Everything about this place is average and I was looking for an above average experience. My mistake! Would love to go back for an appetizer and drink on their outside patio. Maybe, one day...,asking for my salmon on my salad to be cooked through came with a penalty. The salmon was the the size and shape of a chicken wing or half a hot dog. The waiter placed the dish in front of me and said the chef(?) said it was that small because I requested it to be cooked well done. My husband, a classically trained chef, was with me so we clearly knew this was an FU from the chef. Shame on them!! As an afterthought, won't be back. read more

Last night my friend and I decided to try this restaurant for the first time. Our experience was hands down one of the worst I've ever experienced. We were made to feel unwelcome and like we were not equal to the rest of their customers. Just because you look a certain way, dress a certain way, and are younger than most of your clientele. That doesn't give you the right to treat us any different. I am appalled at how my friend and I were treated and for that reason I can not recommend this restaurant under any circumstances. I will most certainly never be dining here again. It's a real shame that in the world we live in we are still dealing with discrimination of all forms. I hope this helps others become aware so they too do not go through the same experience that we did last night. No one deserves to feel that way. read more

Here at Riverview having a couple of appetizers well actually waiting on them there pink lemonade was very good .service so far is on point lets see how the rest goes Well the raw Clams were very small and not that good the Shrimp cocktail was o.k. just a lil small but will do justice. waiting on my California burger & Lobster roll Burger was very good roll was kinda slacking but to my suorise the service Ally gave us was 5 star great work kiddo keep it up I would return to Riverview read more

Riverview Bistro - California burger really good burger - Seafood Near Me - Stratford, Connecticut

Let's start with the almost half an hour wait with a reservation. Then, we ordered a bottle of wine and the sommelier brought 4 dirty glasses. He did go back and bring clean ones. Special orders do upset them. One guest asked to have 2 lobster tails instead of surf and turf and was told that they wouldn't do it. Then the waiter was asked to substitute another vegetable for the potatoes and there would be an extra charge for a full side. They ran out of the special dessert, said they ran out of espresso and served us stale carrot cake after the waiter said it was one of the best desserts. I heard that the men's room was above average. With high prices and no flexibility, I choose to spend my dining out dollars elsewhere. read more

After waiting so long to visit a restaurant in person after the pandemic I was disappointed with Riverview Bistro . In every aspect especially the service. Will not revisit read more

Riverview Bistro - Seafood Near Me - Stratford, Connecticut

As a party of three, we went on a Saturday night around 6:45 PM for dinner. When we were seated, we noticed that there was some fairly loud music coming from the private party room. The waiter came over who seem to be nice and started making a couple of jokes which, I did not mind. We didn't pick up on it first, but he did say something to the effect of " you guys may as well just join the wedding" Meaning that we were sitting so close to the wedding room that the noise level was going to be intolerable. I understand that you host weddings and you also have regular dinner service going on at the same time but a good thing for management to do would be to either Have a limit on how loud the music at the wedding can be or soundproof the room better or let customers who are going there for dinner know that they have the option of sitting in the bar area which is far removed from the wedding room. As dinner went on, the music became louder and louder to the point where we could barely hear each other talk it was pretty ridiculous. The food was good don't get me wrong for the price you pay they give you a good portion and the quality is pretty good. But the service was very poor on top of the loud music. I don't know if the staff was running ragged because of the wedding or if it's always like that. There was no salt and pepper on the table and they bring the salad dressing on the side, they brought me the incorrect dressing, and our waiter was nowhere in sight, so we asked a bus boy if we could get a side of ranch and some salt and pepper he said yes, but he never returned so I just used the incorrect dressing that they gave me and we walked over and got salt and pepper from another table that was unoccupied. Then the food arrived and everything was good. About 10 minutes after the food arrived. My drink was empty as well as my water glass and my wife's as well. I figured the waiter would be back to check on us, but I was wrong. He walked by our table 5 or six times never once even glancing at us even though I was ready to spend another $20 on beverages and I really wanted a beer to be honest with you . I even tried to call out to him, but the music was overwhelming. He did not hear me so we just decided to finish what we have not get any more water or cocktails pay the tab and leave I don't like complaining about weight staff because I know they work hard but this guy was a middle-aged man who should know better I mean between the three of us were dropping about $170 on a meal if I want service like that I can go to a fast food restaurant. Actually let me correct myself service at fast food. Restaurants are usually much better than what we just received. I hope management read this and make some adjustments. I certainly don't want the waiter fired or anything like that. I would just like him to be more aware of his customers needs. But hey we did, like the warm bread! read more

