River And Rail Cantina

My friends and I came here on a Saturday night and we had a pretty good time. It’s a good place to hang out and they were able to accommodate our group of 13. They have corn hole outside which was fun. Unfortunately, their food wasn’t that great. I ordered a basic cheese quesadilla because we had already eaten dinner but I wanted a snack. There was WAY too much cheese (and normally I don’t think there’s such a thing) but it was so much that it made my stomach hurt. It was also really tiny and not really worth $ 8. We’ll probably be back– it was a good place to go when you want a more laid back night.

Amazing food and atmosphere. I got the peach margarita the margarita was a little pricey but I went between 4 – 7 so I got a free one as well. I got the chimichanga which was huge but lacked some meat. My biggest complaint was that food took awhile to come out however they were super busy. I would definitely go back again

Man! I was so looking forward to going here since the interior design and layout is a five star for sure. The host staff and our server was also great… super friendly and made recommendations with passion.
The main issue here is the food. Poor quality and just not good authentic Mexican food (Chips weren’t bad, but salsa needs work). Great drink menu, but didn’t find the Margarita to be that great… weak and way too sweet.
I just don’t understand how you can invest all this money in a superb looking place and have below average food… is it really that hard?!? If this place just hired a good chef to switch out the menu and put together good meals with great quality it would be a hard five star!!! Hoping it gets better because I’d be back for sure since the atmosphere was awesome.

This place is a straight 2 star joint. I typically Unilocal before I go to restaurants, but we were hungry. Had I known this was 3 stars on Unilocal I would have not went for food, but drinks I would. Below is my rating:
Bad service
Bad food
Good drinks
Great atmosphere
Decent prices
Summary: Great place to get drinks, but thats about it.

The food is terrible I tried to look past all the bad reviews to give it a try for my self since I pass by here all the time. The tacos were so bland and had no taste to them extremely pricey also, for that you can just save your money and go to Jose Tejas and at least have a decent meal, 1 and done for this place.

Ive gone to this place four times and every time I had a poor experience. It seems like a bunch of children are running the place. Believe me I appreciate young people working but the wait staff is slow and immature.
My first time I went there was just to grab a drink, which was fine because we were at the bar. The second time I went there for dinner with my friends. It took for ever to order our drinks. Then it took them even longer to make them. The food took a long time as well. Which I guess was okay since it was good. But anytime we needed the waitress to order another drink she was no where to be seen. I had to go to the hostess stand to ask her to get our waitress. My third and fourth was the same except the last time I went there (the fourth time) a waiter almost hit me in the face with a sizzling platter. The guy honestly seemed to be high or drunk and was stumbling as he was walking. The platter came close to my face, I moved just in time. The hostess said something to the waiter and he said «what I’m fine» the. Stumbled back to the kitchen. After that I have zero desire to go back there. The food is good but not worth the poor service.

Okay so I did give this place another shot since my mom wanted to try it and it always looks so packed with a beautiful outdoor dining area. Got here at 7 pm on a Friday night and despite being packed, we got seated right away outside. The waitress was sweet and attentive but when we ordered margaritas it took a half hour for just those to come out because the «bar was backed up.» Have you ever heard of a wait for cocktails??? By 8 we ordered other round and they didn’t arrive until 8:30 so we were asking for the bill while just getting our second drinks lol.
We ordered guac and the mini burritos and shared a salad. Everything was good. Definitely not the best Mexican food I’ve had and probably won’t be a priority for us to come back but the experience as a whole was better than when I first visited in the winter. They are definitely understaffed still but not a bad place if you’re craving a marg and guac al fresco.

I’ve not be awed yet but the negative reviews seem to be outdated a bit.
I ate and drunk here and it was not bad. Food presentation is good, the margaritas strong and wine tasty. The place is always packed and althought I haven’t eaten at the table, the bar service is good for the number of patrons they serve.

