Memo’s

To all of the original Memos guests ,
When we opened memos on Mt Diablo it was our dream. We sold a year after and it goes from there.
Memo and I apologize for letting you down
Memo was shocked at what the restaurant had become his grandmothers and family recipes along with chef Juanita Vera our ex chef, built a menu that was truly authentic. We always wanted to prove there could be a vegetarian/​Mexican concept. While getting our 5 fork review we did prove it.
Memo and I hope to serve you all again
Memo Iñiguez
Bradford Stralla

Memos is gone now thankfully. Now it’s the new Point and terrific food, polite servers, great menu, nice view of the river to! Hope everyone rediscovers this great spot!

Memo’s is CLOSED. This restaurant is now The Point. Which is what is was called before Memo’s moved in. The only difference is the NEW Point is Steak and Seafood restaurant that is a joint venture with the owner of Tortilla Flats and Burgerlicous.

Memo’s is closed. The site has reopened as The Point.

I went to Memo’s to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday. The restaurant had some recent publicity in town regarding its innovative menu. When we arrived I realized we had perhaps chosen a place too innovative for my grandparents’ tastes.
First impressions: Vegan labeing; always a major plus. Examples: salad of mixed greens with a grilled and marinated portabella mushroom and «special nondairy dressing» with the option of adding a «meat substitute» for $ 3 which I did not choose. I can’t see how portabella mushroom would pair well with the meat substitute (which I tried in a different dish). That said, I do a double take whenever I see meat or meat substitutes in dishes involving mushrooms considering the meat-​like texture they develop when marinated. It just seems redundant.
Other vegan items with labels: tortilla soup (adding chicken is optional for $ 2 extra), bean dip, guacamole (it’s always nice to avoid having to ask whether it’s pure avocado or cut with crema). All the salads are vegan (adding grilled chicken or meat sub is $ 3 extra, $ 4 for prawns). You can order most menu items (tacos, enchiladas, etc.) with potatoes or spinach instead of cheese. The refried beans do not contain lard; they also give you the option of black beans or whole pinto beans.
Further down the menu I found a category listing vegan and gluten free versions of traditional dishes that sounded far more exciting than predictable Mexican restaurant fare. Examples: «Chicken» Pipian (a traditional dish in Zacatecas) in a pumpkin seed sauce with chiles, rosebuds, and tarragon leaves. I ordered this with a side salad instead of rice and beans. The salad: nothing to write home about. The dish in itself: intriguing. I’m glad I tried it, but expected something more. In other words, it was good – just not as good as its description.
The food took a very long time to arrive at our table, which I forgive to some extent considering the chef supposedly uses only fresh ingredients and prepares everything to order. The view of the delta is nice but not nice enough to warrant a price tag of $ 17 a plate. The server seemed very overwhelmed. Maybe he was new.

Memo’s is closed, but the restaurant is soon to reopen as The Point! Best water views on the Delta.

The view gets a 5 star… everything else gets a 1 star. Was first disappointed in the lack of selection on the menu, then followed by the high prices. Ordered a draft beer and even in the frosty glass it was only ‘cool’ at best. There was only one other table occupied yet it still took about 15 minutes to get my burrito. Now for the most important part… quality of my dish. I am NOT a picky eater by any means but this was the worse food I’ve ever eaten at a restaurant! Absolutely no taste at all. I had also asked for avocado but was told this isn’t the season for them. Funny because I bought an avocado the day before at my local grocery store.
My 2^nd beer took about 10 minutes to get to me from the time I ordered it.
The daughter was very polite but the father had absolutely ZERO personality. A trip to a taco truck would have been 10x better at a quarter of the cost! I am amazed this place can keep its doors open.

What a disappointing experience this was. A friend and I stopped by for lunch after fishing all morning. We were staving and would eat just about anything except what I was served here. We order two seafood platters. Both dishes came out overcooked, (exterior of everything burned) The interior, shrimp was still raw, the calamari was rubbery, the fish sticks had no fish or taste… worse seafood I ever tasted… the fries were even burned. I only took bites out of everything and left about 90% of the dish. Mentioned it to the waitress and she didn’t really respond about it. I used to come here regularly when it was the Point. never disappointed, but wont be back here… awful.

