Riva Cucina

The food was good, but not great or anything special. I ordered tagliatelle; the bolognese was a bit watery and the meat was a bit overcooked, but overall okay. However, that wasn’t what I most disliked: the service was inexperienced and the acoustics were pretty bad. If it hadn’t been for those, the experience would have been a lot better. That said, the panna cotta was pretty good!

Low rating because bread is CHARGED without being forewarned. $ 2.50 for low quality, stale and cold, and not even toasted, without balsamic vinegar and plain olive oil.
Pastas were pretty good though. Fungus pasta has great truffle taste. Pasta noodles taste like homemade.

A really cute & quaint Italian restaurant. My roommate & I were pleasantly surprised. Excellent food & service. We shared the Antipasto Misto. I ordered the PAPPARDELLE AI FUNGHI
(Parsley pasta sautéed with mixed mushrooms, thyme, garlic-​infused olive oil and Boschetto truffle cheese)…it was so delicious that it looked like I licked my plate clean. I also ordered a glass of the featured wine, which was amazing. My roommate ordered the seafood risotto which he loved. We’ll definitely come back!

My boyfriend and I came here with the intention of ordering from their Berkeley Restaurant Week menu. However, their regular entrees sounded more appealing so we opted to skip the special menu. I tried the Ravioli Al Branzino which is a seabass ravioli. The sauce had a light creaminess to it which I enjoyed. The seabass itself had a good flavor but the texture was a bit dense. The ravioli was also a tad too undercooked for me; some of the inside corners were much chewier than the rest of the ravioli. My boyfriend’s Tagliatelle Bolognese was tasty, but not anything special or exciting. We both enjoyed our dishes although I would try something different next time.
The dishes here are somewhat small, especially for the price (although the price was expected for this type of restaurant). Even with a drink each, my boyfriend and I were both a little under our ‘satisfied’ level at the end of the meal. We could have gotten dessert but I was really craving something other than what they had to offer.
This is an intimate little restaurant that I would consider as a nice date night place. They did have a couple of 5+ groups during our visit but I think I would recommend making a reservation for that. And despite being somewhat isolated from other food/​shopping/​entertainment establishments, the restaurant was full and there was a short wait for those that arrived at the end of our meal. With so many options in Berkeley and the East Bay in general, I wouldn’t consider this place a ‘must-​try’. But if you’re considering it, I don’t this it’s a bad choice either.

Very cute place that has a very unique ambiance which is casual and classy. There’s a semi open kitchen and the outdoor seating area looks very nice. Came here for lunch and got the bread, burrata, and fettuccine ai funghi (mushroom). Bread was delicious and fresh with a tasty infused olive oil. The burrata was perfect. The fettuccini was a bit over cooked but otherwise the flavor was good. Service was friendly and prompt.

Likes:
Quiet, good service, easy parking
I actually thought the food was meh. Our standout dish was beet carpaccio salad. My salmon was overcooked, had soggy skin, served skin side up, paired with mushrooms (too earthy for me) and roasted potatoes (good.) Ravioli zucca in brown butter– you can buy a pack of butternut squash ravioli made in Italy at Trader Joe’s for about $ 3.99. I think my dish is comparable. I actually didn’t like the rosemary oil, way too strong, with bread ($ 2.00.) I actually prefer Pasta Pomodoro’s sauce and it comes with your meal and refills free too.
Pretty low energy room and no sizzle on the plate. Not enough vegetarian/​pescatarian choices.

Thank you Unilocal!I was looking for a place that had great food service and lighting without a wait on a Saturday night and you delivered. Patio looked great but given the breeze and the fading sun we opted for inside. We went in and quickly secured a table in this gem. What can I say? Yes yes yes to everything about this place! I loved the bread with the olive oil… very peppery with a hint of Rosemary… I had the scallop appetizer which was everything I hoped for and more. I’m sure my hips didn’t appreciate that buttery sauce I used for sopping up even more of that tasty bread but I did. I ordered the risotto reluctantly bc I have had some bad experiences but this was a game changer! Perfectly cooked piping hot tremendous tomato flavor and fresh sweet shrimp calamari and crab! Swoon! He had the salmon with capers and it was a huge portion! Go here. Now!