In this time of covid what more can you ask for than a safe dining experience, good food, good service and great views. We are in the high risk category so we don't get out much. That said, we felt VERY safe at Riverview - single use menus, the usual masks and hand sanitizer, one way in and one way out, salt and ketchup in individual sealed portions, outside on the gorgeous patio and really good food. I usually get the Mediterranean salad but this time got the chicken philly wrap - yum. My husband got the stuffed sole and loved it. Can't be beat! read more

Went for dinner. Ordered a French martini (pretty simple). Received a bright purple drink in a wine glass... I told the waiter that definately wasn't a French Martini and he said oh they ran out of martini glassed... I tasted it and said "No - its NOT a French Martini" - it was straight Vodka and Chambord - they "forgot" the pineapple juice. I asked him to bring us a glass so I could fix it which he did. Also lipstick on the water glasses...very easy to spot if they looked. 2 of us go the Blackened Salmon which was decent but came with broccoli which had actually black parts to it because it was OLD. I pointed it out to the waiter and he said oh sorry.... Certainly won't be back... read more

Beautiful view and has a large room that can be rented for private events. I attended a reception here and the buffet food was; mixed salad with one dressing on the side, Chicken Marsala, penne a la vodka, green beans and maybe one more item (I can't remember.) We had 2 bartenders working the open bar, no complaints on their service here, although the house cabernet included in the open bar was not great. I could have paid for a better red, which they had on display, but I didn't feel like it, so yeah can't complain about free alcohol. They also had a few IPA options on tap: Guinness being one of them. The woman's restroom had that particular odor that comes when the drains in the floor need attention. I'm sure being that close the water doesn't help the plumbing situation. Overall it was a great place to have the reception, there was plenty of parking and the food was decent buffet food read more

Horrible ...,horrible ! An extremely unprofessional experience.Had a small wedding reception at the Riverview. There was about 50 people . There was one waiter assigned to us and NO bus person. The ceremony took place on their UnMowed lawn . We had to rent our own chairs because we were told they didn't have enough chairs to accommodate us . When we went inside for the reception the air conditioning was not on. Tables did not have pitchers of water. The chicken tasted like saw dust and from the buffet each guest received ONE shrimp. The guests were clearing the dirty plates from their tables . Mortifying! We paid extra for a champagne toast and only two of the 6/7 tables received it. One hour before the reception ended they once again shut the air conditioning off. Biggest complaint!! No apology was ever made by the owner who witnessed all of this ! Stay away !!! read more

We invited our friends to join us for dinner last Sunday (7/15). We all live in Oxford so it was a little bit of a ride. This location was a different (name) restaurant the last time we were here. We were all amazed with the beautiful dining room and outside surroundings. Our server DAWN was excellent and our food was right "on point", the portions were enormous and cooked just right and absolutely delicious. We will definitely go back again real soon. Bud Deyo Oxford t, Ct read more

While the food is outstanding I caution anyone going to this restaurant to review and validate sanitizing practices prior to dining. With any luck, with this post, this restaurant will incorporate better safety practices. Yes, I witnessed masks, safe distancing and the hand sanitizer at the host/hostess station. What no one sees (unless by accident like me) is that windex is used as a cleaner on the tables between diners. Unfortunately I observed this after touching my face after having my hands all over the table and chairs. With fingers crossed I won't be experiencing symptoms in a week. read more

Went for paint night. The drinks and apps were great. Can't wait to back for dinner. read more

Riverview Bistro - Paint night - Seafood Near Me - Stratford, Connecticut

We came to Connecticut from New York for the day to relax on the beach and eat some good food. We came to Riverview and were seated right away and greeted by our server Danielle who was absolutely wonderful!! It's not everyday you get a waitress whose so down to earth and personable, it was a real treaat for ending our day in Connecticut! read more

