I have been trying to get to this restaurant for a while since so many people told me how great it is. No exaggeration. It's great. Service is attentive without being overbearing. They didn't rush us at all. Attractive decor with soft lighting. The star was the food. My chicken Rollatini was so good that my whole family wanted to order it the next time it's offered as a special. My wife's veal Marsala was tender and delicious. Everything was perfect. The portions were huge. We can't wait to go back. read more

Riviera Ristorante - Chicken Rollatini (one of their specials) - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

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I been wanting to try this place for a while now and finally made my way there. Went on a Wednesday around 7pm and the place was pretty busy. This restaurant reminds me of the old Italian restaurants I grew up going to (in a good way). The service was excellent, everyone we encountered was very nice and pleasant. They started you off with bread and butter which both were great. I went with the chicken scarpariello and my husband with the chicken picatta. Both dishes were delicious and the chicken was very tender. I really enjoyed how well seasoned everything was and the portions were a great size. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Riviera Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

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This is one of my favorite places to eat in Queens. My husband and I have come here so many times. Great atmosphere, service, and food. Highly recommend. read more

Riviera will always have a special place in my heart. I grew up in this neighborhood and have seen this restaurant change over the last twenty years and I'm so happy that this eatery is still standing strong. As the other comments have already mentioned-Riviera is a neighborhood spot and the management here is super warm and friendly. Don't sleep on the specials they offer but don't be afraid to go with a classic Italian staple. We always order the seafood antipasto that is off the menu and features grilled clamarai, fried calamari, clans oreganata, shrimp, and grilled veg. I then got the polo Milanese which was solid. If you're in the neighborhood, stop in for dinner - you'll leave full and happy you stopped by. read more

Riviera Ristorante - Pollo Milanese callabroso w/ arugula - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

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Grew up in Beechhurst and somehow never visited Riviera till last night. Went with a friend at 5pm and was asked if we had a reservation. We didn't but thankfully snagged a table before the entire restaurant filled. The service was amazing, the wait staff was so friendly and the dining room was bustling. Got the calamari to start and then the eggplant parm with pasta which could have easily fed two people. Can't wait for excuse to come back and left with leftovers for days. read more

Riviera Ristorante - The scene at 6pm on a Saturday - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

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Have been here a few times and forgot to write a review. Delicious food with good portion sizes. Family feeling with nice managers. read more

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It was a nice cozy resturant. Came with a large group of friends. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. He answered our questions and made sure we had all of our orders. We ordered the chicken parm, penne vodka, prime rib steak, fettuccine carbonara, and stuffed chicken breast. The portions were huge and there was delicious. For dessert had the tiramisu. That was good too. I would definetly come back and try other items on the menu. read more

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This is a pretty decent Italian restaurant for the price you pay. The only thing I didn't quite like was the cold prepacked butter that came with the bread loaf. We had grilled calamari and shrimp pasta dishes both of which were quite decent. Good service and nice interior. Nothing too striking but you get a good bang for the buck. Would recommend checking out! read more

Riviera Ristorante - Grilled calamari - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

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My friend and I were pleasantly surprised with this spot. We were generally bringing down the average age of the customer, but you could tell the people dining here were regulars and knew "where it's at!" The portions are huge. My gnocchi and my friend's eggplant parm were good for at least one additional meal. The gnocchi was very delicious, and I was particularly drawn to the sauce. We also got a nice piece of tiramisu. So fluffy. The wines by the glass were not totally obvious to me. I might have gotten one in a split-minute decision if the menu had been clearer. Our waiters were fine. They seemed a little rigid or stuffy, but overall, the feeling of the space was pretty classic. read more

Riviera Ristorante - Tiramisu - delicious - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

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Local Italian restaurant, been around for decades. Great service with old school wait staff. Delicious food, came quickly and piping hot. There were eight of us and the pretax bill came to just over $300. read more

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The food is low quality, horrible salmon, salad was ok. The waiter didn't understand what I was saying had to communicate in Spanish. Overall a loud place with lousy food and service read more

Riviera is a family vibe from greeting, seating, service and salutation. The owner/manager made sure our walk in party of five was well taken care of. The portions are nona sized so you will have leftovers to take home regardless of how big your appetite is. The fried calamari is a must order as a starter. The lobster ravioli and stuffed chicken specials were standouts as was their penne a la vodka. The straciatella and complementary fruit plate were a nice ending to our feasting after a day of family activities. Coming to Riviera is like coming home! read more

