In Riva

Pizza is good!!! But they have no changing tables in the bathrooms.
Everytime Ive been there, I have seen plenty of families with kids/​babies… I can not believe they have high chairs and no changing tables?

Awesome awesome place! Went here with a group of 5 catching up on some lost times. We were able to snag a round table which was awesome to talk to everyone rather than one of those large long tables where you can really only talk to whoever is next to you.
The pizza is bomb but the chicken parm was also a favorite at our table. All of their beers are very interesting and rotate out a lot. They also have cheese plates with charcuterie so I’ll definitely have to be back to try that out
Since its pretty cold currently we didn’t opt for the outdoor seating but from the inside, it looks awesome! I would love to come here for a sunday brunch one day in the spring and people watch kelly drive runners.
Our table was conveniently placed right in front of a huge chalkboard so we asked our waitress if she had chalk and she was very happy that we asked. Apparently no one does haha. We played a couple games of tic tac toe while settling out our bill and then headed out.
Their happy hour only goes until 6 though :(what a bummer

Holy Heaven on Earth.
Not only is this probably one of the most picturesque restaurants in Philly (situated right on Kelly Drive), it’s also pet friendly with tons of outdoor seating and excellent shade in the summer months. Great parking available, both at the In Riva lot and the lot across the street (in the Fall there’s a pop-​up Farmer’s Market every weekend).
Excellent selection of draft beers. They usually have Stone IPA on draft, which can be hard to find in East Falls or Manayunk. They rotate their selection regularly, so it’s like a fun surprise every time.
The pizzas are probably what most folks rave about. You can watch the cook make it from scratch. The dough is earthy, flaky, and fresh-​baked. Tough to beat.
Try the whipped ricotta appetizer.

Amazing! Small plates and pizza to die for, worth the small portions. Will come again ! Going to try the part of the menu where the kitchen prepares their 5 favorites and pair with wine!

I chose the 3 course meal for two people. Best food choice I have made in a while! Everything was so fresh and unique! Very high quality food and worth the price.

Something I wish I had known prior to arriving here (which is super helpful to know) is that the non-​pizza items here are somewhat tapas style. So that being said, this place ends up being somewhat pricier than you would think. We ended up ordering about 10 different ~$ 15 plates and 1 pizza for 4 people. We weren’t planning on spending that much when initially looking at the menu online, but still glad we came because everything was amazing!
I drove by this place a million times on my commute along Kelly drive, and finally decided to give this place a try. I must say, everything was better than I expected it to be! We needed to order some veggie options so I reluctantly agreed to getting the pea ravioli… which actually blew my mind! Salads are fresh, flavors are incredible, and textures of all pasta and meat are perfect. You can pretty much order anything on the menu here and you will be happy… Even I, the meat lover, who also had to eat a vegan pizza that night, left more than satisified.

The small plate apps were very good. Didn’t expect this high quality food coming from a restaurant right off of Kelly drive. The crab tortelloni was my favorite, I would go back just to eat more of them.
Prices are higher than expected but food quality was also higher than expected so I would say they are priced fairly. We were so distracted by all of the small plate foods that we didn’t even really try the pizzas. I’m hearing good things on that end too so looking forward to my next meal at In Riva.

Stopped in at In Riva after a visit to Wissahickon with my pup. Overall, the food was good, but a little bit on the expensive side. We had a pesto pizza and salad of cucumbers with feta, which were both very good. The cheapest pizza is around $ 13, which is a bit too high in my opinion.
The best part of In Riva is that they have a separate area designated for people dining with their dogs. Because it is fenced off, you can let your pup run off leash while you eat. I like the concept, although I wouldn’t trust my 8 month old puppy on the loose around other diners. Also, if you dine outside, it’s not really that nice of a view– there is way too much traffic.
Although I wasn’t blown away by In Riva, I will definitely give it another shot– especially if I’m out in the area with my pooch in tow.

First place I ate in the area and it was sooo good. My friend and I both ordered pasta, but the pizzas looked good from afar. They have beer and wine available which is great when you don’t have time for byob.

