I first met Michael and Randy whenever I was 16, I went there to eat with my dad and the food was amazing and the service was great. I'm now 21 and they have seen me through my pregnancies my heart breaks and watching my own children grow up and they recently just met my newborn son and they are always accommodating and super sweet to me. Randy and Michael are most amazing restaurant owners I have ever met. Michael is so sweet and so caring and Randy is super sweet and hilarious. Not only is the food phenomenal, It is made with love and sometimes lots of liquor, I highly recommend this place for any part in your life whether you're sad, angry, or happy, it is a great place to go drown your sorrows or for a first date. Definitely my number one restaurant. read more

Came back for another visit in December. They go all out for their Christmas decorations. And apparently it's no kids allowed, which I enjoyed. There was a bit of a wait as I did a walk-in but it was so worth it. I grabbed a drink from the bar and waited until my table was ready. The drink was really good! It was an Italian Margarita and only $12 for a big glass. For my meal I ordered the chicken rosa pasta. Each entree comes with a soup, salad & bread. I enjoyed them all! I always encourage others to visit this spot. read more

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Homey pasta place, very attentive staff nice for a casual dinner date! They serve great portions each plate. Delicious! read more

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We really enjoyed trying this restaurant for holiday dinner. They don't take reservations so there is a bit of a wait to be seated but once you are at the table- service is friendly and prompt. And the pasta- it's fantastic! Parking is a bit tricky during the holidays, so patience is your friend. read more

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"What about you, baddie?" Is what I am quite sure my server said when it was my turn to order. It took me a few seconds to respond because I was processing that - but we love it. We dined during the famed Christmas season, where the menu is limited and so is your time. But, that means fast and friendly service and a reduced chance of decision paralysis. Capellini took up most of the menu, taking only 2-5 minutes to cook, which seems smart given the time crunch. Atmosphere: Outrageous Christmas lights and decor; it's kinda got an uncles basement vibe. Some people were dressed to the nines, others were in house clothes. Come as you are. Food: Everything was smothered in butter and cheese, so it tasted good. Chicken San Pietro was gone quickly - no leftovers - Lamb was barely touched the pasta with meat sauce reminded us all of our mom's cooking. I think the charm of it all made me care less about my usual standards. I was honestly pleasantly surprised. read more

first time going went with 2 other people who have been going here awhile. ambiance was a small mom and pop shop. service was really bad. they got the drink orders and then left us hanging. we tried multiple times to get the attention of another staff to order our food but they didn't pay attention. our actual waiter walked by multiple times past our table and didn't check on us again. when we finally got someone they were flustered and in a hurry and asked what do you want with a condescending tone to them. the guy at the table handled the interaction. he told me that that is probably the owner and that's just his personality he's good people. i wasn't amused. the food was very basic. tasted like something you would make at home. waiting for something like that was very disappointing. the soup came after the main meal and awhile after the main meal was at the table instead of with the salad. another weird quirk of the order of how things were handled. overall i wasn't impressed and was confused why a place like this was beloved in town. read more

Riva's Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Cry me a Riva's! Riva's is hands down one of my favorite Italian spots in Houston. Their Alfredo has me in a chokehold every single time. I've tried it with chicken and shrimp and it's never missed. The place is cozy and feels like dinner with your big Italian family. Everyone is friendly, the vibes are warm, and the energy is pure comfort. The seasonal decorations are a whole event on their own. If you love pasta, this is your place. The drink menu leans toward wine and beer, but if you ask for a custom cocktail they'll make it happen. Try the Italian margarita for something different or the cosmopolitan if you want to see stars. Their drinks pack a punch in the best way. The fresh garlic bread baguettes are heavenly. Most meals come with lentil soup and a crisp garden salad before the main dish, which always hits the spot. They also have steak, chicken, and fish options served with a side bowl of your favorite pasta. Riva's is comfort food, good company, and good times all in one. I love me some Riva's. Side note: Their birthday surprises are wild and absolutely worth trying if you want to catch a friend off guard. I promise you'll have a good laugh. read more

