rivas is such a fun place I love the environment also Bella is amazing the best she's super sweet best bartender !!

I went here for the Yankees day event. The place is definitely giving that "It's always summertime near the beach" vibe. The drive reminded me of 13 in the outer banks or A1A in Florida. Just water to one side, coastal highway, and then Riva. The bartending staff is definitely skilled. They're fast, friendly... and make a drink that has kick but you don't get the alcoholic burn. A dangerous combo for sure. The food was good too. A double patty burger and onion rings, at $25 give or take, definitely the right price range for it. My one gripe is the beer prices. $9 for a can of Miller Lite is very steep. I get there's overhead, staff wages, taxes, all of that, but a high price for a cheaper beer is a deterrent. When the cocktails are $4 more but you get a decent amount for the drink, that's totally fair. Craft beers at $9 is understandable. But cheap domestics at that level? It's not the best decision there. But other than the drink prices, it's clean, great staff, very good food, and an experience that made me go "I'll come back when it's summertime for sure" read more

Riva - Bleacher Creature (Yankees day themed drink) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

See all

This might be someone else's cup of tea, but unfortunately it just wasn't mine. When I first saw this restaurant on Instagram, I genuinely thought it was an upscale waterfront restaurant. As the date got closer and I looked more into it, I realized it was actually more of a sports bar/entertainment venue vibe which, honestly, I should have known going in. That's on me. I'm just not a sports girlie, and this place is clearly made for people who love that atmosphere. We went on Fourth of July weekend, which was probably the busiest possible time to go. If you love being surrounded by tons of people, loud music, sports fans, jerseys everywhere, and a high-energy crowd, this could be your dream night. The World Cup was on, everyone was dressed in their team gear, and the energy was definitely there. But for me personally, it was overwhelming. It was also 101 degrees outside, and while part of the area is partially enclosed, most of the space is outdoors. Between the heat and the crowds, I was just uncomfortable. Again, that's not necessarily the restaurant's fault the weather and holiday weekend definitely played a role but it affected my overall experience. We arrived around 5:30 PM because we wanted to catch happy hour (which ended at 6). Parking was easy, and the line to get in only had a few people ahead of us, so no complaints there. The surprise came when we reached the entrance and were told there was a $20 cover charge. When I asked if there was usually a cover, they said no, but because it was a holiday weekend and they "had a lot going on," they were charging one. My issue was that this wasn't advertised anywhere on their Instagram or when we were planning our visit, so that was frustrating. Paying $20 to enter a mostly outdoor venue where there weren't even seats available didn't sit well with me. All the tables were full, so we ended up sharing a table with another couple. We ordered the wood-fired pizza -- buffalo chicken and margarita and I'd rate it about a 7/10. It was good, but nothing that I'd specifically go back for. They do have a lot of other food options, but I personally only tried the pizza. For drinks, they have cute bucket options, but I didn't want that. I ordered a Peach on the Beach (whiskey-based), and it was fine. Drink prices were actually reasonable and not overpriced. They also have a creamery, which was a nice touch. I got a scoop of pistachio ice cream for $5.31, and that was honestly very good. They advertised fireworks at 9 PM, but as it got closer, the DJ announced that guests would need to leave the property, walk across the street to the beach to watch them, and then wait in line again to get back inside. At that point, we decided to leave. When we left, the line to get into the restaurant was absolutely massive; there was no way I would have waited in that. Getting out of West Haven was also a nightmare. It took me about 45 minutes to get out, even though getting there only took a couple of minutes. Overall, I think this place could be a great time for the right person. If you love sports, big crowds, loud music, and a party atmosphere, you will probably have a blast. If you're looking for an upscale waterfront dining experience, higher-end food, or a more relaxed night out, this probably isn't the place. My biggest advice: don't go on a holiday weekend unless you're specifically looking for that packed, high-energy experience. On a regular weekend, I could see this being a completely different experience. read more

See all

When this first opened it was great BUT now it's absolutely ridiculous. The food is terrible & over priced. The drinks are subpar, put some alcohol in it! And now they're charging for parking & a cover $10 charge. Everything is cash, don't they know people don't carry around gobs of cash! Also everytime I go the ice cream place is out of hot fudge! What kind of ice cream venue runs out of hot fudge? Anyway Riva, you were fun when I met you but now I'm breaking up with you! read more

