I've been going to The Red River Inn since I was a little girl, but things have most definitely gone downhill since my last visit. I was so excited to return and share this place with my husband, but it was a huge disappointment from start to finish.
We stopped in during the lunch hour, and I was surprised to see only a couple of other people there. When I was younger, it was always packed. Unfortunately, the experience made it clear why that's no longer the case.
The service was cold and unfriendly, and my pop was flat. We ordered the soup and salad bar with our sandwiches, and I was shocked by the lack of options and the poor quality. The salad bowl was nearly empty and full of brown lettuce--yes, brown lettuce. I managed to find a few usable leaves, but the dressing containers were dirty, and it honestly looked like they were just refilling them with leftover dressing from other visits. The containers holding everything looked like they hadn't been washed in years.
My husband was excited for their pasta salad, which they always used to have, but not this time. I was looking forward to cottage cheese, but of course, it was empty. The soup was scalding hot to the point that it was burning on the sides of the pot, and I got a huge chunk of something burnt in my bowl--totally unappetizing.
In the past, they always had fresh garlic toast from Cold Spring Bakery and a variety of desserts, but there were none of those either. The sandwich itself was mediocre at best, maybe a 6/10, but nothing could save this meal. I was also never asked if I wanted a refill on my drink.
The decor hasn't been updated in decades--very 90s--and they keep a Christmas tree up year-round. It's frustrating to drive by in July and see a Christmas tree in the window of what used to be such a lovely place.
Our bill came to over $50 with tip, and I'm honestly just mad we wasted our money. I don't know if this place is under new ownership or what, but it's sad to see an iconic spot in Cold Spring with so much history decline so drastically.
Bottom line: DO NOT waste your money here. Drive the extra five miles to Richmond and go to Jill's instead. read more