Absolute treat every once in awhile! Great for all senses! Would be slightly easier with better napkins - but maybe needing a few dozen is part of the experience. Wait staff is outstanding and fun to see all the pics! read more

Had a great time here -- it's hard not to at a local institution like this. The burgers are great, smashed super thin on the griddle and cooked until they achieve a lattice crisp. My only suggestion is to ask for a little more salt on the burger, it can take it (the fries would also benefit from the same advice). Do not skip the onion rings. Nice beer list and super friendly service as well. read more

The deals that you can get at this place are crazy. This place has been around forever, and it's almost like they haven't updated their pricing since they opened. The burgers are a reasonable size and definitely greasy, but they are delicious. I ordered a burger with coleslaw on it once but was disappointed because I felt like there wasn't enough on the burger. I would stick with classic burger toppings as that is where Riverside nails it. Fries and onion rings are delicious here, but I don't recommend the fried cheese balls. Having lived in the Midwest with all the best cheese curds I'm sure my standards are too high, but I would still avoid them. The Oreo pie is pretty good, but I was really disappointed in the lemon meringue. It was way too sweet for a dessert that should be tart and tangy. I've never had any issues with the service here. I definitely recommend Riverside Lunch if you're looking for a cheap burger and a couple of brews. read more

A Charlottesville staple that you must try whether you are a one time visitor, student, or local in the area. It's a spot the locals love because of its quality service, delicious food, and reasonable prices. It's a nostalgic spot that makes you feel like you're in the good ole days. The staff will make you feel like you're family. Blanche was my waitress and provided unparalleled service. I will be back on all my future vigors to Charlottesville! read more

Great service and great reasonably priced food! My favorite place for burgers, fried chicken and fries.

Excellent burgers, fries and onion rings. All of the staff were very friendly. Prices are a great value as well. Wish we had something like this where we live in Maryland. read more

Riverside Lunch - Double cheeseburger with a 1/2 &1/2 basket of fries and onion rings. - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Remember being a little kid having your first cheeseburger ever? Your tastebuds aren't fully developed but doesn't matter because it tastes amazing. And every burger after it doesn't quite compare as you get older. You spend your life ordering sub par burgers that never quite match the perfection of that first one? Well look no further, Riverside lunch has truly perfected the art of the burger. Juicy, savory, made however you like it. Crispy crunchy french fries that would give McDonald's a run for their money. Staff that treats you with the warmth and sincerity of your favorite extended family during the holidays. Truly the best service you could ask for. My server Kathy was beyond wonderful, and gave, kind, attentive, genuine service that you truly cant get anywhere else anymore. With an atmosphere of quaint hole in the wall where you truly feel welcome and at home; Riverside Lunch is an absolute must visit if you're in or near Charlottesville. read more

Perfect local place! Burgers were good and wings dings sooooo gooooddddd!!! The fries are salty. Will go back :)

Been awhile since we have been here but it did not disappoint. Really can't go wrong stopping in for a Cheeseburger and Fries. They definitely have other stuff on the menu we just have been hooked on the Cheeseburger ever since we first came here about a year ago. It's nothing fancy but it's delicious! read more

Riverside Lunch - Basket of French Fries, Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

As a hamburger snob, this joint did not disappoint. However, two big issues brought what wouldn't been a rave review down to a passable one. First point: you've been in business 80 years, and you're making what is arguably the best burger in town. (It was, by all measure, DELICIOUS.) So, if you're serving said yumminess, offering Burger King nitrate bacon--instead of actual bacon like a normal, real restaurant--is an affront to burger humanity. I'd expect Oscar Meyer, or something sourced locally, well-done, added to my double bacon cheeseburger. I took the limp, fake, mechanically rippled bacon off my burger and continued chowing. Seriously: the burger was perfectly tender, seasoned well and cooked perfectly. Very tasty. My second issue has nothing to do with the food. This is an unabashedly casual restaurant, and it was filled with trash-talking, many-beers-at-noon locals. Loved it. And the eating apparatus was predictably papered. I have no issue with that. The cups, however, were ALL styrofoam. Those styrofoam cups will go directly in to a landfill and NEVER decompose. I don't see how the city allows this place to use those types of cups in such a fast-turnover restaurant. I'd like to see them switch to paper, preferably the compostable kind (but I'd settle for anything other that the dreaded styrofoam). Styrofoam also is carbon-intensive to produce, which means Riverside is feeding a bad business stream all around when it could be sourcing something else for probably close to the same price. Overall, this place is highly recommended aside from those two points. You get local flavor, in all senses of that word. So, go... but check your conscience at the door and don't order the bacon. read more

