I went to Michael's Riverside for a work holiday party, and going in, my expectations were... neutral at best. All I knew was that it was an Italian restaurant, and as someone who is not the biggest Italian food fan, I showed up with an open mind and a backup personality. First win: parking. Plenty of on-site spots and a separate entrance/exit situation that clearly said, "We care about traffic flow and your sanity." Already off to a strong start. When my friend and I walked in, staff greeted us right away and immediately pointed out the bathrooms and the bar area which, frankly, is the correct order of priorities. The room itself wasn't huge, but it was cozy and fit our group comfortably, with enough space to move around... even when the DJ decided it was time for a conga line (yes, that happened, and yes, I internally facepalmed). Food was served family-style, and I'll admit it: I was pleasantly surprised. Everything was well seasoned, cooked properly, and, a personal victory, the vegetables were not overdone. A holiday miracle. I enjoyed the meal far more than I expected to, which says a lot coming from someone who usually approaches Italian menus with caution. Bathrooms were clean and well-stocked with toilet paper and soap, which shouldn't be noteworthy but unfortunately still is in this world, so credit where it's due. My only gripe was dessert. While many of them looked aesthetically pleasing, they fell into my least favorite category: dry. If you love a dry cake or cookie, this may not bother you. If you're like me... you might want to enjoy dinner here and then go elsewhere for dessert. Overall: Even though it's not my go-to cuisine, Michael's Riverside delivered a genuinely good experience. I came for a work party and left thinking, I might actually come back here on my own: willingly. And honestly, that's the highest praise I can give. read more

I had my daughter's bridal shower here last Saturday. The restaurant is lovely. I have only good things to say about Michael. He was always available to answer any question I had and was great to work with to make my daughter's day special! The food was so delicious and plentiful! We went with a buffet with appetizers. Everyone raved about the food! And his staff was also wonderful! We also had the photo booth which was a big hit! Our ages ranged from 8 to 92 and all I heard was good reviews! This was my first time at Michael's but definitely won't be my last! read more

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First time last night for a fundraiser. Owner Michael was helping out himself. Food was excellent for the dinner. Had cold appetizers of cheese and meats, hot shrimp and Caesar salad. Choice of four entrees for dinner, enjoyed my chicken parmigiana. Friendly staff and nice ambiance. read more

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Is this a rhetorical question... I highly recommend this venue to any event that you might plan. Also, the Sangria hands down, Superb‼Every dish, morsel was cooked to perfection‼ read more

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Wow. Delightfully surprised !! Had amazing service and food I'm dieting so needed something light as healthy. Ordered a Cobb salad with avocado and grilled shrimp. The dressing was delicious and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. So enjoyed this Friends had the cordon bleu and steak and everyone loved their meals We stayed over 2 hours and no one rushed us out. Will definitely come back ! read more

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ive been here a few times the latest for a wedding which was outrageous ... he would definately give a big fancy venue a run for their money... everything was perfect ... from the decor, the staff and the food was perfection... will be going there for dinner this weekend :) read more

I've said many times that the owner of Michael's Riverside in Lyndhurst, is one of the best, if not THE best, restaurant entrepreneurs that I've yet to come across. For all of the events that we've hosted in his fabulous party room and restaurant, (and we've done many!) the owner, Michael Mateen, has extended to us the utmost in professionalism, fairness and courtesy. From everything ranging from my husband's milestone 60th birthday celebration to my son's 40th birthday party, and so much in between, we were not only very satisfied but we've always received kudos and high praises from our guests as well. In addition to birthdays in the back party room, we had a baby shower for our new grandson along with his first birthday party. We've also hosted several dinner-dances, local campaign rallies, and New Year's Eve galas. Right now, I'm in the middle of organizing a high school get-together at Michael's Riverside. Aside from parties, simply having a dinner in the restaurant part will let you realize that this place never disappoints! Attached are photos that I took of several buffet trays at one of our more recent parties. The food, by the way, is amazing!! Thank you, Michael, for allowing us to always rely on you for a job well done! read more

