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Rivoli Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
1539 Solano Ave(between Neilson St & Peralta Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94707
Neighbourhood: North Berkeley
(510) 526-2542
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Fri 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
450 reviews for Rivoli Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Mushroom fritters were simple and delicious." In 75 reviews -
"good alternative if you can't get into chez panisse." In 25 reviews -
"The wine list is excellent and very resonably priced." In 28 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
450 reviews in English
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Review from Jin P.
Berkeley, CA
4/21/2012
Best all-around package I've had in a long time, from food to service to ambiance.
Standout Items (but menu changes frequently):
(1) Mushroom fritters (2) Pear Gnocchi (3) Mushroom-stuffed pork loin (4) Chicken done two ways (5) Mascarpone cheesecake (6) Chocolate cake
Service is incredibly friendly, helpful, and eager to fulfill any special requests. The appetizer bread (with sea salt and butter) was crumbly and delicious, and the rest of the food was excellent as well. Meat was tender and juicy, and the vegetable sides complimented the meat well. Desserts were light and tasty without being overbearingly sweet. Portions are very generous...I was still full the next morning.
The overall environment was cozy, laid-back, and inviting. Definitely coming again! -
Review from Adrienne G.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2012
Lucky enough to visit Rivoli before the best Play @ Berkeley Rep & we were treated so right!
Started w/ the Portabella Mushroom Fritters w/ parmesan & arugula in a caper vinaigrette. This dish was *huge* & could have easily been shared. We each got our own & felt stuffed just after this.....but we motored on
Reading that their only veggie entree was made w/ mint, of which I am not a fan, I asked if they'd make the Gnocchi appetizer into an entree & the immediate answer was no problem- props! Those pillows were decent size & just a bit chewy but really hit the spot
Other "appetiser-converted" entree included the Bellwether Farm Ricotta, Roast Pear & Pecorino Raviolini w/ hazelnuts in brown butter - this was light & creamy & only slightly sweet from the pear - in fact, you'd hardly pick up it was in there & that's some fine cheffery if you ask me
Loved the fact they served half-bottles - the perfect size to whet the whistle yet allow us to sample other wines as well
At the point of bursting at the seams, we still couldn't pass up dessert - shared the Warm Brioche Bread Pudding w/ caramelized apples & currants in a bourbon sauce. This delicacy was tender but a bit firm & not as custardy as some bread puddings we've tried at other places but it was still out of this world good
Also loved the way they made special occasions extra special for guests - some of the tables had confetti sprinkled all over it - very nice touch!Listed in: Magical Mushrooms, Just say Yes to Gnocchi, Bread Pudding
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Review from David L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/12/2012
I went to this place to celebrate my friend's graduation and was pretty nervous for the service. I read on Yelp they tend to ignore the younger crowd, so I came here half expecting the night to go awry in some way or another. It worked out perfectly fine.
The food was great. For appetizer, we ordered the mushroom fritters. I don't like mushrooms, but I gave it a shot, and they were not too bad. It tasted like onion rings without the onion in a way. So yay. We also ordered the lamb, the pork, the shrimp, and the ono. They were all made pretty good. My fish was well prepared and wasn't dry at all. No complaints from my friends either. We had strawberry shortcake for dessert, and it was DELICIOUS. Make sure to leave room to eat dessert!!
As for the service: like I said, I was really worried at first, but it turned out to be great. The staff was really friendly and attentive. They were always there to top off our waters and ask how our dinner was but was never intrusive of our private time. So A+ for them.
The price: pretty good actually; for a group of 4, it came out to be $195 (without tip). We did order $60 worth of alcohol and only 1 appetizer/1 dessert ($10ish per dish), so adjust accordingly.
In sum, I'd be back if the occasion arises. Top notch for the price. Definitely recommended. -
Review from Jenny L.
Oakland, CA
5/10/2012
Pro:
-Nice scenic garden in the background of restaurant
-Great service; my dinner was warmed and ready for me as I finished my salad. The waiter was attentive to me so they served my dinner after I ate my salad. How nice!
-I loved the garden ravioli dish! Sorry forgot the name!
Con:
-Pricey? Well, dishes were pretty good so it's okay. -
Review from Sandra O.
