Riva Grill On the Lake

Atmosphere and service were great. Loved Taylor she was a pleasure. Great Atmosphere with outdoor seating right by the water/beach. Unfortunately, food was not so great, at least not what I ordered. I ordered the Lobster Deviled Eggs, which had extremely bland filling with a tiny piece of lobster placed on top and the glazed pork ribs, which were okay. The sauce wasn't bad, but the meat itself didn't appear to have much flavor. I felt like it was all a bit pricey for the lack of taste. Food was prepared beautifully however.

Picture yourself sitting out on the patio, gazing over a serene lake with boats gently gliding by, all while savoring the perfect weather with a refreshing drink in hand. The service here is impeccable – attentive and friendly, making you feel truly welcome. And then there are the sticky ribs: tender, flavorful, and coated in a caramelized sauce that’s the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. It’s so good, it practically melts in your mouth! If only they served it with rice – it would be the ultimate pairing. Definitely a spot worth visiting!

I had the pleasure of dining at Riva Grill twice—once in the summer and again this winter, and both experiences were delightful in their own ways. In the summer, we were seated outside with a stunning view of the lake. This winter, we opted for a cozy table right next to the fireplace, which added a wonderfully intimate touch to our meal. I ordered a salad, and my friend had the steak, and it was cooked to perfection. The service throughout both visits was excellent—attentive and friendly, ensuring we had a great experience. Overall, I would definitely recommend Riva Grill. Whether you're looking to enjoy a summer evening by the lake or a cozy winter meal by the fire, this restaurant offers a lovely atmosphere and delicious food.

Service from Jamie was excellent as she has a very pleasing personality and attitude. Food was very prompt and delicious. Can’t find fault in anything. Highly recommended if visiting Lake Tahoe.

What a cool place. Though pricy, the meal was delicious! We had the coconut prawns as a starter - which was a splurge but also delicious. The French ion soup was fantastic- I had read a few other reviews about it and it did not disappoint. Hubby had the rib eye cooked medium and I took the recommendation of the halibut - both were VERY good. Live music was playing out on the deck and was very enjoyable.

We decided to eat here between our jet skiing and parasailing. We were seated on the patio and decided to try the lobster deviled eggs. They were good. I tried the Cobb salad and my husband & daughter both tried the Caesar salad. The chicken was not dried out and the salads were very filing!! The dessert was amazing!!

The service was good, I just happened to be there at lunch time on a weekend, so it was very busy. Fantastic food, pictured are Lobster deviled eggs and Thai chicken lettuce wrap. Sit outside and look out over South Shore Lake Tahoe~ Little pricey, but again the food was very good and worth it. Valet parking only by the restaurant.

I’d give this place B minus. The best they have to offer are drinks (I had their Red White and Booze and it was great) and view of the lake. Food is just OK, nothing special, especially for the prices they charge, I’d say they wouldn’t survive with stronger competition nearby. We shared ahi poke stack for appetizer, it was pretty good (a little too much sauce for my liking) and the portion was large enough to be one person’s dinner. My husband had their house salad, he said it was nothing to write home about. I had lobster and shrimp bisque which was pretty good but a little too heavy. Then my husband had their short ribs, those were pretty solid and a very large portion - would have been enough for two people to share. I had halibut which was slightly overcooked and came with peach goat cheese risotto which was great on its own but did not go well together with fish. Service was very average, while everything arrived quickly (too quickly at some point as they brought out the soup while we were still eating the appetizer), our waitress never came to check on us to see if we needed anything, she never smiled, was very unenthusiastic and indifferent. Bottom line, I would not go back and am being very generous giving it four stars.

Fantastic christmas dinner with attentive and talented staff makung everything perfect! Will go again when in tahoe

Ate there 2 times while we were there. Filet and Lobster. Absolutely delicious. Service was excellent. Totally recommend and will definitely go back. Previous trip during summer 2 years ago same results. Excellent and sitting out on deck w the sunset was beautiful. Higher recommend this place!

