The restaurant views alone were worth it alone. Nice food, the fish and chips were no way like the British kind and the fish is breaded not fried. Service was slow but would still recommend read more

Riva Fish House - Fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The food was as good as I was hoping it would be. The Crab Cakes were well seasoned and the sauce was tasty. Zucchini sticks are always good. The cheese didn't have an overpowering salty Parmasianish taste. The batter had flavor. WAIT a few minutes before eating. They WILL be HOT and burn your mouth. Which means they were made fresh.. *Not pictured* The Clam Chowder is good. Not thick but not watery. Very peppery which I like. Had enough seasoning. Had celery in it, which I'm not a fan of but I couldn't taste it so that was nice. I wanted the Mahi Mahi to have more of a charcoal/smoke flavor, but the Mahi Mahi was firm, moist, and didn't need salt. The bacon cheeseburger was a bacon cheeseburger..pretty good from what I was told. I'd eat here again..maybe try the soups or seafood pasta dishes next time? The service was ok, didn't get to order any soda/drinks but was provided glasses of water. The food came out quickly. The bartender could be heard shaking and making mixed drinks and cocktails. I'll order one at the bar next time. We were seated at the end of the restaurant by the Manager's Office near the cashier. It's a nice view. read more

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We went to Riva's Fish House on the Santa Cruz Wharf on May 9th and had a great experience. Our server, Nathan B., was the standout of the night. My husband ordered the Fish and Chips and they were perfect, crispy on the outside, flaky and moist inside, easily a 10/10. I got the third‑pound cheeseburger with bacon and avocado on the side, and it was also delicious. What really made the visit memorable was the service. Right at the start, my husband let Nathan know that we both have an allium intolerance and garlic allergies. Nathan was upfront about the limitations of a small kitchen and the fact that they can't guarantee anything, which we appreciated. But he still went out of his way to check on things for us. He even came back to let my husband know the tartar sauce had yellow onion in it so he could choose something else. It was clear they were paying attention. Nathan was friendly, patient, and genuinely thoughtful. Dining out with allergies can be stressful, but he made it feel easy and comfortable. We also watched another waitress run after a family who had forgotten a sippy cup; just another example of how attentive the staff is. Overall, the food was great, but the service is what will bring us back. read more

I've come here twice, and both times have been outstanding. The seafood selection is really great, everything tastes high quality and fresh. The views from the window overlooking the ocean really bring this place to a whole other level. The service is really good too. Despite the restaurant being crowded, the waiters and waitresses were attentive and kind. Definitely one of the best seafood places. I would definitely recommend this place if you're in Santa Cruz. read more

Riva Fish House - Crab sandwich with French fries - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Genuinely enjoyed the meal, nice sea views (not pictured unfortunately) great help from staff. The guava margarita was delicious. The crab cakes were delicious with pickled onions and sauce. The whipped butter that came with the bread bowl was a nice surprise since(I know that is not the priority) but It was nicely salted for the sour dough bread. The clam chowder was great. My friend loved the pasta. Whenever I go to Santa Cruz I will definitely go back to Riva Fish House. read more

Riva Fish House - Guava margarita and piña colada - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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We came on last Sunday and here's our experience: - We had to wait about 20 minutes to get a table for 4 ppl, it's understandable bc we came at their busy hour. - Ambience: clean and there were some tables right next to the window with a view of the sea. - Service: hostess was friendly and welcoming. Our servers were efficient and nice too. One downside was we had to wait a while for our food. - Food: 1. Chicken tender and chips: for my sister. These ones were not good, chicken was dry and tasteless. Not recommended! 1/5 2. Fried rice: nice, flavorful with a lot of meat. 4/5 3. Curry rice with tofu: nothing special, a little bit bland for us. 2/5 4. Crab sandwich: yummy, had real crab and the sauce was amazing. Highly recommended! 4/5 5. Fried Calamari: fresh, and was served quickly. 4/5 Overall, this place was not impressed me by its food but its beautiful view. A good place for dating or hangout with friends! read more

Riva Fish House - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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After returning from a trip from the East Coast, I thought I would compare crabcakes. I have to say the East Coast won, and it was not even close. Not that their crabcakes are bad, but they simply did not stack up. I did order the New England clam chowder in a bread bowl and that was very tasty. The staff was very friendly, which made the experience that much better call for a reservation so you can eat overlooking the ocean, which is a nice touch the restaurant offers for ambiance. read more

