Riva's Italian Restaurant
Italian · Sunday Brunch · Houston, TX
About
The dining room at Riva's Italian Restaurant feels like a time capsule with its tacky lamps and decorative wooden molding, a space that's been serving Montrose since 1984. It's a place where the waitstaff call you by name, and the crowd leans gay, friendly, and regular. The menu offers reliable Italian-American standards like Chicken Piccata and Shrimp Scampi, plus a Sunday Brunch with a Mimosa special.
There's a TV audible in the background, and the service is well-timed and attentive. The food doesn't aim for modern sophistication, but it's inexpensive and high quality. Some reviewers note the salads lean heavily on iceberg lettuce, and the overall vibe is like a pair of old shoes, comfortable if not trendy. You'll find it on Yoakum Blvd in Montrose, near Empire Cafe if you want another option nearby.
Features
- ✓Sunday Brunch Mimosa special
- ✓Waitstaff on a first-name basis
- ✓Inexpensive entrees with quality
Cuisine
What people say
Rated from 867 reviews. 19 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
“Awesome food. Fast friendly service”
Stopped in while visiting Houston. The food was affordable and excellent. The crab cake appetizer was amazing, and the main courses were even better. Service was prompt and well-paced, with very attentive staff.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Circa 1984”
Someday we'll look back on 1980s gay restaurants and remember all the kitsch: tacky lamps, decorative wood trim, converted verandas turned into dining rooms, televisions playing audibly, friendly servers straight out of 'Queer as Folk' who know everyone by name, plenty of pre-dinner drinks, and upscale comfort food. Salads straight from a high school cafeteria (who knew iceberg lettuce could dominate so thoroughly!), and classic dishes like Rack of Lamb, Chicken Piccata, and Shrimp Scampi (which I adored at age 12, thinking it was the pinnacle of sophistication at my brother-in-law's place in Tuckahoe, New York). Fast forward nearly 30 years. I'm sure there's a fun crowd for people-watching here, the same regulars who have come for the past two decades. This restaurant is like a pair of old shoes. How you feel about that is up to you.
A guest · Over a year ago
I adore going here for Sunday brunch! It's a charming, relaxed place that's perfect for a Sunday morning.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“Very impressed”
The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and ensure we had everything we needed.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
“Good food, no pretenses”
Rivas is an excellent choice for dinner with a date or a group of friends. The food is good, and the waitstaff is exceptional.
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of cuisine do they serve? +
Italian-American cuisine, including Chicken Piccata, Shrimp Scampi, and Rack of Lamb.
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