Came here for our Christmas dinner after doing some research online and many locals and frequent visitors said that this is the place to go. I wish I had checked the Yelp reviews before booking. Let me begin by saying that my espresso NY strip (Christmas special) was perfectly cooked and the twice baked potato was delicious. Unfortunately, that was the only good thing I can say about our visit. The kids' meals were $16 and the mac and cheese was clearly from a box (tasted and looked like Kraft). The other kid's meal (ham and cheese sandwich) was basically what you would throw together with 3 ingredients in a rush to serve a kid. Two of my party wanted the prime rib and were later told they were out. One person switched that out for the crab sandwich which was tasty if not for the soggy bread. My wife got the filet and was nauseous the whole night. Our food took about 30 minutes to arrive after ordering, and water refills were slow to non-existent (even after saying he'd come back to refill waters, the waiter didn't and I had to ask him later). The French onion soup had maybe 5 slivers of onion, so it was just salty, watery consommé. Finally, the table they gave us was a 4-top with an expandable leaf that folds under the table. When folded out, it was slanted so that dishes would slide if bumped a little. We asked if it could be fixed, but the waiter said that they all do that and there was nothing he could do.

We were looking for a place on the water to enjoy lunch and the view. We found both here at Riva Grill. Our staff was friendly and our waiter (can not pronounce his name) was awesome. He was very knowledgeable of the menu and he suggested we try a few things. So glad he did! The butternut soup was delicious and perfect on this cold day. It paired perfectly with my prime rib sandwich. My husband at Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap. It was delicious. Perfect amount of food with wonderful flavors. The parking lot is a little weird but worth making an effort to come here.

The service, food, and drinks were phenomenal! 10/10 stars from me. We were able to be seated at a table with a wonderful water front view.

A bit of a strange back and forth before we got seated...but we eventually got seated so it is what it is. Nice outdoor seating to enjoy views of the lake, but in mid-September with temperatures in the 50s-60s, it can get cold/windy. There are several heat lamps, so it still feels relatively comfortable. We ordered the pomegranate glazed short ribs, which looked a bit burnt rather than just glazed. The ribs were on the drier side. The fish tacos were good, but the tortilla wasn't as soft as I expected. Prime rib French dip was great. The sauce made the bread juicy and soft, packed with flavor. Dungeness crab sandwich was also meaty with each bite of the crispy sourdough bread. Turkey bacon croissant felt like just another croissant sandwich I could've picked up at the grocery store :( I had high hopes for this place but maybe their dinner menu would've been better.

We were seated almost right away around 2pm on a Saturday. We sat upstairs away from the window, but could still see it was a beautiful view. The prices here are a bit high but the food didn't disappoint. The California Burger was so good, huge, and flavorful. The fries were some of the best fries I've ever had; perfectly crispy, fresh, and good amount!

Our waiter said Riva refers to wooden boats ... although I could not find that reference when I looked it up. Apparently the owner likes wooden boats. I guess it really doesn't matter as his food is excellent. We brought our own wine for which there was a $20 corkage fee (average). I chose to have the Dungeness Crab Cakes with a wedge salad. While both were excellent, my understanding of a wedge salad is that's is usually wedge of iceberg lettuce with blue cheese & dressing and maybe bacon bits over it. You might get an occasional red onion or some other condiment. This salad was clearly romaine lettuce, lots of tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, red onion and even a bacon slice, and bacon crumbles. It was a really good salad. Crab cakes were amazing. My sister had the Poke Salad which she said was very good Owner of this restaurant also owns Garwoods (Tahoe), Water Bar (Sparks), American Bar (Truckee) and several others. I've been to the Water Bar & American Bar ... both excellent . Plenty of parking, outside seating on the lake, a little pricey, but it was. Birthday celebration

The service here is unparalleled. It really matches the energy of people in Tahoe, everyone is so sweet and goes out of their way to be accommodating. The ambiance is worth the slightly higher prices of food. You should expect to pay to be right on the water like that. It is beautiful, and there are outdoor heaters on the deck. The prices of the drinks aren't listed on the menu but you can definitely ask for clarification. The servings are quite large and everything we ordered was tasty. I would definitely eat here again based on the ambiance and service alone! Can't beat it.

