Welcome to Cafe Rio Pizza
Nestled in the heart of Ruidoso, NM, Cafe Rio Pizza is a culinary gem known for its outstanding pizza and delightful house-made baked goods. With a menu featuring signature combination pizzas—free from tomato sauce—such as the vibrant Margherita and savory Tuscan, each dish is crafted with premium ingredients. The enticing baked goods, like the Triple Layered Hummingbird Cake, add an irresistible sweetness to the dining experience. Customers rave about the crispy crusts and mouthwatering toppings, complemented by the warm and inviting atmosphere. Cafe Rio Pizza is a must-visit spot for pizza lovers and dessert aficionados alike, ensuring a memorable dining experience.
- 2547 Sudderth Dr, Ruidoso, NM 88345, United States2547 Sudderth Dr, Ruidoso, NM 88345, United States Hotline: +1 575-257-7746
Welcome to Cafe Rio Pizza, a gem nestled in the scenic town of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Located at 2547 Sudderth Dr, this inviting eatery is quickly becoming a beloved destination for locals and tourists alike, revered for its delicious pizzas and warm atmosphere. With a phone line open at +1 575-257-7746, it's easy to stay connected and place your orders for dine-in or takeout.
Cafe Rio Pizza boasts a creative menu that features an array of signature combination pizzas that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The Connoisseur, for instance, is a masterpiece that combines fresh ricotta, chopped garlic, and savory Italian sausage, topped with a generous dusting of Parmesan before baking. For something lighter yet equally indulgent, try the Heart's Delight, which highlights Swiss cheese, capers, and artichoke hearts. The offerings don't stop at pizza—make sure to try their Italian Cold Cut sandwich, a local favorite that's packed with flavor, or savor a handfolded calzone, filled with creamy cheese and ricotta, perfect for a quick bite on the go.
The atmosphere at Cafe Rio Pizza adds to the overall dining experience. Customers rave about the friendly staff, who are eager to share the history of the menu and create a welcoming environment. It's not uncommon for the restaurant to be busy, which only speaks to the quality of the food being served. Despite occasional waits for a table, patrons like Kevin Enloe affirm that a trip to Cafe Rio Pizza is worth every minute. His enthusiastic endorsement resonates with many visitors who affirm that the crispy crust and flavorful sauce rank this pizza among the best they've ever had.
Each dish is a labor of love, constructed with fresh ingredients and an artistic flair. From the moment you sink your teeth into a slice, you'll understand why many consider it the pinnacle of pizza. As one satisfied customer put it, the caliber of food, combined with reasonable prices—such as the Pepperoni Pizza by the Slice at just $4.00—makes it an absolute must-visit when in town. And if you're lucky enough to sample the hummingbird cake, you'll find it's not just dessert; it's an experience unto itself, described as “mouth orgasmic” by those fortunate enough to have tried it.
In a nutshell, Cafe Rio Pizza exemplifies everything one could hope for in a pizza parlor: fantastic food, generous portions, and a laid-back, friendly vibe. Whether you're grabbing a quick slice or sitting down for a meal with friends, you’re bound to leave satisfied and eager to return. So next time you find yourself in Ruidoso, don't miss out on the culinary delight that is Cafe Rio Pizza—your palate will thank you!

Let me start by saying I’ve been all over the United States, from New York, Houston, California I’ve been everywhere and eat pizza everywhere. I’ve even been to Italy and had pizza there. This place has one of the best pies in the world if you ask me. Easily 9/10 probably my 1st or 2nd favorite I’ve ever had. Crust is crispy, crispy underside, sauce is amazing. This place is one of the best. Take my review how you will. But you have to give it a try. It’s really good.

Place is a must when in town. The pizza was awesome!!! From salad to cheese bread and lemonade, everything was on point. Can't wait to be in town again. Staff was awesome!! Even gave history on place and their menu. Great people and amazing dine in experience

They are so popular the space is a little tight...But! So worth it! Pizza is amazing, chef salad is so refreshing with their house made dressing and service is great. This will be a regular stop on our frequent visits to ruidoso from now on.

Nice place all in all. First, they have so many customers that we had to wait about fifty minutes for a table. Our party wasn’t that big, just five adults. We killed some time visiting the stores in the area, and it wasn’t that bad. When we came back, we had to wait another fifteen minutes. Of course, you must wait outside because the restaurant is quite small. When we got in, the service was pretty good—attentive and fast. I’d guess they have to serve you promptly in order to accommodate more people. Anyway, we ordered a couple of pizzas, which took up the whole table. The flavor was alright. To be honest, I was expecting a better product, though it’s far from bad. I’m just saying we hyped ourselves up a bit too much because of the number of people willing to wait an hour just to have a slice of what seemed like an appetizing pizza (you can see the cooks working from outside). The space is extremely tight, and you kind of feel like you’re in a cage. I wanted to leave right after we ate. The restrooms aren’t very clean and are gender-neutral. I guess that’s something from the US (we visited from Mexico). It’s fine, but I imagine women might have a difficult time dealing with careless men using the same space. If you can get there without too much of a wait, I’d easily recommend it. Otherwise, there are other fine places to eat without the hassle

If you’re hungry for pizza, this is the place to go. Amazing prices for the quality of food they serve. We ordered a half and half supreme and pepperoni, and it was served hot and quick! The cheese melted in your mouth, the toppings crunchy and juicy at the same time. Don’t get me started on the delicious hummingbird cake that was advertised as “mouth orgasmic” and oh lord they weren’t lying. I just ate and I’m hungry again just thinking about this meal again. The atmosphere was amazing; the music choice was immaculate and the venue was beautifully decorated. 10/10 would draw on and hang up one of their napkins again.

My family and I loved Pizza Rio! We ordered a white pizza and Greek salad and enjoyed every bite! The wait staff were so nice! I would definitely recommend them to anyone coming into town. I do recommend putting your name on their waitlist before going out to walk the shops. Otherwise you will wait 1-2 hours. Sorry about the pizza picture. My son could not wait to dig in!

Called and placed an order for a pizza and some sides, was told it would be an hour. No problem, we were enjoying some beers at a local brewery anyhow. About 40 minutes later, Cafe Rio called to let me know my order would be ready for pick up in 10 minutes. Who does this?? Amazing service, and the pizza.. WOW! They really do a nice pie. We got the rio pizza classic, had all the right toppings, and a nice spice to it. Crust had an excellent chew as well!

First of all- I have never enjoyed reading the owner replies to negative reviews so much in my life, so cheers to calling people out on their wild takes on your restaurant. We came in on a Monday evening around 7- it was totally dead in Ruidoso so we didn’t have to contend with any waiting or large crowds. We were told we could select our seats and they’d be right with us. The gal who was our waitress was great, attentive and polite. Kept us informed on our pizza wait time since they got a large call in order right before we placed ours- we weren’t in any hurry, I just started to get concerned when it was approaching 8p when they close. But no one rushed us (or another table) out, the staff just went about their closing duties and we wrapped up our meal. We enjoyed our pizzas and roasted garlic bulbs and will definitely be back if we’re up that way again!