Riverside Lunch - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Blanche greeted us at the door and seated us immediately. She was lovely and felt like home. This place was hopping. Almost all tables were full. It was noon during the week. We got a sweet tea to knock your socks off. We order vegetarian burgers and onion rings and fries with mozzarella sticks for the win! It was delish! The place ran like a well oiled machine. We shall return! read more

Great place if you're looking for an old-fashioned, diner style burger and super fast, friendly service! It's relatively cheap with add ons (e.g. Lettuce, tomato, grilled onions etc) for 20 cents each. The patties aren't pre-made; they're flat-pressed on the griddle. I recommend getting a basket of onion rings! They're perfectly fried; it's the first time I've had an onion ring that doesn't pull the whole onion out of the breading when you take a bite. And for dessert you should try one of their homemade diner cakes - the coconut cake was delicious! read more

Riverside Lunch - Onion ring basket! - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Great place! Service was great. We were lucky to get a seat. Had an awesome cheeseburger and fries.

Riverside lunch is absolutely delicious, and for the price you can't really beat it. My girlfriend and I ate until we couldn't anymore and only spent $25 including the 20% tip. A bacon double cheeseburger, a regular cheeseburger, we each got a Pepsi, and a large basket of seasoned fries for the two of us to share was plenty (and plenty delicious). Do yourself a favor and try Riverside Lunch out! read more

After actually eating here recently inside at the 50% capacity, I have felt compelled to update my review. That, and because I actually haven't written a review since this whole pandemic started. But now back to Riverside - the service is still friendly and phenomenal. They did indeed take many precautions to help ensure a safe and clean environment. More importantly, the food is still as great as I remembered. Their burgers are some of the most solid classic burgers you'll find in Charlottesville. I also love ordering a side of fried cheese or fried mushrooms, or fried anything - as their fried sides will indeed satisfy your cravings. And when I was about to leave, as they have ALWAYS done when I have eaten there, they ask if you'd like to take your drink to go with a lid to top it all off. I decided to pass the last time around as I already had a lot of sugar that day... You must come here, or at least get some takeout. read more

NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE. Full tables with people eating, full kitchen cooking (right in front of the bar) but they have a sign up saying they are "short staffed" and closing early. Not the same as it used to be, reliable and open no matter how much they wanted to go home.... Pathetic customer service for such a long-standing local business. read more

Love the burgers, fries, onion rings, pies here. A great place to eat. It's reasonable and the perfect greasy burger. Highly recommend. Take out fries aren't the best. Fried pickles are good too. Enjoy this must see. Cville place read more

Food is tasty, the greasy type. It has a Neighborhood feel, great service, reasonable prices. One of my favorites.

Delicious burgers and wings, absurdly low prices, and amazing service! Stopped by because of all its great reviews and was not disappointed at all. Our server was super friendly and constantly checked in on us and refilled our water. We were served food within 10 minutes. The spicy wings were fantastic! Each bite was crunchy on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. The spice level was perfect, too! Burgers were delicious. The patties were freshly made and squashed flat on the hot grill. It was a tad greasier than I would have liked but still really delicious. Fries were okay. They were skinny skies and didn't taste all that special. Beers are cheap! There are parking spaces but not a whole lot. Great place to grab a cheap, quick meal! Not the healthiest, but definitely delicious. read more

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Great burgers , nothing fancy but fresh!! AWESOME service and great value!!! Food came out quick ! read more

Riverside Lunch - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Old fashioned burger joint, we go there occasionally for a reasonably priced burger and fries. Servers are friendly and efficient. Nothing fancy, just filling food with a touch of nostalgia for the old time corner restaurant where everyone knew everyone. read more

2 stars -- one for the friendly service, and one for the free candy. I would have added stars for good food and quality ambience, and a 5th for a perfect experience. When we rolled into the parking lot we were confused by the extremely outdated signing, considering the warm reviews Google & Yelp showed us contrasted the negative ones regarding the historic tavern we'd chosen initially but dismissed as seemingly lesser. This was a different kind of "historic", dusty with the grime of backwards eras whose outdated food reflected the ambience. the food was "trash", my partner called it, "trash food packed in plastic single-use trash". Indeed, the burgers were of the cheapest ilk despite the glowing recommendations; my salad's veg bore no flavor. I feel for any humans working there reading my honest criticism -- I never leave negative ones and I hate to shade such nice folk -- but this place was not worth the time and the subpar fodder brought our day down; I kept apologizing to my partner for trusting the Reviews over his suggestion and eating rock hard fries with tasteless frozen protein. Never again. Wish we'd gone to the historic house buffet as a claim of "average" food would beat this place's garbage grade offerings. read more

Absolutely delicious and great service every time! The Riverside north is just as good! Chicken Philly is a winner!

