Stopped in for some chower on the way home today and 6 grilled oysters! We all had some Clam Chowder to warm us up! Everything was super good here. We even got a spot to park truck and camper near front. Mom and pop kinda place all from scratch. read more

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I saw the pictures and the reviews. When pulled up I saw and smelled the wood smoking. I didn't see any oysters smoking or being grilled. I just assumed it was done to order and got doubly excited for some smoky grilled oysters I was fixin' to have. I got inside and placed my order and waited for them to hit the table. During that time I didn't see any oysters come from the building and go to the grill. When my oysters came to the table, Manuel came from the kitchen where he and a lady had spent most the time while I was there. The oysters looked exactly how the pictures looked and were piping hot. I waved my hand over the oysters towards my nose......no smoke smell. I leaned away, very surprised on why I couldn't smell smokiness. I picked up my fork and bit into an oyster. I tasted no char or smoke of any kind. My oyster had been broiled. So, I had to call Manuel and ask how the oysters were prepare. He told me that the oysters take 18 mins. to prepare and sometimes the wait when there is a lot of people, causes a long wait time. I was the only person in the restaurant, until I got up to pay. He implied that sometimes to avoid a wait, another preparation style is used with the grill in the "back" and this was the technique that was used to make my order. I only observed smoke and wood smell from the front grill that was closest to the front door of the restaurant. Also, he said that oysters are prepared one of three ways....pan fried, fried, or grilled. My oysters weren't prepared any of the three ways he mentioned. All this said to me while it sounded like he was gathering his thoughts and mumbling his words. I must've come on a bad day, Manuel did mention how business had been bad for him. read more

CASH ONLY! This place has really amazing food. I got the chowder and fish sandwhich, and both was amazing. The inside can use some updating, so I would say the atmosphere not the best. The owner seemed very nice and pleasant. I gave this place a 4 instead of a 5 due to the atmosphere and it being cash only. If you are reading this, and want to stop by. Grab cash first, I took my food to go. read more

River View Dining - Fish sandwhich, and fries. Delicious tarter sauce. - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

It's about the experience, stopping here. Very much enjoyed meeting Manuel. I'm watching him at work at the grill. I'm a novice oyster eater and I have till now have not been one to venture into the two biter size, but I did today and this is my second visit this week. Absolutely love the flavor of the barbecued oysters! Steaming hot off the grill. And when they say, Riverview the first day I was here. I watched a bald eagle diving for fish across the street in the river. Definitely recommend this is a must do visit went in the area read more

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We stopped on our way from Bellevue to Seaside and shared a plate of fish and chips. We had plenty, large pieces of fish very lightly breaded. Creamy coleslaw with just the right amount of sweetness. Perfection! read more

Best grilled oysters we have ever had! We agreed they beat Draco's charbroiled oysters in New Orleans. For all the whiners on here: you didn't get the right thing. "Grumpy" or not, guy knows how to grill a damn good oyster. The grilled oysters will take some time so be patient, grab a beer and relax. Cash only. read more

River View Dining - Grilled oysters with the works! - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

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The oysters are to infinity and beyond. In fact, everything Manuel and his wife cook up is second to none.

Terrific home made clam chowder! Fantastic grilled oysters with incredible sauce. Grilled over a wood fire in the half shell. Absolutely delicious and amazing! Great service from husband/wife team . Fantastic location along US 101 Easy parking A true gem read more

The first thing I noticed was our beverages came in original bottles. These drinks were not from some dispenser. Original! I had the Barbecued pulled chicken sandwich. The sauce was rich and had a little kick. It wasn't too sweet or bland. There was so much meat i decided to eat it as a Sloppy Joe. The husband had fish and chips. The fries weren't over cooked. The fish was thick, not pancake- like. The interior is oldish. What they save in decor they make up with variety. Another patron recommended the grilled oyster to another group. The setting made for easy interactions. read more

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On our way back to Seattle, my wife and I wanted to stop somewhere for an oyster meal for lunch. Not many choices but saw this place, quickly checked Yelp, and based on positive reviews we went in, despite the place looking a little weather worn. Were very pleasantly surprised with two terrific meals. My wife got the pan-fried oysters which were among the best either of us had ever had. I got the daily special: three homemade tamales and a bowl of chowder. An unusual combination but both were delicious! River View is the definition of a down-home 'mom and pop' restaurant. Nothing pretentious or fancy here. Just good homemade food in a friendly and welcoming environment. Cash only. read more

