Succulent pan fried oysters are sublime. Sauteed Oysters with asparagus and green beans are respectable. Always something on the grill! Sides of potato salad, cole slaw, and clam chowder also really good. Get your order to go or sit outside. Take your friends and keep this lovely couple in business! read more

We we saw the four stars on TripAdvisor and decided that it might be a good place for dinner. We walked in and found two ladies having dinner together and another individual eating who got up and seated us. He then promptly went back to eating without even asking us if we'd like something to drink. This place is anything--but elegant in regards to environment. It is truly just a mishmash of different table types and other things. The food items hard quite expensive and the combination poor service, high prices, lack of ambience let us to decide it was best to leave. read more

Patience is still a virtue. This place is a hidden gem so "lighten up snapperheads". Smoked/grilled/bbq oysters can't be rushed and Manuel is an artisan. He may seem gruff at first but he is running the place by himself along with his wife who doesn't have the best English language skills. It's worth the drive. It's worth the wait. It's worth paying cash. It's totally worth it! read more

Best BBQ oysters ever! Nice river view. Outdoor seating on a nice day makes a nice stop on way to the beach.

Just outstanding food. Our host, chef and owner. Was outstanding. The oysters that my wife had. Were perfect. The pizza that I ordered. Perfect. If you can change the laws of physics, then you can cook something faster than anyone else. Take your time and enjoy the show of your meal being prepared. You will enjoy the experience. read more

River View Dining - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

The oyster poor boy and halibut fish and chips were delicious. Unfortunately due to the rain the outdoor grill was closed and so we couldn't have grilled oysters. The raw ones were also good! Despite other recent reviews, the owner was delightful and attentive. Signs clearly stated it was cash or check only. (There is an atm down the street at the convenience store) We do a lot of traveling and prefer to stop at local restaurants as much as possible. This one was added to the list as a place to come back to! read more

The outside of this establishment is not as appealing as it could be..but I didn't expect too much at this time of year. We ordered the Captain Platter and were so pleasantly surprised by the quality, quantity and taste of some of the best seafood! They don't accept debit or credit cards, so be prepared. We'll definitely be back in the Summer! read more

If you love oysters, try the Oyster Platter I've never had so many delicious things happen to my mouth in a sitting.

Stopped by on the way home from Long Beach. We had been craving oysters for some time now and we arrived near their closing time, about 15 mins prior. Luckily, they offered to serve us before closing. I have had many oysters before and my husband has had fresh oysters in Mexico. These are by far the best oysters we have ever tasted! We asked for them raw and with Pacifico beer. The sauce is amazing as well! 10/10 we will for sure return. To top it all off, they allowed us to sit outside with a great view of the water! read more

River View Dining - Dozen Raw Oysters - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

Passed by this restaurant on our way to Aberdeen. The oysters were great. I had the grilled oysters my friends had the oyster platter. The oysters were big and the grilled ones were so flavorful. The man that was grilling and waiting the tables was very friendly. I hope we have an opportunity to visit this restaurant again. read more

River View Dining - Half dozen grilled oysters - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

I was never really a big fan of oysters until I came here and tried their grilled oysters. The oysters were delicious, savory, and flavorful! They do take a while to get it ready since they cook it fresh on the spot in their outdoor grill so I'd recommend ordering a side of fries or etc. Compared to what I was used to, the prices for a dozen oysters are fairly cheap. Overall was a great meal and strongly recommend to check this place out!! read more

See all

Stopped here on our way back from the beach. Very impressed with the everything grilled oysters. Biggest oysters I have ever seen! They were delicious. read more

River View Dining - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

Went there for lunch and the food was good but it came with fries and there were about 12 on the plate. I asked for water as I always do everywhere I go so I could put a crystal light packet in it and was told that I couldn't do that there that I had to drink plain water. I don't use them bc I'm being cheap I just don't like carbonated beverages with or without sugar. We went to pay and he only takes cash so we had to drive down the road to an ATM. He was very rude from beginning to end and I will never go back nor do I recommend this place. read more

