Cafe Rio...Finally.

So apparently, there is this restaurant in Utah (well, it's expanded into other states now), that everyone keeps raving about over and over...and over. Since I am apparently too old to have been at BYU when it opened, I've never been there.

Well, they recently opened up a location in Manhattan Beach, so on Friday a bunch of us headed down there to have lunch--and to say goodbye to Lauren who is moving to Houston.

Jean and Krista, and their kids, came with me in the van (I only had Helene since the other 2 were at school) which made it all the more fun.
Good music and good conversation!
(picture stolen from Jean's blog post, that's why she isn't in it.)

Here we are!
(I confess, pic stolen from Jean again)

If you know me at all, then you know how thoroughly impressed I was with the beverage selection. All Coke products (even Zero!)

I almost couldn't decide, but went with the usual.
And they had crushed ice.
Pure Heaven.

We wanted to all sit together, but the tables were bolted to the floor. Lame.
So we had two tables.
I took this pic when I got up to get one of many drink refills.

And...got distracted by Helene and never got a picture of our table.

That's about right...right?

Helene enjoyed her free quesadilla
(What? Yes, free quesadillas for kids--hooray!!)
But she loved the little strawberry slice that came with it best...that why the face is a little cranky.

I got the Cafe Rio salad, since that's the one thing everyone has raved about most.
The tortilla on the bottom was amazing.
Seriously.
Amazing.
Best tortilla I've ever had.
Imagine a picture of my salad here since I forgot to take one

I have to admit the salad was really good...although I do have to say it was a little salty. I think that may have been a fluke though because some Cafe Rio regulars were also saying that it was a little saltier than usual.

I introduced Jean and Krista to my awesome driving skills on the way home and got Weston home just in time for his nap. (And in one piece...which is always a plus.) Hope they aren't too afraid to drive with me again. What can I say? I'm a true SoCal driver. Fast and aggressive. It's not a bad thing, per se.

Anyway--yay for my first visit to Cafe Rio. FINALLY. It's been a long time coming and I'll definitely be back for more.