River Cafe & Bar

Food was ok beer was good as well as the service ! Just a basic local bar on the tracks!

I liked the burgers and the $ 2.00 tacos. My partner did not like anything, especially the drive to there (he lives in Forest Park). We had a
certificate which they tried not to allow us to redeem. Won’t go again.

Slowest service ever! I went for lunch with one other person. They were not busy, 3 other tables. After sitting down, nothing, no menu, no water, no «I’ll be right with you», just sitting wondering if we should just leave. The waitress is the one who told us to grab a table, so yes she was aware of us. Finally got some menu’s from the busboy, who wound up doing most of the work. Hello waitress, we see you just standing by the bar, Everything took forever. The food was decent, but I would never bother to come back.

Stay away. Been there three times and serious issues each time. First time two of four food orders came out. Server was clueless about the other two. Second time, draft beer was warm and flat. Wrong food order came out, had to start over. Third time same as first. Two came out with no idea of the other two orders were. Never offered an explanation or compensation of any kind.
Three strikes– YOU’RE OUT.

Really wanted to like this place, and I may go back for a drink, but the service and food was really subpar. Drink specials bump it up to two stars. Five people ordered food, almost an hour later three orders came out and one was cold. What happened to the other two? We had to bring it to the servers attention. Never really got an answer. Bartender seemed to have her act together and manager was there but table service and food as sad.

The first time my fiancé and I have come here… Love this place, amazing food, amazing service and RACHEL is absolutely an amazing server!!! She knows the menu like the back of her hand and always makes sure you have everything you need and want. Very personable and sweet. We will be coming back in A LOT more often and will definitely be requesting her. Ask for Rachel if you come in. Thanks again, Rachel!!!
–Lauren & Darynn

I love this bar! Stefanie is by far the best bartender I have met. She is so beautiful and loving! The food is great and the drinks are so yummy! Please come and you won’t want to leave!

I came in here a few weeks ago during a week day around 10:30 at night, Their website claimed to be open until 2am. When i got there with my date we sat at a table and the waitress told us she was done for the night, kitchen was closed and if we wanted drinks we had to walk up to the bar? Needless to say we only got 1 drink and left, we drove past it again around midnight and they were closed. Open until 2am? Nope. Good service? Nope i would definatley never go here again even if someone paid me to try it!!! STAY AWAY!!!

I’ve seen this location go through multiple businesses but River Café seems to have some staying power.
This location has been a staple for me over the years as a Metra commuter into River Grove. If there was a freight or I missed the train, River Café served as a good place to sit and have a drink while waiting for the next train.
I also have been to private parties held in the back room. Food was always pretty good and they provide a bartender in the back.
Although I’ve been here numerous times, on my most recent visit I paid closer attention to the food so I can give a cohesive review. It was lunch and a few of my gf’s and I bellied up to the bar. After a few drinks, we decided to put our order in. Luckily as part of their menu, they offer ½ salads, sandwiches and/​or soup combos. You’re able to pick any of the sandwiches (not burgers), salads and/​or their soup of the day. I ordered a half of a Cuban (on a Pretzel bun… pure joy) and half salad. My sandwich was great, I ordered the mustard on the side because I wasn’t sure if I would be a fan or not. The sandwich wasn’t very big but it was ok for a lunch-​sized portion. The salad I ordered was their seasonal salad which I thought had great flavor BUT the lettuce was wet. I don’t know if it was sitting in dressing for a while but this was the first time I had chewy lettuce, it was kinda gross.
Our bartender was great, I wish I knew her name. It was during the day so it was better luck than we’ve had in the late afternoon.

This is a decent place. The wait staff is very attentive and friendly. The food is pretty good. I like the burgers, wraps and the mac and cheese is really tasty without being fussy. I find this place to be at it’s best earlier in the day. It can get a little rougher in the evening hours, in my opinion. A good pick for some Sunday day drinking, with some good food and friendly staff to boot!

After hearing this place had shut down for awhile and then reopened I decided to give it another shot after stopping in here for drinks awhile ago. The wings and onion rings are amazing. I got the barbeque pulled pork and it was great. The mac n’ cheese side is a whole meal in itself. The portions are well sized, pricing is good and food is great.