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Was excited to come here for a fun dinner and immediately regretted it. Upon arrival, the restaurant smelled dingy and off putting. We decided to try it anyways since so many people seem to like the place. We were sat at a 2 seater table that was nearly touching the table next to us. The server came out and didn't introduce himself or say hi whatsoever, just asked what we wanted 2 minutes after sitting down then walked away when we weren't ready. We each ordered an entree which included soup and salad to start. The soup portion is maybe 8 spoonfuls. Take a look at my pic, that's untouched and it was lukewarm when the restaurant had literally just opened 5 minutes before we arrived. The salad was meh. The garlic bread was good. For my main, I got the penne cream rosa. It was decent but a bit heavy on the cream - not balanced with tomato enough. We also got the chicken fransico which was tasty but kind of an odd dish on an Italian menu in my opinion with the poblano cream sauce and sautéed veggies on top. It almost reminded me of fajitas. I took a bite and it had a piece of bone in it which was surprising and unpleasant. The fettuccine Alfredo was abysmal. It was straight cream with no seasoning or flavor or cheesiness. Our server never checked on us and we had to catch his attention to ask for simple things. Overall, I wish I didn't come here. Really hope it doesn't destroy my stomach tonight. I threw away my leftovers from how terrible the experience was. Sure they have cute decor but at the end of the day, it's a restaurant and what matters is the food and service quality which were both poor. read more

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I am not a true fan of Italian food, but I love Rivas. The food is amazing, I have never tasted cannelloni as good as theirs. The staff is friendly, welcoming and a lot of fun. It's always a pleasure to eat at Rivas. read more

From the moment you walk in wonderful service , greated with a beautiful smile . We were around the area and wanted italian food . Soup was amazing , salad was decent portion with bold flavor . Pasta were amazing never before tasted homemade .Let just say "Momma " keep making them dessert because there AMAZING. You have a regular coming up this time was a casual date , will bring the kids the ambiance was amazing . read more

Rivas hits the spot! Excellent food and friendly staff. They were very attentive to us from the beginning. Ribeye steak was cooked perfectly. Their crab cakes were also one of the best I've had in a while. Everyone else enjoyed their cheese ravioli in crema Rosa, lasagna, and chicken funchezzi. Their portions were huge and all of the entrees came with a vegetable soup, house salad, and garlic bread so we were quite stuffed! Best Italian I've had in a while! Highly recommend. read more

I love the atmosphere here! The owners are amazing & the service is always consistent. Christmas is a gem here due to the decor! Favorite menu items Shrimp scampi (yummy) Chicken piccata Penne cream Rosa read more

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Great family owned restaurant- the service is outstanding. Now for those that are on a semi budget around this time of year. Quick heads up. They currently have a holiday menu ONLY- salad and bread included with the main course NO soup this time and no shares allowed.Be prepared to easily spent about $45 bucks on a single person. That includes 2 house wine glasses and your main course. As for me I was little bummed out because I was craving a soup during the cold days and wasn't planning on spending $50bucks. While sitting there I was like "damn I should've went to el tiempo and got their large soup for $11.59 plus the chips and salsa would've done the job for a Monday " read more

Was pleasantly surprised by Riva's! Friendly staff and large menu to enjoy. The chicken funchezzi was super thin and crisp. Well cooked. Veggies on the side were good. Hubby had the cream penne with chicken and it was good. Big portions. Both plates came with soup and salad which honestly isn't needed but I get it. They were fine, but next time I would decline. Focus on the main meal. :). read more

Riva's Italian Restaurant - Chicken funchezzi and veggies - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Pre-Covid Rivas was an amazing Italian restaurant. Very Friendly staff the food was amazing and have dinner at Rivas was an experience is a good way. As of 05/08/2026 the service is lousy. No one waiter takes ownership of your table. So, no one waiter knows what is missing from your order. What we do now is just cancel whatever was not delivered by the time we are done eating. The bill is slapped down on your table before you're done eating or done with your drink. My bill came with my drink tonight. So, probably not the best spot for a date night or having dinner with friends that you want to catch up with. This place use to be packed on Friday nights. Not anymore, I don't know if it is the service or the economy. read more

