In college I was standing in a Café Rio, the most popular restaurant my little college town had to offer, when a dorm-mate stunned me. “What’s a tah-mail?”
Eight years later I’m still in shock. “It’s a tamale.”
Tomorrow, Wednesday April 27, marks a momentous occasion for anyone familiar with this “jell-o belt” dining establishment: Café Rio is opening their first location east of the Mississippi in Olney, Maryland. First things first: Tamale is pronounced tuh-molly. You are not Napoleon Dynamite and there is no excuse for ordering a dang case-a-dill-a.
Café Rio is akin to a Chipotle in lacking true Mexican authenticity, but making up for it with quality taste. Last year they were voted as the best Quick Service Restaurant, beating out better known chains such as Chipotle and In-N-Out Burger. The set up is similar with long lines that move surprisingly fast and food being assembled right in front of your eyes. The big difference is that the options are vast, and the food is far tastier. The sweet pork barbacoa salad is the most famed dish for a good reason: it’s delicious.
Cafe Rio has come a long way since its humble beginnings in St. George Utah nearly fifteen years ago. Since then it’s famed pulled pork and cilantro lime dressing has taken the jell-o belt by storm, with locations in Idaho, Arizona, California, Nevada and Colorado opening by the year. Why the jump across country? The DC metro has the highest population of jell-o belt college grads and former residents (a.k.a. the Mormons) east of the Rocky Mountains, many with a slightly manic amount of love for the restaurant chain. Eight others are already in the works for our area.
Is it really as good as the hype? Is Jimmer? Any jell-o belter will tell you it is, but worth the drive to Olney? No, it’s about ten miles past worth it. Stay tuned for the a location more convenient to you.
Cafe Rio
3140 Olney Sandy Spring Road
Olney, MD 20832
Jana Erwin is the primary chef and writer of CherryTeaCakes.com, a non-profit venture combining the love of fine desserts and feeding the impoverished in Washington, DC. You can follow her posts on twitter:@cherryteacakes.