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Had the Oyster Sampler, all of the fried oysters tasted the same although they were supposed to be seasoned differently. The sautéd oysters caused some of the fried ones to be soggy since they were not separated on the plate. Two bacon cheeseburgers, one sampler platter and 3 bottles waters came out to $101. read more

River View Dining - Grilling the oysters. - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

Stopped in town for the oysters, but the brisket here was the runaway star of our stay! Oysters were good, too. read more

River View Dining - Oyster from the grill. - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

Pretty sure my husband got food poisoning from the chowder. Waiter has no personality. Not offered water. Took forever for sub par tainted chowder. Also, no crackers ? read more

Was eyeing this place while heading to Long Beach & thrilled we were able to dine in on our way home! Recommend coming here when they open, as it takes about 25 mins with the oyster cooking. We ordered both the grilled BBQ'd oysters and the pan fried ones! Both were epic, and the pan fried ones came out sooner than the grilled. Great seasoning, we inhaled it all (especially for typical non-seafood goers). The chef was busy manning the grill, super friendly and checked in with us multiple times. He was appreciative of the service. Highly recommend checking this place out - will be coming back when i'm in the area. Cash only, no thrills-food savoring type of experience that overlooks the water (don't let the exterior appearance scare you). What a treat! read more

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We had amazing clam chowder soup and great service. Best soup I've ever had! We would love to stop in again when in the area!

Had to go to ATM for cash. Was told to sit in the corner table. They dropped menus and never came back. 10 minute rule and we stood up and left. Only 2 other tables and they had their food already. Not even a drink order. read more

This restaurant was recommended in the Moon guide book for oysters. We came at a low time of day, about 3 pm, and were quickly ushered in and asked to sit down. We had only wanted to look at a menu, not sure if it would fit our dietary restrictions. When I wandered to the counter to see the menu, the hostess or waitress also tried to seat us, and when we said we wanted to see the menu, she dropped in front of us and scoffed, rolled her eyes and walked away. Then we saw the sign that said CASH ONLY. There was our ticket out. Never saw a menu, and left as we hadn't come with cash. Didn't see any food. No idea if it was good or expensive. Just know that the tone and energy in that business was not one we wanted to spend our money with. They were not friendly, very pushy, and unwelcoming. The ambiance was not what we had hoped for in a Willapa bay oyster experience. read more

My daughter asked for a salad and cheese bread. The cheese bread was a poorly grilled cheese sandwich. My grilled oysters were good, but not great. Also, when I got the check for my food I was overcharged as I realized later by about 5 dollars. We had stopped there a few years ago and had a much better experience. read more

What an absolute gem of a restaurant. The recent weather hasn't been the greatest, so the warm and welcoming inside of this place was needed and appreciated. Before coming to River View Dining, my only experience with oysters was having them raw. Having them cooked never occurred to me, but I'm so glad I did. They were masterfully cooked. The combination chef, waiter, and owner made sure our oysters were the perfect texture and had tons of flavor. I looked over our table out the window and saw he was squirting lemon on the oysters over a hot grill, that's dedication! And the dedication shows, the oysters were phenomenal. Well worth the price, hopefully I'll be coming back soon! read more

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This is a funky mom and pop restaurant. The building and interior is nothing to brag about, but it's warm and the tables clean. We stop here regularly for the BBQ oysters. They are the best around and sometimes worth the wait. Another treat is the seafood chowder (prawns, scallops). Yum! The fries are cut potatoes and the tartar is Manuel's creation. Ask for an oyster po'boy, it's really good too. Currently it is cash only. This place is worth the drive. read more

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This is a cozy and cash-only establishment. We ordered the half dozen smoked oysters which took about 20 minutes to be done but I happily waited because I knew they were going to be good just by seeing how much care was taken when they were made. Time really slows down here, which was very relaxing as I sat in the restaurant looking out at the rainy day while waiting for my order. The oysters were incredible, and unlike any flavor I've had before. They were not fishy at all and were very meaty. The barbecue sauce on the oysters was incredible. I highly recommend this place. read more

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Stopped by for a quick oyster fix and was not disappointed!! Definitely a mom and pop shop, not the fanciest, but clean and very friendly. read more