I kept hearing about Riva's and finally got to go with a large group during Christmas. For anyone who knows about Riva's during Christmas, you know how awful an idea that can be but the staff were super accommodating and allowed our party to sit at two tables next to each other, which probably meant a lot of fenangling of tables and parties on their end. The whole environment was extremely festive and people all seemed to really be enjoying themselves. I ordered the lasagna and all meals came with soup, salad, and garlic bread. I really liked all parts of my meal, the garlic bread was a nice starter and went well with the lentil soup they provided. The salad was nothing special but was a nice bit of veg for a carb heavy meal. I really liked the lasagna but I also just generally like lasagna and can't imagine it being bad unless its undercooked but maybe I've just been lucky. The portion was also large enough for me to take leftovers and have lunch the next day. Riva's definitely feels like a neighborhood staple, with a super friendly vibe and fun decor for various holidays. I def want to return for next Christmas and Halloween but hoping I'll be back before then! read more

We had the absolute best experience at Rivas. The staff makes you feel right at home like you've been a regular for years. They serve you like you're their favorite relative coming by for a good meal that they made just for you. The value for the incredible food is something you don't find everywhere these days. You get a bowl of delicious lentil soup almost immediately after your drinks are served. Salad, bread and a side of pasta are served with most entrees. The portobello mushrooms we got for an app were so good. I highly recommend the Pollo San Pietro and the pesto pasta though everything we got was amazing. We will certainly be regulars here. read more

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I feel dooped by my fellow Yelpers who have this place more than 2 stars!! I can not imagine how anyone went to Rivas, tasted the food and possibly gave it a good review. I'm shocked, after reading that people used the words 'delicious and flavorful' !!! Yes, the decked out Christmas decos are cute and it must be why it draws in most of its new patrons, it was the reason why we visited. Besides that, everything is a thumbs down. Bathroom is dirty, smells bad and is in need of renovation. The waiters, although nice, since they have no assigned area, constantly take turns asking you if you're ready to order and since there is a dinig time limit it all feels rushed. The menu has only half of the items, as the regular menu, during the holiday season. The presentation of the food was unappealing. Garlic bread was burned, cold, absolutely had no butter or garlic taste and it was so hard to bite and chew. Soup came in a plain, white, plastic bowl. Filled only half way, looked like prison food you see on tv. We got mildly warm, unseasoned lentil soup. Then we got a plain jane salad with only 2 choices of salad dressing, ranch or Italian. It tasted like the chef salad I ate in school. Lastly the chicken from my entree was hard to chew and tasted processed, the shrimp tasted like it was frozen and the whole thing lacked flavor. The chicken marsala was overly sour and it could hardly be eaten without puckering. In all honestly SAVE YOUR MONEY, go to Olive Garden, you are better off saving money, time. Sad news Rivas! read more

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The food& service here are amazing. However , this year they have a special holiday menu that doesn't include the soup as a starter, the prices are a bit higher& not all menu items are available. This may be easier for them but very disappointing for me as a customer. Btw the holiday decorations are beautiful. read more

Riva's is always a good choice. I love their pasta and their portion sizes. I had to take my food to go because kids under 14 aren't allowed and my son was with me, and although I did want to sit down and dine in I still enjoyed my meal when I made it home. The food is always good, and it's always enough to have leftovers if you're like me and like to wake up for a late night snack. read more

Riva's Italian Restaurant - Penne chicken pasta - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Do not let this little place fool you! It's tucked away in the neighborhood and we came in for a friend's birthday dinner. We were greeted by very enthusiastic staff. Honestly I would come back just because of the staff, they play a huge role in my rating. The food portions are massive, I had egg plant parm which was cheesy and saucy and everything I look forward to when ordering. The food came out very quickly as well. I was told during the holidays they go all out with the decor so I can't wait to visit houston for Christmas to come back. read more

Tasty Italian with good portions for a fair price. They have parking and it's very laid back. The service was good. Just be aware that it is very LGBT and the staff may likely make comments about that. They are riot in a good way. But if that makes you uncomfortable, then that's the o my thing against. I'd give it a strong 8 read more

Nice intimate location w/great decor if your into the holiday themes. Food will not disappoint and they wait staff is wonderful considering how busy they are. Perfect parking lot and food courses is wonderful with plenty of choices! Definitely returning. Don't forget the salad, bread and fabulous lentil soup. read more