We were in the area for an event and decided to pop in, having heard nothing about the place. We’re so glad we did!
Our server was also the bartender and he made sure we needed not a single thing. He was patient and helpful. We had a few beers some non alcoholic drinks and a cocktail.
We got the beet feta salad, the artichokes and the chicken parm to share. The artichokes were ok but everything else was so SO delicious! We got 2 brick oven pizzas and seabass for the entrees. Everyone loved their pizza. The seabass had a super strong smell to it, very fishy and although I love fish, I don’t love a strong fishy taste. I took one bite and wasn’t a fan and the smell put off the rest of the group from trying it. Our server noticed and asked if he could bring something else. I super appreciated that! I won’t send food back except under extreme cases, but he insisted and so I just got a 2^nd beet salad since I liked the 1^st one so well.
The ambiance is really nice, the service was great all around, from the hostess to the bartender/​waiter to the runners who dropped off our food. We’re not in the area much, but next time we are, we will be stopping in again for sure.

In Riva hit an absolute home run with me!
Driven past here before and never thought much of it, but ended up here for dinner last week. The restaurant itself is adorable on the inside and the patio/​deck is great as well. Wonderful ambiance and nice view of the river (minus the intersection right there).
We really did try a little bit of everything, so let’s see if I can cover it all. First off, that nut mixture on the table is addictive so be careful or you’ll eat it all!
Mix of 2 meats and 2 cheeses — I believe we did the prosciutto and copa /​robiola and bianco. Beautiful display board with big crusty bread, honey, and mustard. The robiola was described similar to a brie and that was spot on and delicious. The whole tray was great!
Whipped Ricotta — This is the million dollar winner right here! The ricotta was absolutely to die for and I seriously just wanted to take a spoon to the jar and hoard it all to myself! I love that it came in that cute little jar too! More of that lovely crusty bread with this stuff, yum!
Crispy Artichokes — I am a huge artichoke fan so of course wanted to try these. Cooked to perfection and the yogurt mix on the bottom was the perfect sauce to cool the crispiness!
Gnocchi — I believe this was a braised beef gnocchi of some sort, can’t remember exactly. But the pasta was perfectly plump and the sauce just went so well.
Margherita pizza — Holy basil leaves, Batman! I LOVE fresh basil so the giant leaves on this pizza made me super excited! That crust was perfect — not too crispy but not too soft. I prefer lighter style pizzas and this one definitely hit the spot. Perfect amount of sauce as well!
In addition to the food being amazing, the service was wonderful as well! Since we had plates coming throughout the evening, our server was the perfect amount of attentiveness that we needed and he always made sure our wine glasses were full!
Absolute perfection! I can’t wait to go back here again and try some more food, their entire menu just looks amazing!

I’ve noticed this place on my way back into the city multiple times down Kelly and when a friend and I went on a nice mid day bike ride along the river looking for something for lunch what better oppurtunity to try it!
The location is optimal. It’s along Kelly right by the river but not too much traffic noise or congestion. The indoor setting was a bit dull and cold but the outdoor dining was perfect. Great views of the river and runners, especially perfect for people watching which I do quite enjoy.
We started with the tomato conserva and oh my goodness it was absolutely amazing. I’d recommend it as a started to anyone. It’s a savory, full, salty, onion filled Italian salsa with perfectly toasty bread to spread it on. Then we worked on the kale borrata salad which was a perfect sharing size for 2. The dressing was light and lemony and the burrata (creamy mozzarella) was to die for. I want to bathe in it!
We finished off with a basic Margarita pizza which ended up being my least favorite. The crust was chared abit too much for me and the pizza itself was very soft and smooshy. VERY difficult to use hands I had to eat it was a fork to keep it from falling apart.
Overall the service was good, food came out quickly however they never refilled our water glasses and it was a pretty warm day out. I would definitely go back though for a nice lunch and go at some more of those salads.

