River And Rail Cantina
“I've been to Jose Tejas, and while I enjoyed it, I prefer River And Rail for the overall experience.”
“My Senor Swanky Margarita was delicious – the perfect balance of alcohol.”
“For dinner, we ordered Chicken and Steak fajitas and shared because we were already kind of full from the nachos!”
River And Rail Cantina
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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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.
Food: Group of 6. Entrees included chicken chimichanga, steak fajitas, enchiladas, chimichurri steak and some fried stuffed pepper dish. Everyone was happy with their food (taste, portion, presentation etc.) and agreed that they would order it again. However, my wife and friend who both ordered the steak fajitas felt that while the steak was nicely seasoned, it was a little over cooked. Before our entrees, we started with some pineapple guacamole and some chips and salsa. The chips seem to be unlimited as the server continued to bring them over whenever our bowl was almost done. The guacamole was actually well above average in my view, but it was $14 for a fairly traditional portion. I honestly don't know if I'll get it again just given its cost.
Service: It's going to be great. Why do I say that? This was the restaurant's opening weekend and I can appreciate the craziness that that brings. Given that, we waited 55 minutes from when we ordered until we got our food. However, as I mentioned, the server continued to refill our chips AND the owner was walking around topping off our margarita's with a free shot off tequila. Everyone was very polite and the server did apologize for the wait. I'm sure this place will work the kinks out and shorten that wait time.
Atmosphere: Fun, Jose Tejas like, noisy, but not too loud, good place for a group or a couple. While too cold right now, the outside setting looks perfect for warmer days.
Misc: if you like margaritas, you will love this place. Just don't expect a cheap Mexican dinner if you're going to have a couple drinks. Margarita are ~$12. We'll certainly go back, but it won't be a weekly spot.
The decor in and outside of the restaurant is on point . Very nice atmosphere!
The bartender was friendly, playful, and knew his stuff.
Food was delicious and came out less than 20 mins of ordering it. Plate presentation was nice.
Alcoholic beverages were tasty and did the job 😉
Cons:
Prices were a little high.
Some menu items were no longer offered which was a bummer ( would have loved the quest dip)
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.
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 decor.
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.
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 decor 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 decor might be the best part.
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 🙂
Terrible service and really mediocre food. Restaurant is filthy and the entire ambiance/style is tired and uninspired. I would never come back here.