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Had to have our fave after a long day of volleyball in San Jose. Started with a Hazy IPA for my son and a brown ale for me. Both tasted great as usual! We ordered the calamari with fries and the crab melt with cheddar and fries. We each added a cup of clam chowder as well. Highly recommend everything that we ordered tonight. Since there was a 30 min wait to be seated we decided to sit at the bar. Service was ok. Still able to see the water from our seats so it was almost like we were seated next to the window. We will be back read more

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We got seated right away and next to the window overlooking the Bay I had a dozen oysters in the half shell very tasty served with real horseradish on a bed of ice the clam chowder soup was New England style very hearty very tasty and very filling. Even though the restaurant was very busy the staff was very organized and very friendly. They seem to make everybody happy in there thank you very much. read more

Riva Fish House - A dozen oysters and a half shell - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Surprisingly enough, this place wasn't very crowded.When we came in. It had a lot of people.And a good vibe with a lot of happy conversation going around. The service is pleasant and on point. The food is also very good.Yes that's probably the important part. Deficiency chips, we got were crispy, tasty and not fishy tasting at all. Tacos had great flavoring and came with a chipotle sauce that was amazing. It's a good thing I liked it because it spilled all over the tacos.By the time I got to the table, l o l. Very nice spot we'll come back again. read more

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Was walking down the pier and employees were handing out clam chowder samples. It was absolutely delicious so we had to go in and order some clam chowder and we also ended up ordering fish and chips as well as oysters. The fish and chips were okay and the oysters had little hard white chunks. I believe they were shucked incorrectly but it's not the end of the world. Our waitress was very nice and we were served pretty quickly. The restaurant was very busy and the portion sizes are amazing. read more

Riva Fish House - My view - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Yum! This place is a must. The staff is so friendly . The view is beautiful and the margarita and fish tacos are amazing. I highly recommend you go. read more

Riva Fish House - Margarita - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Great view. Great service. Nice menu options. Full bar. Got a half dozen oysters, fresh and with a tasty mignonette. Steamed mussels were great, broth was simple. Server brought bread with salted whipped butter, yum. Crab sando with fries was delish. Happy hour for drinks 3-6pm. read more

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Stopped by to grab a few cold drinks while enjoying the beautiful weather. There was no wait time for us since we just walked straight to the bar. Great selections of drinks and was one of the only places with different types of beer on tap on the wharf. The beers were nice and cold. Highly recommend it. read more

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Last Sunday! My Lady and I dropped in to Riva for a meal, having had good food in the past. Well we took a tall bar table avoiding a wait. The view was great! And we started out feeling good. Next we had a op to order as the waitress showed up! Ordered a Virgin Special Drink and a "Call" Gin and Tonic. Both delightful! Thanks Bar! Next ordered a Calamari App that was crunchy from the Beer Batter, and aside from quality sauces, the tender calamari was a delight. That gave us confidence to order the Crab Cioppino, and the kitchen is confident! They had some sweet peppers and a chili bite along with all that excellent Seafood and Crab. As a professional in service it was a handicapped process, all the peeps were nice just not trained to know how to keep their hands full going one way or the other. But! After a while one savvy person came along and removed the long-awaited dirty plates. I felt the manager could if possessed have shown the shining example. That may one day be in the process. Thanks Riva! read more

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Calamari was decent, I prefer more of crunch however was more softer . The clam chowder was bland and lacked flavor however the bread was soft and good. The fish and chips were good. The view was nice and overlooked the water. The service was fast and our waitress was very friendly and helpful read more

Riva Fish House - Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Nice place on the pier. Great views of beach. Food was good overall. Nothing was "wow". Service was really great. Would go back for sure read more

Riva Fish House on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is the restaurant that locals have voted the best Seafood Restaurant and their Clam Chowder as the Best in Santa Cruz County for many years. I went there with a friend in late December, 2025 and I ordered their Chioppino, a side salad, and a glass of Bargetto Pinot Grigio. They ordered a clam dish and an Amber Santa Cruz Ale. The food was delicious, our server Lindsey easily anticipated our needs and was very thoughtful. The two hostesses, Marley and Maddie made sure to give us a table by their wall of windows, which had shades, so a great view of the ocean without the sun in our eyes. The bar had a "Cheers" good vibe to it. The staff and customers shared a camaraderie that I can appreciate having worked as a server years ago. We thoroughly enjoyed our cuisine experience at Riva's and hope that you get a chance to enjoy a wonderful culinary adventure there, too. Please tell hostess Marley, that I sent you! -Susan in Santa Cruz read more

