Rio 1854 - Latin Craft Kitchen

After months of hibernation, we decided to go out to eat, and in our search for new and exciting food, we found Rio 1854. The menu looked new and had a Hispanic feel but unlike many of the Hispanic restaurants around where I live, this one had a flair to it and was not just your average spot. We made this trip on Feb 8th for brunch. The location is right along the water and features its own private parking lot. As we walked in, we were greeted by the staff upon arrival. The decor gave off a clean northern feel with the warm fireplace and canoe hanging on the ceiling then the look of the lake completed it. Then the Aztec masks along the wall gave it a somewhat different vibe. Our server Veronica guided us through the menu and told us about each dish and what was recommended. I had the V

A wonderful & unique menu in a fantastic setting. The night started off with Meg explaining some of the details and twists of the drink offerings. We ordered the house guacamole as an appetizer with the house made tortilla chips. Not like any guac we had before - very tasty. The Serrano tiger shrimp came with great presentation and a surprising amount of heat. The Hawaii 5-O chicken and house waffle fries was especially good, the cole slaw acceptable but somewhat bland. All in all a wonderful dinner with great service. Also great views of the newly lit Stillwater Christmas tree and lift bridge.

We had the most wonderful experience dining at this beautiful restaurant right on the water in Stillwater. The view of the St. Croix River was absolutely stunning and created the perfect backdrop for our brunch. The food was fresh, clean, and full of flavor — every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented. Our friends visiting from Los Angeles were just as impressed, especially with how vibrant and delicious everything tasted. The staff was genuinely friendly and attentive, making us feel right at home. A special thank you to the owner, Luna, whose warm welcome and hospitality truly made our visit memorable. We’ll definitely be returning soon — and bringing even more friends to share in this wonderful dining experience!

We stumbled across this place while in Stillwater. We were seated promptly and the service was amazing. I ordered the seafood tower which was very tasty and my wife ordered the walleye tacos. Everything was prepared perfectly. The view of the river was stunning. This place is a must try if you are ever in the area. They have only been open since October so give them a try!

Saturday Date Night - showed up with no reservation and was seated within 5 minutes. Restaurant was moderately busy. The server was very attentive to us. The food came out in under 10 minutes of ordering with the waiter which was very impressive. The walleye tacos were excellent. Seasoned perfect, great portion size and visually nice. The Guacho sandwich was very good with a side of au Jus. the meat was cooked perfectly. The entree lacked visual appeal. The ambience didn’t necessarily represent a Latin kitchen and not much of the interior had changed from the old dock cafe. Outside of that the service was great, the food was very good and a great spot in Stillwater for a date night under $100!!