There are many reasons why I love this place, but I will keep this review somewhat short and only mention the really important stuff.
1) THE FOOD (ESPECIALLY THE PIZZA AND PASTA) IS THE BEST EVER. AND THE DRINKS. No lie, it really is the best. Ever. If you love pizza, you need to come here. The crust is perfect– chewy and crispy at the same time, and not too charred. This pizza is so good that when my friends and I were planning a Philly pizza tasing party, I immediately called dibs on bringing In Riva pizza because I knew it would blow all other pizzas out of the water. Keep in mind: Philly has recently undergone a pizza revolution with many new worthy contenders opening up shop all over the city, so trust me when I say In Riva has the best pizza in town.
As for drinks– they used to have one called the Denali (grapefruit, sparkling wine, lemon) and I was obsessed with it. Once they changed their menu around, I was hesitant to try the new items, but one of the servers recommended the Lietti (vodka, mint, lemon). Now it is my new obsession and I have at least 2 every time I come. So good!
2) THE SERVICE IS ALWAYS ON POINT. I believe I am qualified to speak on this matter because I have been here an embarrassing number of times. Not once have I ever felt rushed or forgotten. I have been coming here since it opened back in 2012, and many of the employees who started with the restaurant are still there today. I think that speaks volumes about the type of establishment In Riva is.
3) THE LOCATION IS WORTH THE TRECK. Being in East Falls, it seems that a lot of people believe this place is a bit off the beaten path. But let me tell you– the view alone makes the trip worth it. I actually live over the bridge in NJ, and I take the train into center city and ride my bike down Kelly Drive to get here. I do drive here quite often too, and the best part about that is I can bring my dog and sit in the Pizza n Pups section. It is pretty convenient when I am coming back from a disc golf trip with my dog and don’t know where to go to get some food.
This is one of my top 5 favorite places to come to in Philly. if you are thinking about coming here– DO IT! It will probably become one of your favorites too.

I came back here for a date night and to bring the pooch to the «pizza and puppies» section and it was a wonderful night. Service was great. Some were coming over and giving my pup a bunch of love and he was in doggie heaven.
The fried chickpeas they give you were a great unique touch to start the meal and were very tasty with the pistachios in it. The burrata and kale salad was done really well but would have appreciated a little more burrata for the price. We got a pasta this time and it was one of the best pasta dishes weve ever had. We did the pork/​proscuitto tagliatteli and it was so ridiculously flavorful. Happy with all our choices. We did the quattro formaggi again because that cant be skipped, ever.
Their beer selection is a bit odd and wines are a bit pricey for what it is, but we ended up discovering some great beers we hadn’t had before. I’ll definitely be back with the pup again! Favorite pizza in philly!

I finally went to In Riva on Saturday afternoon with friends, after a lovely hike in Wissahickon. It’s only about a 10 minute drive from the park, and you don’t have to worry about finding parking in East Falls– they have their own lot.
We were celebrating Becca’s birthday, and ordered two salads and three pizzas to share between the five of us, which was a perfect amount of food. Top it off with a crisp, cold bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and the view of Kelly Drive, and you have a perfect outdoor dining experience. Every pizza was better than the next– Margarita, Pepperoni, and a white pesto pizza with garlicky lemony almonds were all excellent choices.
I look forward to returning.

What a pretty place! Love having the park and river as a backdrop.
Stopped by for a lunch on sunday, expecting to get some pasta (I knew it was an Italian restaurant but nothing else much), but learned that they only served a brunch menu ay the time, which included pizza but not pasta.
Didn’t feel like pizza, so had cucumber salad, whipped ricotta and meatballs. They were all very delicious.
I want to come back for dinner to get pizza and pasta. The portion was bit small for the price, however.

I biked 30+ minutes (one way) on the schuykill river trail from center city to try this place and was all sorts of hangry when we arrived. We locked up our bikes in the gravel lot just outside the restaurant (super cute and convenient) and took a seat under an umbrella on the outdoor deck. This space is seriously perfect for a nice dinner on a breezy summer night!
We ordered the spicy chicken parm and the mushroom zucchini pizza with truffle oil (per the waitress’s suggestion), and some 21^st amendment: hell or high watermelon — my current favorite summer beer! The pizza crust was super doughy and pillowy but still thin, and the mushroom and truffle oil were rich and flavorful. Maybe a tad on the salty side, but negligible considering how yummy it was! But the chicken parm was unlike anything I’ve ever had before. This isn’t just your average joe breaded cutlet with tomato sauce and cheese. First off, there’s no bread. But I promise you won’t even miss it. It’s a giant portion of crispy fried thigh+leg meat in a skillet, covered in this awesome chunky tomato salsa and smothered in mozzarella. I’m salivating just thinking about it. Hands down one of the best meals I’ve had all summer, and super affordable! Most of the menu is under $ 15. Can’t wait to come back here to try everything else on their menu!