Came in for dinner for a bachelorette party and overall had a nice time. This was my first time visiting the restaurant. We had reservations and were quickly brought upstairs to a table in the back. The hostess was quick to leave so we weren't able to ask her if the patio was available. When the bus girl came by to give us some water we asked if there was any tables outside. Figured we'd try to catch a sunset if possible but we're fully aware it might not happen if there were no tables. Without checking the bus girl said "if the hostess said there's no tables then there's no tables" extremely rudely. I was shocked! I told her we hadn't had a chance to ask the hostess and she begrudgingly went to check. She came back and said there were no tables which was fine, but what's with the attitude lady. I expected to be annoyed the rest of my night but it was somewhat turned around. Our server was okay.... Not bad but not great. Kinda slow. Didn't make it very "fun" despite seeing we were there for a special occasion. Food took foooooooorrrreeeever to come out. Once we got our food, things were looking up. I ordered the filet mignon and it was delicious! I really enjoyed my meal. I got a wet woody, which was my first, and it was tasty. Very sweet and I couldn't have too many but it was a nice treat. Like a dessert! I could see myself trying again but it's hard to justify the poor service with the high prices.

Had the filet mignon, cooked medium, and it was made to perfection. Service was great, they were very attentive and kept our waters filled. Also, tried their signature Wet Woody drink and it was really good, just a little on the sweet side for my preference. Lastly, dining facing the lake on a perfectly sunny & clear skied day, just tops off the whole experience!

Riva Grill is a very popular restaurant and if you get lucky, you'll enjoy the view of the lake. In my opinion the Wet Woody cocktail is over rated and pricey. The cocktail base is a blended punch and each variation differs when they're enhanced with fruity purée or whipped cream and spirits. The food is a hit or miss. I enjoyed the California burger. Others had burgers that were overcooked and were less enjoyable. You might reconsider when adding chicken to a salad. It was shared that the chicken was very dry. In the other hand the tenderloin on salad was a hit and true with the halibut! Need I say to review the bill carefully for accuracy. Promoted Wednesday discounts were overlooked. The service was very attentive and apologetic for the food preparation and billing mistake. Unfortunately Nothing was offered to exchange the food.

Every time I go to South Lake Tahoe I have to eat here - their food & drinks are wonderful! The views & ambience are breathtaking, especially if you get a seat by the window. I ordered the Mary's Half Chicken & my buddy ordered the Rib Eye. Not ever been disappointed with my food & my cosmopolitan was delicious & their frozen drinks are excellent- yet dangerously good. However, I cannot forget the most important part, the customer service from the host to the waiter are always excellent.

Great choice for Lake Tahoe ambience as there is lots of lake view seating. So pretty to gaze over boats and kayaks onto the vast lake. Late afternoon was especially beautiful. Varied menu, attentive staff and great cocktails. The fish entrees are especially fresh with great presentation. This restaurant is a great choice for visitors and locals alike. Everyone in our six person group was very happy with their varied dinner choices. Highly recommend.

The view is absolutely stunning. Do your best to get reservations around sunset. The patio is well heated for fall nights and the live music is great. The 5 stars is really for our wonderful server. Her name was Ashley and she was from Pennsylvania. She had such joy and cheer in her heart and she was happy to serve. Our food was served warm more on the cold side but still good. We had their famous wet woody and the 30 year woody. Their drink menu is entertaining (recommend giving it a full read!) It was very sweet and cold. I don't think you're missing much if you don't order it. We celebrate my husband birthday and they have a complementary dessert of your choice which was a big winner. We had the brownie and we were very satisfied. We will be back. Great team and great view

Ok- I have finally figured it out- TOURIST TRAP- I used to really like this place- last night - not so much- I've never eaten upstairs before- I learned as to why- the service is weak- the view is nice- our winter must have been annoyed that we were there- he was a bit abrasive - and we were ready and really quick when we had him at our tables he did get a couple tables - not all at the same fine - but they were seated a little bit apart- maybe they were demanding - I don't know - we were overly nice - but our food took forever to come to the table - the deviled eggs were good, the half chicken and the rib eye was good - noting to brag about- it just wasn't the experience that I'm used to- I won't be back

So beautiful! Smells almost as good as the scenery looks! The food was not up to par as the rest of the hype and our server had some major attitude but it was very busy. My steak was asked for medium rare and it was well done. Potatoes were great!