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Condescending rude arrogant owner who puts himself first before the customer. Kept telling me how much pressure he was under. It's not about you guy. We booked the party and then when I came back to show my daughter the room and asked a couple of questions he said no I don't think I want to do your party and proceeded to talk down to me and treat me like a second class citizen due to being a women and said I'll tell your husband when he gets here you can go and told me what he wasn't going to do and how we discussed that the other day which we did not. Reprimanding me like a child. My daughter who never says anything actually defended me telling him how rude he was. This guys doesn't get it. He works for me. I'm the boss not you. Cares more about himself than the customer. If asking a question upset this man I can just imagine if I had the party there how that would go. We found such a nicer place for my daughters party who graduated with her masters where they catered to us and not the other way around that this fool who calls himself the owners of Michael's did me the biggest favor ever. The only way he has been in business this long is bc he's cheap. You get what you pay for and I wouldn't never ever ever give this man any of my hard earned dollars if he was the last catering hall on earth. His place is so outdated it's pathetic. If you want the same old cliche of a catering hall Then go give your money to this fool. If I could give him a minus 10 rating I would. Stay clear of this condescending rude male chauvinistic, "Oh, I'm so stressed, it's all about me and none about you" owner. He deserves to be put out of business bc if you're in a people business then it's about them NOT YOU. Someone needs to out him way back in the kitchen where he doesn't have to deal with people. read more

Overall, this is a good place and worth a try. The food was really good and moderately priced, which, in this crazy economy, was a welcome surprise! We ordered the pizza, which LEGIT reminded me of Queens/NYC borough pizza, with a touch of sweetness; the Brussel sprouts were NOT fried (thank God!); and some other things that I didn't try. For dinner I had their special-- Almond crusted chicken with peach salsa--SO good!!, and many others tried the Italian trio special, which looked amazing. The plate wasn't greasy at all, which is saying something. The décor is modest; honestly, it's nothing to write home about, but that's b/c majority of the place is an event venue. The event space can fit like 100 people and looks like it would be ideal for things like luncheons, showers, even a rehearsal dinner. The restaurant space is spacious, which I liked. Our wait staff were GREAT! Marilyn was our server and she was super attentive and not an all judgey when I couldn't make up my mind on my drink order lol. Michael, the owner, was also warm and greeted us with a smile. Though, I gotta say, props to the wedding DJ that night-- he dropped all the right beats and there was some booty shaking taking place after dinner. read more

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We recently had my sister's 60th Birthday Party here and it was Amazing! Michael and staff really did an outstanding job on everything from decorations, to food and beyond. It really was perfect and the food was excellent. The atmosphere was so beautiful and welcoming. All of the guests absolutely loved their experience. I would like to thank Michael for making my sister's day such a success, she really had the best birthday ever! read more

The food is presented and taste delicious. Amazing staff, excellent service. I love its ambiance. Great for events.

I recently had my 60th Birthday here and I couldn't be more happy with the overall experience. Michael and the staff really did a fantastic job on everything. It has been almost two weeks and my guests are still talking about what a good time they had and how they enjoyed the food. I must say I agree that the food was delicious and the atmosphere just made it perfect. Michael was very accommodating and also had some great suggestions. I can see why his business has been so successful for 30 years, it is the attention to detail along with his hospitality that made every guest feel as though they were the guest of honor. Thank you so much Michael for making my day one that everyone will remember what a good time they had at your beautiful restaurant. read more

Very disappointed with the owner. Told me my requested date is available and then booked a frequent client for the same night. Would not recommend. read more

I have now been there in multiple occasions for both individually served meals and larger scale parties. The wait staff is very nice but the food is mediocre at best.. Penne Vodka was soup-- so watery. Salmon was super dry and overcooked. The coffee served today was so old that with cream it turned grey. Unfortunately it os a favorite of the family so I'm sure I will be invited back but I will definitely eat before I arrive in the future read more

Hubby & I stop in every now & then. Love the food, the service is quite outstanding . Family owned & we enjoy chatting with Michael when he isn't busy . read more

Attended a party. First rate staff. Good great room great. Kudos! ............................................................