It’s been a long time since I’ve left a restaurant feeling such euphoria and enthusiasm. In Riva has been on my list for a while to try. Usually there’s a certain level of hype that goes along with anything I’ve put on a «to-​try» list. A lot of times lately, I’ve left a little disappointed. Not today! And not to sound trite, it seriously was love at first bite.
A casual lunch meeting brought me to In Riva today. My group of three sat outside on the deck overlooking Kelly Drive. It was sunny but there was a nice breeze in the air. The view of drive was simply picturesque. If this wasn’t a work meeting I would have been all over the photos!
We started with the Burrata & Kale salad for the table. Aside from burrata and kale, as the same suggests, it also had pecorino and hazelnut. It was large and beautifully plated. It was fresh, crisp and oh so enjoyable. It was the perfect size for sharing as an appetizer as well.
I went with the Bianco Verde pie which just automatically made its way to the TOP of my gourmet pizza list. It consisted of goat cheese, pesto and garlic almond. The crust was light and flaky. Not too doughy but not too crisp. I don’t throw around the word perfect too much when describing an actual item of food, but it was perfect. The ingredients were balanced proportionally and the execution went off without a hitch. Between the salad and knowing I have dinner plans for the evening, I called it after 3 slices and had the other 3 boxed to go home. Otherwise, I probably would have stuffed myself silly and made a scene going for every last crumb.
**Next day cold, leftovers update. The pizza is still amazing but in a different way (that only cold pizza could be). After having the flavors chill out together overnight, the spices really have popped. I can really taste the rosemary that wasn’t as noticeable yesterday. Yea, I’m in love. I’ll need to go back soon.
The service was great too. For a casual spot during a business lunch, our server gave us an appropriate amount of attention. She was there when we needed her, checked on us at the right times and kept the dining process moving along.
I couldn’t even make it off the block before taking a picture of my leftovers. Moments after the photo, I was on the phone with my mom telling her about it. I went back to the office and showed several coworker my leftovers. I haven’t even digested properly before writing this review!
I’m in love. I want to shout it from the rooftops what an amazing experience I had! This was one of the best gourmet pies I’ve ever had and the atmosphere was chill to boot. I cannot wait to return!

Though I’ve passed this place a million times this was the first time I ventured in!
We ordered:
Whipped ricotta – served with bread — the bread already came buttered and was very hard, kinda took away from the yummy whipped ricotta which is served in a mason jar
Mommy’s meatballs – too salty but flavorful
Crab+Chile pizza (see pic) – was expecting chunks of crab not crab salad with a chile situated on top. I was not a fan of this.
Pistachio gelato was just ok and without pistachio’s!
Service:
We think the waitress actually forgot about us! lol
We asked for certain items to be wrapped up during the meal and she forgot to bring it to us when she brought the check!

My family and I have been to In Riva a few times now and all but one time was after my parents picked me up from 30^th Street station coming in from DC. It’s very convenient for those driving on Kelly Drive or the Expressway. Each time it’s been a fantastic experience and the place is always filled.
The inside has lots of charm with a rustic — loft apartment like feel. It has a good balance of being comfortable and warm while being modern and contemporary at the same time. The service is wonderful. Very personable and attentive without being overwhelming. Plus they do everything with a smile. The food is consistently fresh and delicious — matched with a notable wine list. I figured I would review our most recent visit since we experienced their new spring menu.
We shared everything we ordered, starting with the Wood Roasted Asparagus (with garlic conserva, parmigiano, and balsamic). A nice indulgent approach to eating my veggies that day. There were a few whole cloves of roasted garlic in the mix and I swooped those right onto my plate. I love the soft butter like texture garlic takes on when it’s roasted whole. The balsamic and parmigiano make it a yummy flavor bomb of a veggie appetizer.
Following that, we sampled the Tubi with wild mushroom, pecorino, and hazelnut. The «tubi» pasta, or perciatelli, is a hollow thick spaghetti. The touch of hazelnut in the dish complimented the wild mushrooms well without overpowering them and it was creamy without being heavy.
Finally, we enjoyed the Mushroom and Zucchini pizza with truffle and fontina. It has tons of flavor and lots ‘o garlic. A delicious wood-​fired creation. The pizza as well as the asparagus are on the standard menu and part of the normal rotation.
Often an overlooked area, In Riva is an unexpected neighborhood gem worth checking out!