I really liked this place, it was super inviting and beautiful. Place was filled with people and there were many places to hang out. I took a seat at the bar- I was able to go over to the pizza shack and grab a shrimp fra diavolo pie which was absolutely delicious despite the center lack a bit more stability and a little less flap. The sauce reminded me of the sauce they use on Domenic and Pia's pie out in Waterbury. Their drinks were fun but nothing out of the ordinary. They also had a stage for live music, with a green/fake grass section with corn hole stations and along side of that they had benched tables. It was a family friendly place which was nice. I don't visit their creamery, located above their covered/indoor bar area which had a huge screen TV/projector behind it. Next to that they had another place you could purchase food from, most seemed fried along with some salads. You can't really mess onion rings up, they were extra crispy here, how I like them, and I got their cucumber watermelon salad which only makes sense for a hot day-- both great. I liked all the seating options - they had an indoor and outdoor set of restrooms. I watched the sunset while watching the knicks game at the bar. There's no doubt I'll go back there, thanks Riva ! read more

See all

Beautiful new restaurant across from WH beach. Outside and inside bars and walk up window for food. Great views and a nice place to chill with friends. Food is ok not fine dining more like beach food. Great staff. read more

See all

Staff was super nice and friendly. The food was great, definitely have the burgerdilla! Outside the setting/ambiance was amazing with the bar top seating area and the space to allow people to sit around. read more

As residents of the area we were super excited for Riva's to open. Beautifully decorated with amusement park theme to honor the history of our area. Amazing location overlooking the water. The old Chick's sign also honoring history. Our burgers were delicious. Finally a place that season's burger patties. Burgers do not include fries. We will definitely be back for burgers. The pizza oven was still under construction. Why four stars i instead of 5? The mojito today was not good. Granted it was day one of the opening. The person who made it didn't muddle the mint and didn't seem experienced in bartending. She clapped the mint in her hands. Took drink back because she forgot something. It didn't taste like anything. We also witnessed a tiny bit of not great service at food pick up window when another customer was missing an item, the young man at counter said that he already gave it to him. The customer looked puzzled looking down at the tray knowing item was missing. In fact in our order we also got a wrong item, fries instead of the burger. The waffle bowl ice cream was the final reason for no fifth star. The servers handled it with bare hands and gave it to me in my bare hands. It needed to be on a little paper plate or something. Later we also witnessed the ice cream servers running her hands all through her hair. That wasn't a good look. Day one small hiccups. It's not really kid friendly despite also being a creamery. It's almost as if it's trying to be too many things at once. It's giving more bar vibes more than neighborhood restaurant/beer garden. Otherwise, we wish Riva's a warm welcome and much success. We will be back to enjoy more food and music. We needed this in our area and encourage everyone to visit. We hope that people respect this is a residential community as well as far as noise and traffic. read more

See all

5 star for ambiance and service only 3 stars for food.there are better burgers in the area that even include fries

I went on a Tuesday afternoon so it was not crowded at all. I enjoyed my time there overall because the vibe is very chill- im sure at night it becomes lively and a lot of fun! Several bar areas to choose from. Stood on line for food. We ordered 2 hamburgers which were double patties and huge. A little greasy but people who ate it said they were good. The tater tots were good too. I had the tuna and shrimp salad that was worth the $20. It was really tasty and a good size. I thought the food was priced fairly and it was good overall. The service from the cashier was strange. I asked two simple questions and she was snarky for no apparent reason- maybe because she didn't know the answer or maybe because she is just rude. But it didn't hinder my time there. However, she should work on her attitude. The Ice cream was good too- we did partake in the large sand bucket one. It's definitely big enough for sharing and for the price tag, you should. We also had two teens order theirs in a bowl cone. The employees at the ice cream shop were lovely. Parking in the lot wasn't cheap ($28.00 for 4 hours). The cornhole was fun. I will definitely go back, likely without the teens I was with, and enjoy the music and adult fun. read more

See all

20$ cover charge just to get in. You have to pay for public parking $5-10. $25 gone before you even ordered food or drinks. Drinks are appalling, watered down and no creativity. Price $18. Want to order a soggy appetizer another $12-20. Calculate all of that so far. Which equals what you pay for nice ambiance. All your paying for really and the obvious west haven egregious tax. read more

My first time at Rivas atmosphere was great and good customer service! My drink was not great but the lovely bartender corrected and made us feel special. The ladies bathroom was very clean well maintained. read more

This place dont like black people.They will find every excuse not to let you in. If you do make it in,They will totally ignore you. I'm trying to order drinks and food. read more

It was packed and a good vibe it was my first time there I think it was awesome I would love to DJ there on sundays on the stage I think I would light the place up I had the shrimp pizza I didn't mind the wait while having a beer it had live music it is a soccer crazy crowd when I went I loved it I would love to work there as a dj being from Hawaii and the tiki just brings me back home in Honolulu read more

Riva's has incredible food, great drink selection and music. Went with friends and had a lovely time. Our bartender Lacey was incredibly welcoming, friendly and attentive. read more

Checked out the ice-cream service around back. Generous scoop. Best of all is the 5 star view of the water.

