River Street Cafe

06/07/07

A Jewel in the Captial District

by k2qy at Citysearch

Let me begin by saying that my wife and I are very experienced with most of the resterants in the capital district, the good, the bad and the ugly. We eaten in some of the finest establishments in the world. We also know a lot of resterantours and are well aware of how hard it is to be a chef/owner. We both consider the River Street Cafe one of the finest places around. The menu ranges from the simple to the sublime and is always imaginative. The chef changes the offerings regularly, always relying on the freshest of ingrediants, especially the fish selections. If you see the Buffalo Calamari on the menu, it is a MUST order. Another favorite of ours is any fish selection in the brown butter sauce. Any of the sauces are wonderful. The wine list is interesting and well paired with the entrees, consisting of mostly medium priced selections.

George, the chef/owner is a very outgoing, enjoyable conversationalist (when he is not "slammed"), always offering little tidbits he has come across in his travels. Ask him about those hot pepper infused garlics! The rest of the wait staff is attentive and of a good caliber, always friendly. One of the real plusses here is this is THE place to bring guests or clientelle, because you are not rushed through like a herd of cattle. This is the place to enjoy a sunset along the Hudson while sipping an interesting new world wine and catching up with old friends while enjoying a great meal. It's called lesiurly dining folks! Very European.

The fact that you enter through the kitchen, puts one right in the foray and high energy that always accompanies finer eating establishments and bistros. I could just stand and watch a master chef at his craft, flames everywhere, pushing the staff the get the food to the tables. Just one flight up the stairs is a peaceful, simply decorated, quiet dining area that just seems another world for the action below.

We both consider George a good friend and excellent host.

• Pros: convenient parking, beautiful view of the Hudson, great food

04/01/07

Relaxed views, great food and cheerful service

by brenec at Citysearch

I'm happy to say that the River Street Cafe has consistently provided wonderful food and an atmosphere conducive to either small business dinners or intimate romantic couples. Reservations are a good idea, since they put on wait staff according to expected turnout of diners. On many occasions, I've found that drop-in dining works out for small groups without problems. The ambience is great, and I only have a few "nit -picks" about the food - for example, they have wonderful steaks and seafood, but typically only offer a mashed potato vegetable option. On occasion, some soups and dishes have been too salty for my wife's taste, but not for mine. The lack of a full bar is only a minor problem, since they usually have a nice selection of wines. I've been going to the River Street Cafe for many years, and I've been pleased with the experience. With a little additional effort, this restaurant could be great!

• Pros: Really great steaks and seafood
• Cons: limited vegetable selection, heavy on starches

02/22/07

Terrible at any Price

by pwman at Citysearch

My family and I selected this cafe based on its location and the misguided belief that it was one of the finer establishments in the area. We were sadly disappointed. The previous post is severely misguided regarding price. I live in Manhattan, eat out almost every night and I've been to every hot spot in the city. We were horrified when the bill arrived. They switched bottles on what we had ordered. The items on the menu were available, then not available and then miraculously available again. The dining experience grew into a game of Russian roulette. The chef needs Prozac. You come to a restaurant and you pay for an experience, not a meltdown my a narcissistic basket case. You order dinner, you expect what is promised, not what the chef feels like gracing you with if you are lucky. The staff were like deer staring down the barrel of the chef squawking gun. The place should be renamed Mel's Diner. The food was moderate at best.

Shame on the River Street Cafe! If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen grumpus.

• Pros: Could be lovely with a different chef that can handle the pressure and the public
• Cons: Every aspect of the experience