Came here on Wednesday evening with a friend, and I was surprised to find it as busy as it was. The restaurant was about half full at 7 PM and everyone was busy. We ordered a salad to share, and the restaurant was kind enough to split it for us! We each ordered our own entrees - I got the eggplant parm and my friend got the gnocchi. Both were delicious. I was also incredibly impressed by the portion size for the price! So many places that charge those prices will give you barely any food, but these portions were substantial with us both taking home leftovers. We also got dessert to share, and decided on the tiramisu which was flavorful and very light. The restaurant feels very old school Italian. My only fault was the server situation was a bit strange. You could only order food with one guy, but then other people would be around to help? I found it really odd, and also found some of staff to be a bit surly. That being said, the food was good so will probably be back! read more

Riviera Ristorante - Eggplant Parm with Linguini and Gnocchi alla Sorentina - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

This is a cozy restaurant with superb service! The wait staff was very attentive! They have a dinner specials that are economical for those on a budget. Great place to have a celebration! We had a fabulous time with some friends. We had soup/salad, meat entree, coffee and dessert under $25. Note the new menu prices. read more

Riviera Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

This is probably my favorite place in our area. I've been here more than once. Come early or make a reservation, order the signature dish and after-dinner drinks. You won't be disappointed. The food is always delicious, the staff is attentive and friendly. What more could you want for a pleasant evening? read more

Came here on a Saturday night with a friend. Found this place via Yelp, read the reviews and saw pics and wanted to give this place a shot. Made reservations that day and thank goodness I did because once I made it there on time I was told by the host it would be about 10 minutes. Ended up just having a drink at the bar. The place has a classic Italian vibe, dim and cozy. Kicked it off with fried calamari, it was good but I wish it was crispier. For my main, I got the pollo parmigiana with ziti pasta which was really good and huge portion. Overall had a good experience here and I would highly recommend this place if you are in the mood for Italian food. * highly recommend making reservations * fair prices * street parking * good service read more

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Always great food and service! My friends and I love coming here for authentic Italian food. I am so glad this restaurant is so close to me. read more

Ordered take out twice from here and the pasta does not disappoint. Our favorite is the penne ala vodka and Farfalle riviera. Both pastas were creamy and flavorful. The portion is big. I was not able to finish it in one sitting. The only downside is the fried calamari. It was soggy and not crispy but the calamari itself is very flavor and good. It is good by itself without the sauce. Maybe because we ordered take out and the steam made it soggy but it would be really good if it is crispy. I saw on the menu that they have early dinner special. Would like to try that one day. read more

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Went here tonite for the first time....Its a throw back place to the good old days....Excellent service......Food was nicely presented......Portions were plentyful.......This restaurant overall was better than some fancier places Ive been to......We came in from long island to try them.......Its well worth the drive from anywhere............. read more

Good service and reasonable price . Usually I came here with friends once a month and we were enjoyed our dinner there.

Nice restaurant! Ate here with friends last week and found the food very good. Nice ambiance too. Danny, the maitre d, was very friendly and made sure we were comfortable. We'll be returning soon! read more

We went here for a dinner with 5 of us. The restaurant was very busy. The food was excellent! Service was excellent. My only complaint is the noise. The restaurant was full and I am heard of hearing it was very challenging to hear the conversation at my table in the restaurant. I would give them a 5 if they put in some sound proofing. read more

I came to visit my family and they took me here for dinner. The sauce was a good texture and not heavy. The fried calamari was fried nicely. Our waiter was very nice and someone always came around to give us water. The menu was simple but still had a lot of options. The food here was really good and the prices were good. I would come back again next time I visit. read more

Never disappointed. Great food all the time. The best restaurant in Queens , staff is so friendly , owner makes you feel welcome.

Delicious Italian food! Everything fresh ... calamari cooked just right... delicious fish dishes..! Welcoming and warm staff... A bit noisy though when busy but can easily tune out with a glass of Merlot... !!! read more

Absolutely lovely restaurant, food is always tasty and fresh. Staff is extremely professional and courteous.

The early bird special price is really great. You cannot beat the price. and the very generous with having the super salad main meal dessert, coffee tea, much cheaper than a diner and good quality food. It was a little noisy. because it was so crowded. The only issue is that for the price of two sodas being nine dollars it should've had the very least in a can of soda instead of a small glass filled with ice that's why I took off one star otherwise it's a really good place and will be back and will tell our friends about it as well. read more