This new spot right on Ocean Avenue was packed with twenty-somethings on Thursday night. They have a parking lot but it was full, so we had to pay to park in the West Haven city lot. The bar was packed and it was loud - from the street! Hard to have a conversation. Loud cars and motorcycles passed by constantly. Not a pleasant experience. I did not have but was told by my companions that the pizza was good. Drinks were meh. Not our kind of place. read more

Riva is such a gem right on the beach in West Haven. The whole place has such laid-back beach vibes--it feels like you're on vacation the second you walk in. The food is just as impressive as the atmosphere. I tried the Italian sushi, and it was such a cool twist--super creative and packed with flavor. Everything tasted fresh and unique, and you can tell the menu has been thoughtfully put together. Perfect spot for a night out or just to soak in some coastal vibes with great food. Can't wait to come back read more

See all

The ambiance is nice it's ok to go have a frozen drink at but the food is all like microwaveable, way over priced & disgusting. You're better off at dive bar, dockside or captains cove even before here. read more

At lunchtime had a burger salad and thought it was very good and enjoyed. Two other members of the group. ordered hot dogs and they were warm not hot like you would expect. Overall thought food was good. as for $15.00 for a mixed drink served in a plastic cup and you place and order and carry it to your table is overpriced. As for view and location it is beautiful. Parking is difficult and entering the lot with a speed bump right at the driveway was unusual. Having a tip jar for self service which by the way seems to be the.way of many places is not okay. BTW I did end up adding to it but I should not have been guilty. read more

Love the place and the location. Staff and bartenders are awesome. Wish I could order food from the bar. Don't want to have to leave my seat twice for a snack. Ordering from an app might be a better, still hits my tab, but only need to make one trip. Otherwise great place! read more

Riva - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - West Haven, Connecticut

The ambiance can't be beat. A younger weekend crowd with live music and cover charge. Mid-week evenings are pleasant. Typical beach bar food. read more

Eleven of us from came here on a Tuesday night & we had a great time! The drinks we had were splendid & we ordered a load of appetizers for our table. The food was very good. We all took cornhole lanes & played. It was a great night all around. read more

I'm a fan. Used to love Chicks as a kid, love what they did with the space and beautiful views sitting outside. Drinks and food were good, nice staff, I wish them well, nice addition to an underutilized area. Was jumping for a Monday afternoon too read more

I really wanted to love this place because the location and decor is great but unfortunately a lot of negatives. Self service for food had long lines, expensive and food was just ok. We got pretzel bites, fried dough, hamburger, hot dog and fries. i guess this food u would want if you are coming from beach but not to hang out and listen to music. Drinks were also expensive. The best thing was the ice cream and DJ. Also it became windy and everything was blowing around and u have to pay to park read more

Shoutout to Mike and The Riva crew! thankyou very much for the hospitality and thankyou very much for having my friends band perform such a blast! look forward to seeing you guys again! highly recommend!!! such a great place and has such great history!!! much love and god bless you all!! read more

Best new restaurant in Ct! Food and location are amazing. It's got it all good music and views of the water

Been driving by this place for months waiting for it to open. Made a plan with about 8 people to go today for lunch and some "day drinking". I decided to ride my motorcycle up. About a 30 minute drive. I get there and there are 2 lots. One gravel and dust (full) and a motorcycles nightmare and a paved lot. I pulled into the paved lot, found a spot and started to get off my bike. Just as a very polite person came out and said, you can't park your bike here. Management doesn't want bikes in this lot. So I asked where to park, they said anywhere but here. So I left. Called my friends and we went to Dockside in Stratford. Thank Riva, you helped 8 people find a great new spot to spend our money at. read more

Charging a cover of $10 to get in ( not advertised anywhere) when asked why we have to pay to dine in the door man said they weren't a restaurant. Confusing ??? Cause what are you then? Wouldn't recommend and would not return. Have many other restaurant recommendations that are 10/10. Like dockside same concept no cover. read more