I'm about to be impressed! This started out as a negative review, but another waitress, different from the one who took my order, saved the day. My kids wanted to try this place and I said fine since they have an early bird special: $15 entree from 4-6 and kids specials are $5.95. My first soup choice, New England clam chowder, was awful. The clams were chewy and the soup had no flavor. The 2nd waitress must have seen my face and offered me the potato beef soup. So delicious!!!! And then I got my entree: spicy chicken. It was tenderized chicken breast in a white brown sauce covered with hot cherry peppers, onions and roasted Garlic pegs. My mashed potatoes were creamy and hearty. I am stuffed!!!! The only thing I didn't enjoy was the string beans. Dessert came with my meal. And I chose cannoli over the ice cream or coffee. The cannoli was ok, but not great. There was a little squirt of chocolate chip filling at the ends, but not much. The whipped cream however was fresh and tasty. They are on my list of acceptable places to go ;) read more

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Taco Tuesday was great! Got the filet mignon and mahi mahi tacos. Amazing! Dont forget the margaritas, bcause we did!

Went there for lunch around 2 PM only two people sitting at the bar.Waitress came over to give us our silverware and menu without wiping the table down had to ask her to wipe it it was wet and food on it.Ordered our drinks was happy with them but when they were empty it took a while for her to come over and ask us if we wanted another one.When we got our food the french fries were cold and the sandwiches were lukewarm.Maybe they should give papers out saying how well your waitress did. read more

Fantastic location. Food, average. Service good. For years the women's bathroom is freezing and stinks. I don't understand why they don't drain the sewage lines...disguising. It's a nice venue but the bathroom ruins the whole vibe. read more

I was very disappointed in this place, for several reasons. The service was slow and the food, at least what I ordered, was mediocre. But worse than that, I went to this place on a beautiful day to unwind, forget about the current state of the world, and enjoy the view with my friend. At the next table, the owner of the restaurant stood there talking to the patrons about POLITICS, voicing his biased opinions loud enough for everyone to hear. In addition, there was a huge maskless celebration going on indoors, so just entering that room to use the bathroom was uncomfortable. I will choose another place next time. read more

Had my Xmas party there last night great time , but Moreover the place was amazing they went out of there way to make gluten free food for girlfriend when there was already a buffet at the table !! Would highly recommend this place to anyone , Being from Milford I will def be coming here a lot more !! read more

Amazing food with super friendly service. The early bird specials come with soup or salad, main entree, coffee and dessert for only $16. For that price, quality of food & service you can't beat it. During my last visit I ordered the marinated flank steak with chicken entree which was served with a side of fresh green beans and mashed potatoes, I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked just to my liking. I also got the clam chowder with my entree as it was part of the early bird special, HOLY COW, the best clam chowder I ever had in my life! Delicious! For dessert I had the cannoli's which were topped with some syrup and of course, delicious, they also were included with the early bird special. You'd be hard pressed to find better quality food, service and prices than you do at this place. read more

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We had a great dinner at Riverview! We had a table out in the deck on a beautiful evening overlooking the water. I had the meatloaf (odd choice for a spring evening) and it did not disappoint. It was delicious. My friend also really enjoyed her meal...something with shrimp. Would definitely recommend the restaurant! read more

I wish I could give more than 5 stars for the experience we had at Riverview Bistro when we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary there with 75 guests. From the first time we met with Dave to begin the planning, to our later discussions with Chris as we finalized plans, we had the feeling that it would be very special, and we were right. The room was set up beautifully and 3 staff members were assigned to make things move smoothly, which they did. The food, from the appetizers to the buffet dinner, was beyond delicious and absolutely plentiful. We are still getting compliments from our guests about how tasty everything was. It was a very special evening that was made even more special by the treatment we got at Riverview Bistro. There is not one thing we would change. read more

Just a few tweaks and it is a 4 star plus experience! Lets run down the food and the good. For an app i had the ahi tuna. The seasoning and side sauce of a wasabi mixture was great. I just wish the Tuna was cut a bit thicker as this was almost as thin as my fork handle. I went with the Braised Short rib and NO knife was needed eating this. My wife had the broiled shrimp and scallops and i was able to sneak a bite of both and they were cooked to perfection. Beer and wine list is great. Not the only issue. This place sits on the water with a great view i saw from the parking lot only to come into the dining room, on a Thurs night, with giant wood separators blocking off a few rows of tables and all windows. They have a separate party room that was in use, but this area was not. It was raining a bit so we could not sit outside, but seeing outside would have been a nice treat. Will be back again read more

