The Riverview

Great wedding venue. The food was really good. There wasn’t a single thing that I ate that wasn’t yummy as heck. The wedding reception was for 300+ people. We had cocktail hour on one side of the partition and then were escorted around to the other side where the 30+ tables awaited us with antipasto dishes. The bartenders were ok, one of my friends asked for a Moscow mule and she got a drink that was a concoction of whiskey and sprite.

I had my wedding at The Riverview in October. It was absolutely beautiful, the grounds were amazing, and everything was taken care of. They took care of me and my bridal party on my wedding day, and I did not hear of a single problem! The food was amazing, the staff was so professional and I couldn’t have asked for a better venue and a more perfect day. Would recommend to anyone for a special event!

This place has no respect with the vendors, if you are a DJ, Photographer, Videographer etc and is going to work in this place bring your own food, I was filming since 10am with no breaks, at the dinner I was starving and nobody cares. Ask for some snacks the employees give me crackers. Very disappointed.

I got married here and the staff was AMAZING!!! My day was perfect, not a thing went wrong, and if something had gone wrong I knew the staff would have it handled. The food was good and the venue is beautiful, I would 100 000% recommend this place to any bride to be!

I attended a wedding reception here on a recent Saturday night and it was excellent. The staff were all over everything, from handing me a whiskey sour the moment I walked in, to hitting everyone up to take one of the many delicious appetizers (smoked duck, chicken satay, risotto balls and more). I didn’t even wander over to the appetizer buffet because they were so good at finding me and my hungry belly while I socialized with friends. (though there were raw oysters in that buffet that I should’ve tried)
The dinner was excellent too. It started with a nice bowl of penne alla vodka and then a fresh and crisp cesar salad and ended with my dinner option, salmon with roasted carrots, asparagus over polenta. The food was delicious and cooked perfectly. They timed everything very nicely too so there wasn’t long waits for your table to be served (all at once by 12 waiters).
Special shout out to the bartenders. They were working hard. I only went to one because she was super fast and practically had my drink in her hand before I stepped up after the previous patron.
This was by far the best wedding reception I’ve attended and the staff (and the parents of the bride and groom of course) made it that way.
Who’s getting married here next and can I get an invite? I promise to behave!

My friend’s wedding was just held here recently and it was BEAUTIFUL! We were greeted as soon as we arrived, and they kept the food and drinks coming all night, from the second we arrived. The bridal suite was very nice — spacious, with a nice set-​up of appetizers and champagne too. The bar was nice, the ballroom was beautiful, the views out the huge windows were spectacular… it was just a really pretty wedding and seems like the type of place that would look beautiful during any season.

I had my wedding here on Sunday and they did an AMAZING job. The food was great and service was excellent. They set up my tables and chair covers exactly how I wanted it. Everything looked beautiful. The venue itself is gorgeous. I have to admit I was a little nervous b/​c they switched my DOC a couple months before the wedding but Alyson did an AWESOME job. Very friendly, handled my bridezilla moments perfectly and made sure my Husband and I had everything we needed. Thank you so much! I couldn’t have asked for a better night!

I have been here several times for various events, and I have enjoyed all of them.
My sister’s wedding was held here last May, and in an unfortunate change of weather just a few hours before the wedding, she decided to move the ceremony inside. The staff at The Riverview were very accommodating and helpful in easing her woes with the last minute change of plans. Throughout the evening the staff was incredible. There were always people around when you needed them (and my drink was never empty!). I was also impressed with the food. I feel as though a lot of wedding venues have unmemorable dishes, but to this day I stand by my words– The Riverview had best vegetarian option I’ve had at a wedding!
I’ve also been here for the Taste of Simsbury several years in a row, and have had a great time.
There is ample parking, the restrooms are very clean, and the staff is friendly and attentive.

This is my second time at this venue for a wedding in the past year and I’m not sure the allure of it. My first experience here was in November 2013 for an evening wedding and it was okay. I didnt think the food was all that impressive (see my original review). We returned in June 2014 for another Friday evening wedding. It’s obviously summer time so it was much lighter out at 6:30 p.m. for this wedding than the November one. Anyway, we were in the opposite room than the last wedding (east this time, I think). The wedding was outside. I was a little shocked at how dirty the ceremony chairs were. They were scuffed with black marks and so close together you could barely breathe.
The appetizer round was the only good thing about any of the food. The drinks were weak. I had two mojitos and felt nothing. No buzz. Nothing. I read in someone else’s review that they do not offer shots because they water down their alcohol — which now makes sense because both drinks I got did nothing for me. I should have gotten wine.
The salad was okay. The «penne alla vodka» (they should not even call it that. It was penne pasta, peas and some sort of creamy sauce. Didnt taste like normal vodka sauce at all). I will pretty much eat anything even if I dont particularly like it — but I literally had to leave the pasta on the plate. I could not take more than two bites. Absolutely disgusting. Also, the dinner did not come out until 9:30 p.m.
For dinner I opted to go with the filet mignon. It was served atop watery mashed potatoes and THREE pieces of asparagus. Three.
I’m not sure why this place is so coveted as a wedding venue but it is surely nothing I would choose if I ever decide to walk the plank.
I was also told by a co-​worker who got married here in 2008 that they do not allow you try their food. This baffles me as well. If you are paying $ 75−150/plate why can you not taste the food? Maybe if people tasted the food beforehand, they’d pick another venue.