My husband and I went to Riva to check it out. There were live bands so it was $10.00 p p to get in. We paid $16.00 to park for 3 hours, food and drinks were a lil pricy, but, considering we were right across from the beach and at a beautiful restaurant, we expected that. It was so much fun! Honestly it felt like we were away on vacation, but we were only 20 min away from home. I realize they just opened and didn't expect everything to be perfect, as the staff was still learning. The place had so many people, that we waited 1 and 1/2 hours for our food before asking for a refund. Lots of others waited that long as well. We had to leave, so the Owner gave us some free pizza and a refund, which was very nice of him. While trying to enjoy our drinks, 4 different workers came to ask us if we were done yet. The fourth lady actually "assumed" I was done and picked up my beer, touching the top, with her glove on. I wasn't done, but considering she touched it w out asking me, I had to throw it out. That made me a lil upset, but hey, like I said, they are new and still learning. Also, This place needs a dress code. It's a restaurant!!! There were lots of children there, and there were a lot of women walking around 1/2 naked in bikinis! I realize it's right across from the beach, but it's a kid friendly restaurant! If a dress code isn't enforced, there should be no kids allowed. Also, if you get drinks from the bar, check your statement if you're using a credit card. The bartender added his own separate 6.00 tip w out our consent. I do think some of these flaws were due to them just opening/learning and having a much larger turnout than they expected. I do still recommend them, and will give them another chance, and come back one day. read more

Went to Riva for the first time on a Tuesday after work with 4 family members. Great vibe at this place. We sat outside facing the water and had drinks and food. It was a little chilly that evening and one of the staff/security guys named Mark started up the gas fire pit for us which was perfect! He'd check in on us periodically and when he found out my wife's Iced Tea wasn't quite sweet enough, he personally took it to the bar to fix it. It was a great experience overall, and I could definitely see returning in the early afternoon to enjoy the whole beachside bar experience. A sort of Jimmy Buffet experience! And the music playlist totally fit the place! read more

Drinks are expensive 15.00 each. Music not so great, food was terrible. Location is nice and scenery is great.

The beach scenery was beautiful and the employees were very friendly and accommodating. We arrived on Saturday at 1:00. If you arrive by 1:00, you don't have to pay a $10 cover charge for a band. The food and drinks were very expensive...about $20 for a burger and bottled water. I got a veggie burger. They didn't have a description on the menu sign. It ended up being very thin, fell apart and made with beans and corn with a Mexican spice flavor on gluten free bread. Just because you want a veggie burger doesn't mean you need a gluten free bun. Fries weren't included. You had to pay extra for that. My friends got a hot dog, cheeseburger and fries. There was nothing remarkable about how they looked. I'm not sure how they tasted since my friends didn't offer their opinions. They have a wood fired pizza oven, but the oven isn't ready until 3:00. I didn't see that the brussel sprout salad had any protein included on the menu so I didn't order that. The parking was free, but they had a very limited area. You could park on the gravel section but WH signs were posted that you needed to pay a fee online. Some people paid and some didn't. No one seemed to be monitoring it. Having grown up in West Haven, I was so excited to have a restaurant that reminded me of the delicious burgers, hotdogs, fries and onion rings back in the 1960s. I'm willing to give this place one more try hoping that they improve on the quality, selection and price of the food. Overall, it was a beautiful relaxing experience. read more

PRICE GOUGING AT ITS FINEST! Charged $12 for parking for 2 hours, then $10/person cover to get in the door. If you carpool, a group of 4 is going to cost you $52 just to walk in...then the drinks....cheap bud light, $7. cocktails, $15...absolute ripoff...food, also way overpriced....didn't even order food after hearing others there waiting for over an hour for their food....this place seemed promising, but they're taking advantage of people. The live music apparenlty ends super early (5/6pm), so the $10 cover charge per person is laughable...you charge a cover to pay the band, not to milk peoples wallets...someone who was there when I got there said the band was mediocre and way too loud anyway, so prob not missing much there....Overall a bad experience, and won't be going back. To charge a little more for drinks is one thing, but they're ripping people off. The door charge is also laughable...maybe they figure if people go in and realize how expensive everything else is and leave, at least they stole $10 from each person....if you want to go somewhere with some friends and drop $300 to have a few drinks, this is your place. Otherwise, there are many other places around that are much more reasonable. read more