A favorite stop when we have the time. Beware that oysters are cooked to order and will take some time but they are worth the wait. Five stars for what it is - great oysters served fresh. This is not five star dining however. read more

Don't forget your cash! Stopped on a whim, and we were limited only by the cash on hand. No cards accepted. $28.85 for half a dozen raw on half shell and two grilled oysters. Hole in the wall, but does have a few picnic tables outside. You have a view of the river and the chef is grilling a few feet away. Oysters were shucked to order and out of this world. Great value for quality, taste, freshness and size. They had a full menu but we stuck to the oysters. Zero regrets. read more

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The Good :: The Food is Awesome. Fries are great - like In-n-out, the fish (breaded cod) was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The pulled pork was tasty and seemed locally done (no sysco food here), bun was great and BBQ sauce got every where. The only nit is that it took 20 minutes for the pulled pork sandwich to cool down enough to eat. In engineering parlance, it was like superheated steam to drive a turbine. lol. This is a local place for locals. i ordered ahead (30 minutes out) and when i walked in, they knew the phone order was mine. It still took 20 minutes to get, but we'll worth it. Oh, the ugly: Although the older gentleman working the smoker outside and taking your money wore a mask, no one else did (patrons, etc). So if such things worry you, take precautions or pack a lunch. read more

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Best damn oysters I've ever had. Loved both the raw and the grilled, but would give the tie breaker to the grilled. Place is funky in a cool way. read more

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Earlier this month while camping at Willapa bay in Washington I remembered that this area had excellent oysters. At the recommendation of a fellow camper, we headed to River View. I'm glad I didn't read any reviews until after our visit. I see the handful of bad reviews by those that can't appreciate this one man show and his wife in the back cooking. That's right. I see you :/ That being said, I had one of the most pleasant restaurant experiences in quite some time. The owner was taking care of the entire front of the house and pitching in in the kitchen a little, while expertly manning the smoker. I can't say enough good things about the owners personality. Engaging appreciative focused on putting quality on your table and a "matter of fact attitude". Ohhhhhhhh!! AND THE FOOD! I dare you to come here and not enjoy your meal. Everything was perfect. I'm an oyster fan but not everyone in our party was so we had a mix of Platters, fish-n-chips, raw oysters, and BBQ oysters. I think we even had a BLT at the table. I will come back here next time through and maybe even have to plan another trip just because of River View Dining. If you do look at the pictures I added please know my middle childs reaction is not an indictment on quality and freshness she just does not understand the subtle flavors and textures of raw oysters. She tried. read more

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Beside the Willapa River on US 101 in South Bend WA, this place grills THE BEST local oysters to absolute perfection and served up some of the best clam chowder to be found on the WA coast! The owner/host/grill master, Manuel, greets you in this down home place to serve you some of the most amazing food off his char grill you will ever taste. My return visit after 8 years (see my earlier review) did not disappoint. I'm so glad they survived the Covid restaurant failure wave. If I had to make reservations for my last meal, it might be here! Making a go in any business is tough these days. Help keep them open by dropping in for a delicious meal and share this hidden gem with friends and family. read more

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While doing my scenic route from CA to YVR, I hit this this place for lunch all unplanned. All we care were oysters ! We had the combo plate and clam chowder. The raw oyster was fantastic, slightly bigger than what I usually like, but they are pacific north west, local oyster. It was good. The grill oyster was fantastic too. The remaining fry, sear, etc were ok, I doubt those were freshly chuck but we still enjoy it. Not sure I will ever drove down this route again and if I do, I am sure I will stop here. read more

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Waited 40 minutes for two cups of soup. Clam chowder was good. They smoke oysters outside. Customers had to ask for napkins, spoons, salt. Don't come here unless you want a place to just sit for a very long time. read more

River View Dining - Roasting oysters - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

We made an intentional stop this year based on how good the food was last year. We were disappointed that there weren't any ribs today, but my husband opted for the pulled pork sandwich. It was really tasty too, with just the right amount of sauce and a huge portion of shredded pork. Their tartar sauce is top notch and the owner is friendly and accommodating. If you are driving by... don't. Stop here first. You won't be sorry. read more

River View Dining - The massive bbq out in front. Oysters grilled to order! - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

I am absolutely gobsmacked by how good the grilled oysters are. The sauce is indescribably delicious. We also ordered fried mushrooms which were fresh and hand battered ("everything here is fresh and hand made" said the owner). Yes, the restaurant itself is dumpy and old, but you really owe it to yourself to order the "grilled oysters with everything." We live 3 hours away but we'll be back! read more