Me and my 4 gf's were celebrating a bday this past Saturday night at Riverside Bistro. My gf Gina, the Bday girl, picked out the restaurant. The food was awesome - I had blackened salmon with green salad, baked potatoe, and broccoli. I was too full for dessert but it looked delish. The service was second to none and our waiter Jim was fab! He even treated Gina to a beautiful bday song he sang himself (nice voice!) along with complimentary cannoli and fresh flowers. It just so happened there was a wedding reception taking place that very same night as well so it was a fun time to be there. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant as the food, the wait service and the beautiful setting on the river all make it stand out. read more

Riverview Bistro - Blackened salmon with baked potatoe and fresh broccoli - Seafood Near Me - Stratford, Connecticut

Had dinner here while on vacay from NYC. The food was AMAZING! I had Surf & Turf w/ the NE Chowder. The spring rolls, the nachos & THE CALAMARI were a hit as well. The service was great. read more

Riverview Bistro - Seafood Near Me - Stratford, Connecticut

Made reservations for party of 6 for outside seating. We arrived 10 minutes early and checked in. Did not get seated until an hour later only after speaking to the owner twice. We finally get seated and water is brought to the table in glasses. One of the glasses were dirty with old lipstick really during Covid??? They are not practicing protocols if I am getting dirty glasses. read more

Always a great happy hour...ask for Chris...he is fast and furious. The rest of the staff and owner truly care and pay attention. Free pasta typically while it lasts during happy times. And wait there's more...happy hour ALL DAY on Sunday's! Woohoo read more

Riverview Bistro - Seafood Near Me - Stratford, Connecticut

Do NOT order the Tuscan shrimp. Ughhhh! It was shrimp, fingerling potatoes, a little spinach and green and yellow squash. That doesn't sound too bad until you find out it's all in a bowl, drowned in a red tomato sauce. Why in God's name is there red sauce on roasted potatoes??? The menu made it sound like a drizzle of sauce (I was taking for granted it was on the shrimp). Weirdest dish I've ever been served, pretty much anywhere. Not the first time I've had sub-par food here. The woman sitting next to me had the stuffed sole - She wasn't thrilled, ate half and declined to take the rest home. You guys have to up the quality of food for sure. There is lots of competition out there! read more

Our daughter had her wedding here and I have to tell you we were so pleased with they way we were treated. The food was absolutely fantastic as well as the drinks! She got married outside on the back lawn by the gazebo overlooking the river. It was a beautiful sunny day and I can't wait to see her pictures. I'd like to thank Chris for making this event happen. He was a great coordinator and he made our day absolutely perfect and thanks to Dave. He's such a great chef and all our guests raved about the food! Chris the bartender is fantastic too! If you need a place for a wedding you should consider the Riverview Bistro. You won't be disappointed!! read more

After working in the industry for a number of years the one thing that was of any consequence was; the customer is always right. Not so at this establishment. The on duty dining room manager felt the need to argue with a person who was seated at our table over bread, which was highly inappropriate of him to do. Also, this same manager indicated that we could not possibly be seated on the veranda because he had reservations for over 20 people. Again, inappropriate for the simple fact that nobody ever showed up the whole time we were seated. Furthermore, instead of offering our party an inside table, we had to ask if we could be seated inside. No bread plates, no silverware were placed on the table. The service was lack luster, slow, and uninspired to say the least. The food once delivered was 3 1/2 , which, unfortunately, was overshadowed by the abysmal service and the cude abrupt behavior of the manager. Again, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. If you are the type that can overlook crummy service, eat here, because the food is pretty good and the prices aren't too bad! read more

About a month or so ago we held my baby shower at Riverview Bistro and it was perfect. We had about 30 people attend; we had more than enough food, our servers were excellent and took very good care of the entire party and went above and beyond for my family and I. Thank you for a memorable afternoon! :) read more

Family dinner outside in the evening in summer. My pasta primavera had a rich garlicky red sauce. Husband shared clams casino with my Mom and they both loved it. My hubs had zuppa de clam (clam white wine sauce over pasta); One clam was shut so that should not have been on the plate. He thought it was a bit over salty. Service was good and the bread is excellent to finish off any dish. read more

