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    Two Rivers Cafe

    4.0 (149 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, Burgers, Beer Bar

    Two Rivers Cafe Photos

    TWO RIVERS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Two Rivers Cafe

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    Menu
    Bridgette M.

    This is obviously a popular spot for locals and I can see why! The food was made quickly and correctly, ingredients seemed fresh and everything tasted delicious. The only complaint was that one of the specials was a Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich but had hardly any pineapple on it; that was easy to overlook because everything else was fantastic. Don't let the interior fool you. We were well taken care of service-wise, the food was delicious, fries were on point and perfectly crispy and the prices were fair. On top of that, you can enjoy your meal outside near the river in this gorgeous, small mountain town. Loved it!

    Meet my super friendly host, Primo, who greeted me, presented me with a menu, and answered all of my many questions.
    Eric R.

    Two Rivers Cafe, located in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain town of Downieville, CA, is truly a burger destination in Sierra County, as the restaurant has achieved quite a reputation among locals, visitors and burger lovers from all over Northern California, for dishing up delicious burgers, served by friendly staff. The dining room is very rustic, and features a small bar, where there is a modest selection of mainstream and craft beers on tap. The restaurant operates on what I refer to as the "taqueria format," in that you place your order at the counter, pay for it and you receive a number in return. Then, you choose any open seat of your choice and when your order is ready, it'll be brought to you by a friendly staff member. Tips aren't expected, but there is a tip jar on the counter, and the friendly and hardworking staff definitely deserve a tip. Unlike many taquerias, the restaurant doesn't post the food menu above the order counter, as you order from a printed menu. From the "Burgers" section of the menu, I went with a "Cheeseburger," a side of fries, and a cup of ranch dressing for dipping. Mustard and ketchup were offered as condiments, but since the burger was "stand alone" delicious, it didn't need any condiments. This amazing burger began with a tender, juicy one-half pound meat patty of Harris Ranch certified Angus beef, cooked medium rare, just the way I like it. I didn't specify how I wanted my burger cooked - it slipped my mind - but Primo must have read my mind when he took my order. The meat was topped with a slice of perfectly melted Cheddar cheese, which added another dimension to this delicious burger. The burger arrived on a lightly buttered and slightly toasted brioche bun what was slightly crispy on the outside, yet fluffy and tender on the inside. The meat and cheese were placed on top of the fresh lettuce, onion and tomato slices and... surprise! ... the veggies were chilled and the meat, cheese and bun were warm. The contrast between chilled and warm always helps to make a great burger an exceptional burger, and this was certainly an exceptional burger! The burger was dressed with in-house made "Thousand Island" dressing, which truly put this fine burger into the category of an "old school diner" burger, which is what I love the most. The fries were simply delicious, as they were cut to a medium, uniform size, lightly battered and deep fried to a beautiful medium golden brown. The batter added a crunchiness to the outside, yet the inside of the fries was juicy and tender. The fries were perfect! I simply loved dipping them into the cup of ranch dressing. One bite into this delicious burger rewarded me with a burger taste sensation, as everything came together to create the perfect burger. Two Rivers Cafe simply "nailed" the meat-to-bun ratio, which is critical to a superior burger, and chilled lettuce, onion and tomato added the perfect contrast to the warm meat, cheese and bun. Unlike lesser cheeseburgers, I could actually taste the creamy goodness of the Cheddar cheese, which truly made this burger a cheeseburger to remember. The slice of fresh, crispy dill pickle on the side added a nice touch to my lunch, as it was refreshing to enjoy the "crunch" of the pickle with a bite from the amazing cheeseburger. This was simply an amazing cheeseburger, and was certainly one of the best burgers you'll enjoy during your travels to Sierra County, at the north end of California's gold country. Amazing Gold Country dining! My "Cheeseburger" was simply delicious, and as "old school" as it gets, complete with toasted bun, Cheddar cheese and house-made dressing. What more could you ask for... an amazing cheeseburger, enjoyed outside on a perfect mid-September late morning, beautiful mountain scenery, along with friendly mountain hospitality, thanks to some of the friendliest staff in the north end of California's Gold Country. Fine gold country dining, any way you look at it. To satisfy your craving for one of the best burgers at the northern end of the Highway 49, check out Two Rivers Cafe, located in Downieville, CA.

    The view
    Nikki J.

    Went on a motorcycle ride to Downieville and we chose Two Rivers Cafe for lunch. Love the walk up and order especially when you have big groups. Ordered a bacon Cheeseburger and fries and let me tell you that was one of the best burgers I've had in a long time. Service was fast and friendly. Restaurant was clean and plenty of room to sit inside or outside if you choose. And you really can't pick better views. Will for sure be stopping here again, and you should too!

    Bacon burger, no bun
    Christi I.

