Rio Tomatlan is a Mexican restaurant in Canandaigua that is simply one of the best Mexican restaurants I have ever been to. It is on Beeman street, has a bar with loads of kinds of Mexican beer as well as (ok, I have not tried them) an equally sizable list of varieties of tequila. While the ambience is not perfect (yes, there is actually music on occasion, but again, I have not heard it), the kitchen is open 'til 10 pm, and the food is worth it. It is definitely worth it.And this even despite someone I frequently dine with reporting that the service itself is incredibly erratic; every time I have been there it has been very good.
So, what have I had to eat at Rio Tomatlan? First, I should confess: I absolutely love mole sauce. And Rio Tomatlan makes swell mole sauce. (Why does the name make me think of C.S. Lewis's Narnia books? I think it is just the mild similarity to the name Aslan, but still. . . ) Anyway, one of the dishes I really like is blue corn chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. There were 3 enchiladas with chicken that was moist and lvely. And I wanted to lick the mole off the plate. More recently, I had their enchiladas verde (served flat, oddly enough, with the most swell green tomatillo sauce ever). Here too their sauce was absolutely amazing. It is a verde sauce to beat all verde sauce, a tart taste explosion in your moth. Rio Tomatlan is also recommended by those who know for their tilapia tacos and for a very good chocolate cake with flan between the layers. And, the pico de gallo with chips (the chips are made there) is always good; not to mention an appetizer quesadilla with poblano pepper and corn in it. The latter (actually called Quesadill de Rajas on their menu) comes along with a bit of green sauce, red sauce, and a creamy white sauce. Let me just say it: they make very good sauces.
If I had a quibble, I would say that there is a tad too much chicken around the menu, but that is truly just a quibble (especially since I have tasted some swell pork tacos). All in all, very very good.There is loads of parking near by as well, and the beer list is fairly varied.
Other reviews? Try here or here. Or check out urban spoon: 
Location: 5 Beeman Street, Canandaigua, NY
Phone: 585-394-9380