Walnut Creek, CA
5/26/2012
Three of us had dinner on Friday night at Rivoli. We started with a couple of their drink specialties which were delicious. We had the mushroom fritters as well as the salmon as appetizers, both were also delicious. Two orders were plenty for three hungry people.
For entrees, one had the duck and said it was the best he had eaten [and duck is a favorite that he often orders in good restaurants]. I had the trout with asparagus and potatoes - quite good. The 3rd person had a vegetable dish which she enjoyed.
We ordered only one dessert because we were quite full, chocolate mouse - yummy.
We had a booth. When we arrived the dining room was full and somewhat noisy but we had no trouble hearing each other as we talked. During our meal, several groups left and it was quieter and more pleasant.
Service was perfect. Servers were checking on us and getting us what we needed. Our dinners arrived in a timely manner and were beautifully presented. The dining room is lovely with the high glass wall at one end and the garden beyond. Prices were appropriate. All in all, dining at Rivoli was a very good experience. I recommend it. -
Review from Joy L.
Oakland, CA
4/28/2012
It's an amazing place and the food never goes wrong. Their wine list is fabulous, but, honestly, I don't know jack about wine. The food just pretty much melts in your mouth...and yet you only want more...a lick your plate kind of meal, and I am not a lick your plate kind of gal...
But in all honesty, it's a place filled with memories of a time and place in my life that I will always hold in my heart as very, very precious...so it's unlikely that I will return here again soon. -
Review from S. M.
San Francisco, CA
4/29/2012
The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. The restaurant is beautiful!
Appetizers:
- The salads were very refreshing.
- I LOVED the Shitake Fritters. BEST thing we ordered.
The Entrees:
All were stunning and picture perfect... but the taste? Oddly bland.
- Pork Brisket was tender and melted in your mouth, yet no flavor whatsoever.
- The Salmon was excellent yet the pureed potatoes were just that- pureed
potatoes. No butter or salt?
- The Lasagna was extremely rich but bland and still lacking something....
What was missing in every dish?!?
Salt? (I am in no way on the "demonizing of salt" bandwagon.)
I need SALT!!!
I was on the fence about giving this place 3 stars but thought I should try
it once more to see if the food lacking flavor in the future because everything
else was quite nice.
Overall, this was a very lovely restuarant. -
Review from Schuyler C.
Berkeley, CA
5/20/2012
There are restaurants in Berkeley with worse food and worse service, but this place is unique in being very expensive and having sub-par food and service. I had the stuffed pork chop, which was very overdone. My girlfriend had the only vegetarian entrêe, which was vegetable risotto - and it sucked and was only luke-warm (with a molten-lava-hot plate). The famous mushroom fritters were okay, but the grilled artichoke was oily and bland. The waitress wasn't knowledgeable about the menu or food or wine in general. I wouldn't mind if this were a cheap place, but at $25/plate, I would expect her to at least know the difference between a red wine and white wine glass. After waiting 20 minutes to order dessert, we just flashed a credit card so we could pay and be out of there. Also, the average age of diner in Rivoli is about 80, for what it's worth. The one good thing I can say is that they are wheelchair accessible.
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Review from Miss Mel D.
Orange, CA
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wanted to like this place more. We were looking for a nice restaurant before we went to play at The Berkley Playhouse and the reviews seemed good.
The staff was great! They honored our request to get out in a timely manner.
Their specialty cocktails were so good! One called, A Rose By Any Other Name...was tasty!
We started with the gnocchi appetizer with pine nuts, chestnuts and a pear sauce, this was awesome. The gnocchi was light and fluffy. The sauce had just a hint of pear and nicely complemented the gnocchi and the nuts.
The other 2 people in my party both ordered the Yellow Tail. One enjoyed it immensely. The other thought it was a little fishy, but that the flavors of everything that accompanied it was nice. I tasted it and thought it was okay, nothing special.
I ordered a Dungeness Crab ravioli with ricotta and a lemon Meyer noodle. This was a disappointment. The flavor overall was just bland. I was completely turned off by the presentation of it...it came out with diced carrots and green peas on it--Serioiusly?!? Gross. It totally cheapened the whole experience for me. Although they were fresh, that's usually what comes our of the freezer on someone's aunt norma's table. The Chef really needs to rethink this one. If there was sauce on it, it had no flavor.
