We made a reservation to sit outside, and that was perfect for us with our small dog. The menu is amazing, shared choices, and individual plates too, tapas style; we enjoyed that a lot as our first time eating here. Service is top notch; waitress service, kind and helpful, explaining the dishes available to make our selection. We ended up sharing to make the most of tasting as many options as possible. The owner is friendly, welcoming, and clearly loves her restaurant; we shall return and bring our friends next time! We brought our grandchildren too; great little menu for them. I love the ambiance of this place; I almost felt I was in another country because it is so authentic. read more

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

Dinner last night with friends is always a good time. Having dinner at the River Downtown was the cherry on the top, small great place service was excellent, started off with coconut shrimp, Shishito peppers and a salad with goat cheese fritter, all of these didn't last long, I ordered the 4 meatballs sampler it had two Gochujang chicken meatballs and two Banh Mi meatballs, easy to say I've never eaten anything like this, excellent dish, truly delicious read more

The River Downtown - 4 meatball sampler - Wine Bars Near Me - Nevada City, California

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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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The food is unique and the small bites are perfect except the ones we ordered came in odd amounts. 3 bruchetta. 5 corn ribs, delicious but hard to split between 2. Also, both visits, the initial service was less than desirable. I will give it a third try since the food and ambience is good. 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

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 is last meal territory. I will dream about these tacos until we can meet again. My husband ordered the coconut shrimp and it looked absolutely incredible. I am not one for seafood, but I even considered it which is saying something. There was a group of women who had walked in and I could tell they were debating the tacos and I had to make my contact and tell them absolutely get them, but you have to try the three sampler. It's an hour and a half drive that I would take over and over again. read more

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

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

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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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

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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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

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

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

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

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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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

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

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!

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 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 !!!!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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