evening menu of student staples including beans and baked tatties. If you still have room for pudding, how about a knickerbocker glory topped off with anything from the sweetie jars? Most nights, a small stage features live entertainment, from jazz to quizzes, and plans are afoot to bus punters after last orders to a new Merchant City club, set to open in spring 2007. Watch this space.