After hearing so much about this place, I had high expectations (just like their prices). The appetizers was the best part of the evening from our families perspective. They had a nice variety and everything was tasty. Every package includes (no option to exclude) an open bar. The bartenders were professional and the drinks were… we’ll booze, so that makes lots of people happy.
The main course was without a doubt one of the worsts, I’ve ever had at a wedding. it started with salad that was overpowered by a fish flavor. The bread was dry with no butter on the table. Next came some penne and some sauce that we all guessed was cream of broccoli soup poured over it. The Fliet Mignon (no way it was a tenderloin) was the toughest cut of meat I can recall having in years. The carrots (2 little itty bitty ones) were raw. The mashed potatoes were ok. Much to the managers credit she asked our table if everything was ok and offered to swap out meals. The wedding cake was beautiful, but taste-​wise so-​so at best in taste. Someone at our table had dietary needs that was provided to Riverview in advance and the staff was unaware and when something came out it did not meat the requirements.
The venue was well attractive and clean. The staff was friendly and attentive.
I believe there are much nicer options for ½ the price if I was planning a wedding. So, while I would like to give it a lower rating the staff saved the day.

Attended a wedding here and was not disappointed. The large room was sectioned for the ceremony, then re-​sectioned for cocktail hour (more on that amazingness later) while they set up the dining tables for the reception. As was said in the other reviews, the place looks like a typical mid-​upscale «wedding factory» facility, but it provides a great backdrop. As to the alcohol issue previously mentioned, the drinks I received were not watered down, and shots were provided if asked for. I don’t know if this is a change in the policy, but I feel that if you’re at a wedding and you feel the need to complain about free alcohol, I’m not sure you’re there for the right reasons. In any case, there was no problem there.
Now, I have to extol the virtues of this cocktail hour. I’m aware there are likely different package levels so to speak of what your cocktail hour and dinner choices consist of, like most banquet halls, but holy mother. The finger food alone could have been enough. Fruit, cheeses (mm, brie with cranberry,) chips and artichoke dip or chili, pasta, veggies galore, giant spouted pitchers full of white or red sangria (ohmygosh) AND passed h’orderves.
And here’s where that extra bit of amazing comes in. Jokingly, my friends and I asked for just a plate of bacon after having the small quiche cups that were passed by one of the servers. Hilarity soon ensued, because sure enough, she had the chef just cook us up a plate of bacon and brought it out to us. Hysterical, personal, and really made a connection. Obviously this is where I want to get married. Because bacon. Dinner was great too. Salads were gigantic and fresh, and our table consisted of at least one of every offering, all of which were well put together.
All in all, no complaints about this venue. Even the bathrooms were beautiful.

went to a wedding and reception here yesterday. No complaints, food was decent, the environment was standard. Standard «wedding factory» type of business.

Very clean, cookie cutter catering hall. Sits on a charming property and has some great looks. No complaints about anything here, a truly fantastic place to throw a wedding reception and ceremony for that matter.
Has all the amenities, touches and architecture that are becoming mainstream in this industry. lighting, furniture, décor, and cleanliness are all in the highest order.
Sits on a gorgeous quiet little river and is very private from the public eye behind the facility. The front of the hall sits near some car washes and other commercial buildings.

I typically refrain from writing bad reviews but in this case I felt it completely necessary. Overall the Riverview is a beautiful place inside and out. It’s decorated very nicely and the patio in back faces the farmington river, which is nice. The watered down booze and food quality however are completely unforgivable. If you spend thousands of dollars on a wedding and a few thousand on open bar, the booze should not be tampered with. They don’t offer shots because they don’t want people to realize that they water down their alcohol, which is illegal. I’m no food connoisseur and it takes very little for me to enjoy a meal, especially at a banquet facility where my expectations are lower than of a restaurant. Everyone at my table shared their plates so I had the chance to taste each meal they offer. The stuffed «shrimp» was embarrasing. They were miniature cocktail frozen shrimp, which wouldn’t fill up a child and the sauce they put on top of the filet was disgusting. The vegetarian meal was OK, but that is definitely not my first meal choice. I understand the quality of meat isn’t typically great at banquet facilities but it was by far the worst I’ve had. I’ve heard from multiple people before attending a wedding here that the food was terrible and I experienced it for myself this past weekend. The food also came out at 9:30, almost an hour before the (terrible) salads were placed on the table so people were sitting and waiting around hungry to eat. This left us with only about an hour and a half to dance. Oh and the dance floor is TINY. I wouldn’t try to throw a party here with more than 150 guests if they like to dance.
If you are planning a wedding in the Hartford area and want your guests to enjoy their meals and drinks I would highly recommend the Farmington Club or Aquaturf. They’ve never dissapointed me or anyone I know that has attended an event there in the past.