Such a cute concept with spaces being utilized throughout the area. Think of the gum alley in…read moredowntown SLO town or Seattle. Here in downtown Riverside, you have Mariposa Alley (Butterflies). During lunch we were trying to figure out what was around the area that was worth checking out. This popped up and was a 2 minute walk away. Just around the corner from Main Street next to a parking structure. It's a small little alley way that house all the fun cute butterflies hanging off the wall. The same concept as Collette Miller with the famous Angel wings scattered all over the place. One side of the wall is a massive mural of butterflies and flowers while the opposite side are butterflies. All different sizes and shapes hanging off the wall. You have the colorful wings lower down for that perfect photo op as well as smaller one hanging off the wall. A cute little walkway that's hidden off the Main Street. It's tucked in between the parking structure and city hall. A fun photo spot that's well maintained and clean. Alleyway was not messy one bit and in pretty good shape and clean.

This was such a cute and cool place to find within Downtown Riverside! Bonus points for the mural…read moreright in front of Mariposa Alley! There are definitely enough butterflies around to take different photos with or of, so it makes for a fun little photo spot. It's also just a nice place to stop by, admire, and take in the different artwork within the alley :)

Located adjacent to building of The Cheech and the Riverside Art Museum, this Chinese Pavilion was…read morebuilt in 1985-1986 to honor the many Chinese settlers who came to Riverside in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The settlers played a major role in the development of agriculture, transportation, and commerce in Riverside and the surrounding areas. The landscaping around the small pavillion is well kept by the city. However, the lettering on the structure has faded, the orange and red paint is peeling, and the structure has dings that need to be fixed. It is presently closed to the public and is only open for specific events. 5 stars for this Chinese Memorial Pavillion, an important piece of California history.

According to www.roadtrippers.com. the Chinese Pavilion was "built in 1985-86 and stands in front…read moreof the Riverside Central Library, at the corner of Mission Inn Avenue and Orange Street. It was built in honor of the Chinese settlers who came to Riverside in the late 19th and early 20th centuries." The Pavilion is located within a downtown Riverside area that housed a cluster of Chinese businesses that constituted Riverside's "first" Chinatown. My family was visiting the Mission Inn and we noticed the colorful Pavilion and walked across the street to check it out. I also noticed several city of Riverside park employees tiding up the area, which is kept very clean. The lush grassy lawn right next to the Chinese memorial is beautiful. Unfortunately, the Chinese Pavilion has become hangout central for many of Riverside's homeless population. These shelter-challenged individuals used to flop out on the Pavilion and lay around on the benches that surround it. So now there is a sign that specifically states no trespassing on the memorial and cites a city law forbidding access, except for specific occasions. The Pavilion was cooperatively funded by the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the City of Riverside, and the Chinese Pavilion Committee, a local non-profit organization that raised local matching donations. The nearby University of California, Riverside, also looks after the memorial and Asian professors have done lots of research on the Chinese emigrant experience. Just because so many Chinese people were an important part of building the state of California, I give Riverside's Chinese Pavilion 5 YELP STARS for honoring their often over-looked contributions. The Chinese Pavilion in downtown Riverside is a vivid memorial to the many Chinese who once lived and worked in the area.

I contacted Carissa with a very generic idea of what I wanted and she was so receptive and kind. I…read moregave her an idea of the floral design I wanted on the side of my Little Free Library and she provided a proof. She met me within my budget, did what she said she would do, and produced absolutely stunning artwork. She knew the correct products to use for this outdoor project and really cared about making sure it would last. I would recommend her over and over again! Carissa is the kind of person you WANT to work with: communicative, friendly, and incredibly talented.

We couldn't be happier with the mural painted in our hallway! From the very beginning, [Artist's…read moreName] took the time to truly understand our vision -- and then went above and beyond to bring it to life. Her creativity, attention to detail, and professionalism were exceptional every step of the way. If you're looking for someone who will not only meet your expectations but exceed them, Carrisa is the one. Her talent speaks for itself, and her passion for her craft truly shines through.