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cute neighborhood italian spot! came here for girls night dinner and the vibes and food did not disappoint! portion sizes are hugeeeee! entrees come with lentil soup, garlic bread, and a house salad! the garlic bread was sooooo good, and they kept refilling it. it paired well to dip with the soup! I got the penne rosa with mushrooms (not on the menu, but they were able to accommodate since i am vegetarian!). It was delicious! There is a reason why the rosa sauce is popular here. I took a few bites but took most of it home since i was so full on the bread/soup/salad. great service with friendly and attentive staff! there's a small parking lot and plenty of street parking. Cute divey interior. Definitely not a fancy spot, more of a homey vibe. it's not the most authentic show-stopping pasta in town, but the flavors work well and the price/portions are unbeatable. good neighborhood casual spot. read more

Riva's Italian Restaurant - penne rosa with mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

It was amazing and fun. No longer family friendly. It is an adult atmosphere now. If you're family from the neighborhood you may like it. We enjoyed it for years but no longer. The food was great. read more

Amazing food for the price--you'll definitely have leftovers! The lasagna hits the perfect balance of noodles, cheese, sauce, and meat. Friendly, upbeat service, great drinks, and a lively mix of music. The space is cozy, but that just adds to the fun vibe. read more

The lentil soup is amazing as is the bread. I always get the veal parm but the lasagne is excellent as well. Best dirty martini in Houstin.

I frequent here! I got the shrimp Caesar this time so good! Throw some extra parm on there for a treat! read more

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The food was delicious. The service was excellent. The ambience of this cute little spot is a true gem. Thank you for making my night so special! read more

The food was pretty good. I had chorizo and eggs, rice, and beans. my partner had the enchiladas and we had the lunch special. Even as a lunch special, the prices were expensive. The service was good and our waiter paid close attention tension to us. I would eat there again, but maybe not for lunch. read more

Completely unrelated to the star rating of this restaurant: Someone here really like Halloween. When I state "like," I am greatly understating the matter. I was told that I need to come back to see how they decorate for Christmas because it's even more extreme than their Halloween stuff. This place is not fine dining, it's family dining. I give you this take of mine because this is not a place for hushed tones and classical music playing in the background. This place is loud. This place is loud and has high energy. This place is loud, has high energy and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. This place is loud, has high energy, everyone seems to be enjoying themselves and the have big portions. This place was packed, so the wait time was kind of long...but I feel it was worth it. The food actually had decent flavor. The food actually has decent portions. The wait staff was really personable. The energy from everyone laughing and yelling at each other was infectious. All in all, when you have decent eats mixed with decent price to portion ratios, I'm not opposed to returning to this place. I think this is a place everyone should experience. read more

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Solid homestyle Italian with a side of Christmas explosion.. a must see during the holidays. Went on a Tuesday night. No wait but definitely a full house. Would expect a wait closer to the weekend. Casual. No need to be fancy. Parking lot to the side but was full so street parked. Recommend if you want to fully embrace the Christmas spirit. read more

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Always love Rivas! Randy/ Michael the whole staff are just amazing, attentive and the food is really good too. I never miss a chance to stop by. read more

I was extremely disappointed with my visit. I was excited to bring my girlfriend, as we both heard good things about Riva's. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was the smell of dirty carpet. We were sat at a table that was squished in a corner and the table was very wobbly. It was so wobbly, I could barely cut my meal. The waiter #5 "Screamer" did not bother speaking to us and we had to constantly get his attention for any basic requests. When I stated that I needed a minute to look at the menu, he did not say a word and immediately walked away before I could finish my sentence. The facility in general felt very unprofessional. I went to the restroom and outside the men's room, there were 4 or 5 vaccum cleaners in the middle of the room. After, as I was walking through the narrow walkway, I noticed that clean silverware and napkins were stacked on a table, in front of the restroom entrance. Someone could have easily brushed up against it or knocked it over as they walked by. The decorations and lights were nice to look at, but with how cramped we were in the corner, they felt more like a nusence and a little suffocating (in photo attached). I also noticed that the decorations on the wall near my head smelled like outside and were pretty grimey in appearance. Overall, my girlfriend and I were off put by our experience, and asked for to-go containers. I would highly recommend that management evaluates "Screamer's" service skills. He made us feel as though we were an inconvenience. We arrived only 10 minutes after opening and if that is the type of service the restaurant opens with, I would hate to see what kind of service they offer near closing. I wish I saved the $60 and had a pleasant meal elsewhere. read more

