La Rivista Ristorante

My friend and I came for a romantic diner, I leave in NY for 6 years but because we were speaking french they
Automatically think we were tourist, the credit card machine did not work. They took credit card ccv and number manually of my friend without even asking if we had cash instead. They also allows themselves to add 20%tips without permission. I Highly don’t recommend this place

Really good everything. Can’t go wrong, before or after the theater great Italian food !

Update: I’ve been here a few more times, essentially because I have friends who perform here regularly, and I’ve sung here as well. If you stick with the broiled «Broadway Joe» items, you’ll do much better. I especially like their veal chop, the one from the Specials menu. I’ve had it twice — the first time it was a «10» and the second a «9» — a far cry from the first thing I ate here. It’s not cheap, and the veal chop at their other restaurant on 91^st and Columbus is $ 10 less, but it’s an excellent chop. If their service were a little better, and the staff more polite — I was gruffly told to «get out of my way» by a waiter — I’d give them another half a star.
Update #2: It’s hard not to notice that this place has a sparse clientele most nights I’ve gone there, even when there is excellent music to be heard. There’s a reason for that, and it’s not the food. [With a few exceptions, it’s good or better. I have had their veal chop at least three times and had last been here on New Year’s Eve, and had a very nice steak. I’ve also had their pasta and other meals here.] I’ve come in alone, with dates, and have also brought large groups of friends in. I came in last night, ostensibly to listen to my friend perform and to sing a few songs as well. I was alone, so I sat at the small bar and ordered a «club soda» (just their carbonated tap water), and a couple of appetizers. The laconic maître d/​waiter/​bartender couldn’t be bothered to ever offer water or ask if I wanted anything else to drink. Eventually I got a waiter passing me by to give me a glass of water. Finally, the maître d was back at the bar for a second, and I asked him for a glass of water. He instead filled it with «club soda,» which I realized when I gulped it down hard. I didn’t say anything, but when I asked for a check (while he was at a nearby table, having dinner), I noticed he had charged me for two «club sodas» at $ 3.50 each. I told him I had only asked him for water. He asked me why I didn’t say anything. What was I going to do, give it back? I asked him to take it off. He pulled the check away to change it. «Next time, I don’t do this.» Then he started ripping into me, claiming I just come in to sing a couple of songs and don’t spend any money. I told him I’ve spent at least a thousand bucks here and have had veal chops and steaks. «When?» he demanded. Really? This is a restaurant that has a stated policy of music with no cover and no minimum, and they are going to abuse a patron because I only spent $ 25? I gave him a minimal tip, but shouldn’t have given him any. I heard him telling someone else that he would start charging for music, making me wonder if he were also the owner. I don’t think I’ve ever been treated so rudely or with such lack of care. So, taking back a star.

My wife and I had a wonderful experience on a Saturday night before a Broadway show. Dinner was at 6 we walked out around 7:30 and made it to the show by 7:45!
We started with the Grand Antipasto which was nothing short of fantastic! I highly recommend it. I had the lasagna which was equally as good (and a large portion). My wife had the Ravioli which she loved but the portion was fairly small.
Great experience, great wait staff, just a delightful experience.

A classic Italian dining experience with elegant ambiance.

Service was awful — waiter was terribly rude and condescending. I asked some questions about several menu items which had no further descriptives — artichokes roman style, stuffed artichokes and Insalata di Fruti Di Mare. The answer to the insalata was seafood which I know but what kind of seafood? I wanted to know what the artichokes were stuffed with (breadcrumbs) and what constitutes roman style for artichokes? All valid questions?!? I ordered the «seafood» salad and when I received a Caesar salad, I told the runner that the Caesar was not what I ordered, the runner told me that the seafood salad would take about 10 minutes — it’s a cold seafood marinated salad?! The runner got the waiter and I told him that I had not ordered the Caesar — his response was that I asked alot of questions (Caesar salad, not being one of them)?! When I mentioned what happened to the owner, his shared that he had received similar complaints (why is the waiter still there?!) and that if I didn’t want to tip him that it was my prerogative to do so.
I have been going to La Rivista for I think about the 20 years that it has been there, my recent visit won’t happen again…