What a memorable experience, by far one of the best and most remarkable dining experiences of my…read morelife. Let me start off by saying that our server Justin was the highlight of our experience (the food was equally phenomenal). Justin was knowledgeable, insightful, and funny. By the end of the evening I felt like I had reconnected with my long lost pal. We listened intently as from the start Justin offered an assortment of meal suggestions that were actually not on the menu, and items that I would never think would go well together, but they actually did! Such as scallops appetizer with sweet rhubarb, herbs, and an Italian sweet and sour sauce. That was superb. There were sooo many food choices, you'll definitely want to make a second and third visit to keep trying new dishes. We were also in awe with Justin's wine pairing recommendations as well. Wine prices are very reasonable too, so don't be afraid to indulge a bit! For dessert we had cumquat ice cream, which was also not on the menu, and it was pretty wild for an ice cream flavor. Also ordered an espresso. What can I say except "wow!" All in all, the food was spectacular and was equally matched by our server. Will be back again soon to try their constantly revolving menu!

Conveniently located across the street from the Mission Inn...we walked to Mario's from our hotel…read morestay. We didn't have a reservation and luckily we got in with out one. We were greeted warmly and our server was super nice and attentive. We ordered: a tomato and burrata salad, lamb chops, mushroom ravioli with chicken, some drinks and a kumquat ice cream for dessert. Everything was enjoyable and we really loved the kumquat ice cream! Overall a good experience!

I don't usually leave negative reviews, but this experience was frustrating. I placed an order…read moreSaturday evening and the girl working the front seemed completely uninterested in helping customers. She was on her phone sitting down almost the entire time I had waited, and looked like she had no idea what was going on when she finally got up. It felt like getting help was an inconvenience to her. Meanwhile, everyone in the back looked like they were working twice as hard, staying busy and actually keeping things running. The contrast was hard to ignore. The front of the restaurant is the first impression customers get, and unfortunately it reflected poorly on the business to have someone like that managing the customers. I hope management addresses this because customers deserve attentive service. I hate to leave a negative review when the food came out great. The kitchen does a great job with my order every time and usually the service is good with the workers at the counter.

I love the new Monday night Karaoke Party !…read more The pizza is quite good, one of the best in Riverside. The help are always friendly and do their best for me and the other customers.

Not sure why more cities don't have businesses like this. The tour started at a convenient location…read morenext to the mission inn. We received a little history on the location and we were off to our first food stop. We had a nice small size portion and chatted a bit with a great fun group. We had a few more stops and between the walking to each stop and the portion size it was the perfect amount. The highlight was the mixology class at the Lobby bar. It was great to learn about the city I've lived in, but haven't paid attention to the little details. Plus how else would I try 4 different places over a long brunch?

Took the tour and had a great afternoon with my wife walking around downtown Riverside. We learned…read morea lot about the history and had some great food and drinks at several establishments. Great variety. Out tour guide Jennifer was very knowledgeable and fun to be with. Definitely worth your time to take this tour.

Saturday night we randomly stopped by Papa Joe's Pizzeria in Riverside to watch some friends do…read morekaraoke, and I have to say... this cozy little spot completely surprised me in the best way. It's such a humble, warm neighborhood place, but the food? Truly a 10/10 comfort food moment. The pizza was so flavorful -- we ordered half pepperoni and half Hawaiian/cheese and every slice was amazing. The wings and potato wedges were delicious too, and I have to mention their house 1000 island, ranch, and even the ketchup... everything tasted so fresh and good. The atmosphere was honestly the cutest. There were regulars hanging out, people jumping up to sing karaoke, and a little arcade inside that made it feel like the perfect casual game-night spot. It's the kind of place where you can grab pizza to go for a movie night at home, or stay, have a few beers, and just enjoy the vibe. They also have 5 beers for $15, which you really can't beat. Elie took such great care of us and made us feel so welcome. He was incredibly friendly and thoughtful and even surprised me with a complimentary homemade brownie, which was another 10/10. Such a sweet touch. Even the DJ running karaoke was super professional, which made the whole night feel extra fun and lively. It's rare to find a place that feels this genuine and welcoming while also serving food that's this good. I'll definitely be back for the pizza again very soon. Highly recommend stopping by -- even if it's just to grab a pizza to go for a cozy movie night at home.