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We came here for around 12 for lunch on a Wednesday in the summer. The restaurant was mostly full but we got seated right away. Nice views from most of the tables. We ordered the clam chowder, Louie salad with bay shrimp, and fish tacos plate with Mahi mahi. Good portion sizes. The salad was a good basic Louie salad. The fish tacos were tasty, especially with sauce it came with. Now the clam chowder was like a scavenger hunt. My husband and I shared a cup and would jokingly ask if either of us got any clams. The few pieces we found were very chewy. Plus it was too peppery. So the chowder was a disappointment. Overall, besides the chowder, everything else was good. read more

Riva Fish House - Louie salad with shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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LOVED THIS PLACE! The charcoal cooked chicken was so moist and that sauce! It was called Orange Rosemary, orange juice reduction with white wine, Dijon mustard and of coarse rosemary....hands down the best sauce I've ever had and again, you must try the fried zucchini. I don't eat fish but my mom loved her warm crab melt! Oh I forgot to take a photo of the Alfredo pasta, also super good, looking forward to eating the rest of that tonight :) We called before hand to make sure my dog was allowed on the patio and they were super accommodating, we got there and they said they were prepared and waiting for us to arrive! The service was god honest the best I've had, our server was fabulous. Water for the dog and all. Perfect patio, perfect food, perfect service :) go, thank me later read more

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Walked in right before the crowd. You can park on the wharf for this one. Cost a $1 per 20 min. Got seated right on the ocean. We watched pelicans and wild life. I ordered the cioppino and she had the shrimp Alfredo pasta with shrimp. The cioppino was delicious!!!! It included scallops, Dungeness crab legs, shrimp, clams, mussel, fish and the tomato sauce was amazing. I also asked for it to have extra spice. Now the Alfredo was delicious. I was surprised a place like this could make it so creamy and it was steaming hot when it came out. Perfecto! The service was great and the place was clean! Cleanliness is so important to me. read more

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OMG! The staff here is AMAZING! My server Casey was so very lovely and kind. I felt so very cared for and all extra little touches she provided with grace and warmth. And the bus boys accidentally cleaned my table too fast and made up for it with such speed and also professionally! The veiw cannot be beat for Sunsets and watching sea life antics as well! Perfect read more

The only place on the wharf with good clam chowder. The rest or the places have no flavor and are essentially milk soups with no seafood. Place was surprisingly great. We came to the wharf to try fire fish and was told we need to switch. Glad we did. read more

The location is excellent- Waterfront dining, view of Santa Cruz beach. The food is great. Oysters are small but still good. Love the clam chowder-a must order. Service was great. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great seafood experience by the water. read more

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We went here on a Monday when the restaurant we were initially going to was closed. We got a table with an incredible view. The staff were very kind and attentive. The food was terrific, and I will absolutely go here again. The seasonal Artichoke and Crab dip was fantastic and piping hot. My crab melt was filled with crab, and the sourdough bread was great. Loved everything about this restaurant. read more

Riva Fish House - Artichoke & Crab Dip - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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The ambiance is stunning and simply amazing with the view of the ocean. Our sever Carla was so delightful and attentive to our needs. There were a few hiccups but our server corrected with no questions asked. We ordered appetizers Shrimp Spring roll and 1/2 dozen Raw Oysters, Crab Cakes and Cheesy Garlic Bread. For our entree we ordered the Pasta Primavera, New England Clam Chowder Bread Bowl, Steak Fajitas & Cioppino. The food was exceptional We will return when we're in the area. read more

