Carmel restaurant open since 1983 at Highway 1 and Rio Road, cooking from scratch on a wood-fired grill and smoker, with weekend brunch.
Stops within about 40 miles of Rio Grill. Collect a Lavender Passport stamp at each one.
Rio Grill opened in 1983 at The Crossroads, on the corner of Highway 1 and Rio Road just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. It began as a coastal sibling to Mustard's Grill and has been independently owned since 1988; today it belongs to a local hospitality group that also runs Tarpy's and Montrio on the Monterey Peninsula. The cooking is California with Southwest touches, made from scratch with local ingredients, and much of it comes off a wood-fired grill or out of the smoker.
The restaurant is open every day from 11:30 a.m., closing at 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, so a late lunch or early dinner is easy to fit around a day on the coast. Weekend brunch has its own menu. The dining room is relaxed, and there is a separate, livelier lounge with a full bar, a cocktail program, a wine list and a happy hour.
Private parties and events can be arranged through their website, and the restaurant runs a rewards program and sells gift cards. Reservations are taken online or by phone. Two executive chefs, Lalo Cruz Moreno and Chava Merlin Hernandez, lead the kitchen.
Buckeye Canyon, the closest lavender grower in our directory, is about 5 miles away, roughly 15 minutes by car. Check their website for visiting options before you go; Rio Grill's spot right on Highway 1 makes it a simple lunch or dinner stop on the way in or out.
Buckeye Canyon · about 15 minutes away
Buckeye Canyon is about 15 minutes away; check their website for visiting options and plan a meal at Rio Grill before or after.
Since 1983; it has been independently owned since 1988.
Yes, on weekends.
Until 8 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 9 p.m. Friday–Saturday (as posted October 2026).
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Santa Cruz & the Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
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