Really bad dinning experience. Never rated in yelp before, but I have to for this one. Worst restaurant I have ever been to in America. 1 hour wait even when there is a few people in the restaurant. The salad is just some lettuce from the grocery store directly with some meat. No customer service at all and the owner is very rude. No water for dining in because water is too expensive. BTW, this is cash only restaurant. read more

Food was terrible. Stopped for oysters and was told that wasn't an option because he wasn't lighting the grill.. wow Well we were starving and there isn't a lot of options so we stayed. Husband ordered the ribeye. Terrible pan fried.. covered in mexican spices.. you know, if that's what it said on the menu that would have been fine.. old potatoes . Not to mention he didn't get our beverages till halfway through the meal and insisted talking to us for oh like half the time.. did we look like we wanted to be bothered our whole dinner? This place was awful, filthy, dated and we will NEVER go back.. clean up your act dude! Ps nobody wants you at their table while they are trying to eat dinner. And this was the owner.. clean up your act!! read more

Oysters are a must have. Raw Willapa oysters a big and meaty, on the sweet, not briny side. Most excellent. Smoked works too. Grilled Salmon is D'lish and very good bbq pork sandwich. If you like tidy, clean and a strong sense of order, this ain't for you. Charming dive with a constant smokey bbq smell wafting about. I vote this is a must stop, even for a quick snack. read more

See all

Amazing lunch spot. Almost drove by it but saw the smoker and decide to stop. Had an incredible oyster sandwich.

Why hate on this place? Yeah, the proprietor is gruff, they only take cash, and service is slow. What did you expect, Chez Panisse? The Bay Area this is not, which suits me just fine. The Willapa bay oysters are a tad larger than what you'd get from the raw bar at say, Farallon in SF, and the shells are so frightfully rugged and rough! Oh my, perhaps we should just point the Tesla southward, away from this barbarian hinterland! Good riddance, shellfish charlatan. People who like oysters will want to order up a dozen raw and half a dozen barbecued. The barbecued are good, but the sauce of vinegar, chili powder(?) garlic, and olive oil and cilantro(?) is awfully powerful and soon gets overwhelming. The raw are fruity, plump, and crisp, and I could eat a dozen myself, even at this size. He gets them all from a single supplier down the road in Bay Center, and even by Willapa standards, these are damn good. Do not pass on the fish tacos, if they still offer them! Hand patted tortillas filled with sautéed halibut and roasted tomato salsa and sour cream are not to be scorned, even by Angelenos. As we finished our plates a couple from the Bay Area on their way to Olympia National Park took a table behind us. "What kind of oysters do you have," the dapper dandy inquired. "Willupuh bay oysters all we got," gruffed the man-beast. "Yes but, what varieties...like...," persisted dapper dandy. "All we got is one typa oyster: Willupuh bay oysters from Bay Center. We ain't got no Kumamotos, mumamotos, shumamotos, or any other kinda oyster here. We only got regular Willupuh bay oysters," man-beast rudely interjected, shocking both dapper and his lovely table mate. I struggled to contain my laughter. You have been advised. read more

Sought this place out after reading about it on Yelp. Wife had never tried oysters before, so we shared the pan-fried oyster appetizer. Having enjoyed oysters myself in the past, I can say that these rank up towards the top. Well-made, tender, not a touch of fishiness. Disregard anything you've read about "no alcohol" here. They do have a small selection of beers. Nice view of the river, as the name suggests. Fair warning, CASH & CHECKS only,no cards. read more

I was looking for a local place for lunch while traveling through the area, and after reading some of the Yelp reviews I decided to give the River View a try. Well, I would've been better off stopping at McDonald's in Raymond. Not that the staff was rude ( as mentioned other reviews) but they certainly were not engaging. Although the menu is pretty extensive for a small place, the quality of the food is less than desirable. The prices are certainly too high for the low quality of the food. The decor is so dated and mis-matched that it's almost uncomfortable eating inside. Sorry River View, but your best feature is the view in my rear view mirror. read more

