An excellent addition to our already wonderful choice of epicurian choices in down town Nevada City. My last visit was A FIVE STAR EXCEPTIONAL dinning experience. Portions and pricing are fair and the new wine bar and balcony are a welcome for evening people watching from above. The owners are kind and unpretentious and work hard to keep their above standard food and atmosphere. The new menu has some real food favorites for me. read more

The River Downtown - Dinner is served - Wine Bars Near Me - Nevada City, California

This review will be a joy. What a awesome surprise. We went to Nevada City to spend a day shopping and walking this beautiful town. We ended up eating at The River. It's a quaint little spot with some tables outdoors, which worked for us because we had our dogs in a stroller. I checked the menu before we sat down and they had a few gluten-free dishes which serves my wife well. Little did I know I was gonna find this culinary gem. We started with the Chicharron's. I'm not kidding. These were the best Chicharron's I have ever had in my life. They were so extremely fresh with a chipotle sauce that was perfection. I can't even describe how good these things were, but talk about fresh and crispy. Triple wow. The next item was the pork belly. It was scrumptious. The right blend of fat to meat ratio. Sweet and tangy. A 10 compared to chef Ramsey's 6 that I had at Hell's kitchen. And then there was the wild west beef tacos. Now if you follow my many reviews you will know I am a taco foodie. It is hard to get a wow out of me over a taco, but oh my God, these were some of the best freaking tacos I ever had in my life! They use a tender skirt steak to line the grilled flour tortilla, and then cheese, grilled onion, and bacon with an arugula salad top. And I believe some kind of chipotle sauce. I am not kidding you, these tacos will bend your knees. I absolutely loved them. They just absolutely nailed this. The wait staff was excellent, I got a pale Mexican beer that was really good, even the lemonade was first class. This was the surprise lunch of my lifetime. I was not expecting much. I was not expecting something worthy of a review even. These are some of the greatest lunches ever when you find a spot like this and were expecting nothing. Kudos to The River Downtown. I just wished I was staying another day so I could go back and try all the other things they have on their menu. Wow wow wow. read more

LOVE THIS PLACE!! Enjoyed everything about this lovely new Nevada City restaurant. We are also people who love sharing small plates, so especially our kind of place. Beautifully curated decor- you can tell the owners put a lot of time and thought into to it. Wish I had taken a picture of the beer tap rotation.. each handle is a beautiful large rock crystal. Food was excellent- we shared the coconut shrimp which were the bomb with generous sized shrimp seemingly breaded with a light, coconut only coating so not a heavy breading that usually cheats you with tiny shrimp. We also shared the meatball sampler and the gogujhang (I know I spelled that wrong) meatballs were delicious. Also the sweet pea salad with a generous sized portion of smoked salmon. It was very, very good! We sat at the bar and got to chat with the daughter (family owned and run) who was a sweetheart. The wine pours by the glass were also generous. For those few who complained about the size of the plates- this is a small plates restaurant. 3 plates and we were stuffed. For a restaurant working on razor-thin margins as all restaurants do (especially in CA) I thought it was a great value and a lovely night out. This isn't the Cheesecake Factory people. Thank God. Will be back very soon! read more

Ambiance, food, service... Everything was wonderful! My husband and I decided to eat somewhere new and The River came in highly recommended so we decided to try it out. They've really outdone themselves with this place. The focaccia was amazing, the tacos were delicious and original, the tuna beautiful. Quality, originality, atmosphere... Absolutely worth a try! Easy 5 stars!!! read more

We sat outside and the sun was blazing after the clouds were gone. They tried so hard to make us comfortable and provided shade and a fan. The food was so amazing! We ordered so many items and everything was delicious! read more

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Such a fun spot! We shared three small plates and all were very good. They feature rotating wine spritzer cocktails that were perfect with our light meal. The staff was welcoming and attentive. Definitely two thumbs up! read more

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Great food, delightful and fun with tremendous fresh peas and extra and smoked turkey ! Great ! read more

Excellent. Absolutely excellent. Had the bruschetta, wrapled asparagus, wild west tacos and the sticky toffee cake. Can't wait to go back.