On a main street, by a really busy intersection (good luck crossing over that bridge during peak hours!), but somehow Michael's still seems to be hidden (the not-so-good Lyndhurst Diner probably gets your attention first). This was my second time here (first time was years ago for a high school reunion for the Mrs. where everyone eyed me suspiciously because I was definitely not a classmate of theirs) and the verdict: this is a solid place. (And they always seem to be catering events in their other room as well.) When we got our menus I can't lie: the prices were higher than I expected. But later when my shrimp-and-pasta special arrived and the portion was enough to feed two or three humans - I realized why. After they plopped down the complimentary bread (which might've been one of the more generous baskets I'd ever come across) we started with the baked clams and they were delicious. (And that bread came in handy to sop up all that wonderful sauce on the plate.) Onto the entrees we had steak (damn good, well-seasoned, but too much fat) and three different types of pasta which we all enjoyed (although the Mrs. probably wouldn't order lobster ravioli again - it just wasn't her 'thing'). In a town that was predominantly Italian (and Polish) back in the day which still boasts heavy-hitters like Angelo's (that first opened back in 1173 when they first started to build the Tower of Pisa over in Italy!), Il Cafone and Gelone's - Michael's Riverside is hanging on and handling their business. (Not to mention their square-shaped bar across from the dining room was doing quite the biz as well with the 'mature crowd'.) The staff couldn't have been any sweeter (although our waitress did seem to be stretched too thin at points) and they have a good-sized parking lot (with valet - who also couldn't have been any nicer). We'd definitely come back again. read more

Went here with a group for a buffet brunch. The food was serviceable, nothing bad nothing great. I saw complaints about the soda, maybe they fixed it because it seemed to be fine today. What I was really impressed with was the cake....was moist and not too sweet which a lot of cakes are. Everyone at my table raved about it and I'm still like a little kid when it comes to dessert so trust me it was good. The service was attentive and pleasant.....there was nothing to complain about there. The room was nice and the restaurant was clean. There is an adequate parking lot which is good since there is really no street parking in the immediate area. Buffet style meals might be different than the menu options so I wouldn't be against trying the restaurant out for a regular meal. read more

Michael's Riverside - A little of everything. - Italian Near Me - Lyndhurst, New Jersey

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The place is overrated. Food is ok. I've been here a few times because my family likes it but I've never left there thinking "wow that meal was great!" read more

The restaurant was exceptional. Food was great. Veal Marsala with linguini was rich and tasty. The grilled salmon was probably one of the best salmons I've had. Service was quick and responsive. Awesome restaurant. read more

Great food and great service. I go almost every Friday. Management and staff are always courteous.

Michael hosted a repast after funeral at 11am. Totally professional and welcoming from Michael and his wife. A family run place. And every dish was delicious. In a state full of Italian restaurants, particularlly Lyndhurst, Michael's stands out as one of the best for flavor. Italo Marchini read more

The.food was very tasty and the sauce had a good taste to it. The mussels were great also. The fish had a very good taste. The stuffed mushrooms were very good also. The fillet of sole was excellent. The ziti was great and the sauce was very tasty and good. The rosted potatoes were fantastic. And the service and servers were right on Q. The rooms inside and tables were perfect. And very good ambiance also. I definitely would recommend this Reastaurant. Thanks Richie read more

Had my son's graduation party yesterday and everything was perfect. The room was set up nicely and the owner was very accommodating. The food and service were fantastic! I cant thank you enough! Oh, and definitely add the Sangria package if you book.... It's amazing! read more