The ambience of the place wasn't really all that great either. -
Review from Pierre C.
Alameda, CA
2/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
My wife and I had an awesome Valentine's dinner here on Feb 15. From the outside you sort of have no idea what to expect. you walk in a tiny welcome area, squeeze passed the Sommelier and kitchen staff and then it opens up to this beautiful dining room with a gorgeous, picture window of the lit-up backyard. The ambiance and lighting are great, however it could have been a tad darker. The garden was beautiful, and really provides a romantic setting. I only wish the tables were a little farther apart. I think if they took out one of the two seaters from the left side, and gave those inches to the other tables it would be even more romantic.
The reason I bring that up is that the only downside is hearing the conversations to the left and right of us, probably only an issue b/c the couple to the left seemed drunk from wine and the guy was prattling off about how Steve Jobs created Siri. His loud tone and display of peacockery was nausiating, even his poor date was passing out. After they left I was able to refocus on the gastronomic feats coming my way!
We had the mixed seafood appetizer, which was amazing. The standout to me was the Oyster "rockefeller" - really would have ordered a plate of 6 if I could have. Then we had the famed mushroom fritters - I was awesomely surprised by it. I figured all the hype would ruin it for me, but they lived up to their expectations. Order them!
For our entree we had the Lamb Shank. Perfect. The potatoes divine, and the asparagus buttery and delectable! My wife had Duck "two ways" and I was able to steal 2 bites! Man - it was good. It's a fun dish to order for those that like variety in their dinner.
To top it all off we had the chocolate Boudin - and a latte. The boudin was seriously AMAZING, it had this fantastic texture which all at once was like the top of a perfectly baked cupcake, that has a little crispness to it, that then just melts in your mouth. The Latte, may have been the best latte I have ever had. Each layer was visible, hot milk, espresso - and thick, thick foam. (next time though I would order an extra shot of espresso)
All in all - we are going back here in 3 weeks to see what else is on the menu. The chef changes it every 3 weeks but keeps a few staples, like the mushroom fritters and caesar salad. Go there and enjoy!
Oh one last thing, my wife is preggers so we went there also b/c the dishes are organic and locally sourced. They also have fine bottled water, pellegrino, etc and non-alcoholic beer. But by all means, go there for the wine...
Seriously last thing - the staff was awesome. Our waiter - Szymon rocked! Really professional staff! -
Review from Katie M.
Oakland, CA
2/24/2012
Followed the yelpers suggestions and made a reservation, although at 8pm on a wednesday night it seemed there were one or two open tables. I'd still recommend making a reservation because that I think that got us the nice table by the window. Speaking of the window, its floor to ceiling and looks into a great little garden. Rivoli is a very unique space.
Now onto the important part, food! Ordered the bay scallops and bf had the salmon. Both were fantastic, another night of having trouble deciding whose was better (a win win!). Service was attentive without being overly so. This place is definitely a keeper for those special occasion nights! -
Review from Annie C.
Berkeley, CA
2/15/2012
In L-O-V-E! I'll just put it out there -- I enjoyed my dining experience here more than at Chez Paniesse.
From the romantic and beautiful setting to the uniquely paired food to the extremely friendly and enthusiastic waiters/waitresses -- I had the perfect Valentine's dinner!
After eyeing this restaurant for a few years now, I was glad to try it for this special occasion. Rivoli had a set Valentine's Day menu tonight which was pretty diverse. I had the seafood trio which consisted of shrimp, crab cake and oysters on a bed of crunchy fried deliciousness. Each piece of the appetizer was very well crafted and stood out on its own for its own unique flavors and textures.
For the main course, both my boyfriend and I decided that we HAD to have the grilled flatiron steak. The black truffle rub and foie gras aioli made the steak mouth-watering. I asked for medium rare and thought they did a great job. I managed to eat the entire plate aside from the fried potatoes. Also, I have to mention I LOVED the glass of cab with my food. I forget the name of it but they only had one cab on the menu and it was a pretty full bodied, dry wine, which I love.
