Steve V.
Yelp
I've been here many times in the past several years. Unfortunately, my in-laws were treated so poorly we avoided it for years. Our maiden voyage was not disappointing, though, with both attentive service and very good cuisine. Since we have come here often.
We recently visited this Friday (May 26, 2023) before seeing a play in Ivorytown. We made a reservation for three for five when they open. We were there a few minutes early, but like the others around us, we were completely ignored. This is not McDonalds where you wait for them to unlock the door, so they should at least acknowledge those lining up. Instead we were made to feel like we were in the way. A few minutes after five, no one invited us in and a few people bullied their way in and sat down - not our style. My wife sought out a manager (I think she was a manger but am horrified to think so) who was impatient, admonished her for not telling us we were four and not three as originally planned. Okay, let's examine this. They seat people in multiples of four (I.e. three take up a table for four, five take up table space for six, and so on) so what's the big deal?
I'll take responsibility for the snafu, but not the poor treatment!
Finally we were seated and we asked if we could be seated in the back room, which was empty at the time. They told us that we needed to tell them when we made the reservation, but another review reveals this to be nonsense because that party was told they don't reserve specific tables. We are out of town guests, and though we come here often, are not recognized as one of the regulars, who are clearly favored here. My mother in law, who we visit several times a year, loves this restaurant so we often come here and have for years to please her, and she comes very often herself and brings other visitors frequently.
Anyway, I've wasted enough time on this restaurant. I emailed them privately going into much more detail in an effort to help them out. I also responded to a Resy request for feedback. I have not received any acknowledgment from RIVER tavern, which tells me that they don't value constructive feedback. In Washington DC this place would get 3-3.5 on social media, yet they seem to think they are something special. As to the food, it used to be excellent and now is average to good. Our steaks, ordered medium rare, came out medium well to medium in the center, and I would have sent it back for not the worry that it would make us late to the theater. Our drinks were inconsistent (awful margarita), and my mother in law's pasta, while tasty, required a search and rescue for the seafood that was supposed to be there.
So unless you're a regular, you will be treated much more favorably at Village Bistro, Grano Arso or Rustica when visiting Chester. Food was a three, ambiance a two but not their fault (three loud and drunk men-children next to us talking about their sexual exploits or fantasies thereof), and while our server Noa gets a five, everyone else gets a one to two. Incompetent management needs improvement. But likely little will change because the competition is limited. Nevertheless, check out the excellent competition.