I have been to River And Rail twice with my family, and we have enjoyed both the food and the atmosphere on each occasion. While you might have wait awhile to get a table, the food is absolutely worth the wait. The first time we went, I had the enchiladas banderas; they were delicious and full of flavor. My parents both had the Pancho Villa burritos and were very pleased with their choice. We all enjoyed a margarita (or two) and didn’t even blink at the cost. They were totally worth it, especially the Señor Swanky! Likewise, we found the portion sizes very fair for the prices being charged. We also went for their Cinco de Mayo celebration and enjoyed several appetizers: Rio Grande Nachos, Stuffed Poppers, and River And Rail Guacamole. I’m willing to pay more for good food and a cool atmosphere, and River And Rail comes through on both. Some might compare this place to Jose Tejas and say, «Jose Tejas is cheaper and gives you the same food quality and atmosphere.» I respectfully disagree. I’ve been to Jose Tejas, and while I enjoyed it, I prefer River And Rail for the overall experience. Just wait until R&R gets that outdoor area going this summer — that’ll be the place to be!
For those that went to River And Rail when it first opened and swore never to go back, give it another chance. Even the best restaurants take some time to get their mojo going, right? To each his or her own, but I will continue to recommend River And Rail to everyone I know.

Great margaritas – we had the Señor Swanky margaritas. Appetizer – try the Fire Roasted corn guacamole
Recommend the Citrus marinated steak tacos and classic taco salad with shrimp.
Clean bathrooms and excellent service – friendly and attentive. Good music, fun décor and atmosphere.

I’m loving The River & Rail Cantina! The food is great! The steak tacos are fantastico!
My waitress Kesiey is friendly, «on task» and gave great meal & drink suggestions!
Lol, I’m getting hungry now!

Décor A+
Food B
Service A+ (Lauren)
I have never written a review ever but was compelled to do so after my visit for Cinco de Mayo nonetheless. It was crazy packed and festive and the wait time was 2hrs+. I was cornered in the patio with tons of people around me and just waiting to be called and I attempted to order through Lauren, the waitress. Expecting to be rejected given she was attending to so many, she opted to help me get drinks. She was calm, very friendly and assured me she would be there to assist me. I was blown away with her composure and ability to provide great service. She returned within minutes and gave me 2 drinks and once again assured me she would be back to help me. Throughout the night she returned to check on how our table was doing and she wasn’t even our designated waitress anymore. She’s fantastic! River and Rail have a great employee. I will be returning just because of her. I didn’t catch her last name but she a bit short and a brunnette. I currently manage the drive thru Starbucks in Cranford and have been with the company for 16 years so I can identify what great service is. Thank you for a great night.

Tried it again… And sure enough left very disappointed halfway through my meal. The table wouldn’t stay straight and the staff didn’t even know how to stabilize it. I actually went on my hands and knees and chocked it and the manager could care less but watch. we ordered drinks at 7:15 and got them at 7:30 the waiter did not come back to take her order until 8:00.
I ordered the enchiladas which came out cold and had to ask for utensils. Even the chips were all fried together and stuck in clusters. After waiting 20 minutes just to get our second round of drinks we decided to pack it in.
I think this pretty much secures my decision.

Never again! I’ve been here twice. The first time, I split appetizers with my friend. I ordered beef chimmies. I was given chicken chimmies twice before I received my correct order. The appetizers were not good.
During my second visit the hostess was refusing to seat my friend and I in the patio because we were only ordering drinks. We were finally able to get a table where we wanted to sit and waited fifteen minutes before anyone took our order. No one ever bothered to check in on us. Horrible service!

We were eager to check out River and Rail Cantina. Loved the décor and was pleased to get a seat at the bar while waiting for a table. Margarita was delicious and we were quickly given salsa and chips.
Our table was ready at the predicted time and we were given menus. Our waitress quickly asked about a second drink and we also asked for water and table settings. Our drinks and more salsa and chips arrived, but no water, napkins or utensils.
We split an order of shrimp tacos for an appetizer and again asked for napkins. The shrimp tacos were fine, could have been warmer and could have used some Cholula or other hot sauce– but unfortunately our table wasn’t set with anything.
For dinner I ordered the enchilada trio and my husband ordered the beef fajita. Had to request the utensils again as well as the tortilla for the fajitas and the accompaniments. The enchiladas were bland– almost as good as I get from my companies cafeteria! My husband said the fajitas were tasteless.
So– I might stop in at the bar– but they need to really improve the dining. Perhaps the waitresses have way too many tables. Still the food needed some recipe work to elevate it from the fast food level to that expected in a sit down establishment.