If I had choice I would not give this place a star . Piss poor management this not a fine dining at all. Our food came out cold and they served me a cold ribeye and besides that my party of 5 food came out cold. I watch mangers sit up at front playing with pepper and salt shakes but did not get a visit to my table at from them . Thanksgiving they must been super busy, your Thanksgiving meal was pre cooked . So disappointed . I did have one highlight Evenly the waitress . Spend your money else where people. I have food pictures but I refused to post. These people don't care that own this restaurant.

Scallops arrived at the table and looked good served over risotto. Cut into the first one and noticed it was a bit rare. Second one, even worse. Friend next to me had same exact issue. We sent back the scallops as they were just too undercooked and raw in the center for our liking. Clearly, I wasn't only one at the table who was disappointed. Server returned, said that the chef asked what temperature we wanted them. I've had a lot of scallops cooked for me and never been asked that! My answer; I want them cooked. Not overdone, not raw. Cooked! Second time one of the two scalloos came back edible and one was still undercooked. I just gave up. Good thing I wasn't paying for the dinner because I would have asked the server to take the meal off the bill. My other dining partner ordered filet medium rare but the middle of the steak was rare. Very rare. He didn't complain or send it back but only ate the cooked portions and left a lot in the plate. He was not pleased. None of us were. Overall, this is an expensive place on South Lake Tahoe with a great view for Al fresco dining during warmer weather. The service was good and our server was very prompt and but other than having a drink or two on the deck, I probably wouldn't eat here again based on my experience. It's supposed to be a higher end restaurant and I shouldn't have to deal with these issues with a bunch of friends at dinner.

Beautiful views of marina from patio of Riva Grill. Food and service was good, but we really went for views and to eat lunch outside. I would give service 5.0, meal considering price about 4.0 and outdoor dining 5.0.

Ambiance: Been here a couple times and love it each time. The Ambiance is amazing. It has the view of the water, the boats, and the sunshine. I can't ask for more. Service: From experience the service has been great it could be better. Not all staff are friendly all the time but our server was super awesome this visit. He was on top of everything and he kept checking on us. Food: We weren't too hungry so we ordered from small bites or appetizer section of the menu (which still looked like regular serving). I love Poke I was excited for the Ahi Poke Stack. The poke is delicious but was disappointed with the sticky rice. It was super cold and undercooked. I did return it and they gave me a new one but the rice was the same. Thank you to our server we got comped for the Ahi Poke, I didn't ask for it so it was a nice surprise! We ordered the Dungeness Crab Sandwich, Soup, Garlic Bread, dessert and for the home stretch we got cocktails and wine! Note: Dessert is a must. Please Preview the pictures! Until next time!

I was very pleased with the service and food! We had a big party and it went smoothly. I ordered the filet mignon. It comes bacon wrapped but I asked for it to come without bacon. Our server also recommended the wet woody and it was sooo good! I appreciate them for accommodating our 8 people party! Riva Grill also does come with parking you pay for by the hour or they have complimentary valet service that runs on tips. When we pulled up there was a gentleman who gives information on where to park. He gave us the directions but our driver was unclear and asked again. It seemed as if it annoyed him and his whole face changed when he noticed he didn't understand him the first time. And it ended with him not even turning his head to finish the conversation. You might as well pay for the parking if that is the service you would get from valet. It's cheaper anyway.

Beautiful view at sunset, incredible food, and awesome service provided by our server! Overall, this was one of the greatest highlights of my trip to South Lake Tahoe. I definitely recommend outdoor seating and booking a table around sunset for the most spectacular sunset on the lake. Also if you are looking for a dessert, you MUST order the apple pecan bread pudding a la mode!