This is the first time my boyfriend and me to be here. I did not make reservations and just walk in. Because of Friday dinner time and no reservations, we did not sit on table, but still have seat on the Bar. The place is clean and simple style, the tables are not too pack. We ordered fresh scallops for appetizer and two pastas for main courses, both are so good. The service is great too. Definitely will come back.

Solid 4+ stars! We’ve been coming here for years now and love Riva Cucina! Service and food are always consistently stellar. The rosemary olive oil with sliced bread is a must-​try while you wait to order!
This review is for lunch (our latest meal at this restaurant). Walked in around noon without a reservation and were seated immediately. We both ordered the Panino Alla Salsiccia (housemade sausage panini with fennel/​arugula and mixed greens on the side). Surprised we were never offered the rosemary olive oil/​sliced bread, which was fine since we both ordered sandwiches. The dessert of the day was the highlight of our meal — a mocha/​chocolate cake. I’m not a dessert person, but sure wanted to lick the plate afterwards!
Also, the back lot no longer is available. Turn at the block before the restaurant and into the parking lot there or look for street parking during off-​hours on Heinz.

Summary based on 1 dinner:
–better than average food, even for mid range Berkeley restaurants. Corso comes to mind as a comparable.
–ok prices
–helpful friendly service
–easy parking!
–quiet (yay!), but a bit too dark in the evening

9÷12− One of the consistently best places, in my opinion, for Italian in Berkeley. I had made reservations for my party of 3 less than 45 minutes previous on OpenTable, and we were seated right away as soon as we got there. Some sliced bread and tasty rosemary olive oil were brought over as we waited for our orders. I got the tortelli ai gamberi, a squid ink tortelli filled with lemon, prawn and butter, and my tablemates got pastas. The bite of the pappardelle was perfect, so I’m told, and my tortelli was equally fresh. The prawn was cooked just right and while my plate portion looked sparse at first, but the time I had my second to last tortelli, I was glad I had just enough to really enjoy all the flavors of the dish (as opposed to feeling as though it was a chore to finish off the plate).
My friends had laughingly informed our waitress that it was my birthday way in the beginning of our visit, but I was still touched at the shareable size of the complimentary slice of torta del nonna that was adorned by a single (rainbow colored!) birthday candle. The crust was AMAZING! Sort of like a shortbread, but not so heavy or floury on the tongue, yet still lovely and soft. The custardy filling was vaguely lemonly and delicious as well. We also ended getting the espresso panna cotta which was delicious in its own right, but I just really enjoyed the torta. =]
I still remember the first time I came to Riva sometime in 2013 and had gotten some pear and cheese (ricotta?) ravioli… I was instantly charmed. The menu here changes often enough to reflect the seasonal bounty so it’s always worth dropping by every now and then. You won’t be disappointed!