Found this little hole in the wall on yelp. Went here for appetizers and loved it. The woman who seated and served us was a doll! We got the chicharone and little Mac and both were extremely tasty!! I normally do not try things like the chicharone but I am so happy I did! So delicious!! read more

The River Downtown - Little mac BIG flavor!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Nevada City, California

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We heard good things about The River Downtown and tried it out ourselves. We were not disappointed. The restaurant is small but rich with Gold Country history. We had a cozy table in the back room which was a working smelting room in the 1800's. The walls are well-cooked brick. Service was brisk and we enjoyed the small plate meals. They also had an excellently-curated list of wines by the glass and a considerable selection of beers on tap. This is a great place for a cozy meal selected from a large variety of tasty dishes. We loved the Seared Ahi Sliders and Maui Wowie Coconut Shrimp. Next time, we'll try the Smashed Tacos. read more

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We ate here last night. We were delighted with each dish we ordered. Starting the the shishito peppers and chili oil. The flavor was amazing, and the chili oil was over-the-moon good. Depth of flavor, a crunchiness and not too much heat made me ask for a bottle of the sauce to take home. No dice, but I tried. We all woke up this morning talking about the sliders, and even though we are only here for 3 nights, we will go back before we head home to Napa. The meatballs we little pops of deliciousness. The coconut shrimp was large crispy, tender, fresh and the dipping sauce was the perfect accompaniment. Our son had a dragon kombucha which he loved. I tried the Martis Cabernet and the Rhone. Both were full flavored great prices. My husband loved his beer. We shared a toffee cake and it was the perfect ending to a spectacular meal. We will be back. read more

Wow!Charles is a great cook and partner in business with his mom, dad and sister. This little "hole in the wall" in a wonderful shopping area has gourmet food. Ambiance, history, and everything yummy (and good prices)! Treat yourself, you can't make a wrong choice here. read more

Not the best photos but we came here for a quick bite and drinks. We absolutely loved the Mac n cheese and harvest salad. The space itself was pretty small but we made reservations and were seated with no problem. They also have a bar that's open seating. read more

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Such delicious food!! The harvest salad is fabulous, I hope it stays. Our other favorite items are the Mediterranean tacos, coconut shrimp, the hummus, lamb meat balls and the sticky toffee cake. The Mac and cheese needed a bit more flavor and the chicken and waffles were okay. The other items on the menu are the stars. read more

What a great find. I can honestly say that their tacos were sone of the best I've ever had.

Very nice new addition to Nevada City, fantastic service and a beautiful new remodel. The food was exceptional. We had the Aji nachos, and the Wild West tacos. The tacos were actually two of the best I've ever had anywhere. For $16, for two, it's a perfect share, and it's a must try. Wines by the bottle were priced between $30 and $50. read more

The River Downtown - Ahi nachos $20. Actually a lot of Ahi in there once you break it up. - Wine Bars Near Me - Nevada City, California

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The food flavor was excellent. However, serving size varies greatly in menu items. Inquiring about serving size depending on hunger would be helpful. Service was great, but kitchen slow. We waited a long time for our entrees. Ambiance was interesting. Cozy at the bar in front. Second floor a mystery. Not a not a fan of the brick "cave" in the back. Chicaronnes, Bacon wrapped dates, Chicken and Waffle sliders, Tuk Tuk tacos. The Chicaronnes were a regular sized dish. Everything else was undersized. Dates 4 in a serving. Tacos, 2 regular size, heavy on the cabbage. Chicken and waffle sliders, 2 tea sandwich sized sliders. Even for a "small plate" restaurant, the portions need work. read more

We had a lovely dinner at The River Downtown last night before the show at Off Broadstreet. We enjoyed Killer Tacos, coconut shrimp and a delicious chicken & waffles sliders. Great wine selection and excellent service. Reservations are a must! read more

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Amazing food. Great people. Epic vibe. Make sure you check this place out. Family owned, great little local gem read more

The River Downtown - Tacos - Wine Bars Near Me - Nevada City, California

Wonderful atmosphere and incredible food. Really enjoyed talkiung to the owners...the mac and cheese was the best I have ever had, ever. And the Sticky Toffee Pudding was incredible also read more

Wow, so glad we tried this restaurant! We made reservations for an early dinner on a Friday night, and the place was busy, which is always a good indication of what is to follow. We were greeted immediately and seated quickly. Our server approached us for drink orders almost immediately after being seated and maintained that level of service throughout the meal. The interior is a cozy mixture of quirky and eclectic decor that somehow meshes well with the historic nature and construction of the building. All that aside, it was the food that truly sets this restaurant above anything else in the town or the market area. Creative and unusual interpretations of various cultural food types, including some ramped up traditional comfort food options. Most servings are small plates, but are easily enough to be shared. With that in mind, and given the quality and creativity of the food, the pricing is extremely reasonable. I feel confident with recommending this restaurant and will look forward to our return. read more

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We tried numerous things on the menu and found it completely fair at best. Started with focaccia which resulted in four slices of thin, dry bread that were completely lacking in any true focaccia (think some richness of olive oil, moist interior) character. Tuna carpaccio was a bowl of microtome-thin sliced tuna with a completely tasteless topping. The sweet pea salad was fine, and was the highlight of the meal. Corn ribs consisted of a half dozen small bits of corn on the cob with a decent topping. The taste was fine, but all I could think of was that I just paid $14 for about 25 cents worth of ingredients. We tried several of the smashed tacos (Southwest, Mediterranean) and found them astonishingly dry and in great need of anything moist (they really needed some sauce, salsa, anything). The service was kind, intelligent, and helpful. However, the food was absolutely underwhelming. Why is it that this place has numerous Yelp reviews and is not even listed on Tripadvisor???? read more

Great service! The food is amazing. Fun sharing plates together. Lovely experience! Going back ASAP!