    Cute little cafe in a small little town. We order at the counter and then find a seat. Great service and food!! Very accommodating for my husband who is diabetic with a salad and no buns for his burger. The salad was fresh and flavorful. Both our burgers were delicious and very filling. The French fries were crisp and very good! We enjoyed our visit.

    Juan J.

    Delicious burger, friendly service and a nice outdoor patio view to relax. You really can't go wrong a small town..

    Fuji salad
    Karen O.

    OMG! We had an incredibleeeee experience at Two Rivers Cafe! I didn't really have many expectations but the food was out of this world I ordered the Fuji Salad and Hawaiian Pizza, both of which were made with the freshest ingredients. The service was top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff (Thanks Primo and Sahand for your kindness!) . But what really made our experience special was the stunning patio view of the river. Watching the water flow by while savoring each bite was pure bliss. Two Rivers Cafe is a must-visit gem in Downieville - don't miss it!

    burger
    Elisa R.

    In recent years this spot has gotten very good! They have a nice selection of beer-- I recommend the pineapple cider for a light refreshing drink. The salads are always giant and loaded with fresh toppings. The pizza has a great crust, but is usually a little dry and bland, though still good. I substitute a garden burger for the burger items and have never been disappointed-- the flavors of the sauces and toppings are always great and the fries are fresh and flavorful as well. I am disappointed that their sign advertises pasta but they do not serve any. The bathroom is kind of grimy and the whole interior/ambiance leaves a little to be desired in my opinion-- it's very 'sports-bar' so maybe just a matter of personal taste. However, all-around great food and a go-to spot for my family.

    Front of the cafe.  Worth a stop.
    Sara E.

    Nice little gem of a place tucked back in between Highway 49 and the Yuba River. Impressive craft beer selection, including hard kombucha. Had a juicy burger that was on the rarer side of medium, heaven! Delicious guacamole was chunky, flavorful and definatley homemade. Produce was fresh and crispy. Fries were plentiful and hot. Izzy provided friendly and fast service. Inside isn't much to write home about, but the view from the back deck is hard to beat. A great place for a better than average burger and beer experience.

    a chicken sandwich and french fries
    Brent D.

    This was great find in the Lost Sierra's. A buddy and i stopped here for a late lunch after a few hours on our motorcycles. It was pretty quiet for a Friday, but we gave it a try. As I walked in, the specials board caught my eye. A chicken sandwich was advertised with a side of fries. It sounded good and I ordered it. We took a seat on the deck, overlooking the Yuba river. The sandwich arrived and was quite impressive. Piled high with chicken, veggies and cheese. It was super flavorful and filling. I didn't partake in the adult beverages, but did see a short, but well curated craft beer list.

    Side salad

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    24 days ago

    The place is filthy and the building is falling apart. Dirty inside and out. Kitchen looks dirty through the front window.

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    1 year ago

    Good price, quality work. Did what was needed and completed in a timely manner. Would recommend.

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    2 years ago

    Bacon cheeseburger and fries are just out of this world fantastic taste. Great service, their vegetarian pizzas is very tasty.

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great spot, food is excellent! The jalapeño bacon burger will make you blissfully sweat.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Two Rivers Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Two Rivers Cafe

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    Stumbled upon this brewery and it instantly became one of our new favorite spots in Tahoe! They…read morehave a great variety of options--from classic beers to kombucha and other creative brews. We came on a Tuesday and were pleasantly surprised to find out it's Happy Hour all day with $2 off any drink. I ordered the hefeweizen, and it was perfectly refreshing after a long day of snowboarding. My husband got the POG kombucha, and we both ended up loving our drinks. The atmosphere is a huge standout too. There's a few tables for indoor seating, but the outdoor area is surrounded by tall forest trees, giving it a peaceful, tucked-away vibe and makes it a unique brewery atmosphere. They even have a few igloo-styled tents with heat lamps, which made it super cozy on a cooler day. Plus, there are food trucks parked outside, so grabbing something tasty to pair with your drink is super easy. Overall, awesome drinks, great ambiance, delicious food options nearby, and an unbeatable happy hour deal. Can't wait to come back next time we're in Tahoe!

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    We ordered takeout and were really disappointed with the experience. Our order included a sandwich…read morewith fries, tacos, half-and-half wings, a Caesar salad, and dessert, but when we got home, both the wings and the salad were missing. We called right away, and while the employee apologized and admitted it was their mistake, the only solution offered was to "take it off the bill." That doesn't really help when you've already driven 30 minutes home and now have an incomplete meal. Mistakes happen, but how they're handled matters. Offering a refund doesn't fix the inconvenience, the time lost, or the fact that part of our dinner was missing. A better effort to make it right would have gone a long way. We didn't just lose money...We lost time, convenience, and part of your meal. A manager should have gotten on the phone and said something like, 'I'm really sorry, we messed up. Let me fix this for you.' A sincere effort to problem-solve, not just a refund. Really hoping more attention is paid to orders moving forward.

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