With a second stomach empty and ready for dessert, I ordered the warm chocolate budino, which was paired perfectly with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. I also appreciated the chocolate sauce on the side that added to the gooeyness of my decadent dessert. My boyfriend ordered the tiramisu but was also brought the chocolate budino. When we told our waiter there was a mistake, he gladly put down the chocolate budino and said he'd quickly grab a tiramisu for us. Lucky us, we had three plates of dessert on our table tonight! I of course inhaled it all and washed the sweetness down with some bitter dark coffee.
I got quite the view of their beautiful garden during my dinner and think that the lighting inside really set the mood. Everything about this place is wonderful, I can't wait to come back on another special occasion!
This Valentine's Day was full of love and now I've discovered another wonderful restaurant that has my heart. -
Review from Nick A.
Berkeley, CA
3/9/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Went there on a date once, and loved it!
At night, the restaurant is located in the shady part of Solano Avenue. We actually had to stop and check the address a second time (paranoid girlfriend problems).
But when we got there and went inside, things started to brighten up.
Tables are well-spaced. Waiter was friendly. Lighting is phenomenal. Room was well decorated with subtle greenery on the side.
Food was spectacular. I got the pot roast, but the menu changes often so make sure you check the website first. Price was more than fair.
An enjoyable experience all-around. I would say this is one of the best dinners I've had at Solano. -
Review from Augusto T.
Berkeley, CA
2/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Perfect for a romantic dinner. The extremely professional service and great atmosphere make it a great place to simply unwind and enjoy a good meal.
Reserved a table for two at Rivoli for a postponed V-day dinner. The place was packed on a weekday. I had to wait ten minutes for my table despite the reservation, so be sure to make one. The short wait was worth it, because we got a really nice table in the main dining room. The atmosphere was buzzing, yet relaxing. The illuminated garden behind the glass wall looked gorgeous. Service was flawless: both seamless and attentive.
For appetizers we tried the cheese gnocchi and the seafood trio. The gnocchi were much cheesier than the gnocchi your Italian grandmother would make, but they were definitely satisfying and balanced with the sweet figs and kumquats. The super fresh and crispy crabcake from the seafood trio was by far my favorite component from that dish.
For the main course we tried the lamb shank and the flank steak. The lamb shank was extremely tender, juicy, and delicious ( it is also huge, so make sure to be extra hungry if you were planning on leaving room for dessert) . The steak was also quite good. It was perfectly cooked and flavorful, the only downside being that the dish as a whole was a bit salty (the sides being kale with pancetta and salted fried potatoes.
We were too full for dessert, though I would have definitely indulged myself if something had stood out from the menu. The dishes were nothing particularly fancy, but they were all well cooked and the large portion sizes definitely made it good value. -
Review from Heaven T.
Oakland, CA
3/11/2012
This is a great date spot. The dining room in the back has a gorgeous view of a garden. The entire back wall is a seamless glass window, and in the evening it really romantic.
The food was outstanding. It was fresh and well seasoned. I loooove the chopped salad.
My only negative feedback is about the wait staff. We had to call someone over twice- once to order our appetizers, and another time to order our entree's. We felt a little ignored which is not cool when you are spending nearly $100 for a dinner for two. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Berkeley, CA
4/8/2012
One word comes to mind: "Yum"! The atmosphere at Rivoli is pretty cool - it's sort of minimalist, and the dining area looks out on to a nice little garden, which makes the space very bright and airy. I was very impressed with our waiter - he was extremely knowledgable, made excellent recommendations, and was just the right amount of attentive while still letting us take our time and enjoy our meal and company. The food was delicious - we had the mushroom fritters as an appetizer, and those went very fast. We also shared the gnocchi as an appetizer as well, which went equally as fast. I was served my iced tea in my own personal carafe - such a nice touch! And do yourself a favor, and get the chicken for dinner - normally I stay away from a boring meat like chicken when out at a nice place, but man did they do this right!
Listed in: Best Restaurants When Family…
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Review from Angela K.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2012
Just left this place and couldn't be happier!