The food is good, the view is good, the wait staff is good. The prices are bordering ridiculous and the owner, Adelio, certainly does NOT make for a pleasant experience. I believe every business owner should be proud of their product but he is simply arrogant. Unfortunately it appears this restaurant is nearing the end. He came onto the floor and it was obvious that he was the wrench in the system. Do you mind not berating your staff in front of customers, sir? Incredibly uncomfortable to witness as a paying customer. I’ve worked in several kitchens, and here it seems the guests are not taken into consideration when it comes to atmosphere (to be frank, an attitude adjustment is in order).

What an outstanding find. Out on the delta for some funday cruising, and we pull over to this awesome Mexican joint. I had the mole chicken. The mole sauce was amazing. rich, and earthy. The chicken was moist and fell off the bone. My [vegan] friend ordered the pipian with seitan. The pipian sauce is amazing. I don’t even like seitan, and I couldn’t get enough of the stuff. In addition to the aforementioned items, everything came with refried beans and rice, and was super tasty. The green salsa verde was very fresh and had a great kick to it. We had all this on their deck, overlooking the water. Truly fantastic. I felt like I ate at someone’s home in Mexico, and the food was just overflowing with love!

The food is great can’t say the same for the owner or the staff this place is circling the drain

I hate seafood. Always have, but I sometime try to like it. I went here and ordered the tilapia. For once, I enjoyed seafood! Cooked to perfection. Fantastic service! The reason for the 4 stars? The food was a bit pricey and the drinks seemed overpriced.

A Wonderful Destination Experience
For folks confused about this restaurant — I strongly suggest you watch the «Check Please» video. See
;. BTW — for those that watch «Check Please» — this is one of the few reviews that all 3 reviewers loved. If you are looking for tons of food cooked with the typical canned sauces and loaded with industrial rice and Rosarita’s refried beans — go to El Torrito’s — or better yet — there is a Taco Bell in town. If you value quality over quantity cooked by someone who really cares about excellence — this is a real treat. If you love mole — this is heaven.
My wife and I first started going to Memo’s when it was in Concord. We are currently keeping our boat at the marina in Rio Vista and we now go to Memo’s every week. We usually take guests with us — and show the video before they come so they are prepared for wonderful dining experience. Many of our friends are self-​proclaimed foodies — and something very special is that 3 out of 4 visits — Iva (the daughter) comes to your table in her floppy hat and engages your table asking about your experience and answering questions. How special is that? There is an element of love that no doubt is a key ingredient in all the dishes.
Did I mention the mole is outstanding? My new favorite is the steak in moles sauce. I think there is steak in the dish — but the mole is about as intense as I have ever had. For the mole lover who always wants just a little more intensity — this will satisfy you craving — any more intense and I think it could hurt you. The Royal Chicken dish is a favorite and once again — the mole is delicious. Another favorite are the rellenos. When my wife and I come for lunch — we split the combination burrito with mole sauce and have a bowl of tortilla soup.
And then there is the tortilla soup. It’s vegan without chicken broth — as a dedicated meat eater sounds terrible — tastes great. I am not a vegan and I shy away from vegan dishes. The bowl is a good amount — (ok — I am in my 60’s and a bit easier to satisfy for volume than when I was 20). Even if you are having a main course — the soup is worth at least getting a cup and sharing it to experience the taste — next visit you are likely to order one for yourself.
The location is at the mouth of the Delta Marina — and there is outside seating. A warm delta evening sunset on the deck just can’t be beat. Seriously — this is an hour from the central east bay — and on a weekend taking a drive to the delta — followed by a great Mexican meal in the fresh delta breeze — makes this a great destination event.
Lastly is the salsa. I doubt if the owner know us by name — but I bet the servers know us as the «more salsa please» couple. My only compliant — my wife and I love the salsa — and we usually have to ask for 2 – 3 refills — larger bowl please. The red salsa is great — probably the best I have ever had. The green salsa is intense — not for sissies. In fact — they make it fresh every day. One day we only got the red — asked what happened — and Adelio (the father) said his daughter did not think it met her standards that day — so she threw it out. They make it fresh every day — and these folks actually have standards.
So Iva and Adelio — please hold a table outside for 8 this Saturday at our favorite spot outside by the water — and please — a little more salsa por favor.
Stephen and Terri Dale
Playpen2