Cheeseburger was delicious. A half order of fries and onion rings was enough for 3 people. Service was friendly and attentive. Great hole in the wall place! read more

I visit Charlottesville a few times a year. I never know where to stop so I often wind up going to a chain restaurant. I was so glad when I stumbled along this gem. Local diners are my favorite places to eat. This place did not disappoint. As you walk in, you are welcome to sit anywhere. The menu is simple and delicious. Two of my kids ordered burgers and enjoyed them. One of my kiddos order a tuna salad sandwich and said it was good. I ate my double bacon cheeseburger with such delight. The fries and onion rings we shared were delicious too. I am adding this to my must visit list next time I am in town. read more

Riverside Lunch - Double bacon cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato. - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We've been coming here over 20 years now and I have never had a bad experience. It's simple and old-school. If you need a tasty burger, this is it. They smash them flat, give you a side of crispy fries or rings, and you're good to go. Staff is always quick and so friendly, and we are usually in and out. read more

Greasy spoon. Low quality beef, sides all made from frozen food, nothing really made in-house except burger. Flavor and freshness not there. This is the most disgusted I've felt after a meal in ten years. read more

After living near Charlottesville my whole life, I had never visited Riverside Lunch until today. Clearly, I've been missing out. Our server, Sydney, was so kind and attentive from start to finish. Who I assume to be the cook, Rex, delivered our food to us (which was all absolutely delicious and the fried pickles side was HUGE) and had such calm energy and made sure we had everything we needed super quick. Another server, Schuyler, was so sweet when I mentioned her dinosaur tattoo and held a small conversation which is always a wonderful experience when out to eat (in my opinion). I can't wait to come back! read more

Riverside is a Charlottesville classic. I've been going since I was a kid and, honestly, I feel a bit uppity reviewing them. (In Soviet Russia, restaurant reviews YOU!) The only thing to get at Riverside is a burger and fries. I once heard a woman order a *salad* at the 29N location. If you order anything other than a burger and fries, you're doing it wrong. Their burgers are very, very greasy. The prices are very, very cheap. The ingredients are of poor quality, which is basically the point. (They buy their ingredients from Sam's Club.) If you're the sort of person who wants to specify how cooked your burger should be, this is not the place for you. They pride themselves on how flat their burgers are, a relatively common style for pub burgers throughout the U.S. The TVs will be showing NASCAR, football, or basketball. If you want to see soccer, baseball, or some other foo-foo sport, you're in the wrong place. The waitresses will call you "hon," you will pay the check at the register, and nobody will come around to ask "how are you doing?" or "can I interest you in dessert?" There will be no mints, no smiley face on your check. The beers are domestic. There will be American-made pickups and SUVs in the parking lot. If any this is a problem for you then, again, you're in the wrong place. One reviewer mentioned that s/he wouldn't go to Riverside alone at night. Ignore this. The High Street/Long Street area is perfectly safe. Riverside's parking lot is well-lit and compact. If you walk into Riverside with a popped collar, jodhpurs, or a suit, people might do a double-take, but nobody's going to get hurt. Recommended very highly. read more

Riverside Lunch - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Proof that Yelp works out in the middle of nowhere. I had no clue what to get as we stopped on a road cross-state road trip, but this was rightfully a very reputable little burger place. It's got a mom-and-pop vibe to it in which everyone is friendly and knows each other. The kitchen tables have ads for other local businesses. Pictures line the walls, and you can see the ongoing support for their community. The sweet tea is the best I've had anywhere...ANYWHERE. It doesn't have *too* much sugar, and it's brewed VERY strong. Like, it's better than tea I make at home, and I don't know their secret. My bacon cheeseburger was modest, but very well made. I can tell they use high-quality meat cooked just right. My only beef with this burger is the cheap, store-bought bun it comes on. And it doesn't even get toasted. Looks like Charlottesville could use a local baker. And finally, the onion rings are amazing. Better than any chain fast food place, and better than most sit-down restaurants. GET THEM, they're better than the fries. I like to see a humble shack like this in the middle of a bustling college town. As a total southwesterner, a cozy restaurant full of charm and a ubiquitous drawl is a welcome culture shock. I probably won't be back in this town, but if you find yourself in the area, stop here for lunch. read more