Excellent service; most of our food was left behind as it was inedible. Ordered Parmesan-encrusted cod. The cod was watery (previously frozen?) and was sitting in a puddle after 5 minutes. Flavorless fish tasting just of the burnt breadcrumbs on top. Friends dining with me left behind their grilled shrimp. The best part of the experience was our waiter. Terribly unfortunate given the prime location. And much of the glassware was not clean. read more

Last Sunday I ordered a take out order for twenty guests. The food was excellent. Caprese Chicken Roast Pork n gravy Mashed potatoes Zucchini n yellow squash sauté Vegetable stuffed mushrooms I did add to my menu, on my own behalf, homemade applesauce, green salad, rolls n butter as well as dessert. There are a couple of reasons for 4 stars rather than five... The person I originally gave the order to was on vacation n a couple of calls regarding my order prior to pick up entailed a slight communication problem. All in all, the food as I mentioned was excellent, hot and on time. I asked for extra gravy for the pork which we didn't receive. However, the pork was tasty and moist. Riverview does not have delivery on Sunday, thus I had to pick up order. For these matters, I gave a four star rating rather than five. And in spite of these matters, I would order from Riverview Bistro again. I have been to Riverview for parties in their party room which leads out to a lovely deck. And I have been there for dinner with friends as well. The food had never been a disappointment. read more

It was my first time here today. I started off with calamari...which was SO good! It even comes with 3 different dipping sauces. My mom had the oysters for an appetizer and loved them as well. I had the red snapper for my entree and it was mediocre. The thing that made my experience not the best was the service. Our waitress was just very slow and somewhat rude. I could tell she was having a bad day...but still. She took FOREVER to bring drinks to our table and didn't even get it right. I usually tip 30% but I felt it was necessary to only tip her 15%. We sat on the patio and it was a pretty view. If you don't like cigarette smoke while you're eating, don't sit on the patio. People were smoking out there and it was blowing right in my face. It was so rude of them. read more

Riverview Bistro - Nice view - Seafood Near Me - Stratford, Connecticut

Went to Riverview Bistro last night with a friend for our annual Christmas Dinner . Had never been and we will be going back for sure!! The restaurant was so beautifully decorated and the food was amazing ! Everything from the app salad soup entree and dessert! All were outstanding! The calamari and the clam chowder were to die for! The Mediterranean arugula salad was so yummy and our entrees were also! To top it all off we had THE BEST SERVER in quite some time AMBER! She was so great! She explained everything and was so pleasant and made our experience that much better! Next time we go we will be asking for Amber again! Can't wait to go back! read more

This restaurant is our new favorite! The me and my daughter both ordered the fresh seafood salad and they were exquisite! The fresh seafood was mounded over the field greens. Our servers Rianna and Deseree were wonderful. They really made the entire experience exceptional. They were very helpful in our meal selection and they were chatty which we like. Overall, we would definitely recommend this delicious yet affordable bistro. read more

Riverview Bistro - Exquisite fresh seafood with calamari, shrimp, clams, scallops, etc. - Seafood Near Me - Stratford, Connecticut

I held a baby shower here on Sunday and I can not say enough about the ease of hosting here. The event was for about 25 guests. The waitstaff I had were exceptional! Derek and Linda went above and beyond to make sure all our needs were met. Everything to getting an extra table set up to display something to inquiring about timing for serving meal, dessert. Linda was clearly very experienced and was able to give great advice. They just made everything so easy so I could truly enjoy the event. I have gotten so many compliments on the event and how good the food was and beautiful location. Honestly Linda and Derek really made it great! They were so warm and inviting and attentive to all the guest. I highly recommend hosting here.....and I would definitely ask for Linda and Derek to be your waitstaff! read more

Delicious oysters and a Riverview Salad were my choices. Charles enjoyed pork chops, mashed potatoes, green beans and a side salad. The homemade bread was hot and delicious too! Good service and I'm sure that during the day, The Riverview lives up to its' name as it is next to a River. The venue was large and spacious and had wooden floors. There was a large party adjacent to our table, however, they used folding partitions to keep it private for them and for us as well. All-in-all, a nice evening with quality ingredients and well prepared. read more