As Carmel shifts into early fall, Rio Grill's menu already has the dishes to match — Roasted Beet Salad, smoked pork tenderloin, and Caramel-Apple Bread Pudding all lean into the cooler-weather flavors October calls for.
Start With Something Earthy
The Roasted Beet Salad — red and golden beets, mixed greens, raspberry vinaigrette, candied walnuts, and Point Reyes blue cheese — is the clearest fall signal on the starter list. For something warmer, the Wild Mushroom Spinach Risotto works as a starter or a full vegetarian entree, finished with romesco sauce, manchego, and truffle oil.
Smoked and Slow-Cooked Entrees
- Ancho Chili Rubbed Smoked Pork Tenderloin — goat cheese polenta, apple cider-caramelized onions, pickled mustard seed, blistered haricots verts.
- Wood Grill Double-Cut Pork Chop — grilled peach chutney, asiago whipped potatoes, blistered asparagus.
- Almond Wood-Smoked BBQ Pork Back Ribs — sweet potato fries, horseradish-poppy seed coleslaw.
Apple cider-caramelized onions and peach chutney are doing a lot of the seasonal work here — both dishes are built for the transition out of summer produce without losing the smoke-forward character that runs through the rest of the menu.
Fall Desserts
The dessert list closes the loop: Caramel-Apple Bread Pudding — sourdough bread, caramel and vanilla apples, whiskey crème anglaise — and Olallieberry Cobbler both read like early autumn on a plate, alongside a rotating Seasonal Cheesecake.
A Carmel Fixture, Season After Season
Rio Grill has been adjusting its menu to the seasons since 1983, and that consistency is a big part of why it holds a 4.6-star rating across 3,240+ reviews and a spot among Carmel's top-rated restaurants, with press coverage from the LA Times, USA Today, Vogue, TripAdvisor, and OpenTable.
FAQ
What's the best fall dish to order at Rio Grill right now?
The Ancho Chili Rubbed Smoked Pork Tenderloin and Roasted Beet Salad both lean into early-fall flavors, alongside the Caramel-Apple Bread Pudding for dessert.
Does Rio Grill change its menu seasonally?
The menu incorporates seasonal ingredients and rotating items like the Seasonal Cheesecake and daily Quesadilla of the Day.
Is there a vegetarian entree on the fall menu?
Yes — the Wild Mushroom Spinach Risotto is a full vegetarian entree available as a starter or main.
Does Rio Grill do brunch in the fall?
Yes, weekend brunch is available — see the brunch menu for current offerings.
How do I book a table for fall dining?
Reserve directly through the Rio Grill reservations page or via OpenTable.
Taste the season — reserve your table at Rio Grill or view the full menu.