This place is incredible. I had the pulled pork sandwich, and it was the largest amount of meat for $10 that I have ever gotten. A friend of mine had the grilled oysters, and he loved them. Many people don't like the wait staff and say they are cold, and they are not the most talkative bunch, but that is not something that would drop my rating. read more

Superb! I am not a fan of oysters but my mom is, so we stopped here and it is great! Mom had oysters & I had some of the best fish & chips ever. Plus the chowder is fabulous, the tarter, cocktail sauce and coleslaw are all homemade and seasoned just right. Definitely will stop by again- if I were to try oysters, those grilled ones look yummy! CASH ONLY -so glad we had some cash - owner is very nice - looks like a small family operation but worth a wait if it gets busy read more

BBQ oysters with "love" for Mother's Day brunch in South Bend on the way back from Seaside, OR was an unexpected treat! Proprietor, a self proclaimed "Oyster Nazi", adds his own delightfully curmudgeonly charms to a remarkably satisfying locally sourced meal. I ordered the Po boy sandwich off the fresh menu board and was rewarded with the best of its kind that I have ever had in my 54 years of culinary adventures. Like many hidden gems, this place may not look like much from the outside, but once you brave the weathered exterior you will discover a surprise on the inside. read more

If you're looking for fantastic oysters this is the place to stop. The owner sure knows how to cook 'em! Don't be in a hurry. Don't expect a romantic atmosphere. Go there for the food. It was well worth the drive. read more

River View Dining - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

See all

The grilled oysters have messed me up for life. We had them for the first time yesterday, talked about nothing else for the rest of the day and now have spent the entire morning staring at pictures of them and wishing they weren't three hours away. This man has perfected his craft, and you can tell he really cares about the food he is serving. Delicious isn't strong enough a word. Cash only. read more

I wish this guy would just go out of business already. He is a truly grumpy man and does the town a real disservice with his terrible attitude and Nazi-like control over his salad bar. And it really bothers me to read spot-on reviews like Brian W's - people who are driving by and stop because it "looks promising" (that's EXACTLY how I got sucked in) only to find the service/atmosphere Horrible, the food Meh, and the prices Ridiculous. I have given him the benefit of a doubt and have eaten here twice. On my second visit, he actually yelled at a guy who'd just taken a baby carrot off his wife's salad plate. To those reviewers who had a 5 star experience: That was your Lucky Day. You dodged a bullet. read more

Only giving one star as after a long drive to get there we were curtly dismissed by the gentleman running the grill outside. I assume he's the owner or the manager. We got out of our car, he took one glance at us and told us that they're not serving right now. Too busy. Come back in an hour. No, apology. No smile or courtesy. Just dismissed. read more

My wife and I had the misfortune during our last road trip to get hungry whilst driving through the miserable little town of South Bend, WA. The River View looked promising, with a view of the water and a big smoker bellowing in the parking lot. I probably should have ordered the oysters. Judging by the other reviews here (and the industry in the town), this is the thing to get. But I had the fish and chips, which was really bland and obviously frozen fish. I was hoping for better on the coast. My wife had the smoked chicken sandwich, which actually was pretty good. One of the other patrons had a nice juicy-looking burger that I coveted. So part of the problem here is that I think I ordered the wrong thing. Stick to the oysters or something out of the smoker! That's about all I have to say for the food. If you want to hear my other complaints, read on. There were some pretty bad things here as well. 1) p\Posted on the door: "no credit cards, check or cash only". Well I don't carry cash anymore and I rarely have checks. Not a big deal but it bugs me when people don't take cards. 2) Several signs around the salad bar implying you might get shot if you do so much as give another member of your party anything off your plate from the salad bar. Which looked really nasty anyway. 3) I got charged $12 for the fish and chips off the menu before seeing there was an $8 fish and chips "basket" special for the day. The waiter (who was also the cook -- another really bad sign, made no mention of this. 4) We asked for a takeout cup or bowl to give some water to our dogs in the car. They wanted to charge us 50 cents. F&*^k off you cheapskates. 5) Service was not great. As I mentioned before the cook was also the waiter. 6) This place was expensive. $30 for a shake, fish n' chips, and a chicken sandwich. Fries with both. This is maybe a $20 meal, tops. 7) Waiter/cook stopped us on the way out the door to get my driver's license and phone number for the check. Gimme a break dude. Get a credit card reader and join the 21st century. 8) One last thing. The sign on the wall that says "God Giveth, The Government Taketh Away". Keep your freakin' religion and politics out of my food, you small-town rednecks. Next time I go through this horrible little excuse for a town I'm not stopping, unless my dogs need to take a shit. It would fit right in. read more