Not as great as anticipated, though still enjoyable for the most.
A recent annual company dinner is what brought us here recently. The specialized menu choices catered for our special event sounded divine, however, taste wise, a few things unfortunately fell short.
The restaurant it self, exudes a very classy, yet laid back relaxing atmosphere– somewhat small, though the high vaulted ceilings and open windows create a more open spacious feel… nice atmosphere overall.
The evening started off with several plates consisting of an array of banquettes accompanied with an excellent sharp Parmesan like cheese. I did not try the bread, though several people commented that it was good… especially my fiancé who attended. For hors-d’oeuvres, they provided several different things. For starts, they had a selection between a mushroom and meat paste on a baguette– both were not winners tastes wise, for myself, and from others. Next, they had a pear and cheese tortellini– these were extremely delicious, and probably one of the tasteful highlights of the evening. Lastly, there was the fried calamari dipped in a dollop of sauce. They were ok.
Our starter/​antipasti choices :
Antipasti Zuppa Di Ceci — Garbanzo bean soup with onion, celery, herbs and vegetable broth
Insalata Con Bruciatini — Organic baby mixed greens, crispy pancetta, gorgonzola dolce crostini, balsamico vinaigrette
Insalata Di Bietole — Organic Chioggia beets, romaine, Umbrian farro, red wine condiment, shaved Paarmigiano
Entrée/​Piatti Forti choices:
Tagiatelle alla Bolognese — Pasta with traditional beef, pork, tomato ragu and Parmigiano
Tortelloni agli Asparagi — Asparagus ravioli sautéed with butter, asparagus and cream
Salmone alla Griglia — Grilled herb and breadcrumb-​crusted salmon with roasted potatoes, wild arugula, fennel and lemon condimento
Ossobuco — Slow braised beef ossobuco with soffritto, herbs & red wine, soft polenta, sautéed spinach, herbs & lemon gremolada.
My fiancé and I, chose the soup for our starters. This soup was fantastic tasting– savory and flavored to perfection. Mostly everyone else ordered the salad, which might I say, appeared extremely sad and sparse looking– not too mention everyone that ordered it, were completely diss-​impressed with it– portion, presentation and taste wise, just not appealing at all. For our main entrée, I went with the Asparagus ravioli– presentation was definitely on point on this one and taste wise, was fantastic-​creamy, seasoned well, cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. My honey ordered the Tagiatelle alla Bolognese. Presentation wise it was ok, however he was completely disappointed with it taste wise. He said the pasta was extremely dry, and the sauce was clearly lacking– definitely not something he said he would order if had known. Now for the Salmon ordered by most, presentation wise it looked ok, and most were satisfied with it.
Now, dessert choices: Torta al Cioccolato — Italian chocolate fondant cake Torta
della Nonna — Lemon cream cake with pine nuts and almonnds
And panna cotta.
I chose the lemon cream cake. My honey got the Panna cotta, and most others at our table got the Chocolate Cake– all presentations looked divine. My lemon tart like cake tasted like a lemon slice of heaven!!! Absolutely phenomenal. My honey loved the pan cotta, and based upon everyone else s glisten in their eyes and moans, apparently the chocolate cake was also good.
Oh and the alcohol provided, was a selection of red and white wine; sparking wine and a selection of beers. I indulged in the red, which was not bad. I did hear a few complaints though of the beer being slightly warm… definitely not good.
Overall, the food was ok, with a few shining stars. Service was very friendly and attentive. It may have just been it was a large event, therefor possibly making it more difficult to execute each dish perfectly, so I can’t say I would not give them a shot again, but I can’t say I’m eager to do so any time soon.

I am still looking for my «go to» Italian place in the East Bay and I guess, Riva Cucina comes pretty close. I made reservations on OpenTable and we were seated right away when we arrived (with 6 people). There was excellent bread and wonderful olive oil on the table in no time and we browsed the menu. It looked great!
The interior is very airy and colorful, the wine selection is great as well and the staff is well-​trained and super friendly, but not too eager. Exactly as I like it :-)
The portions of pasta dishes are not overly big, so I would suggest to at least share an appetizer between two people or have a soup before. There was a wide selection of dishes on our table, and I think none of them disappointed. Solid Italian fare at reasonable prices.
Unfortunately no pizza though!

Absolutely loved this little spot for a delicious date night. Far away from the Berkeley crowds and ample parking, right down the way from Berkeley Bowl. I would have had no idea it existed unless the BF had not done his homework on Unilocal.
Modern décor, but made cozy with the matte velvet drapes hung floor to ceiling in a burgundy color. It really sets off the mood and blocks the cold breezes from the door. I noticed they had outdoor seating as well for warmer nights. This night was slightly chilly for this Cali chic so we sat tucked away behind an ample curtain, at a table for two.
The food was a small taste of Italian heaven. We started with two glasses of a Grasparossa. an Italian sparkling wine that is a deep red hue. it has the depth and roundness of red wine with the light effervescence of a sparkling prosecco. It was a great introduction to our meal. I started with 2 scallops baked in the shell with loads of garlic and butter. there was no way to go wrong with this dish. it was unctuous and sinful. I dipped into the butter with the bread and had a taste of the BF’s beet salad, perfection!
The entrée for me was a squid ink fettuccine with seafood treasures. coated with steamy marinara sauce. The dish was well balanced with the tomato sauce and perfectly cooked squid ink pasta. I had a Syrah which the waiter recommended. amazing. The Man had a delicious Petrale Sole dish.
The dessert was a lemon tart of sorts and did not remain on the plate for long. A perfect balance of sweetness and crunch, and not a lot of tartness, which I am not a fan of. Delicioso!

Came here with co-​workers for our Christmas lunch last Tuesday. A co-​worker and I split the panino ai calamari and panino con pollo; these sandwiches were SO good. Very light and tasty! The service was excellent, our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Plus the prices were reasonable. I would definitely come back again.
Note: this place is super popular, so be prepared to wait or make reservations!