Oh wow, I stopped by to eat a dinner and guess what, I'm in love with this place!! They have great prices, my wife and I tried the cheeseburger and chicken burger. The chicken was fair, but when I ate my first bite of cheeseburger I order another one immediately. The service is nice, they are super fast and food was hot. I definitely recommended. read more

Riverside Lunch - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I've been eating here since 1970 (started when it was at its original location on the 250 Bypass). Always get 'em the same way- mayonnaise, ketchup, and a slice of onion chased with a bottled 7-ounce Coke. I've driven 30 miles out of my way just to grab a couple. FLAT OUT, the best burger in the state! Five Guys doesn't hold a candle to this place. read more

Riverside Lunch - The usual.. Two cheeseburgers with mayo, ketchup and onions plus a bottled Coke. - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

What a throwback! This place looks like it hasn't changed since the 50's in terms of the ambience, food and price. Burgers were awesome and cheaper than fast food and the fries and onion rings combo was too much for the three of us to finish. Definitely try the cheese balls cause who doesn't want fried cheese with their burger??? Was a great post Monticello meal and I think I'm still full... read more

Riverside Lunch - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Very good food, very fast and friendly service. There's no way you could really go wrong with this. The burgers are cheap but you have to pay to add all toppings, including lettuce and tomatoes! I also found it weird that we had to pay for tap water. But it overall was cheap and a great value meal! I got a BBQ sandwich and the cheese balls they were both awesome but the cheese balls were soooo yummy. They were filled with gooey cheese! read more

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Great place to grab a beer, burger and onion rings. Service was quick and easy. Highly recommend!!

Love love! Been going to Riverside for almost...30 years?! Maybe not that long, but a long time! Great burgers and I love their fries, fried mushrooms & subs too. Can't go wrong. It isn't for someone wanting to eat "healthy". I'm sure they have some healthier options, but I can assure you I have never tried them! read more

Tasty and cheap cheeseburgers and fries but you totally get what you're paying for - the ingredients are probably neither the freshest nor the most innovative (so in other words, don't request blue cheese or prosciutto but they do have grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, and slaw), and my first mouthful was maybe 90% grease, 10% actual meat. My burger would later completely disintegrate into oily chunks, but for $3, I'm not complaining. Being the stingy miser that I am, I would complain, however, about Riverside charging 20 cents extra for lettuce and tomato, but seeing how this is a BELOVED and LOCAL institution that will most likely stick around for the next few years, they'll always have customers, even if they bump it up to 50 cents. This place is also completely no-frills, unpretentious, packed to the gills with families, professors, and guys in trucker hats, sitting at the bar, and watching the infomercials play with strangely rapt expressions. Food is on plastic plates and no utensils. Our first waitress was a little brisk, but our second one made sure to refill our Styrofoam (!!!) cups of water and asked how everything was. Highlight of the meal: the half and half box of French fries and onion rings. I liked the sign outside with a small Pepsi logo right under the restaurant name. read more

Loved the energy as soon as I walked in. Mom and Pop's kind of location so you feel like you are in your own dinner with auntie bringing you a philly cheese steak sandwich. As you are wiping your mouth of the nice cheese going down your beard, auntie comes and refill your glass of some tasty lemonade. Lord I felt like I was a kid, being taken care. I will be back in town just for them. read more

This place is a gem. Fresh made burgers, onion rings, fries, all served up hot and fast. Old style lunch counter with a bunch of booths and tables. The tables are just big enough to hold your plate and drink, no extra real estate needed. Try the double bacon cheeseburger, it's awesome. The locals fill the place up at lunch, and parking lot overflows, but the trouble of parking and walking is worth it. read more

Riverside Lunch - Burgers Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I recently went here with a friend and had to wait due to it being a busy lunch time. We were the only ones waiting for a table for 5-10 minutes, and then a group of construction workers came in behind us. Within a minute they were greeted by a female waiter, who seemed to be very friendly with them (we were never greeted or acknowledged). As soon as the next table opened up, the group behind us cut us in line and took the table before we even had a chance to take a step. Instead of telling the workers that they were second in line, the waitress sat next to them and their booth and began talking to them. This was very disrespectful and we ended up leaving because of it. I really enjoy the burgers here but I'm not going to take my time and money to a place that only values and respects certain customers. I hope the establishment can do a better job of respecting and welcoming ALL customers, or they will start to drive away their long-term customers. read more