Jeremy S.

A nice spot to eat at in Downtown Riverside. I came here with my wife for dinner on a Saturday and got two of the risotto dishes as well as an appetizer. The risotto's were both really good. My favorite was the French onion risotto, the flavor was muted but perfect for the dish and the onions were really tasty. I got the chicken add on and found the chicken to be juicy and tender. The chicken wing appetizer was pretty solid as well, I liked the dry rub on the wings but wish they put a little more. The restaurant itself is pretty small so I would recommend making a reservation if you want to sit inside. We ended up having to sit outside which has a great view of Mission Inn Ave but had to contend with some bugs since it was a humid summer night. Service was okay, they had some good recommendations for us but it was a bit slow as there seemed to be only one server for all of the tables. Overall a good spot to eat at in the center of downtown. Really want to try their brunch next time!

Kenneth L.

I really want to like this place, but the food left something to be desired. Service was good-- I had a reservation that was unfortunately canceled due to a blackout, and I was offered a free appetizer on my next visit. Decor was nice, with a huge bar and a modern vibe. Note that despite being open until 3PM (for brunch), they stop serving food at 1:30PM. That's also the latest you can make a reservation. I don't know if this is listed anywhere, like on their website, but I can definitely see people showing up during what would ostensibly be open hours and not being served as a result of their policy. Of the three dishes I tried, the lobster benedict was the best. It had a good amount of lobster, and the plantain was delicious. But the potatoes needed more time--they were soft and not crispy at all. Chilaquiles had the same problem, coming to the table already soggy. We also asked for it to come without cilantro, but there was a handful on top that we needed to brush off. Not a huge deal, but still inattentive. Finally, the frittata was...not a frittata. It was a thin omelet with toppings. It tasted all right, but was definitely lacking. Overall: Good service, restaurant/bar looks nice, but food could use some improvement. There's street parking outside that's free on the weekend. Otherwise, there are parking garages nearby.

Nan N.

You can find better food offerings. Service was meh. We had reservations but no choice but to sit outside on a colder night as another table had got in reservations before us...however, after an hr, that same table had still not arrived... I like that they change up their menu. Their offerings and presentation is pretty. However, food overall is average. No dish wowed. New York strip was cooked nicely to our asking, however, the steak became cooled rather quickly (in minutes). French onion risotto should NOT be on the menu. Risotto is cooked correctly but it really just tasted like fried shallot risotto and less so French onion. I would definitely not order the cheese & charcuterie board again. It seems like they prep the charcuterie board hours in advance because all the meats and cheeses looked and tasted dry. Drinks: pretty presentation again, Harvest Moon is nice and balanced. Sakura Bloom ended tasting like bubblegum! Bottom line: don't come with high expectations

Shivam P.

The food and drinks were excellent . Location was convenient in downtown and the service was very prompt

Mindy T.

I really like Craftz Lounge. The food here is quite good. We definitely kept skipping over this place because of their name. Seems silly in hindsight, but something about Craftz just made me think that the food wasn't good. The friend who recommended it noted the same concern they had about the name. I'm glad they gave it a chance. We got their steak and eggs (New York) and the chorizo hash. Both dishes were A+. The main issues I had were the limited seating. We sat at the bar because the last available table was reserved. Then it took a while for our food to come out. That might be due to the fact that a large party ordered right before us though. Overall, I would give this place a try (esp if one of the other brunch places is too busy).

Tamara R.

Went twice in 2 weeks. 1st time alone, 2nd time with group of 20. This place is great! Everyone in our group agrees! It's small, ahem, "intimate." But it actually has a really warm, cozy, chill vibe, and modern vibe. Both outdoor and indoor seating. Indoors has one long table, with booth seating on one side, regular chairs on the other, that sits 16 comfortably. There's walking space and bar seating just across. That's it. Perfect place to cozy up to the bar and make small talk with new people, or have your own "sidebar" with your group. 1. Service: 5 stars. The bartenders, server, manager and cooks are all very pleasant and do their jobs well. 2. Food: Hey! The Double Fried Wings with Memphis dry rub: Delicious! We were smacking our fingers. Ask for extra rub and you will be delighted! Bacon infused smashed burger: Solid burger. Now, to be honest, it didn't have that char-fired in the grease of a 1000 burgers cooked before taste that the best smash burgers have. So don't order expecting that. Just order expecting a very tasty burger with 2 medium patties, and you'll be very satisfied. Lobster taco: It's light. It has some good flavor. But I've always preferred lobster by itself, and this didn't change my mind. I should've taken advice from a frequent customer who chooses the mahi-mahi tacos instead. So that's what you should do if you want a light meal. Drinks: Really satisfying. They have creative seasonal cocktails. Full bar. The bartender is good. I rarely spend time in Riverside and had to do so for an association I'm in. But I Craftz Lounge is great. I, and a lot of my other friends, will be back!