Food is good service is good but not really a five star kinda place. Nice screens always have a game on. Parking can be difficult but they have a lot that holds about 20 – 30 cars. Will return again.

I’ve been here a few times both in the bar and the party/​back room, both of which are so loud that you have to yell to be heard (very exhausting). The set up in the bar is cramped, which makes it difficult to mingle. Food is merely ok (a bit too fatty). Service is good. I only go here when my friends make me.

Recent changes to the menu are positive. The Shrimp & Polenta no longer on the menu which I will miss. Menu is more sandwiches and a few entrees. No longer the Italian focus. Still has the pizza. We had a great server, but she is leaving soon to pursue a new opportunity. The burgers we had were very good, not so with the wings. But we were very disappointed with the over served customers, yes — more than one. Not very family friendly. Management of the bar area was lacking and one very inebriated customer was provided two more drinks.

I don’t understand all the negative reviews… We go here quite often and are always satisfied with the food and service.
They are right next to the Metra tracks so this is number one in our normal rotation to bring our 3 year old son to. He loves sitting at the window and looking at all the trains go by. This makes a nice night out for mom and dad, too, because we don’t have to worry about keeping him entertained.
Food is always good. We’ve gotten everything from pizza to burgers and wraps to pasts dishes… all are good.
Beer prices are normal.
The party room is awesome. I had my bridal shower there when it was still My Way and my family has had numerous other events in the room since it’s been River Café.
If you come in looking for a fine dining experience. you won’t be happy… but when you realize it’s a BAR… and WHO CARES if the bar tenders are looking at their phones in between pouring drinks… you’ll really enjoy yourself.

this place goes back and forth, up and down, hit or miss. they are constantly changing the furniture and décor, yet i seem to be ordering the same pasta /​soup /​pizza /​beer /​chicken wings.
i was giddy to find a shrimp polenta on the new menu amongst all the old standards.
it was splendid.

Just wanted to send my props to The River Café for having a decent (and Vegetarian) salad on your menu! Being a vegetarian, I never expect much from salads when I eat out. The vegetables usually aren’t that fresh and the salad dressing is chemically laden goo, yuck. When I ordered the spinach salad with balsamic dressing, I really wasn’t expecting much but when it came, it was fantastic! The veggies were fresh (red peppers were a deep red), it was big and the dressing was actual balsamic dressing, made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and spices. It looked like the kind of dressing I make at home. The rest of the food I saw come out of the kitchen looked and smelled great too. Thank you!

Just fantastic rigatoni absolute. When I asked if their sauce was vegetarian (it wasn’t) they *offered* to make a vodka sauce from scratch and it was delicious. Good service as well. Thanks guys!

This has become a regular haunt for my friends and I. The staff is good looking, funny and down to earth. The food is above average bar/​family fare and priced very well. TIM the manager will give you a nod if he remembers you and Billy the bartender will already be making your drink by the time you sit down if you come in often enough.
Be careful not to sit in Grippo’s seat on the inside end of the bar– otherwise he’ll bribe you with drinks until you move. A def place to hang, or bring the family earlier on in the night. You won’t pay downtown prices and the conversation is always amusing!!!

Awesome addition to the northwest suburbs…
Great first time visit to this restaurant and bar. Saw all of the large screen TV’s and stopped in to watch a Cubs game. There was a good crowd and the guy running the place (Tim) was keeping the place lively. Service was personal and efficient. Makes you want to go back again just for the great people running this place.
Menu has the right varity of traditional pub fare with a few surprises of a good italian restaurant. The BBQ Pulled Pork sliders were really good with great sauce and tender meat on a tasty pretzel roll. Wish I was hungrier as other menu items like the fried burger with egg & bacon, by strip steak sandwich, rigatoni absolute with tomato vodka cream sauce will bring me back for more. We ordered the «hookie» for dessert which was a chocolate chip cookie in a cast iron skillet with ice cream and the toppings you would expect. Will probably stop in this place just for dessert some nights.
Tim also told us to stop in for the «All you can eat crab legs» on Tuesday nights as well as the clam chowder on Fridays that the «The Loon» was known for. Looking forward to future visits.