I wanted to like this place so bad! The good parts were my dog was allowed on the patio, the chicken mole and chicken pipian were delicious, and we liked the chips and very mild salsa. The bad parts were that the service was VERY slow, and the place hardly had anyone in it. Also the portions are very small! My husband and I usually share meals, but luckily this time we ordered our own. I had the chicken mole (one piece of thigh meat), and he had the chicken Pipian. He was still hungry after eating it, and they we very expensive! Our three kids weren’t very happy with their food either: tortilla soup, bean and cheese nachos, and a bean/​cheese/​rice burrito. We would love to be able to come here on our boat, but sadly we won’t return.

Went here again to give it another try, and im not impressed. Its really expensive for the quality and quantity of food you get. I got a burrito and it was surprisingly small and plain. The imfamous chocolate cake was dry and bland. Im just not happy with what I paid for.

DO NOT GO MEMOS EVER!!!
They are SO over priced and give you not even a full plate of food. The owner is so mean and rude! After my family ate the food we have all been up shitting our brains out. Everything was undercooked and gross. I rather go to a taco truck. This place doesn’t even deserve one star.

My wife and I were here a few months ago and plan to visit this afternoon (Mother’s Day).
If you have read my reviews from Memo’s Concord, you already know that we LOVE this place. It’s not perfect, but it’s really quite good. (And I am NOT easily impressed by restaurants. Read my scathing reviews of places that I do NOT like).
The owner, Iva, can and is WILLING to cook from ingredients in order to accommodate my wife’s food allergies. That all by itself puts it on my short list of favored restaurants.
The Molé sauce is excellent, as is the Chicken Pipián.
On a day with nice weather, the view is to die for!
A review update will follow soon (and maybe even with some pictures– no promises on the pictures).
UPDATE: Ok, so it is 9pm following our Mothers’ (plural possessive) Day banquet at Memo’s. Before you assume that I am bloviating, read some of my other, more critical reviews. My remarks Point-​by-​Point are below:
We had a party of 11, plus kids.
Item 1. The food was excellent as always. I realize that taste is subjective and that what I perceive to be good isn’t necessarily what the next person would perceive to be good. I enjoy Melo’s Pizza. I do not enjoy Round Table Pizza. That said, we all enjoyed our meals. The kids were served Virgin Piña Coladas with a dollop of whipped cream on top. Two of the folks in our party had Kahlua Coffee, a third had wine. Her 1^st pick was, sadly, out of stock (oops), but her 2^nd pick was in and she enjoyed it. I’m not a big wine connoisseur, so I can’t give an informed report on that… I had decaf coffee today with Half and Half. I sometimes have a margarita on the rocks. They do this right. (Ask for extra salt if you want it salty.) Most people like their margaritas frozen (like a s Slurpee), so I can’t comment there.
Item 2. The service was very nice. Our server, Cody, was on his toes and really hopping. It was a busy day and he managed to keep everything glued together despite the challenge of MANY customers. Our server on a previous occasion, Peter, was the epitome of customer service excellence. (Peter is British and perhaps that accounts for the extraordinary?)
Item 3. One of the common raps against Memos used to be scarcity of chips & salsa. This was NOT true this time. There was plenty of both. Their chips are hand made and sometimes, as others have said, they run out occasionally. Tortillas are available as a substitute. Yeah, it’s not quite the same, but you can tell that they are aiming to please.
Item 4. Ambiance– Our kids were able to run out on the dock while the adults enjoyed their meal in peace. That is a really nice touch that you can enjoy the atmosphere of a nice restaurant, bring your kinds, and not have the little ankle biters ruin your meal (or anyone else’s meal!). The Coast Guard showed up and tied off at the dock and gave the kids a tour of their boat. How cool is that? I think my brother in law got pictures. I’ll post them if I can get copies. (Oh, PS, the view of the river is very nice.)
Item 5. Dessert: We ordered cherry rice pudding, flan with whipped cream (not the usual mango sauce), and Chocolate-​Chili Cake. I had a taste of the cherry pudding and the cake and they are both really good (to MY taste). I didn’t taste the flan, but I’ve had it before and liked it then. Chili in chocolate cake? Really? Yep. It’s true. And you’d be surprised what a tiny little bit of pepper can do to bring out the chocolate flavor. Again, taste is subjective. I know it sounds… counter-​intuitive, but I really enjoyed it.
The Bottom Line: I was able to feed myself, my wife, my kid, and my mother in law for $ 44.90 (NOT including the tip and no alcohol on my tab.) I do not know what the rest of my party paid. Memo’s is not the Top of the Mark (Hopkins Hotel), neither is it the St. Francis (Hotel). It probably never will that sort of place. But it’s far more upscale than similar restaurants charging FAR MORE MONEY. It’s great for families, kids, parties, and so on. And you can leave your dinner jacket (tux), Brioni shirt, Ermenegildo Zegna bow tie, 18kt cuff links, and patent leather shoes at home. It’s a nice place for real people in blue jeans to relax and enjoy some unique cuisine.