One and done.
There is no reason to go back. Drinks were fine, but the place is terribly under-​staffed. Too many tables per waitress/​waiter. It’s either that, or the wait staff is very inexperienced.
We were seated next to a lady who caught something in her throat (she was OK), but the wait staff ignored her until I asked them to please bring her some water. That took a very long time. We needed to ask for place settings after appetizers arrived. Our table also had no condiment setup.
The side dishes (rice & beans), guac, etc.) were obviously prepared well in advance since they were discolored on top and slightly harder.
BTW… Guac had little taste; sort of mashed up avocado.
The entrees seemed typical; nothing special, except for the need to take an antacid later that evening.
There are much better Mexican experiences in the area.

So we came here on a Saturday night 4 of us they said the wait was about 45 minutes! We went over to the bar and ordered chicken nachos (amazing) and some señor swanky margaritas (amazing!) our buzzer went off in 30 minutes! Each couple ordered the steak & chicken fajitas and they were accompanied by rice, beans, cheese and sour cream! It was a little dry the meat but still good! Prices aren’t too bad pretty average for the Cranford area! Margaritas were $ 12 each but a decent size. The nachos were a HUGE plate all four of us shared and it was so fresh! Loved it :)

I wanted to like River and Rail. I’m from Cranford and I would’ve loved to have seen a business that wasn’t a nondescript pizzeria or a tiny, boring storefront in the middle of town. River and Rail could’ve been that place. Nice location, purpose-​built space, indoor and outdoor flow.
But the service was dreadful and the food was that odd mix of uninspired and poorly executed. We sat for about fifteen minutes before a server wandered over from another section to check in on us. In hindsight, I wished she hadn’t, because the ice tea I got tasted like the Raritan River and the nachos that followed it were soaked in cheese sauce. Well, technically, just the bottom of the nachos were. The top was covered in melted cheese, like any good pile of non-​Yankee Stadium nachos should be. But the cheese sauce beneath was a terrible, unwelcome, amateur hour surprise.
The short rib in the short rib burrito was underseasoned and the tortilla was so elastic that I had to remove it and eat the filling alone.
I wish you were more than you were, River and Rail, and I’m sad that you’re not.

We stopped in for a happy hour on a Friday and were excited about the possibility of a new happy hour location. The Facebook profile said happy hour isn’t up yet so it’s more of a friends with benefits hour; 3 – 7 $ 4 coors light, yuengeling, Corona bottles, and house tequila shot specials.
We sat at the bar and admired the fun décor and outside area. We ordered shrimp tacos for $ 12, and waited, and waited, and waited… and maybe close to 40 minutes later got them. When they finally arrived there were 3 sad looking open faced tacos with 2 shrimp on top drizzled in sauce. $ 12? Are you kidding? It was too comical to even say anything. What would be the point?
Whoever is running this kitchen will be the reason this restaurant fails.
Anyway, that was it for us, 3 beers each and 3 overpriced and underdressed tacos= $ 39.
The free overly salted nachos were almost inedible.
The décor might be the best part.

I decided to wait until I came here a few times to leave a review. The first couple weeks they were open were, understandingly, very overwhelming so I wanted to give them time to work out the kinks.
The atmosphere is awesome. Smaller inside than you would imagine, but decorated very festive and unique. Chandeliers around the bar made out of margarita glasses, a real piece of railroad around the bar. They definitely didn’t cheap out on the décor.
Drinks are a little steep. I don’t do margaritas, but my sister said hers was good, a little weak in the alcohol though. A draft beer costed about $ 6.50, which I thought was a little nuts. Bartenders are friendly and I didn’t have to wait long to get a drink, even when the bar was packed opening week.
The food is what is keeping off the last two stars. It’s just okay. The guac was good, but it’s $ 10 as an app! Didn’t care for the complimentary salsa, but i enjoyed the tortilla chips it comes it. The Rio Grande nacho platter is HUGE and awesome.
My first visit I had a combo: one cheese enchilada and one chile relleno. Both were fine, but nothing special. If you don’t eat meat, like myself, there is no option for rice. Many places offer a white rice and black bean side for non-​meat eaters. However, the rice ended up on my plate anyway so I just scraped it to the side.
My second visit I had the cheese empanadas. Just okay. Very small in comparison to others I’ve had and not heavy on the filling. The third time, I came just for drinks and had a very nice time.
Service was very pleasant each time I’ve visited. Right now they aren’t open until 4 o’clock or so, but it seems like a place that would do a great lunch business. Who doesn’t love a mid-​work taco and corona?
Most likely, ill be back to try more on the menu, but if not, it’s still a place i’d recommend the meet friends for drinks, just based on the atmosphere.