It’s one of these midtown restaurant that you know what to expect, it’s like all the chefs on the block went to the same cooking school and left there their creativity.
It’s a solid meal but nothing too special. The service was sloppy and slow even though there were only three tables haha.
Food was good, not great.
They start you off with a piece of Parmesan that they carve out of a block in front of you, I liked that a lot! Then they give you mushroom crostinis as you wait for your appetizers to come it.
For appetizer we shared some sort of pâté, it was veal and it was weird, the presentation was a little ridiculous –refer to photo– but it was good nonetheless.
For main course, I had the steak– duuh and it sadly came with no side besides a piece of carrot, I guess to bring up the color. Hubby had veal with mushroom, sauce was great.
The dessert was so amazing that I forgot about it totally –that says a lot, I rarely forget my sweets.
Still a solid meal, not fair to give a 3 star, too generous for a 4, you won’t leave hungry, but I doubt you go back for more.

ALERT/​WARNING: Broadway Joe’s Steakhouse is CLOSED, however La Rivista next door has used Broadway Joe’s sign and awning to deceive people into thinking it is Broadway Joe’s. THEY ARE ALSO USING THE SAME PHONE NUMBER, HOWEVER THIS IS NOT BROADWAY JOE’S.
The bargain that was Broadway Joe’s Price Fixed menu with an excellent piece of New York Strip IS NOT ON THIS MENU. The entrees are heavy laden with sauces and cheeses. The waiter was unapologetic for an extremely fatty Spare Rib dish, that had much more fat than meat. Time to look for a new pre/​post theatre meal, THIS PLACE IS NOT IT.

My friends and I were pleasantly surprised here.
The food was solid and the service was prompt and polite. The steaks were cooked perfectly and didn’t require any sauces or anything. The veal in lemon sauce was very flavorful. Beef short ribs were incredibly tender. I obviously didn’t eat all of this, but there were 4 of us and I may have tasted the other meals :-)
I would come back here for a nice, relaxing, and tasty meal.

I have always found it difficult to find a moderately priced restaurant near the theaters. La Rivista was a good choice. Atmosphere was cozy, service good. When they sensed out dismay at being out of mussels, they went to one of the nearby restaurants and «borrowed» some. They were perfectly cooked and seasoned. I had the Ceasar Salad and you could taste the anchovy, a rarity.

excellent service and food. very fun since they encourage piano players to entertain the guests when their pianist is not playing. Décor is classy and people that appreciate the good old days of traditional Italian Dinning expect.

I was brought here by a friend who comes here every trip to NY. Well, it was great! Starting with the melon and prosciutto appetizer to the linguine and clam sauce, it was incredible. Great service, great food, fun atmosphere with a pianist playing and customers singing from time to time. It was so good, I came back a few nights later and was equally impressed with the Penne Arriabiata. The prices were also quite good. I kept their business card, I’ll definitely be back.

Maitré’D fished a fly out of a glass of wine, served it right back after fishing out in front of us. And check the menu against what you actually get served.

This place is the epitome of what happens when you don’t evolve. The décor is dated, the staff uniforms are dated, the menu is dated. I suppose there’s an appeal to some people who are looking for some sort of «Old New York» experience, but I personally find it surprising that this place stays open despite the great, innovative options out there in the city!

Romantic atmosphere especially with the piano player. The food is good. I agree with one poster that the desserts could be much better. I’d go for the romantic atmosphere.

The food here was good. The service was appalling.
When we got there, it seems like the maitre d’ took an immediate dislike for us. We felt it from the beginning. We were asked if we wanted a drink and I said we’d like to see a wine list. He finally brought us a wine list after our entrees arrived and then seemed shocked when I said, «Not now!»
Left a larger tip than deserved because the servers were fine. But I’m sure it was less than expected.

The décor is eligant. The drinks are ample. The service was prompt and personal. The food was classical Italian. What else can you ask of a restaurant for a pre theater meal?
I look forward to eating at la Rivista when I’m not rushing for a curtain and I can dwell on my meal. Great experience.

Very good for a pre-​show on Broadway dinner. Good location, good service, good food.
They flag the people who make reservations on line, so you might get better service by making your reservation that way!

Dined here with a large group of colleagues and fellow industry professionals. We had a grumpy waiter who had initially setup two separate tables for our large group, after a lot of hemming and hawwing he finally agreed to merge the two tables.
The food was good. I had a Penne Arriabiata for my appetizer and the Grilled Rack of Lamb for my main. The place felt like your homestyle Italian spot, with open windows, and a view onto a busy New York street that could’ve easily been the Mediterranean.
Overall, a pleasant experience.

GOOD