Riva: User Reviews

Went here last night, had a 830 reservation, got seated at 930 what's the point of a reservation? My gf's steak was very tender, but was garnished with a very sweet sauce (and seasonings) which killed it. I had swordfish which was nothing all that special (especially considering it's $30 price tag). Our appetizers (soup, calamari, and sald) were excellent however. Also the twice baked potatoe is brilliant. I eat out a lot, but this isn't a restaurant i'd make a point to go back to, very very average food for a high price tag.

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Food was wonderful. The hostess staff was friendly, but our waiter was not. Also, 2 of the 3 items I ordered, they were out of. Nothing in return, no suggestions, no comp. Just, "no, we are out of that."

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Ridiculous TOURIST TRAP! Any self-respecting Chicagoan should avoid this place like the plague. Overpriced, bland food, only made worse by rude, incompetent service (from the watiress to the server to the bus boys). Atmosphere is nice, but too many shortcomings to overcome. This is a navy pier trap for out of town visitors who don't know any better. Be prepared to be treated accordingly. Look for alternatives before you waste $$$ and time here!

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Riva was the second restaurant I went to in Chicago after not having been to the city for 10 years. It was fantastic. I had the swordfish dinner which was spectacular! The drinks were great, the atmosphere is sophisticated, and the price isn't bad especially considering the view of the water and the location on the navy pier. I would definatley recomend Riva for dates, family dinners or a dinner night with friends.

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This was the perfect place to bring 6 foreign guests. I asked for and got a round table right by the window with that fantastic view of the Chicago skyline.

Everyone seemed satisfied with their entree - my Chilean sea bass was perfectly cooked with a great, slightly crunchy miso glaze. The hot appetizer platter was expensive, but it was perfect for sharing.

Service was attentive: when one of my guests arrived late, our server immediately took his order and had his steak out in a flash.

The dining room is pleasant and impressive. It wasn't very noisy on a Sunday evening, but given the size of the room, I could imagine it could get fairly loud if the room were full.

The valet parking was not only extremely convenient but also reasonably priced at $10.

For the combination of location, view, menu, and "impressive" atmosphere, I recommend Riva.

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Hmmm. Maybe it was because we'd spent three hours at Chicago Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and had sensory overload from the great performance. After "Hamlet" everything is pretty much dross. Phil Stefani has given a great deal of thought to what seems to have become a Chicago show place. I mean a four masted schooner docked as our appetizers arrived. The food was very good, but not great. The room is very busy and the noise level is on the high side. My complaint is the menu. It's simply too complicated. It's overwhelming. My favorite is the menu selection with numbers for wine by the glass and bottle. You think it refers to the list or something but it's the price. 9 and 10 or whatever. Never seen it doen that way.

So I have to say after all the dining we do. I didn't have a very good time. The company was great and the food was good, but I just wish they'd simplify it.

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Great views. Extremely overpriced for what you get. Double-baked potatoe was burned! Caesar salad was very average. Steak was tasteless and burned! Bread was stale! Really expensive for such average to below-everage food.

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The place reminds me of the typical overpriced tourist trap. We are from Chicago and went down to the pier to enjoy the fireworks, so we thought we would give it a try. BIB MISTAKE! The food is horrible and overprices. My husband ordered a steak that was so fatty that he could only eat about 1/3 of it. The kitchen was supposed to close at 11:00, but since they were slow they were going to close down early and made us spead through our meals. Chicago is full of wonderful restaurants, but this is not one of them. For the price, you could get an amazing steak from Gibson's or Harry Carry's.

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I never actually got to eat here because I was so upset that they only offered water you had to pay for that I left.

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I went to Riva's for Mother's Day Lunch and the food and service were exceptional. The view was amazing as well and the martini's are to die for!

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