Tried booking a party for May in August and was laughed at since it was so early. There was already a staff member's party booked the day I was interested but owner assured me that cb in Sept. would be fine. Call Sept and go in person once but only owner can book events. Call again and find out date booked. Most likely since other person had more people. Second time this happened to me with this place. Done!!! read more

I had a baby shower at Michael's yesterday. It was perfect from the planning to paying the final bill. The food was so delicious. The service was exceptional!! It was a perfect day. Michael is the nicest person & so easy to work with. Nothing is a ever an issue. I would recommend this place to anyone. It was an awesome day !!! I hope to book my next event with him. Generally I stress about hosting a party but It was not stressful at all. Thank you Michael & staff for a wonderful day read more

We were looking for a place in the area to hold a repast lunch and Michael's Riverside was highly recommended. My family of five had dinner beforehand and tried different dishes and everything was fantastic. Michael was completely hands on and a pleasure to work with. After our dinner, he helped us coordinate the details for the repast lunch to be held just two days later. We had 50 plus people join for the sit-down repast, and once again, the food, service, and room setup surpassed our every expectation. We received many compliments from our guests. There was plenty of food, beverages, and dessert and everything tasted delicious. The salmon, chicken franchese, and cranberry romaine salad in particular were exceptional. The cost was very reasonable for the caliber of food. Thanks to Michael and his staff for their attentiveness and hard work to ensure everyone was taken care of. We will be back again. read more

We had our awards dinner for our football team and it was a pleasant stress free event with good food and amazing ambience. The staff was polite and accommodating, the night was great! The owner was there for the entire event! Definitely will be visiting them again!! read more

The atmosphere at Michael's Riverside Restaurant is absolutely fantastic. The food is delicious and the service is great. Michael and his staff go above and beyond to make your diining experience exceptional read more

Went here for yet another Christmas Party. Yeah, I said it, a Christmas party! I've probably been here more than any other place for annual Christmas parties over the last 6 years. They make it pretty simple-one price and you get to choose your entree - Beef with mushrooms, chicken francese, or stuffed sole. I've had all three in the past and they are all actually pretty good. Nothing to write home about (though I'll write about it for YOU), but definitely good for the number they have to push through for events like this. So this last visit we started with a couple pitchers of soda, a pitcher of red sangria (very good and pretty strong) and the rolls. The next two courses included a small taste of ziti with vodka sauce, which was good, but way too small a portion, and a small salad...which was not good- Iceberg lettuce and one small cherry tomato soaking in an oily Italian dressing. ..yuck While out entrees took a while to come out, my stuffed sole florentine with of broccoli and a croquette was pretty good. It's easy to screw up a dish like this when you are cooking for a large group-easy to overcook and dry out the fish, easy to make the stuffing too rich, and easy to either over or undercook the broccoli. Well, I for one, was impressed with my entree-it was well seasoned, and done perfectly...everyone else at the table seemed to like theirs as well. Dessert was simply a pre sliced and refrozen ice cream cake roll and coffee...not a great ending. Overall, Michael's is a decent place to have a set-menu event. Don't expect a magical meal if you decide to go the cheap route, but they'll do a good job and you'll be happy with the service and the atmosphere. read more

I attended a shower for a friend here in mid February. The venue was as expected for this type of event. The service was adequate, and the food was okay. Now the reason for the 2 stars.... sadly many people that attended this event got sick afterwards. I feel it was most likely food poisoning, so in the future I would not be likely to book an event here. I do understand that this type of situation can happen anywhere, which is why I would fairly rate the establishment 2.5 stars. read more

Very good Food and desserts served here friendly owner and overall wait staff very friendly too plenty of parking in lot. Nice bar set up too George rudawsky fraternal order of police lodge46 Thanks Michael. read more