My friends and I have been going to Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe for years. Each Summer, it's our go-to for option for one of the better places to dine while looking at the lake, however, it consistently falls short in a number of other areas. On this particular trip in July 2024, my friends and I grabbed our Saturday night 7:30pm reservation months ago. Upon arrival and checking into complimentary valet, we made our way to the host stand and saw a line of people waiting to check in. We checked in a few minutes before our reservation time and weren't seated until 15 minutes AFTER. However, we were able to score an outside covered patio table with some of the most killer views in all of South Lake Tahoe. The tables outside were all full, and Riva Grill packs them in. There isn't a lot of room to navigate between tables, so if you or someone at another table gets up at any time, expect a chair to bump into another. They also have live Saturday night entertainment, and although refreshing, the sound of the audio was WAY TOO LOUD to even hear what my friends and I were saying at our own table. A definite negative in my book. The crowd outside was also quite loud and inebriated, which silences back the "quite lakefront experience." Our server came over and was very friendly from the start, immediately asking if we would like a drink, pushing their World Famous Wet Woody (over 3 million sold!). There is a menu page full of different varieties of the slushy adult beverage, with different rums, proofs, silly (and often crass) nicknames and the like (i.e. Kraken a Woody, Rock Hard Woody and Sailor Jerry's Wet Dream). For about $18, you too can enjoy a tasty beverage. But be warned, they are strong and very sugary. However, it is one of the Tahoe-centric must-haves. The menu doesn't change very often, and no specials during our visit. I went with a House Salad and the Scallops. Granted, it was a Saturday night and very busy, but the kitchen was definitely out of whack. Our appetizers arrived about 2 minutes after our drink orders, followed by our entrees 3 minutes later. A few of us hadn't even had more than two bites of salad or a spoonful of French Onion Soup before the entrees were dropped off. Also, no apologies for the rushed attempt at service. The House Salad was OK. While the feta cheese and the walnuts were delicious, the dressing smothered the wilted greens, leaving it soft and chewy rather than crunchy. A big miss. Halfway through my salad, my Scallops arrived. Presentation-wise, it looked great. Four perfectly cooked scallops on a bed of lobster risotto, carrots and green beans. The scallops were cooked beautifully, however, the lobster risotto was a disaster. It was completely overcooked, gummy, chewy and didn't have much flavor or pieces of lobster. The vegetables were mundane and the blood orange beurre blanc also didn't add much to the plate. For $55, I was expecting much more. For dessert, our table shared the Warm Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce and Fresh Raspberry Whipped Cream. The brownie was not very warm, and definitely without a gooey lava center, but the ice cream and raspberry whipped cream were tasty. The bathrooms, at least the men's room, had paper towels and other items on the floor, wasn't very clean, aside from the constantly adding and subtracting of interesting phrases on the chalkboard above the urinal. Riva Grill is always buzzing at night in Tahoe as it's one of the well-known places in town. However, it really lacks in a lot of areas, so expect to pay a premium for average. Honestly, for me, it's just one for the nostalgia books on a yearly retreat with friends.

Came here for lunch mainly because the restaurant is directly located by the pier and lake. The restaurant is offering free valet parking and checking in was as easy as it can get. For my lunch I chose the shrimp and lobster bisque and the wedge salad since I wasn't very hungry and wanted something lighter. The wedge salad turned out surprisingly to be very fresh and very tasty. I also loved all the ingredients which were well balance and I particularly liked the tiny bacon pieces which made this salad perfect. The shrimp and lobster bisque was nice but a little bit too sweet for me and probably would opt for the French onion soup the next time. Verdict: a solid 5 for great atmosphere, friendly service and tasty food. I'll be back. Enjoy and Bon Appetit.

Came back for dinner.... it's just a typical.tourost trap. Food was just typical American, nothing special. The atmosphere was nice and it's right next to the marina so it's obvious why it's busy. If you have kids, want a quick bite or drink, or just don't care about eating good food, then come here. My.family.enjoyed their burgers (pretty hard to mess that up), but I sent my salad back. Very expensive for some lettuce with cheese and nuts... not to mention the walnuts had a very strange flavor and tasted stale. I personally wouldn't waste my time.

I was here for a conference and so I attended an event here by a vendor. They hosted a dinner with live music and dance floor! Great food and a great drink called the Wet Woody, amazing drink!!! All of staff was great, friendly attentive and made sure we were full of food or our drinks were topped off. The band was fabulous too!!

Really amazing experience for my bestie's bachelorette! The view is absolutely stunning and the food was great. Everyone was super helpful and professionally dealt with their system being down to get us seated and fed quickly. This is a great spot for a nicer celebration.