Sheldon R.

Food was solid and the atmosphere was worth it. We ordered from the Brunch Menu. We got the Smoked Salmon Benedict, Chilaquiles, and Charred Brussels. For drinks we ordered the Espresso Martini. The service was very friendly from our waitress to our bartender. The bartender hand delivered our drink to our table. We ate here at 11am on a Saturday. The place was not too busy. It's more of a small indoor bar spot instead of a restaurant. Only have a few indoor tables and a some outdoor. We made reservations about 5-6 days prior. This place is new and appears to get packed quickly. I'd advise to reserve at least one week in advance. We originally wanted dinner but there were no available reservations. This place is beside Mission Inn which is super busy during this time. Their online website has pictures of every food dish from the Brunch Menu with a few pics of the drinks. This was super helpful as a visual. I'd definitely recommend visiting here. Their portion sizes are decent. I'm curious to know what their lunch and dinner menu are like. Service was exceptional. No wonder they are rated so highly on Yelp.

Smita N.

Craftz Lounge has been on my hit list for a while, and finally I got to stop in for lunch. The vibe was mellow and service was attentive without being too overbearing. The shrimp nachos had drier toppings, I wish there was more of the green sauce to reduce that dry feeling. The birria tacos were delicious, but the sneaky hit was the 27 hour focaccia bread. Truly one of the best bread experiences I have had in a while, and something that I will keep returning for!

Jeremy P.

Good food, good service... chill and relaxing ambience Food came fast. Drinks were good About 200 bucks for a dinner for two with drinks. I'd eat there again and suggest others to go.

Wendi O.

Small but mighty ! When we first walked in we were thinking maybe there were tables in the back ? Nope this coffee shop sized restaurant is small , need a reservation, but the food is delicious ! We had appetizers cocktails and main courses and the only thing that could have been better was the ahi poke nachos . Bland not much too then and not much tuna , could have used a siracha mayo sauce ? Other than that everything else was delicious!

Chris A.

It was time for another date night--away from the kids and time to focus on our relationship. We were in Riverside attending to other business and my wife pulled up Yelp and found Craftz Lounge, a small eatery in the heart of downtown Riverside. The entire day, my wife struggled to book reservations but by the time we arrived, there were indoor and outdoor open tables. We were promptly greeted and given water and menus but it took a while for our orders to be taken. We decided on shrimp ceviche as a starter, I opted for the prime rib dip and the wife chose the scallops. The shrimp ceviche came with a lovely side of thin, crunchy taro chips. The ceviche itself was perfectly balanced with heat from the jalapenos, sweetness from the pineapple, and the acidity from the lemon. The four pan-seared scallops were served with polenta and charred grapefruit. Honestly, the grapefruit did not add too much to the dish. However, the squash and tomato ragu, along with the rice paper chips, were a great pairing of textures. Lastly, the prime rib dip came with an upgrade of truffle fries. The prime rib was a bit on the dry side, and I was unable to finish the entire sandwich. If there was no dip on the side, the sandwich on its own would not be palatable. The truffle fries could have used more truffle but also had that fantastic crisp potato texture (keep in mind that I am a steak fry lover). I would come back for date night to try the other food options. Would recommend if you are in the area!

Aly A.

This place was just amazing. I mean when I saw it on Yelp I thought it's just a bar. It was highly rated on Yelp and I do trust Yelp lol . So walking in it's a small but very cute space I did sit at the bar. The bartender was very nice and attentive. We ordered some really great craft cocktail drinks . The food we got was really good we got some sliders and a dessert. They said the chef prepares everything. The menu looks really interesting I would love to come and try more things . They said they like to change up the menu . Overall we had a great time here . If I'm back in the area I would definitely come back .

Carolina R.

My friend and I went to Craftz for brunch! This place is new in Riverside, so had to try it. We got the mimosa flight which was very refreshing and good! I ordered the loaded fries which I was a bit hesitant since it has scrambled eggs, but man they were good!!! My friend got the cinnamon fried French toast and it was delicious but it was only one piece of French toast cut in half! Usually it's two French toasts, so I think the portion size for the price was not great! Overall service was good! Really cute and chic place. We split the receipt and we each paid $32 which wasn't bad with mimosas. Overall, really good food.