My family and I went to Michael's Riverside for Thanksgiving dinner and it was amazing. It was a fixed-menu, but there were enough options to please our small group. The waitstaff was so attentive despite the fact that the place was packed. The food was topnotch. I've been to Michael's Riverside in the past for baby and bridal showers, and I've never been disappointed. The food has always been consistently good. Nice atmosphere, friendly people. Will definitely go back soon. read more

Came here on Saturday night with another family. They have plenty parking here. You can also park on the side streets. We were greeted by the manager who is very friendly. Optional, you can check in your coat. We sat down and quickly came the waitress with our menus and some warm rolls with butter. My friend's daughters are allergic to wheat and and picky eaters, the chef was able to accommodate to their dietary needs and what they'd like to eat throughout the evening. The girls were very happy with their meals. As starters, all diners get side salad with Italian dressing. If you want different dressing or dressing on the side, let the waitress know. They have kids meal for about $9 each. My kids had cheese ravioli with marinara sauce, which they like very much. I ordered eggplant parmigiana with penne pasta. It was delicious. The eggplant was cooked just right. The portion was huge so be prepared for leftovers unless you have an appetite for two, lol. I also had the mimosas, which was good. I'm a lil disappointed in their dessert menu. There's not much option to choose as for dessert cakes so I ordered ice cream. The restaurant interior is nice and clean. They played Xmas songs and we sat in front of an artificial fireplace, which is actually a heater. They also have party rooms for event here. Overall, we had a pleasant time. Food was good but lil pricey. Service was great. We will definitely come back. read more

Michael was so great and accommodating, even with my last minute requests! We had a large party (12) and they fit us in on a Saturday with ease! Definitely a great space for party, which I'll keep in mind for future birthdays, graduations, bridal, or baby showers! Wonderful food, everyone in my crazy family was happy with the selection. My mom is the pickiest (b/c she's a chef) and she was pleased! We celebrated her birthday there. read more

Michael's Riverside - Tartufo... so excited, I already ate half! - Italian Near Me - Lyndhurst, New Jersey

Every time I'm here it isn't ever a disappointment! Between the owner, staff and chef, everything is always done to accommodate customers. Booking an event is a breeze. The owner provides all the information needed and makes the booking a pleasant experience. He truly gives you the comfort in knowing that your event will be a great one. The staff is all so friendly and excels at doing their job. The environment overall is clean and modern. Every time here I find the food to be great! All my guests raved about the good food and how nice the room was set up. Even with another party going on next to us we didn't have any parking issues nor did we notice that there was another party happening at the same time. The best was seeing the owner assist his banquet all around from helping with parking to helping set tables. Excellent place to have an event. I look forward to doing more events here! Thanks Michael's Riverside! read more

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Called to inquire to book a party here and was told by the owner the date I needed was available. It was like pulling teeth to get information about how to book and he was a bit rude but I brushed it off. I gave him benefit of the doubt that maybe he was having a rough day. He only does bookings in person and no holds so a few days later I show up to book the date (I live 30 mins away) and it's no longer available! Then I'm told it was booked 2 weeks ago! How can you do business like this? Would not recommend planning to use this venue for any party. Especially now that I see many reviews about his bad attitude and people getting sick from food. read more

just had my daughter's bridal shower at Michaels Riverside and to say i was pleased would be an understatemen! Michael and his staff were wonderful to work with. His restaurant was a recommendation from a coworker who has had many parties and showers there. i knew everything would be good but the food was over the top Great. I will definitely recommend Micheals to others and will be back for a quite dinner with my family soon! read more

Thank you Michael and staff for an incredible night and graduation party celebration last night. The food was amazing, the staff was incredible, and the owner Michael was completely accommodating! I highly recommend this venue for any type of party or dinner! Top notch all the way. read more

We had another Kessler Conference today for 140 people and once again Michael and his staff were amazing!!! The food was praised by all and was timely tasty and hot! I recommend them for all your corporate or private needs!!! Thanks read more