Rio Nuevo Mexican Cantina, Alpharetta

At Rio Nuevo Mexican Cantina, culinary maestros spice, sear, and toss savory ingredients into sizzling platters of upscale Mexican cuisine. Rio Nuevo crafts specialty mole infused with authentic Mexican notes, such as the mole Don Jose, a mélange of 32 spices including tangy chili ancho and rich chocolate. Diners can savor game from land and sea infused with Mexican flavors in the alambre de camarones, plump shrimp skewers grilled with a cloak of garlic-lime-agave-caper sauce, or the filete azteca, tender sirloin affectionately nurtured by melted cheese, grilled cactus, and commitment-ready salsas. Extensive lunch selections allay taste-bud escapes with piping half-pound fajitas and hearty handheld tortas. Attentive servers usher entrees and refreshing drinks to guests amid the restaurant's well-appointed interior, which sparkles with glowing sconces, hanging lights, and crisp, conversationally adept tablecloths.