We stopped in this spot after our sunset river cruise. The food was really good but the 5 stars are for the great attentive service from our server Caitlin. I have an onion allergy so I always have a lot of questions about the food before I order. Caitlin showed so much care and concern regarding my allergy. She made sure that the food brought to our table was safe for me to eat. If for no other reason to recommend this spot, Caitlin would be it!!!

I am a huge fan of Garwoods and Sparks Water bar. I thought this location would be very similar, but unfortunately I was very disappointed. I made reservations to celebrate my birthday at 1130 and we arrived on time. My family and I waited for 30min before a waiter came to our table to give us water. I was looking forward to enjoying a woody while I wait for our meal...that did not happen. It took another 10min before we even got our ordered drinks. Then the appetizer and meal came out about the same time. I had no time to really enjoy my woody or order another one. The service was terrible. Other customers got up and left their tables because they were not waited on. I am very upset that I wasted my time celebrating my birthday at Rivas. I didn't even get a desert or anything because I was so upset with the service. We will not come back to Rivas.

The food was AMAZING, service... AMAZING. Had a phenomenal experience coming from LA to visit Lake Tahoe, the atmosphere was also super cute & the valet that comes complementary if you eat at the restaurant has amazing staff. 10/10 will be coming back!

We had a midweek lunch with a group of four at Riva. It was a beautiful day on the lake so we sat outside on the patio under the many umbrellas to provide shade. This restaurant provides a great ambience. I would high encourage the Thunderbird margarita for a mid afternoon refreshing drink. I also enjoyed the crab sandwich with fries. It was delicious and filling.the service was very good and we will return.

Every year when I am up in Tahoe I have to go eat at Riva Grill. Everytime the food is just as great as the first time I ate there. I am boring and always stick to the ribeye with the potato asparagus hash and French onion soup. This time it did seem like they had more bread in the soup but they really do have some of the best onion soup around. The hubby got the special which was a pesto crusted steak and had the special tomato Basil Soup that came with a mini breaded and fried grilled cheese. He said they were both amazing and was happy he decided to go with those two specials. Our server was amazing and was on top of everything. It was fairly loud this time but in all fairness they did have several big parties. Will definitely be back. Oh and their razzberry wet woody was delicious, the only thing that sucks is the straw will break due to it being in California and them having to use paper straws.

Great staff, service and atmosphere. Food was very good with generous portions. The Woody drinks were delicious.

After a great week working the Golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf course, met up with my friend and his wife for dinner. The 1st thing which caught my attention was Complimentary Valet parking...no time limit whatsoever. That alone was a PLUS as nothing is ever free these days Ambiance: you can't beat the location being close to the shore of Lake Tahoe. Wasn't right on the shore but it was beautiful Food: Everything was beyond delicious. . Compliments to the Chef and team Filet and Scampi: garlic prawns / 7 oz. bacon-wrapped filet mignon / red wine demi / Point Reyes blue cheese butter Chimichurri Salmon: Patagonia Verlasso Salmon / pepita chimichurri/ charred poblano cream sauce / prickly pear caulis / spanish rice / pickled red onion / brocolini. Seafood Tagliarini: sautéed prawns / scallop / clams / mussels / house roasted tomatoes / basil / saffron / tomato Gruyére cream sauce This was my order and due to my recent food allergy to shrimp asked if they could omit and double on one of the other seafood ingredients. They accommodated without question. Service: our server was great and very attentive. Never felt rushed to leave after completing our meal. Would definitely return to try other entrees

We did not have a reservation but were able to sit at a high top in the bar area. The service was slow but they were also really busy. I had the crab cakes for my main and they were perfectly pan seared and delicious with fresh avocado. My spouse got the crab sandwich with crispy fries which he liked. They have outdoor seating and live music.

The view from the restaurant is really nice as you get to overlook the lake, but the food is just okay. The salt and vinegar chips didn't have too much flavor. For the price of the chips, I would pass. Caesar salad was good and an okay portion. The prime rib dip and crab sandwich are solid choices. The French fries that came with the sandwiches were super hot and crispy. The chicken and waffles were good. Everything we had was fine, but nothing stood out. Our server was really nice though and she checked on us frequently.