They were able to squeeze us in on a pretty busy night and they treated us as if we were the only ones there. Service was fantastic all the way around - from the host to the bartender to the server to the manager on duty circling the place - it felt like hanging out with your friends... assuming your friends are really great cooks and are very polite.
I come to the table with crazy amounts of food restrictions (no dairy, startches, red meat nor pork) so I assumed my menu options would be limited. The waitress and chef were extremely accomodating and I ended up getting the shrimp dish. The lady friend went with the slow roasted pork and holy shit were we impressed!
The food was perfect. My dish was basically two types of beans, roasted tomatos, artichoke, and shrimp. Frankly, I could eat this every day. I actually said this out loud. Twice. Heather's meal was melt in your mouth delicious. Every bite was a dream - and the drinks were awesome too. Be sure to try to the Rose drink. It'll set you back ten bucks, but it totally rocked.
This place isn't cheap, but there wasnt a moment I doubted our choice of location. All in all - fantastic place, great location, fabulous staff, and incredible food. Can't wait to go back! -
Review from Tempe M.
Richmond, CA
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've driven past this funky looking space so many times and it's been on my list of places to try for years. Unfortunately it didn't do it for me. I ordered a fish dish (I can't remember what type) and it came out medium rare. Which I'm okay with if I know it's coming raw/rare. It didn't say on the menu that it was seared. They did offer to re-cook the fish and it came back in no time with an explanation that it shouldn't have been *that* rare so at least they made it right.
Overall service was good, attentive, water was always refilled. The space is very nice. Great view into the outdoor area. I just wish that I'd had something that wowed me. Nothing I experienced would bring me back unfortunately. -
Review from Mousputin S.
Berkeley, CA
1/30/2012
I've heard so many good things about Rivoli over the years, and finally came here for a celebratory dinner. Rivoli did not disappoint! I always imagined it to be bigger than it actually is, but the dining area is still a comfortable size. Pretty busy for a Sunday night! The big window to the garden area is pretty cool! Sadly I was seated with my back to the window...next time I have to maneuver myself for a better view!
We had the lamb, mahi mahi, and risotto entrees...no complaints :) Standouts were the cheese souffle appetizer and the apple/pear crepe dessert. I think this quote best sums up the experience: "I didn't know there were nice restaurants like this in Berkeley." We've been missing out, I won't wait years before my next visit! -
Review from joe w.
Washington, DC
4/23/2012
This represents an excellent nutritional value and good taste for the money.
If you liked Chez Panisse, I think you would also enjoy this restaurant. -
Review from T L.
Alameda, CA
2/15/2012
Made a reservation for a birthday dinner and didn't regret it. If you let the staff know in advance that it is a birthday dinner they will sprinkle the table with birthday confetti, which is a nice touch and less humiliating than having a group of waiters/waitresses that you don't know sing to you and disrupt the people just trying to enjoy a nice meal out around you.
The food was delicious, I had a vegetarian risotto and my bf had a scallop dish; both were excellent. -
Review from Mia D.
Evanston, IL
12/14/2011
Came here on a whim on a weeknight and was seated in the dining area in 5 minutes. There's a beautiful large window opening onto a private garden with gorgeous lighting that really set the scene. It's not too loud, and feels classy but not unapproachable.
We had the mushroom fritters, yellowtail, and pot roast. The mushroom fritters were yummy, but not a must have.
When my husband's pot roast came out I had instant food envy. It was juicy, fall-off-the-bone in a perfect sauce and a really good size. My yellowtail on the otherhand was grilled dry with seemingly no seasoning. Maybe they were trying to emphasize the flavor of the fish? But it was just dry and blah. So I scooted it around on my plate for a little while before the waitress noticed and asked how the food was. I (nicely) fessed up, and she instantly suggested trying something else with no hesitation and nothing but sincerity. It was late at this point so she suggested a quick meal, the truffle ravioli.
OH-MY-GOODNESS. Best ravioli of my life with an amazing I-have-no-idea-what sauce. It was fluffy and flavorful and seemed to just melt in my mouth. The waitress genuinely seemed happy that I was enjoying my food.
So, 5 stars for beautiful decor, yummy food and fantastic service.
And I would rate the price as $$, not $$$. -
Review from Troy F.