Being from the Boston area, I've been exposed to many, many restaurants that claim that their oysters are superior to all others. So, when I pulled up to this humble restaurant after over twenty-five minutes of driving through a desolate strip of Douglas Fir trees, rotting stumps, and death-defying ditches, I never expected that this Average Joe and his homemade wood-fired grill would inevitably end up serving me what were the greatest prepared oysters I have ever had. I can see a lot of people on here complaining about the service, but, in all honesty, who gives a sh*t? I didn't move to Washington to make friends. If you can't handle being alienated in exchange for a kick-ass meal, maybe you don't like food enough to have a Yelp account. read more

Might wait a bit for your food, but it's worth it. I'll support any husband/wife joint especially when your foods being cooked as you order. Great grub and town. Glad we stopped here thank you South Bend. read more

River View Dining - She got the small I had to get a large bowl, and was so glad I did. Hahahaha Home cooked Clam chowder!!!! - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

We stopped in after visiting the coast for the weekend. I ordered raw oysters and a hamburger. The oysters were good but served with lime. Can you say "Ceviche"? The hamburger tasted the way a dirty grill smells. I took one bite and told the man who waited on us. He came over, took the top off the burger and tore a piece off the patty I had just bitten and said "There is nothing wrong with this". I was shocked, to say the least. When I went to pay the bill, minus the bad burger, he tried to charge me for the burger. When I refused, he threatened to call the police. So I called them first. Long story short, the sheriffs deputies and I laughed about how absurd this was, while the proprietor took my money minus the burger, of course. The food was bad, the service lousy. This place is NOT tourist friendly. My advice is to stay away. read more

Fresh oysters right out of the bay--it doesn't get any better than this. We had the oyster platter so we could try them every way--raw, pan fried, deep fried, sautéed with veggies and the house special--BBQ'd outside in a huge grill/smoker. The owner of 17 years is friendly and welcoming. The clam chowder was also about the best we've ever had--rich, thick and full of clams. This isn't a fancy place, but if you fancy great oysters, this is it. read more

River View Dining - Oyster platter - Seafood Near Me - South Bend, Washington

See all

I called ahead because we had our dog with us. I was told there's outdoor seating available with dog allowed. When I entered I asked an older gentleman that was working the grill if we could sit outside because we had a dog. He told me yes, but NO service available. We would have to bring everything outside and bring our stuff back inside. Also, the menus could NOT be brought outside. Overall not very friendly or accommodating. read more