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Nice neighborhood Italian restaurant off the beaten path where the owner seems to know all the regulars by name. Dropped in around 6:45pm on a busy Saturday night without a reservation. Was told a table for two open up in about 15 minutes, so we had a drink at the bar. My better half had a martini special, and I had a double Absolut with soda and a splash of oj. The owner was correct in his 15-minute wait time and escorted us from the bar to our table. Bread was fresh and the butter was soft. Started with the grilled calamari, which came served with grilled vegetables (eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, green peppers and tomato). Delicious. I had the Capellini di Mare (angel hair pasta with shrimp, clams, calamari and mussels in a red sauce). It was also delicious. And a huge portion to boot. My better half had one on the evening's specials: Baby lamb chops over broccoli rabe. It tasted great, and it was a good-sized portion, so big she had to take some home. In between the main course and dessert, they brought out a small fruit plate to cleanse the palate. For dessert we shared some sort of strawberry ice cream concoction. The ice cream could have been a little softer (it was hard as a rock, but it tasted fine). I also had a decaf cappuccino with a side of sambuca. Good stuff. The handwritten bill at the end of the evening was illegible, other than the total price. It seemed pretty steep to me, but the food was good, and I did have two additional double Absolut's during the course of eating dinner, so I guess it was right. Will most likely return. read more

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Their early bird specials were great. We've been here several times. It's best you call to reserve for your party. It gets very busy. Waiters were attentive in clearing your dishes. It's a bit noisy here during peak dining hours as the dining room is full. read more

Riviera Ristorante - Early Bird menu - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

The food was very good but we were surprised that the early bird portions were obviously much smaller! Not expected. They need to renovate this place too....looks like it was last refreshed decades ago! read more

This place is always a solid choice. The food is very consistently good and delicious. The Alfredo and vodka sauce dishes are my go too.

Great little bustling restaurant. You are greeted by Danny, a warm owner, as soon as you walk in you feel like family. The waiters are very classy and service is excellent. There are tablecloths on the table and a very homey feeling. The food is delicious and fresh. There is something for everyone. I've brought many friends to the Riviera and they all loved it and wanted to return. The homemade soups are excellent and the salads are fresh, ample and perfect. The best part of the meal is the delicious desserts. First you are served fresh fruit and then a choice of chocolate moose cake, to die for or cheesecake. The coffee is also exceptional. This review is making me hungry. I better make a reservation for dinner. read more

While visiting my friends in (Flushing) Queens NY they suggested going to dinner at the Riviera Ristorante in Whitestone and I'm glad they did because everything was great. I started off with Pasta Fagioli Soup, I then ordered one of their daily specials that had two chicken breasts with prosciutto ham, mozzarella cheese and a generous portion of mushrooms. I wanted everyone to taste the Tiramisu, so I asked for four small plates, everyone liked it. I had a Capuchino along with my dessert. The only downside was the waiter he was MIA after serving our main course, he didn't check on our table even once I had to get up from the table and ask him for the bill. read more

Riviera Ristorante - Cappuccino with my Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Whitestone, New York

Server was great, one of my clams came out empty so they game me a new one with new sauce and everything. The entree was incredible and got a tiny orange and fruits for free at the end. Highly recommend! read more

This place is a solid 2.5. Nothing terrible nothing amazing. Came here for dinner the other night. Got the stuffed artichoke which was ok not the best. And I got a pasta dish with eggplant and ricotta. It was seriously bland. I don't know that I'd come back. The prices are good and the (I assume) owner was really nice. The waiter was ok read more

Danny is on top of every detail of this wonderful restaurant. The service and food is old school Italian done to perfection. My favorite Italian restaurant in New York! The greatest! read more

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This was our second time coming here. We didn't write a review our first time because we weren't impressed, but this time we enjoyed it more. We got the penne vodka and the veal marsala. The penne vodka and marsala had great sauce. The veal was only okay-a little tough, but at least the meat was thin so it wasn't too overwhelmingly difficult to chew. The free bread was also very nice and warm- we asked for olive oil and balsamic and it made it even better. We did go on a regular night so there wasn't "early bird" prices, making it a little costly for just 2 plates of pasta- over $50 including tip and tax. read more

Food is great.. service is great and very nice what quaint ambiance. It's the perfect trifecta. Early bird special is a great deal and you can avoid having to wait- it gets packed up after 6pm. read more

We found this restaurant on the way home from LI because it was close to the highway. It was lunchtime, and they happened to serve lunch specials. We ordered baked clams for an appetizer. Then I tried the linguine with calamari in marinara sauce, and Hubby had the Veal Parmigiana. The tomato marinara sauce was a bit watery, but that could be due to the seafood. The taste was pretty good. Salad or soup was served with a lunch special, so I had my salad, and Hubby had minestrone. We were happy with our lunch specials. It was a good value for the price, and not many restaurants do lunch specials these days, worth a try. read more

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The food here is excellent. Of all my choices in Bayside, this is my favorite. The penne ala vodka is the best I've had ( my adult son thinks so also). The Riviera pasta is wonderful and also the Chicken Francese. So good. The vegetables are always so fresh and delicious. We also enjoy the baked clams. Yum! I would love to go through the whole menu. read more

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