Berkeley, CA
1/12/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Service was great. Our meal was:
Portobello Mushrooms
Caesar Salad
Mahi Mahi
Pork Brochette
Butternut Squash Torta
All of our dishes were prepared well and were very tasty. I had the pork and it was cooked perfectly. The dishes were simple yet delicious. The interior decorating and view of the garden was great and relaxing. The noise level was a little higher than I like but overall a great meal. -
Review from Leigh B.
Berkeley, CA
12/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
The good: Service is truly excellent, and the dining room is lovely. Great wine list, too!
We had an artichoke soup with truffle oil that was lovely, and my friend ordered the scallops which I found to be perfectly cooked and beautifully presented.
I also ordered a pear cornmeal cake which was unbelievably delish. Absolutely perfect dessert.
The "meh": I don't understand what the fuss is about these mushroom fritters. They're shitake mushrooms coated in panko and deep fried, served with an aiolli. That's it.
I'll be back, though. -
Review from Alice M.
Came in late on Friday night, waited at the bar, and were seated around the time of our reservation in the dining room. This place seats until the restaurant "closes," but really closes when everyone is done without rushing people. How refreshing!
The dining room is lovely. Sure the bar is ok, but if you can wait, go to the dining room. It has nice lighting, nice decor, and a window that leads to a nice garden view.
We got the mushroom fritters to start and after much debate, decided on getting a grilled shrimp entree and a pork tenderloin entree. The mushroom fritters are a classic here, and they're definitely worth a try (or two.. or three..). They're well-seasoned, and though a bit salty, the bitterness of the greens helps cut through it. The grilled shrimp entree was well-cooked and tender. The sauce was light and the veggies were a nice complement. The pork tenderloin, on the other hand, was overcooked and dry. This is when Rivoli's service brought the experience from a 4 to a 5.
When the waiter asked how our entrees were, we were honest (not harshly though.. just said the pork was slightly dry, but that the shrimp was wonderful). He quickly replied, "Ok, let's try something else then!" So he ordered us the other entree we were eyeing -- the oxtail ravioli!! On top of that, the host also came by to apologize for the misstep and that he hoped that we would enjoy our other entree. They refilled our wine glasses as we waited for our dish. Before going onto the ravioli, I'd just like to point out how amazing it was to be met not with defensiveness or with hostility, but instead with such kindness and hospitality when we admitted that we didn't love the pork tenderloin. Rivoli did well here.
The oxtail ravioli came out, and this was the standout dish of the night for me (although my friend enjoyed the grilled shrimp just as much). The ravioli was perfectly cooked and almost silky! The oxtail was nice and the sauce had such depth and complexity to it. Delicious.
Even though we were completely full at the end of the meal, we decided to get the chocolate brioche bread pudding for dessert. This, again, was amazing. Spongy, light yet rich, chocolate-y, and just all in all delicious. They also gave us free tastings of a dessert wine, which again is a testament to how great they were to us. This was a perfect ending to the meal.
Rivoli obviously cares about getting their food as well as their service right, and I intend to recommend and revisit this restaurant. To the staff that night, thank you for a wonderful introduction to Rivoli!! I will be back!Listed in: Adventures of a Growing Foodie
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Review from Gustav P.
Berkeley, CA
5/10/2012
Great place for dinning!
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Review from Kathy L.
Berkeley, CA
11/21/2011
Came here for my birthday dinner :D
The good:
Big thick crusty but moist loaves of free bread, which we smothered in butter and inhaled in un-ladylike form. Twice.
We ordered the oxtail ravioli and pork tenderloin with stuffing and gnocchi and split the two dishes.
The oxtail ravioli was honestly the best ravioli I've ever had. Super succulent meat blanketed in a thin, almost wonton-like wrapper and drizzled in some mysterious delicious sauce that I can't recall (a wine sauce perhaps?). The pork tenderloin was also good, but the knockout in this dish was the gnocchi- soft, chewy, delicately cheesy and light. Perfection. Our waiter was also very attentive.