Service started out rough to say the least, we were seated immediately once we got to the restaurant but sat at our table for 15 minutes without even a waiter greeting us. We had to go to the host stand and request a different section. Our new waitress was so sweet and very attentive! My espresso martini was pretty good, but had a few ice pieces in it 3.5/5. The crab cakes were sooo good, I love the sauce that paired with it 4.5/5! The blackened fish tacos were nothing special, actually kind of bland actually 2/5. Ambiance was nice as the view of the lake is gorgeous!

Came for Lunch at The Lake at Riva Grill during the week during shoulder season. It has such a great location with views especially from the patio. When we went only the main door was open and the patio wasn't set up to eat outside unfortunately so we sat inside and could still see some of the scenery. The restaurant wasn't busy so it was relatively empty in the dining room. The atmosphere is nice. The restaurant is accented with dark wood & white napkins with seaside colors and art. The restaurant is larger than it appears. It carries an extensive drink menu with a full bar to the right near the kitchen. We had Karin as our server who was very attentive. She completely knows how to follow up and check in so you don't feel neglected. Her service is an asset to this restaurant for sure. I ordered the Peppered Tenderloin & Blue Cheese Salad. It looked just like it did in other previous diners photos except a bit smaller. It was good. The tomatoes soaked in vinegar took it down a notch. The pita triangles were just ok. The amount of meat was lacking for the $30 dollar price assessed. The Caesar salad was good but again smaller than previous diners' pictures. It had roasted red peppers on top & no capers. Good starter. The fish & chips were very good. The presentation was nice & the fish tasty. The fries are ,well, basic fries. It came with a bit of tarter sauce, ketchup & a lemon wedge. Fish tacos were also good. Tasty pieces of snapper grilled and tucked into tortillas with a coleslaw mix and a tiny side of salsa. The pizza Bbq with pork belly was just ok. It was topped with roasted red peppers for color. It wasn't anything to crave or rave about. The highlight was the dessert. An afterthought turned star. The Mocha Crunch Ice Cream cake. It was so delicious. Rarely do we order dessert but it seemed so unique so we tried it and it was great. Overall this is definitely a place catering to tourists & especially those who like to have a wide variety of drinks with a pretty view. Worth a stop for drinks, dinner or lunch for the view and good eats

I honestly love it here. Great view of the lake, food is good and the staff is what makes this place so great. When it was time for a date night, my husband and I picked Riva because we love the Wet Woody's and always feel so at home. Tonight Mike was our server and he was fantastic. We don't get many nights out without the kids and he made sure to make us feel special.

We came here in the afternoon on a Sunday. It was during the time between lunch and dinner so they were only using the lunch menu. That was actually fine with us. We didn't have a reservation and we were seated immediately. That was nice! We sat outside. They definitely have the most amazing outdoor seating! It's beautiful, shielded from the wind and has a perfect view of the lake. The patio was surprisingly full given the time of day, but I completely understand why people would want to spend time out there. Service was really sluggish. The waitress indicated that it was typically her day off, but she had to come in because they were understaffed. The food was OK, but it was unfortunately quite cold. Given how long it took to get it in the first place, I was hesitant to send anything back. We were also wanting to head back to Sacramento before it got dark. They did give us a complementary dessert for my husband's birthday. We had a lava cake and it was good. We definitely want to come back. I feel like this place has potential and we might've just hit them on a bad day. More research is needed.

I am writing this review to share a deeply disappointing experience we had while visiting. We had made a reservation weeks in advance for my sister's birthday, expecting a memorable celebration with our family, including two children under five and eight adults. Unfortunately, the evening turned out to be anything but memorable. Upon arrival, we were informed by the manager, Jennifer, that they could not accommodate our party of ten at one table due to a supposed meeting held earlier that day. This was a shock as no one had communicated this policy to us when we made the reservation. Despite there being ample space to push tables together, Jennifer was extremely rude and unaccommodating, insisting that we sit at two separate tables. Her attitude was dismissive and unapologetic, making an already frustrating situation even worse. It is highly disappointing that the restaurant failed to give us a simple phone call to inform us about this seating policy prior to our visit. As regular visitors to Lake Tahoe and avid food enthusiasts, we were looking forward to trying this place. However, the behavior of the manager and the lack of communication from the restaurant have ensured that we will not be returning. We hope that this restaurant takes this feedback seriously and improves their customer service and communication in the future.