River View Dining - Grilled oysters with everything; fried mushrooms. - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

We popped in on a whim on our way home from vacation and it didn't disappoint. I saw some bad reviews but those people probably aren't patient because everything we got was phenomenal. The oysters were the perfect smooth texture and the sauce was INSANELY garlicky and good. The bacon mushroom burger was juicy and cooked perfectly, and the chowder has great flavor; it shouldn't be missed. They only take cash and it seems like it's just the guy and his wife running the shop, so it's a laid-back operation. It feels like you're eating in an old neighbor's back patio and you can see the guy working at the giant grill the whole time, which is right up my alley. I'll be back. read more

River View Dining - Grilled Oysters with everything on them - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

Went to order food , guy at the grill says they are not taking anymore orders. I ask well can my daughter use the restroom he's says only if you order something, I said we just tried , and then said well buy a soda or she can't use the bathroom. read more

We hit the breaks when we were driving through this town after we saw a sign about oysters. I looked up this little place and I could have eaten 100 of those oysters. Super fresh. Cute lil mom and pop spot. Pop was so sweet and taught us lots about oysters. You can tell he knows what he is talking about. I would go back. "Don't judge a book by its cover". Support small and local businesses!! read more

River View Dining - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

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We plan a trip to South Bend just to get a chance to eat Manny's grilled oysters three days in a row, and we throw in some pan fried and raw too. The oysters come out of famous Willapa Bay waters and are delivered fresh every morning. He grills them over a wood fire with tarragon, garlic, butter and a luscious homemade - and very secret - sauce. Don't be in hurry, because this is a mom and pop operation, with everything fresh. Relax and watch the river and enjoy anticipating some epic oysters. Remember to hit an ATM first. Cash only. read more

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Wonderful clam chowder. Not too thick, and a touch of shredded carrots. Perfect. We each had a bowl of clam chowder and shared fried mushrooms for lunch. We were very full. The mushrooms were a great treat in our hotel room. Have driven through South Bend a few times a year, and never stopped. So glad we did. Looking forward to the next time. read more

It's worth the 2hr drive for these yummy ginormous oysters. The owner puts a lot of TLC in during the pit to grill the oysters. Hearing the pop of the shells as the heat intensifies can be disturbing but I can't help but salivate. If you're planning on eating more than a few, it's best to call ahead. Also due to the pandemic, I'd still suggest contacting the owner so he knows he won't be closed (due to no business). We ordered 2 dozen for 3 people. It was just as delicious as when I was last in town. I sure hope the place picks up more customers through the pandemic. read more

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Restaurants are generally homogenous (food, service, experience, etc.). On the surface, that low risk formula makes sense. Sometimes there are restaurants that "do it their way". And if we aren't careful, open our eyes and take a deep breath - we miss some place truly special - like River View Dining. My wife and I stopped here, just a couple of Chesapeake Bay tourists driving the Pacific coast. The owner "told" us where to sit, dropped off a couple of drinks, took our order, then headed outside to the wood fired fire pit to tend to the oysters. No, he wasn't like Ricardo Mantalban graciously greeting guests on Fantasy Island. I scurried outside to watch a true master at work. The owner is really interesting and takes tremendous pride in the food he prepares for his customers. We talked about East Coast vs. West Coast Oysters ... water temps, tides, salinity ... how shucking oysters is a lost art ... what makes their local oysters different, special, and really large. "BIG?!? Follow me!" He spun around, headed inside and pulled off a shelf an oyster shell probably the size of my head. After a minute he went back outside and took our oysters off the grill and lunch was served! Perfection. Fantastic. This is a truly special place BECAUSE of the owner and his unapologetic commitment to preparing and serving the best possible oysters. The 190 or so reviews are comically split between the vast majority who "get it" and those who unfortunately didn't. Our experience could not have been better. We "got it". read more

River View Dining - An artist - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

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I was so excited for this place but unfortunately i couldn't find one thing i liked about it. Our server was grumpy as hell. Also he didnt get our order right. And the food was not good. We were given oysters that already had the horseradish and Tabasco poured all over them. Everything we asked for them to take out of the burger, they left on. Fried oysters were all breading. the clam chowder was nuked in the microwave and hardly had flavor read more