Riva's Italian Restaurant - The decorations to the left of the decorative woman smelled like they had been brought from outside. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

this place is an institution. atmosphere is over the top. Everyone there is great. Randy as your service person will make the experience one to remember. Mike the owner is super friendly. Traditional Italian food. just like grandma made. read more

I loved the lentil soup they served before our meal. The waiter was really kind and funny. Our food was delicious and the price was a delight! read more

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Came here for dinner on a weeknight and the place was about 3/4 full; so, no issue with parking in their private lot (also some street parking in the area) and no wait to be seated. The space is very cozy and kitschy, in a great way. They have some year-round Christmas lights up, but the real show stopper appears to be coming at Christmas for an explosion of decor - I will have to come back for that! Now on to the food...everything was delicious and portions were huge. We started with the Salmon Croquette. I don't really eat fish and even I was a fan of this - it had a rich flavor without being 'too fishy' and was paired with a nice dill and tomato cream sauce. For my main, I opted for the Penne with "Cream Rosa" sauce and Chicken. A gigantic plate of pasta was brought, enough for leftovers for another meal or two, and it was excellent. Perfectly cooked pasta, rich and creamy sauce, deliciously seasoned chicken mixed in. Definitely recommend if you decide to go the pasta route. All mains are served with soup and salad; our soup was a light vegetable soup, and the salad is brought to the table with self-serve ranch and italian dressings. Paired with a glass of wine and this was a great meal! Service was friendly and welcoming, but not overly attentive. You immediately feel welcome here. read more

Riva's Italian Restaurant - Cream Rosa pasta - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Excellent food. Great service. Friday nights and Saturday nights are full and busy but lunch and other evenings are fine. Parking is fine. They really get into the holiday spirit around celebration seasons. read more

We have always loved the food at Riva's, and I was excited to bring a friend there for the first time. Unfortunately, the experience on Sunday, May 4, 2025 was disappointing due to the service we received. There was a private party reserved, which we completely understand, but one of the staff members (unfortunately I did not get his name, but he was a man wearing a white T-shirt and blue jean not very tall) made us feel like we were being rushed out. Instead of politely letting us know they had a reservation and offering to move us to another area or letting us know ahead of time, he made rude and unnecessary remarks that were very unprofessional. There's a respectful way to inform paying customers about a scheduled event or a closing time, but this was not handled appropriately. We arrived at 1:30 PM, and nothing was mentioned about a party when we were seated. It's disappointing that what should have been a nice lunch turned into an uncomfortable experience. I truly hope Riva's considers better communication and hospitality in the future. Right now, I'm not sure I'll be returning! I will be sure to share with my family and friends of my experience of the rudeness. read more

So my original plans fell through tonight so I decided, ya know what? I deserve a good Italian meal. When you are in the Montrose area of Houston you don't have to look far for that. This place has been a staple of this LGBTQ+ community for YEARS! I ordered the house wine to start, a nice Italian red table wine, can't go wrong. Oh, when I got there I was going to sit at the bar, and the owner politely informed me they had just finished cleaning it, and would mind a table in the main dinning room. Not at all, I replied, and was told I could sit anywhere. A VERY attractive waiter (Shoot, when they're cute, they're cute..) sat me down and took my drink order. He gave me a minute to peruse the menu, which by the by, I included updated pictures of. I ended up ordering the Penne with Roasted Bacon Sauce. That came with soup and salad, for under $20...SOLD! I got some delicious garlic bread while I waited for my meal. The soup and salad were great, but the show stopper was the penne. I haven't been in this place in nearly 6 years and the folks here haven't missed a beat! The service was sublime and as I was leaving I informed one of the owners or long time waiters (was hard to tell), that I hadn't been there in years but give them 2 thumbs way up! He was so sweet, he and my waiter both gave me hugs. Needless to say, if you are in the mood for some great Italian food and want to be treated like family, Rivas is the place to be. The staff should be proud, great job yall! I'll definitely not let 6 years go again by before my next visit. read more

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