I ordered a pizza online. Went to pick it up. It hadn't even been prepared. OK. I'll wait…read more Finally went home with my pizza. Well, it was tasty. It had too much salt on one side of the pizza. Very salty. But I still ate. Here we are the day after. I got food poisoning. Really bad. I've been in bed all day Saturday. I think the black olives may have been bad. The establishment should stay on top of the expiration date of their product. Or, wear gloves while handling the food While It was tasty. Something was not right on that pizza.

The Gandhi Memorial located in Downtown Riverside is a strong statement of peace among this…read moreturbulent world. Marbled steps with encouraging quotes leaves a refreshing empowerment. Dedicated on October 9, 2005 by Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Rajmohan Gandhi and Riverside mayor Ronald O. Loveridge. Fun facts: The statue was created by artists Mandan and Aruna Garge of India. Lalit Acharya has worked to bring a statue of Mahatma Gandhi to Riverside. The memorial will honor the man who emphasized nonviolent means of civil disobedience. Depicting his life showcasing his values and guiding principles.

My grandkids love it here, and honestly, that's what matters most to me…read more This restaurant has been around for over 25 years, and it's filled with memories for our family. I remember bringing my own children here when they were young, and now I get to continue that tradition with my grandchildren. No, it's not high-end Italian dining, and it doesn't try to be. What it does offer is a family-friendly atmosphere, comforting food, and a place where kids are genuinely excited to visit. My grandkids love the butter pasta just as much as I do, and it's always a guaranteed win when we dine here. We recently stopped by after their school recital, and they were absolutely thrilled when we were seated in the trolley. Their excitement alone made the visit memorable. The staff was friendly and welcoming, service was prompt, this location tends to be quieter than many family restaurants, which made it easy to relax and enjoy our meal. For me, this place isn't just about the food it's about the memories and the spumoni ice cream . Watching my grandchildren enjoy the same restaurant that my children loved years ago is something I treasure. We'll definitely continue coming back for years to come

Well, the place is nice, the people are nice but the food no so good! I had the Chicken Parm and it…read morelooked delicious, after a couple of bite the chicken was horribly cooked, when I was chewing it, it felt like I was just chewing rubber, it was disgusting and to top it off my wife got the same thing and it came with the same issue!!!! Extremely disgusting, the manager offer to replace our food with something else but my appetite was gone and my stomach was feeling kind of weird. Tasting the chicken like that it actually ruined the whole experience. Also, we order meatballs, they were not tender like they are supposed to be. Would I recommend this place? NO! I think there are better places with better food than here. As I was typing this here at the restaurant, my wife just informed me that her lasagna was not good either, the pasta was over cooked and mushy (my wife replace her chicken parm for lasagna). Funny thing is that while we're waiting to get a table an older gentleman told us "this is the shittiest food I ever had" my wife and I looked at each other and laugh because we did not believe him but he was 10000000% right. PS The manager tried to blame me for not liking the chicken, but how can I like something that half was really tender and the other have was not? She said, it all depends on the customer's preference! Really lady? I had two different texture in one piece of chicken. I am 46 years old and I have eaten a lot of chicken in my life so I know when something is not right. Accountability is very important instead of trying to blame the customer.

Great spot. Ambience is spot on…read more Ample parking. Only tried the teramasu and spumoni, both were great, several times.

After a long drought, we met up here again with friends, for dinner. This time we began with Fried…read moreMozzarella wedges that were dark and a bit burnt but oozing with cheese. And, I followed up this shared app with a Bowl of Minestrone Soup and a Half Caesar Salad. The soup contained tortellini, and the salad consisted of Romaine Lettuce leaves, croutons, and Creamy Caesar Dressing. Requested Parmesan shavings were provided in powdered form. My Half Eggplant Parmigiana with Marinara Sauce was quite hot, very good, and hopefully healthier than other choices. Diane had a Half Gnocchi with Alfredo Sauce, and our table mates each ordered a Half Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. As one might guess with everyone in my party selecting half orders, food portions are quite large here. Service by our waitress Karla Ya was responsive and very good.