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We were greeted by a warm and welcoming hostess, and our first impression was positive. We explained that our two sons had fishing rods with them and asked if there was somewhere they could be stored while we dined. She consulted with another hostess, and they were happy to accommodate us, which we genuinely appreciated. We were quoted a five-minute wait and took a seat directly in front of the hostess stand. After waiting 10-15 minutes, we watched two other parties who had arrived after us be seated. Assuming they may have already been on the waitlist, we continued to wait. When I finally checked on our table, it became apparent that we had simply been forgotten. To their credit, the hostesses recovered quickly, but by then the standard dining tables had been given away, leaving us to accept a high-top instead. It was around 7:30 p.m., the height of the dinner rush. We ordered drinks, and one of my sons requested garlic bread since everyone was getting hungry. After the appetizer arrived, we placed our dinner order. Then came the wait. As we watched server after server leave the kitchen with meals for other tables, ours never appeared. After our waitress passed our table several times, I politely asked if she could check on our order. She returned saying they were "just waiting" on my husband's crab sandwich and asked if we wanted the rest of the meals brought out first. We eagerly agreed. Still, nothing arrived. Concerned, my husband walked over to see what was happening and noticed that several tables seated well after us had already received, eaten, and finished their meals. When we asked again, we were given a different explanation--that there had been a problem with the kitchen printer, our order hadn't gone through correctly, and our food was only then being prepared. By this point, it was 9:00 p.m. Nearly an hour and a half after ordering dinner, we decided enough was enough and left without ever receiving our meals. Fortunately, our evening was salvaged when we stumbled upon a wonderful nearby Indian restaurant, where the food was exceptional and the service was attentive from start to finish. Mistakes happen in any restaurant, especially during busy service. What was most disappointing wasn't the delay itself, but the lack of communication, inconsistent explanations, and the feeling that our table had simply been overlooked. Based on this experience, I can't recommend dining here. If you're going to spend the money for high priced food, there are plenty of better options in Santa Cruz. read more

Very touristy. Nice views of the beach but hard to get a table-we were seated in the back by the kitchen. Food & service was mediocre. I had the linguine & clams-very disappointed. Looked like they dumped a bunch of canned clams and 4 real clams were found under the pasta. I won't be back-there are other places to try on the wharf. read more

Stopped in Riva Fish House for some clam chowder bread bowls! We were seated immediately and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. We ordered some gin and tonics with the meal, which were very refreshing. The clam chowder was good but not great. Would have loved more clam and less potato in it. All in all though, I think the overall experience of dining here was very pleasant. read more

Riva Fish House - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

ive been coming to this spot for many many years and its always been great The waitress Carla is awesome and very attentive ,ask for her . Mr Conrad is by far the front man any company should have and needs. I thought i would just drop this here for all who are wondering where a great spot to eat in Santa Cruz (on the pie read more

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Review #869 Posted on 3.13.25 We stopped in for lunch here on Thursday the 13th afternoon. Nathan was our server and took excellent care of us for our lunch here. The views from the window side tables here are incredible. We started with calamari as an appetizer. Then we got a few things. My wife & I split the crab melt with cheddar cheese, and the mahi mahi tacos, my daughter got the salmon. The mahi mahi tacos were excellent, such good flavor. The crab melt I enjoyed the style that it was open faced, not two pieces of bread. We also both split 2 cups & a bowl of clam chowders. The chowder had such good flavor, and fresh tasting clams, & other ingredients. I would dine here again for sure, good food and excellent service. I wanted to be sure to recognize Nathan for his service as he was an awesome server to us. read more

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Good food with ocean view, prices reasonable. Clam chowder good, cioppino broth was tasty & the seafood not fishy at all, philly cheesesteak descent though i not a sourdough bread fan. Crab melt was my fav: loaded with succulent crab meat & smothered with cheese, melts in the mouth & i loved the toasted bread; linguini & prawn was yummy, pasta was el dente & we chose the basil tomato sauce which was delish. There are about 6-7 tables next to the window with ocean view. Service was fast & friendly read more

Riva Fish House - Receipt - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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We had to wait about 30min to get seated but we just walked down the wharf and got a beer at the Humble Sea Beer Garden while we waited. The service was kind and we really enjoyed the broiled oysters. My boyfriend loved his tacos and my linguini with clams tasted good but I unfortunately felt sick later that night. read more