This restaurant is a gem! We received a warm welcome from Christine (one of the owners I believe) and were quickly seated in the back in what was at one time the back half of a gold smelting oven from the 1800s. How cool is that? Anyone who is a history buff has to eat here! Our service was great. The wine spritzers were delicious and the crackling chicharrones were amazing and not a dish you can find just anywhere! I want to bring my kids back to try them because I know they would love them and that they are still crackling when they bring them to the table! I don't know that I have ever had quicker service before at a restaurant of this caliber. I highly recommend!! read more

Outstanding food, service, and ambiance. One the best dining experiences we've had recently.

I saw the reviews for this place on Tues but had to wait for Thursday evening to catch them open. I was all about trying the Tuk Tuk Thai Smash Tacos - which, did not disappoint! My husband had the Wild West Smash Tacos and he was very happy with them as well! Lots of on tap options for drinks. What a great little spot, loved the history and decor, cool vibe. Service was great as well. Will stop in again next time we're in town! read more

The historic building was really cool. The food was ok. They took regular bar food and tried to make it fancy. We did a sampler: bread, shrimp, tacos, and cheesecake. read more

The food selection was very eclectic and delicious! Great drink selection. We were in the back, so some of us loved the historical vibe while some of us hated the dark cave! Wouldn't deter us in the least. Go and experience this gem of a restaurant! read more

What a great place for a light meal and a cold beer or wine. Awesome selection of wines and a very unique menu of delicious fares to choose from. A welcome addition to the Nevada City bar & restaurant scene. Congrats to Christine and her family for creating a VERY special place. Much success !! read more

Great for a lovely date night, ask for Ella!! Fantastic food, incredible service !!!!!!!

Reservation right on time- nice ambiance - great fast service and delicious fresh food at fair prices- what more can you ask? Glad to have them in town. Only thing I didn't like was the price of the bread basket was a little too high so we went without bread. read more

I recommend the hummus and chicken sliders. Service was great as well. Smashed wild west tacos were yummy.

Christine, Olivia and Cole are friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is cozy, and the flavors of everything I've been served are great. The wine selection is fantastic. The River is a great addition to the Nevada City restaurant scene that we didn't know we needed. read more

Great food, amazing ambiance, and friendly staff. The owners are great people, too. I am looking forward to many return visits.

Wonderful experience! The coconut shrimp was the best I have ever had. The smash tacos are flavorful and hearty. The ahi nachos were delicious. Great beer and wine selection and beautiful environment. Fantastic service by Olivia and Colleen! Highly recommend! read more

The River Downtown is hands down one of our favorite social spots. the food and drinks are delicious and the owners and staff make you feel right at home. For larger parties you can reserve the back room for about 15 people, I believe. Great for birthdays or special occasion. The place is full of interesting design and amazing history. You can tell a lot of sweat, love, and tears went into making this a beautiful spot to enjoy. read more

Great, friendly and wonderful service. Lots of great small plates. Loved the hummus and kombucha. Ask to sit in the back in the old gold smelting room under the brick nook and skylight in the comfy swivel chairs. read more

The River Downtown - Tapas style restaurant - Wine Bars Near Me - Nevada City, California

Fun experience tonight at The River. Service was great and we really enjoyed the lamb meatballs. Try the Basque cheesecake; not quite as good as in San Sebastian, but what is... read more

A very welcomed addition to Commercial Street in downtown Nevada City. Very creative menu, all tapas are made to order and are spectacular!!!! Service is excellent and the extensive drink menu is impressive. The imaginative decor is reflective of the town's origin. A great dining experience! read more

The food, drinks, and service were amazing!! I made a reservation over the phone for 10 people for my 30th birthday and what a treat it was!! We had a table in the back room, it was small and but cozy. I had the colada kombucha to drink which was tasty but my man had the black currant cider, he never drinks but it was so good he had to get a second one. He said it was very similar tasting to Ribena (for the black currant lovers). We had an assortment of tapas items to share that were all amazing; the poke nachos, focaccia bread, chicharrones, coconut shrimp, samosas, Wild West smash tacos and Mediterranean (style?) smashed tacos. Everything was super yummy but wowww those Wild West tacos were standout amazing! I loved all the textures and the super crispy tortilla was unique and delicious. I only had one because I had my fair share of tapas but I really have thought about them at least once a day for the past 5 days! We did not have dessert this time but I will make any and every excuse to come back very soon. Thank you again the River Downtown team, you're my new favorite! read more