Went back for dinner! The service was still great however the food was very expensive and there weren't as many vegan/vegetarian options.

Love this Place Came here for a weekend get away and lunch was amazing from our service to the surrounding water and boats in the marina and the shots and beers . The food is even better .a must try when in town I will be back cheers !!!

It kills me to write this one star for one of my favorite places to visit in Tahoe. It was great day spent here and looked forward to being treated to dinner at one of my favorite spots. Unfortunately Renee was our server and super super disappointing service. She ruined my mood quickly and has no business working in the service industry since she is a bigot. I had to sleep on this one and it's still bothering me. We were promptly seated and we requested to sit outside since we had such a great time less than a month ago. 1.) We waited about 10 minutes to even get greeted and about 15 to get water. I saw her twice before she actually came over; it wasn't busy. 2.) She was short after we didn't have alcohol and asked what we wanted. 3.) She didn't tell us what the specials were, but I heard her and observed her do so with the next two tables that were seated nearby. Those two tables were greeted under less than a minute. I always tip on service, she was lucky I left her a cent. We believe she looked at us and made an assumption that we couldn't afford or order the special. 4.) Our entrées are listed on the menu that they're served with mash potatoes, but both came out with fries. I asked about this substitution I didn't ask for then she asked if I wanted mash potatoes. She brought a cold bread plate with mash potatoes. I didn't eat either. I thought I was at a Dennys diner when my $55 steak came out with fries I DID NOT ASK FOR! 5.) Renee NEVER checked on our food. My dinner dates food was supposed to be roasted with a BBQ glazed and served with mashed potatoes. Did she assume we were illiterate as well? 6.) Lobster and shrimp bisque was bland and had a bite of seafood. (Not worth the money.) I would have ordered the soup of the day if I was made aware of it. We observed her with the other two non minority tables and she was great. I was already upset with the substitutions we didn't ask for. My steak was a medium to MW. I stopped after a few bites. She never came back, but we watched her be so attentive with her other two tables. We had to ask for the check, so we could leave. I am not sure why there was a bar food charge on our receipt when we were never at the bar. The ambiance is beautiful, but this poor service from Renee has left a horrible taste in my mouth along with her substitutions we didn't ask for. Who takes it upon their self to assume what a guest wants to eat? She'll be doing the service industry a favor if she just quit. I usually save room for dessert, but we couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Took my husband to lunch for his birthday . We shared the coconut prawns and a BBQ burger with French fries. The prawns are my favorite. So yummy & the grilled pineapple & glaze dip made it even better. The burger was cooked perfect & the onion rings were crispy. We had a chocolate mocha toffee ice cream cake for dessert. It's the best!!! The service was great. Jack took good care of us. Beautiful restaurant with fireplace, full bar & clean restrooms. We had a good seat near the window where we could see the beauty view of the lake.

During my visit to Riva Grill, I was left feeling quite disappointed. Despite our repeated requests, the fireplace remained unlit, leaving us without a heater for a staggering 30 minutes. This not only made the experience uncomfortable but also quite frustrating. It's evident that there's room for improvement in their service.

We came here after our hike. We were very hungry and tired. On our way there, we called to make a reservation just in case there was a wait. It was a nice day out, we sat outside in the patio area. Service was mediocre. It wasn't the best. Our server wasn't around much. I ordered the Crab melt. The sandwich was ok. It wasn't great. The bread was toasted, not grilled. The sandwich was lacking a little flavor. I enjoyed the great weather, beautiful view and company of friends. We had a fun lunch.

We love to stop into the Riva Grill when we visit Lake Tahoe. The food is great, the view is fantastic, they have plenty of seating indoor and out, and the staff is always friendly and helpful! The best way to get a table is to make a reservation, especially in the summer, since it gets busy. There is valet parking immediately in front of the restaurant, paid parking just before valet, and plenty of parking within walking distance. I have always loved the lobster bisque and the fish and chips but they have many menu selections. We love to sit on the deck and enjoy the view. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed!!!