Other reviews scared me but not enough for us not to stop. We half expected some giant green ogre out front workin the smoker. When we walked up to the place the guy manning the bbq said hello and then sat us. What's the big deal we thought? This place is as local and divey as you can get and they only have two people working - the smoker man and his wife. We were glad it wasn't cold cause the door constantly swung open as the owner came in and out of the place trying to do it all. It was obvious that most came for the oysters. These behemoths (compared to Chesapeake Bay oysters) were piled high on the grill. But each and every oyster was spoken for. These bivalves didn't hit the heat until someone placed an order. "It will be awhile before I get to you folks". OK, no big deal. Then the fun started. Within 20 minutes, we watched about 10 customers walk up to the restaurant only to be turned away from the smoker man who was shucking oysters like a guy in a contest. "Sorry" he said, "I won't be able to serve you folks right now" he added. Boy were these out of towners speechless. The confused looks on their faces were priceless. I'm not sure I would have looked any different than they did. Who turns away customers when only a 1/3 of the tables are filled? We proceeded to take in the activities, mostly watching Mr. smoker doing his magic with the oysters. After they were warmed, he would expertly chisel them open and then spray them with some mysterious liquid (that he would not divulge). They sizzled and smoked for awhile before he would meticulously take a certain portion off and deliver them steaming to seated customers. When he finally came to our table, I felt like being in my Catholic elementary school, ready to be scolded by some sour faced sister. As we ordered he would say "ok, so that would make it THREE diet cokes." Apparently he preferred we add up our individual requests and order them that way instead of giving him an individual order. He did that down the line if we ordered anything duplicate. The prices here for burgers and sandwiches were high. Apparently you pay for feeling uncomfortable. The cheeseburgers and crinkle fries were ok. The frozen patties were put on the smoke with the salmon that was ordered, so everything came with a bit of wood permeation. The fried mushroom apps were quite good. We got a laugh from the condiments on the table.....the ketchup bottle had cocktail sauce in it so the burgers and fries were inadvertently dunked with the wrong stuff. The ketchup ended up in the mustard container, and the rest....who knows. If you want attitude, a Washington State dive with city prices, than this place is for you. read more

I've stopped here a couple times passing through, and although I'm not a huge oyster guy, these are the bomb! The cook here seems to have his own secret recipe for grilling oysters, and I can't truly describe in words how tasty they are. I was very lucky to get his last dozen on my most recent visit. He encouraged me to call next time I'd be coming through to make sure he had enough. I guess since these oysters are fresh and it's a small place, he doesn't keep a huge on-hand supply. I appreciated the nice gesture. If you're passing through in a hurry, I'd keep on driving. It takes some time to grill these bad boys up, especially if there are a few other patrons ahead of you. Also, the lady who serves is in absolutely no hurry to take your order or bring your drink, nor was she very friendly. We waited for ~30 minutes for our food and our WATERS didn't come out until AFTER we got our food. If I rated this place based on everything except food, I'd give it a strong one star. This four star rating is all about the oysters, and if you're a fan, you've got to make the trip to South Bend to experience them for yourself! read more

OMG! The best chowder ever! Tacos were fantastic! The service was a little different, but very positive experience.

Fresh raw oyster and special delicious grilled oyster! The hamburger's beef is full of soup and creamy cheese. You can have river view. Worth to try it! read more

See all

Quite possibly the best BBQ oysters ever.

Outstanding! The oysters both raw and cooked..Cooked with all the stuff and on the grill for an incredibly long time-trust me-were amazing. . The raw were amazingly fresh with the horseradish sauce proving a spicy kick. The owner is an interesting character. We were the only people there for dinner. My husband and I enjoyed chatting by the smoker while he was grilling oysters and salmon for us. We love his heathy respect for butter!!! Inside there are things to look at everywhere with a couple display cases of thing- a diorama of a life and stuff collected here and there. I love looking at people's collections. The collector in me was delighted and the food lover satiated. For this I bestow 5 stars. Hope u fare just as well. Ps it is $$ -support the local economy! read more

Don't let looks deceive you. We almost didn't stop & thank God we did. We will be returning again for more taste testing very soon. Great for the picky kids as well. My girls assumed it was only an Oyster shop but they were wrong. The teens loved their burgers, salmon & more. Btw don't stop at food. Milkshakes were also amazing! Best stop! Thank you River View! read more