I loved this place when it was in Concord, and recently visited the new Rio Vista location for a weekend lunch.
Pros:
1) Friendly owners who will come out and chat with you. They take a personal interest in you and really care about their business. 2) Great views of the water from just about anywhere in the restaurant. Very pretty and relaxing. 3) Overall the food is really good. The mole is outstanding, the pipian is amazing, and just about everything else I’ve eaten there has been very tasty. With one exception…
Cons:
Just one: The fish tacos. Unfortunately, the fish tacos on my last visit had very little fish on them, and what little there was, was overcooked and dry. The accompanying beans and rice were tasty, but for $ 15 or so (for 2 tacos), the fish was a disappointment.
I will still go back if I’m in the area. Nine times out of ten the food is good and so is the service. Plus, Iva looks so darn cute in her big red chef’s hat!

Like I said before — this place is yummy. They were in Concord for years and years but have moved to this beautiful location on the river. The menu is the same great food.
Father & Daughter business that is friendly and welcoming.
They have a HUGE back room with a view as well — this is a great place to have a wedding reception. Ask for a tour.
Every seat in this place has a view of the beautiful water and the food is delicious.
Tortilla soup is awesome as a meal in itself. It is vegan as well as many dishes they make including the chocolate cake. Yum!
This is a dog friendly restaurant — call ahead and they will open the back gate so you sit on the outside deck with your dog. It is pretty sunny out there but if you come after 1pm the deck is shaded.

Memo’s is amazing.
I really don’t think the ½/​3 star reviewers understand that this is NOT your average run of the mill greasy Mexican food. This is handmade regional fare made with love. All of their food is vegan based and then some dishes have meat and/​or cheese added to it if that’s your thing. But if you’re like me and it’s not, this place is very vegetarian vegan friendly. They don’t cook with animal lard but flavor is not lacking at all. I think their black beans are the best beans I’ve ever tasted. Their mole is incredible and I love the vegan enchiladas.
Also, don’t leave here without trying the chocolate cake! It’s made with 5 different chills or something… SO GOOD. My wife and I love it so much, we ordered it for our wedding cake! Ivy was nice enough to make us a custom multi-​tiered cake for our reception and it was a huge hit with all of our guests, most of which weren’t vegan.
I’m sad to see them leave Concord but wish them them the most success out in Rio Vista. I guess we now have an excuse to take a day trip out there, the food is well worth it and now they have an awesome view!
¡viva Memo’s!

I really hate to give a local restaurant a bad review, but unfortunately the food we had was bad enough that I need to.
We went on a weeknight and although we were only one of three tables in the entire restaurant, my husbands food came out 5 minutes after mine.
I ordered the fish tacos and the fish was so over cooked and dry and had an awful burnt taste to it where it got overly charred. My meal came with refried beans and they were so overly-​salted and over-​seasoned that I couldn’t eat them. The rice was also pretty dry. So for $ 15 fish tacos I felt really let down.
To top it off it was dead silent, with no background music, so it felt like we needed to whisper. Awkward environment.
I wanted to like this place because The Point is such a great location, but unfortunately I don’t think we will be coming back unless it was just for some chips n salsa and a Coke.
Can somebody please turn this place into a great gourmet restaurant??? There’s already two awesome Mexican places in town…