The bad:
We did not make reservations on what ended up being a busy night and despite our very explicit, and often repeated requests to sit at a table, the staff kept pushing us to sit at the bar. Because we weren't here to celebrate someone's 40th birthday or 2nd divorce, we don't belong in the dining/grown-up room? It's possible they were concerned for our estimated wait time (which was very long), but it's hard to justify why the concierge came to ask us every 10 mins if we would like to sit at the bar when we made it very clear that we wanted to sit in the dining room and were willing to wait.
Overall, FANTASTIC food, but I think that next time I'd go with my parents. Or borrow someone else's. -
Review from Becca H.
Berkeley, CA
4/12/2012
The best restaurant in Berkeley. Take that, Chez Panisse!
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Review from Katarina M.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 11/20/2011
Rivoli's food is still so good that one has to pause to take it in. But I'm taking a star off because they keep pushing you to spend more and it gets uncomfortable. For example, when they ask you "sparkling or still" they should warn you before charging you $6 for a big bottle of Pellegrino (a lot of places do sparkling water in-house).
I was treating my friend for her 22nd birthday, and I felt like we received discrimination for being young Asian females, from trying to seat us at the bar after seating other non-reservations first (after we'd explicitly expressed that we'd wait as long as needed for a table), to the constant urging to spend more (the surprise Pellegrino is enough, thank you, please stop asking us to buy wine). :( The food, however, is really good, so I'm keeping the rating high for that. Maybe the experience will be better after I acquire some wrinkles and designer handbags?Listed in: Fine Dining
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/8/2010
I would come back.
It's been over a year since I ate here, but I still remember: I had salmon over… Read more »
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Review from Ron S.
Oakland, CA
2/19/2012
We have been to this restaurant for special occasions a number of times over the past 6 years -- and we will keep going back. One of my favorites in the entire Bay Area. I love the food most of all, but also love the great service and the lovely garden in the back.
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Review from christina t.
Fremont, CA
1/18/2012
This restaurant posses everything I want in a man: Culture, Simplicity, and Exquisite Taste. And as most gems are, this joint is at a very low-key and quaint location that you can easily miss if you don't keep an eye out. I started my meal with the Mushroom Fritters which were well-seasoned, continued with the Scallop Entree which was portioned perfectly, and ended it with a warm honey apple crisp which was a flashback to my favorite childhood desserts. Overall, it was a great experience and the staff was very friendly and efficient. Will definitely come back again soon.
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Review from Adrian H.
Oakland, CA
4/9/2012
Good food and good ambiance. Make no mistake, this is not a "Chez Panisse Substitute" as some reviewers would have one believe. The food was good, but not really 4 or 5 star food. The flavors worked well together, but it lacked the delicate touch that one expects from a 4 or 5 star restaurant. That said, we had a nice time and the space is small and intimate.
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Review from Pb J.
Oakland, CA
10/24/2011
This is one of my parent's favorite restaurants, and I enjoy tagging along when they go! Set in a fairly neighborhood-y local, it is a quaint, high end restaurant. I think the thing I love the most about Rivoli is the setting, especially when you get the table in the front by the window! The somalier is an abundance of knowledge, and can pair a glass of wine with any dish to match perfectly!
I do enjoy when restaurants change up their menus on a frequent basis, because then you are able to experience the expertise and talent of the chef! The only downside to this would be that a menu could be a hit or miss, especially when you are vegetarian, and there is only one entrée option and it sounds a little less than desirable!
This last visit I had the truffle ravioli, which was spectacular, especially given that I am not a huge fan of truffles. As I have commented in another post, I find truffle oil to be very pungent, and too much of it can really ruin a dish. Unlike someone else's comment who also had the truffle ravioli, I have to disagree- adding more would've ruined and completely overwhelmed the dish! It was subtle enough to taste and flavor without ruining it!
For dessert we all shared a pumpkin soufflé, which I had pretty low expectations of, given I hate custard (and custard-like desserts) and I am not a huge fan of pumpkin, but this dessert totally blew me out of the water, and I ate more than my fair third of it! It had a very gentle and subtle and creamy texture. I would totally recommend trying this for as long as they keep it on the menu, since it is a new and refreshing approach to a pumpkin dessert!
I have not experienced the over-saltiness of dishes that others have been commenting about, and that's quite an unfortunate and harsh comment which I hope is untrue (or the result of a couple bad nights), given I am a real fan of both the food and friendly, attentive service. -
Review from Katie W.