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My family and I recently dined at Riva, and I want to be clear that the food was excellent. Our waitress, Ella B., was attentive and friendly, the bartenders were great, and the hostess was very helpful throughout our visit. Unfortunately, the manager significantly detracted from what otherwise would have been a very positive experience. When we arrived, the hostess explained that they were out of kids' menus and said she had already asked the manager to get more. After waiting for some time, I went back to ask about one myself. The hostess led me to the manager, who was standing at the bar talking with a bartender. Both the hostess and I stood there waiting while he ignored us. When he finally acknowledged us and the hostess reminded him about the kids' menus, he said nothing, walked away, printed several menus, handed me a stack of about ten, and never said a word. The hostess thanked me when I returned the extras, and she remained professional and pleasant the entire time. Later, while waiting for our food, I went to the bar to order a beer. The manager was again standing behind the bar, leaning against the back counter and talking about how he had just fired some new employees for being rude. Meanwhile, the restaurant was packed, and it appeared the bartender was trying to balance serving customers while also listening to her manager. Having worked in restaurants for six years, including bartending and managing a bar area, I know how important leadership is during a busy service. In a full restaurant, a manager should be helping the team, supporting servers, assisting with food service, or addressing guest needs. Instead, it seemed like the staff were carrying the operation while the manager was largely absent from the work that needed to be done. The employees we interacted with were excellent and deserved much better support. The food, service from the staff, and overall dining experience were good. My issue is solely with the manager's professionalism and leadership. read more

Just stopped in for a quick lunch of clam chowder and fried shrimp. And now I'm stuffed to the gills. Huge portions of everything got the cup of clam chowder rather than the bowl because I know it would be an enormous bowl. Everything was delicious. Especially but not only the fried shrimp. They've got a crispy exterior. That is delicious. Get a nice cold Amber to go with it and you're all set. Excellent service as usual. I just love this place. You will too. read more

We stopped by because one of our friends like this place. Firstly love our table next to the beautiful ocean view. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer and it looks like it was house made as opposed to most restaurants that are bought from the same supplier. Calamari was tender and the crust was nice and crunchy . My boyfriend ordered the poached pear with grilled chicken . The chicken breast was freshly grilled and pear was tender. I got the Louie salad with shrimp and crab. I appreciate the generous amount of real crab and bay shrimp. We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. Usually when the restaurant has great views, it has mediocre food. This place has both great views and great food! Would definitely come back and try other items. read more

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The food was great. The servers are fast and attentive. Seating with a great view of the pier. Must try their calamari, oysters, frozen pineapple dole comes with rum or without. Dealers choice. If you looking for a whole hearted meal try the halibut with veggies and brown rice. It was delicious but not heavy. Still left room for dessert. read more

Riva Fish House - 1/2 dozen oysters - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Located on the wharf, it has limited seating. We went for an earlier and dinner and didn't have a problem. If you get a table by the windows you'll see a very nice ocean view. We had the fish sandwich and fried prawns. The fish sandwich was basically a fish and chips sandwich with coleslaw. The fish was good, Alaskan cod. The fried prawns were perfectly tender and good sized. The breading was light and didn't overwhelm the seafood. Food and drinks were promptly served after ordering, not a long wait. And later on in the evening we came back for gelato. Their gelato was sourced from The Latest Scoop, a gelato store in Berkeley. Raspberry sorbet and coffee almond, both were a nice touch to the end of the evening. read more

Riva Fish House - Fish sandwich, fried prawns, and Shirley temple - Seafood Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Went for my boyfriend's birthday dinner and he enjoyed it very much. We arrived around 5:30/6pm and were seated quite quickly for a Saturday night. We didn't get to sit by the window but we were close enough to still see the water until the sun set. Our server was super nice and gave us great recommendations. The cheesy garlic bread was good but a bit pricey in my opinion. My bf loved his chipotle prawn and scallops, just wished that he was able to change his side because he felt like it was too much rice. My linguine and prawns with Cajun cream sauce was good, definitely would have asked for more cheese next time. It was more spicy that I had expected so keep that in mind. The portions were very large though and I was not able to finish. We also tried the clam chowder and that was very delicious not fishy, very hardy. Overall it's a good place to visit, however I would try something different like the fried shrimp or just get a clam chowder bread bowl. They do celebrate birthdays with a free scoop of gelato which was good, we got mint chip. read more

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Decent seafood joint. Divey atmosphere. Service is friendly but really slow. Food is acceptable quality for price point. Not a bad option if in area. read more