Bonita, CA
1/27/2012
Great experience, will definitely return!
I went here a while back and it was amazing. It's a really small restaurant hidden on a large street with a very relaxed vibe. It's great for any occasion
We had :
Filet mignon with a red wine reduction over bread pudding (excellently cooked)
Duck cooked five ways (very creative and tasty)
Very highly recommended -
Review from David D.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012
Went here the other night for a date. Got there a little bit late, but they still had our reservation which was nice. Once we got seated, it took them 15 minutes just to get to our table and ask what we wanted to drink. By then we knew what we wanted to order and we ordered everything at once. Appetizer butter salad came out another 15 minutes later. The salad was delicious. Then another 30 minutes for our food. I ordered the pot roast and my date ordered the mahi mahi. The pot roast was pretty bland - cooked well, but bland. Nothing on the plate was delicious at all. My date's mahi mahi was very salty and bitter. Neither of us were impressed for the price.
Service was ridiculously slow and food was no where near what I expected. Over an hour wait time for food?! The ambiance is a plus, and the butter salad. Not enough to make me want to come back. Overrated in my opinion. -
Review from Debbie C.
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Can't go wrong with the shrimp, scallop ragout or the roast chicken with persimmon, pomegranate and kale stuffing. The smoked trout appetizer is also a must do. Finish with a classic chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. What a happy ending!
The food is great! Not much of a bar but atleast they give you the right wine glass with your wine. The service is good as is the ambiance. Overall great dining experience. -
Review from Peter M.
Emeryville, CA
1/9/2012
I love this place, and wish I could eat here more. I think this is the best Caesar Salad in the Bay Area, and thankfully they don't offer a version with Chicken. The Mushroom Frittas are amazing. I've lost count of the times I've had a salad, followed by frittas and too much bread that I've had to get my entre to go. I also love that there is very low turnover of wait staff and I know that some of the kitchen people have been here since the place opened. One of the best values in the Bay Area.
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Review from Adam P.
6/26/2011
Meh. Take a pass on this one.
It's not that Rivoli's food is so terrible. Actually it's just sort of average with a few "fail" moments.
It's just that they bill themselves as this local-ingredient, menu-changes-every-3-weeks, gastronomical experience, and it does not live up to it.
Example: "portabella mushroom fritters, aïoli, parmesan, arugula, caper vinaigrette"
Just tasted like fried nothing. It did not capture the meatiness of portabella, or subtle tang of good parmesan. If fact the parm was pretty flavorless. The only taste was capers.
All in all I tasted 4 dishes (3 apps, and 1 main), and Rivoli went 0 for 4.
Example 2: Grilled pork chop, hazelnut and pancetta stuffing, potato and pecorino gratin, seared garlic greens, cherry jus.
Pork chop was decent - a little fatty. The stuffing tasted of bread...not nutty (hazelnut), or bacon-y (pancetta). The greens were very bitter, and Topping it off were the cherries, which didn't carry any sweetness.
So you see? Dishes sound excellent, but the flavors weren't there.
Plus points - service excellent - both for the meal itself and the hostess/waitstaff experience: They made space for us even though they were 95% full. Oh, and the drink menu looked stunning! -
Review from Lisa C.
Seattle, WA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came for my birthday dinner with honey, who is a local. Apps, wine and service are worthy. Dinner, not so much. We had duck three ways which turned out to be two ways and a poor rendition of Chinese duck and braised beef with chanterelle mushrooms. Sleepy at best. When the server noticed we were not finishing our meals she asked what we would send back. The problem wasn't preparation, but taste. Everything was under seasoned and forgettable. With so many worthy restaurants in this area I would skip this one altogether.
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Review from Taylor S.
Berkeley, CA
2/13/2012
Great restaurant! Awesome food, relaxed atmosphere, top-notch service!
I started off with the portabella mushroom fritters - which were fantastic! For my entree I had the grilled day boat scallops! Great flavors and the potato and wild mushroom gratin was to die for! Ended the meal with a warm chocolate budino. Perfect pairings of food, can't go wrong here!
